You sat on the bed, your legs back then were short enough to dangle off the edge. With curious eyes, you watched as your father stood in front of a mirror, trying his best to tie his tie

You: Dad?

The suited man only responded with a "hmm"

You: You love mom, right?

He stopped trying to burst out laughing, making you jump back in surprise

Dad: Did she tell you to ask me?

You: What? No, I'm just curious

The man just chuckled

Dad: Well, of course I do. Why?

A blush quickly spread on your face as you struggled to find the right words, but even if the embarrassment grew, you pushed through

You: How...how did you know Mom was the right one for you?

That's when he turned to you, only for you to look away in shame quickly. He couldn't help but smile

Dad: Well, I don't think we have enough time to tell you the whole story, but here's what I can tell you

He finished with his tie and turned with a kind smile

Dad: When you meet the right person, your heart feels it

He placed a finger on where your heart would be

You: My...my heart?

Then, you looked at him in absolute horror

You: Oh my god, will I get sick?!

This prompted another laugh from your father, who just shook his head. His reaction already answered your question

Dad: Not quite

He tapped his chin as he thought of something to say. When he did, he sat beside you

Dad: She'll make you feel unlike anyone else. Not even friends or family can do that

You tilted your head

Dad: It won't matter how much time you get to spend with each other, it'll never feel old

He then chuckled

Dad: I mean, just look at me, I've been married for 20 years now

While he laughed at his own joke, you stared at him in awe. Once his laughter died off, he spoke again

Dad: But we...we just understand each other like no one else

You: So you just...feel it?

This got a nod from him

Dad: That connection might not be there right from the start...

"...but when you do feel it, it'll be undeniable"

. . .

https://youtu.be/oXLGSE4TZ2I

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

The streets became merely a blur as Juri's bike ran through the city like a bat out of hell. Juri herself was cackling and blasting music, while you held on to dear life

At this point you didn't even know where you were, the streets had all blended into each other at a maddening pace

Juri: Ain't this just the best?!

She asked before laughing like a maniac and revving the engine once again. You, on the other hand, couldn't even muster a response. Not like she could've heard it over the music anyway

Left, right, left again, U-Turn, full speed. To everyone else, it was just a blur of black and pink, music, and screaming

If there was any police officer, their warnings would've fallen on deaf ears anyway, as did the insults of any passers-by

Your heart was beating like crazy, trying to keep up with this frenetic rhythm, but it was then that her voice came through somehow

Juri: Hold on to me, will ya!

You did as she told you and held on to her waist while she leaned forward, finding a semblance of stability amidst the chaos, even if she was the cause of it

Suddenly, she took a sharp left and drifted to a stop, leaving a trail of smoke along the way. The wheels screeched as the vehicle seemed to have finally slowed down

The music was turned off at the same time as the engine. She kicked the side stand down and took off her helmet with a satisfied sigh

Juri: That was a good run, don't ya think?

But when she turned to you, she found only the spare helmet on the seat. Then, the sounds of your breakfast exiting your body

The girl raised an unamused brow

Juri: Oh come on. It wasn't that fast

Without looking at her, you only lifted a finger

You: Just...give me one minute...

She rolled her eyes and turned around, grinning at the building before her

Juri: C'mon. Let's go

Slowly, you rose and steadied yourself on the motorcycle. You could still hear your heartbeat going ham, but it was slowly decreasing to a manageable level

You: Okay, I'm fine. Let's...

However, when you looked up, you noticed that Juri had not brought you to the library at all, but instead, to a Sumo restaurant

You: "Chanko House Edomon"? This isn't the library

Confused, you looked at Juri, who faked surprise

Juri: Oh shit! I might have taken a wrong turn somewhere!

Of course, that masterful facade quickly dropped when she headed to the entrance with a chuckle

Juri: Now come on, I'm starving

Before you could even protest, she had already entered the restaurant. With a sigh, you followed suit, but once you made it past the Noren curtains, you were hit with a delicious smell that made your stomach rumble

Waiters, waitresses, and sumo wrestlers brought large pots filled with delicious food to the waiting tables. A large dohyō stood proudly in the middle of the place. There wasn't even music, just the sounds of friendly chatting and eating

The atmosphere itself was calm and inviting by nature. This felt like you had actually stepped into Japan

Juri: You sensed it too, huh?

You nearly jumped at the sudden presence of Juri by your side, but she only got ahold of your hand

Juri: Come on, I found us a table

She guided you to a place near the corner. Before you knew it, a waiter had already arrived at your table. He had placed drinks and menus

"Welcome to Chanko House Edomon! How can I help you?"

The girl smiled at the sight of him and leaned back

Juri: The usual, Mike

Then, she glanced over at you

Juri: For both of us

Mike: Sure thing, Juri! Be back in the blink of an eye

The young man moved so fast that he practically became a blue blur as he left the scene with the menus. Talk about energetic

You watched the direction he left for a moment before turning back to your companion

You: A regular here, I take it?

She nodded with a faint smile

Juri: They have the tastiest food in this whole town, besides Hado-Pizza, that is

You: I hear you there

Still curious, you looked around. It was still hard to believe the atmosphere in this place

Juri: You're not going to say no to some Chanko Nabe, are you?

You looked back at her

You: Can't say I've had that before

The girl gasped, her eyes widening as she did. You felt your heartbeat increasing. Did you say something wrong here?

Juri: Really?!

Feeling somewhat nervous, you leaned back and scratched the back of your neck

You: Yeah, I uhh...I don't have a lot of variety when it comes to food

Then, you poured yourself something to drink. Suddenly, a grin appeared on her face

You poured yourself a drink as she spoke

Juri: Well then, I'll be happy to be your first time~

You almost choked on your drink thanks to her words. The girl couldn't contain her laugh at the sight of it

Juri: You're too easy to mess with!

You beat your chest lightly and gave her an annoyed look

You: Glad...you're having...fun...

Juri: Oh don't be like that. You're gonna thank me I brought you here soon enough...

She leaned back, her gaze fixed on you.

Juri: But then again, this sure isn't like hanging out with those goody-two-shoes friends of yours

You let out an amused exhale

You: I wouldn't say they are like that

The troublesome student scoffed loudly

Juri: Oh come on, none of you would hurt a fly!

You: We did smash a car though

That was enough to get her attention. She closed the distance with you ever so slightly

Juri: Really?

Proud, you nodded

You: For 30 bucks

Juri: Huh, that's pretty sweet

You: Right?

The girl hummed before she rested her chin on her fist with that grin of hers, enhanced by the black lipstick she used

Juri: Say, if I pay you enough, would you get rid of a car for me? No questions asked?

You: Well, I'd have to run the idea by my friends then

The moment you said that, she dropped it and leaned back on the pillow she used as a seat

Juri: Nevermind...

There was a brief moment of silence after that. But only then did you allow yourself to take in the latest developments. You were supposed to be going to the library and working on the essay, but instead here you are, at a sumo restaurant with one of the most terrifying girls ever

...and you were kinda liking it

Hell, you didn't even know Juri outside the stories being told. Sure, the motorcycle rush told you loads about her personality, but here, it was much different, like a different side of hers tha--

Juri: Yaaaawn! I'm bored now

You snapped out of it to look at Juri, finding her looking around for the food. Maybe you could use the time to get to know your partner better

So you cleared your throat, getting her attention in the process

You: So...what can you tell me about you?

She tilted her head

Juri: Why do you wanna know? You going to relay the information to Chun-Li or something?

Well that took a turn

You: What? No, I don't even know what that's all about

Rather than giving you an answer, she stared at you with those piercing pink eyes. The lack of a reply prompted you to speak again

You: I-I just...I don't think I've ever seen you in school class before

The moment she determined there was no malice to your words, she let out a heavy breath and quickly masked it with a smirk

Juri: Maybe I was and you weren't paying attention

You shook your head

You: I doubt it, you make quite the impression

Juri's eyes went wide, and so did yours the minute you realized what you just said

You: I...

Then, she leaned forward on the table, looking at you right in the eye

Juri: Do I, now?~

Mike: Here you go!

Suddenly, you were separated by large pots and various plates served by Mike and one of the sumo wrestlers. Right, the food

Mike: Enjoy your food!

She thanked the staff and they left you to it. You watched with surprised eyes just how much food had been brought to the table. Where would you even start?

Juri: I guess it's a good thing you emptied your stomach back there. Now you have more space for this

You scoffed at her remark, making her chuckle

Juri: Just kidding, this is big enough for both of us

She got ahold of her chopsticks and started serving herself on a smaller plate. You followed her example, preparing yourself for this monster of a meal

Across the room, a meeting was being held. A table filled with young women who much like Juri, wore modified school uniforms

Rolled-up sleeves, sneakers instead of traditional shoes, hair dyed with vibrant colors, exposed waists, and patches sewn into their clothes

And in the middle of it all, was a tall woman of long, rugged pink hair and a black cap. Her clothes were much more revealing than a school uniform, yet her face was one of pure boredom

???: Why would I let a bunch of kids join Mad Gear?

One of them shot up with anger in her eyes

???: We're not kids! We--

???: Harriet, please

The girl turned to her leader, who had stepped in to keep things from escalating. Everybody knew that only Sumo wrestlers were allowed to fight here

Harriet: Sorry, Quinn

Quinn waved it off and shifted her attention back to Poison

Quinn: We're more capable than it seems, Miss Poison, and we're aching for an opportunity to prove ourselves

Poison, amused by this little display, decided to entertain the idea

Poison: An opportunity, you say?

Excited, the rest of the girls leaned forward with wide eyes and smiles

Rowan: Anything you ask!

Harriet: We'll do it!

Stella: Yeah! Count on us!

However, their enthusiasm made her roll her eyes

Poison: I haven't even told you what it is

The others stiffened upon realizing this and promptly returned to their seats. The leader cleared her throat and pushed her neon green hair behind her ear 

Quinn: What can we do for you?

The pink-haired woman took a good look at them. She recalled starting at a similar age, so she couldn't bring herself to be that harsh on them

But on the other hand, the world has changed a lot since then. Hell, they were technically at war with the Major now

So after some consideration, she sighed

Poison: Alright ladies, listen up

She then leaned forward and placed her hands on the table

Poison: You better not make me regret this

...

You had served yourself a smaller, much more manageable plate, but it wasn't long before you realized your partner was not making any noise whatsoever

Confused, you looked up only to find her staring at you with an unreadable expression

You: Uhh...

Juri: Go on, try it

You raised a brow. That didn't sound suspicious at all

You: Is it poisoned?

The girl rolled her eyes

Juri: Just try it

Your gaze remained on her for a moment before you picked up the chopsticks yet again

...

Poison: I want you to round someone up for me. It's a particularly troublesome girl

The girls listened closely to the woman's instructions. Their eyes hid great determination

Harriet: What did she do?

Poison: Let's just say she's a thorn in our side we can't deal with right now. If you deal with her, we'll be in your debt

Everyone perked up. This was too good to pass

Quinn leaned forward

Quinn: Who's the target?

You: HOLY CRAP THIS IS SPICY!!!

Everyone turned to find your face red beyond belief. Juri's laughter echoed in the restaurant, this laugh in particular caught Poison's attention

Juri: There it is!

The gang's leader noticed her fist clenching and turned back to the girl next to you

She looked like a punk, it reminded her of themselves but...she just seemed like she was having a good time with you

Poison: That's her right there. Pink and blue hair. Name's Juri Han

They all glanced over at her

Poison: You bring her to us, and I'll be in your debt

The girls returned their attention to her. There were stars in their eyes

Rowan: Really?

With a wide smile, she nodded

Poison: Absolutely. You ladies up for it?

The gang members started to cheer at the opportunity, while Poison just watched

They hadn't the slightest idea what they got themselves into

If they somehow managed to best Mad Gear's most wanted, then they'd be seriously thankful Poison found them

But if things went south and they never came back, then, well, nothing of value would be lost

...

"Oh my god, you seriously keep making my day!"

Juri laughed once again while you recovered from the overwhelming amount of spice she had snuck into your plate. However, she was not expecting you to go back to eating so soon

Her amusement quickly turned into confusion

Juri:...Huh? Didn't you just melt your face off?

But you just gave her a delighted hum. With the wonder of a child, you looked a her

You: You were right! This is the best thing I've had in weeks!

You kept eating, but Juri just stared at you. The taunting facade was gone. She was just surprised, but soon, a genuine smile would appear on her face

Juri: Told you so

- - -

This was unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable

You were taken away by Juri, and Cammy had no way of catching up with that hellish motorcycle! Such an unfair advantage!

She hadn't the slightest clue of where you were. Which is why she stood before a map of the city in the subway station

It wasn't over just yet. All she needed to do was send a text
-

-Y/N 😻-

"Hello"
"Is everything alright?"
"Are you hurt?"

-

It felt like an eternity for her, despite being mere seconds, but she finally got an answer
-

"I'm alright 👍"
"Btw. Have you eaten Chanko Nabe before?"

-

Chanko Nabe? The sumo stew? That was such a random thing to ask

Unless it wasn't really a question...but a code!

Wait! A sumo restaurant had opened in the city not long ago!

Quickly, she glanced over to the map and placed a finger on the station she needed to go

-
"I'm alright 👍"
"Btw. Have you eaten Chanko Nabe before?"

"Copy that. On my way"

"?"

-

She was so grateful for your coded message

- - -

With a satisfied sigh, Juri set her empty plate down. With your combined efforts, the Chanko Nabe stood no chance

The waiter soon returned to the table

Mike: Hope you enjoyed your meal!

With that same relaxed look, she leaned back to look at him

Juri: Delicious as always. Juri: Put it in my tab, will you? I'll deal with it later

She handed him a piece of paper, which he took without hesitation

Mike: Of course!

You raised a brow at her

You: You sure?

She turned back to you

Juri: What? You thought I would bring you here and make you pay? Now that's just mean

Fair enough

Then, she leaned forward with her hands on the table and the dangerous smirk she was known for

Juri: Now come on, it's time for our next stop~

Without another word, she got up and left the restaurant, with you following suit. However, you froze the minute you spotted her motorcycle waiting for you

This didn't go unnoticed, and she patted you on the back as she handed you a helmet

Juri: We just ate a full meal, I'm not that cruel

With that, she got on and put her helmet on

Juri: I'll go slow

With some hesitation, you got on the motorcycle as well

Juri:...at first

You: Wait Wh--

Before you knew it, you were already gone. Nothing but a trail of smoke (and screams) was left

About ten minutes later, a certain blonde rushed into the place

Her breathing was somewhat ragged as she entered the restaurant. Moments later, she was approached by one of the sumo wrestlers

???: Welcome to Chanko House Edomon! How can I help you?

I'm looking for a girl, with blue and pink hair. Lots of spikes on her clothes, and a boy with h/c hair

The man tilted his head, but something clicked, and he smiled shortly after

???: Ah! Juri and her friend!

Her eyes went wide. She was following the right trail!

Cammy: Yeah! Are they still here?

???: You just missed them!

A groan left the blonde's lips. She seriously needed to find a way to move faster

Cammy: Do you happen to know where?

???: None in the slightest, I'm afraid

He rubbed his chin as he walked towards the exit with her. Then, he pointed at the street

???: I think they went that way. If you hurry, you might catch them in time

She thanked the sumo wrestler and rushed in that direction. However, she was not the only one who heard it, nor the only one hunting for Juri

It was on now

- - -

The motorcycle drifted to a stop once again. Juri turned the engine off before she took her helmet off

Juri: Here we are

You glanced at the next location and were greeted by the neon sign of an arcade

Surprise, surprise. This was not the library either

You turned to give her an unamused look, only to find her already prancing into the place

You: Hold on, what about the essay?

She stopped to look at you with eyes that said "Are you serious?"

Juri: Come on, you didn't think we'd actually do that, did you?

You: Well, yes!

This only got a laugh out of her

Juri: You gotta loosen up, babe

You could only groan before she disappeared into the arcade. Guess you were doing this

And into the arcade you went. You switched the traditional Japanese aesthetic for bright neon colors that contrasted the darkness of the place

Upbeat music played over rows and rows of machines. The laughter and enjoyment of the customers added to the ambiance as well

The sound of a wrapper caught your attention. You turned to your partner and saw her toss it into a trashcan

You raised a curious brow

You: You eat a lot of those

She shrugged

Juri: I'm trying to quit smoking

Wait, she smoked? Since when?

Her eyes sparkled the moment she found the machine she was looking for. A fighting game called "Shitbox Fighters 11"

...what kind of name was that? Wait, there's ten more games of this?!

With a smug grin, the girl leaned against the side of the machine

Juri: Since you care about this essay so badly, how about this?

She took a quarter and presented it to you. It shined with the light

Juri: Best of three. If you win, we'll do that stupid thing

You looked at her, and then at the machine. The screen constantly asked for a coin

It was clear she wanted to play with you, but if this was the only way to get the essay done, then so be it

Juri: So? Are you in? Or are you chicken? 

You cracked your neck and took out a coin of your own. Then, you gave her a smirk 

You: Bring it on

The girl let out a mischievous chuckle and stepped aside for you to walk closer. The machine accepted the coins and showed you the screen in "versus" mode

Juri: Well then, cutie...

"Choose your fighter"