⇲   𝐊𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐆𝐎𝐄 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘,
𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐎𝐄 𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄 〉 𝐉𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐍  !
XXXX. ✿ CIRCA JUNE 2012.
𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠     I MUST APOLOGIZE
PINK-PANTHERESS.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Odette sprawled out across the tatami mat in her grandmother's dojo, tapping her nails against the polished wood floor in frustration.

The warm afternoon sunlight filtered through the paper-thin shoji screens, casting golden patterns over her face as she sighed into her phone. Her hair was tied back, her pink streaks sticking out against her dark locks as she lazily stretched her legs, still sore from the grueling training session that morning.

"I'm bored out of my mind," Odette groaned dramatically. Her phone was balanced between her cheek and shoulder as Momo's laughter crackled through the speaker.

"You're so dramatic, Dot," Momo teased, the faint sound of chatter and rustling shopping bags in the background.

"Let me live! I've spent my entire day dodging Grandma Mo's relentless training sessions. Do you know how many kicks she made me practice? My legs feel like jelly," Odette retorted, rolling onto her back.

"Well, you could've joined us at the mall," Muko chimed in. "We got crepes. They were amazing."

Odette snorted, blowing a strand of hair out of her face. "Yeah, sure. Like Grandma would've let me out of her sight. If I ditched training, she'd have me running laps until I collapsed."

The conversation drifted from school drama to boys and weekend plans, but Odette found herself zoning out. As Momo and Muko continued chatting, a mischievous idea began to form in her mind. Her lips curved into a slow grin, and she sat up abruptly.

"Wait... I know what I'm gonna do," she announced.

"Oh no," Momo groaned. "What now?"

Ignoring her, Odette twirled one of her pink streaks around her finger. "I'm inviting Kenny over for a game night."

"Kenny? You mean that Ken Takakura dude Momo keeps talking about" Miko's voice chimed in, laced with curiosity and amusement.

"For your information, that's not the same guy!" Momo defended herself. Odette could practically picture how she looked at that moment.

"Mhm," Odette said confidently, already planning how she'd sneak him in.

Momo burst into laughter. "Okarun, huh? Sounds more like a date than a game night."

"It's not a date!" Odette exclaimed, her cheeks heating despite herself. "It's just gaming. Totally casual. Nothing more."

"Uh-huh," Momo teased. "Sure, Dot."

After enduring a few more playful jabs from her friends, Odette finally hung up and immediately called Okarun. The phone rang twice before his familiar nervous voice answered, "H-Hello?"

"Hey, Kenny!" Odette greeted brightly. "You free? I was thinking we could hang out, maybe play some games."

"Uh... you mean at your house?" he stammered.

"Unless you know another Ken, yeah," she teased, leaning against the dojo wall. "What's the matter? You scared?"

"N-No! I'll be there!" he blurted out, his voice cracking slightly.

"Good. Be here in an hour. And don't worry—I'll sneak you in. Grandma's out," Odette said with a smirk.

———

Okarun scrambled around his room, swapping shirts three times before settling on a plain white tee and black jeans. His heart thudded in his chest like a drum. This wasn't just a regular hangout—he was going to Odette's residence.

He stood in front of his mirror, his face flushed as he adjusted his hair for the fifth time. He'd changed shirts twice and swapped out his sneakers three times before settling on his cleanest pair. His mind raced. It's not a date. She said it wasn't a date. Then why does it feel like a date?!

———

An hour later, Odette stood at the back entrance of the Monroe Estate, her arms crossed as she waited impatiently for Okarun. The grand estate loomed behind her, its sprawling gardens and pristine architecture almost intimidating in their elegance. She had already bribed Charles, her grandmother's ever-loyal butler, to keep the visit a secret.

"Charles, I swear, if you tell Grandma, I'll—"

"You'll do what, Miss Odette?" Charles interrupted with a raised eyebrow, holding his signature stoic expression. Despite his professional demeanor, there was a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

"I'll... I'll never stock your favorite Earl Grey tea again," she threatened playfully, wagging a finger at him.

Charles placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "You wound me, Miss Odette. Very well. Your secret is safe with me... for now."

When Okarun finally appeared, clutching his bag nervously, Odette waved him over. He hesitated at the gate, glancing around as if expecting her grandmother to leap out from the bushes.

"Hurry up, Kenny!" Odette whisper-yelled, beckoning him forward.

Okarun shuffled through the gate, his face already flushed. "I-I didn't want to get caught."

"You're fine. Grandma's out, and Charles is sworn to secrecy." She shot the butler a pointed look, and he gave a small, amused bow in response.

"Good evening, Mr. Okarun," Charles greeted politely. "Do try not to leave any evidence of your visit, or Miss Odette will have my head."

"Y-Yes, sir!" Okarun stammered, bowing awkwardly.

"Relax, Charles doesn't bite," Odette teased, grabbing Okarun's arm and dragging him inside. "Now, come on before he changes his mind."

Charles watched them disappear up the staircase, shaking his head with a fond smile. "Teenagers," he muttered to himself before returning to his duties.

Odette's room was a stark contrast to the rest of the estate. Cozy and vibrant, it was decorated with fairy lights, anime posters, and shelves filled with manga and collectibles. Her sleek gaming setup took up one corner, while her bed—messy with pillows and blankets—dominated the center of the room.

"You can drop your bag there," she said, nodding toward the desk as she flopped onto her bed.

Okarun stood awkwardly by the door, clutching his bag like a lifeline. "Your room's... nice," he mumbled, glancing around.

"Thanks. Now, sit your butt down and grab a controller," Odette instructed, tossing one to him. "Let's see if you can keep up with me."

The hours flew by as the two teenagers dove into a marathon of games. They started with Mario Kart, where Odette mercilessly bumped Okarun off the track, laughing at his protests. Next came Street Fighter, where he managed to pull off a surprise win, earning a grudging nod of respect from her.

"You're not half-bad," Odette admitted, leaning back against the headboard. "But don't get cocky. I let you win."

"Sure you did," Okarun replied, smirking for the first time. His newfound confidence caught her off guard, and she raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, so you've got jokes now?" she shot back, nudging him with her foot.

Their banter grew louder and more playful as they moved on to cheesy alien-themed horror games. By the time they reached the last game—a particularly chaotic round of Invader Zim-themed combat—they were both yelling and laughing uncontrollably.

"Take that!" Odette shouted, tackling Okarun onto the bed as she tried to wrestle the controller from his hands.

"Hey! That's cheating!" he protested, laughing as he tried to hold his ground.

"All's fair in love and gaming!" she retorted, her face inches from his as they struggled.

Their playful wrestling came to an abrupt halt when they rolled off the bed and landed on the floor in a tangled heap. For a moment, neither of them moved, their laughter fading as they realized how close they were.

And then it happened.

Their faces were so close that their lips brushed together in a fleeting, accidental kiss. Both teenagers froze, wide-eyed and blushing furiously.

Okarun scrambled to his feet, his face beet red. "I—I didn't mean to—!"

"It's fine, Kenny," Odette said quickly, waving off his apology as she sat up. "It was just an accident."

"R-Right! Accident!" he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck.

The awkward silence lingered for a moment before they both burst into nervous laughter, the tension melting away.

Before they could fully recover, there was a sharp knock at the door.

"Miss Odette," Charles's voice called from the other side. "It's getting rather late, and your grandmother will be returning shortly. Perhaps it's time to wrap up your... game night."

Odette's eyes widened, and she quickly scrambled to her feet. "Thanks for the reminder, Charles! We're almost done!"

Charles opened the door just enough to peek inside, his expression calm but amused. "Do try to ensure there are no... signs of your guest's presence, Miss Odette. I'm not sure even Earl Grey could save me if Madam Monroe finds out."

Okarun looked like he wanted to sink into the floor, but Odette simply smirked. "Don't worry, Charles. Your secret's safe with us."

Charles nodded and disappeared down the hall, leaving the two teenagers alone once more.

——

When it was time for Okarun to leave, Odette walked him back to the garage where his bike was hidden.

"Hey, Dot?" he asked, his voice softer than usual. "You okay? After... you know?"

She blinked, then nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said, though her voice wavered slightly.

Okarun smiled, his usual nervousness giving way to something more genuine. "I'm glad. I had a really good time tonight... even if I wasn't supposed to be here."

Odette giggled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Me too, Kenny. It was fun."

But as they stood there, Okarun noticed the subtle changes in her demeanor—the way her legs shifted slightly, her arms swinging, her eyes darting between his and the floor. Her glossy lips caught his attention, and he couldn't help but be drawn to the soft, fruity scent of her perfume.

His heart pounded as she leaned closer, her eyes meeting his.

'Is she actually going for it?!' he thought, panicking internally. 'Not that I'd mind, but what if she's messing with me?!'

Before he could overthink further, Odette wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, pressing herself against him. His glasses fogged up, and his cheeks turned a deep red.

When she pulled back, she smiled softly. "You should probably get going," she said.

But Okarun hesitated, taking a deep breath. "Dot... I'm sorry for this. Forgive me."

"Huh?" she said, confused.

The next moment, his lips were on hers—not accidental this time. The kiss was brief but deliberate, and when he pulled back, he looked at her with wide, nervous eyes.

Odette blinked, her face heating up. A slow, stunned smile spread across her lips.

"I'll.. see you tomorrow," she said softly, stepping back as he climbed onto his bike.

As he rode away, his heart still racing, Okarun couldn't help but smile to himself.