003

Shinjuku Sanchome is a vibrant part of Tokyo, Japan. It is bustling with life, day and night.

I turned my head towards the side where towering skyscrapers rose from the ground, on the other were the myriad of streets that housed various shops and restaurants further cementing the slogan that there's something for everyone in Sanchome.

Although I may have just come up with that slogan on the spot.

It was a new experience for me, gazing at the countless number of neon colored signs that advertised various items and businesses and the stream of people that filled the streets.

"I guess they're all out on dates." I muttered my observations as I came across the 23rd couple that passed by me for the night.

I clenched my fists to stop them from shaking. Anxiety filled my system ever since I had agreed with the stupid blind date that Katsuo had forced me to join.

"I hope I don't look that repulsive,"I clicked my tongue as I stared at my reflection on a nearby window.

I managed to tame my greyish blue hair into something of a side style that was popular with men my age. I couldn't help but fidget in my place, pulling the collar of my black shirt to give me some breathing room as I felt like I was suffocating just from the dark blue leather jacket that my sister had given me.

"Was I too early?" I muttered to myself and impatiently tapped my feet.

I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that pooled at the bottom of my stomach. I had always disliked being forced to do something, but it made things even worse when I was forced to join a blind date of all things.

"Oh? Is that my Tomodachi right over here?"

Katsuo's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I looked up at his same old goofy grin that women apparently loved. His jet black hair was combed in a way that it stuck out in one particular direction, which reminded me of a 90s anime about a playboy in space.

"You're pretty early, aren't you? Are you excited about your first ever date?" He snickered, which removed the feeling of dread in my body and replaced it with irritation.

"Yep, I'm so excited for the blind date that I can't wait for it to end!"

"Still sarcastic as ever, aren't you, buddy?" Katsuo sighed in defeat as he slung an arm over my shoulder.

"Seriously though, I'm sure you'll like the girl I'll introduce to you."

"How nice of you to know my preferences for me, I never had the time to think of them before."

"You're a great guy to hang out with, you know."

I couldn't help but smirk at his words. This was how our interactions always panned out, a game of sarcasm and his half-witted sentences.

It's not that much of a game, but how would I know.

"Where are the girls? Did you purposely have me arrive early so you can joke around with me?"

"Nope, I know you'll strangle me if I do that—"

"Good for you to know."

"They're probably running late, or my girl is having problems convincing her friend. She doesn't like blind dates, too."

I raised an eyebrow at his words and unconsciously snickered, "Oh? Maybe we'd have something to talk about after all."

"That's the spirit. You should really have things in common with her—"

"How we both have friends that ignore our feelings and force us to join this ridiculous date."

"...I seriously, I should stop expecting something good from coming out of your mouth." Katsuo sighed with a frown but was quick to get back to his original mood when he spotted something from the crowd of people.

"Dude, there they are." He whispered close to my ears much to my annoyance, but I decided to let it past and look at the direction he was pointing at.

The girl he was probably aiming for had long brown hair and brown eyes, I could feel a rather meek personality  judging from her body language and how she clung to dear hope to the arm of another person.

"You're a bastard for aiming at that innocent girl, Katsuo."

"What can I say? She's pretty cute, and it's not bad to taste a different girl from time to time."

I visibly cringed at his words before focusing my attention towards the girl's friend, immediately feeling my eyes widen in shock, and my mouth was soon agape as I pointed my index finger at her.

"You!?" I gasped at the familiar face that also looked like she had seen a ghost from her past, a rival from her past to be more precise.

"Oh? You know each other?" Katsuo asked me while snaking his arm around the brown-haired girl's waist, causing her to flinch and squeal  quietly.

"I never thought I'd meet you here in all places Najisai-san."

I instinctively took a step back the moment I heard her voice. An influx of memories came rushing in, although I couldn't say they were all good ones as they were just filled with moments where a red-haired girl constantly annoying me inside a library.

"You seriously can't tell me you don't recognize her at all, Katsuo." I glared at the man who seemingly had dropped any form of connection with me as he looked at the girl in a way that was similar to a predator gazing at its prey.

"Hmm? I don't really remember meeting a beautiful woman like her before. Can you refresh my memory?" He asked without bothering to look away from the girl that he currently pushed against his body.

"Can that be considered as sexual assault?"

"I don't think so? She looks like she's enjoying it... I think."

It was true that the girl might have been enjoying Katsuo's advances, but to two inexperienced nerds, her closed eyes and frozen stature made it seem like she was being forced to accept the hug.

"Hmm, I see." The girl quietly snickered as she shot me a sideway glance, "How have you been?"

I raised an eyebrow at her question.

Not because I didn't feel the need to answer, nor did I think trying to talk with her was silly or anything.

I just can't remember her name.

"I think it has something to do with... A rose?" I muttered quietly and averted my gaze towards a nearby bush.

I've always been proud of my memory, but there are just some things that my brain refuses to remember even though it easily could.

Things like birthdays, celebrations, the new popular trends, and names were some of the things I couldn't remember, even if my life depended on it.

"Oh? Are you trying to remember my name Najisai-san?"

Crap.

"Sorry, Katsuo didn't tell me a classmate of ours was attending the blind date. I would have looked back at the yearbook if I knew."

"Pfft, I can't believe you haven't changed at all since college." she snickered, which caused me to groan, not knowing how should I react with all of this.

"Wait, she went to Waseda University too??" Katsuo, who was eavesdropping on our conversation, exclaimed with wide eyes and pointed an accusing finger towards me.

"How could you hide such a bombshell of a girl from me all those years ago!?"

Bombshell?

She and I seemingly had the same thought as she looked down at herself at the same time as I did. I didn't really know if what she wore was the current fashion trend, but I do know that she looked eye-catching.

It wasn't particularly anything fancy either. She simply wore some ripped jeans and a black tank top paired with black high-heeled boots overcoated by a white puffy sweater.

"Well, she does look like a nuclear bomb just went off."

"Wow, bad joke." She deadpanned at my joke while Katsuo just stared at me like I wasn't making sense

"Radiation, you wouldn't get it, so explaining to you is useless." I waved him off and pocketed my hands.

"Are we just gonna stand around all night? I thought you dragged me to a double date, not a free ticket to watching you flirt."

"Tomodachi... Are you sure it wasn't the other way around?"

What is this idiot talking about this time?

I clicked my tongue in annoyance, "What are you talking ab—"

"Oh enough, we can keep talking while we're walking."

I was then rudely cut off by my former rival, who bodly grabbed hold of my arm and yanked me towards her direction as she ran off.

"H-Hey, that's kidnapping, isn't!?" I heard Katsuo call out, but I focused all of my attention to my rival, wondering.

"What do you think are you doing!?"

"Stopping you from wasting more time and start enjoying the night."

She answered in a confident voice, yet I could pick out hints of mischief, making me feel more and more regretful of my decision.

What did I really just get myself into??