Misha - Date of Destiny

The class bell rings, and I gather up my books, leaving without hesitation, thinking about what to do with the rest of the weekend.

I'm unsuccessful in planning anything as I get to the front door of the dorm hall.  I briefly consider finally taking Kenji up on his bowling offer, but decide against it.  Maybe doing nothing is my best choice in the end.

To my suprise, Misha is waiting in front of my room, waving at me.  Even more surprisingly, Shizune's not with her.

"Good afternoon, Hii-chan~.  Weather's been great, huh?"

I shrug.  "Yeah, it's alright.  Is that why you're here?  Alone?  To ask about the weather?"

Misha shakes her head, looking worried.  "Well, no, Hii-chan.  Umm... can we talk in your room~?"

"Yeah, sure," I reply as I step past her and open the way through.

Misha sits on my bed, looking down and tapping her shoes together absentmindedly.  "Hii-chan, I kinda gotta ask you for a biiig favor~."

"Depends.  What is it?"

"Well, it's like this... my parents arranged to have me visit them tomorrow.  This might be the last time I'll see them for a while, and I really want to impress them~."

I drop my bag on the floor and take a seat next to her.  "You've been doing pretty good in school.  You don't have to worry about impressing them.  I don't see what that's got to do with me, anyway.  How would I even help?"

Misha looks up, staring into my eyes.  "Well, it's pretty simple~.  I just need you to be my boyfriend for a day!"

The impact of her proposal hits my and my face lights up like a firecracker.  "Be your what?  Really?"

Misha wags her finger at me.  "Not really really, but just for tomorrow.  All you have to do is pretend!  It'll be over before you know it."

I sigh and brush my hair back with my hand. As interesting as the prospect of going out with Misha is, I'm not interested in wasting my weekend on a farce.  "I really don't know, Misha.  I mean, I already made plans this weekend."

Misha frowns and scoots a little closer to me.  "Hiiii-chan~, I need this so badly.  You have no idea~.  Every time I see my parents they ask me about a boyfriend.  'Found a guy yet, Shiina~?'  'It's nice to see your grades up but you should really find someone, Shiina~.'  'You're looking rather lonely, Shiina~.'"

Tears start to well in Misha's eyes, though her expression doesn't show the stress of someone crying.  Even if she's forcing the tears out on purpose, it still gives off the intended effect.  "I really need a guy and you're the guy I trust the most.  Please, Hii-chan?  Pweeeease~?"

I put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.  "Okay, okay.  I guess I can do it."

Misha springs from the bed, jumping in the air a couple of times, making a very audible ruckus.  "Yes!  Yay~!  Don't worry Hii-chan!  It'll be lots of fun!"

"So, uh, what do I get in return for this?"

"In return~?  Umm...  an I.O.U.~"

"What?  That doesn't seem fair."

"It's fine~!" Misha protests, "Anything you need help with in the future, I'll do it.  Within reason of course~!  And you're gonna get a free dinner too, so you really shouldn't complain~."

"Dinner?"

"Yeah, just a dinner and a little TV!  Nice and quick~!  It's settled, then."

Misha grabs one of my homework sheets and scribbles a quick schedule on the back.  She quickly excuses herself after that, telling me she needs to start preparing.

All I do is finish my assignments, grab some dinner, and call it an early night.

Dinner and TV fun, she said.  Well, though I don't think she's interested in me in 'that' way, Misha's pretty cute and entertaining.  Her parents are probably pretty okay, too.  What's the worst that could happen?

The next day, I get to the bus stop at noon, right on time.  Misha shows up a few minutes later, making her presence known with a greeting long before I see her walking along the edge of the sidewalk towards me.  She looks about the same as always, but with a touch more make-up and a busty but modest pink dress.

"Good to see you, Hii-chan~.  I like the sweater vest~!"

I give her a bow.  "Thanks.  And you're looking nice, too."

Misha gives me a light bonk on the head.  "No need to be too formal, not yet~.  You should carry my purse for me, though."

I roll my eyes and grudgingly take it.  "Whatever you say, m'lady."

The bus ride is fairly long, which makes sense if the plan is to catch dinner.  Misha's visibly excited the whole way, droning on about her parents and what they're like.  I don't pay much attention after a while, but learn that her father is a banker and her mother is a typical housewife.  Nothing too groundbreaking there.

We get to our stop and walk the rest of the way to a fairly large and luxurious-looking house.

I turn to Misha.  "This is it?  Pretty grandiose."

"I told you~.  Now, hold my hand."

I take her hand in mine, and she grips firmly in response.  It feels really warm, and plush.  Far from a bad feeling.

"Quit blushing, Hii-chan.  Look more confident, too~."

I escort her up the stairs and knock on the door.

After about a minute, the door is answered by a short, gentle-looking lady wearing a messy apron.  She straightens her clothing a bit, then bows at us.  "There you are, Shiina!  We were wondering when you would finally get here!"  She then steps in front of me, looking me over, fingering my sleeve curiously.  "And who's this?  This wouldn't happen to be..."

"That's right, mom!  Say hello to my boyfriend, Hii-ch- uh, Hisao~!"  This is the first time I've heard Misha say my actual name.  It sounds awkward.

"Oh!  Excellent!  It's nice to meet you, Hisao!  I'd give you a hug but I am just a mess right now.  I'm so sorry.  But please!  Do come in!  Dinner's almost ready."

Upon entering, Misha indicates for us to take off our shoes.  We do so, then follow Ms. Mikado to the living room.  A tall, broad-shouldered man is sitting in one of two chairs, the only furniture in the room.  He's wearing a suit, and for some reason gives off the impression that he wears suits all the time.  His face is strained and stern, focused on the TV he's watching, until Misha breaks his concentration.

"Daddy!  Hi~!"  Misha runs to the man and hugs him, throwing him off-guard for a moment until he wraps his arms around her.

After they part, he immediately takes notice of me.  I'm a little nervous until his expression softens a slight bit.

"I assume you're Hisao, right?"

"That's right, sir."

He stands up and gives me a handshake before I realize what he's doing.  "It's a pleasure!  Shiina's said a lot of great things about you.  I'm pleased to meet such a dignified man as yourself."

"And you as well, sir."  It looks like Misha's been building up this act pre-emptively.  How typical of her to sugar-coat things.  I'll just have to keep playing the yes man card.

Mr. Mikado waves his arm at the second chair.  "Please, have a seat, you two.  I gather it was a long ride over here."

I pause and consider as he returns to his own seat.  "But there's only one-"

"It's fine, Hisao~!"  Misha takes my hand and motions for me to sit.

I do so with some protest.  "It's really okay, I can sit on the floor, Misha."

"No need!" She exclaims.  She turns around, her rear facing me.

"Uh, what-"

Before I can say anything, Misha seats herself swiftly on my lap with an audible thump.  Her plush body, clad in the thin cloth of the dress, presses against me, spreading her warmth to me.  It's a wonderful feeling.

I'm blushing again from embarrassment, but Mr. Mikado doesn't seem to notice.  "Misha?  Why did you call her Misha?" he asks with a quizzical expression.

Misha waves a hand at him.  "Oh, that's just his pet name for me~.  Isn't it nice?"

He nods once.  "I suppose I'll allow a breach of mannerisms, in that case.  Now, Hisao, tell me, when did you and Shiina meet?"

"Uhh..."  Quickly Hisao, come up with an answer.  What seems good but reasonable?  "Almost a year now, since I transferred to Yamaku academy."

He raises his eyebrows.  "I see.  Shiina tells me you're very studious.  Have you been planning a career field?"

I'm distracted from the question by Misha grabbing my arms and wrapping them around her, snuggling up to me more closely with a soft sigh.

I know Misha's into the act, but this really is too close.  My body's going to start reacting on its own soon.

She smells lovely.

Mr. Mikado clears is throat loudly.  I jump in response and shamefully ask him to repeat the question.

"A career field, Hisao.  Any plans?"

"Uhh, well, nothing too concrete right now.  Probably something in the science field.  Biology maybe.

He leans back in his chair, rubbing his chin in contemplation.  "Hmm.  A predictable response."  Good.  "Straighten out those plans.  You don't want to invest without knowing exactly what you're investing in, and what the future projection is.  You put all you got in the wrong place, bam, it's gone just like that.  Don't gotta be a banker to know that."

"Certainly.  I'll get right on it."

"Good to hear.  Now," he gets up with a grunt, "The miss is late with dinner, like usual.  I'll go check and see how that's going.

Mr. Mikado leaves without another word.  As soon as he's out of the room, Misha shifts her hips uncomfortable.

"Hisao," she says in an oddly blunt tone, "That better be the remote grinding against my butt."

"Uh... I-I couldn't help it.  Sorry."

"I shoulda known, Hii-chan~.  You're so dirty!"

"Like I said, I can't help it.  A buxom, beautiful lady seated herself on me."

"Beautiful?"  Misha's voice trails off into a whisper as she says the word.

I try to aknowledge it as plainly as I can.  "Well, yeah.  So you can forgive me for this... uhh... oversight."

She nods, her hair brushing against my face.  "Sure, Hii-chan~.  Buuut~.  It'd be a disaster if my parent's saw that!  We'll have to eat in here, and I'll have to stay on your lap aaaall night if you don't calm that thing down~!"

Oh no.  You've doomed me, Misha.  There's no way I'm going to calm down after you say something like that.

This is going to be a very long, and very blue, night.