4 Fulfilling Mei's Wish # 1

It was on the third day of the school holidays, and Christmas Eve, that they all had agreed to meet up with Mei for a shopping adventure in the early afternoon.

The vibe of the city was festive with decorated trees a glow with colored lights; beaming a welcoming aura among the bustling crowds frequenting the shopping district. The Christmas atmosphere was heightened with gentle snowfall that occurred at that time of the year.

To Sasuke, it was a overly busy period where people spent an exorbitant amount of stress and money on trinkets that carried the same meaning as sharing a luxurious meal with the people you cared for the most. He never understood why people continued to waste their hard-earned yen on the unnecessary.

He brushed his bias aside as he weaved his way through the crowds, and headed for the meeting place his president had set for everyone.

He was supposed to meet up with them outside the main entrance of the plaza (nearest the train station) ten minutes ago. It was the first time he was running late for a meeting and cursed at the reason for his tardiness. He wasn't sure why he wasn't able to decide on an outfit until the last minute. Nor the pitter-patter heartbeats he had problems calming down when he groomed himself for going out. He was certain his mother knew something was up, as she couldn't stop with her prying on why he took extra care with his appearance. Staring at him with that knowing look in her eyes.

'It's like I'm being a girl,' he scolded himself as he picked up his pace into the plaza's outer courtyard. He, finally, sighted the meeting place ahead of him.

His heart beats went still when he neared the main entrance and saw Mei talking with Saaya near a glittering tree. He relished the way the tree's twinkling lights accentuated the warmth of Mei's smile.

'Wow, she looks radiant,' he breathed out and took in the femininity of her outfit.

Her salmon dress coat highlighted her curves in the right places. Her delicate sterling Christmas tree earrings twinkled against the glow of the tree lights, which further glorified her face. If he hadn't seen her at the hospital, he wouldn't have imagined she was afflicted with an incurable stage of cancer. A tinge of sadness entered his heart at thought of it. He cursed at death and wished she had more time.

'Oi Tsubaki! You finally turned up,' his brother called out to him as he entered the picture.

Sasuke approached the waiting group.

'Sorry I'm late,' he panted. Directing his apologize to Sōjirō.

'That's not like you at all Tsubaki-kun. What took you so long?' Sōjirō eyed him with curiosity.

'My mother had me do some errands before I left,' Sasuke lied. He redirected his attention to Saaya to hide any reaction that his president would be able to decipher.

The group entered the shopping plaza and explored the many retail wonders on Mei's wish list. Sasuke wasn't one to find retail therapy fun, but he found himself enjoying the time with the Sket Dan and his friends. Especially, the vibrant reactions from Mei as she saw everything with a child-like wonder.

'Hey Tsubaki-san come with me. I want to take a look in this bookstore,' Mei said as she grabbed his arm and pulled him into a store before he had a moment to hesitate.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Switch direct the attention of his brother and Himeko to the otaku store nearby. Saaya had dragged her brother into a clothing store next door.

Panicky thoughts scurried through is mind when he realized they were alone. What should he say? How should he be with her? The questions jumbled around his brain and made him feel overly self conscious of his boring overcoat, navy slacks and brown man-scarf wrapped around his neck.

'What do you think of this book?' Mei causally asked him as she showed him a shoujo manga he had never been interested in reading before.

'I, um, don't know. I've never read a book like that before,' he fumbled.

'Really? You've never read a shoujo before?' she asked him sweetly.

'Um, well, no,' he replied with a deep blush to his cheeks.

Mei chuckled.

'Then what books have you read?' she asked; her fingers toying with the covers of the shoujo before him.

'No. Stay focused. Remember your place. She's the president's cousin,' he chanted in his head.

'Tsubaki-san?'

'Um, ah, I've read some Bansho,' he said innocently.

'Wow very academic of you. I think that's cool though,' she responded with a smile that hinted at a more-than-friends invitation. She could see it was a nuance that went over his head.

She grabbed his hand and led him to a secluded set of shelves further in the bookshop. A few non-fiction titles caught Sasuke's interest.

'Can I bluntly ask you something,' Mei said, pulling his attention back to her.

'Um, sure,' he gulped. His heart pained his chest and stirred an unfamiliar ache around his groin.

'Do you like me?'

Sasuke's mind rushed through a million thoughts a second. Quickly doing an analysis of what the right sort of reply should be. He landed on an answer he hoped was correct.

'Sure, you're a nice girl. As expected of being President's cousin.'

'Really. A nice girl,' she rephrased, slightly annoyed.

'Come on Tsubaki-san. You can do better than that.'

Sasuke frowned as he thought harder but he was clueless on the most appropriate response to give.

'Okay, how about I tell you what I think you think of me,' she spoke for him.

She leaned in close and whispered seductive words in his ear that stirred a foolish blush to his cheeks.

'Tanaka-chan! You shouldn't be saying such things,' he blurted.

'But you've thought about it haven't you?'

'Of-of course not,' he admitted with half a truth. 'You're the cousin of a guy I highly respect. Of course, I view you in the same light.'

'What if I said I want you to view me with a bit of indecency. Would you as the last request of dying girl?' Mei teased him.

'That's enough. It's not right to say such things and speak of dying,' he put his foot down.

As much as he felt the urge to kiss her. He wasn't a brute to do it and taint her honor. The mention of dying made it seem like he would only be satisfying an urge due to desperation. He respected her too much to allow their relationship to succumb to that sort of cheap shot.

Jarring bangs and the sound of an explosion caught their attention. He hurried toward the exit and saw his brother and Himeko being chased by a bunch of older teens wearing shop aprons that sported colorful portraits of Moe anime characters. He had noticed the Pucky Balls tin in his brother's hand.

'Goddamn Fujisaki!' Sasuke cursed. He gripped Mei's hand.

'Sorry we have to go,' he said as he led her out of the bookstore. They followed his brother's plight at a sprint.