A Speed Date and a Final Showdown with the Red Ravager Server

"Alright. Question one. When's your birthday," Fumiko began.

I noticed that Fumiko suddenly took a pen and a notebook out of her purse.

I thought this was a date, not a study session. But I'll comply for now.

"May 24, 2007," I said, crossing my arms.

Fumiko mumbled to herself as she wrote the new information down.

"Okay. What's your favorite season?"

We're really going through the throwaway questions first.

"Uh, Fall, I guess."

"Oh, why's that," she asked, her ears perking up.

Finally. A question with some depth behind it.

"I suppose I just like mild weather. I get sunburnt too easily to enjoy summer and there was this moment during winter when I fell through the ice while skating," I said, slacking my shoulders.

"Oh, yikes. I'm so sorry," she said, wincing at the traumatizing detail.

She held off on jotting more notes down for several seconds before returning pen to paper.

"Now, if a certain important date happened, could be your birthday or something else really, is there something physical and tangible that you had your eye on that'd you'd want?"

She was more straightforward than most, almost to a fault honestly.

"I guess what I want is..."

She leaned in, her metallic blue eyes processing more info than her ears, pen still in hand.

"To know why you need a notebook for our date. Is it more material for your Experience Journals," I asked, humming in curiosity.

"Yes... and no."

"Wait. So is it, or is it not writing material?"

"It's writing material, but not for the notebook I showed you. I wanted to turn the page on my life, for lack of a better phrase," she said, with bright red cheeks and an unsteady lip.

"And what would that next page look like, Fumiko-san?"

"Pass this embarrassing, anxiety-inducing first date!"

She paradoxically scooted over a bit with her chair after the bold declaration.

"Fumiko-san."

"I-I'm not good at romance. Every time I date someone, as much as I care about them, I can't reciprocate their feelings the same way they can. I don't have the same tingly, electrifying feeling that everyone else has. That's why I just want to skip past this date that I've filled with expectation. I just want to keep spending time with you. Shouldn't that be enough for two people that love each other?"

I was rendered speechless. I felt a stomach-churning combination of guilt and happiness at her revelation. The feeling was gradually gathering over these past few days, but I never took much notice of it. The tingly, electrifying feeling that she spoke of, I could feel it boiling inside of me.

I wanted to spend more time with her. To hell with the pretenses of a romantic relationship.

Why did this have to be decided here and now?

"You're right, Fumiko-san. I've enjoyed my time with you, more than I've enjoyed with myself for the last several months. Does this date have to be the end?"

She shook her head, her face now flushed with both red and streaks of tears.

"No. I think we both deserve a second chance. This date doesn't count."

"Right! The real first date will be in the future. For now, let's just enjoy each other's company."

"But can I still ask you questions? It feels like I barely learned anything about you."

"Okay, but only if you allow me to ask a round of my own," I said, smirking.

"When you look at me like that, I can't help but feel you'll ask me something embarrassing."

"I thought that was the point."

***

The date continued as usual. Now that the pressure unfairly created from the expectation of the first date was gone, our natural selves felt more welcome to come out. And the first thing of note that she found out about me was that I loved the game of basketball.

That interest became more muted as of late, because of past circumstances, but I told her that I wanted to continue playing in earnest one day. I still had one more semester and one more year of high school basketball to become the player I once was.

The first thing I asked her was who her favorite Ravager was, for future gift purposes. She told me she preferred the violet ranger's successor in season two. The violet ranger was a fighter of pure raw power, one that only came with love and acceptance of one's self. The position had not been held by a woman for over a century, but then Iori, the teenager behind the violet mask, broke that mold.

Or at least that's what Fumiko told me.

She told me that she wanted to have the same level of esteem and self-respect as Iori one day.

Taken aback by her statement, I only told her that I would support her until that day came. And hopefully, I could keep supporting her for many days afterward.

In the whirlwind of our speed dating, we completely forgot our orders.

The Red Ravager snuck up on us again with a serving tray in hand. He served the tray with a fancy flourish, spinning it with two fingers before lightly flinging it onto the table. As cool as the presentation of the order was, he ended up just serving the food on the tray normally to us.

"Our business is not over evildoer!"

The Red Ravager server pointed his finger at me before pulling his arm back behind his head in anticipation of punching me, his other arm extended with his open palm inches from my face.

I guess this was the cafe's audience participation.

"I challenge you, Zauru, Prince of Corrupted Hearts," he continued, beckoning me with two fingers from the hand he practically palmed my face with.

I heard a subtle chortle, barely comprehensible at first. I turned to see that Fumiko was giggling with her hand over her mouth. She was weirdly modest about an act that I could clearly see her doing.

"I'm sorry, but you kinda look like Zauru," she said.

"Wait, how!?"

"The long asymmetrical black bangs that cover your forehead and one of your eyes. The sour frown when a situation doesn't go your way. Your--apparent aversion to human love--well at least until you meet your love interest Himiko on earth."

I scoffed at her assessment. Oh god. Did I become that much of an edgelord?

I stood up to confront the server behind the Ravager suit.

"Alright, Hero, can I have a talk with you real quick," I asked, pulling the Red Ravager closer to my face.

"If you punch me too hard, I'm not going to give you a tip," I whispered.

He quietly nodded, returning to the coordinated stance he likely practiced hours for.

"Red Ravager, I hope you've prepared for your final battle," I said, inserting more flair to my role than what was absolutely necessary.

The battle unfolded as was instructed. Our arms parried as we tried punching each other. And then a quick cross-counter. The server put just enough force into his punch for it to be convincing. He was really threading the needle of acceptable behavior in this mock fight.

Meanwhile, Fumiko watched on in awe. She suddenly raised her hand to get the ranger's attention. She reached into her pocket to take out her phone.

"Can this performance be recorded," she asked.

The Red Ravager server gave a thumbs up, temporarily putting our fight to a standstill.

"Of course, citizen!"

"My turn, Red," I said, giving the server a light uppercut.

The blow took him by surprise, causing him to stumble.

Perhaps I enjoyed that too much. The uppercut was supposed to happen, but this was probably not how he imagined it.

"You won't defeat me today, Zauru," the Red Ravager server said, gripping my shirt with his hand to pull himself closer to me.

He gave me a decisive headbutt once my face was in point blank range.

Man. The Ravagers could be ruthless when they wanted to be.

Now for my final attack in the performance.

My fist tried to reach the bridge of his nose, but I was countered by a blow to the gut.

And that was it.

I groaned as convincingly as I could until my knees buckled and fell to my knees.

The server extended his hand to me. This definitely wasn't part of the performance. I guess this joker wasn't a bloodthirsty maniac that took glee in fighting innocent patrons.

I took his hand and rose to my feet.

"Thank you for choosing The Escapist Lounge for your dining experience. I'll bring you two your bill once you finish. Enjoy your meal!"

The server bowed with an empty tray in hand and tended to another customer.

While I wasn't too happy playing what was basically a villainous caricature of myself, Fumiko seemed to enjoy it enough. Well, at least the date would end on a somewhat positive note.

This sentiment didn't last long. Fumiko gasped, all color washing out of her face.

Oh no.

"What's wrong Fumiko-san?"

"I actually had a gift for you, but I forgot about it and left it back at the apartment!"

Fumiko.

Please don't ever scare me like that again.