It has been over a month since Aiko Yamada and Oda Riku met. It was the fall, and the weather in Neighpon was growing colder.
It was morning. Oda was stretching his arms as he stood in the bathroom with a yawn. By now, he was starting to notice that he was looking different. He wasn't as lanky as he remembered. His muscles in his arms and chest had begun to grow and tighten, adding more volume to his form. He felt himself full of energy and new found strength.
Later, he was eating up the measly breakfast that he was able to prepare for himself and his mother what with their financial situation. His mother stared at him as he ate.
"So how's that girl that you've been hanging around with?" asked Mrs. Riku.
"She's alright. We've been exercising together lately. I think I'm getting stronger," said Oda as he flexed his arm. His mother smiled in amusement.
"Well, that's good. It's nice to know you found a friend," said Mrs. Riku.
"She's great! If not for her, I'd still be as lanky as a noodle. She's even been helping me with confrontation. I'm not gonna be pushed around anymore by those jerks at school," said Oda. His mother grimaced.
"Oda... just make sure you don't end up like those guys. It's great that you're getting strong, but don't forget where you came from. Real strength comes from your heart," said Mrs. Riku.
"Ooh! I gotta tell Yamada-san about that one! That can apply to a number of things too!" said Oda as he wrote into a small notebook. His mother smiled warmly.
"You seem to really like this girl, huh?" asked Mrs. Riku. Oda blushed with an embarrassed smile.
"I can't help it. She's just... I can't put it into words. Ah, but she'd never go for someone like me," said Oda as bore a sad smile.
"Chin up, Oda. Even if she doesn't, you would probably attract someone else. I think your odds are growing if you keep up your exercise. Just don't forget to be kind," said Mrs. Riku. Oda nodded. He got up and grabbed his school bag.
"I have to get going. If I don't cram my morning with studying, I won't be able to hang out with Yamada. Love you," said Oda as he planted a kiss on his mother's cheek and ran off.
Oda began to jog his away from his home. He passed those he knew in his neighborhood, waving to them as he advanced. He soon came across a familiar spot, where Aiko was standing. She turned and waved to Oda.
"Yo!" greeted Aiko.
"Yo," greeted Oda. The two felt a flutter in their chests as they met. This feeling had begun to grow within these youngsters lately, especially Aiko's.
"Hey, are we still on for this afternoon?" asked Oda. Aiko nodded.
"You bet! I think a little sparing exercise will be fun," said Aiko. Oda's smile faded.
"Oh. Are you sure?" asked Oda. Aiko smirked as she placed a hand on her hip.
"What's wrong? Afraid to be beaten up by a girl?" asked Aiko.
"I'm actually more worried about hurting you," said Oda in a small tone. Aiko chuckled.
"Ooh! Big talk from Mr. Passive! I might have to bring my A game!" said Aiko, still smirking. Oda shook his head frantically.
"I-I didn't mean it like that!" exclaimed Oda in alarm Aiko chuckled as she nudged him in the shoulder.
"See ya later, tough guy," said Aiko with a flirtatious wink. Oda blushed as she walked off, her hips swaying in motion in a hypnotic way. Oda shook his head as he came to his senses.
"Oh boy," said Oda worriedly.
Oda found himself strolling through the halls of his school. He carried his bag over his shoulder with a carefree and neutral look. This was much different compared to his usual stiff and cautious posture. Along his walk, some students began to take notice of him. They watched as he coolly passed by.
"Whoa. Who's that guy?" asked a girl as she eyed Oda as he passed.
Oda continued on until he made his way to home room. Students began to take notice of him as he strolled in.
"Hey, did Riku grow muscle?" whispered a male student.
"I wouldn't know. I'm not checking him out," snickered another student.
"Hey is it me or is the nerd looking kinda hot?" asked a female student. Some of the students began to murmur amongst themselves. They’ve never paid any mind to the shut-in known as Oda Riku, but for the first time they were. This brought curiosity in some. They weren't sure whether it was the growing build in body or the new demeanor that caught their attention.
That's what Oda came to see throughout his day in school. Students would eye him as he passed by. A girl or two would shoot him a friendly smile or a shy wave. It was rather embarrassing for Oda. He wasn't used to this kind of attention that he was receiving. It was quite alien to him.
Later that day, Oda was in the restroom. He sighed after he relieved himself and proceeded to wash his hands. Oda failed to notice that someone was sneaking up from behind. He was shoved, forcing him to stumble to the side and against the wall. He found Hanamura stepping up to him with a glare.
"You know the drill, Toothpick! Hand over those notes!" said the boy with a glare. Oda narrowed his eyes. Instinctively, he furrowed his brow and turned to face the boy with a harsh glare.
"Not a chance! I'm not someone you can push around!" said Oda.
"Boy, I just pushed you! If you know what's good for ya, you'll quit whining like a bitch and fork over the notes," said Hanamura as he held out his hand. Oda merely smacked it away.
"I said, no! If you want them, you'll just have to take them!" said Oda. His mind began to wander back with the time he spent with Aiko. Aside from teaching him to be more assertive and exercising to build strength, he also learned a few things about self-defense. Aiko even stressed that it should only be used in self-defense, as the name implies. This at least made Oda more confident in standing up to Hanamura.
"Yeah? You gonna throw the first punch?" asked Hanamura mockingly as he shoved Oda.
"No, I'm going to wait for you to throw the first punch. Maybe this time you'll be the one to get into trouble. Then again we can have no interference here," said Oda as he popped his knuckles. Hanamura was taken aback. He was sure that this kid would be cowering to him by now. Something had changed.
"Tsk. Ah you're not worth my time," said Hanamura as he stormed off. Oda smirked as he watched the boy storm off. He was pleased with how this turned out. He didn't even have to throw a punch.
Later that day, Oda was sitting alone at a table outside. He was eating lunch as he reviewed his homework. It seemed that even this didn't change. But it was relieving, since Oda felt exhausted at the stares he was receiving. However, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Oda turned with a raised brow and found a familiar girl. He's seen her hanging around Saki and Hanamura.
"Yes?" Oda set his work down.
"H-Hi. We uh... We never really met properly. But um..." the girl laughed awkwardly as she looked away.
"I wanted to know if you'd like to join me and a couple of friends after school to hang out," said the girl. Oda bore a look of surprise. He felt like he was having a dream. This was the first time someone from invited him to actually hangout. And it was an attractive girl of all people! Things really were different.
"Well, I-" Oda was struck in the back with a loud and heavy smack. The boy grunted in pain as Seiko stood at his side.
"Hey, Yuri-chan! What's going on here?" asked Saki, in his obnoxiously loud voice.
Oh, I was just seeing if Riku-kun wanted to hang out later!" said Yuri. Saki snorted.
"What, this guy? Come on, he's not a very social guy. Plus I'm sure he has a lot of studying to do. Isn't that right, Riku?" asked Saki. Oda sent him a deadpanned look.
"Could you please stop hitting my back so hard?" asked Oda in annoyance.
"Thanks, but I'd prefer to hear it from Riku-kun. So, what do you think?" asked Yuri as she turned her attention to Oda.
"Hey, Riku! Hanamura was just talking to me," said Saki, interjecting. Yuri bore a mild look of annoyance while Oda sighed.
'Here we go,' thought Oda. He knew it was too good to be true that he got out of that confrontation without a fight.
"So he said that he asked you for some help but you turned him away. What's up with that?" asked Saki, a smirk on his face. Oda was annoyed by this. He knew what Saki was trying to do. He was trying to get Oda to roll over by shaming him in front of people by making him look like a jerk. Aiko told him that it was a classic way to get people to kneel with the use of peer pressure and ostracism.
"Yes, I turned him away because he was threatening me," said Oda bluntly. Saki's brows raised while Yuri's eyes widened.
"What?" asked Yuri incredulously.
"Heh. Come on, I'm sure he was just messin' with you," said Saki as he patted Oda's shoulder. Oda merely brushed him as he narrowed his eyes.
"No, he wasn't. And you know that," said Oda. Yuri looked to Saki, who chuckled with a innocent smile.
"I uh... don't know what you're talking about," said Saki.
"Whatever you say," said Oda as he went back to his homework. Saki narrowed his eyes in response. He merely walked off, while Yuri awkwardly stood by.
"So... About-"
"Can't. I have plans with someone else," said Oda. Yuri frowned.
"Oh. O-OK. See you around... I guess," said the girl as she walked away. As she left, Oda smiled to himself. It seemed that Aiko's tips were finally paying off.
Aiko stood at the desk of her teacher. Lunch was currently going on. Her teacher bore a pleased expression as she held a stack of paper.
"Yamada, you've really stepped it up these last couple of weeks. If you keep this up, you'll start reaching proficient if not advanced grades. Where have you been hiding these academic skills?" asked the teacher.
"I guess I finally found some motivation to try," said Aiko with a shrug.
"Well, that's all I wanted to talk to you about. You're dismissed," said the teacher as she smiled.
"Thanks, Sensei," said Aiko as she bowed.
Aiko left the classroom and began to make her way through the hall of her school. As she walked by, she carried her lunch. Eventually, the girl found herself walking along the side of the school. Over the past few weeks, the girl has been putting in much more effort into her studies during her time with Oda. Even sometimes, she would study a bit with him during their weekends. They were fond memories that motivated her. Aiko was looking forward to school to end today so she could meet with him again. The more she thought of Oda, the more her heart fluttered in her chest. Never had she felt like this about a guy. It was a surprise. The guy was such a wimp before. But as she got to know him and worked with him, Aiko found that Oda was a resilient fellow. Not to mention he had views that contrasted her own pessimistic view. He viewed things in ways that she never really thought of, being stuck in her own funk and what not.
"Yo, Yamada!" called a familiar voice. Aiko stopped and found Kobayashi to be leaning against a wall.
"What's up?" greeted Kobayashi. Aiko smiled as she approached.
"Yo," greeted Aiko with a nod.
"Word has it that you've been hanging around with a guy," said Kobayashi. Aiko stiffened with a blush.
"I uh... I don't know what you mean," said Aiko with a forced chuckle. Kobayashi smirked.
"Ah you can't fool me. I know that embarrassed look anywhere," said Kobayashi. Aiko grunted as she turned away, hiding her face with her hand.
"Hey, I get it. That was me with my ex. Damn it, now I'm getting sour just thinking about him," said Kobayashi with a scowl.
"We're not like that. We're just friends," said Aiko in a small tone. Kobayashi scoffed.
"Ah you say that, but I can tell you want to advance that 'friendship'," said Kobayashi as she made air quotes.
"Yeah, but no way he'd go for me. I mean look at me! I'm not like those pretty broads here in school. My hair gave me the nickname 'Porcupine-chan'!" said Aiko in exasperation. Kobayashi snickered, while Aiko glared at her.
"Sorry," said Kobayashi as she cleared her throat.
"Look, guys are simple. They'll be with any chick as long as she's a chick. Hell, even fat girls can get a man," said Kobayashi.
"Sure, maybe in the states," said Aiko with a scowl.
"Look, the point is, you aren't bad looking," said Kobayashi as she placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Ah you're just saying that," said Aiko.
"Nah, I mean it. You just need something to improve your look to get him to look twice," said Kobayashi. Aiko grimaced.
"You mean like make up?" asked Aiko.
"That and maybe comb your hair," said Kobayashi as she ran her fingers along Aiko's hair. She slightly recoiled as she felt a few strands poke her finger as they stuck out.
"Maybe try flirting? It's a good way to give him a hint that you're interested," said Kobayashi.
"Well, I tried that. But I'm not sure if I'm doing it right," said Aiko.
"Well, how do you do it?" asked Kobayashi curiously.
"Well this morning I told him that we were gonna spar for our workout," said Aiko.
"Spar? Wait, workout? That's what you've been doing? Oh I see! You're into the athletic type, huh?" asked Kobayashi.
"Well... he's not exactly athletic. He's kind of a shut in," said Aiko awkwardly. She was beginning to grow worried. She didn't want to give too much information on Oda. After all, he was a Transmutant. She didn't know how Kobayashi felt about his kind and didn't want to bring him any trouble by revealing the fact that a human girl like herself has the hots for him.
"So how do you flirt?" asked Kobayashi.
"Well, I give a few winks. I also playfully nudge and hit him. This morning I actually teased him about him being reluctant to spar with me because I'm a girl," said Aiko with a shrug. Kobayashi was silent.
"Um... A few notes. If you want a guy to notice you, you should try to be less like a tomboy pal," said Kobayashi. Aiko looked at her in confusion.
"What do you me? This is my personality," said Aiko.
"Yamada, you gotta change your approach. The winks are fine, but you gotta be more... feminine, I guess. I don't know, I'm trying to speak on experience, but I just threw myself on my ex. Don't do that," said Kobayashi. Aiko tilted her head.
"Should I try winking more?" asked Aiko.
"Sure, if you want him to think you're on drugs," deadpanned Kobayashi. Aiko sighed in frustration.
"Maybe you should try changing up what you guys do. Have you two gone somewhere?" asked Kobayashi.
"To the park. To workout..." said Aiko in a small tone.
"OK. Maybe you can go see a movie or something. Hell, maybe go to an amusement park. Just something, ya know. That's what most couples do, right?" asked Kobayashi.
"I guess?" Aiko looked down in thought.
"Say, isn't there a dance or something coming up?" asked Kobayashi. Aiko's eyes widened.
"You think I should invite him to the dance?" asked Aiko.
"Sure? Beats what I did," said Kobayashi as she shrugged. Aiko bit her lip. While it sounded like a good idea, Aiko wasn't sure if it's wise to execute. After all, Transmutants are expected to stay in the Mutant Zone and aren't allowed into schools with humans. But, there may have been ways to get around that.
"Yeah. That might work. Thanks a lot, Kobayashi. I owe ya," said Aiko.
"Well... You seem to get decent grades. You think you can help me out sometime? If I don't get my grades up, my mom's gonna kick me out," said Kobayashi in a small tone. Aiko's expression softened.
"Oh. Sure, Kobayashi. Just hit me up," said Aiko.
It was the afternoon. Aiko was sporting a pair of gym leggings and dark tank top. She was stretching out her limbs with a sigh. She turned to smile at Oda, who was stretching out his arms as he sported a pair of basketball shorts and a tan grey shirt. Aiko lightly blushed as his developing muscles stretched under his skin. Aiko cleared her throat as she shook off her growing thoughts of lust.
"Ready?" asked Aiko.
"I guess..." said Oda in reluctance.
"It's alright, I'll be gentle," said Aiko with a smirk. She sent a jab towards Oda, who raised his arms and blocked her. She stepped forward and sent more jabs, while Oda remained on the defensive as he backed off.
"Come on! Hit back! You have permission!" said Aiko.
"That doesn't make me anymore comfortable, Yamada!" said Oda as Aiko grabbed his wrist. He grunted as the girl yanked him close and turned. She used his weight, momentum and what strength she could muster and threw him over her shoulder. Oda lied flat on his back with a stunned look. He suddenly found the girl pinning him to the ground. He grunted as he attempted to stand but was distracted by the girl's beauty. Her sweat trickled down her skin as she panted. Her breaths brushed on him, as her spiky long hair hung over him. Oda's heart was racing as he felt her sitting above his waist. The girl bore a smirk as she sat on him, slightly leaning down.
"Y-Yamada-san?" Oda noticed the flirtatious smile on her face.
"I win..." whispered Aiko as she playfully poked Oda's nose. She got up from him, leaving the boy stunned. She held out her hand, allowing Oda to take it. She grunted as she pulled him up to his feet. The two yelped as they stumbled. Aiko held her hand against his chest as his hands fell on her shoulder and waist. The two stared at each other as their hearts raced. Aiko was shuddering as she stared, feeling her knees grow weak. She stepped away as she placed on a facade of indifference.
"Geez, Riku. You could at least try to beat me," said Aiko in feign annoyance.
"Sorry. I just don't like the idea of hurting you," said Oda. Aiko felt another flutter in her chest as she turned away. She was smiling. Aiko turned back to Oda.
"Hey, I wanted to ask you something," said Aiko.
"Huh? What is it?" asked Oda, snapping out of his embarrassed state.
"Instead of studying this weekend... You wanna do something else?" asked Aiko. "It'd be kinda like a daaaa...."
"A what?" asked Oda, his cheeks warming up. Aiko's eyes darted as she twiddled her thumbs.
"A day to just hang out! Yeah, that's it!" said Aiko, forcing a smile.
"Oh. Sure," said Oda, with a nod.
"Alright, I'll see ya then!" said Aiko as she ran off.
"But-! We didn't even finish our routine..." said Oda as he watched Aiko leave. While he was disappointed that she was gone, he at least had something else to look forward to. Still, she had been acting quite friendly lately. Actually, that may have been an understatement. All that Oda knew was that something was up, and that made his stomach tight with anxiety.
"I wonder..." Oda said to himself.
Aiko was sighing in frustration. She was in her bedroom, digging through her drawers. She looked over clothes and began to toss them aside. She cursed under her breath as she continued to search.
"Damn it!" said Aiko. She then rushed to her closet and began to search. She moaned in disappointed as she found few thick sweaters and heavy jackets. As she continued to look, she failed to notice Rei opening up her door. Her sister bore a shocked look.
"Aiko, what is going on here?!" asked Rei. Aiko yelped with a start.
"Get out!" cried Aiko as she began to push against her sister. Rei kept her feet planted with a grunt.
"What's gotten into you?! Why are you throwing your clothes around?!" asked Rei.
"Shut up! I'm just rearranging my wardrobe!" said Aiko as she attempted to force her elder sister out.
"Then you won't mind if I help!" said Rei as she pushed herself through. Aiko stumbled back as her sister stood in.
"Ugh. Half of these clothes are old! You need to throw them out!" said Rei as she picked up a shirt.
"I can't do that! These are my clothes!" said Aiko frantically.
"Aiko, look at this! This thing has a bunch of holes in it!" said Rei as she pointed the shirt that she carried. She gasped with an appalled look.
"My god, look at these jeans! Don't tell me you've gone out in public wearing this!" said Rei as she picked up a pair of pants that bore tears around the legs and under the crotch area.
"It's not so bad," said Aiko as she took the pants with a grimace. "I mean, I wear one of my sweaters to hide this hole," said Aiko. Rei scoffed as she began to gather the clothes that caught her eye.
"These don't fit you anymore. These are stuff you wore in Junior high. Get rid of them!" said Rei as she gathered the clothes. Aiko frowned as she crossed her arms. Rei noticed this.
"Aiko, come on. It's not that big of a deal. They're just old clothes," said Rei. Aiko said nothing. The elder sister gave a heavy sigh as she set the clothes down
"Talk to me sis. What's wrong?" asked Rei.
"It's just... I feel like my clothes are terrible," said Aiko. Rei looked around the messy room.
"I won't lie. Most of these I wouldn't wear," said Rei. Aiko sighed.
"Gee, thanks," said Aiko in a bitter.
"Aiko, what's wrong? You never cared about your clothes. You always took 'comfort' over appearance. What changed?" asked Rei in confusion. Aiko's face flushed as she bit her lip. Rei gasped, a smile forming on her face.
"Oh my God... Do you have a crush?" whispered Rei. Aiko shook her head furiously.
"Why would I have a crush on that dork?!" exclaimed Aiko. She gasped as she cupped her mouth. Rei was now grinning.
"You totally do! My little sister has a crush!" said Rei. Aiko hid her face as her face was beat red.
"Come on, spill the beans! Who's the guy? Details!" said Rei eagerly. "Is he tall?"
"Yeah... he's pretty tall," said Aiko in a small tone and a smile.
"What type are we talking about? I bet he's a bad boy, huh?" asked Rei.
"Not really. He's actually kind of uptight. But he's nice," said Aiko as she bit her lip. Her mind wandered back to the sparring from earlier with Oda. How she felt his tightened chest and the beating of his heart against her palm.
"Is he into sports?" asked Rei.
"No, he's kind of a bookworm..." said Aiko.
"Really?" Rei bore a look of interest. She wasn't aware of any of her sister's tastes given how she never let anyone know about herself. Right now was exciting, since she was now starting to learn more about her shut in of a sister.
"Look, I can't keep talking about him! I need to find some clothes that are good enough for the weekend!" said Aiko. Rei bore a coy smile.
"Ooh. A little date, huh? My sis is growing up fast," said Rei teasingly.
"Very funny. Now if you're done, I need to find something that will catch his eye. Something that doesn't make him think I'm slutty, something not too girly, but certainly feminine. Something that catches his eye," said Aiko. She grunted as she found her hair in the mirror.
"And something that will go with this stupid hair!" said Aiko.
"That's quite a list," said Rei as Aiko began to dig through her clothes.
"I'm even thinking of inviting him to the dance. I'll need a dress," said Aiko, Rei was grinning.
"This might be the second best day of my life," said Rei. Aiko looked to her with a raised brow.
"What's the first?" asked Aiko. Rei was biting her lip as she attempted to keep silent. But she was squealing.
"Look, don't tell mom and dad. I'm still waiting," whispered Rei. Aiko tilted her head in confusion.
"For what?" asked Aiko.
"My boyfriend proposed to me," whispered Rei. Aiko's eyes widened.
"Whoa, really?" asked Aiko in surprise.
"I know! Turns out he's been anxious because he was trying to figure out when he wanted to propose!" said Rei. Aiko smiled.
"Wow. That's really cool, Rei," said Aiko.
"And the best part is, he wants to move out to the states when we're married!" said Rei. Aiko frowned.
"Oh. So... I guess you'll be gone, huh?" asked Aiko. Rei hugged her in response.
"Aw. Don't worry, kiddo. You got that boy to keep you company, right?" asked Rei teasingly.
"If I could even pull this off," said Aiko. Rei placed her hands on her shoulders.
"Tell you what, I'll lend you some clothes. Matter of fact, I might give you some. I think I have some old stuff that might fit you just lying around," said Rei. "I'll even help you out with the school dance."
Aiko smiled. She hugged her older sister tightly.
"Thanks, sis," said Aiko.
It was the weekend. Aiko was standing at a familiar street corner alone. She bore an anxious look on her face as she stood. She spent the time looking at her watch and looking around. The longer she waited, the tighter her stomach grew. The girl felt sick, like she wanted to vomit. Her heart was starting to race as she waited. Aiko worried if Oda was even actually coming. She feared that maybe he was standing her up, or if something came up.
"Man, when did I become such an antsy idiot?" asked Rei. She began to realize how she felt much differently compared to the days before she met Oda. Before, she just had no will to push on or to try for anything. She was falling into some kind of nihilism because she felt that her life was stagnant. But these days, Aiko was looking forward to the next day. She looked forward to the future, just so long as Oda was there. She couldn't imagine a future without him there by her side. She wanted that to last.
"What did that idiot do to me?" Aiko smiled to herself. She then noticed Oda to be walking over to the street corner. She stiffened as her heart leapt. She mentally told herself to keep herself together. She couldn't afford to act the fool now. No matter how much she felt like throwing up from anxiety.
"Yo," greeted Aiko.
"Hey, Yamada-san," said Oda. It was here that he felt his cheeks flush. He found Aiko to be standing with her hands on her hips as she carried a satchel over her shoulder. The girl wore a tight leather jacket that reached half way down her back, exposing the grey hazel shirt she wore. She sported a pair of denim shorts and dark patterned tights, giving them a fishnet appearance. She wore a pair of calf length boots, which shined from the sunlight.
"Whoa..." said Oda.
"Hey, you're dozing off!" said Aiko. Oda flinched as his blush intensified.
"I-I uh... Sorry!" laughed Oda sheepishly. Aiko was smiling deviously to herself. Her sister must have picked out the perfect outfit for her if Oda was flustered as this. She would have to ask to keep these clothes.
"So... Did you want to see a movie? Maybe we can have lunch at that ramen spot?" suggested Oda shyly.
"Actually, I had something else in mind. There's this festival going on at this park I know. I thought we could go there," said Aiko. Oda lost his blush. A pit formed in his stomach.
"You mean... Outside the mutant zone?" asked Oda.
"Yeah. Come on, it'll be fun!" said Aiko. Oda gulped as a nervous look was on his face.
"I-I don't know, Yamada-san. I mean... We normally don't stray too far from-" Oda fell silent as Aiko took his arm and wrapped her own around it. She stood close as their sides touched. Oda stiffened as Aiko bore a warm smile.
"Don't chicken out on me now. Besides, Transmutants are allowed to move outside of the mutant zone. Just be cool and you'll be fine," said Aiko. Oda wanted to protest but knew he couldn't. This was his chance to see if he could actually win over Aiko's affection. He wanted to be worthy, not the cowardly wimp that he was. If that would solidify his change, then he had to push through.
"Well... OK, let's do it," said Oda with a nod. Aiko grinned in response.
"Awesome! Just keep in mind one of my rules. Rule of Aiko #27: Don't put your hand in Hell's asshole," said Aiko. Oda snorted with a raised brow.
"What?" asked Oda in amusement. Aiko chuckled.
"Come on! There's gonna be some awesome food to pig out on!" said Aiko as she ran with Oda. The boy smiled in embarrassment as this sly girl hauled him away from their respective neighborhoods.
Later that noon, the two were walking down town. This was the farthest that Oda has ever gone from the mutant zone. It was intimidating to say the least. There were many tall buildings in the area, as well as a lot of citizens going about their daily routine. The two crossed the street and began to make their way over to a large park. Over the sound of cars, the two could hear distant music playing from within the park. People in kimonos or casual clothes were entering the park, where many tents and stands could be seen.
Aiko could sense that Oda was growing more nervous. The girl began to cling more to his arm, hoping to calm him down and keep his mind off of it. Though unbeknownst to her, Oda was just growing more nervous as he felt her tighten her hold on him, as her soft touch fell on him. If he were to collapse from a heart attack right now, he doubted it was because he was afraid to be around this many humans outside of the mutant zone. The two were about to enter the park but were stopped by a man in dark uniform. Oda stiffened as he recognized that the man was an Equestrian soldier. Specifically, a member of MONARCH.
"I'm sorry, but I'll need to inspect you before you enter," said the soldier, speaking to the two in their native tongue. Aiko was surprised, both by the fact that she wasn't expecting this foreigner to speak to them very well in Neighponese, and because he was stopping them for no reason.
"Is there a problem?" asked Aiko, while Oda began to sweat bullets.
"It's required for all guests entering the festival. The city is requiring it. If you'd please roll up your sleeves and show me your arms," said the soldier as he drew out a scanner from his side. It was almost like the ones that you would see the cashier draw out at the grocery store. As mentioned, there were other guests being stopped by different people in uniform, holding that same infinity symbol on their clothes. Aiko looked to Oda, who bore a nervous look.
"Just be cool," whispered Aiko as she began to roll back her sleeves. Oda did the same, though more reluctantly.
"OK, just one," the soldier muttered to himself as he held the scanner over Oda's left wrist. He scanned the bar code that was beneath the tattoo. There was a beep as the soldier drew out a small hand held device that was connected to the scanner. An I.D. image of the boy appeared, along with other information. The device began to print out a sticker, bearing a bar code. Above the bar code was an emblem that depicted the side view silhouette of a reptilian creature that was on all fours, covered in spikes.
"Just take this and stick it where it can be seen so that security can easily see it," said the soldier as he held out the sticker. Aiko narrowed her eyes while Oda shakily took it.
"Y-Yes, sir," said Oda in a small tone. Aiko scoffed as she took Oda's arm as she looked to the man with disdain.
"Yeah, thanks a lot," said Aiko as she walked off with Oda. The two entered through the park in silence. Though along the way, Aiko noticed at least a couple of other people holding these stickers on their clothes. Each sticker depicted a different kind of creature. Aiko furrowed her brows as she saw this. These few people that were holding these stickers seemed to congregate with others that did. Aiko wasn't sure if these people actually knew each other or if they were together just to feel safer. Aiko found Oda about to put the sticker on but she snatched it from his hand.
"What are you doing?" asked Oda incredulously as Aiko crumbled up the sticker and tossed it into the nearby trash can.
"Relax. They can't complain if they don't know what you are," said Aiko with a wink. Oda sighed.
"Look, I don't blame you for not wanting to be seen around me," said Oda. Aiko's eyes widened in alarm.
"Hey, I didn't mean it like that. I just thought you'd be more comfortable. I-I can get it back if you want," said Aiko as she approached the trash can.
"N-No. It's OK..." said Oda as he rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry, I'm just nervous."
The two teens were locked in an awkward silence. Aiko was internally groaning in dismay. This date was already off to a bad start. Aiko looked around and found some food stands. People were lined up for the food. The girl could pick off the delicious smell of the food.
"Are you hungry? Those octopus balls are smelling good," said Aiko with a smile.
Later, the two were sitting at an empty bench. People passed by, enjoying their time at the festival. Oda looked around with a grimace as he found a number of people to be dressed in kimonos.
"I can't help but feel under dressed," said Oda as he looked at his own collar shirt, sweater and jeans.
"Don't worry about that. We're not here to impress these people," said Aiko as she poked a small stick into one of the octopus balls. The meal was comprised of course of diced octopus, egg and flour that was fried into a small bite sized meal. She poked the ball, as the grease and sauce began to spill out into the box that the other balls were held in. Aiko blew on the piece, turning to Oda.
'OK, just like how Rei taught you,' thought Aiko. She cleared her throat as Oda turned her way. He noticed Aiko smiling at him with a coy look as she held out the piece to him.
"Say 'ah'~." said Aiko. Oda blushed in embarrassment.
"I-I uh..." Oda looked to the box he had resting on his lap.
"Come on, just have a taste. I got the spicy. It's really good~," sang Aiko as she held the octopus ball closer to him. Oda gulped as he found the girl leaning closer to him.
"Ah.." Oda opened his mouth. Aiko carefully brought the octopus ball into his mouth, which Oda closed. Aiko suppressed a giggle as her cheeks flushed at Oda's adorable reaction.
"Good, huh?" asked Aiko. Oda nodded with a blush as he chewed. Aiko picked at another one of her meal and proceeded to plop it into her mouth. Oda gasped with a furious blush.
"What?" asked Aiko with a shrug.
"You know that you used that to feed me, right?" asked Oda. Aiko merely looked to the pick she was using. She then glanced at Oda. Aiko smirked as she turned his way, while she plopped another into her mouth. She made sure to keep eye contact as she slowly removed the pick from her lips.
"Mmm mm~." Aiko hummed teasingly. Oda was flabbergasted. Something was certainly different with Aiko these days, he thought.
Aiko and Oda were strolling through the park. The girl made sure that the two were locked arm and arm throughout the whole time. She recalled that Rei said that this was a good way to keep a guy's attention. So, she did just that.
Around the teens, families and couples roamed through the park. It seemed that the festival was drawing in a lot of people from town. It was a good thing that Aiko was holding on, because the two sometimes ran into a sea of crowded areas. They'd be separated if otherwise. Aiko sighed to herself in annoyance. This was much like her daily life of heading to school and back in the crowded city. Aiko decided to lead Oda to the side to other stands. It was here that she realized that they arrived where a lot of festival games were set up.
"Hey, this could be fun!" said Aiko as she towed Oda over to a stand. The two stopped at a game where there were colorful cartoony ducks carried on rods. The ducks bore targets on them as the background was painted to look like a pond. Aiko smiled as she found some of the prizes that were hanging at the sides of the stand. They were mainly colorful stuffed animals.
"Hey, can we have a go with this?" asked Aiko, turning to the man that was running the stand.
"That'll be 1000 Yen per person," said the stand runner. Aiko reached into her satchel, drawing out her wallet. She took out a few yen coins. Oda grimaced as the girl handed the man coins so casually. Aiko noticed his expression.
"Something wrong?" asked Aiko.
"Should you really spend money like that?" asked Oda worriedly.
"It's fine. We're here to have fun, remember? The money I have for today is for the festival," said Aiko as the stand runner handed her a BB gun. Oda was handed one as well.
"If you say so," said Oda in reluctance. While he was happy to be here with Aiko, he felt bad for her being the one to pay for everything. It was a bit humiliating if Oda had to be honest.
The shooting range game began to whir as the mechanisms inside began to move. The ducks began to move along the back, as duck quacks filled the air. Aiko took aim and began to fire off the gun. BBs were fed from the tube that was connected underneath the rifle. Aiko pulled the trigger as her sights locked on the target. The metallic targets jingled as the BBs made contact, knocking the ducks down. At the dash board, there were two digital score boards counting off the points of each hit. The points were based on the distance from where the targets are hit, with the further ducks in the back row being worth more points.
As Aiko fired, she heard Oda cursing under her breath. She looked to the side and found Oda slightly hunched as he aimed the rifle. He had a stiff posture as he fired. He cursed as he missed the targets, hitting the background instead.
"Riku, try straightening out your back more and lean forward a bit. And try focusing your sights on that thing sticking out at the end of the gun," suggested Aiko. Oda glanced at her and then shrug. He began to lean forward and adjust his posture. He then focused his sights on the dark tip that stuck out at the end of the rifle, as Aiko said. He aimed the gun at one of the passing targets and fired. The duck quacked as it was knocked down, adding points to Oda's score. The boy grinned.
"Hey, it worked!" said Oda. Aiko chuckled as she went back to shooting. The two teens spent the next minute shooting down their targets. Aiko was making high scores with her shots, while Oda was way behind. Though he didn't pay any mind to that, considering that he was happy just being able to hit something. Soon, the game ended. The BBs stopped coming out and the ducks went still.
"Nice score, kid!" said the stand runner as he reached up to the top of the rack and pulled down a red cartoony octopus. The plush was large, bearing a big horn-like mouth and big black eyes. On its head was a sailor hat. Aiko took the plush while Oda was handed a small stuffed Hedgehog. He chuckled as he held it, finding it to hold brown flaps that were cut to look like quills.
"Aw. Look at this little guy," said Oda as he held the plushie to Aiko. He noticed that as he held the stuffed animal near her, he found some resemblance. He suppressed a snort while Aiko scowled.
"Yeah, yeah. My hair's spiky like a porcupine," said Aiko with a roll of her eyes.
"It's a hedgehog, Yamada-san," chuckled Oda. Aiko scoffed in annoyance.
"Jeez, you're mean," said Aiko, turning away with her octopus with a pout.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to laugh," said Oda with a smile. Aiko smirked as she glanced at him. She turned as she held out her prize.
"Well, I think this guy reminds a lot like you too," said Aiko. Oda raised a brow.
"Because I'm reclusive?" asked Oda.
"No, because you're awkward and lanky," said Aiko with a teasing smile. Oda snorted.
"What?" asked Oda. Aiko chuckled.
"Come on, you deserved that. Besides, you-" Aiko reached for Oda and began to playfully squeeze his arm. However, she felt tight and solid muscle fibers to be present. Aiko pulled her hand away with a blush.
"Oh." Aiko stood with wide eyes. Oda smirked.
"Not so lanky anymore, huh?" asked Oda. Aiko scoffed.
"Don't get cocky. If not for me, you wouldn't have those muscles," said Aiko. Oda crossed his arms in amusement.
"Yeah, but it was my determination that got me this far, wasn't it?" Oda retorted. Aiko smiled.
"That's true. You've impressed me, actually," said Aiko as she took Oda's arm and began to walk with him.
The two teens spent the whole afternoon participating in whatever activities were provided during the festival. They ate whatever delicious snacks and meals that they could consume, and played whatever games that were around. Though during the time, Oda had a grimace on his face every time that Aiko drew money from her wallet. He couldn't focus on enjoying himself for very long as he kept thinking about how she was the one spending.
"Riku?" called a voice. Oda turned away as Aiko ordered some sweets at another stand. The boy found a familiar man to be sitting by a small food stand.
"Goro-san?" Oda bore a surprised look. He approached the stand, finding the tag on Goro's shirt. The tag depicted a bipedal dinosaur-like creature emblem.
"I didn't know Transmutants were allowed to set up stands here," said Oda.
"Well we're not exactly popular. But I'm just helping out a friend here while she's at the restroom," said Goro. Oda looked to the stand, finding a bunch of sweet treats to be for sell.
"She makes these?" asked Oda in surprise.
"Yep. They're homemade," said Goro. Oda stared, finding the sweets to be made up of cookies, brownies and other pastries.
"Wow. They look good," said Oda.
"You wanna buy one?" asked Goro. Oda sighed.
"I uh... dont have a whole lot of money. I wasn't expecting to be here," said Oda.
"Well what do you have?" asked Goro.
"About 1800 Yen," said Oda. Goro raised a brow.
"Kid, you can afford these sweets. The cheapest things are the brownies, which are 400 Yen each," said Goro.
"Agh but I'm dirt poor. She'd never go for it," said Oda in dismay. Goro raised his brows in surprise.
"Oh. You're here with a girl?" asked Goro. He then noticed a woman to be approaching the stand.
"Is there a problem here, young man?" asked the woman, her eyes falling on Oda.
"No, sorry," said Oda as he began to walk off. Goro quickly stood up.
"Riku, hold on!" called Goro, raising his hand. Oda turned back to him with a sigh.
"What's this about, son? You obviously have more than enough money to spend," said Goro. The woman glared at him.
"Hey, you better not be scaring off the customers," said the woman in disapproval.
"Me?!" asked Goro incredulously. The woman ignored him and looked to Oda with a sweet smile.
"Dear, would you like to purchase any sweets for your sweetie? I guarantee you'll be satisfied~," said the woman. Oda grimaced as he reached into his pocket for his wallet. The woman frowned.
"Don't like sweets?" asked the woman.
"No, he was going to tell me until you interrupted," said Goro in annoyance. The woman looked to him with an offended expression.
"Excuse me, I had something to take care of!" said the woman. Goro rolled his eyes as he turned back to the teen.
"You said something about a girl not going for you because you're poor or something?" asked Goro.
"Oh! Then if that's the case, have some on the house!" said the woman as she held up a plate of brownies.
"Don't just give away your baked goods! He has money!" said Goro in disapproval.
"I-It's not that. The prices are reasonable. It's just..." Oda looked back, finding Aiko waiting by another stand as a small meal was cooked up.
"The girl I'm with has insisted on paying for everything here. I may not have a whole lot to last most of the day, but still. Just her being the one to pay is just..." Oda looked down as he thought of the word.
"Emasculating?" asked Goro.
"Well... That too. But also... You know my family's situation," said Oda with a frown. Goro nodded in understanding. He rubbed his fuzzy bearded chin.
"Yeah, I know it's rough for you guys right now," said Goro. Oda sighed in dismay.
"Maybe I'm just kidding myself. No way she'd go for me," said Oda. In spite of Aiko's supposed flirting, Oda lowered his hopes. There was no way she actually liked him. All of that was just simple teasing. Nothing more, nothing less.
"Now hold on," interjected the woman.
"You don't have to be a rich man to win a girl's heart. You have to have a good heart. That's what really counts. The finances are second. If you have someone to love, you'll have the strength to work hard for the dough!" said the woman. Oda bore a confused look.
"So money does matter," said Oda.
"Well... Yes, for groceries and air conditioning. But it’s the love that matters the most," said the woman, forcing a smile. Goro sighed.
"Kid, if you're hurting for money, then why not work part time? That way you can pay for her instead," suggested Goro. Oda looked down in thought.
"Huh. Why didn’t i think of that?" said Oda to himself. He looked to the two adults with a greatful smile.
"Thank you. I think I'll buy some of those brownies," said Oda as he drew out 800 yen and handed it to Goro. The woman then took four brownies and placed them on a paper plate. Oda sent her an odd look.
"I thought one brownie was worth 400 Yen," said Oda in confusion. The woman smiled coyly as she sat down a small sign on the table. It read, 'Buy One , Get One Extra Free, For Couples Only.'
Oda bore an embarrassed smile as he walked off. The woman smiled warmly as she waved to him. Oda soon came across Aiko, who held two small trays filled with fried noodles.
"Hey, what's that you have?" asked Aiko.
"Oh these? I-I just thought they'd be good. I have kind of a sweet tooth," said Oda. He then walked off with a gesture of his head.
"Come on!" said Oda. Aiko looked to the stand he was at. A blush appeared on her face as she saw the offer on the sign.
It was later into the afternoon. The sun was beginning to set over the park. The festival still went on. Aiko and Oda were sitting together at a table. The two were sipping on their own respective soft drinks, taking a break from all of their walking.
"Those brownies weren't bad," said Aiko. Oda nodded in agreement.
"Oh absolutely," said Oda as he ate. He looked to the girl curiously.
"Where did you learn to shoot, by the way? Those tips for that game were handy," said Oda.
"My uncle's in the Self-Defense Force. He taught me a bit once, though they were BBs. I never shot a real gun in my life," said Aiko. Oda hummed with a look of interest. Aiko began to tap on her soda can awkwardly.
"Hey, mind if I ask you something?" asked Aiko.
"What is it?" asked Oda.
"What's the deal with those sticker tags? I mean I know what they're for. But what's with the emblems. Yours had like an armadillo, dinosaur thing," said Aiko with a raised brow.
"How much do you know about my kind?" asked Oda. Aiko shrugged.
"Not a whole lot, to be honest," said Aiko.
"OK, I'll make it short but informative. Transmutants have a unique trait, aside from the physical abilities. As the name of our kind implies, we can transform our bodies into another form," said Oda. Aiko's brows raised.
"Really?" asked Aiko.
"Yeah. Some lineages have a specific form. For example, my family changes into that reptile that was on the emblem. The government keeps our lineages and forms on record," said Oda.
"Can you... change right now if you wanted?" asked Aiko curiously. Oda shook his head.
"No. There's been a lot of efforts to keep us 'tamed' as they'd say. Their most successful one so far is implanting us with these chips that somehow keep us from changing. I had to get mine when I was five," said as he rubbed his back. Aiko's expression softened.
"Sorry I asked," said Aiko, looking away in shame.
"No, it's OK. I'm not upset," said Oda with a reassuring smile. Aiko looked to Oda with a warm expression. He cleared his throat as he looked down at the table, unable to meet Aiko's gaze with the sun shining over her face, giving her a divine appearance.
"Hey... Thanks for inviting me. I'm having a good time," said Oda. Aiko looked down at her can, a pleased blushing smile on her face.
"I'm glad..." said Aiko in a small tone. While the date had a rough start, it turned out pretty well after wards. She was happy that she was able to get Oda out of his shell, much like how he got her out of her own.
"Yo, Yamada!" called a familiar voice. Aiko turned and found Kobayashi to be strolling by. The girl sported a pair of tight jeans, a shirt that exposed her belly and a belly piercing. Oda looked at Aiko curiously.
"Friend of yours?" asked Oda. Aiko waved to Kobayashi as she approached their table.
"I guess you could say that," said Aiko with a smile.
"I wasn't expecting to see ya here. Nice outfit. Hey, is this the guy you've been talking nonstop about?" asked Kobayashi as she found Oda sitting. Aiko blushed furiously as she laughed nervously.
"I-I haven't been talking nonstop! I mentioned him once!" said Aiko as she avoided eye contact with Oda. Kobayashi smirked at the girl's flustered state. She began to analyze Oda.
"Hmm. You sure know how to pick them," said Kobayashi. Oda glanced at Aiko, who was hiding her face in embarrassment. The boy couldn't help but feel his heart race, seeing her reaction.
"Riku!" called an enraged yet familiar voice. Oda stiffened as he heard the voice. He turned and found Hanamura to be approaching.
"Uh oh," said Oda.
"You cost me my grades, you piece of shit!" said Hanamura with a glare. Aiko narrowed her eyes as she, Oda, and Kobayashi stood. People began to take notice of the shouting. Some left the area while some looked over their shoulders to watch. From behind Hanamura, a few girls and boys, including Saki and Yuri, appeared. All of these teens wore tags that depicted different creature emblems.
"Wait, you mean you didn't study on your own after I refused to do your work for you?" asked Oda incredulously. Kobayashi snorted.
"And here I thought I was dumb," said Kobayashi in amusement.
"Hanamura, come on! Just let it go!" said Yuri with a huff.
"Yeah, babe! He's not worth it!" said another girl. Hanamura scoffed as he removed his jacket.
"No, I'm sick of this guy looking down on me! He thinks he's hot shit just because he's gained a little meat on those twigs he calls arms!" said Hanamura.
"Hanamura, come on. We don't need to do this," said Oda, his expression turning to worry. During this, Kobayashi noticed the tags on the other teens and then looked to Oda. She leaned close to Aiko.
"Psst. Is your boyfriend a mutant?" asked Kobayashi. Aiko quickly waved her hand away.
"W-We'll talk about that later," said Aiko as she took Oda's arm.
"Oda, come on. Don't engage them," said Aiko as she began to walk with Oda and Kobayashi. The last thing there needed to be was conflict in a place like this. She had to get Oda away from the belligerent Transmutant. Oda's eyes widened in surprise.
'Did she just...' As Oda was led away, Hanamura growled angrily as Oda ignored him. He grabbed a container that held a spicy condiment. The teen rushed to Oda and yanked him away from Aiko and squeezed the condiment into his face. Oda gave an agonized cry as the condiment burned his eyes. He collapsed on the ground as Aiko and Kobayashi bore horrified looks.
"Hanamura!" screamed one of the girls from the Transmutant's group.
"That's what happens when you ignore me," said Hanamura with a cruel smile as he kicked Oda, who gave inhuman cries of anguish. Aiko suddenly lunged for Hanamura and sent a punch into his jaw. Hanamura collapsed to the ground, dazed. Aiko quickly kneeled before Oda, who was screaming in agony.
"Here, hold his head!" said Kobayashi as she poured water into his face from a bottle. Some people fled while a few watched. A couple of by standers went over to help Oda.
"He has to open his eyes!" said a man as he drew out his own water bottle. Aiko was holding Oda's hand tightly as his head was held in place.
"You're gonna be OK!" said Aiko, her tone panicked. She was mainly telling that to herself rather than the victim in question.
"Jesus, what the hell is the matter with you?!" demanded Yuri as Hanamura shook off his daze. He found that Oda was having water poured over his now open eyes. A woman rushed over with a gallon of milk from her stand. Hanamura was stunned at how that girl managed to knock him down. It was then that he recognized her as that girl that Oda was hanging with at the ramen shop.
The way she was clinging to his arm hinted that the two were close. Hanamura began piece the puzzle together. It had to be her. That girl was the reason why Oda suddenly grew a spine. She ruined the routine.
Hanamura stood up and began to approach. However, a few men in uniform came rushing through the crowd. The crowd departed in panic as the men drew out hand guns.
"Don't move!" said one of the security guards. Hanamura was suddenly forced to the ground and was cuffed.
"Get that freak out of here!" said a Neighponese man, the head of the security. He bore the MONARCH uniform.
The security guards began to force Hanamura onto his feet. He grunted as he struggled. He glared at Aiko.
"You'll regret this!" shouted Hanamura as he was hauled off.
"You OK?" asked Aiko as she helped Oda onto his feet. Oda winced as he rubbed his still burning eyes, his face, hair and shirt drenched from the liquids poured on him. While he had some relief from the severity, his eyes had grown pink and puffy.
"Hey, on your knees!" ordered a guard as he pointed to Oda. Aiko recoiled in shock.
"Wha-" Aiko was ushered back as two guards approached Oda, guns drawn. Oda shakily got on his knees as two the remaining guards surrounded him. His heart raced in his chest, as traumatic memories flooded his mind from his childhood.
"Why are messing with him?! He didn't do anything wrong!" said Aiko.
"Check his wrists," barked the head of security. Oda held out his arms as one of the guards pulled his sleeves back.
"Got a Tattoo," said the guard. The head of security narrowed his eyes on the boy, who kept his eyes to the ground.
"Where's your tag, freak? You're supposed to keep it on you at all time!" The man growled. Oda was beginning to sweat. Despite the efforts he made to be stronger, he was still a coward deep down. He couldn't even look this man in the eye.
Aiko suddenly stood in front of Oda. She glared at the head of security with glare.
"Leave him alone! Can't you see he's hurt?! Why don't you go bother those-" Aiko stopped. She noticed that the rest of Hanamura's group were nowhere in sight. They must have fled the scene, she thought.
"Get out of the way! This thing needs to learn his place! All of them do!" shouted the man, startling the crowd. Aiko hardened her expression.
"He's not a thing. He's a person," said Aiko, her voice trembled with anger. She couldn't fathom what would drive this kind of hostility from a person to another. As Aiko knelt down to stand Oda to his feet, the man scoffed.
"He's a beast. And like beasts, he can't be tamed. This is why they shouldn't be allowed to be at festivals such as this! A mutant that can't control itself belongs in a cage," said the man. Aiko shot up as her anger reached its boiling point.
Aiko had her fist balled up. In her blind rage, she was about to punch the head of security. But before she could raise her fist, Oda grabbed her wrist as he stood. Aiko turned back and found the boy looking at her, his eyes puffy from the spicy condiment that was sent into them. Oda shook his head as he held Aiko's wrist.
Oda felt the girl tremble. She was like a volatile force ready to explode. Aiko sighed heavily as she began to calm down. She took Oda's hand, not looking at the head of security.
"Let's get the fuck out of here," said Aiko as she walked away with Oda. People cleared away from their path.
The sun was setting. Oda and Aiko were walking away from the festival. The music began to fade from their hearing as they traveled deeper into the park. Aiko was fuming.
"That bastard! Who does he think he is?!" said Aiko. Oda said nothing as he held an ice pack under his eyes to sooth the burning.
"It's bad enough that they treat you guys like dogs! But MONARCH takes the cake! What the hell is an Equestrian military organization doing here acting as a security force here at a family festival?!" asked Aiko. The two began to walk up to a hill where a tree stood.
"Don't you know? The Marines were restructured as MONARCH after the Revolution of-"
"That's not what I meant! I know the whole thing about Equestra's government working with ours and what-not post World War 2 and all that. I at least hoped Equestrians would be understanding!" said Aiko. She groaned as she clenched her fists.
"I mean just the way they- If I was running MONARCH, I'd make a lot of changes!" said Aiko.
"MONARCH has never been fond of my kind. It's because of certain events that's caused this great division, it might always be that way," said Oda. Aiko turned to Oda, who gave her a look of understanding.
"We can't change an entire organization that's meant to keep us in line and defend its nation. That's why people like me have to follow the rules," said Oda. Aiko turned away as she walked to the tree.
"But you didn't do anything wrong," said Aiko. A look of guilt was on the girl's face. Maybe if she hadn't gotten rid of Oda's tag, he wouldn't have gotten into trouble. It should've been her being yelled at and held at gun point. Not Oda.
"It's in the past. Hanamura frankly got what was coming to him. Plus I got out of there fine," said Oda as he approached Aiko. The girl didn't face him but felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Let's move on and enjoy the rest of the day. I heard they're supposed to be lighting fireworks," said Oda. Aiki softly sighed as she nodded.
The two teens sat down on the hill together, setting aside their stuffed animals they had won. The tree stood behind them as they watched as the sun began to set. Aiko stared off at sky as the blue had long since disappeared, becoming a warm yellow and orange tone. Stars began to show up in the sky, as the moon seemed to have grown brighter. While the two weren't looking on at an ancient castle, the atmosphere of this park had beauty in it. Aiko wouldn't have been able to recognize it if she hadn't met Oda.
"You... You called me, Oda," said the boy awkwardly. Aiko looked at him oddly. Then she jumped as she processed what he said.
"Th-that's your name, isn't it?" said Aiko, putting an indifferent facade. Oda scratched his head.
"Right. Forget I said anything," said Oda with a forced chuckle. He looked back to the festival, a sad smile on his face. Aiko frowned as her cheeks flushed.
'Why did I play it off like that?' thought Aiko. It was common in Neighpon for people to refer to each other by a surname basis. This was a formality, often done among acquaintances, teachers, students, and even friends. Those who normally referred to each other by a first name basis were often family members, sometimes close friends, or even lovers. Aiko had called Oda by his first name without thinking during that time.
For Oda, it was a big deal for her to refer to him by his first name. It's a sign of her developed feelings. However, Aiko had simply brushed it off, having gotten cold feet to express her feelings.
As the two teens sat together, their inner turmoil began grow. The things that they've been feeling for some time has been escalating today. Their chests ached, threatening to collapse unless they somehow settled themselves. They knew how, but both were afraid to make the first move. The teens dreaded of ruining what they had because of their own selfish desires. But they both knew that being stagnant would be worse.
Aiko was about to speak. However, she stopped as Oda turned to face her.
"There's something I have to tell you," said Oda. Aiko remained silent, feeling her anxiety grow from keeping her feelings bottled down just when she was about to release them. Oda began to awkwardly look around as he stuttered.
"I-I I wanna say... I mean, if you do too... That is..." Oda blushed intensely. He hated being this way. The coward that couldn't speak his mind. Even at the most crucial moment, he can't speak what's on his mind, and his heart. A purr-like sound began to rumble in the air. He held his mouth as Aiko looked around in confusion.
"Is there a cat around here?" asked Aiko,she turned to Oda, to see that the purring was emitting from him.
"Yamada-san" said Oda in a worried tone. Aiko looked over his nervous mannerisms, his struggle to put together a sentence, the purring sound, and the blush on his face. Aiko felt her heart flutter as she put the pieces together.
"I..." Oda gave a defeated sigh. Aiko merely greeted him with a smirk. The girl began to scoot closer to him. She brought her legs over and rested them over his lap. Oda flushed with a shocked expression, as Aiko wrapped her arms over his shoulders.
"It's OK. You don't have to say it. I feel the same way," said Aiko with a soft tone. She leaned in and snuggled over the boy's shoulder. Their hearts were in synch as they raced in their chests. Oda felt a growing smile as Aiko cuddled with him. Aiko pressed her ear on Oda's shoulder, feeling and hearing the vibrations of his purring. He wrapped an arm around her back to give her support and comfort as she leaned close. He then felt the girl look at him with a seductive look as she took his other hand.
Aiko brought Oda's hand to rest over her leg. She began to caress his hand, prompting Oda to caress her leg. Aiko shuddered as her spin tingled, while Oda gulped. His mind went numb as his palm ran over the soft fabric of her tights, wrapped over her strong long legs.
"Oda..." whispered Aiko as she bit her lip, shifting over Oda's lap in pleasure. The two locked eyes. The starry night sky reflected off of their irises. As the two stared, a distant whistle filled the air. There was a boom, prompting the teens to turn and looked to the festival. Fireworks were being launched into the air, exploding into the night sky. The two teens shared a brief chuckle. Aiko hummed as she leaned her head on Oda, still holding onto him. The boy rested his hand under her thigh as he held her by her back. The two were enveloped in each other's warmth as they watched the fireworks. Both were in total bliss.