Thank you so much to everybody for the support they've given me on this story so far. I hope you keep enjoying this as much as I love writing it! Okay, so I'm honestly not too sure about Rei's characterization in this chapter which is why it took me awhile to write it because I tried to take creative liberty while keeping him similar to his canon counterpart. That said, if he does seem OOC, please tell me because since I'm crazy about characterization, its something I would like to know while keeping in mind that this Rei is 18/19 and no longer a 14-year-old.


2. Of Valentines and Best Friends

It was another long day at work but since it was a day off tomorrow for Valentine's Day, Rei Katsura didn't mind working a few extra hours. He could never understand what the hype was about this holiday but he supposed it was because he didn't think to give each other roses and chocolates equated to falling in love with them. That or I'm too much of a cynic. He knew Ai was hosting a Valentine's Day party tomorrow and Haru had been insistent that he come so he had agreed. Or maybe it was just harder to say no to Haru mainly because he knew if he did, Haru wouldn't push.

"Quite a rush in here isn't it, Katsura-kun?" His female colleague Hibiki Akioto says putting the plates in the dishwasher, her chestnut brown hair tied back into a ponytail as she put gloves onto her hands to continue working.

"The restaurant is closed tomorrow," Rei replied, without even looking her way. "It's bound to be a rush since people want to have their Valentine's dates today or the day after."

Hibiki sighed a little. "Yeah, no kidding, all those lucky couples having someone to spend their day with."

Lucky wasn't the word Rei would use but he didn't argue. It just seemed so artificial for couples to come out on dates, give each other roses and chocolates then part ways after the day was over. There seemed to be no closer connection from what he could see, nothing beyond the surface, just meaningless dates above the surface and then nothing. Or maybe I would just want something deeper for myself if I ever considered that kind of thing. Not that he would ever consider it. Not after everything that had occurred back then. Things not even all his friends knew about. No one other than Haru knew about the darkest parts of his life, the one secret that he sometimes tried to hide even from himself because it still sent chills down his spine whenever he thought about it.

"So do you have a Valentine?" Hibiki asked, breaking the silence between them as she peered at him, her ocean blue eyes looking at him curiously, reminding him of another pair of blue eyes. Her eyes were the same color as Haru's, holding the same innocent curiosity as she waited for his answer.

"No," he said shrugging a little. "Nor do I have any interest for one."

"Oh," Hibiki's voice seemed to falter at this and her eyes averted to the ground. "I was just hoping if you didn't have anyone to spend Valentine's day with, we could do something together."

Rei blinked, not sure if she was asking him out on a date or not. He wasn't good at picking up this kind of stuff nor was he all that good at responding to it. "I said I didn't have interest for a Valentine. I have plenty of people to spend Valentine's day with." That was true. With Haru, Ai, Yuujin, Astra, Eri and of course Hajime, it was impossible to be bored or lonely. In fact, Astra and Eri being in the same room made him want to sometimes escape and just get away because they were so darned loud about everything.

"I see," Hibiki was smiling again which led to Rei feeling even more puzzled. "That's good then."

Rei watched her for a moment as she got back to work and wasn't really sure if he should say something more or just leave her be. She certainly didn't seem to be feeling as chatty as she had moments ago after all. He didn't have much time to think about it further though as another customer came and he got busy, beginning to serve them. He and Hibiki didn't talk much during the rest of the day unless it had to do with the work itself so it was obvious something had definitely upset her. Should he apologise? Haru would probably tell him to clear things out since she was a colleague and one of the only ones he could actually trust not to make his head spin and have an intellectual conversation with. As he finished his shift, he noticed Hibiki getting ready to leave. Now was a good time as any right? He opened his mouth to say something then closed it. Starting pleasant conversations was never his forte and the last thing he wanted to do was make things worse.

"There something you need to say?" Rei said, putting his hands in his pockets, shifting awkwardly, trying not to sound too curt or dismissive.

Hibiki looked at him and the intensity in her ocean blue eyes startled him for a moment. There was silence for a good few seconds before she finally spoke up.

"I've always found your brutal honesty rather refreshing," Hibiki said not looking at him directly but staring over his shoulder instead. "You don't beat around the bush and always say what you really feel about a situation even if it's blunt. So I'm going, to be honest with you. I like you, Katsura-kun. You're smart, really efficient at what you do and if I'm honest, you're really handsome too. I was thinking maybe if you didn't have a date, I could ask you out and we could celebrate Valentine's Day together, maybe give each other roses and chocolates instead."

Rei stared at her for a moment, not even sure what to say to her right now. So she had been asking him out on a date? Why hadn't she just said that the first time she had asked that? He felt a bit of discomfort rising in his chest, expression closing off as he realized she had called him handsome and smart but what did she really know about him anyway? Knowing someone for only six months was not enough to develop genuine feelings for them, was it? He didn't know. He didn't know how to respond to things like this, no matter who it was.

He opened his mouth to say something but this time, he really couldn't come up with anything so he closed it again, turning away from her slightly, finally saying "I have to go pick up my brother from school. I'll see you at work next time." He knew it was a horrible response and he knew he didn't really have to pick up Hajime. His little brother wasn't a child anymore after all but they usually hung out together after school before going home even if it was a little early today. He pulled his hoodie over his head, beginning to walk out of the restaurant.

"Katsura-kun?" Hibiki called out before he could walk away completely and he stopped, although didn't turn around to look at her. "We're okay right?"

"We're colleagues, Akioto-san," Rei responded curtly. "It's better if you don't allow your personal feelings to get in the way of that." That was all he said, not giving her a chance to respond as he headed towards Hajime's school, mind whirling slightly.