Out For a Ride

“HOTARU… WAS THIS TRULY NECESSARY?” Ryuuji asked with a deadpan expression. He stood with the girls in the apartment building’s parking lot, staring at what used to be his old ride.

“Ponko-chan, you look so cute!” said Akari, snuggling up to its passenger door. It used to be neutral gray, notably weathered over the years… but now, the SUV had been repainted to an adorable pastel pink.

“She’s perfect,” said Hotaru with a smug face.

“Vroom! Vroom!” and the car seemed to agree.

“She’s conspicuous,” Ryuuji objected. “Who the hell rides a pink Land Cruiser?”

“Not a mercenary,” his girlfriend replied. “Trust me, they won’t spot us with this. I added scrying protection and perception dampening, so unless we do something outrageous, the police won’t mind us.”

“But why pink?”

“Because it’s cute,” Hotaru shrugged.

“Hotaru-chan, banzai!” Akari celebrated, a fist to the air.

Ryuuji brought his palm to his face in frustration. He knew his girlfriend well enough to understand he didn’t have a say in the matter, and even if he tried to object, Akari would back her.

“Okay, we’re almost ready. Now all we need is a change of clothes,” said Hotaru. At her command, their outfits morphed into civilian clothing, making Akari’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Holy cow…” she muttered. Akari had met a handful of Kotodama users before, but Hotaru was in a league of her own. While the others were able to manifest elemental spells through their words, she could outright warp reality. It was a sight to behold.

“Now let’s go to town, shall we?” said Hotaru, ready for her next adventure.

“Yes, ma’am!” Akari followed up.

“Chop chop, Ryuuji. You’re driving.”

“Yes, my love…” the man all but surrendered to her.

* * *

THE TRIO took to the road and, just like Hotaru had assured, they didn’t face any scrutiny. Any onlooker would pass them off as a group of friends, seamlessly blending in with the crowd.

“A fleeting glow, gone before dawn~” the girls sang together. It was the Dance of the Firefly, Akari’s favorite song. Ryuuji couldn’t stand the damn thing before, but now that he knew whose voice it was behind the synthesizer, he was slowly coming around.

“Come on Ryuuji, sing with us,” Akari pressed him. “And don’t you try to play silly, I know you know the lyrics.”

“Just let me drive,” he shot her down, tightening his grip on the wheel.

“Fufu, he’s shy,” teased Hotaru. “But it’s okay. We’ll drag him to a karaoke later.”

“I’m surprised you’re so relaxed after our talk earlier.”

“Well yeah, we have the whole week before shit hits the fan. I’m positive nothing will happen today, so there’s no harm in enjoying Tanabata.”

“She’s the veteran here, Ryuuji. You should listen to her.”

“Vroom! Vroom!”

“Okay, okay! I get it. Geez…”

Outnumbered three to one, he didn’t stand a chance.

“So where are we going?” he asked. Hotaru had only given him vague directions, so he didn’t know what she actually had in mind.

“There’s a shopping mall down the road, the Meguro Atrium.”

“Never heard of it.”

“With a taste like yours, of course you haven’t.”

Akari chuckled at Hotaru’s candidness. Her assessment was spot on.

“But don’t worry, I’ll show you around. There’s a boutique there you’re gonna love, Akari! I have just the perfect outfit in mind for you.”

“Make sure not to use Ren’s card… or yours, for that matter,” Ryuuji pointed out. “The Bureau will track us right away if we use our bank accounts.”

“That’s fine, I have cash,” said Hotaru. “I’ll treat you.”

Ryuuji had reservations about letting his girlfriend pay, but he was also completely broke. He spent everything he had on summoning charms the other day, and wasn’t at liberty to withdraw cash from an ATM. So, he could only swallow his pride and take it.

“Oh my God, I’m shopping with Tōka-sama,” Akari got hyped up, making Ryuuji feel a tinge of envy for her. How long was it that his jaded, cold heart ever felt excited about something? He genuinely couldn’t remember.

“Calm down, we’re almost there,” he said, seeing the mall further down the road.

Soon after, they pulled over to the parking lot and disembarked their ride.

“Come on, Ryuuji, let’s go,” said Hotaru, extending her hand to him just like she used to in the good old days.

“Yeah. Let’s… have a good time,” he said, reaching out to her.

Hotaru smiled at him, feeling the warmth from their palms melding into each other. She looked so serene that Ryuuji couldn’t stop his mask from cracking, just a little bit. He parted his gaze from her and looked ahead instead, a pair of small tears forming on his eyes.

Hotaru didn’t say anything and just leaned her head against him.

Then the three of them made their way to the shopping mall, with Akari’s heart quietly tightening in her chest.