Kaito-Kun Does Not Like Blind Dates

“I'm not going!” 

“Dude, please do it…for our sake, please?” 

“Not in a million years, I’m not going to get roped up in your antics.”

Kaito is a senior in high-school with no experience in dating. He’s too busy trying to get his grades up to even think about getting a girlfriend, and all of his friends always talk about girls like they’re life depends on it. He stayed behind with his friends after school. His friend, Lance, ended up getting the short end of the stick, because of a bet he made with another classmate. Lance loss is to go on a blind date with a girl chosen from their school. 

Kaito rolled his eyes at him, he headed towards the door when Ana spoke up, “It’s not about antics, it’s about…taking Lance’s place, because he doesn’t know when to quit ahead.”

Lance turned to Ana, “I did! The guy kept bothering me, so I took up the offer as a joke. I wasn’t really going to do it.” 

“...Either way, it’s just one small date and after that, it’s over and done with.” Ana said.

Kaito already had his mind made up. “Thank you, but no thank you. I need to get home and do homework. I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow.” Kaito headed out the door, leaving them behind. When he came home to his room, he took off his book bag and placed it on the floor. Kaito lies across his bed. He thought about the girl he was going to meet. It could be anyone at his school. The girls at his school never really appeal to him except for Lance, maybe. Ana on the other hand only cares about being team captain on the volleyball team. He sighed out his nose and got up from his bed, starting on his homework. 

The next day after school, Lance and Kaito were discussing the bet that he lost yesterday. “Okay, he already picked out the girl from Mr. Lennon’s class.” Lance said. “What’s the girl’s name?” Kaito asked him. “I have no clue.” Kaito felt bad for the girl. Getting roped up in some person’s scheme. He couldn’t blame her, he was also in that same position as well. Going on a blind date as a stand-in for a friend would be a memory he wouldn’t forget.

“I’m hoping it’s Carrie!” Lance gushed. Kaito shook his head. “Please no, a date with her? No thanks. She probably might kill me within a second if I look at her or even better, talk to her.” Kaito said. He shuddered at the thought.

“Okay smart guy, who do you want to go on a date with?” Lance asked. “No one really.” He sneered. “But for your mistake, I’ll go on this date.” “You will?” Lance jumped up from his seat, he was all giddy and shook Kaito’s hand. “Aw, thanks buddy! Because, if I went. I would look super dumb.”

“Yeah, yeah. After this don’t thank me until this date is over and done with.”

“I forgot to mention this part. His name is Willis and he said I’m going to meet her at the mall. The mall in the downtown area.” Lance said. 

“I know where that is. She’s going to be there?”

“You bet…and I hope it’s Carrie too.” Kaito made a face at him. “Please stop bringing her up. She scares me.”

It got dark outside and Kaito told his parents that he was meeting up with his friends at the mall, which wasn't the case. The mall was crowded as he stood outside the door, waiting for the girl. He pretends to mind his own business with people walking around, stealing glances to keep an eye out for her. Lance told him that her hair was black and pulled into a ponytail and she wore a black jacket. 

He stood there for about a minute and half. He decided to walk around and come back to see if the girl would be at the door. Before he could make a move, someone cleared their throat. “Excuse me, are you Lance Yami?” He jumped as he looked straight at them. The girl that Lance mentioned was standing before him. Many times the two went over what Kaito was supposed to say to her, he ended up telling her the truth.

“I see, so you two and Willis decided to punk me? Is that it?” She sounded squeaky to him.

“No, it’s not like that…apparently…Lance was supposed to go on a blind date with you, so he chickened out at the last minute and then I took his place.”

“It’s always me, isn’t it? I’m usually the butt of the joke in my class every time those stupid girls open their mouths at me. ‘Oh, look, Suzu. She doesn’t have a date.’ I’m like ‘shut up!’” 

“Wait, Suzume Yagi?! You’re the girl–”

“What? Is there a problem with me?” She snapped.

“NO! Not really. I’m surprised. When I heard you speak, I didn’t think that was you, until I heard you said your name…I was in your class last semester—In Mrs. Tanner’s class for history,” Suzume's eyes lit up in astonishment. She snapped her finger, “Ohh, okay. It’s coming back to me now. You and Ana are in the same class. Totally forgot.” Two laughed at the coincidence of them running into each other. The laughter died down as the two stood there not knowing what to say to each other.

“Hey, Kaito right? We have enough time before the mall closes. You want to walk around?”

“Oh, you see…Lance thought about taking you to a restaurant–”

“With what money? I don’t have a job, don’t know if you have one. I would rather just walk and talk. And there’s a food court too, so…don’t get the huge deal of going to a fancy restaurant.” 

Kaito stood there with his mouth gaping. She walked inside the mall leaving him behind in the cold. The two walked around with the bustling crowds, talking with each other. Kaito didn’t think about how bad the date would’ve turned out. He was surprised to see Suzume was fun to be around with. After the date was over, the two stopped to get something to eat at the food court.

“Next time, don’t get pulled into any of their antics. And it’s Lance’s fault.” Suzume winked at him. “You know, at first I didn’t want to do it. But, it’s not so bad.” Kaito said.

“It’s just two friends hanging out.” Suzume took a bite out of food, watching everything wind down.

“Do you feel like this is a date?” Kaito asked her. “No, not really. If it was one, then that'd be different.” Suzume looked at phone. “Um, we should go home now, the mall is about to close.” “I can throw away your trash.” Kaito jumped up from seat, taking their trash and throwing it away. He met up with Suzume at the front entrance. “Did you enjoy today?” He asked her. “Yeah, it was nice getting out. Hopefully, we can cross paths in the hallways.” 

At school, Lance and Ana waited patiently for Kaito’s answer. “So, how did it go!” Ana said. “Did you guys…you know!” Kaito huffed, swatting a hand at her. “You guys take things too seriously. All we did was eat and talk and talk and eat. Apparently, she was nice.”

“I don’t care about that! Who was it? Was it…Carrie?” Lance asked.

“Scary Carrie wasn’t there-y. It was Suzume Yagi.”

“Oh.” Lance moped. “But, still you can never tell.”

“Let’s not forget that you’re the one who chickened out at the last minute and told me what she was wearing. I was following your instructions.”

“Guys, forget it. The only good thing was that Kaito enjoyed his outing.” Ana said.

“Thank you, Ana.” Kaito nodded. The door opened and Suzume appeared standing in the doorway. “Hi, Kaito! Lance, Ana.” 

“Hi, what are you doing here?” Kaito asked her.

“I forgot to say thank you for taking me home yesterday. I was going to text you, but it didn’t cross my mind.” She  walked inside the classroom, standing far away from him. He sat up in his chair as Lance and Ana looked at each other. Ana nudged her elbow into Lance’s side. “It’s fine, I’m glad you enjoyed yesterday.”

Suzume smiled. Kaito turned to see his friends giggling behind his back. “Don’t worry, I think I’m quite popular in my class. Even the girls shut their mouths up when I entered the classroom too.” 

“That's good, Suzu.”

“Hey, what are you doing this Saturday?” Suzume asked.

“I finished my homework and then I have to study…which, I don’t want to.”

“Great, this can be a friendship study date! I’ll bring the coffee.” A phone went off in Suzume’s jacket, she pulled it out, checking her phone. “Oh darn, I have to go. I have a study group to go to, bye! See you this Saturday!” 

“Bye!” Kaito watched as Suzume left the room. 

“So, what now?” Lance asked, “Are you going? Or are you chickening out this time?”

“Sure, why not?” Kaito said.