What began as still water began to flow naturally from a creek into a tributary and then on into a raging river. Loi was overcome by it, but could not parse these feelings properly. Maya was by his side now, sure...but Nena's place in his mind at this time was ethereal, otherworldly, transcending even the bounds of his undying imaginations - he desperately pined for her.

He resolved himself to say the words he needed to say, even if a certain ephemeral phantom would be the one who had to hear them. "Hey Maya, I have something I need to tell you." Maya wore a dull, faded expression. "Hmm?" she purred, lost in thought somewhere far from the room, her headspace very occupied. "May I speak to you, please?" Loi asked with firm intent. 

He began anew. "I have something to tell you." He narrowed his field of vision slightly, looking at her nose. "The thing is...I love you." Maya stared at him for an excruciatingly long time, though in all reality it was a brief moment. "Loi..." she whimpered. "You failed." He blinked. "I failed? I don't even- why?! I put all of my guts in this and mustered all of my courage up for this...you're just going to dismiss it as a failure?" 

Maya's mouth curled into a disappointed smirk as she glowered at him. "You have the audacity to question a woman's intuitions? I'll tell you why you have failed. Simply telling her that will not win you Nena's heart. You know her, she won't take it seriously!" Loi frowned in a confused state. "What do I need to do in order to get it across?" he said, cutting a serious look.

Maya leaned in and slowly told him, increasing her pace as she went on. "Romance, duh! You're not romantic at all...you're just...just...aghhhh! Why do I have to say this?! You're just - Loi!" she recoiled, realizing her proximity. "Anyway! Do it again." Loi cleared his throat and closed his eyes. "I love you." Maya's face twisted into a scowl. "Boring! Again!" 

He drew a breath and repeated himself, only adjusting his expression. "Gross! You look like a pervert! Again!" she barked, knitting her eyebrows disapprovingly. He glanced over and smiled slightly. "I love you." She was at her wit's end with this boy. "Stop acting cute, because even YOU know that you aren't! Listen." she cleared her throat. "You need to say it like you mean it, and more than words is all you need to make it real. Even a rube like you should get that - so hopeless, ai-yaaaa."

"Let me guess...you took that line from a song, right?" Loi guffawed under his breath. "And you call me hopeless?" he puffed. Maya sneered. "Who cares? You get the point! Do it again, make it right!" she challenged. Loi dropped his arms at his sides and charged over to her, catching her unawares. He brushed his hand gently through her hair and stared into her crimson eyes. "I love you." he oozed, low and direct in tone. Her heart leapt.

Maya spun around quickly, acutely aware she was blushing tones of molten lava. She whipped her head back to Loi, pulling her hands to her face. "S-s-s-sexual harassment! Absolute failure! You disappoint me!" she screeched. Loi walked past her to the door. "I'm going to school now. Bye." Maya returned the departure routine nonchalantly. "Bye bye...take care..." She floated about with a satisfied smile. "Well...now I've gotta wait around..."

A disembodied voice peeled through the solace with a woeful cadence. "Well, well...this is quite unusual for a ghost..." A spectre with bright red orbit covered by loud verdant hair and a finely tied purple bow appeared before her. "Who are you? How did you get in my house?!" Maya demanded. The phantasm appeared behind her now. "Oh yes...I suppose I haven't introduced myself properly..." it hissed. 

"My name is Bel, I'm a ghost like you, Maya..." She wore a faded blue yukata slumped further down over her bilateral shoulders, generously offering her pale cleavage as a secondary focal point. Her midsection was divided by an equally faded rouge ebi tied into a more fanciful bow. Maya stared her down with a cold sweat on her face. "How... how did you know who I was?"

Bel slicked her tongue across her lips seductively and slid up against Maya's left side. "I know pretty much everything about you - because I'm always watching. ALWAYS." Maya shifted her eyes nervously. "Everything? You mean like, my past? Can you tell me who I was before I died?" she said, hesitancy heavy in her breath. Bel flew back, a glinting present in her narrowed eye. "Sorry, but that's privileged information and it's not my job to disclose it. You'll need to find out those details yourself."

Maya gawked at Bel with a tilt in her neck. "What? That doesn't sound fair." Bel shrugged in response, before she adopted a dark undertone. "Maya, I do come bearing a warning, one you had ought to heed well. Do not let that guy kiss you three times...lest you suffer a fate most terrible. You will vanish, along with all of your memories from this world." Maya's gaze was fixed on Bel now. "I'll...vanish?" she trailed off, audible discomfort lacing the words.

Bel narrowed her look. "It's big spiritual taboo, Maya. Ghosts should not fall in love with a human. So, whatever you do, no matter what he says or what he does for you...don't fall in love with him." Maya threw her arms up in protest. "No! Are you kidding me?! I wouldn't fall in love with that pervert if he was the last human on Earth! Absolutely not! Never!" she huffed.

Maya whisked around the room. "Bel? Hm, she's gone...how very strange." The remainder of the day was lost to Maya's preparations for Loi's homecoming. Her eyes darted to the door as the handle juggled and turned. Loi stepped in, removing his shoes. "Maya? I brought you some-" he started to say, before halting after getting a good look at her. 

"Uhm, I know this place might be a little dusty or whatever, but why are you wearing a mask?" Maya's mouth was covered by grey mask with a slight "X" painted across its center. "I have a cough." she croaked between semi-convincing coughs. "What are you talking about? You're a ghost." Maya increased the volume. "Stop pretending, Maya..." he pleaded. 'I don't want to tell him, because I know he'll worry' she thought. She carried on coughing.

Loi held up a convenience store bag. "Oh...I happened to pick up some ice cream, but you've got a cough. Oh well, guess I'll just have to eat it alone. What a shame." he drolled in a slow monotone. He set the cold dairy confection on the table and popped the lid off in a suggestive fashion. "Cold...fluffy...yummy ice cream. Are you suuuure?" Maya repeated his attribute list. 

'This might be a trap, but...ICE CREAM IS ICE CREAM!' "You only live once!" Maya yelled as she tore the mask off of her face. "You dimwit, that doesn't apply to you, remember? You're a ghost." Loi said between chuckles as he set out two bowls on the table. Maya sat and composed herself briefly before lavishly savoring the delectable dessert. "Mmm...it's so good!" she bellowed. Loi looked at her and just laughed.

---

School, the next day. Loi had a renewed sense of determination when he caught sight of Nena in the hall at the end of the day. He walked over near her and called out. "Nena!" She turned, it was time - he waved at her slowly. "What's up, Loi?" she asked, haltingly. "Can we talk for minute?" he asked, adding "I'd like to sit down with you." Nena nodded and followed him to the bench in the courtyard. 

"Well, the thing is - Nena, would you, uh, I mean...if you haven't been asked yet...(I hope you haven't) - be my date to prom?" he mumbled. "Prom? Sure." Nena said, smiling in her warm and natural way. Loi hadn't expected such an easy answer, but this was no time to fret. His crush was actually going on a date with him again... This time it was actually AS his date. 

He cracked a relaxed smile. "Alright! I'll pick you up at 6:30 this evening, does that work for you?" Nena stretched and nodded, returning his smile. Back at Loi's, Jaja was walking in the door after a brief knock. "Hey there!" she called over to Maya, who was slightly confused. "Loi's not here, where is he?" Maya shrugged.

"Hmmm... he must be at school asking Nena to prom." she postulated. "He's not here yet...so maybe? Prom? What's prom?" Maya rolled the new word around with her tongue as she spoke. Jaja's face perked up as she grabbed Maya by the arm and pulled her out into the street. "Come with me...you'll find out for sure."

Kenta was puzzled why the pair suddenly appeared in his living room, but it was just like Jaja to show up. "You really don't know what prom is, Maya?" he quizzed. She shook her head in clear declination. "You are correct, I have never heard of this...prom. Jaja says I would find out about it here, though - is that right?" Jaja stepped over to Kenta's side and whispered something as the pair slid each other knowing glances. 

Kenta's hand leveled a deafening snap - "How may we be of assistance, Master?" four identically dressed maids answered in unison. "Girls." Kenta said, wryly, pointing at Maya and Jaja. "You know what to do." The maids bowed their heads in deference to his unvoiced request, then whisked over to each of them. A pair of maids took each girl by the arms and lead them away. 

"What are you gonna do with us?" Maya said, still visibly confused. "Nice one, Kenta!" Jaja cheered, before realizing she was a subject as well. "Wait, Kenta! What's the meaning of thiiiiiii-" Jaja attempted to say before she was pulled away by the maids. "Kyaaaaaaa!"