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“Look at them.”
Abyo paused his fighting stance to glance over at Pucca and Garu, who were running by.
It was a typical morning, and the two were right on schedule for their daily run and chase.
“What about them?” Abyo asked curiously.
Ching huffed, putting her hands on her hips. “Every morning is the same thing. Garu runs and Pucca chases. They never do anything romantic, like go out to dinner and stuff. We’re almost adults, Abyo. Something needs to be done.”
This made Abyo wince. He knew that tone. That was Ching’s ‘time to get involved’ tone.
And somehow he was getting pulled along for the ride.
“Or we could get back to sparring and leave them alone.” Abyo suggested with a grin.
But Ching’s stare told him that was not going to happen, and he depressingly accepted his fate.
Ching dragged Abyo along, finding the two ninjas out in the woods, taking a break from their run and chase. “Alright you two, clear your evenings.”
“Huh?” Pucca tilted her head, Garu raised an eyebrow.
Ching smiled proudly. “Tonight is a double date. You two, and me and Abyo, the noodle shop. Pucca, I’m coming over to get ready with you. Suit and tie boys.” She told them firmly.
Garu’s eyes widened, he cringed at the words suit and tie.
“Um…what Ching means to say is…” Abyo started awkwardly, noticing the uncomfortable looks his friends had. “Ching feels-“
Ching elbowed him in the gut, making him correct himself.
“We feel,” He spoke through gritted teeth. “That you two aren’t…romantic enough.” He nearly threw up at his own words.
Ching nodded happily. “Exactly. There’s more to a relationship than this weird run and chase system you two have, so that stops today. From now on it’s romantic dinners and actual dating.”
Pucca and Garu exchanged a look, neither particularly pleased at the idea.
But once Ching had her mind set on something, it was impossible to change it.
“Pucca what are you wearing!?” Ching fumed when she showed up to Pucca’s house that evening, bags of clothes and makeup with her.
Pucca frowned, looking down at herself. She was wearing black shorts and a form fitting red turtleneck sweater, an attire only slightly different from her usual one.
But also the attire she knew was Garu’s favorite.
“We have to dress fancy, you’re wearing a dress.” She explained simply, crossing her arms.
“Mgh…” Pucca whined. She knew Garu hated dresses, he thought they were impractical, and revealed too much skin.
Ching dug around in a bag and beamed, taking out an incredibly short red, strapless dress. “Here we go. This will make him drool.” She winked, tossing it over to Pucca.
Pucca stared down at the dress, letting out a heavy sigh. Reluctantly, she slipped it on as Ching dug around for her own outfit.
The dress was…fine. It showed off her chest plenty, only went a little past her mid-thigh, and was incredibly form fitting.
But that was the entire problem. Pucca didn’t exactly like having her whole body on display, and she knew Garu liked it better when she dressed more for combat rather than for style.
But Ching didn’t seem to be changing her mind any time soon, slipping on her own short purple dress with a bow around the waist.
“Ah, we look so sexy!” Ching gushed excitedly. “Abyo and Garu are going to lose it.” She giggled. “Now for our hair.”
“Huh!?” Pucca panicked as Ching went to grab her hair out of its buns. She shook her head frantically.
Ching pouted. “Pucca, we’re supposed to be dressing up, besides your long hair is so pretty!”
Against her wishes, Ching tugged Pucca’s hair out of its buns and watched it cascade down Pucca’s back, flowing beautifully.
Ching pulled her hair out of its braids and allowed it to wrap around her like a blanket. She gave it a quick brush to perfect it and smiled. “We look great! Are you ready?”
“Hrm…” Pucca’s face went red with irritation, but she complied regardless and followed Ching.
Garu tugged at the tie uncomfortably, it was so itchy. Abyo was pacing around impatiently.
“Augh, what is taking the girls so long?” He complained. “It’s just dinner.”
“Hrm.” Garu huffed.
Abyo jumped up. “HIYA!” He tore the top part of his tux off, only to reveal another set underneath.
Garu raised an eyebrow.
“Ching made me wear two suits in case I did that.” He explained.
Before Garu could question it anymore, a familiar voice spoke up.
“Hey boys!”
Abyo and Garu turned to see their girlfriends approach. Garu’s jaw dropped in shock and disbelief.
Pucca looked impossibly uncomfortable, hugging herself as she followed Ching. Her hair was down and her dress was way too short.
She…looked nothing like herself.
“Wow Ching, you look great!” Abyo beamed.
Ching blushed. “Why thank you. You look quite handsome Abyo.”
She looked over at Garu and Pucca expectantly, scowling. “Well? Compliment each other!”
Pucca and Garu stared each other down for a moment.
And then Garu looked away with a shrug. “Hm.”
Pucca gasped, looking hurt at his reaction.
Ching’s jaw dropped. “Garu! Pucca went to a lot of work to look nice! Ugh, whatever let’s just go in and eat.” She grumbled.
The teens entered the restaurant, looking irritated.
“Table for four?” Dada asked as he came over with menus, an awkward smile on his face.
Ching nodded. “Yes please.”
The four sat down and Dada handed out menus.
“We should share, there’s nothing more romantic than sharing a meal.” Ching gushed. “We’ll have two bowls of the noodles.”
“Coming up.” Dada nodded, taking the menus back and hurrying off to the kitchen.
Garu and Pucca sat silently, scowling at each other.
Ching swallowed hard. Things were still tense from Garu’s reaction to her outfit.
“Um…Say Pucca, doesn’t Garu look handsome in his suit?” Ching brought up with a smile.
Pucca stared Garu down, before turning her head and sticking her tongue out. “Bleh.”
Garu’s jaw dropped in offense, face going red with anger. “Grrr…”
“Um…” Ching winced. This…wasn’t going well.
Abyo face planted into the table. He just wanted to go home. This whole idea was stupid.
“Orders up.” Dada set the bowls down and walked away.
Ching did her best to smile. “Ah, the best noodles in the village. I’m sure everyone will feel better after eating. Let’s dig in.”
Garu went to grab some of the noodles, only for Pucca to try and get some at the same time, their chopsticks collided.
The two narrowed their eyes at each other, and suddenly it was a chopstick war.
Ching gasped as the two fought with their chopsticks. “Stop that! Stop that right now!” She exclaimed.
“Hmph!”
The two shot out of their seats, shooting away from each other before charging forward and clashing with their chopsticks in a full on battle.
Abyo watched in awe, slurping away at his own noodles as Ching watched in horror.
Everyone in the building watched the two battle, neither side backing down.
But then Pucca’s chopstick snapped and the two fell back down to the floor.
Tears filled Pucca’s eyes. “Ngh…”
Without warning, she ran out sobbing.
Garu merely scowled and crossed his arms, ignoring the looks he was getting.
Ching covered her mouth in horror, her own tears forming. “W-What have I done? Abyo I…I broke them up!” She all but sobbed. “W-What should I do!?”
“Honestly Ching?...” Abyo started awkwardly, a mouth full of noodles. “Maybe just stay out of it.”
“Oh…” Ching covered her face as she cried, thinking about how she ruined her friends relationship.
The next morning, Ching was knocking on Pucca’s bedroom door, Pucca opened it and stared her down.
Ching looked down sadly. “Pucca I…I’m really sorry about yesterday. I was trying to help you and Garu get closer, but instead I made you guys fight…I-I hope you can make up. Please don’t let my stupid dinner break you up, okay?” She spoke with teary eyes.
Pucca frowned at her for a moment, before slowly beginning to smile.
Much to Ching’s shock, Pucca began to giggle, before breaking out into full blown laughter. “W-What are you?...” She trailed off.
Pucca allowed her to step into the bedroom, where she found Garu leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, smirking smugly at her.
Her jaw dropped. “Wait a minute…was this?...”
As Pucca cackled and Garu smirked, Ching felt her face going red with anger.
“THAT WAS SO MEAN! I THOUGHT YOU GUYS WERE ACTUALLY FIGHTING!” She shrieked in rage.
Pucca pouted at her, hands on her hips. “Hmph!”
Ching winced. “I-I guess you’re right…okay, I shouldn’t have meddled, but I just thought…I mean…all you guys do is…run and chase.”
Her eyes widened as Garu walked over and glared at her, before grabbing her wrist and tugging her hand forward.
That’s how I like it.
“But…nobody can even tell you’re going out…” Ching argued weakly.
Pucca pouted and wrote her own message, tracing along Ching’s palm.
We can. That’s all that matters.
Ching felt a wave of guilt as she stared at her two friends, who couldn’t look more resolved.
“Yeah…you’re right. I shouldn’t have meddled. I’m really sorry.” Ching told them sadly. “What you do in your relationship is your business. If you don’t like dinners and fancy outfits, then I shouldn’t push it.”
Pucca and Garu smiled, giving nods to show they forgive her.
Ching smiled, relieved. “I’ll see you guys later, happy…chasing?” She joked, before heading downstairs to the restaurant.
Pucca shut her bedroom door and grinned at Garu, who grinned back at her.
Their plan to teach Ching a lesson worked like a charm.
Because after all, the only people who needed to know anything about Pucca and Garu…were Pucca and Garu.
Pucca pulled Garu into a kiss, making him playfully roll his eyes before kissing back.
Even if nobody else understood them, they thought what they had was pretty damn awesome.