Disclaimer: I don't own Yoroiden Samurai Troopers or any characters from it. I do own Katya, Vasha, and Philippe. I make no money from this story.

Author's note: What might have happened after Katya and Touma left the diner. There's a brief mention of Katya and Ryo's date which took place prior to Late Night Conversations, and the events of that date are detailed in the forthcoming short story "The First and Last Date."

Interrupt

By womanofwords

Shin was the first to speak after they watched Katya and Touma leave.

"Who else thought they were on a date?" he asked. "It was painfully obvious."

The others nodded. It was ridiculous, really. Touma kept a certain amount of distance from Katya for most of the time they were talking, but anyone could see it.

"Not his girlfriend, my ass." Shuu muttered, and the others nodded an agreement.

"She seemed more nervous when he did. Did anyone else notice the way her hands shook?" Seiji asked. The other looked at him for a long moment. Seiji shook his head. "Don't look at me like that, I just notice things."

There was quiet for a long time as they pretended to study their menus and thought back to the awkward couple. Now that they all thought about it, her hands had been shaking, and she didn't say anything other than to ask if they were Touma's friends. From what they had heard about Katya from both Touma and Ryo, she seemed like a completely different person when the others finally saw her. Heck, she hadn't even-

"Hey, Ryo, how come she acted like she didn't know you?" Shuu asked. "Weren't you guys going out for a while before she and Touma did?"

"It was one date, Shuu, and it wasn't even because she wanted to. I told you about that." Ryo said. "She probably didn't want to get Touma upset."

"Would he get upset about that, though? Shuu? What do you think? I mean, you've known him longer than we have." Shin asked. Shuu shrugged.

"He isn't the type to get upset, honestly. But I dunno; I've never seen him with a girl before, either." Shuu let out a half-snort, half-laugh. "I honestly thought he had no interest in anybody, to tell you the truth."

"Well, what's she like, anyway? I mean, he's obviously not into her for her looks-" Seiji paused when he saw the death glare Ryo was giving him. "Sorry," he mumbled, looking back to his menu.

"Ryo, man, chill." Shuu said. Ryo shook his head.

"Nah, forget it. I'm sorry, Seiji. It's just- Katya is a good girl, you know. Despite the fact she's kind of heavy." Ryo told the others. "She's kind of serious most of the time, though. She's one of those artsy chicks. Foreign films and underground bands and all that."

"The hipster type?" Shin asked. "She doesn't dress like it."

Ryo shook his head.

"Nah. Like I said, she's just kind of awesome in her way. Not my type. Too bossy." He laughed lightly. "Definitely Touma's, though."

"Who would have thought he'd have a girlfriend before us?" Shuu asked.

"I say it won't last." Seiji said. "Touma's a good guy, but he's too unsure of himself."

"True enough." Shin said. "I give it six months."

"We are not betting on Poindexter's relationship." Ryo told them, an air of finality in his voice.

"What's with you?" Seiji asked.

"I just don't like it when people trash-talk someone they don't know. Just because you can't even talk to girls doesn't mean you should rag on Katya. You don't even know her." Ryo said.

"Alright, fine, I'll keep my mouth shut from now on." Seiji said.

"Please do." Ryo shot back.

"Both of you shut up before I clock you." Shuu burst in, and they fell silent.

The air around the table was tense. Shin cleared his throat, and began to speak as the others looked over at him.

"Seriously, chill out. Both of you are arguing about something that doesn't even involve you. IT's Touma's life, let him live it." Shin told them.

The table fell silent as a server came by and took their orders. As they waited for their food, Seiji looked over at Ryo.

"I'm sorry for being such a pig," he told him, and Ryo laughed.

"I'm sorry for being such a jackass." Ryo told Seiji, and the two of them reached their hands across the table and shook on it just as the servers arrived with their food.

"Enough chitchat, let's eat." Shuu told them, grabbing his plate and digging in.