Murasaki Date

It all started when Anon crossed paths with a purple haired girl in a Victorian era dress. She was carrying a stuffed bear under her mountainous chest and looked downtrodden. As they passed each other they caught a look at each others faces and the girl actually responded with a sheepish smile. Anon was pleased and returned the favor with a stupefied, joyous grin. They delighted in each others awkwardness.

 

They both moved on and Anon thought that was the end of it until he was accosted by unsavoury figures that put a sack over his head. After some peculiar questions like 'how'd you make her smile?' and 'why does she like you?' which Anon couldn't answer one of the figures handed Anon a piece of paper with time, date and address on it and made threats on Anon's life and livelihood if he failed to show.

 

Anon followed their instruction and arrived at a cafe just in time to meet that girl again. She was wearing the same dress and had the same stuffed bear. When she smiled at Anon he instantly forgave his kidnappers. Anon went over and introduced himself and was rewarded with her name: Murasaki. "I guess it matches the hair" he fumbled.

 

"I'm a little nervous. I've never been on a date before." Murasaki whispered.

 

A date? Was this set up by the people who abducted him? Anon swiftly forgot about them and the piece of paper and simply asked her to join him. He felt warmth fill his whole body when she accepted his offer. Anon didn't even make a fuss when Murasaki wanted her bear Bebe to have its own chair. "I must look like a third wheel" Anon joked.

 

Murasaki ordered herself black tea and a scone to go with her lunch. "There's just something about tea that I like" she confided in Anon "Sometimes I like to imagine I'm some noble lady." A blush came over her face and she snatched Bebe from its seat and hide behind him. "I said something embarassing."

 

"It's fine we all have daydreams." Anon reassured her and Murasaki continued by talking about her favourite web novel series, Rapunzel the Shinobi, and how when she read it she felt as though the author knew her intimately and how Murasaki imagined events in her life or how she would idealise herself. After rambling endlessly about her love of the series Murasaki was pleased that Anon listened intently instead of the usual quizzical looks from her shinobi friends.

 

"So what else are you into? I want to hear more." Anon asked and Murasaki was anxious. She didn't really do a whole lot that she could share with him. Shinobi work is a secret and he wouldn't want to hear about her just sitting around all day would he?

 

"I like videogames." Murasaki muttered. Anon nodded his head expecting more and she told him all about the games she was playing and Anon was actually interested. Murasaki even told Anon about how her sister didn't know you can't pause an online game or about save files. Anon simply soaked in all of Murasaki's stories and loved every new piece of herself she shared. There was no pressure talking to Anon and she could sense that he was sincere.

 

With lunch over the trio looked around the shopping district that surrounded the cafe as they tried to find more time together and when it came time to go home Anon offered to walk her. Murasaki accepted; a move that would have stunned her shinobi friends and even seemed strange to her.

 

On the way they stopped by a children's playground and Anon pushed Murasaki and Bebe on the roundabout and Murasaki seemed content to let herself out of her shell. Just a little. It would be up to Anon to push Bebe on the swings and let him go down the slide otherwise he'd complain all the way home, according to Murasaki. She even scolded the bear for getting dusty but quickly forgave it.

 

Anon brought Murasaki to her doorstep just as evening was about to set in. She nervously shuffled about and Anon thought he saw her lips move but he couldn't hear any words. He leaned in closer and asked her to speak up. "I HAD A LOT OF FUN!" She howled "DO YOU WANT TO GO OUT AGAIN NEXT WEEKEND!?"

 

Anon reeled backwards and tried to dig the ringing out of his ears. Murasaki started muttering about rejection. He noticed a strange aura around her and the earth beneath him started to vibrate and sent ripples up his body. Then there was that strange otherwordly presence. "Sure, I'd love to."

 

"I'm glad." With those words a flip was switched in Murasaki and a warm smile spread across her face "I guess we need each others numbers huh?" She'd never shared her details with a boy before and the whole ordeal left her limp and ready to topple over like a string of spaghetti. She survived though and she even made sure Anon knew Bebe was happy too.

 

Murasaki and Anon nervously eyed each other, neither one sure what to do next; until Murasaki clutched her bear and rushed behind her door. Anon heard a hushed "Thank you" right before the door closed. The door clicked shut and Anon let out a sigh and closed his eyes. He opened his eyes again to pitch black and the weight of burlap around his collar. It seems his captor had more questions for him.

 

"Let's see what this little birdie has to say. Cheep-cheep!"