Heat
"KIARA?"
"Calli? Am I early? I swear this is the time we set?"
I check my phone. Sure enough, she's right on time. Not a minute late or early. I hope she wasn't waiting outside.
"No, you're right! Sorry, I guess I lost track of time. Oh, please, come in! I'll take your bag."
"Why thank you! Is your friend Kokoro here already?"
"Huh? Oh, no, but they should be soon. Would you like something to drink while we wait?"
"I would, thank you! What do you have?"
Ah, shit.
"Uhh...red wine, champagne, whiskey, sake, and...a few bottles of melon ramune. Oh, and water."
"Oh! Uh, I guess just water for now, thank you."
For now, I resist and pour two glasses of water. I hand Kiara one and we sit together in my living room in a heavy silence. I almost speak a few times, but nothing feels right after our last exchange. A few minutes later, another knock comes to our rescue. I open the door to a welcome presence and a sudden hug.
"Calli! It's been forever! Oh, and are you Kiara? Hello Kiara!"
"And you must be Kokoro! Hello~!"
"Oh, Kokoro, would you like some water?"
"What? No wine tonight?"
I freeze for a second.
"Nah, you know, we're just starting light, haha..."
"Oh, that makes sense!"
I can see in their face that they understand now. Not exactly a great start to the night, but we can probably recover, let's go!
"So, Kiara, how did you and Calli meet?"
"Oh, Calli, they don't know? Do you mind if I tell them, or do you want to?"
"Oh, they know about me, but I'll let you tell them the rest."
"Me and Calli are going to be idols together! We're both debuting in about 3 weeks as English VTubers. I guess you already knew about Calli, but I'll be joining her. Do you want to see my model?"
"That's awesome, and I'd love to! I didn't know they were ready yet, why didn't you tell me Calli?"
"Oh, sorry, it just slipped my mind, pretty busy lately, haha..."
Kiara and I both showed them our models' reference pictures on our phones. Kiara fluffed her hair again. I almost suffered cardiac arrest again. Our true usual dynamic.
Ko: "I'm actually in your business too, Kiara, just in a different area. I've made Calli's beats for a while now! Speaking of, Calli, did you want to show me these samples now?"
Ki: "Samples?"
Ko: "Yeah! She said earlier this week that she had recorded some to show me."
C: "We really don't have to do that anymore, they aren't that great anyway..."
Ki: "Let's listen to them Calli, this sounds like fun!"
Well, hell, I guess we're doing this. Red from ear to ear, I start playing the first song I've been working on, ReaperかRapper? 自己紹介ラップ. I can't bring myself to look up.
"Calli! Dance with us!"
I look up. Kiara has her hand out to me, and her and Kokoro are doing some of the worst dancing I've ever seen in my life. It's enough. I let her pull me up and I join them, redder by the second. What I have done ends, and we dance to the rest of what's on my computer, laughing harder and harder. By the time it ends we're all sitting on the floor, out of breath.
C: "HOOOO...thanks...guys...I really needed that haha!"
Ki: "See!? I told you it would be fun Calli! Definitely helped you two are so good at making music, too! It's beautiful!"
Ko: "Aww, you really think so? We both know Calli's the real talent here though."
They wink at me. Is that the wingman action? There's no way it's doing anyth-
Ki: "She does have a beautiful voice and control."
Nevermind! It's absolutely working. I wink back at them to show my appreciation.
Ki: "So, Calli, what do you say we bring out some drinks and play some games?"
C: "Games?"
Ko: "Oh! What about truth or dare? Or never have I ever?"
Ki: "Yes! Never have I ever! I love that one!"
C: "I've never played, how does it go?"
Ko: "Okay, we'll all put up five fingers. We take turns saying 'Never have I ever blank blank' and if you've done what they say, you put down a finger. Last person with a finger up wins."
C: "Ehhh I don't know..."
Ki: "Oh, come on, Calli, pleeeeaaaasssseeee??"
She grabs my hands and pierces my heart with her puppy dog eyes. Such a direct attack on my poor maiden heart is completely unfair, but also completely irresistible.
C: "Well...I guess if you really want to..."
Ki: "Yayyy!!! Let's drink!"
Finally, something I can get behind. I go for wine, and Kokoro and Kiara follow suit. We draw straws to see who goes first. Kokoro will lead, thankfully. Show me your best wingman moves!
Ko: "Hm...never have I everrr...become a VTuber!"
Ki&C: "NO FAIR!"
Ko: "Haha, all goes in drinking games! Get got, VLosers!"
We both go to four fingers. A low blow to start, and Kiara's up next.
Ki: "Well I, at least, will play this game right. Never have I ever had a New Year's kiss."
Kokoro puts a finger down, tying the round up at 4, and putting me up to bat.
Ki: "You either, Calli? That's surprising?"
Blush mode: OVERDRIVE.
C: "Yeah, I guess things have just never lined up, haha..well, never have I ever...kissed in public?"
Ki: "Wait. Does kissing parents goodbye count?"
C: "If it puts a finger down, then yes."
Ko: "Well, either way, I'm down. Kiara?"
Kokoro and Kiara put a finger down, putting me in the lead by 1 at 4. Kokoro is back up.
Ko: "Alright, I'll get serious. Never have I ever...currently had a crush?"
C: "Hey, hey, ain't that unfair?"
Ki: "I'm kinda curious anyway!"
Should I put one down? I guess it's only honest...but if they ask...ah, shit, fuck it. I put one down.
Ki&Ko: "OOOOOOHHH!!! WHO? WHO? WHO?"
C: "Nah nah that ain't how this goes, you ain't tricking me!"
Ki: "Well, if we aren't gonna tell...loser..."
She puts one down as well. Huh? She put one down? She has a crush??
Ki: "Anyway! I'm up! Moving on! Never have I ever! Had to ask for...help...with...a computer? Ah I don't know, I'm sort-of. Wow."
In a sobering moment, Kokoro and I both must lower a finger. This ties the round at now 2. I'm up once again.
C: "Well...never have I ever...dated in high school."
Kiara drops a finger.
Ki: "Well it was never anything serious or lasting, but yes, I did technically date once or twice in high school. I'll count it for you, my Calli."
Her Calli...I like that...
We're now with Kiara trailing by 1, at 1. Kokoro has a chance to end it here. Bring it home, wingman!
Ko: "Hm hm hmm...never, not once in my life, have I ever...had a pet."
I drop a finger, and Kiara is out! Not exactly the biggest reveal to go for, but I'll take it.
Ki: "Well as much as I would love to see the test of this, I need to borrow your bathroom. Do you mind telling me where it is, Calli?"
C: "Oh, sure! Just down that hall, middle door. Only door with a lock."
Ki: "Thank you, and excuse me."
She gets up and walks away. Just as I'm about to continue the game, Kokoro stops me, whispering.
"We can just tell her I won and we'll tell her the questions are a secret. She has a crush!"
"I know, don't remind me..."
"Calli, what if it's you?"
"There's no way it's me, I mean we practically just met..."
"And? Didn't you get yours just that fast?"
"Well yeah but I mean, just look at her! She's so fun and cute and nice..."
"Girl I'm looking at you! You're plenty of great things too! Take your credit where it's due too! Why don't you ask her if she wants to stay the night?"
"Kokoro? You're both already staying the night, remember?"
"Um, Calli, you never told me that?"
Oh shit, that's what I was forgetting! Did I just accidentally set up a situation where it's just me and her? All night?
Ki: "I'm back! Who won?"
Ko: "It was me!"
Ki: "Ohh? And just what did our Calli do to lose?"
Ko: "That, I'm afraid, is our little secret~."
Ki: "Ah, no fair! I wanna know more about Calli, too!"
She pouts and yawns, starting in with yet another direct attack on my poor maiden heart.
Ki: "Well, I'm about ready to call it a night. Everybody else?"
C: "Well, actually, I-"
Ko: "Actually! I forgot my overnight bag, can you believe it? So I think I need to head home. But you two should keep having fun!"
Ki: "Aww, I'm sorry to hear that!" But, Calli, do you mind if I stay, just us?"
Ohhh, THIS is the wingman action...Kokoro thinks very fast. I owe them so big for this one.
C: "Aw, yeah that is a shame! Such a shame, Kokoro! But here, I'll call you a taxi. No, Kiara, I don't mind at all to have you over! It's been a great night!"
Ki: "Aww I think so too! Thank you both so much for letting me in on tonight!"
We have one last round of wine as we wait for Kokoro's taxi to arrive. When it does, we say our goodbyes, with Kokoro also secretly wishing me good luck and getting Kiara's number. I'm glad they got along too. As we head back in, after changing to our pajamas, I realize I've forgotten another vital piece of tonight's plan. I knock on the bathroom door, where Kiara is changing.
"Uh, I'm sorry, Kiara, but I just realized I've only got one bed...you can take it though! I'll sleep on the floor-"
At that moment, she walks out, changed into a t-shirt and shorts fairly similar to how I greeted her.
"No way! That's no good for you! You know, if you don't mind...I really don't mind to share the bed with you..."
Blush mode: CRITICAL OVERDRIVE. I swear she blushes for a moment too, but maybe it was just the light...
"Oh! Well, yeah, I mean, if you don't have a problem with it...let's go..."
We slide into bed together and lay back to back. I vow at that moment to dedicate my life to my truest friend, my greatest hero, my biggest supporter, Kokoro.
"Good night, my Calli."
"Good night to you too, my Kiara..."
She doesn't seem to mind me calling her my Kiara. Everything else tonight could be extra, that alone is enough to call it a success. Her warmth tempts me, but I get no sleep that night. Especially after she falls into her sleep, and rolls over to wrap me in the warmest hug I've ever felt. My poor, poor maiden heart.