Chapter Four: Cute Crush
"You really should get a mocha latte," she said and sipped her icy beverage. She then offered her own glass to him, but he declined with a shake of his head.
"Not first thing in the morning for me." He raised his glass of orange juice to his lips and took a gulp. They had been talking about the restaurant since they came in and ordered their meals. Their table by the window gave them a great view of the busy streets of New York City, and it sometimes reminded Takeru of how Tokyo could be too. He had been homesick at first, but the unfamiliar city brought the adventurous side out of him.
"Remember how we were on our own back then?" he asked her, reminiscing on their past, "We were so young then, yet we had to rely on ourselves and each other to survive. It was scary but the excitement... I would never trade those times in for anything."
"Me too," she smiled. "Those hard times, on the verge of life and death, really pushed me out of my spoilt, comfort zone. I wouldn't be who I am now without it, and I, for sure, would not have had great friends like you guys."
There was something in her smile that made his heart flutter. He looked down at his orange juice, trying to sort out his thoughts. "Something on your mind, Keru-chan?" she inquired, twirling the straw in her latte.
"Iya, I was just thinking about our adventures, that's all." She continued to look at him curiously until he spoke again, "Mimi."
"Hai?"
"Um, did you know... back then, I... had a crush on you?"
She nodded, winking, "I had a really cute boyfriend then." His cheeks flushed with pink. "We got along so well, and look at us now. We're still like that, aren't we?"
"Yeah, I'm glad we are."
The waitress returned with their morning meals, and the two ate peacefully with some exchange of words on how to proceed the rest of the day.