Like epidemics on a Black Plague scale, there comes a time when statements and ideas of pure inanity spread through society. These statements and ideas spread so quickly, and so thoroughly that they are nigh impossible to avoid. Luckily, I have devised a defence befitting an epidemic of a Black Plague scale: isolation.
Unfortunately, the biggest issues with isolation is that it is very, very hard to maintain.
"Yahello! Hikki."
With fear befitting one facing the Black Death (ok, maybe that is an exaggeration), I turned towards the person who had spoken that extremely annoying greeting, Yui.
"Yo."
"Let's get going. The restaurant isn't very far from here."
We made our way towards the restaurant and soon arrived at our destination.
"Wh-what is this?" I said under my breath.
Sure enough, the restaurant was close. To tell the truth, I would have prefered it if it were further away. In fact, it would be best if it was so far away that it would get late and we would have to go home before reaching it.
It was a quaint little cafe with a focus on outdoor seating. But the thing that really stood out was what most of the patrons had in common, they were couples. Couples fawning over each other and being all lovey dovey- and seriously, get a room! Some of us aren't so lucky!
Maybe if I took the lead, I could get us a table on the edge- but dang it! Yui had already chosen a table, right in the middle of all those couples.
With much reluctance, I took the seat across from Yui.
"This place is really cute. I heard about this place, and always wanted to go."
"Why didn't you?"
"Well, I never had anyone to bring with me."
"You have friends, don't you?"
"Hikki..."
The waitress arrived. After some time quickly browsing the menu, and Yui apologizing, explaining that we had never been here before, we had placed our orders.
Being here with a girl, eating at a place that gives off some serious "date spot" vibes, many people would instantly think "She totally likes me!" Ha! I know better. Let me consider a past experience:
Middle School. A girl asks me if we want to get some drinks from a school vendor. We arrive.
"So, this is like a date right?
"Ahhh, no..."
The curtain falls.
Needless to say she never asked me that again. In fact, I remember her avoiding me from that point on.
In short time, our food arrived.
As we eat, Yui was being her usual chatty self. I responded as required, and our conversation moved along without actually accomplishing anything. It always amazed me how even huge amounts of my time spent socializing like this (forced, mind you), always resulted in absolutely nothing happening. That actually might be my fault now that I think of it..
But there was another problem at work. Yui seems to be slightly nervous. I would lie if I said I had no interest in why she was nervous. It peaked my interest, to some degree. But I didn't have any real desire to actually discover the reason. Too much work.
Unfortunately, from that arose a third problem. That lovey dovey'ess is the air, mixed in with Yui's mild nervousness, formed a truly suffocating aura.
And this presented to me the problem with eating out with others: you can't speed eat, or rather, it is pointless. Now let me explain, speed eating is a technique I have perfected over the years. There is many a time when I am placed in a bothersome circumstance, due to an obligation or some such thing. The thing that is common with these circumstances is that you "stay until you finish eating." The idea behind speed eating is that you get something that can be eaten fast, finish it quickly, and then excuse yourself. But when you are eating out with others, you are obliged to stay until everyone is finished eating. This is especially true for 1 on 1's.
But I feel I might not be getting my point across. To put it simply, I want to get the hell out of this place.
Of course, just as all good things come to an end, all bad thing must also eventually come to an end.
Having finished our food and payed the bill, we were now heading back home.
"That was a cute place."
"Sure... heh"
We had walked some distance, me following close behind Yui, when we found ourselves in a less traveled part of town. It was an "off" hour and, as a result, we found ourselves entirely alone.
It was here that she suddenly stopped and turned around to face me, a determined look in her eyes.
"Hikki."
Her sight was ever so slightly downcast. Her smile seemed brighter than usual, but at the same time, betrayed a sense of worry.
"We need to get going." I said, walking past her.
"Wait!"
I stopped and turned to face her.
"You see Hiki, I have been watching you for awhile now. I like how you're always true to yourself. You always say what's on your mind. You don't let others decide how you live. You stand strong. Your fun to be with."
"Heh, the way you're talking, an idiot might think you were confessing to him. Good thing I'm smarter than that."
Yui's expression suddenly darkened. Her face became even more downcast and the smile vanished.
"Why...?"
"Why?" I repeated the question.
She raised her head, revealing eyes that were starting to water up. Her jaw tightened.
"Your such a jerk!"
With that she walked away with a hastened pace.
I watched her go for a few moments. Then I let out a sigh, and started making my own way home.
I have learned, time and time again, that love is easily mistaken. This is especially true for someone who is lonely. A single smile from a girl sends my thoughts running. "Does she like me?" "Should I ask her out?" Though I hate to admit it, these thoughts still plague me. I have to continually caution myself: "I am just imagining things." "There is no way she likes me." I just need to remember my past, and the pain that comes when I let my guard down.
Of course, with Yui, there is the chance that she actually likes me... but there is also the chance that I am just imagining things.
And even if she did like me...
I made the right choice. Given the chance to repeat that moment, I wouldn't do anything different. I made the right choice.