Prologue

"So, you accept? You'll be my best man?" Donato asked, leaning in with wide eyes and a hint of desperation in his voice.

Shinomiya Kojiro let out a heavy sigh and downed his glass of whisky. "Can't you ask someone else?" he replied with exasperation. "I don't think I'm actually fit for the job."

"That's a yes for me then." the blond Italian assumed.

The two friends were standing at the bar, drinks on hand as they waited for the rest of their group to arrive. It had been quite a long time since they've seen each other. This mini-reunion is just one of the many nights he was already expecting to be with his friends. Saying 'no' would never be an option. Even though he didn't feel like it, he was sure that his friends would raid his Tokyo apartment, or worse - Shino's, just to force him to join them.

"Where are they?" he asked, feeling a little impatient. He swiftly signalled the waiter for another refill.

Donato whipped out his phone and scrolled through a few messages. "Well, hmmm…" he hummed as he thought. "Hinako and Mizuhara are on their way. They're sharing a cab. And...Ruth is -"

"Babe!" the high-pitched tone of Ruth's voice was heard from the entrance.

Shinomiya was about to sip on the newly refilled glass of whisky, when he realized that the blonde pastry chef would be joining them. As Donato excused himself to greet his fiancee, Shinomiya's palms started to sweat. He thought it would just be the four of them - Donato, Mizuhara and Hinako...just like old times. But he guessed it couldn't be helped. Donato and Ruth were newly engaged after all, and it's expected that they would be glued to the hip.

But then if Ruth is here, then that means…

He whipped his head back faster than he intended to. In the next second, Yamamoto Isabella walked into the room donned in a silk red dress, brown hair flowing on her shoulders, and with a bright smile as her eyes landed on the blond Italian.

"Chef!" she beamed just before her eyes shifted to the Pluspol Chef.

They stood across from each other, both wide-eyed and surprised to find themselves in the same room. Six months of total isolation from each other didn't feel enough for both of them, especially for Shinomiya as he felt his heart pounding like a bass drum.

Bella gave him a diplomatic nod and a smirk. It took every fiber of his being for him to do the same.

"My god, Bella! I feel like we haven't seen you in forever!" Hinako gushed as she walked into the room. They held hands and playfully swung them back and forth. "Your hair is so short!" she continued.

"Right," the Italian sous chef shyly replied, touching the ends of her hair. "Well, it's not too short."

"Oh, Shinomiya's here too." Mizuhara stated as she trailed behind.

All eyes awkwardly turned to the coral-haired chef at the bar. "Am I not supposed to be here?" he arched a brow to his friends.

"No, no, no!" Donato protested, making his way towards him. "I called you all today to celebrate." he continued to explain.

Blank looks came from Mizuhara and Hinako. Bella could hardly contain her excitement as she placed a hand over her lips, trying to keep mum about the big news. From the other end, Shinomiya was at war with his thoughts. Seeing her again after six months reignited a few feelings he had been trying to overcome - anger, disappointment, hurt, betrayal, love. Whatever he felt for her now, he couldn't specifically put a name on it. It was as if all his emotions had come together and he just could not figure out how he would act with her being just a few feet away from him.

"We're engaged!" Donato beamed, holding up Ruth's left hand.

"Oh my god!" the two women exclaimed, gazing at the sizable diamond ring on the blonde's finger.

"Congratulations!" Hinako jumped to hug both of them.

"Yeah, congratulations, Donato." Mizuhara was lacking in the emotions department, but she was wholeheartedly happy for her friends. However, she couldn't help but sneak in a little side comment, "I never thought I'd see the day when you'd actually settle down."

Donato chuckled and replied, "I guess people change."

Shinomiya felt disgusted at that word - change. It revolted him so much that he took another swig of his liquor. Indeed, people do change - some for the better, others for the worst. For him and Bella, it was indeed, for the worst. It was one of the many reasons why they broke up.

A/N: Hello! I'm back with another Shinomiya fan fiction. If you're a fan of my previous work, "Two Can Play That Game", this is actually part 2! :) You guys have overwhelmed me with your responses, follows, favorites on that fic, so I decided to proceed with this one. The first chapter was intended to be longer - BUT, it just didn't feel right. Next part might be up soon too. Please make sure to follow! 3

love,

rocket