I sit in the back room waiting for Hatsu to come back with our food. It was near closing time, so I had already cleaned up the front, mopped the floor, put the ice cream back into the freezer, and hung up the closed sign in the window. I hear the bell from the door ring and Hatsu whistling the newest song by Ayumi Hamazaki. He comes into the back and puts the bag on the table.

"Dinner is served." He says.

"You ordered what I asked for, right?" I ask. He has fed me mystery meals before.

"Of course, Misty O-hime-sama! None less for you." Hatsu takes out this dishes and places mine before me. "One Yaki Soba." He hands me a pair of chopsticks.

"Thanks. I'll pay you back tomorrow." I reply.

"Alright. I did put both meals on tab though."

"Oh," I nod. "What did you get? It looks sort of good."

"Care for a bite?" He pushes his plate towards me. "It's Happosai."

"Don't you only order that at special occasions?" I reply.

"It is a special occasion!" Hatsu smiles. "I'm dining with you."

I blush uncontrollably. "Do you ever shut up?"

Hatsu just pokes my nose with one of his chopsticks, and then steals some of my Yaki Soba.

"You never even asked." I take a bigger bite out of his Happosai.

Hatsu glares at me. "You shouldn't have done that." He takes his chopsticks and flicks some of his sauce at me.

It lands on my face and slowly runs down. I lick a drop off my bottom lip. "It's a bit too salty."

Hatsu cracks up and I can't help but laugh hard as well .It took a while before we could eat again without choking. He then gets serous. "Misty…may I ask you something?"

"I suppose."

I could tell he was trying to pick out the right words. "What do you see in this Ask guy?"

He caught me by surprise. "I…uh…well. He seems like a very sweet guy. It may have been courtesy since I was the customer. I don't really know, Hatsu. Just something about his eyes makes me freeze, and then I don't know what to do."

He nods slowly. "I see."

I smile at him. "Hatsu…"

            The bell over the front door rings and breaks my sentence. Hatsu takes a bit of his food and gets up. I follow him after washing down the sauce of my Yaki Soba with water. I hear Hatsu say welcome. I wondered why he was still accepting their business if we were closed. I go into the front room and see Ash and Lily standing there. She was clinging to his arm.

"Ready for that snow cone?" Hatsu asks.

"Yeah." Ash replies. "But, could you put two in my tab? One for me; one for the lady?"

"Sure thing." Hatsu fills two paper cups with crushed ice. "What flavors will you have?"

"Cherry for me." Ash says.

Lily thinks for a moment. "Lemon, please." She then notices me standing behind Hatsu. Since he's about a foot taller than me, who wouldn't miss short me? "Ah, Misty, hi! Are you going to be coming home soon?"

"Yes." I say.

"Great!" Lily forces a smile to look good in front of the guys.

I just stare at her. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh!" I just wanted to invite Ash to dinner tomorrow night. Daisy is cooking; so it should be delicious."

"I hope you don't mind." Said Ash.

"Why would I?" I try not to roll my eyes.

"Here are you snow cones." Hatsu puts a spoon in each up. "Have a nice night."

"See you at home, Misty." Lily waves and leaves.

Silence fell, but I spoke first. "Hatsu…"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to come over to dinner tomorrow night?" I ask.

Hatsu jumps for joy. "I get to eat Daisy's cooking? Shiwase!" He pauses. "Wait a minute…there's a catch isn't there? What do I have to do?"

"Nothing." I reply. "Just show up. Please? You're the only friend I have, Hatsu. Maybe if you are there, I won't give in so quickly to my sisters and their tormenting."

"Sure thing, Misty-chan! I'll show up." Hatsu answers.

"Arigatou!" I give him a quick hug.

"Wait a minute." Hatsu says again. "You devious little red-head, you!"

"What?"

"You just want me to come to make Ash jealous." Hatsu flicks my nose.

I truly hadn't thought of that, but…what the heck! "You caught me."

"Oh well, I will come anyways." Hatsu nods once more. "You should feel grateful."

I sigh and pretend to bow to him. "All hail Buddha." I then reach out and rub his stomach. "Give me some luck, oh Great Buddha."

"Quit it, quit it! That tickles." Hatsu laughs.

I stop and grab my purse out of the back room. "I'm going home. You don't have to work tomorrow, do you?"

"Nope, I don't."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow night. Come around five-thirty, okay?" I say.

"Gotcha." Hatsu takes his car keys out of his pocket and walks out to the parking lot with me. He gets in his car. "Matta ashita."

"Matta ashita." I wave and get in my own car, and the sounds of Nanase Aikawa come through the speakers. As I drive down the road I listen to my favorite song and hope that someday, I will live my very own "Owaranai Yume."