Life Will Change

Chapter 37: Mean Model

Begin!

~Normal POV

6/28 - Tuesday

After such a busy schedule keeping him from doing so, Akira finally had time to spend with Ann today. To say he'd been craving it was an understatement. If he had his way, he'd spend all his time with her. And he really needed to let go of that way of thinking.

This "waiting out his crush" plan didn't appear to be working. If anything, it only persisted harder the more he chose not to act on it. And he couldn't simply avoid her either. They had class together everyday. And he'd already promised to help her with her problems. He couldn't turn that down. It was a comfort to know Ann hadn't sworn off dating, it at least meant if she did reject him it wouldn't be because of her issues with Kamoshida, but that still left Morgana as a factor. Would his friend truly be ok with such a thing? He didn't want to think about what might happen if he wasn't... Ryuji seemed to think the cat would suck it up and accept, but Ryuji was rarely right. Sojiro had taken a liking to her as well; telling him to keep her around, as if to say, "Get on with it already." But why should the old man's opinion matter when he didn't want Akira around to begin with.

Well, he couldn't worry about that, Akira had to help Ann today. Nothing more, and he was happy to do so. The two met up in the underground mall.

"So, what'd you need," Akira asked, smiling.

Ann sighed, "I was gonna take you with me to visit Shiho but I got an email from work telling me to come in today. One of the models didn't show so I have to fill in... Do you want to come with me?"

Akira blinked. "Come to work with you?"

"Mhmm. It'd be fun having you around," Ann replied, smiling.

"Is that allowed though? I wouldn't want you to get in trouble..."

"It's fine! Shiho used to come to modeling gigs with me a lot; they don't mind if I bring a friend. As long as the shoot isn't disrupted. And it's not far, so you want to come?"

"Sure," He replied. "If you want me to."

"Great! Let's go!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him along with her.

"Her hands are soft... Damn it! Stop! Stop it, seriously! It's not that big a deal!"

~...

The photoshoot was on Central Street close to the movie theater. A couple of crew members were already there having a briefing with another model. The girl didn't look much older than them, probably a year or two at most, and she was only barely taller than Ann. She wore a bit too much makeup and had long brown hair. Ann confessed quietly that she'd never worked with this girl before.

Even so, the girl seemed to know her. "Ann-senpai!" She greeted, with a bright, cheery, voice. "I'm so pumped to work with you today!"

Ann flinched a bit at her enthusiasm. "Uh... thanks? And you are?"

The girl didn't seem to hear her. "When I saw you in last year's show I just-" She sniffled. "Oh, I think I'm gonna cry!"

Ann only looked more confused. "Um, that show was tiny... like it wasn't a big deal at all..."

"My name is Mika! Please, no honorifics. I might be older but you have loads more experience, Ann-senpai!"

"Um, ok, Mika... you don't have to call me senpai though, it feels strange since I'm younger than you..."

Mika shook off this concern. "Oh, alright, Ann-chan. And who's this? Is he your boyfriend?" She gestured to Akira.

Ann blushed, "Um, Akira's not my boyfriend; I just brought him along today... Anyway, is there something you need?" (Akira was thankful Ann changed the subject so fast, otherwise she'd have noticed how red his face was from that comment too.)