An overcast Saturday afternoon.
The train system, busy as ever with commuters, shoppers, and tourists alike. Shibuya station still very much one of the destination places in all of Tokyo. Crowded with people making their way about the place. Ward 14, or Shibuya was always a lively one. A modern ward with large skyscrapers, high end shops, arcades, and bars. Rankers and normal humans alike would enjoy any afternoon here.
Eren sat on a bench watching everyone pass. A mixture of emotions, some happy, some not so much. It was always interesting to see how the world goes on without a care.
Thanatos's words had hit Eren like a truck. 'A monster? Wearing human skin.'
An intense self-loathing began to build within the reaper. His mind began to question himself. 'Who am I anymore?' He asked himself. 'Is there anything left of me?'
He let himself fall into a deep depression. Allowing another monster to sway him.
"Come in master, can you hear me?" Jun's voice crackled through a small ear piece that Eren had hidden in their ear.
"Yeah." Eren replied. Subtly tapping the earpiece, a little to adjust it. It had been well over a decade since he last went on a date. Not even counting the fact that he was in the land of the dead for centuries. To say that he was a little out of practice would be an understatement.
Luckily, Jun was here to help with any issues that arise... Hopefully.
"Remember, confidence is key. Girls love confidence."
"I have confidence," Eren muttered under his breath, keeping his voice low so as not to attract attention. He tugged at the sleeves of his black coat, the cold felt just that little bit worse today.
Was it because of nerves or because of the words from last night?
"Heads up. In the white jacket, black boots and a blue bag." Jun informed.
Eren scanned through the crowd, looking for a woman in those exact things. It didn't take too long, but the moment was one that would live with the young man for a long time. Kaori walked up, the crowd of people naturally parting for her. A mixture of beauty and a commanding presence. Dressed in warm winter clothes, hair tied up into a ponytail and her face showing a mixture of stern and friendly. All in all, she was beautiful to look at.
"You're early?" Said the little woman, a little surprised to not see Eren on their phone or to be looking off into the distance.
"Yeah, I was... Excited to go out with a beautiful woman." Eren was trying to be confident, but as it turns out; he still gets nervous going on dates. Even after all these years.
"Hmmm...." She inspected the man's expression. Cold breath nearly visible in the harsh winter weather.
"Follow me. I have booked us somewhere nice." Kaori began to walk. Eren followed behind.
A cafe; a homely place in a busy ward, the smell of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the aroma of baked goods. A small independent place with a family feel. Surprising in a place filled with chains and big names.
"Ah, Miss Kaori!" A small woman came around the table to greet her and Eren, her smile and cheery demeanour was welcoming to say the least.
"And you have brought company? Ah, how exciting. Please follow me." She led the two to a secluded booth, away from the main crowd. It felt a little more private. Something Eren preferred.
"This is the VIP area for the golden Tigers. We rarely use it but it's nice to have some privacy." Kaori explained as the small waitress left the two alone. The place was bustling, but not crowded. A peaceful atmosphere of people enjoying their day off or out and about with friends.
'There's the corporate edge... Maybe she will be too business minded to have a conversation.' Thought Eren. His cynical nature coming to the surface once more.
"What will you two have today?" The same waitress returned with a pen and pad; ready to take their order.
"I'll have a large chocolate mocha latte and a slice of your lemon pie... With vanilla ice cream. And some chocolate chip cookies please." Kaori had a sweet tooth the size of an elephant. Impressive really.
"For you sir?"
"Hot chocolate, please."
"Very good, it's nice to see you again miss Kaori. Your visits are always a joy." The woman smiled once again, walking away after taking the order.
Eren turned to the people walking by, wondering 'How people pretend to be something they are not? Do we live in an inescapable mask-'
"Do you smoke?" Kaori's voice pulled Eren back to reality. A little inquistive expression on her face.
"What?"
"Do. You. Smoke?" She repeated, enunciating every word as if he were hard of hearing. Analysing the entirety of Eren's facial features. Looking for any tweaks as he answered.
"No... Never."
'Was this what being human was supposed to feel like? Answering questions like a checklist, trying to seem normal? Or is this how people pretend-'
"Good. Second question: Do you like dogs?"
"Eren, this strategy is called 'The interview'. Answer the questions honestly and don't be afraid to ask any of your own," Jun's voice crackled through the earpiece.
"Ah, yeah?" He replied, a bit confused at this line of questioning. A new experience compared to when he last dated. But it was keeping the depression away and focused on the girl in front of him.
"Thirdly: Can you cook?" She asked, resting her head on her hands, elbows on the table. Her expression softened a little.
"Yeah, i'm a very good cook-"
"Hmmm...." She lifted her head like he gave the wrong answer.
'What is with this girl?' Eren thought to himself. His face showing a small amount of annoyance.
---
Eventually, the drinks and food arrived. The waitress returned, placing everything down in front of them both.
"You most certainly keep us busy Miss. Although, I expect your male companion will be taking the bill today..." Both women gave Eren a pointed stare, and he felt rather uncomfortable under their combined scrutiny. He didn't have much of a choice in the matter though.
'She's that kind of date I see...' The kind to order a lot of food; making the other person pay.
"Yeah- Of course. No problem." Eren said. His eyes glanced down to the large amount of food and drink.
"Good." The two women nodded.
The waitress left and Eren and Kaori continued her 'Interview.'
"How big is your penis?"
*Splash* *Cough*
Eren choked and coughed on a sip of his drink. "Sorry what?"
"Your penis-"
"I know what you said. Why do you need to know that?"
"Answer the question please." What is wrong with this girl?
"Master, forgive me, but… I can't help with this one. I'm a little out of my league here. So just be honest, it's the best strategy for these kinds of things." Jun's voice crackled over the earpiece. The young man was already regretting this idea.
But, Eren needed to see it through.
"It's... sufficient, I guess." He said in a tiny voice. Not wanting to draw any attention to such an embarrassing question.
"Good, next are you a virgin-"
"Excuse me. I need to go to the bathroom for a second." Eren got out of the booth, heading to the washroom. The moment was one that required a little bit of time to recover.
"Master... You doing alright?"
"What kind of a girl is that?" He asked the young man on the other end of the earpiece.
"I-I don't know. She seems to be speed running the entire 'getting to know each other' thing."
At this moment Eren would rather be fighting gate monsters or dealing with the shenanigans of his students, perhaps even braving the manure covered show that was battle idol. Rather than having to deal with this kind of situation.
"I need to fight back. Give her the same energy." Eren said to himself. Taking a deep breath and straightening up. The man's face went cold, features turning to their stern postion.
"Master you are gonna-" Eren took out the ear piece before Jun could finish.
Walking back to the booth; Kaori savouring the taste of her chocolate mocha latte, whipped cream on her lips and a look of content. That all stopped as soon as Eren arrived.
"Back to what I was saying, are you-"
"Do you smoke?" Eren cut her off, the cold expression still there.
"No."
"Do you like dogs?"
"Yes."
"Can you cook?"
"No..." She replied reluctantly. A pout on her lips.
'She was ready for the fightback...' Eren thought.
Over and over questions thrown at him, now they were aimed at her. However, they were expertly dodged with a skill that could only be obtained from shrewd planning or more likely, an ability.
"How big are your breasts?" Now the tables were turning.
"B."
"Are you a virgin?" Eren sounded like a lunatic at this point. Thank the gods that they were in a secluded booth.
"..." She kept silent. Maybe because Eren didn't answer first or maybe because the questions itself were not fit for a first date or any date for that matter.
Either way the life from the conversation died at that moment. Leaving a void of nothingness between the two. The air felt stale as the awkwardness increased exponentially with every moment that passed.
"Do you remember me?" Kaori spoke up, breaking the silence. Looking up from the half-drunk mocha and half eaten slice of pie.
In truth, her face certainly had some familiarity to it. Although it could be from anywhere, a former school friend, a passing face, or a TV show host? The memory was unclear but the feeling was there.
"Kind of... Not really though. Have we meet before?" Eren replied, trying to search through the archives of the mind.
Kaori's expression showed a little hurt.
"I'm sorry. My memories are fuzzy at best. I've been through a lot." He apologized.
"Oh..." Was her reply, eyes lowering back to the mocha and pie.
Now Eren truly wished he was back in the land of the dead. At least then the pain of being torn in half or losing a limb would be easier than this. This type of torture was new, one of which Eren has little in the way of resistance.
---
"It's snowing!" A customer shouted. As if someone had opened the floodgates people rushed to the window of the cafe to look outside.
The beautiful sight of the first snow of winter. White crystals falling from the night sky and painting the city a glistening white. A silver glow filled the street as the light of the moon reflected off the fresh snow.
Eren had forgotten how beautiful it is. The chill in the air and the warmth of being indoors.
"It's beautiful..." Kaori stood at the edge of the booth looking outside at the scene. Her eyes transfixed to the beautiful white that was slowly carpeting the streets and buildings.
One thing he had always missed when he was dead, the beauty of life. When you're in the other realm, there is only ever one season, and that's the feeling of a perpetual nothingness. No sense of time or even life. No warmth or cold; only ever this grey feeling of nothing. So, when something so beautiful happened in the world of the living, it felt all the more special.
However, something just as beautiful leant against the glass window of the cafe booth. Kaori had a wondrous expression on her face, like a child experiencing their first snow.
A flash. A small one, very small. A memory unlocked.
A girl a little bit smaller than Kaori, with black hair in a ponytail. A girl who had a similar expression as she looked out at the falling snow.
"Let's go outside- AHHHH!" Kaori jumped back as Eren leant well over the table, looking deep into her eyes.
"W-what are you doing!?" She blushed. Trying to keep a straight and stern look in her face but failing in doing so. Her cheeks flushed red, a hand covering the small blush that was there.
Another memory. The same girl, with a big smile, blushing as she looked up to Eren.
"I remember something now." Learning even closer now.
"Who are you?"
Kaori finally regained her composure.
"Uh ah ah. You need to remember me." She replied with a finger wag.
The two stepped out of the cafe. Taking a stroll in the snowy street of Shibuya. It was only midday, Eren was enthralled in the mysterious memories that were slowly being released. Trying to remember who she was and how they knew each other, but also enjoying the scenery of the snowing city.
A gloveless hand caught his attention however, the girl's hands looked a little red from the cold.
'Why is she not keeping her hands in her pockets? A bit silly from her.' Looking down to her, a small shiver could be felt coming from Kaori.
Jun, from the other side of the street tried to signal something to his master. Using both hands to make gestures.
"What on earth is he doing?" Said Eren, as Jun pretended to hold hands together and rub them. He then pointed at Kaori and back at Eren.
The ring, of all things understood what Jun was trying to signal.
"Ohhh..."
*Grasp*
A warm sensation ran through Kaori's hand, her eyes widened at the feeling. She got what she wanted in the end; for her date to hold her hand. Looking up at Eren who was staring back at the snowy cityscape. Beauty in his eye. For that moment he didn't feel like an imposter. He didn't feel