"Take that. Open it at any page. Tell which one it is."
Izaya pointed to the phonebook. Kadota obeyed.
"Page 60."
Izaya proceeded to prattle every single number. Kadota gasped, then became silent and almost livid. It was a good thing that Izaya monopolized everything with his smooth enumeration that was hesitation free because Kadota was not sure he could find his voice.
"-98989. Next page?"
Kadota swallowed. He felt slightly sick. And yet there was no reason to be this dismayed. But there was something nothing short of creepy in the effortless way Izaya calmly unwound number upon number and the names attached to each one.
"You...know the entire list by heart?"
"Who can tell? I suppose I could go through a few more pages but it would be boring, wouldn't it?"
Kadota nodded automatically. This as a clue but he did not know precisely what to make of it. Izaya served him another cup of tea. Kadota noticed that again Izaya turned his own cup before taking a sip.
"That's pretty...impressive."
Izaya giggled. So at ease and in control that Kadota was positively uncomfortable. And then suddenly Izaya turned his eyes to him with a musing look.
"Say, Dotachin. Do you like me?"
Kadota literally flinched.
"Wh-what?"
"Don't read too much into it, please. It's a very simple question. I was just wondering if you like me. I'm not about to confess my undying love for you."
But he might as well have been for the confusion it caused in Kadota. For all that Kadota knew it was a trick question but Izaya seemed earnest.
"Oh, sure. I mean, we go a long way back and all that."
Izaya's smile changed into sadness.
"In other words, you don't actually like me but you put up with me since we've known each other for such a long time. I've been wondering why you never dropped by. That settles it, then."
There was nothing hostile in Izaya's attitude. There was a weight on Kadota's chest and he realized what it was. For the first time Kadota felt sorry for Izaya. Genuinely sorry. He thought about the pristine apartment, the epitome of class and style and yet so utterly empty. There was no sense of a home within these walls. And he imagined Izaya playing his complicated games, playing everyone across Tokyo for his masterplan while being utterly alone.
"Izaya-"
"Thank you for at least not lying to me too much. You're too polite to tell it to my face that you don't like me but you won't pretend to like me. That's honest of you."
Kadota hardly knew what to say. He wanted to leave but he could not leave things standing as they were.
"We can hang out if you'd like."
"Ah. Indeed."
"The Van gang thinks you're really cool."
It sounded so pathetic that Kadota kicked himself inwardly. Izaya bounced and returned with a plate.
"Would you care for some cake? It's chocolate."
"Sure, thanks."
Eating was as good a way to cover up the awkward atmosphere as any other. Izaya took a portion of the cake as well. It was a rich spongey affair that oozed chocolate goodness.
"Good, isn't it? I got it at one of these new department stores."
"Yeah. It's really great. Thanks for sharing."
Daily routine somehow did not align with Kadota's idea of Izaya. Not even being classmates had ever given Kadota the impression that Izaya went about everyday things like everyone else. Buying groceries, paying the bills, shopping for clothes. But he saw it now.
"I enjoy the fine things in life. Oh, by the way. I almost forgot, if you're going to spy in front of my place try at least to stay outside the surveillance cameras' range. It makes Namie nervous to see people just hanging about."
Kadota choked. Izaya offered him more tea.
"Spying is a bit- I mean, it wasn't like that-"
"You were just passing by? I suppose that is possible. After all, there are so many things that are possible. For example, it is possible that you actually want to find out about go. It is perfectly possible that you are attending a go related anime marathon. One cannot deny that it is...possible."
Kadota's blood ran cold. Any sympathy he might have had for Izaya disappeared.
"I should be going now- it's getting late."
"Bye bye, Dotachin. Take care!"