Phase 4: A Random Cute Cafe

Hand in hand, the couple raced to the next place Hashimoto had on the agenda - Love Confectionery, a cute cafe that was ranked amongst the top 10 cafes in the area. Hashimoto was sulking. The entire world seemed to be against him today.

I just have the purest and noblest intentions - to bring my girlfriend to the best places! To make her happy! Oh and also as a side bonus, to kiss her after I massively screwed up the first time. That isn't too bad, isn't it?!

Needless to say, Hashimoto was not in the best mood as the couple sat opposite each other and a menu was placed between them. Yet, as he watched Megumi eagerly flip through the menu, he felt his bitter feelings dissipate. It was the way she got excited about the littlest of things, the bounce in her step, that tugged at his heart in ways he could not explain. He smiled as he watched the corners of her eyes crinkle up, and her lips curve into a smile.

"What would you like to eat?" he asked. She smiled and handed the menu to him. "You choose!"

"Do you have anything in mind to eat?"

"Hmmm.." She smiled. "I do have something in mind, but you can go ahead and pick first!"

When your girlfriend tells you she has something in mind, any good meaning boyfriend would immediately try to figure out what it is and attain it immediately. Hashimoto was caught in this dilemma. He knew what he wanted to get for her, but he wasn't sure if it was the same item she was thinking of.

"Uh…you can just tell me what you'd like and I'll get it for you!"

Megumi had a playful look on her face. "Just guess" ;)

After some back and forth, Hashimoto finally caved in.

"Uhm…okay, I was planning to get the choco-pizza…" (it was the highest ranked menu item by girls in the famous magazine Tokyo Walker).

She gasped. "That's exactly what I had in mind! Wow we are really thinking alike…"

YES, Hashimoto silently shouted in his head. This was going well. He just had to order the food, sit close to her as they fed each other, and then slowly, gradually, he'd be able to lean in towards her and kiss her…

Hashimoto shook this thoughts away and hurriedly stood up. "I'll go to the counter to order!" he announced, grabbing his phone and wallet before walking away.

Megumi watched her boyfriend heading over to the counter, and slouched back in her seat with a happy sigh. The date had gone wonderfully so far - eventful but wonderful. She recalled her friends complaining about how they had to push and prod their boyfriends to plan something memorable, and smiled, her heart welling up thinking about the ways Hashimoto carefully planned their dates and always looked out for her.

We had such a messy start…but he's redeemed himself. He's worked so hard to regain my trust and reestablish our relationship.

Megumi was so absorbed in her own thoughts, she didn't notice the tall brunette standing next to her until he cleared his throat and he jumped.

"Hello miss," the waiter said politely. His name tag read Thomas. "could I get you anything to drink?"

"N-no, its alright," Megumi smiled.

"What's a pretty thing like you doing alone at this cafe?" Thomas asked as he smoothly set down some napkins and arranged a set of cutlery for Megumi. Megumi cast a swift glance at him, shocked by his audacious statement, but he kept his face so carefully composed and impassive that she began to doubt that she had heard his words correctly.

"I'm…I'm not alone, actually. My boyfriend is there-" she pointed at the counter- "he's ordering food for us now."

"Ah…" a slight shadow crossed Thomas' face but it quickly disappeared. "Well, you could have come to me instead! I have plenty of time to give plenty of recommendations to such a lovely lady."

Megumi kept a frozen smile pasted on her face as she nodded. She didn't wish to make a scene, but she fervently hoped that Hashimoto would soon return.

"Just call me Tom," the brunette winked.

Hashimoto returned with an order card and the waiter sidled away, but not without shooting a cheeky sideglance at Megumi. As they waited for the food, Megumi felt slightly tense every time Thomas brushed past her seat, or how he would somehow find excuses to repeatedly come over to their table. But she didn't want to say anything and ruin the date.

Eventually, Thomas came up holding the plate of choco-pizza. "Here you go!" he placed the food on the table. Hashimoto didn't even notice the sidelong glance he gave to Megumi or the way he hovered over her even after setting the plate down. He eagerly cut into the dessert and held a forkful up to Megumi's mouth. "Here, have some!" Blushing, Megumi took a bite, hoping Thomas would take the hint and keep a more proper distance.

The food was sweet and the conversation even sweeter, easing Megumi's anxieties and taking her mind off the obnoxious waiter. Thomas eventually came back and asked if he could clear their plates.

"Certainly!" Megumi said, with slightly more enthusiasm than she had intended. Thomas' eyes narrowed and Megumi wanted to kick herself.

Hashimoto was nervously enthusiastic too - with the food done, he only had a small window of time to get his kiss. Thomas collected the plates and Hashimoto, feeling generous, offered him a tip. "No need sir," Thomas said, "I'll get my own tip myself."

Before Hashimoto could ask what he meant by that, Thomas leant over and swiftly kissed Megumi on the cheek.

Megumi and the cafe manager had to physically restrain Hashimoto from beating Thomas into a pulp, who swiftly disappeared into the kitchen as he chuckled away.

"Gomen gomen! He always does this to the pretty customers…I've told him the next one would be the last straw…I'll fire him immediately…please, the dessert is on the house!"

Cheeks aflame, Megumi stumbled after Hashimoto, who had stormed away after his efforts to destroy Thomas were in vain.