“First anime?”

“Sailor Moon and Dragonball Z.”

Mira grinned brightly at him and held out her fist. Kalmin calmly bumped it and leaned against her shoulder.

“Started out young too, huh,” she commented. “Those are rare.”

“Ah yes, the rare weeboo,” he joked.

Mira’s laugh was cute. Her smile was cute. Her clothes were cute and her room was cute and her house was cute. She didn’t seem real. This didn’t seem real. Sitting in some girl’s bed, sitting in some girl’s room that smelled of vanilla and coconut, beside some cute girl who giggled at his stupid jokes and looked at him so brightly. Mira had a small personal bubble and was very touchy with people. Kalmin noticed that the first time he really saw her (he’s seen her many times before). She was very intimate with people. Hand holding. Soft touches. Hugs. Kisses. She communicated her affection not through words but through actions. Kalmin knew because he was the same, but also not the same. Mira wasn’t afraid of hugging or even kissing people. Kalmin was. It was a mixture of being confused of his sexuality and romantic attraction for half his life. Hugs seemed to only be shared between loved ones. But as a brat, he thought just his partner. His romantic partner. He knows now he shouldn’t be afraid to hug someone now, but the physical reaction is still there.

Is this too much? Will he or she think that I’m hitting on them? Is this hug completely platonic? Are hugs romantic? Am I allowed to show this amount of affection?

The thoughts come as well. Kisses are a whole different ballpark. His paranoia is irrational, he knows that now. Physical displays of attraction are for anyone you like romantically, sexually or platonically.

Mira understands that. Kalmin does too, but he’s still hesitant. Hesitant to completely relax when Mira puts her hand on his thigh or stares to long into his eyes. She’s dating Deimos.

She’s dating Deimos.

The thought haunts him to think he likes a taken lady. Nothing comes good with that. Nothing. Deimos is lucky. Mira is lucky.

God, being bisexual fucking sucks.

Deimos was hot too. Hot in the way he pushes his hair back, hot in the way he wears leather jackets, hot in the way he drives a truck. He spoke softly and deep, but the way he communicated was through stares. His eyes were intense. The way Deimos communicated his affection was not through physical affection nor vocally, but through stares. Most of his team said he was pretty expressionless (and kind of a dick) but, the more Kalmin looked, the more he realized how expressive Deimos was with his eyes. His nice, thick eyebrows help as well. His eyebrows knot up when he’s frustrated, they relax when he’s not paying attention. His eyes sparkle when he likes something (like Mira or coffee) and they click from left to right when he stressed out. God, the stare he gives Mira when they’re together. Kalmin wonders what his bedroom eyes are.

But, Deimos is also taken. By an adorable anime-loving artist.

“So.” Mira had slipped her hand on his thigh again. He tensed up, but she didn’t notice. “Studio Ghibli?”

He grinned. “Studio Ghibli?”

“Favourites?”

Dramatically, he sighed. “You’re making me choose?”

She shrugged.

“I don’t think that’s possible for me- I could tell you my least favourite?”

“Is it Porco Rosso?”

She’s incredible. “It’s Porco Rosso and Tales from Earthsea.”

“I knew it,” she laughed. “They’re still outstanding films.”

“Of course they are,” he replied. “Are there any other outstanding anime films you like?”

Mira sneered. “Are you testing me?”

“You’re just digging yourself a grave knowing too much anime.”

She snickered and elbowed him lightly. “Whatever big shot,” she muttered. “I do like some of the classics like Paprika, Akira and Ghost in the Shell.”

Classics. God, she was getting cuter by the second. And also more and more like friend material. (Because she was taken, Kalmin pull it together.) “Have you checked out any of Studio Chizu’s work?”

“Fuck yeah I have,” Mira said proudly. This time, Kalmin held out a fist and she bumped it happily. “All of them of course.”

“Only way to watch them.”

“Of course. Any favourite shows?”

She hummed and stared up at the ceiling. “Cowboy Bebop, Eden of the East, No. 6, One Punch Man, Samurai Champloo, Haibane Renmei, Mob Psycho 100, etcetera. You?”

God, she was perfect. It was stupid how perfect she was.

“You kind of named them all,” he laughed. “But what about…Soul Eater, Fruits Basket, Hunter x Hunter, Ouran High School Host Club, Monster, Death Parade and Kids on the Slope?”

There was this sparkle in her eye that excited Kalmin. “What about Haikyuu, Katanagatari, Psycho Pass, Zankyou no Terror, Your Lie in April, Gankutsuou and Kuragehime?”

Instantly after, Kalmin added another five animes to the list. In return, Mira added six more. They bounced off each other, adding more and more animes they’ve watched throughout their lifetimes. It was…electrifying. Stupidly electrifying because they were talking about anime and anime was for nerds. But it was a constant presence in his life that shaped him to be him. And it was exciting to meet someone else who also shared the same experience. The more they talked, the more Mira seemed to be a long lost friend. Someone who cried at the same moments that he did, someone who laughed at the same moments he did and someone who screamed in joy at the same moments he did. And when they did have a differing opinion on an anime, she was understanding and respected his opinion. (But thankfully, they both agreed One Piece was the best out of the “Big Three.”) Mira even trusted him enough to lend some of her anime DVDs to him on shows he hasn’t watched yet like Heroic Age and AnoHana.

When Deimos finally called them over to tell them that dinner was ready, they were gushing about the animation in One Punch Man.

“What did I walk into,” Deimos commented.

Kalmin choked up on his words and clicked to the door. Mira and Kalmin were holding hands, both of them grinning brightly and leaning into each other. They probably looked like they were flirting, even though they were complete dorks obsessing over the last episode of an anime. Mira glanced at Kalmin and he immediately dropped their hands, his face flushing red.

“U-Um,” he stuttered. He didn’t know what to say.

“Kalmin said that he’ll lend us some of his controllers when we play Journey,” Mira said happily. Her hand slipped to his back and patted gently. She smiled at him.

God, she knew how to calm his nerves.

Deimos’ intense stare softened and he blinked. “Wait, really?”

“I’ve got three.” He shrugged.

Deimos smiled and it was like seeing the sun rise. It was too pure. “Thanks, dude.”

“No problem.”

Mira wrapped an arm around Kalmin and snickered. “Hey, you know what we should do,” she said with a smirk. “We should have a Studio Ghibli marathon so Deimos can be initiated with us cool kids.”

Kalmin burst out laughing. “You’re incredible,” he blurted out.

Deimos made a face. “Am I joining a cult?”

“Basically,” Mira laughed.

He rolled his eyes and walked inside, tip toeing around Mira’s artworks. “Get out of bed, dinner’s ready.”

Mira whined and wrapped her other arm around Kalmin. Playfully, she tugged him down and they flopped onto the bed, hugging him tightly as Deimos approached. “I’m tired,” she whined with a sneer. Kalmin felt his face burn even hotter and he looked at Deimos to see if any of this was going overboard. But…that damn Greek god was just smiling at them and tugging Mira’s floppy arm.

“You dork, get up,” he groaned.

Mira whined and snuggled close to Kalmin. She giggled when Deimos grabbed Kalmin’s arm too and yanked both of them up. The three of them tumbled to the middle of Mira’s room in a fit of giggles and tangled limbs. Kalmin bumped right into Deimos, their faces close. For a moment, Deimos looked shocked until Mira popped her head between them. She snickered.

“It’s a Mira sandwich,” she joked.

“Don’t get any ideas,” Deimos said, deadpan.

“Are you guys finished making out?!” Raven called out suddenly from the veranda. “The burgers are going to go cold you jerks!”

Deimos and Mira snickered. “We’re coming,” Deimos called. They untangled their limbs and filed out the door. Mira left the trio to chat with Raven near the barbeque, hugging her from behind.

“Sorry, she’s a little touchy,” Deimos commented when they washed their hands in the sink. Kalmin looked up from wiping his hands, surprised and shook his head.

“No, it’s ok,” he said quickly. “She’s nice. You’re lucky.”

“You’re not dating anyone?”

“No.” Kalmin rubbed his neck. He hasn’t thought about dating anyone in a while, school and work gets in the way. “How long have you two been dating?”

“Just a month and a half.” Kalmin handed him the towel.

“Really? You guys seem really close,” Kalmin blurted out. Deimos smiled and rolled his eyes. He flashed his wrist, which had a gold friendship bracelet.

“We became friends in the winter and she likes to move fast,” he said bluntly.

“Cute bracelet,” Kalmin laughed.

Deimos smirked. “Maybe if you’re lucky you’ll earn one too.”

Both of them chuckled and exited out into the veranda. The table was set and overflowing with buns, patties, condiments and fries that smelled heavenly. Mira poured lemonade for the group, Raven and Renee were operating the barbeque and Annie was already digging in.

Dinner was nice.

Kalmin sat between Deimos and Raven and chatted amongst the group. Everyone in this house was so welcoming and casual. They were hilarious too, the banter and bits they did at the table a joy to witness. Raven and Mira re-enacted Annie and her boyfriend’s first Christmas miracle, which was dropping the turkey in front of Daniel’s parents, and Annie and Deimos joked about Mira’s worst day at work, which was being hit on by a fifty year old man. They chatted about past hilarious stories that left Kalmin’s gut hurting, and were eager to know more about Kalmin and the shit he’s gone through. Mira and Deimos had already helped him feel a part of the group already, and he was glad to share the shitstorm parties he’s gone to, like the graduation party that ended up in figurative flames when the police stormed the place and Kalmin ended up on the side of the highway in a ditch with his teammates. He also talked about the cruel reality of frat houses and how most of the jerks in his house are actually all single and super desperate. The night was cool and moths danced around the light keeping the veranda bright as they all talked, relaxed and full, chatting about home, work and vacation they were going to embark on in only two days.

“There’s an island we can swim out to at the place we’re staying at,” Annie said happily. “Well, the strong swimmers. We’ve got a canoe for the weaklings.”

“Hey, rude,” Mira sassed. “Have you seen these arms? I’m a great canoer.”

They all chuckled.

“An island, huh,” Raven said. “Sounds romantic for the large amount of couples going on this trip.”

“Hey, rude,” Annie copied Mira’s tone.

“It’s only Kalmin and I who aren’t in a relationship in this dumb group.” Raven crinkled her nose.

Kalmin laughed. “Really?”

Raven groaned dramatically. “Yep. We’ve got: Gabriel and Aaron, Mira and Deimos, Annie and Daniel, Sophie and Rika, and Renee and Micheal. God, where’s my prince charming or queen to swipe me off my feet?”

“You’ll find someone,” Mira said softly. Raven grinned and ruffled her hair.

“Let’s hope so,” she groaned.

Raven was pretty, she’ll find someone.