Joe smiled at the blonde girl in front of him. Nice looking girl he thought. When she turned around, and their eyes met, she smiled. He returned the smile. She turned around and paid for her food then as she left she handed him a slip of paper. He winked at her as he kissed it and put it in his pocket.
He was watching her walk out, as he suddenly felt a boney elbow hit him in the stomach. He turns around and yells. "Jinpei, I am going to kill you."
"But I am hungry, move up and get our food." He pointed to the counter where a young man waited at the cash register for the next in line...Joe. Joe moved up and ordered, half listening when Jinpei ordered, if he had he would have called him on the big order. Instead he paid for the food and they went outside.
The two settled into the car to eat. It was then Joe noticed. "Boy, did you leave anything in their for anyone else?"
"What? You would starve a growing boy?"
"Keep that up and you will be the size of Ryu." Just then Jinpei dropped mustard on the seat. Seeing the look on Joe's face he quickly used a napkin to wipe it up.
"I will always be lean and strong like now." Joe just frowned at him and continued eating.
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Jun sat on the side of her bike looking out at the sea. She felt she had a lot to think about. She had been dating Matt for weeks now. He was a nice guy, and fun to be with. But she didn't think it fair to him. She almost felt guilty for being with him, and not Ken. Though Ken hadn't ask her out even once.
She and Joe had talked about the future before, and how unfair it was for them now. They were expected to be adults while in uniform, and teens when not. Answerable to Nambu. Their implants were there for life, and could never be removed or they would die. So they would never be normal.
Jun moved and got back on her bike. Time to get back to the Snack J. Almost time to open. She rode the lonely stretch of road that lead to the main road. She liked it, for she could use as much speed as she liked.
She pulled up outside the snack J, and got off. She could hear the juke box playing when she walked in. Jinpei was behind the counter, mixing something in the blender. Joe was sitting at the counter drinking a beer. He turned when he heard her, and smiled.
Jun walked over to him and sat down beside him. He put his hand on her shoulder, and gently squeezed.
"Something wrong, Jun?" Jun looked at him, and she wanted to get his opinion.
"Yeah, you know I have been dating Matt for weeks now."
"You two getting serious? Or did he try something? If he did I will go have a talk with him." Jun put her hand over his.
"No he has been a good boy. It's just that I am not being fair to him."
"How so?" Joe looked at her closely, then it dawned on him. "Ah, our commander, he's behind this. Forget him, he's not worth your thoughts even. If he was he wouldn't be so stupid."
"But, I love him."
"Yeah I know. But still you should move on, if you want a future with a family of your own one day. You wont get it with Ken. He loves his duty more. If I was in Ken's shoes, I wouldn't let anything come between us."
Jun leaned over and kissed him on the mouth, the first time she had done that. He was surprised and caught a glimpse of Ken just coming in the door, and knew he had saw it too.
"Thank you Joe. Maybe you are right. There is no future with Ken. I should have chosen you." She turned and walked off never seeing Ken's face. But Joe did, and as Ken walked over he looked coldly at Joe.
"Leave her alone!" He snarled just before he hit Joe, knocking him from his stool. Then he turned and walked out. Jinpei stood watching, and he leaned over the counter and looked at Joe.
"Oh, Ken is jealous of you. Better watch out, are you interested in Jun?"
Joe thought about it for a minute. They had grown up together, been confidants, and playmates. "Wouldn't do any good if I was." He turned and walked over the door and opened and left.
Jinpei stood there, watching. Then he went to follow his sister up the stairs. He had questions.
