"Hey, Minato," Kenji called as the small man walked into Hagakure.
Minato jumped a bit, but came over.
"Why so surprised? I did call you."
"I thought I came first," Minato admitted, sitting down next to him. "What's up?"
"I need your help."
"Huh?" Minato waved over a waiter and ordered his meal.
"Come on, dude, this is serious."
"I know. You would have asked Junpei otherwise."
"Really? I guess you're right. Sorry I go to you with my problems."
Minato shrugged. "It doesn't matter."
"Heh, you never seem to care. Makes you a good pair of ears." He sighed then, loudly. "You don't mind that it's girl problems again?"
"No."
"Rio said she loves me."
"Rio? Yuko's friend?"
"Have you met her?"
"Yuko's mentioned her."
"Oh, well, she and I have known each other for a long time. I responded honestly, but she's not my type."
"What did you say?"
"I told her I liked her as much as I like ramen."
"She knows you well, right?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Good."
Okay. What did that matter? "Anyway, what if she pushes? I mean, I love her, but I don't love her."
"I get it. You don't love ramen romantically."
Kenji actually flushed slightly. "And I don't love her that way."
"If she knows you, she probably gets it."
"You think so?"
"Oh, Kenji."
Shit! It was Rio.
Minato leaned his head back. "Hello."
"Oh? Hello. Are you Minato Arisato? The guy Yuko told me about?"
"Probly."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Rio Iwasaki. I didn't know you and Kenji were friends."
Keep focused on him. Keep focused on him.
"Yep."
She sat down next to Minato. "I keep bugging her to introduce us, but she says you're too busy."
He shrugged. Typical.
She leaned over the counter to look at Kenji. Crap. "What's good tonight?"
"Whatever you're in the mood for."
"Hmm. What did you order then?"
Save me, Minato. I can't look her in the eyes.
"Something with shrimp," Minato jumped in. Damn he was dashing at times like this. "They just got a fresh batch in."
"Alright then," Rio replied, leaning back again.
Minato glared at Kenji.
"What?" Kenji whispered.
"Talk to her."
"Why?"
"She wants to talk to you, not me."
He was probably right. Kenji cleared his throat. "How's your day off been?"
"Huh? Pretty good. I just walked around town, but it was nice."
"Well that had to be brisk."
"Yeah."
Minato stood. "Sorry, but I have to go."
"What?"
"It was nice meeting you."
"You too," Rio responded. Minato glared at Kenji again before leaving Hagakure.
Well...crap.
"Why'd you ditch?" Kenji demanded, stepping outside the restaurant well after Rio and not entirely pleased to see his friend waiting for him. If he could even still call Minato that.
"How'd it go?"
"What?"
"How'd it go?"
"Well it...it went. We insulted each other. We laughed. We...we had a good time."
"Don't avoid her."
"I wasn't avoiding her."
Minato just glared at him.
"Alright, I was avoiding her."
"Why's it bother you?"
"It doesn't. I just don't want things to change, you know?"
"Then don't avoid her."
"You keep saying that."
"I mean it."
Kenji sighed. "I know, I know."
Minato's visage softened quite a bit. "Sounds like it was fun."
"Shouldn't have ditched. You missed a good time."
"We should all hang out sometime."
Kenji nodded. "Yeah, we should. It'd be fun."
"Junpei, Yuko, Rio, you, me…"
"Maybe we could invite Ryoji too. Find out where he moved to and drag him out here for a day."
Minato looked away. "I don't think that would work."
"Ah, he'll come back. He might stay away from the rest of us, but not you."
"Huh? Why do you-?"
"You didn't spend as much time with him, but there was always something. I don't know, but you two were just a pair somehow."
"A pair, huh?"
"Yeah, like ramen and fishcakes."
"Or you and Rio?"
"I guess."
"See you tomorrow."
"School," Kenji grimaced.
"Time with Rio."
"Doesn't count if we're not in the same class."
"We are."
Kenji grinned. "And it's a blast."
Author's Note: Most fitting way I could think to bring in Rio. I like Kenji too, but am definitely noticing that it's been a while since I really sat down and played P3. That will have to be fixed.