I'm here. I may be late but here I am. Why am I late? Karasu showed up on my way. He was alone which surprised me.
"Hey Tobitaka. Where are you going?" he asked.
"None of your business. Get out of my way."
He blocked my way still.
"I don't want to talk to you." I told him.
"Just tell me where you're going."
"I already told you that it's none of your business!"
Unexpectedly he pushed me.
"What?" I asked.
"Come on, Tobitaka." He says. "We're buddies right? If you're just going to meet your girlfriend you can just say so."
My eyes widened. How did he know?
"What makes you say so?" I asked.
"Oh, it's just a hunch. Or maybe a lucky guess."
"You're acting suspicious."
"Me? Suspicious? No, I'm just trying to be friendly to the guy that is seeing my ex-girlfriend."
My jaw drops slightly. My eyes widen.
"Your what?"
"That's right, Tobitaka. I know about your relationship with Eri. Apparently you know nothing of her past relationships. That's just sad."
I stepped backwards, shocked.
"You're lying!" I said.
"No, Toby." He replied. "I'm telling the truth. She's the one that's not saying anything."
That was when I punched him in the face (which is funny because normally I kick hence the nickname 'Toby the Kicker'). He landed on the sidewalk on his side. Shocked with what I did I ran away until I reached the restaurant. As soon as I entered the dining area with the stage I saw Eri.
"This next song is originally by Sebastian the crab but the director-slash-play writer didn't want him to sing. Instead of the crab we use my voice." Eri says. "I'd like to dedicate this song to my boyfriend who just arrived. For sure you know who you are. This is also for the boys who want to but don't have the guts to. This song is called 'Kiss the Girl'."
Here I am not just standing right in front of the stage with Eri singing to me.
There you see her sitting there across the way
She don't got a lot to say but there's something about her
And you don't know why but you're dying to try
You wanna kiss the girl
Her voice is quite captivating. It's like I'm falling in love with Eri all over again. Wait a second. I'm in love with her? Since when was I? We're not even dating. We went out once but that is all that happened. Then again she called me her boyfriend. Maybe I am in love with her.
Yes, you want her
Look at her, you know you do
I really do want her. I like her in a sense like seeing her naked on her bed or in a sense like kissing her passionately. That kind of want is what I mean.
It's possible she wants you too
There's one way to ask her
I know she wants me. I think she wants me. Does she really want me? How can I tell?
It don't take a word
Not a single word
Go on and kiss the girl
I expected this.
Shala la lalala my, oh my
Looks like the boy's too shy
Ain't gonna kiss the girl
Shala la lalala ain't that sad?
It's such a shame
Too bad you're gonna miss the girl
Go on and kiss the girl
I'm not shy! I just smile at her after this verse and then the floor turns blue.
Now's your moment
Floating in a blue lagoon
We're in a lagoon? No, I am in a lagoon. Eri is on stage.
Boy you better do it soon
No time will be better
She don't say a word
And she won't say a word until you kiss the girl
I really want to kiss her again. Sadly she's on stage so I won't get to feel them until she's finished with the show or song or something.
Shala la lalala my, oh my
Looks like the boy's too shy
Ain't gonna kiss the girl
Shala la lalala ain't that sad?
It's such a shame
Too bad you're gonna miss the girl
Eri removes the microphone from the stand and walks across the stage as she sings.
Shala la lalala don't be scared
You better be prepared
Go on and kiss the girl
She looks at me and she winks.
Shala la lalala don't stop now
Don't try to hide it
How you wanna kiss the girl
She walks to one side of the stage with the microphone in her hand.
Lalala la, lalala la
Go on and kiss the girl
So it seems she is getting off the stage.
Lalala la, lalala la
Go on and...
She walks in front of me.
Kiss the girl
She smiles at me.
Shala la lalala my, oh my
Looks like the boy's too shy
Ain't gonna kiss the girl
Shala la lalala ain't that sad?
It's such a shame
Too bad you're gonna miss the girl
All this is right in front of me.
Lalala la, lalala la, go on and kiss the girl
Go on and kiss that girl
She puts one hand on my shoulder while singing.
Lalala la, lalala la
Go on and kiss the girl
I bring myself nearer to Eri and wrap my arms around her waist.
Go on and kiss the girl
Our foreheads touch.
Kiss the girl
She puts the hand that was on my shoulder to my face.
Go on and kiss the girl
When she finishes the line I kiss her. I kiss Eri on the lips.
The performance is over and the two of us leave the restaurant.
"I'm so glad you came on time." She says. "I was worried that you might not come."
"Well I'm here right now." I reply. "I'm here with you."
She blushes deeply. Her face is so pink that I find it quite adorable.
"I wish I could go back to that ramen store." She tells me. "What's it called again? Rairaiken?"
"You were there yesterday." I tell her.
"I know. I just want to go back there since you work there and all. I feel like trying out the dumplings." She replies with a smile.
"Yes, Tobitaka. Let's have dumplings at that Rairaiken thing." says a familiar voice that is not Eri or me.
We turn around and see Karasu standing right behind us.
"Karasu..." I say in a low tone that shows I'm angry.
"We meet again, Eri." He says as he gets closer to Eri.
"What do you want, Yuki?" she asks.
"Yuki... I haven't been called that in a while. My answer to your question is nothing you need to know." He replies.
I close my hand into a fist. I, like Eri, want to know what he wants with us.
"Thanks for the punch earlier, Tobitaka." He tells me. "I didn't need it but it made me realize that you're mad at me. You're mad at me because of the past. Not of our past as gang members but of MY past with miss Raimon Eri."