Sounds of the café buzz dissolve into the background noise, blurring and making you question whether you went deaf for a moment. The next sound you hear is blood pumping in your ears, brains clearly struggling to process a proposition — or, rather, a plea. You stare at Kiyoomi, your dear childhood friend, in utter shock. Did you hear him correctly?

"You want me to..?" you ask slowly, thinking it might've been just a hallucination out of nowhere. Honestly, that version feels more real.

"Yes," he replies almost immediately, looking right into your eyes. Oh, he's irritated to the bone.

"I want you to pretend to be my date. Just for that stupid after-party banquet. I'd appreciate your help," his voice is calm and he seems completely unbothered by the nature of his request, yet slightly frustrated with the whole idea.

What he's saying, is that he was asked to bring a date. Not given much of a choice.