A/N: I promise I'm getting back on track with posting chapters. x'D
Chapter Forty
The slight taint of purple left on my jaw from a bruise now departing reminded me every time I looked in a mirror that things were out of my control. I couldn't believe I'd become so overwhelmed I'd let myself get hit in the jaw, and I couldn't believe how angry I was afterward. Not just with myself, but with Kotoko and Nakagawa too.
For a week I'd been purposely avoiding her and I wondered if she knew why or even knew I was avoiding her. I didn't go back to practice and I worked most days after class, also spending a lot of time reading medical books either in the library or at my apartment.
This time, I was at the library. Naturally, the books were becoming more difficult and touched on more complicated subjects, but it presented me with a challenge and I enjoyed that.
With classes ended, I headed for Teppan to tackle my next shift. Medical procedures ran through my head on the walk and it was just enough to keep my thoughts pleasant.
I hadn't seen Kotoko in the cafe since she last brought Nakagawa here, and for that I was relieved but also unhappy. Things must've been going well with that moronic simpleton. A small part of me believed that Kotoko had been dating him and brought him to Teppan simply to show me up, or to make me angry. But since she hadn't come back for a week, it didn't seem very true.
I hung the apron around my neck and tied it in the back. Yuuko gave more orders to the cooks and I hopped right to my job.
"Careful of that table over there." Yuuko gestured discreetly toward a table in the center of this busy night, "The kid likes to throw his food." I spotted this kid and he smiled devilishly. Thankfully, it wasn't my table. All I had to do was watch out for spare morsels being flung my way.
My shift went smoothly and I was hit with no food. Day transitioned into night and my time was coming to a close.
I'd almost completely forgotten about Kotoko… and then she shuffled in through the door, battling the harsh wind, her scarf flapping against her face. She seated herself in my section, as always, and shedded her coat. She glanced over the menu.
"Isn't she dating someone?" Yuuko said, pursing her lips, "She really doesn't back down, does she?"
I brought myself over to her table, already guessing what was up, "Are you ordering now or later?"
"Hm?" She tore her eyes away from the menu, "Oh, I'm ordering later." She flashed me that brilliant smile, but I was perturbed. Of all places, why did she like to choose here for her dates? To show off that she was over me or something?
"Waiting for Nakagawa?" I said under my breath.
"What?"
"Nothing. I'll be back when you're ready." I wandered over to stand with Yuuko as we awaited more customers and the night was slowing down.
"Geez, she really is shameless, isn't she?" Yuuko said, though that was her last comment.
Kotoko headed for the bathrooms in the back. Less than a minute later, in strode Nakagawa with an irritatingly pleasant look on his face, scanning the room for her. I decided I didn't care anymore and took it upon myself to show him to the table.
"She's in the bathroom. You can wait here." I said. Nakagawa threw his coat over the back of the chair but didn't sit.
"Where are the bathrooms?" He asked. I pointed them out and off he went. What he was up to, I wouldn't have known.
He stood over there, waiting outside the girls' bathroom for a good few minutes before Kotoko emerged. I watched them over secretly. They spoke in low whispers, and then Nakagawa leaned in close to Kotoko. Ice shot through my veins. I was as still as a statue. Breaking out of that, I'd almost taken a step toward them when another person flew through the door. Yet another person I wasn't fond of. Kinnosuke crazily searched the dining area and his eyes landed on both Kotoko and Nakagawa in the bathroom entrance.
"Hey!" He screeched and raced forward, tearing the two apart, "What do you think you're doing?" He shoved Nakagawa away from Kotoko. Surprisingly, I was grateful to him then. He did exactly what I'd wanted to do.
"Kin-chan!"
"What are you doing? Don't take advantage of Kotoko like that!" Kinnosuke continued, utterly enraged. He went after Nakagawa again, but this time Nakagawa fought back. Kinnosuke stumbled from a hit to the face, but he was resilient.
"No! Stop that!" Kotoko wailed at them. She tried to pull them apart but had nil effect, her arms as strong as toothpicks.
The two went at each other like wild. Kinnosuke wrapped his hands around Nakagawa's neck.
"I knew you were going to make a move on her!"
"What are you talking about, Kin-chan? Stop it now!" Again, Kotoko tried to pry them apart.
Fists flew. Before anyone knew it, they were out in the dining area, throwing each other on the ground, bloody noses and cracked lips prominent.
Yuuko emerged from the kitchen, finally noticing all the noise, "What's- why are those idiots fighting?" She gave them a disgusted look as a couple of servers tore them apart from each other. But that hadn't stopped customers from leaving.
Having already been separated, they went for each other again. In one final straw, I stepped in. Pushing them both in the opposite directions, I said, "Haven't you two had enough? We're running a business here and you're scaring away customers," I stepped away from them, "Could it be…" I took a glance at a guilt-trodden, embarrassed-looking Kotoko, "You were fighting over her?" Kinnosuke rubbed his hand. He then appeared offended, "You don't even know the half of it. Just stay out of it." He wiped his nose.
In chimed Nakagawa, "I've heard all about you, and you don't even like Kotoko, so it's none of your business." I narrowed my eyes at him.
"What I find funny is that you think fighting over it is going to make her like either of you. I would stay out of it, but it seems you don't know that Kotoko loves me." Kotoko's expression lightened.
I looked to the clock and slipped out of my apron, "My shift is over anyway. Let's leave, Kotoko." She was stunned into silence as I took her by the arm, grabbed her coat, and led her out of the place.
Since her house was far away compared to my apartment, I opted for the train. We caught one just in time for its departure. There weren't so many people surrounding us, but Kotoko was speechless.
It was only after we'd gotten off at our stop that she opened her mouth.
"I have something to say," She said. I listened, "I'm sorry. I caused all this." Had she, now? Just with that, she almost didn't have to say anything more. I knew where this was going.
"I was just… trying to make you jealous." She looked to her feet as we walked.
"You think I didn't know that this whole time?" I asked, "You're too obvious. I'm not stupid."
"Oh… well…"
"I would never be jealous of Nakagawa." Her guilty eyes bored into me and it lifted into relief.
"You're not mad?" I didn't even have to answer her and she cracked that famous smile at me, the one that broke my resolve every time.
Every. Single. Time.
