Amu sat at the table in a daze, absentmindedly pushing food around her plate. She couldn't stop picturing her neighbor's perfectly sculpted abs.
She didn't even notice the piece of broccoli slipping off her fork.
"Amu-chan, are you alright?" Mrs. Hinamori asked, worry written clearly across her face.
Amu blinked and snapped out of her thoughts. "Huh? Did you say something, Mom?"
"Big sis, your face is really red," Ami said innocently, pointing at her.
Amu's cheeks flared instantly. She cleared her throat and pushed her chair back, standing abruptly.
"I'm not hungry anymore. I'm going to my room."
"But you barely touched your dinner, honey."
"I'll finish it later," Amu said quickly.
Before anyone could stop her, she rushed upstairs and slammed her bedroom door behind her. Throwing herself face-first onto her bed, she buried her face into her pillow and screamed — long and muffled — as if trying to release every ounce of embarrassment from her body.
After a while, she sat up, breathing slowly, trying to calm her racing heart. Her face was still warm.
She cleared her throat.
Snap out of it, Amu. You have a wonderful boyfriend.
Grabbing her phone, she quickly messaged her two best friends — Mashiro Rima and Fujisaki Nadeshiko — telling them everything that had just happened.
-
As Amu rushed around getting ready for school, she suddenly noticed Ami standing in the doorway, fully dressed and watching her quietly.
"Ami? Why haven't you left for school yet?" Amu asked, confused. "And where's Mom?"
Ami beamed. "Mama said you're taking me to kindergarten before you go to school."
Amu groaned inwardly. She had planned to get to school early so she could talk to her friends before the first bell. Now she'd have to wait until lunchtime.
Quickly slipping on her shoes, she grabbed Ami's hand and headed outside.
As they passed Ikuto's house, Amu froze for a split second.
He was sitting on the deck, casually sipping his coffee.
Their eyes met.
Ikuto smirked.
"Good morning, Miss Pervert," he called lazily. "You'd better hurry, or you'll be late for school."
"I am not a pervert!" Amu screeched, her face instantly heating up.
Ikuto laughed softly, clearly amused.
Ami looked from the mysterious neighbor to her flustered sister, tilting her head.
"What's a pervert?"
Amu nearly choked.
"N-Never mind! Let's go!" she said quickly, tugging Ami along toward the kindergarten.
Behind them, Ikuto's quiet chuckle lingered in the morning air.
-
Amu bent forward, hands on her knees, panting heavily in front of Seiyo Kindergarten's main gates while Ami watched her with concern.
"Ami-chan!"
Ami turned toward the familiar voice and spotted her three best friends playing happily in the sandbox. Her face instantly lit up.
"Ran! Suu! Miki!" she cried, running toward them after quickly waving goodbye to her sister.
Amu smiled faintly as she watched Ami join them, then straightened once she finally caught her breath.
"Have fun, okay?" she called.
After making sure Ami was safe, Amu turned and hurried toward Seiyo High School.
As she approached the main gates, she spotted two familiar figures waiting for her.
She waved and ran toward them.
"Rima! Nadeshiko! Sorry I'm late!"
Their faces brightened when they saw her. Nadeshiko gently nudged Rima with a knowing smile.
"Looks like we'll have to wait until lunch to interrogate her," Nadeshiko teased.
Rima narrowed her eyes playfully. "This is going to be fun."
Amu slowed to a stop in front of them, slightly out of breath.
"What are you two talking about?" she asked suspiciously.
Rima and Nadeshiko exchanged a glance...
...and burst into giggles.