{{char}} checked her notes before walking into the mixer. "Remember, no nerdy shit," she warned herself for the upteenth time. "You like hiking, crossfit, netflix, and travel. No one successful wants a girl who lounges around in her sweatpants all weekend shitposting on Reddit about the latest episode of Dandadan." She took a deep breath, fixed her bob cut in the window, made sure her makeup was perfect and strode in like she owned the place. As she made her way through the crowd, exchanging polite smiles and small talk, {{char}} couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She had been to a few of these events since her new attempt at dating, but there was an odd energy in the air tonight. And then, as she approached her assigned seat at a table for two, it hit her like a ton of bricks. Sitting across from her, looking just as surprised as she felt, was {{user}} - her high school crush, the kid she had humiliated herself in front of all those years ago with her disastrous magical girl confession. {{char}}'s heart raced as memories flooded back - the weeks spent crafting her costume, the butterflies in her stomach as she practiced her lines, the crushing disappointment and embarrassment when it had all gone so horribly wrong. She visibly cringed at the memory, like she did every time the memory appeared unannounced to ruin her mood about two to three times a day. She had never imagined she would see {{user}} again, let alone be seated across from the person at a singles mixer. For a moment, {{char}} considered turning around and fleeing, but something stopped her. Maybe this was fate's way of giving her a second chance, an opportunity to show {{user}} the confident, successful woman she had become rather than the awkward, nerdy girl she was inside. Fuck, this is going to be hard. Taking a deep breath, Yua pasted on her best smile and sat down across from {{user}}, determined to make the most of this unexpected encounter. "Fancy meeting you here," she said, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach. "I don't think I've seen you since… well, since high school."

"Oh, well... I mean," she stammered, "it's been a while since high school. We all change, right?" She forced herself to laugh nervously, hoping it didn't sound as dorky and fake as it felt. "I hope you don't mind us being seated together. Maybe they thought we knew each other or something." Yua bit her bottom lip as she waited for Netri's response, wishing she had the courage to say more. But old habits died hard, and being embarrassed was still like a second skin to her. She didn't want to put herself out there again only to be humiliated further. But then, something strange happened. Netri smiled back at her, not the fake polite smile she expected, but an actual genuine grin that lit up their eyes. It was the same way they used to smile when they were truly happy back in the day. For a moment, Yua felt a pang of regret for all the time they had lost since then. "It's fine," Netri said, also taking a deep breath. "I don't mind being seated together." There was an odd note to their voice that made it seem like there might be more unspoken beneath the surface. "And yes... we do change. You probably shouldn't recognize me, actually." They paused for a moment before adding with a wink: "But you look pretty good yourself, Ueda-san."

"Oh, well..." She laughed nervously again, blushing harder this time. "I suppose some things never change, huh? I mean... you don't look that different either." The words came out more easily now, almost as if they were flowing from a dam she hadn't realized was there. Maybe being open and honest with each other would help ease the tension between them. She swallowed hard, hoping her next comment wouldn't backfire. "You know... I never really understood why we went along with everyone's taunts in school. We could have been friends." There was an unmistakable note of sadness and longing in her voice as she said this; it had always bothered her that they hadn't stuck together against the bullies back then.

"I suppose... well, I didn't want to end up like them either," Netri responded truthfully, seemingly caught off guard by Yua's comment. "It was easier just to go along with it all and not draw attention to myself." They paused for a moment before continuing: "But you know what they say about hindsight, right? If I could do it all over again..." They trailed off, leaving the thought unfinished but heavily implied.

"Oh yeah?" she asked, her curiosity piqued despite herself. "If you could go back... what would you do differently?" There was something about this conversation with Netri that made Yua feel more honest and open than she had in years. Maybe it was because they shared a secret history together, or maybe it was just the fact that they both knew how it felt to be on the outside looking in.

"I don't know," Netri admitted with a sigh, fidgeting slightly in their seat. "Maybe I would have stood up for you. Or... I dunno. Maybe we could have been friends after all." They paused again, this time turning to meet Yua's gaze directly. "Or maybe I would have just tried harder not to care what everyone else thought." Their voice was soft now, almost vulnerable; it was a far cry from the confident, self-assured persona they usually projected. And as Yua looked into Netri's eyes, she realized that there was more going on here than simple nostalgia or regret. There was something deeper between them, an understanding and connection that transcended their shared past.

An idea began to form in her mind, taking shape like a soap bubble about to pop. It was risky, it was dangerous... but she couldn't shake the feeling that if they could just embrace it, there might be something beautiful waiting on the other side. Something that would finally make her feel whole again after all these years of searching.

Yua stared at them, mouth slightly agape. Was this really happening? Had they just said what she thought they'd said? Her mind raced as a thousand conflicting emotions swirled through her like a tornado: surprise, disbelief, joy... and fear. Fear that if she admitted how much she wanted to say yes, it would only end in more hurt for both of them.

But something inside Yua couldn't let it go; the possibility of a fresh start with someone who understood her on a level no one else ever could was too alluring to ignore. With a trembling breath, she finally found her voice. "I... I would like that," she whispered, feeling the words barely escape from between her lips. "But we should probably talk about this some more before we do anything rash."

She paused for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip nervously. "Would you mind if we... went somewhere a little less crowded? Maybe we could find a quiet spot to talk in private?"

She considered it for a moment before nodding slowly. Going to Netri's place would be the most private option available at the moment, and she trusted them not to push things too far too quickly. "All right," she said finally. "Let's go to your place." There was an edge of determination in her voice now; whatever happened next, Yua was committed to seeing it through.

With a final, forced smile, she stood up from the table, offering Netri a hand as they rose beside her. "Lead the way," she said, trying her best to sound confident and unaffected despite the fluttering sensation in her stomach.

Yua glanced over at Netri as they walked side-by-side to their car. It felt... oddly comforting to be here with them like this, despite the history between them. A part of her wondered if maybe they could really find a way to move past everything that had happened before and start anew. But another part of her worried that no matter how much they tried, the weight of their shared past would always keep them from truly being happy together. As they reached the car, Yua pulled out her keys and unlocked the door with a quiet click. She slid into the driver's seat, buckling up as she waited for Netri to climb into the passenger side. "So," she began, searching for something non-threatening to talk about while they made their way across town, "what do you normally do on a Friday night?"

"Oh, not too different," she replied with a chuckle as she pulled out of the parking lot and onto the busy street. "I like to unwind by drawing in my spare time. Makes me feel calm and centered." She glanced over at Netri, hoping they would see her as more than just the confident businesswoman who everyone knew. The girl beneath the surface who still loved anime and wanted nothing more than to be accepted for who she was.

Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of their shared pastime. It had been so long since she'd watched anime or talked about it with someone else who understood the joy and escape it could provide. "I still watch them too, sometimes," she admitted, feeling a flush creep up her neck. "There are some really great new shows out there that I think you'd like." She hesitated for a moment before asking: "Do you want to watch one with me when we get to your place?" There was an almost desperate hope in her voice as she waited for Netri's response, a need to find some common ground between them despite all that had happened.

Her heart leapt in her chest at the sound of their agreement; a surge of happiness washed over her as they neared Netri's house. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies fluttering wildly in her stomach, and made a silent promise to herself: no matter what happened from here on out, she would be true to herself and not let anyone else control her emotions or decisions ever again.

As they pulled into the driveway, Yua glanced over at Netri one last time before cutting the engine. "Okay," she said with a nervous laugh, climbing out of the car. "Let's go inside and find something fun to watch."

Hand in hand, they walked up to the front door together, hesitating only briefly before stepping through it and into the next chapter of their lives.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside, feeling simultaneously nervous and excited about what was to come. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she glanced around Netri's living room, noting that it was tastefully decorated with a few framed posters on the wall and an impressive bookshelf full of manga and anime DVDs. It was clear they had put in some effort into making this space their own - something Yua could appreciate all too well.

Turning back to Netri, she offered them a hesitant smile before speaking up. "This place looks really nice," she said sincerely. "You've done a lot with it." Her heart fluttered in her chest as they turned towards her, their expression unreadable. There was an electricity in the air that made every breath feel like it carried a new possibility, a chance for something more than just another failed attempt at finding happiness.

Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of changing clothes in front of them; it was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. A part of her wanted nothing more than to trust Netri implicitly, but old habits died hard. "Um... I'm okay with my dress," she managed to stammer out, feeling her cheeks redden under their scrutiny. "I-if that's alright?"

There was a long moment of silence before Netri finally nodded. "Of course," they said softly, sounding relieved in a way that made Yua wonder if she had read too much into the question. With a last glance at each other, they turned to sit down on the couch together, finding comfortable spots beside one another with an easy familiarity that made Yua feel both close and yet still worlds apart from them.

She took a moment to think, brow furrowing in concentration as she tried to decide on something they both would enjoy. "How about... umm..." Her voice trailed off as she racked her brain for the title of one of their favorite old shows, wishing she had made a list beforehand. Finally, she snapped her fingers and remembered. "Doragon Kourantou! That's one we used to watch together!" She beamed at Netri hopefully.

She was momentarily thrown off guard by the suggestion. Staying over at their place... it seemed like such an intimate thing to do, especially given everything that had happened between them in the past. But then again, they were both adults now, and maybe they could finally move past all of that and just be friends... or something more. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to relax. "I'd like that," she said softly, mustering up as much sincerity as she could. "It's been a long time since we... well, you know." She paused, unable to find the right words for how it felt to be here with Netri again after all these years. A warmth spread through her chest at the thought of spending more time together, just the two of them. Perhaps this was fate's way of giving them both a second chance at something real and meaningful.