I Am Okkotsu Yuta

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting warm hues over Tokyo's bustling streets.

People rushed home, others lingered in stores, and the neon lights of fast-food chains illuminated the sidewalks.

Among them, standing outside a newly opened Burger King, Yuta checked his watch. 

"5:57 PM."

He sighed, exhaling visible breath in the cool air.

He was dressed casually but neatly, white button-up shirt, black blazer, matching pants and shoes, with a red scarf wrapped loosely around his neck. As he watched the flood of people passing by, he thought to himself.

(Maybe I shouldn't have come an hour early.)

Just as he was about to put on his headset to kill time, a familiar voice called out. 

"Oi, Yuta." 

He turned around, but then froze. 

His brain momentarily short-circuited as his eyes landed on Zenin Maki, his date for the evening. 

She stood there, hands in the pockets of her green hoodie, looking slightly out of place yet effortlessly cool.

The hoodie was left open, revealing a simple white shirt tucked into a black skirt that ended mid-thigh, accompanied by thigh-high socks and sneakers.

Her dark green hair was tied in a loose ponytail, and her glasses reflected the streetlights as she looked at him expectantly. 

Yuta blinked.

He was speechless. 

Then, without thinking, he said.

"Beautiful." 

Maki's face immediately flushed red. 

She averted her gaze, adjusting her glasses as if to hide her embarrassment.

"S-Shut up, idiot."

Before Yuta could tease her more, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside the restaurant.

He smiled at the way she avoided his gaze, the tips of her ears still tinged pink. 

As they entered, the smell of grilled beef and fried food filled the air.

The Burger King was packed with couples, families, and solo diners enjoying their meals.

hey approached the counter, where a cheerful cashier greeted them. 

"Welcome! What can I get for the lovely couple?"

Yuta smiled sheepishly and Maki cleared her throat and ordered.

"The limited edition Heartburn Feast."

Yuta raised an eyebrow as he glanced at the menu.

The Heartburn Feast consisted of two Big King burgers laced with Carolina Reaper peppers, large fries, a large soda, and a sundae. 

(Why does this sound like a death sentence?)

Nevertheless, he paid for the meal, and they found a table near the window. 

As they sat down, Yuta decided to start some small talk.

"So, about our date-"

"It's not a date!"

Maki immediately cut in, flustered. 

Yuta smirked.

"Really? Then what is it?"

Maki crossed her arms.

"I'm here to cash out my prize."

Yuta chuckled.

"Alright, alright. But hypothetically, if this was a date, how would you rate it so far?"

Maki scoffed but decided to humor him. She leaned back and tapped her chin.

"Hmmm… Well, I can't rate it yet since we just started. But if my date were to take me to a movie afterward, maybe visit some food stalls I wanted to check out, and maybe even take me out hunting Curses… then maybe I'd give it a better score."

Yuta smiled knowingly.

"That's quite the coincidence. I just happen to have two tickets for The Purge: Election Year. So… wanna watch?"

He reached into his blazer pocket and pulled out two movie tickets, placing them on the table. 

Maki blinked, genuinely surprised.

"Wait. You actually-?"

Before she could finish, their food arrived. The waiter placed their trays in front of them, and both Yuta and Maki thanked them before digging in. 

The moment Yuta took a bite of his fire-laced burger.

However—he regretted it instantly. 

His eyes widened as the Carolina Reaper kicked in, setting his tongue ablaze.

His face turned red, and he immediately reached for his drink, chugging half of it in one go. 

Across from him, Maki took a bite, barely reacting.

When she looked up and saw Yuta sweating buckets, she let out an amused snort. 

Then, she laughed.

Yuta whined, wiping his forehead with a napkin

"Maki-chan… this burger is trying to kill me..." 

Maki smirked.

"What? The infamous Curse Eater can't handle a little spice?"

Yuta glared at her playfully.

"I hope you get an actual heartburn."

Maki chuckled, popping a fry into her mouth.

"Not happening."

Despite his misfortune, Yuta smiled. Watching Maki laugh so freely, even if it was at his expense, made his suffering worth it.

XXX

Outside the Burger King, parked discreetly by the curb, a black sedan sat with its windows slightly lowered.

Inside the car, two very inconspicuous individuals were conducting their stakeout. 

In the driver's seat, Toge sat quietly, his hoodie up and a medical face mask covering most of his face.

His hands rested on the wheel, and his violet eyes stayed locked onto their targets. 

Next to him, Panda sat in the passenger seat, wearing a ridiculous get-up.

A comically large trench coat draped over his broad frame, a bowler hat perched on his head, fake glasses, and a very fake mustache completed the disguise.

The coat barely hid his massive panda form, making him look like some oversized detective from an old noir film. 

Toge sighed through his mask.

"Tuna tuna." 

Panda waved a paw dismissively.

"I know, I know. This is totally disrespecting our friends' privacy."

He then grinned.

"But aren't you curious too, Toge-kun?" 

Toge hesitated for a second. Then, with a small nod, he muttered.

"Caviar."

Panda clapped his paws together.

"See? It's fine! Besides, we're in disguise. They'll never see us coming."

Toge side-eyed his friend, scanning the absurd outfit.

He chose not to say anything, which is his specialty. 

Minutes passed before Panda suddenly nudged Toge and pointed.

"There they go!" 

From their vantage point, they watched Yuta and Maki exit the Burger King. 

Yuta was still sweating from the spicy burger, using his scarf to wipe his forehead, while Maki walked beside him, smirking in amusement.

She laughed at his suffering, clearly enjoying herself. The two of them hailed a taxi, got in, and drove off. 

Panda immediately shook Toge's arm.

"Quick! After them!"

Toge sighed but started the car, pulling into the street and keeping a safe distance behind the taxi. 

After a short drive, the taxi stopped in front of a movie theater. 

Yuta and Maki got out, talking casually as they entered the theater lobby. 

Panda rubbed his paws together.

"Alright, let's move."

Toge watched as Panda got out of the car and hurried toward the ticket booth.

Before he could say anything, Panda was already at the counter. 

Panda confidently placed a paw on the counter.

"Two tickets for The Purge: Election Year, please." 

The cashier, a young woman in her twenties, blinked in confusion as she looked at the talking panda in a trench coat. 

Then, she slowly spoke.

"Sir, I'm sorry but we're sold out of tickets for this movie." 

Panda's fake mustache twitched.

"Oh." 

The cashier continued.

"Uh… what exactly are you cosplaying as? A Panda Detective or something?" 

Panda stiffened.

(Shit! I wasn't supposed to be seen!) 

Before things got worse, Toge casually walked up to the counter and whispered

"Sleep." 

The cashier's eyes instantly drooped.

Within seconds, she slumped forward onto the desk, snoring softly. 

Panda turned to Toge, giving him a thumbs up. "Thanks, Toge-kun."

With the cashier out cold, they snuck inside the theater undetected. 

Once inside, they maneuvered past groups of people, making sure to keep their heads down. Yuta and Maki had already taken their seats near the middle of the theater, so Panda and Toge settled a few rows behind them. 

Panda peeked over the seat in front of him, whispering.

"Alright… operation [Spy on Yuta-kun's Love Life] is a go." 

Toge simply nodded. 

The movie started.

XXX

Yuta looked absolutely bored. 

His face was half-resting on his palm as he watched the over-the-top violence unfold on screen. 

Maki, on the other hand, was fully invested. 

Her sharp eyes focused on every detail, her lips slightly parted as she followed the action.

Occasionally, she nodded in approval at particularly brutal moments. 

Yuta glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Then, he noticed something. 

Maki's hand was resting next to his on the shared armrest. 

He hesitated.

(Should I?) 

For a solid minute, he debated internally. 

Then, slowly, he casually slid his fingers just a bit closer. 

Then, with the most obvious fake accident in history, he let his fingers brush against hers before fully resting over them. 

Maki tensed slightly, her eyes flicking toward him in surprise. 

But Yuta? 

He kept looking at the screen like nothing happened. 

Maki narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, then shifted her gaze back to the movie

She considered pulling her hand away... 

(But… It feels kind of… nice.) 

So, she decided to let it slide. 

As she continued watching, a small blush dusted her cheeks. 

Yuta, meanwhile, sneakily glanced at her reaction. 

When he saw her not pulling away, he internally cheered. 

(Mission successful!)

XXX

Hello readers!

Throw your Power Stones at my general direction if you think this romance scene is okay.

Thank you everyone and see you later!