Chapter Text
“So does this count as our first date?” Okarun asked as they walked into the tiny restaurant off campus. “Or was the night we... You know... Count as our first date?”
“That's a... Great question,” Momo replied. “I guess it depends on what you qualify as a date. But I dunno, I kinda wanna think of this as our first date.” She smirked at him. “First one you've taken me out for on purpose, at least.”
He blushed and looked at his feet. “If I'd have known it was that special I'd have taken you to a nicer restaurant.”
She snickered. “Oh please. Despite what Granny says, I'm not a hard lady to please, Okarun. Just don't expect me to be one of those girls who orders a salad or something to impress you or seem dainty or whatever.”
“Wouldn't dream of it,” he chuckled as they approached the hostess’ podium.
“How many?” The hostess asked.
“Just us,” Ken replied.
Both of them watched as the hostess' eyes traveled to the hickeys all over Ken's neck, her face falling into an unreadable expression with her lips pressed into a thin line.
Maybe going out right after being caught by Miko and Muko wasn't the BEST idea, but they needed to get away from the relentless teasing and debate over what their couple name would be (Takayase or Momokarun were the prevailing arguments when they left).
Momo just held his hand tighter and smiled. Who cares if this rando knew Okarun was hers? He looked good all chewed up like this.
“R-right this way,” the girl stuttered out, taking two menus and leading the couple to a booth. “Your server will be right with you.”
Momo held in her giggle until she was sure the hostess was out of earshot. “Are you gonna be okay going to work like that? That girl didn’t look like she could handle it.”
He shrugged. “Akihiko won’t care. Most of the other employees don’t really talk much to me anyway.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Half your neck is purple. You don’t think one of them will get curious?”
She was met with another shrug. “Let ‘em,” he replied. “Not their business anyway.”
Momo smirked and picked up her menu. “Yeah, it’s not. You’re right. Oh man, I’m gonna eat like the biggest burger they have. Fair warning, I’m gonna get sauce like... all over my face.”
He snickered. “Oh, so I really can’t take you anywhere, can I?”
She glared at him with furrowed brows. “Excuse you, I’m not that messy. Usually. You think you’d wanna show me off.”
His expression softened. “Of course I do. I’m like the luckiest guy at school.”
She covered her face with the menu so he couldn’t see her blushing. But he guessed she was anyway. “Sh-shut up, you sap,” she muttered, as it was the only way to stop herself from squealing in delight.
Something about their Monday lunches after Public Speaking became that much more special. Perhaps it made sense; it was a special time that Momo spent just with her nerdy, singing boyfriend.
Or so was the plan.
“So I’ve looked up some beginner guitar tutorials online, but I think I’d be better off trying to find lessons -” He was cut off as Aira Shiratori plopped down next to him, and she nodded to both Ken and Momo, unwrapping her bento.
“...can we... help you?” Okarun asked, cautiously.
“Yeah, what the fuck are you doing here, skank?” Momo asked, much more cutthroat and true to her feelings.
“What does it look like? I’m having lunch with my friends,” Aira scoffed.
Ken and Momo looked around at the table that was devoid of any but the two of them, plus the new addition of Aira.
“... are you talking about us?” Okarun asked in disbelief.
“I am NOT your fucking friend!” Momo practically growled. “You fucking put up flyers saying I’m a slut!”
“Yes, and then I got kicked out of my sorority trying to save your reputation and helped you and Takakura here form a romantic entanglement, despite my own devotion to him,” Aira replied, biting into a rice ball. “Such a selfless act would only be done by a companion. So now you are friend’s with Heaven’s Chosen pretty girl.” She smiled at both of them. Genuinely, as disturbing as that was. “As you were.”
Holy fuck she believes that, Momo thought to herself, perturbed.
Her and Okarun exchanged looks, completely unsure of how to handle this situation.
“So uh... guitar lessons, huh?” Momo asked.
He nodded. “Y-yeah. There’s a music store a few blocks over, I could see if they offer anything.”
“Oh, yeah, I went there to have the string’s on your dad’s bass replaced,” Momo snapped. “They’re really nice.”
“You did? Thank you!” He beamed. “That was really sweet of you.”
Momo felt her cheeks tinge pink. “Ah... it’s no big deal. Maybe we could both... learn?”
“What do you mean?” He tilted his head quizzically. It drove her nuts when he did that.
“Well, like I could learn bass while you learn guitar and we could play stuff together.” She could feel herself blushing just suggesting this. “You know... for fun,” she added, fiddling with her bangs.
“You two are sickeningly sweet.” Aira commented, between a bite of her food. “I hate it.”
“Then leave!” Momo snapped. “You can fuck all the way off!”
“You shouldn’t talk to your dear friends in such a way!” Aira sniped.
“You’re not our friend!” Momo exclaimed, gesticulating wildly. She turned to Okarun, “She’s not even our friend!”
“I am,” Aira insisted with a calm confidence of sorts.
Okarun snickered, ignoring Aira’s... intrusion, of sorts. “Um... anyway, yeah. Learning instruments together... That would be a lot of fun. I’d like that.”
“A-are you sure this will look alright?” Okarun called from his bathroom.
“”You’re going to look downright sexy, sweetheart,” Momo assured him. She was hoping to have left already, but she reminded herself to be patient.
Okarun’s never been to a Halloween party before.
“No one has ever described me as sexy before, Momo...”
“That’s because they don’t get to hear you whimper their name,” she replied through the door suggestively.
“Th-that noise is just for you!” He squeaked.
“Damn right it is!” She snickered. “Come on Ken, we gotta get going.”
He opened the door and Momo had to stop herself from squealing at how cute he looked. They were going to the Halloween party as Danny and Sandy from Grease , and Okarun was looking pretty damn good in a leather jacket and his hair slicked back.
He must have really liked her costume too.
Or more specifically... the leather pants she was in, because he was staring at her hips intently.
“Hey,” she snapped her fingers, “hey. Eyes up here, Okarun.”
“But...” he uttered, not tearing his eyes away.
She rolled her eyes and turned around, giving her hips a little wiggle. “They look good, right?”
“Holy crap,” he nearly whispered.
She laughed as his eyes nearly bulged right out of their sockets, and she turned back to him, tilting his head up. Reluctantly, his eyes met hers. “Okay Okarun, look, behave yourself tonight - which means don’t hide behind me and stare at my butt and actually socialize and...” she leaned in and whispered in his ear, “you can take the pants off me later.”
He gulped audibly. “Got it,” he assured her, voice a bit higher than usual.
“Great!” She beamed, put on her blonde wig, and hooked her arm in his, “let’s go!”
Ken had to say... college parties were not nearly as scary as he thought they’d be. Even if he was just following around Momo with a rum and coke (that he made way too strong for himself - Momo called it a heavy pour), he was having a good time. Miko and Muko were already there, and squealed about how cute their costume was. Aira was there too, dressed as an angel, which was... pretty on brand for her. She introduced her two friends, Kotone and Shuko, who for some reason thanked Momo and Ken for their patience in dealing with her.
It was a strange start to the night.
“I’m gonna go get another drink,” he said to Momo, mustering up his courage to depart from her side for the first time that night.
She must have picked up on it. “Will you be okay without me, sweetheart?” She teased.
He rolled his eyes. “I’ll be just fine, thank you.”
Ken bravely forced his way through the crowded living room of the house (whose house was this, anyway?) to the kitchen, and was surprised to find Sakata there... and about the only person not in costume.
“Oh, Sakata, I didn’t realize you weren’t at the bar on Saturdays,” Ken said. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
The bartender adjusted his glasses, “Yes, well, I requested the night off to accompany my coworker to the event. She’s still... new to Japanese customs.”
“Oh Vamola? That’s nice of you,” Ken nodded. He looked over and saw Vamola trying to communicate to two other people in very broken Japanese. “Y-yeah, looks like she’s having a rough time.”
“I shall swoop in and save her if the situation calls for it,” Sakata said in a solemn tone. “Such is the burden of Ale Wind Albert. Have a good evening, Takakura.”
“Y-yeah, you too,” Ken chuckled. He poured himself another drink (trying a bit harder to get his ratios right), and headed back to find Momo. As he made his way back to the living room, he finally spied her, and he felt his chest tighten.
She looked upset, and someone was talking to her. A tall guy with a buzz cut.
Wait.
He scowled. That’s the guy who shoved her to the ground the day we met!
Ken pushed his way through the crowd a little faster, returning to Momo’s side and putting his hand on her shoulder. “Hey Momo,” he tried to greet casually.
“There you are!” Momo piped up cheerfully. She looked her ex-boyfriend in the eyes and smirked. “Can you excuse us? This is important.”
Then she turned and kissed Ken, pushing her tongue into his mouth rather forcefully. Oh sweet I guess we’re making out. What a fucking power move, I love her.
Ken melted into her mouth happily, but the kiss ended before he knew it, Momo pulling away after she was sure her dirtbag ex had stormed off. She snickered at the dazed look in Ken’s eyes as she turned back to him. “Easy tiger. We’ll have plenty of time for that later. I just wanted to drive him off.”
“A-anytime,” Ken muttered, a goofy smile plastered all over his face.
“Come on, let’s go play beer pong!” Momo giggled, pulling him towards another room.
They were in a good mood as they returned to his empty dorm, a little buzzed, but mostly just happy to have been in each other’s company.
“Why don’t you go change out of your costume and you can do what I promised you earlier,” Momo whispered into his ear once the dorm door was securely shut behind them.
Ken practically ran to the bathroom, making Momo laugh. She took off her tanktop and bra, and tossed the wig aside, so that she was left topless in his dorm. When he emerged from the bathroom, moments later, in just his boxers, he licked his lips unconsciously. “I’m pretty sure I had a dream that started like this.”
She snickered. “Well, this is real. Come get these off me, sweetheart.”
He stepped to her and grabbed at the waistband of the pants and pulled them down eagerly...
But they did not move.
“Uh?” He vocalized. “They’re... hmm.”
He tugged again, nearly knocking Momo on her ass. “Hey, easy there!” She grunted. “You know how to take my pants off me, Okarun, you do it like... a couple of times a week.”
“Yeah, well, these pants aren’t budging.” He laughed nervously.
“Jeez, you’re drunker than you thought, you just gotta...” Momo rolled her eyes and tugged at the pants herself.
She tugged again.
“Um...” She muttered. “Yeah, no, I might be stuck in these.”
Five minutes later, she was clinging to the headboard of her bed, Ken desperately trying to pull the leather pants down from her hips.
“This sucks!” Momo whined. “I really gotta pee! Ken, help!”
Perhaps spurred by the desperate cry of his lover, or perhaps through sheer dumb luck, he was finally able to yank the pants off Momo, but he flew backwards off the bed and crashed onto his ass. “OW!”
Leather pants around her ankles, Momo kicked them off of her and heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank GOD! Okay, now I really gotta pee.”
Ken grumbled as she scurried off, standing and rubbing his sore behind, sitting down on the bed. That had... not quite gone to plan.
Still... he had taken the leather pants off of her? I guess that’s a win.
Momo emerged a few moments later, looking sufficiently embarrassed as she sat down next to him on his bed. “Sorry for the um... really un-sexy start to our night, Okarun.”
He laughed. “It’s okay, my love. I’m just glad I could save you from your pants-prison.”
She giggled and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Well then... how about I give my hero his reward?”
She shoved him down against the bed.
Happy Halloween indeed.
-------
November brought about colder temperatures, whipping winds, and the vibrant colors of autumn trees. Of course, Momo Ayase was snug, safe and sound from the outside climate as she sat in her dorm room. She had finally saved up enough for her own laptop, and was finishing up an assignment on a gloomy Tuesday evening.
She smiled as the knock came on her door. Despite knowing who it was, despite how familiar they had become with each other, her stomach turned into a horde of butterflies in her excitement to see him. She flew to the door and whipped it open. “Okarun!”
“Hey Momo,” he smiled, guitar bag strapped to his shoulder. He handed her a coffee cup. “I grabbed you a hot chocolate on my way over... but it’s probably just a warm chocolate by now.”
She practically melted on the spot.
He was always, always doing little things like this for her. She sipped the lukewarm chocolate and smiled. Still tasty. “Have I told you you’re literally the sweetest fucking guy I’ve ever met?”
“You have, but it’s nice to hear,” he blushed as he replied, walking in and setting his guitar on her bed. “So, you ready to practice?”
“Mhmm!” She nodded, sitting on her bed and pulling the old, second hand bass amp he had bought her out from under her bed. She plugged in the bass guitar and turned it on. Ken, meanwhile, sat on Muko’s office chair by the desk and took out his dad’s old acoustic from the case.
“Okay... one, two, three, four...”
They began playing together (mostly) in time.
“If I had a million dollars,” Okarun sang.
“If I had a million -” Momo hit the wrong note. “FUCK!”
He snorted. “If you had a million fuck!”
She giggled. “Shut up! It’s hard enough playing this thing, singing at the same time is like... impossible!”
“No, that’s definitely hard,” he agreed. “Half the time I stop singing because I’m too focused on chords. We haven’t been at this for long. We’ll get there.”
“Then we’ll need a drummer and we can make a band!” Momo fist pumped. “Feast of Agony!”
Ken laughed. “Is that our sound? We’re a metal band? I’ll need to get an electric at some point.”
“Well, did you have any better names?” Momo asked, crossing her arms.
Okarun stopped and rubbed his chin in thought. “Tallywhacker Tabernacle.”
Momo blinked as she registered the proposed band name. Then she snickered. “You wanna make the band name a dick joke?"
“It’s memorable!” He defended himself, “Feast of Agony sounds like a generic metal band, or screamo or something!”
She shook her head. “Maybe we should focus on actually being able to play a verse of a song before we worry about band names.”
He nodded. “That’s fair. Wanna try again? With your million fuck?”
She smiled at him. “You’re really fucking lucky you’re so cute. Count us in.”
--------
The snow crunched under Momo’s boots as she walked across campus in the early December weather.
Another semester done and in the books. And she never had to worry about Biology again! Now she had two weeks to go home and spend with her grandmother.
And hopefully not just her.
She was going to meet Okarun just outside of his last final, and ask him the question that had been weighing on her mind for the last week:
Would he stay with her and her grandma for winter break?
“ You're coming home for winter break, right? ” Her grandmother had said to her on the phone. “ Invite that nerdy four-eyed boyfriend of yours. It’ll be nice to have some company who isn’t a total brat. ”
He had no reason to decline. Not that she could assume, anyway. He didn’t exactly like his mom, and he could still see her if he had to.
What if he stays with us and sees me be a total slob and dumps me, she thought, playing with her bangs nervously. She shook the thought out of her head. That didn’t sound like something he’d do at all. Even if he was more of the neat freak of the two.
She arrived at one of the larger buildings of the campus where education and literature classes were taught, and found his class room, just as he finished his English Lit final. Her heart skipped a beat at the way his face seemed to light up as soon as he saw her. She hoped he was always that happy to see her.
“Hey Okarun!” She chirped happily as he made a beeline right for her.
“Hey!” He beamed. “What are you doing here? I thought you would be on the train back home.”
“Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about that,” she answered, pushing her bangs out of her hair. “I know you’re heading home too so I wanted to just... run something by you.”
He tilted his head curiously. “Oh, sure. But can we talk about it on the way to the dorm,” he looked around and lowered his voice. “We should go before Aira gets done and tries to convince me to go on a date with her.”
Momo’s eyebrows furrowed. “She’s still on about that?! That bitch!”
The two hurried away from the building, Momo cursing Aira’s name all the while.
“Yeah, she keeps saying you’ll see the light that it’d be better that way, and she’d convince you,” Ken explained. “I keep declining, but I don’t think she actually hears me.”
“She’ll hear my goddamn fist!” Momo seethed. “Two-faced asshat keeps insisting she’s our friend and actively tries to take you from me!”
Momo was calmed in the slightest as Ken grabbed her hand. “Don’t worry. No one could ever take me from you, Momo,” he assured her, gently.
She huffed. “Damn straight.”
“So what did you want to talk to me about?”
“O-oh, right,” she shifted her eyes to the side, away from him. “Um... well, we’re both going to Kamigoe, right?”
“... yes, that’s where our homes both are.” He snickered. “Obviously.”
“Shut up!” She nudged him with her elbow playfully. “Well, you said your mom is never home, and that sounds real shitty, so my gran was saying, you know...”
She paused. After a moment of silence Ken raised an eyebrow at her. “No... I don’t know. What did she say?”
Ugh come on, piece it together! She thought, frustrated. “You could come... stay with us in the guest room... for a few days... or the whole break, you know, whatever.”
She spared a glance at him and got a bit nervous at the blush spreading across his face. Was the offer too much? Was it weird to invite your boyfriend of two-to-three months to stay with you over winter break? Is my pushy ass gonna push him away? I swear to God I -
“Does that mean... we’d spend Christmas together?” He asked quietly, looking away.
She could feel her own cheeks heat up at the thought. She’d never spent a Christmas with a boyfriend before. The thought made her heart flutter... just curled up by a window watching the snowfall with a cake and my Okarun? Fucking yes please. “I mean... if you wanna...”
He squeezed her hand. “I’d really like that. Are you sure it isn’t too much trouble for me to stay with you?”
The weight of the world lifted off Momo’s shoulders and she heaved a sigh of relief. “Nah, the old bat insisted on it! Come on, let’s get your stuff so we can get going!”
Seiko Ayase was not at home when the two arrived at the shrine, but Momo knew where the spare key was hidden. She unceremoniously dumped her bag on her bed and went to the guest room with Okarun as he began unpacking his things around the futon in the center of the room.
She squealed a little as he unpacked the little alien she gave him back in the fall and set it on his pillow. “You kept him!”
He smiled at her. “Of course I did. It’s from you.”
She walked up to him and threw her arms over his shoulders. This was perfect. Just two weeks of the two of them. And, you know, her grandma, but whatever, a trivial detail! She pecked his lips happily. “Did you name him?”
“Yeah, I named him Ridley. You know, from the Metroid games.” Okarun answered.
“I have Super Metroid! We’re gonna play it over break. It’s fate.” Momo nodded sagely, as if she had made some fortune telling prediction.
“Okay, if you say so,” he chuckled.
She pulled him in and rested her head on his shoulder. He held her tightly around the waist. “I’m really glad you’re here,” she whispered into his ear.
“Where else would I rather be?” He answered.
She melted inside. He was getting way better at being smooth, and it made her want to throw him down and -
“Oh, you two got here.”
The two jumped apart at the voice of Seiko, who had arrived silently. She stood in the doorway with a smirk. “Oh, don’t mind me,” she added, “sounded like you were confessing your undying love or whatever you kids do.”
Unsure of what else to do, Ken bowed. “Thank you for allowing me to stay in your home! Your hospitality is greatly appreciated.”
Seiko pointed at him and turned to her granddaughter. “See, look at that show of respect. Why can’t you act like that?”
“Aw, stuff it, you old bat!” Momo sneered.
Okarun gulped as the two argued. It would probably not be a quiet two weeks.
Shopping for a girlfriend was hard, and Ken was out of practice, to boot. He’d barely been able to think of an excuse to go into town to look for a Christmas present for Momo, but he had no idea where to start. Making matters worse, it was the day before Christmas Eve. This was really his only chance to get this right.
To say he was feeling the pressure was an understatement. Momo was constantly hyping him up as this amazing boyfriend, though he didn’t see his efforts as anything special. One time at the bar, she got too drunk while he was singing and she threatened the neighboring table with, “you better fucking clap for him, he’s the most special boy, you turd nuggets!” It was both incredibly flattering and incredibly embarrassing. He bought that table a round out of humiliation, and they ended up being pretty cool, but still.
None of that would matter though if he screwed up the Christmas present.
Alright Ken, start at the beginning. A good gift should be related to her interests. What does Momo like?
Ghosts, yokai, and spirits. She’s been taking her grandma’s teachings more seriously lately, even if she won’t own up to it. I wonder if she will take over the shrine - nope, focus. Okay, I can work with that. What else?
Fashion. I’m not... very good at that. I don’t know if that’s a topic I should touch.
Her favorite bands right now are Maneskin and Paramore. But if I order her some merch it won’t get here in time. I can try the mall and see if they have anything.
What else, what else... well, she has a sweet tooth. Can’t go wrong with something sweet.
She likes playing the bass. More than I thought she would. Oh, okay, that gives me an idea...
He felt a little more self-assured now that he’d formed some ideas in his head. He walked into town. First stop was the music store...
Thankfully, he’d finally, after enough convincing from Momo, Miko, and Muko, upgraded to a smartphone. It was such a refreshing change not to have to rely on printed map directions to find out where he needed to go. He still wasn’t very good at social media yet (much to Momo’s amusement), but that didn’t matter to him anyway. He followed his map apps instructions to the nearest music store and ducked inside.
I know I’ve seen one in the music store by campus so I hope they -THERE IT IS!
He had to physically stop himself from laughing maniacally at his rare bout of good fortune.
A leopard print guitar strap. She’ll love this!
He snatched it up eagerly, as if he was afraid someone was going to grab it before he got the chance. Which was kind of dumb, he was the only person in the store, but nonetheless he was excited. He paid for it and left the store, grinning like a mad man. Off to a good start. Next stop...
Momo grinned wildly to herself as she pulled the cake out of the oven. She was a little out of practice with baking, but she found it to be like riding a bike.
She had been a little strapped for cash after getting Okarun a Christmas present, and she had a sneaking suspicion his excuse of needing to do something in town was just a lie so he could do his own Christmas shopping, so she anticipated that neither of them would have money left for the traditional cake that a couple shared on Christmas Eve. But that was okay! She could just make her own. She was nowhere near the kitchen extraordinaire that grandma was (and let’s face it, who was?), but she could throw down a cake with the best of them.
With her incredibly wonderful, “girlfriend's observational skills,” she had learned that lemon was one of Okarun’s favorite flavors (and it definitely wasn’t because she just asked him when he was buzzed and he replied, “lemon for life, baby,”) so she made a lemon-flavored cake, and she had just whipped up some homemade cream cheese frosting.
“You must really like Four Eyes, making him a homemade cake for Christmas,” her grandma smirked from the doorframe. “Wasn’t too long ago, you were here with him insisting it wasn’t like that.”
“Yeah, well, it was,” the younger girl groused. “You want a fucking medal?”
“No, just save me a piece of cake.”
Momo’s expression softened. “Well, duh. Of course I’m gonna save you some cake, grandma.”
“Good girl.” The older woman stretched her arms over her head. “And wouldn’t you know it, I have an assignment that’s gonna have me out of the house tomorrow night. You and Four Eyes will just have to manage Christmas without me.”
Momo could have sworn her grandmother winked at her, but maybe she was imagining. She fought to keep the huge smile off her face, and lost that battle. “Y-yeah, I’m sure we can manage without you.”
Momo snickered as she wrestled the Santa hat onto Okarun’s head, his messy black hair sticking out haphazardly under the fluffy white trim. “There! Now it’s officially Christmas Eve.”
Ken quirked an eyebrow at her, in the middle of her living room. “It’s... five o’clock in the evening, what was it before now?”
“December 24th. Huge difference,” she replied matter-of-factly.
He knew better than to argue over something like this with her. The art of, “picking your battles,” was a tool that came in handy with the Ayase women, or at least that’s what Seiko had warned him about, and that certainly wasn’t the hill he was going to die on. “Okay. What should we make for dinner?”
“Granny left us pizza money since she was gonna be gone,” Momo waved dismissively. “We’re just gonna watch Christmas movies and eat. Best way to spend Christmas, in my opinion.” She bounced on her feet a little bit in excitement, and he fought the urge to swoon at how cute she looked about all this.
He smiled. “Alright, that works for me. What are we watching first?”
“ Die Hard !” She exclaimed almost instantly. “Classic Christmas movie!”
Again, he considered arguing with her, but decided he wasn’t dying on that hill either. Besides, she’s really excited about this.
She ordered the pizza as he found some cushions for them to sit on in the living room, and Momo popped the DVD in for them to watch while they waited for their food.
Ken had never spent a Christmas with a girlfriend before - Rin’s mom hadn’t allowed it back in high school - so it was a new experience. And he loved every second of it. There were numerous times he found it hard to focus on the movies because his eyes would just drift back to her. She looked so beautiful, the light of the tv reflecting of her eyes, showcasing the simple joy she was taking in all this. How had he gotten so lucky after years of his life being... well, kinda shit.
Abruptly, Momo paused the Muppet Christmas Carol (which he had insisted they put on). “So um... I got you something for Christmas,” she said, shyly.
“I got you something too,” he replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Yeah I figured that’s what the shopping trip yesterday was,” she teased. “I’m gonna go get your gift. Why don’t you get mine and we’ll meet back down here?”
He smiled. “O-okay.”
He lets her go up the stairs first, heart pounding in his ears. He’d been so confident in his gifts to her yesterday, but all that confidence must have flown out the window. He was petrified that he had somehow screwed this up, even as he went upstairs to get them. His heart sank further when he returned to the living room and saw that Momo was standing there with a huge present, sloppily wrapped. His three, smaller gifts seemed so inadequate. His hands trembled nervously as he stood face to face with her.
He was so in his own head he didn’t notice Momo was shaking nervously too. “Can I open mine first,” she asked. “I really wanna be able to see the look on your face when you open this.”
He gulped. I fucked it up. I fucked this up so bad I bet. But he nodded with a shaky smile and handed the boxes to Momo.
She grabbed them excitedly and tore at the carefully wrapped package voraciously, unraveling all three presents with speed that was quite frankly impressive.
Warmth washed over her chest as she looked down at the carefully chosen presents. A box of fancy chocolates, a leopard print guitar strap for her bass, and a book about the most haunted locations in Japan.
They’re perfect. She could almost feel tears welling up in her eyes. He really fucking pays attention, doesn’t he?
“Ah, they’re bad gifts, aren’t they?” Ken asked, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, I can take them back and -”
She shut him up by throwing her arms around his shoulders and smashing her lips into his. She pressed them into him rapidly with a series of quick kisses. “They’re wonderful, Okarun,” she said when she finally released him from her grasp. “I love them. You’re a great gift-giver.”
He heaved a sigh of relief, chest fluttering. “O-oh! Well I’m glad.”
She pulled away, bouncing excitedly. “Now open yours! Open yours!”
He snickered. She’s so cute. He grabbed the hastily wrapped... mound of a present, and the wrapping paper began to fall off of it at his touch. She’s really bad at wrapping presents though.
But his breath hitched as he recognized what it was.
An electric guitar. A black Jackson Series Flying V.
“Momo this is...”
“Now we can be Feast of Agony!” She exclaimed, still bouncing up and down giddily. “Feast of Agony!”
He sniffled, pushing back tears of his own. “Is... is this okay? This is a lot... This must have been really expensi -”
She grabbed him by the shoulders again and squeezed him tightly. “Are you kidding me? Nothing’s too good for you, Okarun! You stop it right now!” She insisted, pressing her lips to his cheek. “Oh! And I made us something!”
He wiped his eyes as she practically ran into the kitchen. How did I get so lucky?!
“I figured neither of us could really afford a cake right now,” she yelled from the kitchen.
“Yeah, I don’t have much cash since I’m not working during break,” he agreed.
She came back into the living room, triumphantly holding the cake pan. “Well, I fucking made us a cake! Because I got girlfriend game for DAYS!”
He snorted with laughter. “Momo, you didn’t have to do all this!”
“Yeah I fucking did, because now we get to eat cake! And! And! It’s your favorite flavor! Lemon for life, baby!” She smirked.
She took pure delight in his ear to ear smile. Oh yeah, I’m the best fucking girlfriend.
“Momo, that’s so sweet of you,” he wiped his eyes once more. “I... I don’t know what to say.”
She set the cake down and wrapped her arms around him once more. “You don’t gotta say anything, Ken. I love you. I’m happy to do it.” She kissed him. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
He rested her head on his shoulder. I’m never letting you go either, Momo.
The late December wind whipped their faces as they stood in the cold air. But neither of them minded. They wouldn't be here long.
Momo gently laid a small bouquet of flowers down on the grave, the writing, “Rin Sawaki,” still bright against the black headstone. She glanced over at Okarun, who had his hands shoved into his pockets. “Hey Rin,” he said quietly. “Sorry I haven’t visited in awhile. Um... this is Momo. I know I talked about her last time I was here.”
Momo smiled slightly as she turned towards him. “You’ve told her about me?”
“Yeah...? Was I... not supposed to?” He asked, genuinely unsure of himself. “I don’t... know how this works.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know how the protocol for this works, Okarun. What do you usually do when you visit?”
“Just tell her how class is going. What I’ve been singing at karaoke,” he replied softly. He looked away. “This is a little embarrassing. Is it weird visiting your old, dead girlfriend with your current, alive one?”
She snickered. “I don’t think so. I’m the one who asked you to bring me here. Just talk like you would if I wasn’t here.”
So he did. Momo listened as Ken rattled off how his last month of classes went. He talked about how he and Momo spent Christmas. About the songs he was going to sing.
“...I think that’s it,” he said, as he finished. He glanced over at Momo. “Was there... something you wanted to say?”
Momo nodded and looked at the headstone.
“Thanks for teaching Ken how to be such a great boyfriend, Rin.” She said, in a quiet voice. “I promise I’ll take good care of him.”
Momo and Ken faced each other and smiled. They turned, grabbed each other by the hand, and began to walk away towards the train. As they left the graveyard, he said, in a hushed voice as if not to disturb the spirits, “Thank you for not thanking her about teaching me how to eat pussy.”
Momo snorted. “Hey! That falls under the great boyfriend banner! I can be respectful sometimes!”
“Well, thanks for that,” he chuckled.
The first week of classes in early January had come and gone, and Momo was thankful to have another week behind her. “Winter break is never long enough...” She sighed as she closed her laptop Friday afternoon. But she smiled at Okarun, who was sitting next to her. “But at least I have another class with you this semester.”
They both needed to get their Information Technologies general elective done, so of course they wanted to get at least one class together. He smiled back at her. “Yeah, those few weeks really flew by. Do you work tonight?”
Momo frowned. “Yeah, until ten. But I promise I'll go to the bar right after!”
He shook his head with that small smile she loved on his face. “You don’t have to do that if you don’t want to. Or I can meet you at the cafe and go with you, I don’t want you to have to walk alone at night like that -”
“And miss Captain Charisma’s big return from winter break?!” Momo added a fake gasp for emphasis. “I could never! I’m president of his fan club, you know. You’re gonna go to the bar and I will meet you later. ”
“Oh, you must take your duties quite seriously then,” he joked. “Okay. Well, I can’t wait to see you later.”
She beamed at him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek as they left the classroom. “Same. And don’t let Miko and Muko eat you alive before I get there!”
He saluted, making her giggle. “I will do my best, my love!”
She shook her head as they went opposite directions down the hall. I’m gonna fucking marry him. I know that’s like... way getting ahead of myself. But I know it.
The thought spurred her through her shift at the maid cafe. Was there any harm in indulging in a little fantasy? To daydream of waking up to his messy hair and brown eyes every morning? To get that whimper out of him for the rest of their lives? To maybe one day being the old couple in a bar listening to college kids singing? The future was an endless string of possibilities, and she saw herself tackling all of them with him. Okay, I am DEFINITELY getting ahead of myself. We’ve only been together a few months.
And yet, she couldn’t stop herself from imagining such things.
Before she knew it, it was ten, and she practically ran out of there after she got changed. If she was lucky, she could make it back to Muldoon’s before eleven and spend a few hours with Okarun.
Momo opened the door to Muldoon’s, and immediately smiled.
She could hear him singing.
Well, I don't feel better when I'm fucking around
And I don't write better when I'm stuck in the ground
So don't teach me a lesson 'cause I've already learned
Yeah, the sun will be shining and my children will burn
Oh, the heart beats in its cage
I don't want what you want, I don't feel what you feel
See, I'm stuck in a city but I belong in a field
Yeah, we got left, left, left, left, left, left, left
Now it's three in the morning and you're eating alone
Oh, the heart beats in its cage
When she made her way to the bar, their eyes met from across the room, and he smiled. She gave him a little wave before turning to Sakata.
She hadn’t said a word before he was handing her a rum and Coke with a green tea shot.
“Thanks, Albert!” She yelled as he turned to help someone else. He gave a small wave of acknowledgement.
“Eyyyyyy,” Miko and Muko called in unison when they saw her.
“Hey ladies,” she chirped as she sat with them. “How's the night been so far?”
“Pretty good. Your new buddy is here,” Miko snickered, pointing a few tables over where Aira, Kotone and Shuko were sitting. Momo and Aira made eye contact. Momo scowled and Aira... Waved happily at her.
“Why doesn't she get the fuckin’ hint!” Momo sighed in exasperation. “She's still insistent that her and I are best friends? But she keeps trying to take Okarun! I don't get it, she's crazy!”
Miko and Miko just laughed. “She's delulu, girl, you gotta just take it in stride I guess.” Muko shrugged.
“Give it up for Captain Charisma! Next up, we got Silky ready to sing for us.”
The bar clapped as Okarun left the stage and Aira walked up the stairs in his place. He plopped down next to Momo and she couldn’t help but snicker; his face was a little flush, and he seemed a little giddy. “Momo! I’m so glad you’re here, I missed you.”
Oh he’s already feeling it.
“Oh boy,” she laughed. “How many shots did the girls give you before I got here?”
He looked down and rubbed his chin to think about it, which was already a bad sign , and shrugged. “Three or four?”
She turned and glared at her friends, who were whistling innocently. “Why are you trying to get him trashed before I get here?! It’s only been two hours!”
“Aw come on, we’re just having a little fun,” Miko held up her hands in surrender. “He’s just getting a little turnt.
Momo rolled her eyes and then cringed as Aira began singing “Lovefool,” by the Cardigans... while making direct eye contact with Okarun.
He even shifted uncomfortably in his chair as Aira was belting out, “ Say that you love me, ” right at him. He glanced at Momo. “Was it this creepy when I sang Arctic Monkeys at you like this?”
She placed her hand on his reassuringly. “No. It was sweet. This? All... whatever she’s doing? Fucking creepy.”
Aira finished her song and everyone clapped... reluctantly. Aira practically skipped off the stage and stopped next to Momo. “Hey Ayase, glad you could make it.”
“What the fuck!” Momo exclaimed, turning to Aira. “How are you going sit here and tell me - with your whole chest - that you and I are buddies, two seconds after you were busy eye-fucking and serenading my boyfriend?!”
Aira just giggled. “You’ll understand one day. See you!”
She trotted off happily.
“What the fuck?!” Momo half-shouted. “What is wrong with her?!”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Ken said quietly. “That is the third love song in a row she held eye contact with me for.”
“Yeah, she’s swinging for the fences,” Muko nodded. “Girl needs therapy.”
“She needs a long walk off a short pier!” Momo growled. She leaned back in the chair and sighed. “Alright. I am not letting her ruin my night. Had enough of that last semester.” She turned to her boyfriend and smiled. “You wanna do a duet with me?”
He lit up like a Christmas tree and she could feel her insides squirm in delight. Back when they first met, he would have never openly expressed this much happiness, and it made her feel on top of the world to see him like this. “Absolutely!”
“Alright, you know the one,” she giggled. “Go tell Tubro Granny.”
“Got it!” He leapt up from his seat and went up to the ancient woman’s DJ booth.
“Girl, you put a drink in him, and he’s like...obsessed with you,” Miko snickered as soon as the boy was out of earshot.
Momo blushed. “What do you mean?”
“He was just going on and on about how much fun he had staying with you over winter break.” Muko laughed. She did her best impression of the otaku. “ Momo made us the most delicious cake for Christmas! I’m the luckiest guy in the world! ”
“Yeah, so when’s the wedding?” Miko added.
Momo rolled her eyes, fighting off her darkening cheeks. “You guys are just jealous, leave him alone.”
“Alright, alright, just teasing.”
Okarun came bounding back to his seat, and took a long drink from his bottle of Blue Moon. Momo frowned. “I’m gonna get you some water, you need to slow down sweetheart.”
He frowned. “Fiiiiiiine.”
Momo walked up to the bar and returned moments later with a glass of water for him. “Hydrate, I don’t want to be taking care of you all hungover tomorrow,” she instructed.
He nodded. “Right... yeah it’s not fun when one of us is hungover.”
“No, no it is not,” she reminded him gently. “You gotta give me a chance to catch up to you, I just got here.”
Okarun nodded again. “Okay. I can do that.”
“Go get another shot if you wanna catch up to your boy!” Muko cackled. “Celebrate the new semester.”
“Not much of a reason to celebrate,” Momo snarked.
However, she did relent and go get another shot. And before she knew it...
“Alright, that was Sumire. We got Captain Charisma comin’ up to sing something with Santa Dodoria. Get your asses up here, shitheads.” Turbo Granny said into the mic.
The two stood up and made their way to the stage, Momo smiling at his back as he walked ahead of her. She couldn’t help but think of the first time she sang with him. She’d been so scared, so nervous about getting up in front of the dingy bar’s crowd.
But so much had changed from that. And now, she honestly felt like she could do anything if he was with her.
Turbo Granny handed them both a microphone, and they stood side by side in front of the screen.
The music kicked on, and they smirked at each other; it was a lot easier to sing this song without playing instruments.
“If I had a million dollars,” Okarun started.
“If I had a million dollars,” Momo echoed.
“Well, I'd buy you a house.”
“I would buy you a house.”
“And if I had a million dollars.”
“If I had a million dollars.”
“I'd buy you furniture for your house.”
“Maybe a nice chesterfield or an ottoman.”
“And if I had a million dollars.”
“If I had a million dollars.”
“Well, I'd buy you a K-Car.”
“A nice reliant automobile.”
“And if I had a million dollars.”
The two looked at each other and sang the last line together to get into the chorus. “ I'd buy your looooooooooooooove.”
She loved singing this song with him. The goofy talking parts between verses, especially. It was silly. It was goofy. Just like him.
The song ended, they gave their microphones back to Turbo Granny (“nice one, brats”), and returned to their table. As they sat down next to each other, their hands intertwined and they looked into each other’s eyes, not really noticing that the bar was clapping for them, and both of them having the same thought that they couldn’t put into words: that the night Momo followed him to the bar was maybe the best thing to have ever happened to either of them. Despite the strange circumstances, they had found each other, and they would never let each other go again.