⇲   𝐊𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐆𝐎𝐄 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘,
𝐊𝐀𝐌𝐈 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇 〉 𝐉𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐍  !
XXXX. ✿ CIRCA JUNE 2012.
𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠     𝐍𝐄𝐎𝐍 𝐆𝐔𝐓𝐒
LIL UZI VERT & PHARRELL WILLIAMS.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Life was weird.

Really weird.

But things started to get better after putting Turbo Granny in the dirt. For Odette, it was the start of something new—and exhilarating. Not to mention, she had finally experienced her first kiss... without being caught red-handed!

If Grandma Mana ever found out about her stunt, Odette knew she, along with her parents, would absolutely skin her alive. But was it worth it? Absolutely.

Okarun, on the other hand, would beg to differ. Sneaking into a girl's house had been both thrilling and terrifying. One thing was certain—he'd never try it again!

The sky was a brilliant blue, free of clouds, with the sun shining brightly behind Kami High School. The warmth of the day added to the buzz of energy as students wandered the courtyard, chatting amongst themselves about upcoming activities and plans.

Momo leaned casually against the brick wall at the school's entrance, her eyes closed as she basked in the sunlight. Her school bag hung loosely from her shoulder, and she listened absentmindedly to the conversations of passing students.

The familiar sound of a car engine caught her attention. Her brows furrowed slightly as she opened her eyes, glancing toward the sleek black car pulling up in front of the school.

To her surprise, instead of Odette stepping out of the backseat like she usually did, she emerged from the driver's seat.

Momo blinked, momentarily stunned. When did Odette learn how to drive?!

Her confusion was short-lived as Odette bounded toward her, a bright grin lighting up her face. Before Momo could say anything, she was pulled into a tight hug by her friend.

The real driver, now in the passenger seat, slid over to the driver's side and sped off before Momo could get a good look at them.

"Hey, Momo!" Odette chirped cheerfully, her energy infectious.

Momo pulled back from the hug, raising an eyebrow. "Okay, hold on. Since when do you know how to drive?"

Odette simply shrugged with a playful grin. "I got my license not too long ago. Grandma made sure i got that documented when I moved in with her."

Momo sighed, shaking her head. "You're gonna be the death of me, Dot."

The courtyard of Kami High was alive with the buzz of students milling about, conversations overlapping as they discussed everything from last night's homework to plans for the weekend. Odette and Momo stood by the steps, comfortably chatting as the morning sun painted the scene in golden hues.

"Anyway," Momo began, her smirk growing wider, "you got something you want to tell me?"

Odette immediately knew what Momo was hinting at but decided to play dumb. "Tell you about what?" she asked innocently, though the corner of her lips twitched upward.

"The da—that's okay." Momo crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "I'll corner you about it later on."

Odette couldn't help but tease. "It went well."

"That's great!" Momo beamed, her excitement lighting up her face.

"And," Odette added nonchalantly, "we kissed."

"That's g—YOU GUYS WHAT?" Momo nearly choked on her words, her eyes bulging as if they'd pop out of her head.

"Well... he kissed me," Odette clarified, pulling a sage green tote bag off her shoulder. The bag was littered with alien emoji and cartoon stickers, a reflection of her quirky personality. She reached inside and casually took out a wide-tooth comb, beginning to run it through her freshly flat-ironed hair.

The style was clean, a middle part that framed her face perfectly, the streaks of pink adding a pop of color against the inky black strands. She closed her eyes, combing through her hair as if the conversation wasn't fazing her at all.

Momo was having none of it. "Ummm! Like that makes a difference?!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms up dramatically. "Sure, you two flirt all the time, but Okarun making the first move? That lovable dork?" She shook her head, still in disbelief.

Meanwhile, across the courtyard, Ken Takakura—better known as Okarun—was having a crisis of his own. He hovered near one of the tall posts, half-hidden, his head darting left and right as students walked by, giving him odd looks. His heart pounded in his chest as if it were trying to leap out of his body.

'Calm down,' he told himself, clutching the straps of his bag. 'A good morning or just a hello is no big deal. You've been doing this for two weeks now. Man up!'

But his brain was betraying him, replaying every moment of their kiss like a broken record. His cheeks flushed a deep pink as he recalled the warmth of her lips, the way she smelled faintly of fruity perfume, the way her glossy lips curved into that signature smirk of hers.

'Why am I acting like this?' he thought, exasperated. 'It's not like she's someone new. It's just Dot.'

Taking a deep breath, Ken steeled his resolve and stepped out into the open. He tried to act casual, walking briskly toward where he knew Odette and Momo usually gathered. But as he got closer, his gaze landed on Odette, and the world seemed to slow down.

She was laughing, her plump, nude-pink lips catching the sunlight, her golden hoop earrings swaying with each movement of her head. Her brown skin seemed to glow under the sun, her features sharp and striking. Her eyes, framed by dramatic, voluminous lashes, sparkled as she showed Momo something on her phone. Ken couldn't look away.

His palms began to sweat, and he tugged at the collar of his shirt, suddenly feeling overheated. It wasn't just her beauty that struck him—it was the little details he hadn't noticed before. The way her school uniform seemed slightly different, styled with her personal flair: her skirt sitting just a little higher, her blazer sleeves rolled up to reveal her golden bracelets.

He gulped, frozen in place as his heart raced.

From the corner of her eye, Momo spotted him. A mischievous smirk crept onto her face. She leaned toward Odette, whispering something in her ear. Odette's brows lifted, and her gaze shifted toward where Momo was pointing.

Directly. At. Him.

"Oh! There he is..." Odette said, squinting slightly. "But why does he look like that?"

"Like what?" Momo asked, suppressing a giggle.

"Like he's seen a ghost or something." Odette tilted her head, her soft accent catching Momo off guard for a moment.

"He's been staring at us—or, more specifically, you—for a while now," Momo explained. "Looks like the idiot's on another planet."

Odette giggled, a plan already forming in her head. "Interesting. Watch this." She handed Momo her phone and started walking toward Okarun.

Ken's eyes widened in panic. She was coming right at him, her expression unreadable.

'She's coming this way!' he thought, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. 'Curse you, Miss Ayase! Why didn't you warn me about this kind of thing?!'

Before he could utter a word, Odette grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers with ease.

Ken froze, his brain short-circuiting.

From a distance, Momo watched the scene unfold, shaking her head with a knowing smile. "Knew it," she muttered under her breath.

"You were about to walk past us like we were strangers, weren't you?" Odette said, tugging him along toward where Momo stood, her tone playful but firm.

"What are you talking about, Dot?! I—I swear I wasn't!" he stammered, his voice cracking slightly.

"Lies," she quipped, giving his hand a light squeeze. "Now come say good morning to Momo."

Ken barely managed to stutter out a greeting, his cheeks still burning as Momo raised a brow, clearly unimpressed.

"You two lovebirds make me sick," Momo teased, crossing her arms.

"We're not lovebirds!" Ken blurted out, his voice rising an octave.

"Uh-huh," Momo replied, clearly unconvinced.

The morning sun cast its warmth across the school courtyard as Odette leaned into Okarun with a playful grin. "It's okay, Kenny. Love isn't always understood by others," she said dramatically, her lips forming a pout as her head tilted closer to his cheek.

Okarun stiffened as she hugged him from the side, her arms draping lightly around his neck. Her soft, pink glossed lips were dangerously close, and the faint scent of fruity perfume hit his senses. His glasses fogged up as his cheeks turned a fiery red.

Her perfectly manicured short French-tip nails patted his shoulder, sending a nervous chill down his spine. Odette's voice dropped to a faux-serious whisper. "Look at him staring off into space again. I could cry right now."

Momo snorted in laughter, crossing her arms with a smirk. "Oh, he's totally in love with you."

Okarun jolted out of his daze, frantically shaking his head. "L-let's just get to class already!" His voice cracked slightly, and he gripped his book-bag straps tightly, his knuckles white from the effort.

Odette couldn't resist another giggle but relented, allowing the trio to begin their walk toward the school entrance. The conversation shifted as they walked, mostly centering around their usual topics of ghosts and aliens.

As they reached the lockers, Okarun, still trying to calm his nerves, noticed Odette's tote bag slung over her shoulder. The sage green fabric was littered with stickers—aliens, cartoon characters, and emojis. The designs were strikingly unique.

"Oh—uh... your bag, Dot!" he stammered, gesturing toward it. "Where did you get those cool stickers?"

Momo perked up at the question, leaning closer to get a better look. "Yeah, I've been wondering the same thing. Did you order them somewhere?"

Odette paused, glancing at her bag before tucking a stray pink-streaked strand behind her ear. "These?" she said, holding up the bag for a closer view. "I saved the designs on my laptop and printed them out. I thought aliens would be cool since Kenny's into them, and the cartoons were something Momo and I bonded over."

She kept her gaze downward, suddenly feeling shy under the weight of their thoughtful stares. Her sneakers scuffed lightly against the tiled floor as she looked away.

Momo's mouth dropped open in mock shock before she clasped her hands together and teased, "Aww! Look at how considerate Dot can be! That's so cute."

Okarun's ears turned red at the mention of his name. "You got those stickers for me?" he asked, his voice soft and almost disbelieving. His hand came up to scratch the back of his head. "I didn't think you'd take my interests into that much consideration."

Odette waved a hand dismissively, trying to shrug off the attention, but the slight pink tint on her cheeks gave her away. "Let's talk about that after class, okay?" she said quickly, reaching out to grab his hand. She began swinging their hands back and forth as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"A-ah, okay!" Okarun replied, his heart leaping in his chest. He perked up, suddenly feeling more excited about their upcoming conversation than anything else.

Momo watched the two with an amused expression before throwing her arm over Odette's shoulder. "Well, Okarun, we'll talk later. Bye-bye!" she said, waving as she and Odette disappeared down the hall toward their shared classroom.

The classroom was already bustling by the time Odette and Momo took their seats. Odette slid into her usual spot by the window, pulling out her notebook and a pen. She twirled the pen absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting back to Okarun's reaction.

"Hey," Momo whispered, leaning over from her desk. "So, are you gonna tell him?"

Odette blinked, her brow furrowing. "Tell him what?"

Momo rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. Don't play dumb with me. You know what I'm talking about."

Odette sighed, glancing out the window. "It's not that easy, Momo. He's... different. I don't want to scare him off or make things weird."

Momo gave her a pointed look. "Girl, you literally kissed him. You've already crossed the line into weird. Might as well own it."

Muko and Miko made their way over to them. Muko, always brimming with curiosity, leaned on Odette's desk, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Odette! I've been meaning to ask you something," she began, glancing at Odette's flawless complexion. "What kind of makeup do you use? I mean, for darker skin tones. Your foundation is so smooth and just... perfect."

Odette raised an eyebrow, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden question, but she smiled softly. "Oh, it's nothing fancy. I just mix two shades to get the right match for my skin tone. I also swear by a good primer and setting spray—helps it last all day."

Miko nodded in agreement, adding, "And those lashes! Are they extensions or strip lashes?"

"Extensions," Odette admitted, laughing. "I do my own all the time but I have packs of strip lashes too."

Muko's eyes drifted down to Odette's legs, specifically her leg warmers. "Okay, but where did you get those? They're so cute, and the pearls around the top make them even better!"

Odette looked down, tugging lightly at the soft fabric. "Oh, these? I found them online. They were part of a winter collection. Glad you like them."

Momo watched the exchange with mild amusement but couldn't help noticing how Odette's calm and collected answers seemed to captivate everyone.

———

The bell rang, signaling lunch, and Odette wasted no time finding Okarun. Spotting him lingering awkwardly near the lockers, she grabbed his hand without warning and practically dragged him outside.

"Wait!" he stammered as she pulled him toward a bench beneath the shade of a tree.

"Stop fussing," she teased, sitting down and patting the spot beside her. "We're having lunch together today."

Okarun hesitated but eventually sat down, his hands clutching his lunchbox nervously. Odette opened her tote bag, pulling out a few snacks—cookies, chips, and a small bottle of juice.

"Here," she said, handing him a cookie. "You've got to try these. They're my favorite."

He took it gingerly, biting into it as she watched expectantly. "It's good," he mumbled, his cheeks reddening.

Odette grinned, taking one for herself. "Told you. So, what's your favorite subject?"

Okarun blinked, surprised by the question. "Uh, maybe math? It's not as bad as everyone says."

"Mine's science," she said, her eyes lighting up. "I love experiments and figuring out how things work. It's like uncovering secrets, you know?"

As she spoke, Okarun found himself distracted by her features—the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about something she loved, the soft gloss of her lips, the subtle shimmer on her eyelids. His mind drifted back to the kiss, and his face grew hotter.

Meanwhile, Momo was wandering the school grounds, frustration mounting as she searched for her friends. "Where are they?" she muttered, scanning the courtyard. Finally, she spotted them sitting together on the bench, sharing snacks and talking animatedly.

Momo smirked, crossing her arms. "Of course. Lovey-dovey things."

She approached them casually, flopping down on the bench beside Odette. "You two are impossible to find, you know that?"

Odette and Okarun turned to her in surprise, Odette laughing. "Relax, Momo. We're just talking."

Momo raised an eyebrow. "Talking, huh? Sure."

Back in the classroom, things took a turn when a group of girls gathered around Momo's desk, their whispers growing louder. "So, what's the deal with you and Okarun?" one of them asked, leaning closer.

"Nothing," Momo said flatly, not even looking up from her notebook. "We're just friends."

"Come on," another girl pressed. "You're always hanging out with him. There's got to be something going on."

Momo's grip on her pen tightened, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. Odette, seated nearby, noticed and decided to intervene.

"Hey," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the chatter. "Why don't you all leave her alone? It's none of your business."

The girls fell silent, startled by Odette's sudden outburst. One of them muttered an apology before they dispersed, leaving Momo visibly relieved.

"Thanks, Dot," she said quietly.

"No problem," Odette replied, her eyes softening. "Some people just don't know when to stop."

Their brief moment of peace was interrupted when the classroom door burst open, revealing a flustered Okarun. His face was shiny with sweat, and he was standing in a strange, awkward pose with his hands placed protectively in front of his lower body.

Momo raised an eyebrow. "What the hell are you doing?"

Okarun took a deep breath, glancing nervously around the room before locking eyes with Odette. "Miss Ayase, Dot! I need to talk to you. Now."

Odette immediately stood up, excusing herself as she approached him. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

He leaned in, whispering in her ear. "My balls... they're gone."

Odette blinked, her expression shifting from confusion to disbelief. "Your what went what?"

Okarun made a series of awkward hand gestures, clearly short-circuiting. Odette pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering, "We'll have to deal with this later. Just go back to class and act normal, okay?"

He nodded, shuffling back to his seat while Odette returned to hers. She exchanged a look with Momo, who raised a questioning eyebrow. Odette shook her head slightly, signaling to drop it for now.

———

As the final bell rang, Odette and Okarun walked side by side toward the school gates. "Alright, Kenny," Odette began. "Explain. How do you lose something like that?"

Okarun sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. I thought everything would go back to normal after Turbo Granny, but I guess not."

Odette frowned, her arms crossed. "Something's not adding up. We need to figure this out."

Before Okarun could respond, a girl with short pink hair bumped into him. "Oh, I'm sorry!" she said sweetly, her high-pitched voice grating on Odette's nerves.

"It's fine," Okarun stammered, his face turning red as he looked at her.

Odette watched the exchange with a raised eyebrow, tapping her foot impatiently. The girl placed a hand on Okarun's wrist, her sugary smile clearly meant to annoy.

Odette rolled her eyes, thinking, Here he goes, acting like he doesn't have the best thing since sliced bread standing right here.

As the girl giggled and walked away, Momo appeared beside Odette, her arms crossed. "What's going on?"

Odette gestured toward Okarun, who was still blushing. "He's over there, getting flustered over nothing."

Momo's eyes narrowed as she overheard the pink-haired girl whispering to her friends. "Did you see that? That nerd totally fell for me. He must be head over heels by now."

Odette's jaw tightened, her annoyance bubbling over. "It'd be a shame if something heavy fell on her head," she muttered darkly.

Momo smirked, her psychic powers kicking in as a metal basin seemingly fell out of nowhere, landing squarely on the girl's head. Her friends gasped in confusion, but Odette couldn't help but laugh.

"Guess karma works fast," she said, grabbing Okarun's arm and pulling him away. "Come on, Kenny. Let's go home."

Okarun blinked, still dazed. "Huh? Oh, yeah, okay."

As they walked, Odette leaned in close, her voice softening. "By the way, Kenny, I like your glasses. They make you look cute."

Okarun's face turned a deep shade of red, but he couldn't hide his smile. "T-thanks..."

Momo trailed behind them, shaking her head with a grin.
"Some girls are better suited to have washtubs fall on their heads than to have guys fall for them," Momo said, her tone sharp and cutting as her eyes narrowed.