[25]
"Oliwhat?" Mai, puzzled, shook Masako's arm and tried to snap her out of daze. "No, Masako that's Profe—"
After the barista handed him his drink, Professor Shibuya checked his watch, then headed for a seat—headed over toward Mai and Masako.
"Wait. Oh my god. Act casual." Mai scrambled for her frappe and slurped heartily.
If 'acting casual' was blinking a million times in one second while trying not to cringe at the sudden brain freeze . . . then yes, Mai was acting casual. And Masako—God, this girl—she wouldn't stop staring at Professor Shibuya. The only thing saving them from discovery was the couch Masako was sitting on, its loosely woven back serving as a screen to hide their faces and slightly crazed eyes.
"Masako. Masako stop it," Mai hissed. "H-he's coming—stop doing that! Stare at your tea until it goes cold and contemplate about life for hours and hours like a true cafe patron!"
Professor Shibuya passed by them. Good. Great. Okay, he sat down. He pulled out a laptop, plugged in earphones. He's tuning out the entire world. He wouldn't notice us here—
Masako stood up.
Goddamnit.
"Oliver, is that you?" Masako asked, going towards his table. She bent so that their eyes leveled, squinting to see behind his glasses since they were reflecting the laptop screen's light. "It is you, isn't it?"
Professor Shibuya halted his typing suddenly. He looked up from his work, and when he realized who called out to him, he removed his earphones.
"Masako?" he asked, bewilderment apparent in his voice. "What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?" Masako beamed. Mai had only seen her smile that wide a handful of times in all the eight years of their friendship. "How have you been doing? How is your family? Are they here with you?"
"No it's only me here," he said, still pleasantly surprised. He took Masako's hand and shook it firmly. "It's been, what, fifteen years since we last saw each other? Your family moved to . . . where was that again . . . Ah yes, to Kyushu, right?"
With her mouth agape, Mai stood silently at the sidelines, absolutely dumbfounded with the situation presented to her. She watched as the two continued exchanging pleasantries, the seconds hand of a nearby clock ticking louder and louder every second.
"Oh I almost forgot, how rude of me," Masako said, going back one step and beckoning Mai to come forward. "I must introduce you. This is my friend, Mai. We went to high school together and she's been clinging desperately to me ever since," she chuckled.
"Um. Hi . . . ?"
At this point, Mai just couldn't process anything anymore.
"Mai, this is—" Professor Shibuya, the guy I told you about, the guy I've been infatuated with for many many months, the guy who kissed me and told me to forget about it, as if I could fucking do that anyw— "Oliver Davis. He's a childhood friend from England when my family stayed there until I was ten."
Mai's panicked, utterly-confused eyes met Professor Shibuya's turbulent blue.
"Ms Taniyama. Good afternoon."
"Yes. Hi . . . sir."
Masako gaped at Mai, then at Professor Shibuya. Then at Mai again. "You've . . . met?"
"Yes. She's a student of mine." He paused. "Speaking of which, I just graded your midterms. You got a 69.49, but I'll consider it a 70. You're welcome."
Silence passed through them. Mai could see the gears turning in Masako's head, and judging by the way Masako's lips formed a tiny little 'o', Mai could swear that's the exact moment Masako put two and two together.
'Oh my gosh it's him,' Masako mouthed at Mai.
A/N: If you look closely, you'll see that 'o' is the exact face Masako made lol
And oh yes yes yes I agree with you Spiceandsugar10! This is going to be such a grand shit show for our dear Mai lmao you have no idea (one hint: Ayako's housewarming party)