HOW TO WOO A GIRL 101!- FT. KARASU TABITO
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When Karasu Tabito has a crush on his academic rival (that probably hates him!), he’s at a loss. So when his sister Miyuki Karasu learns of this crush, she takes it upon herself to help out her dear little brother in getting the girl.
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TAGS: academic rivals to lovers, possible ooc, karasu’s sister’s name is mentioned for the plot, very fluffy, and lots of banter.
WORD COUNT: 12.4k
A/n: guys this finally made it out of the drafts… anyways, here’s the long awaited karasu oneshot ive been promising.
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It was a beautiful spring day; cherry blossoms were blooming and people were walking all over the school’s festival grounds. Karasu was in his second year of high school, about to enter his third. Miyuki Karasu, his sister, couldn’t believe he was about to be a third year. It felt like just yesterday, he was holding onto her hand and crying because the hallways were too dark. Oh, how times have changed.
Since her college wasn’t too far from home, she had decided to stop by the cultural festival. All around, students were walking with friends, playing silly games and doing the activities, and also working at their respective booths. Miyuki had gotten a map by the main entrance. To be honest, she was mainly here for her brother. After all, they were having some kind of butler/maid cafe, and she couldn’t miss the sight of her brother in a suit serving people tea and coffee… Miyuki had just hoped that Tabito was using those manners she had drilled into him from a young age. It’d probably come in handy for this job. Plus, a picture of him in a butler suit would make great blackmail for the future.
She glanced at her map. Karasu was in class 2-A, which should be on the second floor. It was the class right next to the first staircase, which shouldn’t be too hard to find. As Miyuki was walking through the campus, she felt a slight wave of nostalgia. Even though she hadn’t gone to this school, her high school had their own cultural festival. It brought her back to her own highschool days; days of youth and innocence. Ah, to go back. She shook her head, brushing off those thoughts. Off to find Tabito in a butler suit!
She found the cafe quickly. Shit, there was quite a long line. Whatever it takes to get that picture. Miyuki fell into the queue. While standing, she looked at the menu. Green tea sounded nice right now…
“Next up in line!” Another butler, probably a classmate of Tabito’s, called out.
It was her turn to go in. Her eyes darted around the interior of the classroom, where the cafe was being held. There were tons of people, both maids and butlers serving people and paying customers. The decorations around the room were rather simple, Miyuki had noticed, but very well made. She sat down on one of the cushy chairs, glancing around the cafe. Aha! There he was… Tabito-chan in a suit, walking up to her. Upon closer examination, his face looked a little… pissed? Oh, right. Miyuki hadn’t told him that she was stopping by.
“Tabito-chan!” Miyuki grinned, “Awh… you look so cute in that suit!” Before Karasu could react, she took out her phone and took a picture of the cute sight.
Karasu had a shocked expression on his face, “Tch… Dear sister, mind tellin’ me why yer here without so much as a warnin’?”
“Puh-lease. Can’t even surprise my own brother with my presence now? Plus, once I learned from our parents that you were doin’ a butler cafe, of all things–” Miyuki laughed before continuing her sentence, “I just couldn't pass up that opportunity.”
Karasu can only grit his teeth at those words, “...would ya like anything?”
“Oh, yes please! Could I get one green tea, please?” Miyuki smiles.
“Sure thing.” Karasu quickly turns around on his heels and goes to the back to get a fresh cup of tea. As he’s pouring tea from the kettle into the cup, a voice from behind him speaks up.
“C’mon, Karasu-kun, hustle. We got a lot more people waitin’ to be served,” You say as you enter the back room. As reluctant as you were to do this concept and serve people in a maid dress, Karasu couldn’t deny that you looked… cute, for once.
“Yeah, yeah. Stop gettin’ on my ass, [name]. I got it.” Karasu rolled his eyes, putting the green tea kettle back in its proper spot.
You let out a short tsk before retaliating, “Just sayin’, jeez.” You get the same green tea kettle and pour the last bit of tea out, “Shit, I’ll have to make more. Karasu-kun? Can ya give this to my table, pretty please? It's just the one across from yours.”
Karasu groans, “Fine, I’ll do it. Even if yer a jerk.” He grabs the tea cup from you and balances it on his tray, “Seriously, why’d they even make ya a maid with that prissy attitude?” And with that, he steps out of the back room to deliver the tea.
“I could say the same to ya, Karasu-kun!” You call out to him.
As Karasu steps out, he makes his way to your table first so he has time to chat with his sister, even if it was only for a minute. He hands the green tea to the guy at the table, making sure to thank him for his patronage.
Karasu puts the green tea down in front of the man, “Here is your green tea, sir. Thank you for coming to our cafe.”
The man nods his head and thanks Karasu. He doesn’t have to walk far from the current table he’s at to reach his sister.
“And here is your tea, dear sister.” Karasu turns up his customer service to the max for his older sister. He didn’t want a lecture on manners again…
“Hm.” Miyuki takes a sip of the tea, “It’s good. Good job, Tabito-chan.”
“Thanks. I gotta head off though, or [Name]-san will yell at me for slacking. We’re super stacked.”
“Ah, [Name]-san?” Miyuki raises an eyebrow, smirking.
“Tch. Don’t even start with that bullshit–” Karasu frowns.
“Yeah, yeah. C’mon. Go back to working. I’d hate to distract you.”
Karasu grumbles, “Right… right… Sorry ‘bout that. I’ll be on my way now.”
Miyuki nods and sips her tea. It’s fun seeing her brother at school, acting like this. As she’s observing the cafe, she sees you and Karasu running around. Maybe you’re the [Name]-san Tabito was referring to? Huh, it couldn’t hurt to find out. Plus, she had been wanting a pastry from here. Perhaps some strawberry cake? After a few minutes, Miyuki decided it was her time to strike. Right now, you were roaming around and talking to customers, making sure that they were feeling welcome.
As you passed by her table, she called out to you, “Excuse me?”
You turned your head, “Oh, me? Do you need any service, ma’am?” You smile sweetly.
Huh– you seemed oddly sweet for a kid Tabito didn’t seem to like, “Oh– yes, in fact! May I purchase a slice of strawberry cake?” Miyuki got out her wallet and handed you the money.
You took the money from her hands, bowing gratefully, “Coming right up!”
As you walked away, you couldn’t help but think that the lady looked familiar. She had purple hair, a sharp jawline, and even a mole on her face. But you just couldn’t place the mark on it. Have you seen her before? You think about it as you go to the back to grab a slice of cake. Taking the cake from the stand, you place it on your plate and walk out to give it to the lady. As soon as you do, you’re greeted with the sight of the same lady… ruffling Karasu-kun’s hair? You walk toward her, putting the slice of cake down. You’re still quite confused by the sight.
“I… Karasu-kun? What’re ya doin’ here? Don’t you have other tables to serve? I can’t be doin’ all the work ‘round here.” You say, a little pissed off. You place the slice of cake down in front of her.
“Tch.” Karasu rolls his eyes, “My sister’s been annoyin’ me.”
“Your sister…?” You look between the two of them. No wonder she had felt so familiar! “Oh, you’re Karasu-kun’s sister. Nice to meet you.” You bow to her.
“Yes! I am! Call me Miyuki! Sorry for gettin’ Tabito off task.” She apologizes to you.
“No! No– it’s fine. I shouldn’t have just made that assumption. Yer both family, after all.” You say, a bit sheepish. Gosh; that was a bit embarrassing. You make a mental note to watch your words more often. “I’ll leave ya both alone now–”
“Oh– you’re good, don’t worry about it. But… I just wanted to say that you make a really cute maid. Don’t you agree, Tabito-chan?” Miyuki had that evil smirk on her face; the kind that she has on when she’s plotting something.
Karasu stammers, which is quite unlike him, “I–” You eye karasu down as he gulps and finishes his sentence, “I guess… But that doesn’t mean anything.” You can barely see it, but you swear the tips of his ears are red.
Miyuki smirks. Her plan is working, “Oho? Well, guess ya really are a cute maid if even my baby brother agrees. Anyways, Tabito, shouldn’t ya go now? I think that table over there is calling for you.” Miyuki practically shoves him away while redirecting her attention back to you.
The older Karasu clears her throat before looking at you, “Do ya mind if we have a little chat? I’m curious about the [Name]-san Tabito’s always tellin’ me about.” Miyuki wouldn’t say always… but a little bluff couldn’t hurt.
You look at your watch, “I suppose I can take my break now.” You sit across from her.
Miyuki starts off by asking, “I’d hope Tabito is treating ya well in class. What’s he even like at school anyways? Nowadays, I barely hear about anything he’s doin’ in class. It’s always about soccer.”
“Hm… well… He’s very– interesting, to say the least.” You say.
Miyuki continues, prying, “Would you say yer friends with him? Is he even a good classmate? Y’know, I practically raised that boy ever since he was a toddler, so I’d hope so.” She probably sounds hella nosy, but she can dismiss it as being ‘doting’ and ‘worried’. She knows something is going on between the two of you… but she just can’t prove it.
Ah, that must be why she’s prying into this. If you were in her place, you’d do the same, “Well, we’re not friends. I wouldn’t say. He’s just more of my… rival, perhaps?” You concluded.
Miyuki questions that, “A rival…? Interesting.”
You chuckle, “To someone outside of our class, it wouldn’t make sense. But that’s the best thing I can come up with.”
“Ah… I see, I see.” Miyuki nods, “How’d that even start.”
You proceed to explain, “Well, it started just in grades, but slowly transformed into these other competitions. Actually, we’re competing right now to see who gives the best service during the festival. That’s why I insisted we be put in the same shift–”
“So you’re just rivals, right?” Miyuki asks, still seeking that confirmation.
Something about her tone makes you second guess that answer, “Uh, yes. Just rivals.” You repeat.
“Anyways, I think I’ll be heading out now. I don’t wanna take up your whole break” She stands up, but not before stacking her empty tea cup on her plate. “Nice meeting you, [Name]-san. I hope we’ll see each other again.”
“I– nice to meet you too, Miyuki-sama.” You smile.
“Oh– don’t be so formal. Just Miyuki-san is fine!” She pats your back.
“I see. Bye, Miyuki-san.” You wave goodbye to the older karasu. Huh… She seemed nice enough. How could someone so outgoing and friendly be siblings with your arrogant and annoying rival? Maybe some things like that weren’t meant to be answered that easily.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Onee-san…” Karasu walked into the house and saw his older sister laying on the couch, watching TV.
“Yes, Tabito?” Miyuki asked, “What is it and be quick.”
Karasu gritted his teeth, “What were ya thinkin’ earlier at the cafe!” Karasu’s ears were definitely red now.
“Hey, Tabito. Do ya like [Name]-san?” Miyuki smirks as he freezes up. Got him…
Karasu is trying to defend himself, “No! It’s not like that at all!”
“Sure. Y’know, your nose always scrunches up when yer lyin’. Did ya know that?” Miyuki laughs as Karasu holds his nose.
Karasu switches the topic, “Nevermind that– but what were ya thinkin’?! Makin’ me call her cute?!”
“Jeez- I was only tryna help. Plus, you didn’t have to say she was cute.”
“I– But still!” Karasu stammers out.
“So, let me ask again, do you like [Name]-san?”
“...yes” Karasu looks down at his feet. It reminds Miyuki of when he was still a little kid.
“Anddddddd that’s what I thought!” Miyuki hops up from the couch to ruffle his hair, “Awwwwwww~ does Tabito-chan have a crush on his rival in class?”
“H-hey! Stop that– How’d ya even know about that last part.” Karasu questions.
Miyuki replies, “Oh, [Name] told me during our chat. That does seem quite like something you’d do though! Falling for an academic rival. That’s straight out of a manga.” Miyuki gushes.
“Oh shut up. Plus, I highly doubt that she likes me like that.” Karasu reasons.
Miyuki protests against that, “Well you never know!”
“Uhhuh…”
“Well, she isn’t taken, right? Does she like anyone?”
Karasu shakes his head, “Not that I know of.”
Miyuki lets out a slight murmur, “Then it’s settled. If she’s not taken, it’s fair game. I’ve been waiting for this day, Tabito-chan!”
Karasu gives his sister a puzzling look.
“Welcome to ‘How to Woo a Girl: 101!’ by Miyuki Karasu”
STEP ONE:
“Okay, first off, what the hell does that mean? And the name’s so cheesy,” Karasu complains.
She refutes, “Tch. You should be grateful I’m helping you. I could leave yer stinky teenage boy ass to fend for yourself, couldn’t I? And it means I’m going to be teaching you how to get the girl.”
“I… fine. Okay. How do I… ‘woo’ a girl?”
“Speakin’ of stinky teenage boy ass– go shower first. You fuckin’ stink–” Miyuki laughs.
Karasu proceeds to sniff himself, “Fine– let me take a quick shower.”
As soon as Karsu finishes with that, he goes to his room, finding his sister already waiting. She’s sitting in his desk chair, scrolling on her phone, “Finally, yer back. Now sit down, I got a lot of explaining to do.”
Karasu takes a seat on his bed, listening intently to whatever advice his sister was about to give. As unserious and teasing as she might be sometimes, she genuinely could lock in for things like this. She clears her throat, “Okay, so first off. Step one; ya gotta be smooth about it. You know, complimenting her and all. But don’t be too strong about it, or else yer gonna come off as a jackass. There's a balance to it. Keep the environment light and welcoming,” Miyuki explains.
Karasu nods at her words, “So just be… friendly is what yer sayin’.”
Miyuki clasps her hands together, satisfied, “Yes! See, you’re gettin’ it!”
“...” Karasu hesitates, “She’s uhm. Kinda my rival though.”
“Yes, I know. But ya gotta elaborate on what that means.”
“Uhm. Half of our conversations are just me insulting her and [Name]-san doing the same back…” Karasu gulps.
Miyuki can only sigh at his words, “Shit. Sounds like we got a real problem on our hands. Now…” She thinks about her words for a second, “I think I got it… just do exactly as I say.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Karasu walks into the classroom about five minutes earlier than usual. This was crucial to the plan; as Miyuki had said. You were sitting in your spot by the window; the spot next to his desk. Karasu placed his things in his cubby and sat down. Noticing him in the classroom a bit earlier than you was unexpected, but not totally unwelcome. After all, it gave you the opportunity to show him your latest quiz score!
“Karasu-kun. May I ask what you got on the last test?” You ask, smugly.
This was your dynamic; your thing. One of you would ask the other what score they got and whoever got the better score would flex it in the other’s face. It was quite comical, so much so that your classmates had started betting on who was going to get the higher score. You weren’t exactly fond of the betting aspect, but if those idiots didn’t interfere with you, it didn’t matter that much.
“99 percent. What ‘bout you?” Karasu makes eye contact with you after reading his score from the test paper.
While you weren’t the type of person to get flustered easily by a small glance, you could feel the tips of your ears getting warm (for whatever stupid reason). You brush it off and put on your usual confident smile, “Ah– well, I got a 100%. Better luck next time, I suppose.”
“Well, good job, [Name]-san. I bet you earned it.” Your eyes widen. What the hell?! This felt so… wrong! Where did your usual Karasu go?
You’re shocked. More shocked than when you had gotten a 90% on your english paper. The Karasu Tabito; class 2-A’s resident jackass, saying ‘good job’ to you of all people?! You were speechless for a moment, but slowly gathered up the words to accept the compliment, “T… thank you?”
“Yer welcome, [Name]. By the way, did anything change about your hair?” Karasu pointed out, trying his best to act smooth.
“I… uh… No?” You were confused. Had he noticed that you styled it slightly differently today? It was only a small change in technique and made a miniscule difference. How closely was this guy paying attention to you! Was Karasu Tabito secretly a pervert? Yep, you concluded. That must be it!
“Hm? It looks different to me. I don’t know.” Karasu brought up.
“... I styled it slightly differently today,” You admit, “It practically made a miniscule difference. Only a pervert would notice that detail.”
“Hey– hey– what’re you tryna say about me, [Name]?!” Karasu stammers.
You grin, “Oh? You’re stuttering, huh? Guess I caught ya, pervert.”
“No– I swear it isn’t like that–” Karasu reasons. Shit– day one and he’s already failing.
“Sure. Okay.” You brush it off.
RATING: 4.5/10
STEP TWO:
Later that night, as Karasu is recounting the story to Miyuki, she could only laugh at it.
“So, yer tellin’ me she accused you of being a pervert? And her hair? Do you really pay attention to her that much?” Miyuki manages to get out in between giggles.
Karasu scoffs, “What else was I supposed to say? Ya didn’t tell me I had to do certain stuff– ‘n I’m just sayin’ it how I see it. Her hair did look different–”
Miyuki finally settles down, “Okay, okay, I get it. God– they grow up fast. Well, anyways, we gotta figure out a new method. I don’t think complimentin’ her’s the way, especially since y’all are like… rivals”
“And how do I do that?”
“Simple! Step two; what are her hobbies? Think ya can figure that out?” The girl asks.
“I… sure. But why is this information relevant?” Karasu questions.
“Okay. TRUST– this is the method. Find out her hobbies and start bonding over them. For example, if [Name]-san has a sticker or something on her notebook about something she likes, then you ask about it. You get what I’m sayin’? Ya gotta bond over it.” Miyuki waves her fingers in the air as she’s explaining.
The purple haired man nods in response, “‘Kay… I think I got this one. Sounds simple enough.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Karasu walked into class the next day, he made sure to pay attention to your interests. There were some stickers on your notebook that appeared to be from sort of anime. Perfect thing to ask about.
“Mornin’, [Name]-san. Whatcha doing?” Karasu leaned over to peer at your notebook, which you were currently drawing in. You’re so invested in your drawing that when Karasu speaks up, you jump a bit.
“Oh. Hi?” It’s strange. Karasu is acting strangely… nice today?
“You drawing somethin’?”
You look to the side, “Uh… yeah… just some doodles. Why do you care?”
“No reason. Are they related to yer stickers on the front?”
This seems… oddly suspicious. What the hell is he doing, being so nice to you? Is this a ploy of his to catch you off guard and win in whatever he has planned? Well, you’re certainly not gonna let that happen. “They are. Why do ya wanna know?”
“No reason. Who are those characters anyway? They look familiar.” Karasu is trying to keep the conversation going, despite how suspicious and pissed off your face looks. You really had no poker face, huh?
“They’re from this anime…” You tell him the name, “And I’m just doodling him. He’s my favorite character.”
Karasu smiles, “Oh? He looks cool. And I think I’ve heard of that show. Think my sister’s into it…”
“The one I met at the festival?” You question.
“Yep. She’s my only sibling.” Karasu confirms.
“Interesting. She has good taste.”
“Yeah. She puts me onto a lot of stuff. Hey– is that anime any good? Should I watch it or somethin’?”
“Well, sure. If you’re into that. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea,” You explain.
“Oh, well– I’m sure ya have good taste in anime, so it’ll prolly be good.” Karasu tries his hand at flirting a bit.
“Do ya even know what else I watch? Or what the show’s even about? You don’t know if you’ll like it,” You reply, bluntly. What was he trying to do?
Shit. His flirting attempt clearly did not work, “Just sayin’. Ya look like you have good taste in anime.”
“I–” as soon as you’re about to say something, your teacher walks in, earlier than expected. You immediately stop your drawing and flip to the next blank page in your notebook, ready for class. If you’re going to continue to beat Karasu, you need to step up your game.
RATING: 7/10
STEP THREE:
It’s been a week since that conversation and Karasu has slowly started talking and interacting with you more outside of your usual competitions. It’s weird; you’ve always seen him as your rival and you assumed that Karasu felt the same. So why is he trying to get all chummy with you? Seriously– does he want anything? What if he’s playing the long game and trying to outwit you? Who does he think he is?
You’re thinking about this whole thing as you’re studying in the library. There’s a test coming up, and in order to beat Karasu, you have to study. Seriously; how does Karasu get good grades while being on the soccer team? Sports like that have to take tons of time and energy. And he had friends? That guy truly is a freak. Sitting in your comfy library chair, you’re scribbling down math equations in your notebook like there’s no tomorrow; locking in so hard that even your ancestors could feel it. Shit– you were knocking down problem after problem so fast and accurately that you feel like you’re actively in flow state. Or at least you were; until a familiar tuft of purple, spikey hair, settles down across from you. Speak of the devil.
“Mind if I sit and study here?” The deep voice asks.
And suddenly, your flow state ends and you were back in reality, “Karasu-kun? Whatcha doing here?”
“I need to study too.” He claims.
“I’ve never seen ya study before.” You slip in.
Karasu smirks, “Well then, you’ve never seen me at home.”
“What does that mean? Is it an invitation?” You ask. What the hell is he talking about?
Karasu still has that stupid smile on his face, “Why? Ya want it to be?”
The tips of your ears grow hot. What the hell?! You didn’t know that a stupid crow like him could cause this reaction out of you, “What does that even mean? Anyways–” You switch the topic, “There’re plenty of other open tables. Why choose this one?”
“Well, since yer prolly the smartest person I know, besides me, I wanted to see how you study. And what yer studyin’.” Karasu states,
You roll your eyes, “Tch. Yer smart enough. Stop tryin’ to spy in on my methods, you fucking pervert.”
And there that name goes again.
“Will you drop that? I just happen to pay attention to everything. ‘S no biggie, really.” Karasu brushes his observation off.
“Sure buddy.” You hesitate before continuing, “And fine. I suppose you can sit here.”
With your approval, Karasu takes out his papers and pens at lightning speed, “As long as you tell me your methods.”
“Sure. Ya got yourself a deal, [Name]-san.” Karasu smiles.
He switches his spot from the chair across you to the chair directly next to you. Gosh, when did it get this hot? Suddenly, you’re aware of every hair on your body and the blood rushing to your head, “You can stay in the chair across from me.”
“Well, we can’t be too loud in the library. Other people are studyin’. And how am I gonna figure out yer methods without talkin’?” Karasu raises a good point.
“Alright, alright. Anyways… if yer so set on this idea, want me to explain how I’m doin’ the questions?” You give into it. Since he’s here, might as well make the best of the situation. Plus, you’ll probably learn a thing or two from having Karasu here. As much as his face infuriates you sometimes, he is the smartest kid in class; besides you, of course.
Karasu leans his face in his hands, looking at you, “Go right on ahead, [Name]-san.”
You pay no mind as you explain the problem to Karasu. It goes back and forth like that for a bit; you talking and Karasu talking afterward. It’s still Karasu though, so he’s throwing some teases here and there. Overall, nothing you can’t handle. Plus, you’re sure you’ve called and said worse things to the guy during your stupid petty arguments over nothing. As you’re listening to him, you notice that Karasu, when he’s not arguing over pointless shit, isn’t really that bad. His presence at first was something that you had to tolerate, but not anymore. He’s surprisingly… normal? But the overarching question on your mind is ‘why is he being so friendly toward you?’. Weeks ago, he was being the typical academic rival. What was going on in his mind for this switch up to occur?
Whatever. Studying with Karasu-kun is more important right now anyways. You’ll dwell on your other thoughts later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Karasu steps in from the front door, he’s greeted by the sight of his sister waiting for him. When will this girl go back to college?!
“So… Tabito… yer arriving later than usual.” Miyuki clasps her hands together.
Karasu gulps, “What the fuck are ya planning right now?”
“Oh, nothing. So did the little study date go well?” The older sister laughs at her own joke.
Karasu grumbles, “It’s not that funny… and it wasn’t even a date!”
“Sure buddy… same person who needed advice on how to pull this crush by the way.”
He can’t deny that one…
“Okay, sure. Fine. Maybe.”
“Fuck you mean maybe?! Bitch? This is ‘How to Woo a Girl 101’! This feels like an insult,” She says, dramatically.
“Okay, well, point is, the,” Karasu lifts up his fingers to do air quotes, “the ‘date’ went good. We just studied together.”
“Well I’d hope so.” Miyuki clears her throat, “Wasn’t my idea spectacular though?”
“Well, I can’t lie, it was the best one so far,” Karasu admits.
Miyuki nods, “Good to know, good to know. Now– just keep it up.”
“Alright. Sounds easy enough.” Karasu nods.
RATING: 8.7/10
STEP FOUR:
Between soccer practice, class, and other things, Karasu always made time to study with you in the library. It was a small change, but one that certainly wasn’t unwelcome (at least, not at first). While you were still a bit confused as to why Karasu was doing all of this, you didn’t mind it all that much now. These study sessions after school became a habit; you always getting there first to claim the leftmost back table and Karasu getting there a little later and taking his spot next to you. Sometimes, it’d be silent, but other times the sound of your two voices would take over. After a while… it became enjoyable. You never thought that studying with Karasu of all people would be fun. Prior to this development, studying was just… normal. Something you did everyday to keep your top spot in class. But with his presence, even the most boring chapters in your textbook could become fun if Karasu cracked the right joke.
On this particular day, you got your math tests back. Instead of immediately looking at your paper (which was face down on your desk), you leave it there and stop the purple haired man from looking at his score too.
Karasu looks at you in confusion as you stopped him from looking at his score, “Huh? Why the hell’d ya do that?”
You look him straight in the eye, “Let’s look at our tests in the library. We’ll show them at the same time; together.”
“I like the sound of that,” Karasu says, approving of the idea, “Deal. Don’t peak durin’ lunch or somethin’ like that.”
“Alright then.”
“Oh, let’s add onto the challenge. Winner gets somethin’ from the konbini.”
Karasu knows you can never resist a challenge, even if it’s from him, “Fine. Yer on, Karasu-kun.”
Later, you open the doors to the library and find Karasu sitting there, in your guys’ usual spots. You take your regular seat next to him and set your bag on the table.
“Ready, Karasu-kun?” You smile. You’re sure you got a better score than him this time around!
Karasu only smiles at you back, “I’m ready, [Name]-san.”
The both of you dig in your bags in unison. As Karasu is about to show you, you grab his hand and make him place the paper back down on the table.
You think nothing of the gesture until you notice the guy next to you avoiding eye contact while sporting red ears. Weird. Maybe he’s never felt the touch of a woman? It’s okay, you think, Not everyone can pull, “On three.”
“1”
“2”
“3,” You say.
You flip up your paper, showing him first. Similarly, Karasu does the same.
You’re the first to speak up, “You got a 98, Karasu-kun. What’d I get,”
His facial expression falls, “98? You… also got a 98.”
“Hey wait.. So, who wins then?” You have a puzzled look on your face.
“Hm. Let’s call it a tie then,” Your rival concludes.
You groan, “Tch. A tie? That’s so fuckin’ boringgggg. C’mon. Let’s compete in something else. Anything else.”
“Well, whaddya propose?” Karasu questions.
“Uhhhh…” Your mind goes blank and you can’t really think of anything, “Fine. Okay. A tie; but just this once.”
“Alright. We studyin’ first, right?” Karasu asks.
You nod, poking his shoulder with your mechanical pencil, “Now let’s get to it. I want my prize already.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Karasu laughs.
You let out a small giggle before turning your attention back to your work. The sound reaches Karasu’s eardrums. Your laugh isn’t foreign to him; you’d often laugh about getting higher grades or when Karasau got hit by a ball square in the face during PE. The difference was that you were laughing about something he said. He made you laugh! Karasu decided to push those thoughts to the side and focus on his studies. For now, at least. Grades were the only thing tying you two together. To be honest, Karasu wasn’t sure if you guys would have even interacted had it not been for this… rivalry thing?
After a grueling hour of studying, you two unanimously decided to cut your time short to go to the convenience store. Damn; even if you were only in the library for an hour, you starving. Having Karasu-kun pay for your snack would be so satisfying (even if you had to pay for his too). Finally getting out of that library, you both walk side by side. At this time of year, it was oddly scenic. While you two were walking to the store, you had remained quiet.
Karasu, aiming to break the silence, spoke up, “What’re ya planning to get, [Name]-san?”
You tell him your usual order, “I’ll probably get a drink or something. The snack’ll depend on my mood,” You state.
Karasu asks, “Ah… Do ya prefer sweet or salty?”
“Hm… like I said, it depends on my mood,” You repeat.
“Alrighty then.”
You both walk inside the convenience store, wandering the isles. The fluorescent lights shine down upon you and your… rival. Karasu Tabito; the boy who became your highschool rival was slowly becoming… something else. Ever since you guys had started studying together, the vibe was gradually starting to change. You can’t lie, you had always perceived Karasu as physically attractive. But god; those ideas were becoming more and more prominent in your mind.
Your thoughts were interrupted by the person you were thinking about, “So, ya chose a sweet snack today, huh? C’mon, let me pay.”
“I– here. Gimme yours.” You say back, holding out your hand.
Karasu hands you a bag of seaweed chips and some pocari sweat.
You raise an eyebrow, “Pocari sweat? Yer not even at practice right now.”
“That’s for later. We got an extra long practice tomorrow; tournament and all, y’know?”
“Ah… I see.” Taking out your wallet, you walk up to the cash register, “Just this for today, ma’am.” You say to the part time worker.
“Alright,” The worker, Sakura replies, “Next!”
Karasu walks up to the counter with your items, “Here’s the money,” Karasu puts the cash on the counter, “Thank you.”
Sakura only smiles, “Come again! Have a great day.”
You both nod your heads to the woman as you walk out. The afternoon air hits the both of you, “Say, would you wanna… sit on the benches with me?” Karasu looks to the side as he hits you with that question.
You’re shocked. You didn’t think that Karasu would want to hang out with you in this type of setting. Studying was one thing, but just… talking like friends? This was an entirely different scenario that you did not prepare for at all! Shit– what’ll you even do? What’s Karasu-kun even plotting?
“I… sure. That’s outta nowhere.” You remark.
Karasu smirks, “Why? Ya scared? I don’t bite.”
You think about all the times you two have gone back and forth with insults, “Like I trust that.”
“When’ve I seriously ‘bitten’?” Karasu questions you.
“Think about that with yer pretty little head,” You say.
Karasu can’t help but smile, “You think that my head is pretty?”
You take initiative and walk over to the bench, “Ya know what I mean, Karasu–”
“I guess…” He rolls his eyes sarcastically.
“Ok screw you.” You look to the side, “And gimmie my food.”
“Alright, princess.” Karasu says mockingly, handing you your snacks.
“Who’re ya calling princess, you pervert?” You throw back. Two can play at that game. This dynamic… it’s the one you feel most safe with. The most familiar.
“Tch. That was one moment. ’m just observant.” Karasu deflects.
You’re instantly ready to snap back, “Oh? If yer so observant, what color shoes was the man who just walked past wearing? And don’t look.”
“Uh– orange, right?” Karasu says with false confidence, trying to not give away the fact that he didn’t know the answer.
“No. Incorrect. It's blue. If ya were truly observant, then you would’ve gotten it right.”
“Well I don’t pay attention to random strangers on the street.” Karasu reasons.
“So it’s just me?” You smirk.
Shit. You’ve cornered him this time, “It’s not just you…”
“Just admit it. Don’t be shy, Karasu-kun. This is a judgement free zone!” You slip out, not expecting anything to happen.
“Fine. ‘Course I noticed, obviously. But I ain’t a perv!” Karasu denies any accusations, “And I was just pointing it out because–” He stops himself.
You weren’t expecting to get that far with your banter, “Because?”
“I think it looked… not bad.” Karasu tries to not give you any satisfaction.
“Not bad?”
“Fine. I think the hair looked cute on you. Happy?” Karasu admits, reluctantly. Shit– he’s gonna get clowned on so hard by you.
Your reaction was not something that he was expecting, “Huh?! Cute?” You rarely had the word cute used on you. Especially by your rival, “That… isn’t too bad.” Dare you say, the word made your heart flutter a little bit. You look to the side before moving an inch closer to the person on the other side of the bench.
“Oh?” Karasu smirks.
“Don’t think about it too much. I’m only getting closer because I want some seaweed chips.” You grab one out of the packet.
“Hey!” He yells.
You laugh, “Here. You can have a sip of my drink.”
Shit. A sip of your drink? Were you trying to kill him? Karasu is frozen as you hold out the bottle to him, “You want it or not?”
“I’ll– I’ll take it, yeah.” Karasu grabs the bottle out of your hand and takes a sip from it from where you drank. Gosh, you were going to be the death of him. Isn’t this an indirect kiss? Why’re you taking this so unseriously?
You grab the bottle back from him, not batting an eye. “Good, right?”
Karasu’s face heats up, “Yeah. It is.”
The atmosphere changes after that. It gets… warmer. You and him are bickering, as always, but there is something different underneath it. You can’t place your finger on it. However, nothing lasts forever and your hangout (was it even a hangout?) gets cut off. The sun was setting as nighttime approached, typical for the end of the day. To your surprise, Karasu offers to walk you home. ‘It’s dangerous for a girl to be walking alone at night,’ he claims. And to Karasu’s surprise, you actually let him walk you home. So now the two of you are walking together underneath the night sky. He’s nothing less than happy at the fact that you let him walk you home, since that meant you two could spend more time together. The walk there is mostly silent, the only sounds being cars rushing past you and crickets chirping. Finally, after taking a few turns in your neighborhood, you reach the front of your house. You stand by the gate, facing Karasu.
“I guess I better be leavin’ now,” he puts a hand on his neck, “Have a good night, [Name].”
“G’night, Karasu. Have a good evening.” You leave before he can get a word in. And with that, you go inside and shut the door. Karasu is left standing outside, frozen. That was… something else. Something that he couldn’t put a finger on.
He doesn’t want to seem like a creep, so he quickly makes his way out of your neighborhood and back to his own house. The purple haired man barely makes it through the door when his sister practically jumps at him.
“Tabito! Did ya do it today?” Miyuki asks.
“Yes… I did.” Tabito admits, reluctantly. He’s in for a talk now…
Miyuki squeals, “Awhhhhh! They grow up so fast! My baby brother went on his first date!”
“Jeez… It was just a trip to the konbini. ‘S not that serious.” The younger karasu grumbles.
“Yes it is! What’re ya on about?” Miyuki huffs, “So tell me– how’d it go? Oh! You better’ve walked [Name]-san home, y’know!”
“It was pretty good.” Karasu recalls the bottle incident… “And yeah; I did walk ‘er home.”
“Good. I raised you like that. Now… onto phase two. Ya gotta escalate these hangouts. Since yer friends, the konbini slides. But you can’t keep taking a girl out on a date there. So– as I said, onto phase two. Ya gotta slyly start inviting her to places. Places like a ramen spot, the mall, or maybe the park are good for dates.”
“Huh. Okay, I see.” Karasu nods, taking internal notes.
“Yer a soccer player, so I trust you’ll find an opening and take it as soon as possible, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
RATING: 8.5/10
STEP FIVE:
It’s been a couple weeks since the first convenience store run. Following that first visit, it’s become tradition. Every Friday, you and Karasu would go there after studying and get some snacks. To be honest, you were starting to look forward to Fridays more than you ever did previously (which is saying a lot) just so you could talk to him even more. Ever since that day he walked you home (he’s been doing it more and more), you couldn’t help but feel warm and nice whenever he was around. It was a step up from the usual cruel atmosphere that used to be around you guys. Whatever this weird thing was… you were quite fond of it. For now, it’s okay with you. To just be around Karasu Tabito was enough.
You guys just finished a big exam; one that you and Karasu studied immensely for. Sensing your relief that the torture was finally over, he made his move. After all, he wasn’t on the prestigious Bambi Osaka youth team for nothing.
Karasu turns around in his seat, facing you, “Hey… [Name]? Anything ya wanna do today?”
“Huh? Whaddya mean? Don’t we usually go to the konbini?” You’re confused. Why is he asking you this all of a sudden?
“I mean like actual places. We can take a break from studying.”
“I… I’m not sure.”
“Ya like karaoke? The mall? Uh– maybe the park?”
“Not karaoke,” You say, “Hm… the mall I guess. But why’re you asking me this?”
Karasu looks at you, determined, “Lets hang out today. C’mon. Get yer bag.”
“At the mall?” You ask. You’re not sure if that’s a place Karasu really likes. If you guys are hanging out, then you want to make sure that Karasu is at least semi interested in the place.
“Yes. Ya said the mall right? So we’re goin’.” Karasu states firmly.
“Do you even like the mall? If we’re goin’, I wanna make sure that ya at least like the place a bit.” You state your perspective.
“Eh, I’m sure we can find somethin’. Get yer bag and let’s go.”
You do as he says, grabbing your bag from the cubbies and walking out the campus and to the train station. The train ride there is nothing special; the usual. It’s filled with other highschoolers (like yourselves), adults in suits, and little kids holding their parents’ hands. That last sight brings you back to when you were little. You step out of the train, along with Karasu and go to the mall right beside the train station. It isn’t huge, but all of the stores are to your interest and liking. There’s clothing shops and even a pop-up selling merchandise from that anime that you like! You’re immediately dragging Karasu to random stores, trying on clothes, and scanning the isles. It’s been ages since you’ve been here and it’s just as good as you remember!
You’re now in the dressing room, trying on this top that you found. It’s in your exact size and fits your style perfectly! It’s even on sale! Right outside the dressing room, sitting on a bench, is Karasu who’s scrolling on his phone.
You decide to ask him about the top that you’re wearing. “Karasu?” You call out, sticking your head out of the dressing room curtains and covering your body with the remaining curtain, “Whaddya think of this top?” You step out of the dressing room as Karasu’s eyes fall on you. They widen slightly for a moment before relaxing. He caught himself just in case.
“I– It– It doesn’t look bad on you.” Karasu spits out.
You roll your eyes, “Just ‘not bad’?”
“Fine– fine– It looks cute.” The purple haired man admits.
You feel a sense of deja vu, “Should I get it?”
“Yeah. It looks nice. And ya clearly seem to like it.”
“Alrightly then!” You grin, closing the curtain and going back inside to the fitting room. You come out a few minutes later with the top in your hands and your uniform shirt back on. The two of you then proceed to go to the checkout, where the lady rings you up.
“Okay then! Please pay when ready!” She gives a customer service smile.
As you’re taking out your cash, Karasu already paid for the top.
“Have a great day!” Karasu repeats the lady’s words back at her as he grabs the bag the top is in
and moves, giving space for the next customer to pay.
You follow him out of the line, barely registering what just happened.
“Karasu! Ya didn’t have to pay! I got my own money” You protest.
He hands you the bag, “Well, I wanted to do somethin’ nice for ya. God forbid I treat you every once in a while.”
“Still! Ya don’t gotta treat me in the first place.” You refute.
“Shhhh…” He puts a finger on your lips to silence you, “Just let me do this for once. I invited you out.”
“You’re not gettin- my point–” You roll your eyes.
“Let’s just leave the store. No point in arguing about what’s already done.”
“I– okay. Thank you, Karasu.” You say, gratefully. Where is he even going with this?
“No problem. Where to next?” He asks you.
“I’ve pretty much hit all the stores I wanted to go to,” that was a lie; but you didn’t want to keep Karasu here the entire evening and bore him out, “Anywhere you wanna go?”
“Uh– not really.” He shrugs.
You nod, glancing at your surroundings. Something catches your attention from the corner of your eye. It’s a poster for that movie you’ve been wanting to see. It seems that everywhere and everyone online has been talking about this movie; from the production to plot to the characters.
“Oh my gosh! Didn’t know they were showin’ this here! Wanna watch it with me, Karasu?” You turn your head and look at him as he approaches your side.
Karasu freezes up, “Watch… a movie with ya?” His heart can’t take it anymore. Watching a movie… with you?
“Of course. We got time, right?” You check the time on your phone.
Karasu smiles nervously. Shit– he didn’t prepare for this scenario at all, “Sure.”
“Do you wanna go watch it with me? Ya sure ‘bout it, Karasu?” You ask. You’re not sure what his taste in movies is and want to account for that. It’s felt like this whole hangout has revolved around you and you want to make sure Karasu is having fun too.
“No! No! Of course I do.” He brushes off your concern, “Let’s go in.” He walks past you, making you rush to his side.
The two of you make your way to the counter to purchase tickets for the next showing (which is conveniently in ten minutes) as well as a bucket of popcorn to share. A movie is never complete without popcorn, after all! As you and the purple haired man make your way to the theatre the movie is showing, you pop a piece of the popcorn in your mouth.
“Hey! [Name]! Don’t eat too many yet or we won’t have any for the movie, ya hear?” He lightly scolds you.
You chew on the piece quickly, “Yeah, yeah. I know.”
The two of you both settle in the dark theatre. You both chose seats towards the back; so there weren't any people behind you guys. This particular showing wasn’t too crowded… just a couple here and there as well as some families. As soon as the ads were done showing, you were ready. The movie started and it caught your interest from the very beginning. Seems like social media isn’t full of shit sometimes. They were right; there was clearly attention and detail put into the plot and its characters. You found the character’s struggles to be realistic and relatable; not some out of touch bullshit. That was something you really liked.
However, there was another thing on your mind. From the moment you guys have started this hangout, you’ve noticed that Karasu was extra attentive to you and the things that you liked (such as paying for your top). It felt like he was trying to make you feel special. And the odd part was that you… you didn’t mind it so much. Rather; you liked it. His personality and witty comebacks and just being there made going to the mall that much more fun. And now the two of you are at the movies sitting next to each other? A classic setup that you planned straight from the beginning. If you’re right… if you predicted correctly…
And then you felt it. Karasu was shifting closer to you, looking very nervous. His eyes were darting to you and back to the screen (which was now showing a particularly romantic scene) and his face displayed a flush of red. Just what you were looking for. You smiled in satisfaction. Guess it worked.
You turn your head and whisper, “Yer starin’. What’cha need?”
“...Nothin’.” Karasu replies a little too fast.
“Oh? Do you get flustered by romantic scenes?” You tease him. You’re not entirely sure what’s happening with you right now, but if it works, it works. This was unusually forward for you.
Karasu looks back at the screen, “No.”
“Okay then.” You shift a little closer to Karasu. Shit– you’re really close to each other now. You’re almost brushing against him! Okay– maybe you went too far this time. It’s not even guaranteed he’ll make a move. You’ve just been pushing him in a certain direction. If he wanted to, he would. Better to back off now than be humiliated– Or that’s what you think, until Karasu’s arm is hovering over your shoulders. You can feel the warmth of his arm and the nervousness radiating off of him. To be fair, you’re not any better yourself; face warm and visibly shocked. What types of lines are we crossing today?!
“Can I?” Karasu finally speaks up, breaking the silence. The movie seems to go silent when he says this. All of your attention is focused on the guy next to you. You can’t seem to speak.
“I’ll uh– I’ll back off if that’s a no–” Karasu is about to retract his arm. Shit; did he just ruin the atmosphere?
However, you don’t let that happen. You can’t let this opportunity go to waste! Grabbing his arm, you wrap it around your shoulders and lean on Karasu’s body. This much physical touch (especially in public) was something you would probably never live down. But at this moment– with Karasu’s body next to yours, you weren’t inclined to care much. Plus, it’s a dark theatre. Nobody’s gonna see, you reassure yourself.
“I never said anything about a no,” You say, under your breath.
“Well yer face told me otherwise,” Karasu refutes.
You argue back, trying to cover up how flustered you currently are, “Wow– for someone whose entire personality revolves around reading people like a book, ya clearly couldn’t tell that my expression was that of shock. Not disapproval.”
Karasu shrugs, giving up on this fight, “Well I didn’t want to touch ya without consent, y’know? Better safe than sorry. It’s a bit dark too.”
“Hm. I suppose I can accept that answer.” You try to get even closer to Karasu than you already are. This was nice… too nice in fact. You turn your focus back to the movie. The romantic scene that was previously playing had already ended. You couldn’t believe this was happening! You and Karasu sitting close to each other like a couple was something straight out of a dream. Not that you minded much. Knowing him, you just hoped that he wouldn’t tease you about this afterwards.
To your dismay, the movie ends about forty-five minutes later. Though, your feeling wasn’t about the movie but rather about the guy next to you. The credits are rolling now and you couldn’t help but feel something gnawing at the pits of your stomach. You had previously thought that being close to Karasu as rivals was good enough. Now that you’ve had a taste of it, rivals wasn’t nearly enough. You were longing for more; for this ‘hangout’ to not end. In a scenario where a god suddenly came down from the heavens and offered to grant you a wish, you wouldn’t hesitate to wish to stay with Karasu. The time finally comes and soon, the lights turn on and burn your eyes; a reminder that nothing good lasts forever.
You look at Karasu’s face; now illuminated by the theatre lights. His purple hair styled with that fuckass hairwax, his dazzling blue eyes, and the mole on his cheek. All of those features make him… him. You’re shortly snapped out of your trance as he makes eye contact.
“Starin’ huh?” He smiles, using your words against you.
You guys don't move an inch, despite the other people leaving the theatre, “You were staring earlier.”
“Deflecting. Classic.”
“I’m sure you’d know,” you retaliate.
“Tch.” Karasu rolls his eyes, knowing you’re right, “Lets… lets get up.”
The expression on his face mirrors yours; one of slight disappointment trying to hide behind a neutral facade. You slide away from him as Karasu puts his hands on his thighs and stands up. You do the same, grabbing the now empty popcorn bucket and heading down the many steps on the way to the exit.
“So. What did you think about the movie?” You ask him. “I wasn’t sure if movies like that were your type, so I’m curious.”
“Huh? It was pretty good,” He’s lying straight through his teeth. The purple haired man was too nervous the whole time to even focus on the movie and its plot.
“So…” You guys walk out of the theatre and into the main cinema area. “Where to now?”
Karasu eyes you curiously, “Do ya have to be home by a certain time?”
“No. Why?” You ask.
“Wanna go get food? I uh– I know a good ramen joint nearby.” Karasu shoots his shot.
“Hm? Sure. But it’s on me.” You get that last bit out before it’s too late.
Karasu stops walking for a second and looks you dead in the eye, “No.”
“What the hell do you mean no?!” You say, raising your eyebrows curiously.
“No.” He says, firmly. Karasu mumbles the next part, “Can’t let a girl pay.”
“You’ve already done enough. Just ‘cause I’m a girl doesn’t mean I can’t pay.” You protest.
“Can’t do that. Sorry.”
You roll your eyes, “Stubborn fuck.”
“What’d you just call me?!” Karasu turns, facing you.
“You heard it. Now come on– where's this joint anyway?”
“It’s just a few blocks down,” he replies.
You nod in acknowledgement, “Lead the way.”
You both walk side by side in the Osaka night sky. People walk past you engrossed in their own conversations and on their way to wherever they’re going. Meanwhile, you and Karasu have fallen into a comfortable silence. Without the pressure of school and grades, you guys are just two highschoolers who happen to be hanging out right now. After around five minutes, you arrive at the ramen joint. It’s a pretty decent place; warm lighting and a strong aroma. You buy and pay for the ramen– much to Karasu’s dismay (‘I can’t let ya pay!’ vs ‘You bought us popcorn at the movies!’).
You finally get to take a seat at the counter, “So…”
“So?” Karasu says.
“I uh… why’ve ya been so nice to me today?” You ask.
Karasu’s been found out (was there anything to hide in the first place?), “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I mean like. You payin’ for all my stuff and going to that movie when I didn’t even know if you'd like it,” you point out.
For someone as sharp tongued as Karasu, he had trouble figuring out what to say to this, “I just– I just wanted to be nice. Miyuki’s been tellin’ me I should work on that.” Yeah. Be nice to the girl that you like.
“She’s not wrong.” You tease him. It’s a familiar response. Safe even. Predictable. Unlike the warm feeling in your chest every time you look at him.
Karasu scoffs, “Says you.”
“I’m nice! And kind!” You defend yourself.
He mocks you, “Sure… whatever ya say, [Name].”
“I’m gonna shove–” Before you can finish your sentence, your ramen bowls conveniently arrive.
You don’t continue and instead opt to focus on the food in front of you. The last thing you had in your stomach was movie theatre popcorn so you’re certainly ready to eat.
“What was that?” Karasu says, trying to egg you on. You swear this guy is confusing as hell sometimes. He’ll act all nice and sweet, putting an arm around you at the movie theatre and the next moment he’s bickering with you. Pick a side, goddamnit!
“I’m choosing to be nice by ending our previous topic of conversation. Let’s eat.” You won’t let him have the last word.
Sighing, he picks up his chopsticks and slurps up some of his noodles. You do the same. Shit– Karasu was right. This joint is so good! The broth had the perfect flavor, the noodles were cooked to perfection, and the toppings tasted very high quality. And it’s affordable! Yeah, you’re going back here again. Maybe even with him?
Your eyes dart to Karasu’s bowl. He has a bowl of miso ramen, while you have a bowl of shoyu ramen. Man you absolutely loveeeee miso ramen. Guess Karasu noticed your wandering eyes directed to his bowl of noodles. Were you really that obvious?
“Do you like miso too, [Name]?” He questions.
“...yeah.” You say sheepishly, knowing that he probably noticed your gaze that was fixated on that ramen of his. .
Without hesitating, Karasu swaps your guys’ ramen bowls, leaving you with his miso broth and him with your shoyu ramen, “Just don’t eat too much of it,” He claims. This was such a risky move on his part. What if you were just blanked out? What if he made you uncomfortable? Suddenly, his forehead was drenched in sweat and his clothes felt too tight on his skin.
That is, until you smiled up at him, grateful for the gesture, “Thanks, Karasu!”
He sighs in relief, “No problem. Enjoy.”
You hesitate a bit before grabbing your spoon and drinking some of the broth. After all, you guys shared a drink once. Who cares now?, “Damn! This place has some good miso.”
“Right?” Karasu chuckles in response. He then takes a sip of your broth. The soy sauce flavor instantly hits his taste buds, “Damn– this is good too,” he remarks.
“Everything here’s good.” You laugh. Then you have the amazing idea to shoot your shot. Playfully flirt a little. A flirty comment here or there doesn’t hurt, right? Hell– he had his arm around you earlier, “We should totally come back here together.”
Your hearts are in sync with one another’s. At that statement, both of your hearts begin to race. Shit shit shit!!! What’ll he even say to that? You’re gonna kill him if he makes fun of you.
“Yeah. Lets.” Karasu says, a bit off handedly in an attempt to play off his excitement. Going back here with you would be a dream.
The two of you fall back into silence. The sound of people talking around you, chefs yelling at each other about orders, and ramen being cooked fills up the space around you. You swap ramen bowls occasionally without words (because the two of you don’t need that many. Or at least, when it comes to things like this).
The time has come to walk you home once again. Bellies filled, Karasu walks side by side next to you on the way back to your house. It’s routine, so it’s certainly not unusual. Both of you make your way around your familiar neighborhood until you find your house. You stand outside the gate for a second, facing Karasu.
“I,” you take a quick breath, “thanks for taking me out on a d– I mean hangout.” You catch your mistake before he can.
Judging by the smirk on Karasu’s face, he definitely noticed your slip up. He doesn’t point it out though, “No problem. I’ll take ya out more. On me.”
You’re left there by the front gate of your house, speechless as he walks away. Meanwhile, Karasu’s mind was racing with questions. Was that too smug? Shit– does she think I’m some cocky bastard now? Is that a red flag? Was that too bold?! Questions race in his mind as he walks away. Meanwhile, you snap out of it and go inside. Clutching your shopping bags, you bolt to your room immediately. That trip was the most fun you’ve had in a while. If you told yourself at the beginning of the school year that you hung out with Karasu Tabito– resident jackass and had fun? You would’ve told the present you that you were in fact crazy. It still felt unreal though.
Rating: 9.5/10
STEP SIX:
The next morning over breakfast, Karasu is debriefing with Miyuki about everything that happened. The older Karasu is practically gushing over everything that happened between the two of them. Karasu takes a bite of his toast as Miyuki gives him more advice. He’s practically soaking up all this information like a sponge.
“Anyways, I think we’re ready to initiate the final phase.” Miyuki proudly declares.
Karasu is intrigued, “This being?”
“Asking her to be your girlfriend, duh!” she exclaims. “If you think you guys are ready, of course,” she adds on.
“Yes. I think… I think we’re ready for the final phase.” Karasu confirms.
“Good! Time to initiate ‘How to woo a girl 101; the final phase’! Gosh– they grow up so fast…” the college aged girl responds, wiping a fake tear from her eyes.
“Jeez. Dramatic much? Just tell me what to do.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quite some time has passed since that first trip to the mall together. You and Karasu hanging out has become a somewhat regular occurrence. On the occasions that time could be spared, the two of you would go out. Whether it be the mall, karaoke, or the park, it was fun as long as Karasu was there. Of course, both of you still studied together, but things have escalated. And dare you say, it was fun. Being around him was fun. The bickering and the insults that slowly got more playful by the day, the slight touches, the sharing food, all of it was fun. For once in your life, you could have fun. And that’s what you loved about Karasu. Being around him was easy. No projecting a perfect image, no words being held back, just you and him exchanging words like it was a lifeline.
So when Karasu invites you to a new cafe to ‘study’? That didn’t ring as suspicious to you. If anything, it was normal. Plus, he knew you’d been eyeing that new cafe and their drinks. So why not make it memorable? He makes sure to arrive there 30 minutes early to gather his thoughts and feelings. He also makes sure to get a slice of cake for you (your favorite obviously). He’s saved you a seat across from him. And on it? A bouquet of flowers (that his sister helped him pick out the day before). He’s so ready and so not ready at the same time. His stomach is practically eating itself from the inside because of his damn nerves. Honestly, he just needs to man up and ask you to be his girlfriend already.
Unfortunately, his stomach drops even more when he sees you enter the cafe. Not from anger or fear, but from nervousness. There’s no backing out now. Before you spot him, he grabs the bouquet of flowers from your chair and holds it in his hands.
“[Name]! Over here!” He says, waving you over.
Your heart stops at the sight of the flowers. Were those for… you? Or did someone give them to him? Is he gonna– no, there’s no way he’s gonna ask that today. Or is he? You’re grateful you spent extra time on your hair and makeup before coming. In the scenario that he’s asking you to be his girlfriend today, you would have to be ready for some pictures. And you could not be looking chopped. These thoughts race through your mind as you take the seat across from him. The one he saved you himself. Your favorite flavor of cake is already resting in front of you.
“Hi, Karasu.” You greet him.
Karasu gulps nervously as he hands you the bouquet from across the table, “These are uh– these are for you.”
Your fingers brush against his as you receive the flowers, “T-thank you,” You stutter. Ugh! That just makes you sound pathetic. You can’t sound pathetic– especially now. You’re not even the one giving yourself flowers, but you’re still nervous as hell. “These are really pretty.”
“Glad you like ‘em.” Karasu smiles and sighs in relief.
Your eyes flutter to the cake in front of you for a quick moment, “Of course I like them.”
“I got it for you,” he gestures to the cake sitting in front of you, “Yer favorite.”
“Really?!” Karasu loves the way your eyes lighten up whenever he does something nice for you.
You’re beaming, “Yes, really.”
You excitedly pick up your fork and put the piece of cake in your mouth. The flavors dance on your tongue while the fluffy texture of the sponge melts in your mouth, creating the perfect bite. You’re not sure if anything in the world could top this cake. While you continue eating, a joyful expression paints your face. Before long, Karasu catches himself staring at your expression. Someone like him putting a smile on someone as beautiful and amazing as you? It was unheard of.
“Do ya want some cake, Karasu?” You slide the cake toward him with your fork.
He hesitates for a second, "Uhm I'm good.” He slides the cake back to you, “Just continue eating it. You seem to enjoy it.”
“...Thanks.” You pause, “If ya don’t mind me asking, what’re these flowers for. Kinda out of the blue, if ya ask me.”
Karasu freezes up, his heart racing. He was originally planning to wait until a bit later to ask the question, but if you’re asking now then… There’s no chickening out– no turning back. This is the thing he’s been waiting for ever since you two met all those years ago. Ever since he laid eyes on your face that day, this was the only thing racing in his mind.
“Actually, that’s kinda why I asked you to come here a bit outta the blue.” He looks into your eyes, “ever since we met– even though we were doin’ that rivals thing, ya always stood out to me. I don’t find many things extraordinary, but yer the exception. I know I may not have shown it at the beginnin’, but you’ve honestly become someone I wanna be around all the time. Guess it’s pretty obvious what I’m gonna ask now. But will you do me the honor of being yer boyfriend?” He let out a relieved sigh.
During Karasu’s whole spiel, you were focused on him and his words. Your eyes never left his; not even for a moment. Honestly, you were impressed by how sincere he sounded. Karasu Tabito, in your eyes, was always that one asshole who would rub his grades in your face. So now? Hearing him say all that with such conviction– such sincerity warmed your heart. Suddenly, you were hyperaware of everything around you. The cool AC in the cafe, the hair on your forehead, and most of all– the feeling in your chest.
Realizing you blanked out, you return to the conversation at hand, “Sorry! I was just processing your words.” You admit sheepishly.
“It’s fine–” Okay, now he’s worried. Were you silent because you were trying to figure out a way to reject him? Or–
His overthinking was interrupted by your sweet voice, “I’m glad you feel the same way, Karasu. I… I’ll admit I didn’t really like ya at first. I thought you were some cocky asshole who effortlessly got good grades and played soccer. But after gettin’ to know you a bit more, my thoughts were disproven. You’ve shown yourself to be a good person when we spend time together. So… I’d really like it if you’d be my boyfriend.” You’re sure that you have some awkward silly expression on your face but you truthfully couldn’t bring yourself to care.
Karasu is smiling really wide right now. He looks less like a teenage boy and more like a little kid who just discovered something revolutionary. Not that you mind; it’s a cute look on hi, “Really?”
“Really. I’ll let you have that honor. But if you think that I’m gonna start easing up on you at school, yer wrong. I’m afraid that isn’t a boyfriend privilege.” You proudly proclaim.
Karasu rolls his eyes, “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. So what is a boyfriend privilege I may have?”
“You can hold my hand, I guess.” Karasu wastes no time in grabbing your hand from across the table. You let out a giggle at his enthusiasm.
Your boyfriend looks completely serious about all of this, “I like that.”
“Oh. And are we being… public about this?” You ask, genuinely curious. You weren’t sure if Karasu was the more private type in relationships, so you want to clarify. They do say communication is key in relationships and it wouldn’t be harmful to start practicing early.
“Hm? Honestly, I don’t mind. But those idiots in our class might blow things outta proportion. Are they still betting on who gets the higher score during tests?” Karasu asks.
You sigh, remembering your classmates’ antics, “They are. Honestly, I think it’d be best to keep it a bit private… for now at least. I’m pretty sure they think we still hate each other.”
“True that.” Karasu agrees.
“So for the time being let's keep this a bit private… not necessarily hiding it– if you get my drift. But not like… outward, y’know?”
He nods in response, “I get what yer sayin’ and I agree.”
“Alright. By the way, how long’ve you liked me, Karasu? Just curious.”
“Tabito. It’s Tabito now.” The purple haired man is staring at you so hard.
You scoff, “Don’t change the subject, Tabito.”
“...” he decides to be truthful with you, “Like… pretty much since I met ya.”
Your eyes widen. Damn! That long?! “Really?!”
Tabito doesn’t bat an eye, “Yeah. What about it?”
“But– I was kinda a jerk to ya back in the day.”
“You’re sayin’ back in the day like it wasn’t long ago that you were snarky with me.”
You scoff and roll your eyes, “Okay. Fine, fine.”
“So when’d ya start likin’ me?” Tabito asks, curious about your perspective.
“Prolly around the time we started studyin’ together. That was fun.” You answer, truthfully.
“Interestin’... My tactic worked then.” He mumbles that last part quietly.
You raise an eyebrow, “What was that?”
“Nothin!”
You brush that off. The rest of the conversation flows nicely; the two of you throwing your signature banter back and forth and occasionally eating some cake. You two even order some lattes, which is nice. While the date is simple, it’s nice. It’s just the two of you, spending time away from the world in a quiet cafe. Tabito knows you don’t like overly flashy things. If anything, it’s a testament to how much he pays attention to you. You’re grateful for that (and him). Eventually you guys make your way out of the cafe after what feels like hours and head to the park (hand in hand). It’s nice just being in Tabito’s presence. Just being around him feels so… right. Before this, you didn’t think anything in your life was missing. School, friends, family, and studying were the norm to you. Now however? Something that didn’t exist in your heart came to be; in a good way, of course.
While you’re sitting on the benches, you ask Tabito to take a picture with you (for a potential soft launch on your private twitter with three– now four people).
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun was now setting; which unfortunately meant the end of the date. Tabito being Tabito walks you home as always. Now entering his front door, he’s practically ambushed by his nosy ass older sister. She needs to go back to college already!!!
“Tabito-chan! Yer back late. So what happened?” Her eyes dart to his hands. No bouquet. “Did she like and accept the flowers? AND yer back late. Shit– just tell me!”
Tabito rolls his eyes, “Well I’d tell ya if you gave me a chance to speak.”
Miyuki only nods. She’s locked in for this.
“Well… we went to the cafe, right? So then I gave her the flowers and she accepted them. Then she started eating the cake I bought her and asked why she was getting flowers in the first place. And like– I couldn’t really say anything except the truth, so I outright admitted I liked her and asked to be her boyfriend.” Tabito’s face gets a little warm at that last part.
“They grow up so fast!” Miyuki says, very proud.
“And uh… she said yes,” Tabito smiles at the thought of you accepting his confession. “So uh– now we’re datin’. Then we went to the park a bit afterwards and hung out. Once it got dark out, I walked her home, obviously.”
“Good, good. Exactly like how I taught ya.” The older Karasu couldn’t be more proud right now.
“Now that me ‘n [Name] are official, thanks Onee-san. I… I couldnt’ve done a lot of it without ya.” Tabito luckily admits.
Miyuki is beaming, “Well, I guess my job as your mentor is done. I’m proud of ya. I guess we can officially call ‘How to woo a girl 101’ done. Good job, Tabito.”
“Thanks.”
Miyuki smirks, “Now we start ‘How to be a good boyfriend 101’!”
“What the fuck? Am I seriously not done with this bullshit?” Tabito groans as Miyuki laughs at him.
RATING: 10/10
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A/N: hi guys!!! I'm so so happy that this fic is finally out of the drafts! I've been working on it for quite a bit, so to see it come to life is truly amazing. Anyways, now that I'm done with this, I can finally focus on my other requests. I hope that this wasn't too ooc TT'. thank you everyone for reading and supporting me ! <3 i really appreciate it!
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