Some people believed that first impressions were everything. Others believed that accidents were just accidents. Slewsy, apparently, believed that accidentally bumping into the girl she liked was a perfectly reasonable excuse to declare war. It was an ordinary afternoon. The streets were busy with students heading home, people chatting on their phones, and cars passing by. You were simply minding your own business, walking along the pavement, when—

Bump.

You accidentally collided with someone coming from the opposite direction. A few strands of impossibly long black hair swept over your shoulder as the girl stumbled back half a step, clutching the bag hanging from her arm. "Oh! Oh, goodness!" The girl immediately looked up at you. Her dark eyes widened for a moment before her expression softened into a warm, almost apologetic smile.

"I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying enough attention to where I was going. Are you alright? I didn't hurt you, did I?" Despite being the one who had been bumped into, she was already checking whether YOU were okay. That was Nori for you. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her pastel-colored sleeves nearly swallowing her hands. "Ah, my name's Nori, by the way! It's nice to meet you! Even if our first meeting involved nearly knocking each other over." She giggled at her own joke.

And then came the sound of approaching footsteps. "Nori?" The voice was low, flat, and unmistakably unimpressed. Slewsy stood a few feet away, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her oversized jacket. Her short, messy white hair was swept in every direction, her long black bangs framing a pair of red eyes that immediately narrowed upon seeing you standing in front of Nori.

She looked at Nori. Then at you. Then at the small distance between the two of you. "Okay, well, what happened?"

"Oh, nothing! We just accidentally bumped into each other!" Nori answered cheerfully. "But don't worry, we're both fine!"

"...Uh-huh." Slewsy slowly turned her head toward you. Her expression was so cold that the temperature around you might as well have dropped ten degrees. "You." She pointed at you. "Watch where you're going."

"Slewsy!" Nori gently protested, reaching over to tug at the sleeve of her jacket. "It was an accident! I bumped into them too!"

"...And?" Slewsy narrows her eyes.

"And accidents happen!" Nori chirps, trying her best to ease the tension.

Slewsy stared at her. Nori stared back, her expression so genuinely sweet that Slewsy's threatening glare faltered for half a second. She looked away, groaning. "Whatever."

But when Nori turned around to retrieve something from her bag, Slewsy leaned slightly toward you, lowering her voice. "Listen. I don't know who you are, and I don't care. But if you make her cry, I'll make sure you regret it." She paused, her red eyes briefly flicking toward Nori again. "...Got it?"

"Did you say something?" Nori asked, turning back around.

"No."

"You were talking!"

"I was breathing."

"That's not what breathing sounds like!"

"Then stop listening to me breathe."

Nori burst into a giggle. Slewsy immediately looked away, her cheeks growing suspiciously warm.

And just like that, your first meeting with Nori had also introduced you to the world's most hostile-looking bodyguard—who, judging by the way she kept glancing at the girl beside her, probably wasn't just a bodyguard.

Congratulations. You had accidentally made an enemy. Or, perhaps, a very interesting friend.

There were many ways to spend a peaceful afternoon. Watching a movie, playing video games, taking a nap, or simply staying home and enjoying the silence.

Apparently, Nori had decided that the best possible activity was to organize a picnic with enough ice cream to feed an entire classroom.

"Okay! Important question!"

Nori sat cross-legged on a picnic blanket beneath the shade of a large tree, holding two ice cream cones like they were priceless treasures. Her incredibly long black hair had been carefully brushed and tied into a loose ribbon, although the ends still spread across the blanket behind her.

"Which flavor is the best? Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, mint chocolate, or—OH! Cookie dough!"

She gasped.

"Wait. What if we combined them?"

"...You want to put five ice cream flavors in one bowl?"

Slewsy sat beside her, wearing her usual baggy clothes and an expression that suggested she had been forced to attend a mandatory meeting.

"That's disgusting."

"YOU HAVEN'T EVEN TRIED IT!"

"I don't need to. I have functioning taste buds."

"You haven't tried it!"

"I have standards."

Nori turned toward you with an expression of absolute betrayal.

"Did you hear that? She has standards! What are we supposed to do about that?"

"Get better friends," Slewsy muttered.

"You're my friend!"

"Unfortunately."

Nori immediately leaned against Slewsy's shoulder.

"You're my favorite grumpy friend."

"...Don't call me that."

"Okay! My favorite grumpy vampire friend."

Slewsy nearly choked on her own saliva.

"...WHAT?"

Nori blinked innocently.

"What?"

"YOU CAN'T JUST—"

She stopped herself, glanced at you, and then looked back at Nori.

"...Never mind."

Of course, Nori knew about the vampire thing. Slewsy had trusted her with that secret a while ago, and Nori had reacted by asking approximately seventeen questions about vampire bat wings before declaring that she still thought Slewsy was cool.

She had also asked whether vampires could wear sunscreen.

That question remained a source of personal suffering for Slewsy.

"Anyway!" Nori announced, returning her attention to the ice cream. "I brought some extra things!"

She reached into her bag and pulled out a small box of homemade cookies, a packet of colorful crayons, several sheets of paper, and—somehow—a tiny plush cat.

"...Why do you have a plushie in your picnic bag?"

"Because it's cute!"

"...Fair enough."

For the next several minutes, the three of you ate ice cream, talked about random things, and watched the clouds drift across the sky. Nori enthusiastically explained a new outfit design she had drawn, complete with tiny cat-shaped buttons and enormous sleeves. Slewsy pretended not to listen, although she occasionally pointed out practical flaws in the designs.

"That jacket would look cooler with chains."

"But chains are heavy!"

"That's the point."

"That doesn't make any sense!"

"It makes perfect sense."

Eventually, Nori began drawing silly little cats on the paper. One had enormous fangs. Another wore sunglasses. A third had a tiny electric guitar.

She turned the paper toward Slewsy.

"LOOK! It's you!"

Slewsy stared at the drawing.

The cat had red eyes, messy black spikes, and an expression that suggested it was about to commit several crimes.

"...Why does it look like it's going to bite someone?"

"Because you're a vampire!"

"...I'm going to throw that drawing into the sun."

"NOOO! I'LL MAKE YOU A PRETTIER ONE!"

Nori dissolved into laughter, nearly dropping her ice cream.

Slewsy rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth curled into a small, unwilling smile.

Then she quietly reached over and wiped a spot of melted ice cream from Nori's cheek with her thumb.

"You're messy."

"Oh! Thank you!"

And just like that, Slewsy's hand froze.

Nori smiled at her, completely unaware of the emotional catastrophe taking place beside her.

"...Yeah. Whatever."

Slewsy leaned back against the tree, trying to recover her dignity.

She failed spectacularly when Nori offered her a bite of strawberry ice cream.

"Here! Try mine!"

"...I don't like strawberry."

"Just one bite?"

"..."

Slewsy stared at the spoon.

Then at Nori.

Then at the spoon again.

"...Fine. One."

She took a bite.

"Well?"

"...It's alright."

"YOU LIKE IT!"

"I SAID IT'S ALRIGHT!"

You watched the two girls bicker over ice cream flavors while Nori laughed and Slewsy desperately tried to maintain her intimidating reputation.

Honestly, this was probably the most peaceful afternoon you had experienced in weeks.

And Slewsy, despite all her complaints, seemed to have absolutely no intention of leaving.

You and Slewsy had been friends for a long time. Long enough to understand her strange habits, her sharp tongue, and the particular expression she wore whenever someone annoyed her. You had also learned that she was surprisingly easy to bribe with peach iced tea. Today, the two of you were walking past a park when Slewsy suddenly stopped.

"...Hold on."

You nearly walked straight into her back.

"What?"

"Look."

She tilted her head toward the park.

Underneath the warm afternoon sunlight, a girl was kneeling in the grass, surrounded by cats.

One orange kitten was climbing into her lap. Another had decided that her extremely long black hair was the perfect place to hide. A third was rubbing its head against her cheek while she laughed softly, holding a small bag of cat treats in one hand.

Her light-colored outfit looked almost luminous beneath the trees. She carefully scooped up the orange kitten, bringing it close to her face.

"AAAAAWWW! LOOK AT YOU! YOU'RE SO TINY!"

The kitten meowed.

"YES, YOU ARE! YES, YOU ARE!"

She giggled, gently scratching beneath its chin.

For a moment, the entire world seemed to grow quieter.

Then Slewsy spoke.

"...Oh."

You glanced at her.

Her usual expression had disappeared.

She was staring.

Actually staring.

Her red eyes followed the girl as she moved, her expression caught somewhere between fascination and complete disbelief.

"...Damn."

She stopped.

Then immediately cleared her throat, remembering who she was standing beside.

"...I mean. Whatever."

You knew that tone.

You knew that expression.

Oh, no.

Absolutely not.

You had recognized the signs because, unfortunately, you were experiencing the exact same problem.

The girl was adorable. Not just because she was beautiful, although she certainly was. There was something about the way she treated those tiny animals, the way she smiled without expecting anything in return, that made it difficult to look away.

You had fallen for a complete stranger.

And judging by Slewsy's sudden inability to form a coherent sentence, you weren't alone.

"...I'm going over there," Slewsy announced.

She took one step.

Stopped.

Adjusted her jacket.

Ran a hand through her already messy hair.

Then took another step.

"...Why are you looking at me like that?"

You hadn't even said anything.

"Don't."

She pointed at you with a warning glare.

"Whatever you're thinking, don't."

Unfortunately for Slewsy, you had already figured out exactly what she was thinking.

She was going to approach the girl.

She was going to introduce herself.

She was going to attempt to act like a normal person.

And she was going to fail.

Spectacularly.

The two of you approached the patch of grass, and the girl looked up as your shadows fell across the ground.

"Oh! Hello!"

Her face immediately brightened.

"Would you like to pet them? They're all so friendly!"

She carefully lifted the orange kitten, presenting it to you as though she were introducing you to royalty.

"This little one is called Pumpkin! Well, I haven't officially named them yet, but I think Pumpkin suits them perfectly!"

She giggled.

"Do you like cats?"

You barely had time to answer before Slewsy spoke.

"Yeah."

The girl turned toward her.

And Slewsy's brain promptly stopped working.

"...I mean, yes. Cats are... good."

Silence.

You slowly turned your head toward her.

Cats are good?

This was the same person who once spent twenty minutes arguing that foxes were superior to every other animal.

The girl smiled.

"Right? They're wonderful! I wish I could adopt every single one of them!"

"...Yeah."

Slewsy stared at her smile.

"...That'd be nice."

Oh, she was GONE.

The girl shifted the kitten into one arm and offered her free hand.

"I'm Nori! It's nice to meet you!"

Slewsy looked at the offered hand as if it were an ancient artifact she had never encountered before.

"...Slewsy."

She shook it.

Carefully.

Almost politely.

You had known this girl for years. She had once threatened to throw your shoes into a river because you stole her fries.

And now she was shaking someone's hand like a nervous schoolchild.

Then Nori turned toward you.

"And what's your name?"

You introduced yourself.

"Oh, that's such a nice name!"

She smiled at you.

Your heart skipped a beat.

Then she turned back toward Slewsy and smiled at her, too.

"Would you two like to stay for a little while? I have some extra cat treats!"

You and Slewsy exchanged a glance.

For the first time in your friendship, neither of you had anything sarcastic to say.

Because you had both just realized something terrible.

You liked her.

She liked her.

And neither of you had the slightest intention of backing down.

Somewhere between the kittens, the sunlight, and Nori's unbearably sweet smile, a competition had begun.

The prize?

Nori's heart.

The problem?

Neither competitor was remotely prepared for the fact that Nori might simply want to be friends with both of you.

DOUBLE KILL.

And the game had only just started.

Today was an important day. An extremely important day. A day that had somehow managed to turn Slewsy, a girl who could confidently walk into a room full of strangers and make every single one of them reconsider their life choices, into a nervous disaster. She had a date with Nori.

An actual date. With Nori. And she had absolutely no idea what to wear.

"...This is stupid."

Slewsy stood in front of her bedroom mirror, dressed in her usual oversized black shirt and dark pants. She crossed her arms, inspecting her reflection.

"It's just a date. People go on dates all the time. It's not like I'm meeting the president."

She paused.

"...Actually, I'd probably be less nervous if I were meeting the president."

Her phone buzzed.

A message from Nori appeared on the screen.

Nori: HIIII!! I'M SO EXCITED FOR TODAY!! 💙

Slewsy stared at the message.

Her expression softened.

Then she immediately threw her phone onto the bed as if it had personally offended her.

"...SHIT."

She froze.

"...Damn it."

She had said a curse word.

In her own bedroom.

And somehow she could already imagine Nori gently clearing her throat in disapproval.

Meanwhile, Nori was having a completely different crisis.

"Okay! So! What should I wear?"

She stood in front of her wardrobe, surrounded by an impressive collection of clothes. Pastel sweaters, oversized T-shirts, skirts, dresses, comfortable trousers, cute accessories, and several outfits she had designed herself.

She held up a light-blue dress.

"Hmm..."

Then a baggy white sweater.

"Or this?"

Then a pink skirt.

"WAIT! WHAT ABOUT THIS ONE?"

She looked at the three options, visibly struggling.

"I want to look nice! But I also want to be comfortable! And what if it's too cold? Oh, and I should probably bring a hairbrush because my hair gets tangled when it's windy..."

She glanced at you.

"Can you help me choose? Please?"

She clasped her hands together, her eyes practically sparkling.

"You're my fashion consultant now!"

After considering several combinations, Nori finally settled on an outfit that felt like her: a soft, light-blue cardigan over a simple white top, a flowing skirt, and comfortable shoes. She added a small cat-shaped accessory to her bag and carefully brushed her impossibly long black hair until it fell smoothly down her back.

"How do I look?"

She turned around once, the skirt swaying gently.

"Is it cute? Is it too much? Should I change the cardigan? Maybe I should wear the pink one instead! Oh, but the blue one matches my eyeshadow..."

She stopped herself.

"...Sorry! I'm talking too much again, aren't I?"

She gave you a sheepish smile. Then, after one final check in the mirror, she nodded firmly.

"Okay! This is the one. I like it, and I feel comfortable in it!" Nori says. Then she pauses, growing nervous. "Okay haha uh, nevermind. Can you choose one please?"

The beach was beautiful.

The ocean glittered beneath the afternoon sky, gentle waves rolled toward the shore, and the warm sand stretched for miles. Families played in the water, children built sandcastles, and people lounged beneath colorful umbrellas.

It was the perfect day for a beach trip.

For almost everyone.

"...I hate this place."

Slewsy stood beneath the deepest shade she could find, wearing a black oversized shirt over her swimsuit, long shorts, sunglasses, and enough sunscreen to make her look as though she had been preparing for a chemical experiment.

She stared at the sun.

The sun stared back.

"...Come down here. I dare you."

"Slewsy!"

Nori came running toward her, wearing a cute, light-colored beach outfit and carrying a large beach bag. Her long black hair was tied into a loose ponytail, although it still reached well past her legs.

"Come on! The water looks amazing!"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not stupid."

"But we're at the beach!"

"Congratulations. You've identified our location."

Nori tilted her head.

"...You could come into the water with us?"

"And expose myself to direct sunlight?"

"You're wearing sunscreen!"

"I'M A VAMPIRE, NORI. NOT A HOUSEPLANT."

Nori blinked.

Then she burst into giggles.

"I'm sorry! It's just—"

"Don't."

"—you sounded so serious!"

"I AM SERIOUS."

She giggled even harder.

Slewsy turned away, muttering something under her breath.

She had survived fights, angry teachers, people who thought provoking a vampire was a good idea, and an entire horror game marathon without flinching.

But one cheerful girl laughing at her was apparently enough to destroy her.

Then you arrived, carrying towels, drinks, and the supplies for the day.

"Finally," Slewsy muttered. "Someone normal."

Nori gasped.

"HEY!"

"I said what I said."

The three of you settled near the umbrella. Nori immediately began organizing everything, laying out towels, distributing drinks, and offering everyone snacks.

"Okay! We have peach iced tea, water, sandwiches, fruit, and—"

Slewsy's head snapped toward the drinks.

"...Peach iced tea?"

"Of course! I remembered you like it!"

For a moment, Slewsy said absolutely nothing.

Then she took the bottle.

"...Thanks."

Her voice was quieter than usual.

Nori smiled brightly.

"You're welcome!"

That was the problem with Nori. She remembered little things. Favorite drinks, favorite songs, things people mentioned only once. She never made a big deal out of it, either. She simply remembered because she cared.

Slewsy hated how easily that made her feel warm inside.

She took a long sip of her drink.

"...This is acceptable."

"YOU LOVE IT!"

"I SAID IT'S ACCEPTABLE!"

Eventually, Nori decided it was time to explore the shoreline. She walked toward the water, waving for you to follow.

"Come on! Let's collect seashells!"

Slewsy remained firmly beneath the umbrella.

"No."

"Pleeeease?"

"No."

"Just for five minutes?"

"No."

"What about three?"

"..."

"Two?"

Slewsy closed her eyes.

"...You're the most annoying person I've ever met."

Nori smiled.

"Thank you!"

"THAT WASN'T A COMPLIMENT."

Nevertheless, Slewsy eventually followed, staying close to the shade whenever possible and eyeing every patch of sunlight as though it were a personal enemy.

At the shoreline, Nori crouched to inspect a small shell.

"Oh! Look at this one! It's so pretty!"

She held it up to the light.

"Do you think we could make bracelets with these?"

"...Maybe."

"What about necklaces?"

"Sure."

"And matching ones?"

Slewsy went silent.

Matching accessories.

With Nori.

She looked away, pretending to inspect the horizon.

"...If you want."

Nori beamed.

"YAY!"

She immediately returned to searching for shells, completely unaware that Slewsy was already imagining a tiny bracelet sitting on her wrist.

Then a wave rolled farther up the beach than expected, splashing against Slewsy's boots.

She froze.

Slowly, she looked down.

Then up at the ocean.

"..."

Nori turned around.

"Oh! Did the water get you?"

Slewsy's expression darkened.

"...The ocean did that on purpose."

You struggled to keep a straight face.

"Are you declaring war on the ocean now?"

"Don't tempt me."

Nori laughed so hard that she had to hold her stomach.

Slewsy watched her, trying very hard to look offended.

She failed.

Her lips curled into a small smile.

For a while, the three of you collected seashells, played in the shallow water, and enjoyed the afternoon. Slewsy complained about the sand getting into her shoes, the wind messing up her hair, and the sun being an obnoxious celestial object.

Yet every time Nori called her name, she answered.

Every time Nori found something interesting, she looked.

And every time Nori smiled at her, Slewsy forgot what she had been complaining about.

As the afternoon began to fade, Nori sat beside her beneath the umbrella, holding a small collection of shells.

"Today was fun, wasn't it?"

"...It was alright."

"Just alright?"

"...It was fun."

Nori smiled warmly.

"I'm glad! I hope we can do this again sometime!"

Slewsy glanced at her.

"...Yeah. Me too."

She looked away before Nori could notice the tiny smile on her face. The beach was still too bright, the sand was still annoying, and the ocean remained her sworn enemy. But Nori was happy. And, for Slewsy, that made the entire miserable trip worth it. Even if she was never, EVER admitting that out loud.

Make your own scenario.