𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲. | 𝗚𝗶𝘆𝘂𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗼

C H A P T E R 22 ➷

SHINOBU

Today is shaping up to be a better-than-average day.

For one thing, Kanae's recovery has exceeded the expectations, though, it's been like only a month since the incident, but I can tell that she had completely recovered, the memory loss wasn't really something big to create a fuss about, by two weeks she already had it back, and that's all despite the fact that all what she forgot was what happened in the past two days prior the accident. Plus now I have the car, which means I can go anywhere I want and for that, I called Mitsuri to hang out.

The second reason this day sucks less is this: for the first time in weeks, Douma hasn't tried to approach me nor try to pester me, as much as I hate to admit it, he has been less annoying since he transferred to our college along with the other students, first they had been transferred into a different building from ours, which is a really good thing. Secondly, they're being under a strict supervision, due to their reputation and being quite known as 'The troublemakers" the University's management have their eyes on them.
Also, not having to worry about him approaching me at the end of the day is a huge relief. I never realized that out of sight, out of mind could be so powerful. When I get dressed I reach for my favorite skirt, which I haven't worn for a while because it's also my shortest skirt, and the familiar swish of fabric around my legs makes me feel more like myself than I have for a while.

"You look nice Shinobu!" Kanae says when I enter the kitchen area. She does too—she's wearing one of her old sweater dresses paired with chunky jewelry and boots, and I smile when I grab the car keys from the peg beside the door. Kanae and I have a similar personalities, except that I get angry more easily, however we both use fashion to express ourselves more than anyone else in our family does. If I'm reading Kanae's outfit correctly, she's feeling more energetic today. Which makes a third reason to feel good about today.

When I pick up Mitsuri, she grins at the sight of me in the drivers seat. "Hmm, you've some explaining to do miss."
"What?"

Mitsuri laughs as she slides into the front seat, "You think I've not noticed how are you dressing up more fashionable lately?"
She flips the radio until it lands on a Bastille song, then fastens her seat belt as I pull away from the curb. We song along for few verses, and I'm starting to relax into the familiar rhythm of her company until she says, "So, you didn't tell me why."

"Why what?"

"Heeey, don't act dumb Shinobu, I know you're not like this. Sooo, who's the lucky boy you're dressing up for?" She smacks her lips together like she's about to devour her favorite dessert when I don't reply. "Hm? Is it perhaps..."

"NO!" I say quickly, and I can feel my cheeks heating up, recently just the thought of him makes my breathe go unsteady and my mind go hazy, therefore I tend not to think of him much, which is practically impossible since he's literally in my mind the whole day, right when I wake up to the moment I sleep. And that's doing no good to my heart.

Ignoring him is also impossible, it doesn't really make sense either, we go to work together five days a week, he still calls me every night and the moment I hear his voice my chest bubbles into an indescribable feeling of happiness and other mixed feelings. But I've to praise myself that I can contain my feelings in front of him so I don't blow my cover.

"....nobu"

"Shinobu?"

"SHINOBU!" I hear Mitsuri kind-of shout, I shoot my head into her direction immediately,
"You're zooming out? Are you okay?"