Futaba's Perspective;

The life of a bakery girl isn't all that exciting, I didn't think I would be doing this job when I left highschool 5 years ago. But to be honest I didn't have a clue what I wanted to be then either! When I look at my friends' and their lives, I can't help but feel jealous. Yuuri is now married with a little one on the way, Murao is off travelling the world, leaving her obsessive admirers Kominato and Youichi behind... (Polar opposites those two, I swear) And me? what am I doing with my life? I'm 22, soon to be 23, I work in a bakery, live alone, and no male has paid any attention to me since highschool. I can't say it's not my fault though, I don't want a man in my life, the last guy I loved broke my heart when he went to study Law abroad. Kou... There I go again. Thinking about him. Again.

We had a massive argument about a month before he left, his tickets were ready, his belongings where packed and he was all set to go, except he hadn't even bothered to tell me, his girlfriend at the time. It was only when I went over to his house to suprise him for his birthday that it all came out. He'd been researching universities abroad for several months and had been accepted into every one he applied to, so he had a free choice. I was happy for him, i know i was deep down, but he'd kept this life changing decision from me, what did he expect? he's disappeared on me once before, and wanted to do it again? after we had started a relationship? Not a happy bunny.

Which also leads me to think, what would have happened if he didn't leave? if we had stayed together? lived together? would my life be better...

Does he ever think about me?

...

Kou's Perspective;

Ramen? Curry? Hmm... Can't decide. I don't think i've had a proper meal in months, living alone is so boring, there really is no point in making a nice home cooked meal when you have to wash up all the pots and dishes and not feel any reward from it. My apartment is tiny, but close to the convenience store and the local night-life, so a mix of the good and bad. There really is no point to life any more, I'm still a delivery boy, and i work part-time at a bar called 'Jukes', after dropping out of Law school abroad within the first year and coming back to Japan. I make sure i don't run into anyone i know or once knew, because even though it's none of their goddamn business, i am ashamed that i quit, i was hoping to make a life for myself and come back for Futaba so we could be happy, have enough money to have no worries, and just hope she understood why i had to leave her. I wanted it to be like those romance novels that she always had he nose glued in, where the rich young man swoops her off her feet after being away and the get married so on, so forth. Like i could face her now... I've been hiding my whereabouts for 3 whole years, she's probably found a new man, married, started a family even...

I wish that man was me...

Futaba...

June 15th

Futaba had just got back from work when she flung herself over her sofa and let out a massive 'thank-god-thats-over' sigh.

Nurghhhh

"A text? who texts me?" she wonders, with a genuine look of shock on her face.

Futaba! It's been a while huh? I'm back and need to see you! Fancy coming out for a drink with me Yuuri (obviously not going to be drinking) Kominato and Youichi? We'll be going to Jukes on Saturday and hey it's nearly your birthday right? we need to celebrate that too! I have a suprise ;) let me know if you want to come!

Chow!
Murao xox

Futaba has never replied to a message so fast, this is the first peice of excitement she has felt for years, seeing her friends again after so long.

MURAO! I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH! YES! i'd love to come on Saturday, and Jukes? I've never heard of it!
Can't wait!
Futaba xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

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Murao places her phone on the bar table after reading Futaba's message. Looking over at the Jet-Black haired man behind the bar, making sure he hasn't spotted her.

"What a special present i have for you, Futaba".

June 18th

Trying to find something that isn't either work or sleep related to wear for Futaba is never easy, her going out life was over before it even started so she was never prepared for this to happen. And being at work everyday can take it's toll on a woman's wardrobe.
She ends up deciding on a tight fitting black pencil skirt (From work) with a loose red blouse tucked into it, which had a big bow on the back. And she styled her hair in a messy bun and added a few red hairpins, she didn't bother with the makeup, apart from a small dap of mascara to make herself look more awake.

"I look.. ridiculous" she moaned, looking at her reflection in the mirror. "But it's not like i have much else...".

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Putting on his black smart trousers, shirt and deep purple tie, he prepares himself for yet another late shift at Jukes, and its Saturday too, the busiest night of the week. Before heading out he glances at a framed picture of himself and Futaba when they were together 5 years ago. Hugging in a tight embrace, with him kissing her cheek as she makes a peace sign with her fingers.

"If only you knew how much i missed you, i wish i had the courage to see you again"

"MURAO!" Futaba screeched, racing towards her close friend. Murao looked tanned, from all the travelling no doubt. Her hair was a dark brown and was around the same length that it was in high school.

"Futaba! How long has it been?" she said, hugging futaba tightly. "We need to catch up, come on, lets go inside" beckoning Futaba into the club.

"Shouldn't we wait for the others?" asked Futaba with a curious expression, Murao seemed eager to get inside as soon as, so after Murao had given her answer with a 'get-inside-right-now-or-i'll-whack-you' face, Futaba followed behind like a loyal puppy-dog.

Kou stood in the staff-room, checking his phone. Not much point to it though really since he had abandoned his friends years ago and hadn't contacted them since. So who'd contact him other then his brother and father?

"Kou! You're needed! It's starting to fill up now!" Screamed his manager.
Here we go!
Kou thought to himself, Saturday's always were a gruelling task, especially since you never know who could show up. There's been many occasions where he he thought he'd seen Futaba, but their hair was never the right shade, or their figure isn't quite how hers was, though alot has changed in the past 5 years, Kou felt like an expert on her. She was his afterall.

Kou made his way out to the front room, where surprise surprise, it was packed with people, from rowdy teens, drunk brides-to-be, to the older generation who must have gotten the day wrong. But something caught his eye, a flash of red in the corner of the room.
What is that?...
The disco lights finally made themselves round to that corner once again, lighting it up completely.

No way...

"So Futaba, tell me. Any men in your life?" asked Murao, though the look on her face said she already knew what was about to be said.
Futaba contemplated lying and making up some dream man so she'd look less alone and insane. But holding back and lying to Murao was pointless, she always had that way with people. Eventually Futaba felt so uncomfortable with Murao's glare digging into her, she burst.

"I STILL LOVE HI-" Futaba stopped, smacked her hand over her mouth and checked no one heard her, like it mattered.

"I see... Will you wait here a minute, I'm dying to go to the ladies room" Murao lied, this was her chance now, her chance to make her close friend happier then she'd ever been.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BEEP BEEEEP. BEEP BEEEEP.

A Text? Who from?

Kou, It's Murao. I got your number from Youichi. I'm going to make this simple for you, i know you work at Jukes, infact i'm there now with Futaba. I've left her alone in the far corner of the room. Now is your shot okay? Youichi explained it all to me. Tell her how you feel, trust me she still loves you, there's been no one else since you left her 4 years ago. I think she's been lonely long enough now.

Do something about it, and make your woman happy, you have 20 minutes till i come back.

Now was his chance. She's actually here, close to him.
Shit.
He wasn't prepared for this, this kind of thing only happened in his dreams.

He made his way slowly towards where she was waiting, patiently. She's even more beautiful then he remembered, all the pictures he had of her were of when she was 18 years old, but now, as a 22 year old woman, she looked more mature, more elegant and just downright sexy. She hadn't got any makeup on, which he preferred, make-up didn't suit her anyway, she was a natural beauty. Which are hard to find.
What do i say to her?
Kou thought, after 4 years she's sure to have questions, questions which Kou wouldn't be able to answer without looking foolish.
Sod it, here goes...

Murao was taking a really long time, how long does it take to pee? Sipping her drink, Futaba sat back in her seat and made herself comfortable, she never liked clubs. She'd always see couples who looked happy together dancing or drinking together, which just depressed her, she wanted it. But the man she wanted it with was somewhere else in the world.

"Shit!" She exclaimed, spilling abit of her drink onto her lap. Brushing off as much liquid as she could off herself she stood and wriggled around in her skirt, making sure the wetness didn't get to her panties and make her feel even more uncomfortable.

A hand appeared with napkins which Futaba took immediately and attempted to clean up her mess. Looking up to thank the owner of the hand, her heart stopped.

There he is.

It can't be him.

No...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She looked like she was about to throw up. That was his first thought. Those bright brown eyes that he loved so much were filling with tears, tears that were all his fault.
Before he could open his mouth to talk she slung her arms around his neck and took a huge sniff. Typical Futaba.

"Futaba, I'm sorry i ever left yo-" HE started, but was cut off by Futaba's lips crashing against his. She doesn't care, he's here now.

They stood there, surrounded by people, lost in eachothers embrace and kisses. Brushing the loose hair from her face, he stroked her cheek, resting his forehead against hers.