CHAPTER 21

          "You passed that math exam?"

          "For the last time, yes Kyo-nii," I hissed through my teeth. I held my exam before his eyes. "See that mark? It's all due to the wonderful workings of my genius mind."

          And someone to help your sorry ass, my mind added. I brushed the notion aside. Hiro's tutoring did play its part but I was the one who brought this upon myself. My determination and conviction (and also the other overdone yadda Wannabe had kept rambling about).

         But most of all, it was because the annual anime convention today—Christmas Eve—was at stake. If I didn't pass, I knew for certain that if it wasn't Suzuki-sensei, Kyo would definitely chew me out. And I swear he was seconds away from going all Super Saiyan on me if I didn't pull out this midterm exam mark.

        Kyo's frown of distaste didn't waver the slightest as he eyed it up and down. "More like idiotic mind. Seventy-five points is terrible."

        "But it's still a pass," I pressed, quirking an eyebrow and daring him to tell me otherwise.

        He easily succumbed under my look and dropped my test onto the tabletop. He groaned. "It's still a pass."

         Stars filled my eyes and I threw my arms into the air. "Yes! Yes! Anime merchandise galore!"

        Kyo reached for his wallet and slipped out a couple of bills. "Then, as we agreed, instead of a gift I'll give you this money instead. But like I told you, don't waste this cash on useless purchases like that one creepy cat statue you keep on your dresser—"

         "Yes! More 'The "Hentai" Prince and the Stony Cat' merchandise!"

         His head dropped. "It's like I'm talking to a brick wall."

        I snorted at that one and swiped the cash from his hands. I swooped down and gave him a hug. Then I was clambering up the stairs to my bedroom, nearly slipping as I did.

        "Thanks, big bro! I'll get ready!"

        "Take care of yourself!" he called after me.

         Thinking of the many anime characters waiting for me at my destination and the extra income besides the money my brother had graced me with (my Thousand Sunny coin bank to be precise), I shut my door with a broad grin. Oh, they'd take care of me plenty.

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Mangas, CD's, posters, seiyuu performances... Not to mention the amazing cosplays and atmosphere! Conventions were always so amazing to go to! Especially this yearly one I always planned for.

Maybe regular teenage girls would be fantasizing about their boyfriends or making plans with their friends, but even if I went alone the convention was a bundle of fun.

Not to mention, all the new anime merchandise I've bought were an asset also.

I dragged my feet through the bubbling city filled with the murmurs of carols and brightly gleaming lights and ornaments. The jingles of bells echoed with every sway of the wintry breeze, and even with the crunching of snow beneath my boots, I was too busy drooling over my cluster of merch I couldn't fit into my bag.

"So many bishounens and bishoujos... And a gorgeous poster of my favourite character from My Hero Academia!" I sighed dreamily, twirling around on the empty road as I ogled the Todoroki Shouto poster in my hands. "I can die happy~!"

        Passersby were no doubt gawking at me. While they consisted of lovey-dovey couples here I was, saliva running down my face as I walked hand in hand with a mere poster. But to hell with that! And whoever couldn't accept typical fangirl behaviour, to hell with them!

Whatever idiot insisted Christmas was no place for the lone spirit, they needed a little knock on the head to fix their loose screws. I mean, I was single for sixteen years of my life and I turned out perfectly fine, right? A little sad maybe but I was living!

"Thanks for coming!"

The tiny shout and ching of a cash register that resounded halted my train of thought. I looked up at the steamed bun shop ahead expecting to meet more judgmental eyes towards me and Todoroki's handsome face. Which is precisely why it was to the least of my expectations to find Yuji standing there, dressed in a dark leather jacket, his almond-shaped eyes as shrunk back as equally as mine. A bag of steamed buns was held in his hand and also one not-so-elegantly hanging from his mouth.

His face had lit up in recognition and he muffled, "Oh, Miyuki."

——————————————————

        "So what brings an antisocial otaku like yourself out in regular society?"

        Yuji continued to chow down on the steamed bun in his mouth, leaning against the railing we were slumped against side by side. I fought back an eye roll and settled with tapering my eyelids into a glare.

         "Do you actually expect me to answer that extremely rude question?"

         Yuji stifled a laugh, covering his mouth as he did. Then he swallowed whatever contents was remaining in his puffed cheeks and produced a toothy grin. "I'm just saying," he said. "It's Christmas Eve and you're willingly merging with a crowd. It's a little sketchy no matter how you look at it."

        "You think I'm some kind of shut-in?"

        He wagged his finger. "Antisocial shut-in."

        I shook my head with a sigh. "And why does a shut-in have to go hand in hand with an otaku? You clearly don't know your stuff."

        Yuji quirked a brow but that didn't dissipate his humour.

        "Forget about me," I said. "Where's your usual posse?"

        A snort left Yuji's mouth. "Well, our posse is a little tied up at the moment."

         I ignored his notion and waited for him to explain further.

         "Well, Hinata's out celebrating with his family. I'm still not entirely sure what Kazu's family's up to, but at least mine, Saki's and Hiro's parents are having this huge Christmas banquet. The two of them are stuck with the formalities there now."

         Because the three businesses were interconnected. As the thought crossed my mind, I scrunched up my mouth. "And why exactly aren't you there?"

         He shrugged. "I ditched. I hate those stuffy parties. Being out in the city like this without a care in the world is for me."

         Humming, I brought the bun he'd offered me earlier to my mouth. As I nibbled on the chocolate steamed bun, I took a look into the scenery around us; the bright flashing lights and swell tunes. After I tossed the last bit of the delicious snack, Yuji rounded to me. His typically playful grin still hadn't fallen.

         "It's good, right?" he said. He reached into his bag and pulled out another one, extending it out for me. "Try this."

        I gladly received the thing from him after succumbing to his eagerness, then took a bite only to smile from the sweetness. "Yum. Anman."

         "Right? I can never get tired of the stuff. My step-mom always tells me to refrain from eating out since it's unhealthy, but—" Yuji stopped his ramble and swerved to me, eyelids raising. "Oh, wait. Am I keeping you from something?"

         "Nah, I was just coming home from a convention," I assured him, gesturing to my bag and poster for emphasis. "Besides, I'm being fed so I'm fine here."

         Yuji leaned back against the railing, chuckling richly. After throwing another bun into his mouth and finishing it in practically two bites (the guy seriously ate so much for a guy of his lithe stature) he crumpled up the bag and tossed it into the nearby trash bin. He then once again twisted his body until he was looming before me.

         "Then, considering you have nothing better to do, want to come hang with me?"

        I made a face at the offer. "I've actually got quite a lot of new mangas to read. Plus, my bed is kinda calling for me—"

        "Oh c'mon!" He snapped his hands over my wrists, nearly making me drop the snack. "You have the rest of winter vacation to read them. And your bed can wait for you."

        "Probably," I agreed. "But I don't think I can for it."

        "Miyuki."

        I was tugged forward along the pavement until we reached the convenience store parking and a vehicle that made my jaw fall to the ground.

        "You ride a—"

        "Got it for my birthday last August," Yuji enlightened me, slipping off a helmet off his bike and tossing me one. "It's hella fun."

        As Yuji swung one leg over the seat, he extended his hand out to me to grab. I briefly surveyed the situation with my eyes.

       Seeing my hesitation, Yuji lifted off his helmet, disappointment revealed in his features. "What, are you too scared to come?"

       I swallowed hard. "Well," I said.

       "Well?"

       "My anime merchandise. They might get ruined."

        Yuji collapsed over his handlebars. He heaved a heavy sigh. "Seriously, Miyuki?"

        I gripped my posters tighter to my body. "Excuse you. This is very much more than a first world problem. I studied my ass off and passed that exam. I think I at least deserve my UtaPri figurines to remain in one piece—"

        As the last word left my tongue, Yuji's fingers had wrapped around mine and he yanked me towards himself. I stumbled forward as a result, nearly losing my footing if it wasn't for his tight grip. Under the glaring lights, flecks amidst his brown eyes twinkled with vast amusement.

        "Jeez," he breathed. "I can't believe how moody you are. It's a holiday; relax a bit won't you?" A grin danced across his lips. "Roll that poster up and stuff it in your bag. Let me show you a cool place."

       I was stuck staring at him a while longer until my skin began to crawl with goosebumps. Regardless if it were due to the weather or discomfort, Yuji didn't appear the slightest bothered by our proximity. I'd seen him exasperated before, sure, but other than that he was always wearing that stupidly smug smile on his face. Did he glue his face up like that or something?

I drew away from him, gazing down at my poster. Soon, my eyes flickered back to him, interested.

       "Cool how?"

       His amusement swelled. "Well, that..." Slipping the helmet from my arms onto my head, he draped it over my eyes. I quickly lifted it only to find myself already sitting on the back end of his bike, hands secured around his abdomen. He winked as he revved the engine by twisting the handlebars. "You'll find out if you tag along."

        Without even waiting to give me a warning, Yuji sped out of the place. The whiplash of the sudden burst of wind pushed me back and my heart stopped in my chest. I hurriedly tightened my grip on his torso, keeping my poster safe between our bodies. My pulse quickened as I breathed heavily to calm myself down.

        "You devil," I accused. "I wasn't ready!"

        Yuji produced a hearty laugh. "I hear she never is."

        "She?" Scouting the buildings we were blowing past on this vacant portion of the city, it didn't take long for it to click in my head. "You dirty-minded—"

        He slowed to an unexpected halt at a red light, but that didn't stop my face from lurching forward into his shoulder blade. I winced, and his uncontrollable laughter still hadn't relented.

        "Who the frick gave you your licence?"

        "You're overreacting. Here, hold me tighter." Eyes forward, he patted his warm, slender fingers over my cold ones. I wasn't left with much choice but to do as he said. The constricting contact strung my insides weirdly, maybe because Yuji was a grinning mess. I couldn't exactly share his fulfilment. "So now that you're officially squeezing the life out of me, we good to go?"

        His voice carried his strain but even then my grip didn't relent. I was most likely better off jumping from this very bike and saving both my life and my merchandise but when the light flickered to a green and the calm evening air blew through my hair, it managed to settle my nerves.

        Then in that comfortable silence between the two of us, Yuji manoeuvred his way through the streets and out to a more isolated area. We'd left my familiar surroundings in a flash so seeing us go through a deserted and rundown expanse clenched my nerves with sudden apprehension.

        "Yuji," I pressed, jerking my head left and right. "Where the hell are we?"

        "Hmm?" he called out, the wind current muffling his voice. Maybe it was doing the same to mine.

        I frowned. "I'm saying if this is some ploy of yours to get us alone with no help because you're secretly not who you say you are and plan to get me jumped by some gang members—"

        "We're here!"

        My voice got lodged in my throat as he turned towards the edge of the road and stopping his vehicle. As he twisted out the key and slipped off his helmet, he hopped off his bike. As my hands were still around him, I followed with him, warily staring out at the rundown scenery and ruined buildings.

        "Where the hell are we?" I reiterated.

        Yuji snorted, "Miyuki, can you let go of me?" He was met with resistance which caused him to sigh. "You dropped your poster."

         My arms flung away from him at once and whipping my neck around, I fixed my gaze on my precious item on the floor. I raced towards it in a flash, picking it up and dusting it off. My sporadic heartbeat calmed down once it was back in pristine condition.

         I swivelled around after removing my helmet but Yuji was already ahead, venturing through the dusty rubble spread out amongst the road and grass. I grounded my teeth. I can't believe this guy!

          Groaning, I positioned the helmet next to his bike and hastened after him. It didn't take long for me to catch up but even then I made sure to keep careful watch of my eerie surroundings. When we turned a corner, Yuji extended out his arms.

           "We're officially here."

          I stepped after him and was momentarily winded. There were two worn down temples off to the sides and straight down the middle was a dilapidated stairway leading up to a destination I couldn't exactly see. Various vegetation was growing out from seemingly nowhere, draping over every inch of this place with ruined lanterns also hovering from above.

I looked at Yuji in a swell of disbelief. Was this what he was so excited about?

"Where is this place?" I demanded. "It's creepy as heck."

Yuji was already bounding up the steps. "Really? I think it's pretty cool. Doesn't it make you want to go explore to see what's inside?"

I chewed on my lip. But seeing how we still had a bit of daylight left and I didn't want to be left alone here, I went after him.

The way Yuji latched onto things and twirled around the area was proof of how familiar he was with this area.

"Can't we get in trouble for coming here?"

"Considering I've been here since I was ten I think we can rule out the possibility."

Yuji was at the top step, waving me on to follow him. Seeing my lazy couch potato behaviour, this flight of stairs was torture. Damn, I was unfit. Those people who actually took time to exercise—they were getting places in life besides their living room couch that's for sure.

Still... Wanderlust and a motorcycle? The guy's basically Karino Tadashi.

I suppressed my heavy breaths the best I could after arriving at the top. I bent over to my knees.

"Exaggerator," Yuji teased as he entered the dark pathway ahead.

Swallowing down the last of my hesitation, I followed in after him. "It seriously feels like the perfect place for Thanatos from Neo Angelique Abyss to appear."

Yuji was too far ahead. "Don't know what that is, but you're free to hug me again if you get too freaked out."

I scoffed, "Says the dude afraid of the ocean."

Yuji stiffened in place, shoulders squared as if he'd forgotten I'd known his secret. I sniggered, pushing away a branch in my path.

"You were worried about me," he pointed out, stiffly continuing forward. "Besides, you're the one that provoked me into going in the first place."

"Mhmm. And do you just feed yourself those excuses every day?"

He grunted. "Oh hush, Miyuki."

Another laugh pushed past my lips as I entered the threshold at the end of the long hallway. There was a slight light caving in from above—from a huge window with a bizarre design—but the majority of this room wasn't nearly as lit as outside. Nothing about the rundown mess hadn't shifted the least but there was still a rickety staircase extending further up, as well as this huge eerie statue off to the left of the room, succeeding in making me shiver.

I turned to Yuji, but at that exact moment I decided to open my mouth he opened his, "She's still here!"

Puzzled, I watched as he stumbled around a huge crater on the floorboard and towards the back end of the room where a cardboard box lay. Was he excited about a cardboard box? What kind of world have we come to?

I approached him from behind and that's when I heard it. A small, minuscule mewl. My eyelids shot up as Yuji who was squatting turned around to me with his hands clasped together. But hidden within his palms poked out a tiny, sleek black head with whiskers and semi-closed eyes. A kitten.

The tough exterior side of me didn't want to admit it my kind heart did melt at the sight.

"Oh my gosh."

"She's cute, right?" Yuji ran his finger through its scalp, smiling just as fondly as I was. "I found her here a while back."

I caught a glimpse of her neck and frowned. I peered into the cardboard box where a tiny blanket lay and a food bowl right outside of it. "Not even a collar?"

"I thought that if she had a mom it'd come back for her but I guess it still hasn't," Yuji responded.

         "Who in the right mind would leave such a vulnerable kitten out here in the middle of winter?"

         "When I found her she was shaking so much." He pressed his cheek against hers where she purred. "Ugh, I just want to take her home!"

         "You can't?" I asked.

        He pushed out his bottom lip. "My step-mom's allergic to cats."

         The kitten continued to meow and Yuji set it down back on the floor. Slipping off his bag off his shoulder, he pulled out some cat food as well as some water and filled out the bowls.

I crouched down beside him, watching as the cat hesitantly dug in. "So you brought this all for her?"

"Well, when I found her this stuff was already here. There just wasn't an owner," he said. "I'm thinking someone else came by and found her but also couldn't take her home."

"Did you talk to the other guys?"

"Not yet." He peeked my way. "You're the first. So what do you think?"

"If she had a little crescent moon on her forehead, the name Luna would be perfect."

Yuji shook his head, and this time it was my turn to laugh. The kitten trotted up to me and purred against my outstretched hand.

"I'll gladly take her in," I said and smiled. She was so darn cute. "But I should still ask my siblings first. Even still, I'll take her with me tonight and see what happens. We can't leave her out here any longer."

"So you have a soft spot for animals?" Yuji asked, watching me with a grin. "Not humans?"

"Guess so," I snorted. Besides anime and manga, cats were my ultimate weakness.

"Aww, and here I was starting to think I was special."

I returned a cheeky smile. "Keep dreaming, dude."

He hopefully craned his neck. "But you're not turned-off being here with me, right? Nothing like androphobia?"

Wasn't that the fear of men? I furrowed my brows. "Why would you think that?" I asked. I literally proclaimed my love for fictional dudes all the time!

Yuji shrugged. "It's just, you've been such a mess since Kouichi said he liked you."

I stiffened at the mention. I eyed him carefully, but nothing but sincerity was evident in his features. He wasn't teasing me this time.

"That's 'cause you guys make it so awkward," I accused. "Especially you, idiot."

Yuji held his arms up in defence. "I guess I am guilty of wanting to get a good laugh," he relented. "Real life guys proclaiming their love to someone as socially inept as you must be torturous, huh?"

My chest tightened. "He doesn't love me," I said, nudging it aside. "He was clearly exaggerating. I mean, mistaking my kindness for something like infatuation... Kouichi's too innocent."

Yuji sarcastically nodded. "Oh, of course. Because being invested in the 2D world obviously teaches a teenage girl a lot about romance."

I rolled my eyes, bumping his shoulder.

"So I'm guessing you've never had a crush either."

Hoisting myself on my feet, I ran my fingers through my hair that fell neatly onto my shoulders. "I have one almost every day." The words were easy to get off my tongue. "For example, Akashi Seijurou, Mabuchi Kou, Shin-ah, L—"

He cut me off with a heavy sigh, and after rising and towering over me from his height, a push between the brows. "I mean on a real dude or gal."

I nudged his arm aside. "That's such a waste of time."

"Is it?" he hummed, knocking his bag onto his shoulder. "I've never had one. I remember Saki had a one-sided crush once and she was a complete disaster. I seriously thought that if I were to go on such an emotional rollercoaster all the time I'm better off without feeling that way for someone."

Listening put a strain on my ears. "See? You don't have to worry about that with 2D people because they can never betray you—"

"Still," Yuji went on, that trademark twinkle in his eyes as he smiled once again, "even if she was an emotional mess, I'd never seen Saki so happy except back then. I'm thinking it's a double-edged sword, having feelings for someone. It's hopeless when you're constantly on the losing side, but if you're on the winning side, it can be the best thing to ever happen to you."

Yuji's words resounded within me, even though I didn't want them to. My eyebrows scrunched together and I hopped forward. "I should get going. It's getting late."

"Already?" Yuji dejectedly spun around. "Wait, let me give you a ride home."

"You are my ride home."

Yuji laughed, and after I scooped up Luna and headed back the way we came, he hurried after me.

"I seriously respect you," he said after we finally arrived at his bike. "Everyone else in the club is terrified when it comes to riding with me. Last time I took Saki somewhere for lunch and she nearly upchucked and insisted she walk home without me."

Yuji chuckled as if it were a fond memory.

I rolled my eyes. "I don't blame her; you are a crazy driver," I said. "But I mean if I end up on my deathbed just be sure to find Krul Tepes and ask her to spare me her blood to turn me into a vampire—"

I was cut off by the blare of a ringtone. I recognized it immediately wasn't mine considering it was a regular jingle and not an anime opening. Accordingly, Yuji reached into his back pocket and withdrew his phone. His eyes lit up at the Caller ID and he swiped to answer before putting it to his ear.

"Hey, Hiro. What's up?" He sighed after a pause. "I left when it started. Like hell I wanted to stay tied down to that kind of place— wait, what?"

All of a sudden, Yuji lost all means of nonchalance. Colour blanched from his features entirely and he stood straighter, eyes bulging. I was stuck observing, my stomach performing a tiny flop.

"When?" Yuji was already scrambling for his helmet with shaky fingers. "She's on the way? I'll meet you there then."

He ended the call in frenzy and pocketed it, already jumping onto his bike. He clicked his tongue, and for the first time ever Yuji couldn't have looked any more exasperated.

"I should've known. Freakin'..."

I stepped up beside him. "What's going on?"

"Saki," he choked out, handing me his other helmet. "She's in the hospital."

My heart stopped in my chest. Hospital?

Hospital.

Hospital.

The involuntary images that flashed at the back of my mind made me utterly sick to my stomach. I seized Yuji's arm, eyebrows high on my face.

"Why? What happened—"

"She had an asthma attack. I-It happens from time to time but— Just get on the bike already! We'll drop Luna off at your place and head to the hospital. Let's go!"

I scrambled onto the vehicle with that haste order and in no time we were blowing past the streets and blurry lights illuminating the city. I kept my grip around Luna as tightly as possible, cradling her to my chest. Nonetheless, my heart hasn't stopped performing insurmountable leaps in my chest. I sincerely couldn't breathe.

It wasn't anything serious.

I knew.

I knew that and yet...

.

.

.

"Miyuki-chan, right?" she'd once said with a beaming smile, extending her hand for mine. "I'm Ueda Kiyoko, an otaku. Seeing as we both have a common interest, why don't the two of us become friends?"