HER FINGER HOVERED OVER the call button, her eyes trained over the selected name. Should she call him? Was this bitchy of her to do? After rejecting him and then venting to him, did she really deserve to hang out with him? She told him she doesn't want to lead him on and yet wants to hang out with him? It hasn't even been a full 24 hours yet . . .

A sudden sneeze came over her, causing her to press the call button. ''Shit'' she cursed as she fumbled with her phone, but unfortunately for her, it seemed that Baji had had his phone in his hand at the moment she called.

''Yeah?''

Quickly pressing the phone to her ear, Y/n clutched her bag for some sort of support. ''Uh, hi.''

''Y/n? What's up?''

''Uh . . .'' Now was the moment. Should she? ''I wanted to go shopping and was wondering if you wanted to tag along . . . But, like, if you have other plans, then don't mind.''

Baji felt his cheeks grow warmed. Shopping . . . with Y/n? ''No, I'm free the whole day. Want me to come pick you up?''

''I . . . yeah, sure. You know the address.''

Springing up from his bed, Baji told her he'll be there in a few and ran around his room, picking up clothes to change into.

Shopping? With Y/n? Did that mean she was going to ask for his opinion on clothes? Was she going to show them off to him? God, this is going to be like a personal fashion show. God, what kind of blessing is this?

Baji could swear he's never started up his bike faster before.

Y/n tapped her foot on the ground as she looked at the road, her arms crossed. After the call with Baji had ended, she headed outside to wait for him. If she had to be honest, she thought she would have to wait for half an hour and regretted getting down too quick. What she didn't expect, however, was Baji stopping his motorbike in front of her fifteen minutes right after the call had ended.

She approached him, putting her hands on her hips. ''Bike?'' she asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Baji gave her a grin as he handed her his helmet. '''Course, I'm not about to walk there, that would take forever.''

Scoffing at his words, Y/n strapped the helmet to her head and sat behind Baji, this time wrapping her hands around his torso with no hesitation. Though, she was glad that she had chosen to wear pants rather than the skirt she was originally planning to.

''So, where to?'' Baji asked, looking at her over his shoulder.

After telling him which shopping center to go to, Baji allowed himself to go quicker with the bike this time, seeing as she didn't seem as scared as before. He did let himself enjoy her back-hug this time, too.

Baji couldn't hold in his excitement after Y/n told him they were going to a specific shop. Those words helped Baji's mind to wander places, wondering what the day was going to bring him.

His expectations flew out of the window as soon as they arrived in front of a store for stationary supplies and Y/n pointed excitedly at it. ''We're here!''

''Are you sure this is the right store?'' Baji asked as he followed her inside. ''This isn't a clothing store.''

''Well, yeah, no shit,'' Y/n said as she furrowed his eyebrows. ''Did you think we're going for clothes? I thought guys hate going shopping.''

But . . . I thought . . . ''Well . . . yeah.''

Y/n crossed her arms at him. ''I never said we're going for clothes.'' Y/n said, the realization hitting her just before she hit Baji in the arm. ''Perv!"

''Oi! Stop, I never said anything!" Baji tried to defend himself as he put his hand over his slightly-aching arm.

''You were thinking it!"

''Was not!"

''Were too!"

''I wasn't!''

Y/n was about to retort back when she noticed the few people in the store looking at them, some in entertainment, some in annoyance. She felt heat crawl up her body from embarrassment and quickly grabbed Baji's wrist, dragging him behind some of the shelves.

I can't belive this just happened, Y/n thought as she ran a hand through her hair. Baji couldn't help but chuckle at her flustered state. ''Shut up, you idiot, it's not funny!''

Turning around, Y/n looked at all the notebooks displayed in front of her, half to actually look at them, half so she didn't have to look at Baji's teasing grin. Quickly picking up a notebook, she opened it and ran her hand through the pages. ''This one's too big,'' she said before she put it back.

''What're you even looking for?'' Baji asked after finally calming down, coming to stand at her side so he can see what she was holding.

''I got some money and I wanna buy some new notebooks.'' She picked up another notebook from the shelf and inspected it. ''I also wanna buy new pens and shit, too.''

''Just get that one and we can go, how hard can it be to pick out a notebook?'' Baji commented, picking out a notebook to look at as well.

''It's not that easy, Baji,'' she shook her head, closing the notebook and putting it back on the shelf. ''I have to feel the connection with the notebook, you know? I can't just buy any notebook.''

As hard as he tried, Baji didn't understand what she meant. Still, he let her do her thing and observed from the side. Even though he didn't get to see her try on clothes, he didn't mind watching how excited she was to shop for notebooks.

''Should I get the purple one or the yellow one? But those have lines? The pink one? With the squares? Ah, so many options!'' Y/n said, having laid out five notebooks in front of herself, trying to choose which one to get. She turned to look at Baji, pointing at the notebooks. ''Baji, which one should I get?''

He didn't expect to be asked about an opinion for such a topic, but he did try to assist her as much as he could. ''Well, the purple one with the cats is nice, I guess. And aren't lines clearer to write on than squares? Or maybe get a blank purple one.''

She scratched her chin, nodding at his words. ''Yeah, you've got a point. I'll get a blank purple one, then!''

Quickly putting back the rest of the notebooks she'd picked up, Y/n headed deeper in the store, where variety of pens and pencils were laid out. She was quicker with the choice of those, grabbing four of the same pen and a few colored pens before making her way back to Baji, who simply watched her as she went around the isle.

''Okay, I'm done with this store, we can go to the next one.''

Baji couldn't help but let his mind wander as Y/n paid for her things. Is she going to bring me to a clothing store now? Did she actually joke with me earlier and that was actually the original plan all along?

He should've given up on the clothing store dreams earlier, but he realized that just as they stopped in front of another store - this time, a bookstore.

''I'll be quick here, I know what I came for anyway.''

True to her word, they only spent around seven minutes in the store and mostly because there was a line at the cash register. After visiting a third store, that one for DIY supplies, and letting Y/n buy some wool for knitting, she came to a stop in the middle fo the shopping center and took out her phone to check the time.

''Shit, it's been two hours already?'' Y/n said as she turned to look at Baji. ''Sorry, I didn't think it'd take that long.''

Baji shrugged. ''It's no big deal. You wanna go somewhere else, too?'' Truthfully, Baji never thought he'd enjoy shopping, much less Y/n's type of shopping. Still, he did find himself enjoying the time he got to spend with her. Who knew when she was going to remember his confession and then reject him again and this time probably ditch him for good.

Y/n looked around, her eyes landing on a stall with a semi-long line in front of it. ''Let me treat you to a bubble tea, for dragging you around for so long.''

''You don't have to,'' Baji shook his head.

''C'mon, you treated me to ice-cream yesterday,'' she said before she grabbed his wrist and dragged him towards the line.

As they waited, Y/n took out the manga she'd bought earlier and opened it to show some funny panels to Baji, the two of them laughing at the dialogue. Their distraction, however, failed them to realize that someone had approached them and took a place in front of the two, cutting in the line.

Baji noticed someone walking in front of them with his peripheral vision. Looking up, he concluded that it was indeed a different back than before. ''Hey, man, what the fuck?''

Y/n looked up from the manga, noticing the situation as well. The guy in front of them turned to look at Baji with a quirked eyebrow. ''What?''

''What d'ya mean what? I saw you cut in line!'' Baji's voice increased in volume the more he spoke.

''I didn't do shit, dude.''

''You piece of-''

''Baji.'' Y/n placed her hand on his shoulder, causing him to halt his words and look down at her. ''Just leave it be, it's not that big of a deal.''

''But he-''

''Baji, please.''

''Yeah, Baji-kun, it's no big deal,'' the guy in the front said mockingly. Baji was ready to jump on the guy right then and there, but he didn't really want to upset Y/n, so he stayed put. The guy simply scoffed at him before turning around ordering his drink, seeing as his turn had finally come.

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''Don't think about it too much, Baji, he was just a little bitch,'' Y/n said as the two of them walked towards Baji's motorbike, having finished their drinks and ready to head home. Baji was still quite bitter from the guy that cut in line and wanted to set a car on fire, but he knew he couldn't. Not with Y/n around.

The two got on the motorbike and Y/n strapped the helmet on again. Baji was about to take off when he noticed someone approaching the bike that was parked next to his.

Surprisingly enough, it was the guy who had cut in line earlier.

''Oh, it's you again.'' The guy sipped on his drink as he stood next to the - according to Baji - ugly motorbike. ''Good thing you listened to your girlfriend back there, you know, you would've gotten yourselves kicked out.''

Y/n rolled her eyes, whilst Baji looked at her over his shoulder, whispering so the guy wouldn't hear. ''Can I do something?''

She wondered why he even asked her for permission. ''I - sure?''

Before either Y/n or the guy could blink, Baji had taken out a pocket knife and sunk it into the side of the other motorbike's tire, dragging it up so it makes a clear cut to let the air escape.

''Hey! The fuck do you think you're doing!'' the guy dropped his drink to the ground to kneel down next to his bike, his hands flying to his tire in hopeless attempts to save it.

Baji revved his own bike and, with a laugh, took off, ignoring the curses the other guy was throwing at him.

Y/n, having been shocked by what she had just witnessed, almost fell off the motorbike when Baji took off to run away, since her grip had loosened. Though, once they came at a red light, she couldn't help but let out a loud, ugly laugh as she rested her forehead against Baji's back, her whole body shaking.

He, however, got worried at her delayed reaction. ''You okay back there?''

''Yeah!'' Y/n said as she straightened up and wiped the tears away from her eyes. ''Can't believe you just did that, though! It was so funny!''

Baji couldn't help but chuckle as well.

It didn't take long before they arrived back in front of her house, but Baji didn't want to part ways with her. Not yet.

''Hey,'' Baji spoke just as she was about to hand him the helmet back. ''Do you, like, wanna come to mine for dinner? Ma's been asking me to invite you for a bit now, to thank you and all that shit.''

Y/n halted her movements, giving the idea a thought. ''Well . . . it's not like I have anything better to do. I'm not really dressed for a dinner, though.''

''Who cares? Neither am I,'' Baji tried to reassure her, pointing towards the back of the motorbike. ''Hop on.'' She pursed her lips for a moment before giving in and putting the helmet back on, then sitting behind Baji again, her hands going back around his waist.

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''Ah, L/n! I'm so glad you decided to join us!'' Baji's mother excitedly said as she noticed her son had brought company. ''Good thing I decided to cook tonight! Keisuke's favorite - peyong soba!''

Y/n bowed down in respect. ''Thank you so much for having me, Baji-san. I'm sorry for coming in such a short notice.''

''Nonesense, it's alright. Go on inside, I'll go back to finish up dinner,'' Baji's mother beckoned the two.

Y/n took off her shoes and turned to his mother. ''I can help you if you'd like! I'm not really good at cooking, but I can assist in any way I can!''

His mother shook her head. ''No need, go ahead and make yourself at home. I'll be done in a bit.'' She felt reluctant, but nodded as she followed Baji deeper in the house, parting ways with his mother as they entered the living room.

Baji told her she can put her belongings on the couch as he crouched down in front of the TV and picked up two controllers before turning back to Y/n. ''You know how to play Wii Sports?''

Y/n dropped her bag on the couch rather dramatically before answering. '''Course I do.''

''Hm, yeah. I can go easy on you if you'd like,'' Baji said as he threw the controller, which she - thankfully - caught smoothly. ''Don't wanna hurt your ego.''

''The only ego that's gonna be hurt is yours, Baji,'' she said as she stood in front of him with her arms crossed. ''Go on, turn the game on. You can choose the sport.''

''Kids, the food is-'' Baji's mother stopped herself as she came across the scene in her living room - her son and his friend aggressively playing Wii tennis and cursing at each other with every hit of the ball. She couldn't help but crack a smile at the amusing scene, even if she didn't fully approve of the foul language used.

Maybe her son didn't only make bad decisions.

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It was the third time Baji stopped in front of Y/n's house for today and, sadly, the last. Dinner had ended before any of them knew it and Baji had to give her a ride home as it was getting late and her parents were probably going to get worried, as per his mother's words.

Y/n finally handed him his helmet back and stood there, her hands wrapped around her torso. It was quite chilly, after all. ''Thanks for hanging out with me and for dinner. Your mom's cooking was good.''

''Yeah, though I'd rather not repeat,'' Baji said, remembering all the embarrassing stories his mother had told Y/n about him when he was younger. ''Just forget everything she told you today.''

''No way I'm forgetting you used to take off your diaper alone and poop on the floor,'' Y/n laughed as she remembered the story. ''But, really, I had fun.''

Baji chuckled at his own joke. ''Yeah, this was a great second date.''

''Hey! We said the previous hang-out wasn't a date,'' Y/n reminded him.

''Yeah, yeah,'' Baji rolled his eyes with a smile. ''Let's call it a first date, then.''

When she didn't confirm or deny his suggestion, Baji wasn't sure what to think or feel.

''Whatever. Thanks again, Baji,'' Y/n said as she was about to turn around to walk back home.

''You can call me Keisuke, you know,'' Baji told her and she stopped in her steps at the statement.

Looking over her shoulder, she gave a chuckle. ''Sure, I'll keep that in mind.'' Once she was out of sight, Baji took off and couldn't help but loudly laugh in delight.

Today was a succes.