"Guys, Suzu is going to pay for our meal tonight!" Ichigo announced with a smile."Let's empty her wallet!"
Yui instantly jumped from her chair with a bright smile and began packing up.
A cold hand suddenly rested on her shoulder.
"And where do you think you're going?" Miss Ayaka asked with a chilling sweetness.
Yui froze."Sure there's a party… but you're not leaving until you finish your design."
Cold sweat dripped down her forehead."Y-yes ma'am…" she whispered, defeated.
Yamada dropped his hand Ichigo's shoulder."You go ahead with Miss Suzu. We'll come later—just send the location."
"Alright, fine." Ichigo sighed.
Suzu stretched, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it with one smooth motion."Hurry up, rookie. Let's go."
Ichigo wrinkled his nose."Don't you think you should quit smoking? You look like some sexy mafia boss."
She glanced at him, then exhaled a puff directly into his face with a smile."I wish I could stop…" she said with a tired smile,"…but it's already part of me. I'll need a new addiction to kill the old one."
Ichigo coughed, waving the smoke away."So—do you even have a car? Why are we heading to the parking area?"
"Yeah, I do." She jingled her keys.Then smirked."Where would you like to sit? The roof? Or the trunk?" Suzu asked
Ichigo stared at her with a dead expression."I seat for a human please."
Suzu clicked the button on her key.A sleek, glossy SUV blinked its headlights a few steps ahead—one of those "only-the-rich-buy-this" models everyone drools over online.
Ichigo stared at it, unimpressed.
"Quite the expensive one, huh…?" he muttered.Then, in his usual dead tone:"You sure you're not robbing the company?"
A vein popped on Suzu's forehead.
Her smile twitched.Her teeth sharpened like a demon's.Her eyes burned with pure fury.
"Can you—JUST FOR ONCE—say something nice, you moron?!"she snapped, grabbing him by the collar.
Ichigo blinked innocently."…I did call your car expensive."
"THAT'S NOT A COMPLIMENT!!" fire breathing from her mouth.
"Now get in the car before I leave your nonchalant ass here," Suzu growled, practically breathing fire like an angry dragon.
Ichigo looked at her with pure pity."Ohh… poor thing. You got constipation."He even placed a hand on her head like he was praying for her soul.
A vein exploded on Suzu's forehead."You will die by my hands someday, you bastard…"
We both got into the car.
Ichigo buckled up, turned to her seriously."Show me your driving license."
Suzu's eye twitched."Why? You doubting me, you twerk?"
Ichigo raised both hands defensively."I–I didn't mean it like that. Just… to be safe. No offense."
"Don't ask me again. I own this car and I'm older than you," she snapped.
Ichigo pointed at her calmly."That doesn't prove you have a license."
Suzu ignored him completely and started driving out of the parking lot.
"Anyway… where are we going?"
Ichigo thought deeply."Hmm… okay. Option A is 4 miles away. Option B is probably full. Option C is good but I hate the manager. Option D is under renovation. And Option E is perfect but three miles away… soooo let's go with Option A."Dead serious expression.
Suzu slammed her palm on the wheel."You want me to kill you, bastard?!"
"Let's go to Option A."
"DON'T IGNORE ME OR I'LL ACTUALLY KILL YOU!"
"You seem knowledgeable about drinking places."
Ichigo smirked proudly."Well… a year ago you could find me in one of these every morning."
Suzu groaned."That's not something to be proud of…"
"Play some music, damn it. You're so boring."
"Play it yourself."
Ichigo put on a song. They drove in silence until Suzu started humming along.
"Oh? You like this song?" Ichigo asked.
"I don't."
"You don't like this? It's literally trending everywhere."
Suzu sighed."No, I do like the song."
Ichigo blinked."Then what do you mean 'I don't'?"
She answered casually—"I mean I don't have a license."
"Huh?"
"HUHHHHH!??"Ichigo exploded."Isn't it a bit TOO LATE to tell me that, you maniac?!"
Suzu lowered the window and flicked the cigarette bud outside.
"See? I'm driving safe."
Ichigo's eyes almost burst out."That's NOT the point here, moron!" he snapped."And STOP throwing your buds on the road! It's not your personal property!"
Suzu rolled her eyes."Whatever. Stop whining like a kid."
Ichigo slowly turned his head toward her like a horror movie ghost."…What did you say?"
Suzu clicked her tongue."You heard me, kindergarten."
Ichigo gripped the handle of the car door."Let me out. I'm walking."
Suzu accelerated slightly."No. I wont die alone."
Ichigo clenched his seatbelt like it was a lifeline."You're insane… absolutely insane…"
Suzu flicked her hair back."Takes one to know one."
Ichigo glared."I'm normal. You're the one driving without a license!"
She shrugged casually."Relax, I've been driving for years."
Ichigo pointed at the dashboard."YEARS?? Your speedometer is literally shaking."
Suzu squinted."…It does that when it's cold."
"It's 29 degrees outside."
She turned up the AC."Not anymore."
Ichigo slapped his forehead hard."Did I do something to piss you off??"
Suzu smirked without looking at him."You talk too much. You were quieter when you were scared of Ayaka."
Ichigo puffed his cheeks like an offended hamster."I wasn't scared. I was being respectful. And answer the damn question."
Suzu took a long drag from her cigarette, exhaled dramatically."Oh, you definitely pissed me off."
Ichigo blinked. "How!?"
She slowly turned her head toward him, eyes glowing like a dragon awakening."The program you submitted instead of showing up for your interview…"Her voice dropped dangerously low."…was the one I was working on for three months."
Ichigo gulped.
"…with no sleep."Her tone got sharper.
Ichigo shifted in his seat.
"…no weekends."
Sweat formed on Ichigo's forehead.
"…no sunlight."
Ichigo's soul left his body.
"And then YOU show up—" she leaned close, baring her teeth like a demon,"—and basically say, 'Hey, I did better than you.'"
She practically breathed fire.
Ichigo flinched so hard his knee hit the dashboard."I–I DIDN'T SAY THAT!! AND I DIDNT EVEN SHOW UP IN FIRST PLACE!!"
Suzu snapped back at the wheel."Exactly. You even dared to send it through some random guys hand.
Ichigo whispered to himself, "Ahh..Shit... I get why she wants to murder me now…"
Suzu flicked his forehead."So you better be grateful that you are alive"
"y-yes mam"
Suzu parked the car
After getting out Ichigo pointed at the skid mark her car left on the pavement."Is that from us?"
"Focus on the restaurant, not the road."
"I'm focusing on my short remaining lifespan."