“Dude, you look miserable. You need a girlfriend.”

Tamashi looks up from the book he was reading, looking visibly irritated.

“Can you stop trying to make a me a womanizer for one second? I’m actually trying to finish this book.”

“Is it a romance?”

“None of your business.”

“Ooh, let me see. Is the dude in this story just as boring as you?”

“DUDE, let go-“

As Tamashi and his overbearing friend wrestle for the book, a girl sits down in the desk behind Tamashi.

“Both of you dorks knock it off. I want to actually learn something today.”

“What haven’t you learned already, Anna? You’ve got the brain of a psychotic monkey taking adderall.”

“Wow, when did the player get so disrespectful towards women?”

“Huh? I didn’t know I was talking to one.”

“Useless ape. Why don’t you turn around and actually learn something for once today, Charlie.”

When Anna went to war with Charlie, Tamashi was able to regain control of his book. He was about to pick up where he left off when the bell rang.

It was September. That day was just another day of high school.

——

Charlie slams his locker shut.

“I’ve got a present for you, Tamashi! You’re going on a date!”

“A blind date? It won’t work out. I’m too average.”

“Actually, someone is interested in you. She asked to meet you.”

Tamashi narrowed his eyes.

“You’re just making up an excuse to go on a double date again.”

He thought back to the last time that Charlie had dragged him on a double date, promising that a girl was interested in him. The duo arrived at the cafe and sat down at a table where two astoundingly beautiful girls were waiting.

Tamashi was sitting across from a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl, who fit the description of the girl that Charlie said was interested in him.

“Uh, hi. So, you’re interested in me?”

“Huh? I don’t care who you are. I was promised free food to be here. Also, Charlie’s hard to resist.”

From then on, Charlie began to audibly sweat.

“It’s not going to be like last time. This girl legit is tripping over you. You’ve gotta come. I’ll buy.”

“I’m not coming. I’m gonna go home and I’m going to finish reading my book.”

Tamashi began to walk off, before turning to leave some parting words.

“I’m just an average guy. Love isn’t a part of my story.”

Tamashi started walking off again, but stopped when Charlie began to respond.

“Love isn’t a part of your story? Bullshit. I remember when you had a big-ass crush on Anna. Maybe I should-“

“What time?”

A wide grin appeared on Charlie’s face.

——

A starry night was painted across the sky as Tamashi and Charlie stood outside the diner.

“Are you sure that this is a good place to take a date?”

“Hell yeah! Your path to a girl’s heart starts with burgers and milkshakes.”

‘Or maybe you’re just being cheap.’

It then dawned on Tamashi that it might be necessary for Charlie to cheap out, considering how frequently he goes on dates.

Tamashi scans the block, watching to see if a date was actually going to appear.

To his surprise, he sees two girls walking straight towards him.

“Hey girls, over here! Long time, no see, Jasmine! I see you’re more beatiful than ever!”

“Charlie, if you cheat again, I’m going to kick your ass. Also, I’m taking a break from my diet, so you better buy me a big-ass burger.

Jasmine was a short, slender girl with long, red hair. All Tamashi could think about was how perfectly she fit the stereotype.

“Hey, you must be Tamashi. Nice to meet you.”

Tamashi turned to the one next to Jasmine, who had just spoken. He stood in pure shock as Charlie began the introduction.

“Tamashi, this is Star. She just transferred to our school, so she knows nothing about you. Guess that’s why she agreed to go on a date with you. Star, this is Tamashi. He’s probably never even smelled someone of the opposite gender before, so be patient with him. Alright, it’s burger time!”

“Just shut up already and buy me a burger,” said Jasmine as she followed Charlie inside.

Even after the others left, Tamashi was still lost for words. He couldn’t believe that she was his date tonight.

He saw a tall, beautiful woman with shoulder-length black hair and shining hazel eyes.

When Star noticed he was staring, she blushed and looked to the side.

“Maybe we should go inside, Tamashi.”

“Yeah, uh, right behind you- I mean, let me get the door.”

Tamashi rushed to get to the door handle. However, before he could get to it, a sudden invisible plan had stopped all of his body’s movement.

He had run directly into the glass door.

After witnessing the sight, Charlie dropped his head into his hands.

“Idiot…”

——

“You seem one of a kind, Tamashi. I’ve never seen anyone with black hair also have blue eyes.”

“Genetics, I guess.”

Tamashi didn’t really care for his appearance. Short black hair and dark blue eyes seemed pretty average to him. He already knew that he wasn’t going to win a competition of looks against someone like Charlie, with his blonde hair and bright blue eyes. ‘His’ looks might be his only saving grace in his dating life, considering how many times his relationships have gone up in flames.

“I don’t look as good as you do.”

‘Wait, did I just say that aloud?’

Star blushed and turned away. Charlie, who was in the table next to them, started laughing.

“Looks like Tamashi does have a but of romance in him after all! That’s the power of Star’s radiating sexi-”

Charlie suddenly stopped talking as he and Tamashi looked on in horror at Jasmine.

“You… YOU… YOU USELESS DICK!”

Jasmine’s strawberry milkshake left its glass and found its new home on Charlie’s shirt.

Jasmine got up and stormed off, her red hair flowing like a ferocious fire. Charlie chased after her, hoping to save what was left of his date.

“Jazz, wait, I meant to say that about you! Wait up!”

All of a sudden, it was just Tamashi and Star. Alone.

“So… uh… I mean… sorr... or… I don’t really know what I’m doing…”

Star began to laugh.

“I can tell you’re lost. Since things are falling apart right now, we can just call it a night. But I do have a question for you before we go.”

Was it about the check? Tamashi figured that Charlie would end up in a situation like this, so he was prepared to cover for everyone.

Star crossed her hands and moved them up to her mouth.

“Would you kill for me, if it meant protecting my family?”

Tamashi was completely caught off guard.

‘What the hell is that kind of question?’

He thought long and hard about how to answer the grueling question.

“I guess it would depend on the situation.”

He was expecting to get a follow-up question, but Star stood up.

“I see. Well, I guess the night’s over. You got the check, right? Have a great night!”

Star slightly grinned as she walked off.

She was gone before Tamashi could comprehend the situation.

——

The bright and powerful morning sun rose as Tamashi walked to school.

All he could think about was Star’s question from last night.

‘Would you kill for me, if it meant protecting my family?’

Tamashi was trying to think if there was some deeper meaning to her question. Was she testing him to see if he was a great fit for her? Or maybe, she actually wanted him to kill someone for her? Is she in some sort of danger?

As Tamashi walked up to an intersection, he looked to his left. Standing there was a medium-height brunette girl. She was in workout clothing and was wearing a set of headphones.

Suddenly, there was a jolt in Tamashi’s head. It felt like it was an electric shock.

‘Weird, was there some static built up in me or something? I hope I don’t get a headache.’

The light changed, and the girl next to Tamashi began to cross the street. As Tamashi began to follow behind, he looked to his left again.

His heart dropped.

A truck was barreling towards the intersection, and it was clearly not going to stop in time.

Both of them were about to be killed.

“HEY, LOOK OUT!”

Just as the girl began to look towards the truck, Tamashi ran and shoved her as far as he could.

He closed his eyes as he landed on top of her and began to hope for the best.

Heart pounding.

The beating sun.

A rush of wind.

Electricity. Everywhere.

Tamashi opened his eyes. But he didn’t see what he was expecting.

He was standing in front of someone who looked just like him. He had the same slender build. The same short hair. The same blue eyes.

There was a difference, though. His hair was completely white.

The white-haired clone grinned.

“Now, I’m awake.”

Everything went black.

Tamashi opened his eyes again, this time to find the girl that he was laying on top of. He began to look around and take in the situation.

They were both laying on the ground, and they weren’t dead. Tamashi let out a sigh of relief.

Then he realized the extremely perilous situation he was in.

‘SHIT, I’ve gotta get off of her!’

As he quickly scrambled to get off of her, the girl began to sit up. She looked around, then down at the ground. Her headphones were destroyed.

“Oh, uh, so- sorry about the headphones.”

“No, it’s, uh, fine.”

Tamashi shook his head around, trying to gain some sort of composure.

“Can I help you up?”

“Uh, I think I just wanna sit here for a second.”

“Oh, ok.”

The girl then looked up at Tamashi. Her deep, dark brown eyes locked with Tamashi’s.

“You saved me. Thanks.”

Tamashi blushed and turned away. As he struggled to accept the gratitude, other people who had witnessed the incident began to surround them.

“Are you guys ok?”

“You guys almost got killed!”

“Someone call an ambulance!”

As Tamashi continued began to calm down, he scanned the crowd, and locked eyes with someone.

It was Star.

As Tamashi thought about calling out to her, he noticed her face.

It was a face of shock and horror.

“He… he pushed her…”

Tamashi lost his breath and his heart started rampaging as a silence grew within the crowd.

“HE PUSHED HER IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK. YOU WERE TRYING TO KILL HER, TAMASHI.”

Tamashi fell to the ground as the weight of what was happening began to crush him.

He was now being accused of attempted murder.

Tamashi was only thinking of one line, playing on loop in his head.

‘What the hell?’

——

Savior: Original Story by OneSevenEight

Episode: Framed Perspective - Part 1