The rest of the week crawled by at the speed of a dying snail.
Every lecture felt twice as long.
Every assignment looked ten times more annoying.
Every morning, the first thing I did after opening my eyes was check my phone. "Still not Saturday..."
By Friday night, I'd changed my outfit at least six times. "Hoodie? Too plain." I tossed it onto my bed. "Button up shirt? Too formal."
I opened my wardrobe again before my eyes landed on the crop top Mom had secretly slipped into my shopping bag a few weeks ago.
I'd never worn it. Well... a few minutes later, I stood in front of the mirror.
"Not bad." Actually... Pretty good. The crop top showed just enough without being too revealing, and with my leather jacket over it, I somehow looked... stylish.
I turned to the left, then to the right. I even threw in a few cool poses. "Damn. I'd totally date me." My eyes slowly drifted downward. My chest was... surprisingly eye catching.
I instinctively poked one of them, it bounced. I poked it again, still bounced. Then, without thinking, I puffed my chest out a little. "Whoa."
A little more. "Nice..."
I admired my reflection for a solid three seconds before my brain finally rebooted.
"What the hell am I doing?" I slapped both of my cheeks. "No. Kaoru. Stop complimenting your own boobs."
I quickly threw on my leather jacket before my imagination betrayed me.
Unfortunately... My imagination had already started working overtime.
The scene inside my head played itself automatically.
["Kazuha..." I gently draped my leather jacket over her shoulders. "You'll catch a cold."
She looked up at me with slightly pink cheeks. "But... what about you?" Her voice was filled with concern.
I simply smiled before striking what I believed was the coolest pose imaginable. "This?" I casually brushed it off. "It's nothing. My priority is you."
Kazuha gasped. Her eyes immediately became watery. "Kaoru..."
I slowly reached for her hand before gently holding it. "I've always liked you, Kazuha. I'd do anything for you."
Cherry blossoms suddenly danced through the air. A gentle piano melody began playing from absolutely nowhere. The entire world seemed to sparkle.
Kazuha's cheeks turned bright red. She smiled at me with eyes full of affection. "I like you too, Kaoru."]
I buried my face into my pillow. "GYAAAAAAAH! Stop imagining things!" The pillow, having done absolutely nothing wrong, received several punches before I finally calmed down.
"Calm down, Kaoru." I took a long, deep breath. "It's a group outing. Totally... Totally not a date." I nodded firmly to convince myself.Even if Kazuha is going..." I buried my face back into the pillow. "Who am I kidding?"
Saturday finally arrived.
Kazuha and I had agreed to meet Joseph outside the dorm before taking the train together. Since Niina lived off campus, she'd meet us directly at the theme park entrance.
I adjusted my cap one last time before stepping out of my room.
Just then, the bathroom door opened. I instinctively looked over and immediately forgot how breathing worked.
Kazuha stepped out wearing a long pastel-colored dress beneath a light cardigan. The gentle spring sunlight pouring through the dormitory window somehow made her look even prettier than usual. She looked like the heroine of a romance manga.
My brain completely shut down. "So pretty."
"Hm?"
I immediately coughed into my fist. "I-I mean... Nice weather." Smooth, Kaoru.
Kazuha's gaze shifted to my outfit instead. "You're wearing a crop top?"
I proudly nodded. "Yep."
She glanced outside the window. "It's still mid spring. Aren't you cold?"
My heart skipped a beat. She was worried about me! She was definitely worried about me!
"I'll be fine." I smiled so brightly my cheeks almost hurt. "Thanks for worrying about me."
She immediately looked away. "I'm not." She paused for a moment before adding, "I just don't want to be dragged into your stupidity when you catch a cold."
I couldn't help grinning. "Thanks for the compliment."
She frowned. "That wasn't a compliment."
"Maybe not. But you cared enough to worry. That's a win for me."
Kazuha stared at me for a second before quietly sighing. Without another word, she turned around and started walking.
"Wait!" I hurried after her before she decided to leave me behind.
By the time we reached the dormitory entrance, Joseph was already waiting there.
The moment he spotted us, he raised a hand enthusiastically. "Morning, ladies!" He looked suspiciously cheerful. I couldn't resist teasing him.
"You're one lucky guy. "You get to spend the day with three beautiful princesses." I proudly struck a model's pose, one hand on my hip while dramatically flipping my imaginary long hair.
He looked me up and down before replying without missing a beat. "One of them is a fraud though."
Excuse me? I marched straight toward him. "Say that again."
"I said one of them is a fraud."
I proudly pointed at my chest and stepped right up to him. "Open your eyes. They're real. In fact..." I puffed out my chest. "They're even bigger than most girls."
Joseph's face instantly turned bright red. "S-Stop doing that!"
Several students walking past us slowed down to look.
A couple openly stared.
One poor guy was so distracted he nearly walked straight into a lamp post.
I grabbed Joseph by the front of his shirt. "I'll prove it, that I'm no fraud." My hand reached up to take off my jacket. "I will show you—"
A light tap landed squarely on my head.
I slowly turned around.
Kazuha stood there with one hand still raised.
Her expression hadn't changed in the slightest. "It isn't even nine in the morning. Stop embarrassing yourself."
"Yes, ma'am."
She continued walking toward the gate as though nothing had happened.
The moment she was out of earshot, Joseph doubled over laughing. "Pfft... Hahaha! You totally deserved that!"
I pointed an accusing finger at him. "This is your fault."
"My fault?"
"You called me a fraud!"
"I merely stated facts."
"I'll show you facts!" I lunged toward him.
Joseph yelped and immediately took off running. "Help! Kazuha! Your roommate's trying to kill me! I'm defending my honor!"
"You don't have any!"
We chased each other all the way toward the gate until Joseph finally dove behind Kazuha like a child hiding behind his mother.
She stopped walking and looked between the two of us, then she let out a long, tired sigh. "Why are you both like this?"
Neither of us had an answer.
Kazuha simply shook her head and resumed walking.
Joseph peeked out from behind her shoulder before sticking his tongue out at me.
"You little..." I took one threatening step forward.
Kazuha glanced back at me.
I immediately straightened my posture. "I'm behaving."
Joseph grinned victoriously from behind her.
I silently swore revenge.
The three of us continued walking beneath the clear spring sky toward the station, completely unaware that the real chaos wouldn't begin until we reached the theme park.