Chapter 1: Prologue

Rumi wondered what it was that made her fall in love with an older man. Perhaps it was because when he came into the diner to order his lunch, he always made a note to ask how she was doing. No that was rather silly, it couldn't be something like that, she thought.

Perhaps she had a thing for older guys, some sort of fetish.

It would be much more believable. But she didn't. Otherwise she would have accepted a couple of offers from one of the upperclassmen back at university. As a nineteen year old, first year student, who was blessed with good looks, black eyes, black hair, though a rather chilly demeanor as most men find out when they bothered her enough without good reason, Rumi was fairly certain that she was not in the market for a prince charming like character. Neither was she into the dark, depressed, edge lords who listened to death metal and had loads of tattoos and piercings.

She didn't really have a type and she hadn't really tried out this dating thing when she was in middle school or high school. From an earlier age, she thought herself to be a bit more mature than her fellow peers. It made for a real lonely existence. She didn't have many friends, she didn't have many good memories.

Well, there was one.

Him.

Hachiman Hikigaya.

Rumi didn't know it was love, how could she, she was so young back then, a simple child with a problem. Back in elementary school when he helped her out in his weird and twisted way, she didn't feel any gratitude towards him. He was in high school, he was a loner, he had made the group of girls who bullied her turn on each other. But he hadn't really fixed her problem. She was still a loner. As expected, like so many others, like so many adults, he was a letdown.

But she wanted to thank him, nonetheless.

"Thank you, Hachiman."

"What for?"

It was a small exchange and it stuck to her for some reason. But looking back now, it wasn't really anything special.

Things didn't change much when they met again. It was the Christmas event and she was trying her hand at acting, taking the stage and it was really such a frightful experience. She didn't want to do it. She preferred being the person behind the camera, capturing moments, observing life, staying away from all the action, hiding from view.

She wanted to hide forever. But Hachiman was there and he held her hand and helped her practice her lines, told her she was looking great when they did her hair and makeup and put that stupid wig on her head. Thinking about it now, she looked rather silly in that outfit, really childish too, but maybe that was the point, to look naïve and innocent for the festive season.

When the show was over, everyone in the audience clapped their hands. Rumi soaked in the applause as this was the first time she received this kind of attention, this kind of praise and really the sheer sound of it was magic to her ears.

But her eyes searched for him in the crowd, in the small pond of people. Only he wasn't there. He wasn't anywhere to be seen.

Not knowing why, she felt sad and displeased with herself. He had left, he hadn't stuck around, she thought. Suddenly, all the applause and show of appreciation didn't matter. He wasn't here, that's all what went through her mind.

And then the lights blinked above and she looked up and there he was. Hachiman Hikigaya, looking down at her with a small smile, giving her a thumbs up.

Rumi thought she was alone on stage, but all the time he was there with her. In charge of lighting, he was literally shining her way forward in life.

Maybe it was too early, but maybe it was then, but all she could remember was she was glad he was there for her and in a child like yearning, she wanted him to stay with her like that. Back then what she felt for him was not love. This was something she realized more recently, while pouring him a cup of coffee at the diner where she worked part-time and which he frequented on most work days.

"How are you doing, Rumi?" he asked.

Rumi Tsurumi smiled. "I'm doing fine, Hachiman."

It was a small exchange. It probably meant nothing. Yet, in her mind, Rumi was calculating, like always, whether it was odd for a nineteen year old woman to fall in love with a twenty-five year old guy.

Why did all the guys at university suck so hard, she thought, ruefully.

A/N: A Rumi/Hachiman fic, where Rumi is in university and Hachiman is employed. Let's see what happens.

Here are the options for the next chapter:

Option 1: Rumi asks Hachiman out on a date.

Option 2: Rumi fails to ask Hachiman out on a date.

Please pick any of the above options.

Hope everyone enjoyed this small chapter.

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Won't betray your dreams.