"Be careful!" Nepgear called after me as IF started the bike and we dashed off. I literally had no choice whatsoever in what just happened. I kept up with IF as we navigated our way around the island.
"What are we doing exactly?" I spoke up.
"We can't have a vacation without shopping at the mall, can we?" IF smirked. I face palmed, which was a bad idea running as fast as I was, and resulted in me almost skidding painfully across the asphalt.
The mall was grand, with large glass panes that reflected the bright, white sun. Palm trees decorated the exterior along with some bushes and shrubs here and there. People were holding bags, walking and talking. It looked like a popular spot, and I questioned why I haven't heard of the place prior to our arrival.
"Ya know," I began. "Out of all the girls, you might be one of the more sane-" IF grabbed my hand.
"C'mon! Date time!" IF said, yanking me with her.
"And I was wrong," I sighed as IF basically dragged me along. She smiled at me cutely.
"So, what first?" She asked.
"You're like the Tails to Neptune, aren't you?" I asked. She tilted her head at me. "Nevermind that reference then. Um, it's honestly up to you."
"Does ice cream sound good?" She asked. I nodded.
"It does." I stated as I followed IF to an ice cream booth. We both ordered Mint Chocolate Chip cones and happily started to consume it. IF took a seat at a table and I sat across from her. Her eyes scanned the room, and she soon stopped before turning her head back slightly and squinted her eyes.
"Is that," IF began.
"IFFY!!" I heard someone happily shout. Company skipped towards us and gave IF a hug. Neptune soon joined her, and my blood seemed to find it's place.
"Oh, hey, Seku!" Neptune smiled.
"Neps, Compa, what are you two doing here?" I asked.
"Nep Nep here is helping me pick out some new undergarments for tomorrow."
"Why, tomorrow?" I thought and immediatly it clicked. "Neps, you're so lewd."
"What!?" She said, her face red. "Um, no, don't think of it that way! It's different! It's not like, they're for me or anything!"
"We didn't say anything about then being yours," IF said. I raised an eyebrow at Neptune.
"Okay, so what if they are mine!? It's not like, I'm gonna wear them for you specifically!" Neptune started to break down, her face cherry red. She grabbed Compa before running away.
"Um, I'm kind of worried for my safety." I chuckled nervously. IF gave a small laugh.
"I wouldn't worry!" IF smiled. "I'm sure you'll be fine."
"How sure?"
"Flip a coin?" IF shrugged. I narrowed my eyes.
"Comforting." I sighed. IF smiled, and lightly hit my shoulder.
"So, ice cream?" IF asked. I nodded, remembering what we were doing. IF smiled as I took her hand and led walked to the food courts.
***
"So, you like strawberry?" I asked IF (idk if IF does).
"Yeah," IF smiled, liking her treat. (Fuck, I took that out of context) "You like mint?"
"Hell yeah, mint and chocolate is amazing!" I grinned.
"I thought you'd like vanilla," IF commented.
"What, why?" I asked. IF just shrugged nonchalantly.
"I dunno," IF said.
"Is this some sort of metaphor?" I asked after a small awkward silence.
"No, I don't think so, it might." IF vaguely stated.
"Hm, what am I writing?" I groaned quietly. "Just stupid fanfiction, right."
"You alright?" IF asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
"Yeah, just thinking, ya know, about things. Bored I guess."
"Are you insinuating that I'm boring?"
"No, no, not at all." I seriously said, which probably saved me from a gunshot to the head.
"Hm," IF sighed, looking out at the crowd of people walking to different shops.
"So," I began, attempting to make some small talk.
"What's your deal with Neptune?" IF turned to me.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Do you like her?" IF asked.
"Um, sure, I guess," I felt my body go cold.
"Answer me honestly," IF said.
"I, I,"
"I won't tell her." IF said.
"O-okay, I like, Neptune, a lot. I love her," I said.
"So, why did you make out with Noire?" IF asked.
"Wha-!? That bitch!" I said in shock.
"Hehe, you're fine, just answer the question." IF smiled.
"I don't know," I said. "But, I love Neptune but I can't get too attached. If anything, I'll put you girls in danger."
"Danger can't ruin or break friendships, and it shouldn't stop you from being you. If you love someone, be with them." IF smiled.
"What if she doesn't like me the same?" I asked.
"So?" IF blatantly stated.
"What do you mean so?" I asked
"Keep trying, toughen up, walk it off, just cope with the heart break." IF said. "Neptune wouldn't stop being your friend. None of us would."
"Have, have you gone through this type of thing before?" I asked.
"No," IF smiled. "But you're really making us depressed. You've been different the past few days. Besides, Neptune always talks about you, and you are both totally oblivious that you like each other!"
"What?" I said. My heart was beating faster. I hated this love thing. It caused problems once, and I don't want that to happen ever again. That kind of pain changes you. I refused to believe that, even if it was true. "No, she doesn't."
"You don't believe me?" IF asked. "Alright, we'll go ask her then!" If pointed at a women's clothes store. IF dragged me along and I resisted a little, but she wasn't going to give up, so I followed her in, my head hung with heartache and embarrassment.
"Oh," Neptune's voice cheerfully greeted us. "Hiya again IF and Seku!"
"Hey, Neps," I said. I felt myself start to sweat.
"Sekushi has a question, but he'll stall for a while, so, I'll ask for him, do you like him?" IF asked calmly. I kind of wanted to punch her.
"Yeah!" Neptune said.
"Do you love him?" IF asked. I looked up and Neptune's red face looked at me, our eyes breaking contact as she quickly turned her head.
"N-No! We are only friends! R-Right, Seku?" Neptune said, still looking away.
"Y-Yeah, IF, I-I told you!" I said. IF looked at me like I was stupid.
"Fine, whatever, you both are idiots." IF said. She stood there thinking. I didn't want Neptune to know.
"Um, let's go IF, it's our time to hang out!" I said hurriedly and yanked on her jacket, bringing her toward me, I kept a tight grip on her and dashed away.
***
I sat on a bench out of breath and bruised from carrying IF, as she started to retaliate, so I had no choice but to carry her and take the punches and kicks whenever she was able to get one in.
"Just tell her," IF got close in my face.
"No!" I said.
"You can't hold this in. It's bad for you. You always seem so damn miserable! Get a hold of yourself! You can't bottle it up. You need to let go of the feelings by telling her."
"I don't want to." I said. I felt my eyes stinging. IF was more than right. This was bad, I had once held my feelings in for too long, and almost died because of sleepless weeks and going hungry for over a month. My energy wore down until Buddy caught me and forced energy into me. I couldn't die, not with my promise of ridding all demons I set loose. I didn't know what to do. I wanted Neptune so bad, but I didn't want her getting hurt.
Then don't let her.
Hm?
"Did you say something?" I asked IF. She cocked her head at me.
"No?" She replied.
"Interesting." I said.
"What?" IF asked. I shook my head. Not gonna let her know I'm actually crazy.
"Nevermind," I said. "Listen, thanks for actually caring about my feelings, unlike some of the other girls who want just me." I chuckled.
"They're just giving you a hard time, except Noire. She's a little, crazy to say the least."
"I don't have fan girls, so that's kind of new." I laughed.
"Heh," IF smiled.
"I'll tell her, not now, but in the future." I sighed. As much as my head told me not to, it was time I listened to my heart for once.
"Wanna head back to the hotel?" IF stated.
"It's your day with me, if you want to, we can." I smiled at her. She thought for a moment.
"The mall is overrated, so let's go head back, watch a comedy or something that's actually fun." IF stated, seeming bored of the mall.
"So, why did we need to come to the mall in the first place?" I asked.
"Oh, uh, that doesn't matter!" IF laughed. "I guess, um, I just wanted to!" I could tell she was lying, but I wasn't gonna bother her.
I didn't need to know everything, because I already knew what I truly wanted.
Thanks IF.
***
We got back to the hotel a little later than expected, as I laid eyes on a game shop near the malls exit and IF knew I wanted to go in, so we did. I ended up buying the new Lowee Click (Take that Nintendo...) along with some two player games. For Nep and myself in retrospect.
I let myself plop down as IF sat next to me on the couch in front of the television. I noticed bow that the hotel rooms had the same rooms, but some of the things were moved around, witch was pretty nice, and made each stay a little different. IF grabbed the remote and the guide.
"Wanna watch a horror movie?" IF asked.
"Um, sure?" I replied, a little confused as to why IF wanted to watch a horror film. IF smiled and flipped the channels to a horror film. People screamed as a large beast went around killing, spitting flames and causing anarchy. "Oh, this kind of horror." I sweat dropped. "Is there like, Saw?"
"What?" IF asked.
"Sorry, Saw is a movie franchise in my dimension!" I answered.
"What is it about?" IF asked.
"Um, think of it like a guy kidnaps people to play horrific games to learn to not take life for granted."
"Games?"
"Hey, wanna live, cut your foot off," I said in a monotonous voice. "Hey, you fucked up? Cool. Watch your friend die."
"What the hell? Are you okay?"
"Not really," I smiled at IF. "I love psychological horror."
"Interesting, I guess." IF said, looking back at the TV. I just nodded and watched the movie.
***
Morning came rather quickly, and IF fell asleep just before I had to leave because we were up all night watching movies. I guess I'd just play my Lowee Click with Compa. I got up, and left.
***
"I think this is good." I said, looking back over the script.
"Is it now?" Neptune asked.
"Yeah." I said.
"May I read it?"
"No."
"Why not?" Neps asked.
"Because it give you spoilers!" I replied.
"Seku, I already know the whole story! These are extra chapters!"
"Shush. No reading."
"I don't care anymore," Neptune frowned at me.
"I thought you loved me," I smiled.
"I do, you just like making it difficult."