Chapter 5 - At Mishu Café

Beautiful. That was the first word that came into Tomoyo's mind when they had arrived at Mishu Café. The appearance of the café's walls was painted in violet and light rose and the doors were made of glass. The title of the café was in midnight blue and silver. There were all sorts of roses and flora at the front of the café. It looked incredible.

"It's beautiful," complimented Tomoyo, in awe.

"I'm glad you like it," said Hideki, with a smile across his face, "come on. Staring at it isn't going to fill up your famished stomach."

And with that Hideki grabbed Tomoyo's hand, once again, and dragged her into the magnificent café. The appearance of the café was beautiful, but it could not be compared to the inside. The walls were painted in the colour of beige, with maroon-painted edges around them. The ceiling was lavender, and so was the carpet floor. The chandeliers, which were hung upon the ceiling, were huge and had appeared to look antique. Even so, it was very romantic. There were candles placed around the café, to brighten up the café, and tables were mostly set for two people, yet some were for four or more. It looked more like a restaurant than a café.

A waitress, dressed in a lavender blouse and a white skirt, walked towards Tomoyo and Hideki. She had orange hair, with blond highlights, with Amber eyes. Her face was pale, like snow, and she was moderately short. She had rosy cheeks and when she smiles, she displayed a row of beautiful, white teeth.

"Hi," greeted the waitress, with a smile displayed on her face, "how may I help you?"

"We would like to eat in please," replied Hideki.

"Please come this way," responded the waitress. Tomoyo and Hideki followed the waitress into the corner of the café, near a glass window. She went away to get their menus and her booklet, accompanied with a pen. She came back wit the menus, and the things that she required, and handed them to Tomoyo and Hideki.

"What would you like to order, Sir and Miss," asked the waitress, politely. While skimming through the menu, Tomoyo realized the price was not cheap. In fact, it was quite expensive. She doubted her answer when she agreed to eat with Hideki.

"Ano… Igarashi-kun, maybe we should eat somewhere else," suggested Tomoyo timidly, since the waitress was still standing there.

"How come?" asked Hideki, "I thought you said you liked it here. Is something wrong? If so maybe I c-"

"No!" interjected Tomoyo, "I mean, this place is quite beautiful. I really love it."

Hideki smiled at this.

"But I think the food is quite expensive, don't you think?" asked Tomoyo. Hideki looked at Tomoyo and laughed. Now Tomoyo was bemused, thinking what she had said was so funny to make him laugh at her.

"Dear Daidouji-san," said Hideki, as his laughter began to die down, "you do not worry about the price of the food because I'll be the one who would be paying. Any ways, this shop belongs to a friend of mine. So if you do mind about the prices, I'll ask him to go easy on me with the bill, alright?"

Tomoyo looked at him blankly, not knowing what to say. She could feel her face turning red, from embarrassment. His reply to her question made her feel so stupid. Oh dear, now he thinks I'm a miser, or maybe he thinks I think he's a miser, or something like that. This is not a good expression. Why are things going wrong when I'm around him? Yesterday, I have bumped into him and today, I made myself sound like a miser. Oh, the mortification.

"Sorry," apologised Tomoyo, "I did not know this is your friend's café. It was so rude of me to interrupt you when you were speaking and making it seem as though I was implying you as a miser."

"Don't worry about it, my lovely friend," reassured Hideki. Tomoyo felt herself turning more red than she was now, if it was possible. "I'll order for you then?"

"S-sure," stuttered Tomoyo.

"I'll have a latte and a pineapple and ham sandwich," said Hideki, "and this beautiful lady will have a cold mocha and a Caesar salad."

"Okay, I'll be back with, your orders, in a few minutes," said the waitress.

"How did you know I like to drink cold mocha?" asked Tomoyo, with obvious curiosity shown across her face, "and that Caesar salad is my most favourite salad?"

"Really?" Hideki questioned back, "I really had no clue. I just presumed you like it, since you appear to be the kind of person to like cold mochas and Caesar salads. A good guess, I suppose."

"Oh," said Tomoyo, "I believe you are a good guesser then. Since you ordered a latte and a pineapple and ham sandwich, I suppose you are a soft sleeper and are quite interested in sport?"

"How did you know?" questioned Hideki.

"Just instincts, I guess," responded Tomoyo, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. The waitress came back with their drinks and foods and placed them on the table. She then left the couple alone.

"Well," said Hideki, "shall we eat?"

"We shall," replied Tomoyo.

Nothing much had happened between Tomoyo and Hideki. They just eat and drink, enjoying the other's company, and talked. That was what they had been doing, until a couple entered the café. It was no ordinary couple, like any others. These couples knew Tomoyo, and Tomoyo knew them. The couple were out on a date when they spotted their friend, Tomoyo, and decided to greet her, and the person she was eating with, and tell her about the news.

"Tomoyo-chan!"

Tomoyo looked up to see Sakura and her boyfriend, Syaoron, walking towards her and Hideki.

"Sakura-chan! Syaoron-kun!" exclaimed Tomoyo. When the couples finally reached up to Tomoyo, and Hideki, she asked them why they were here.

"We were thinking of having lunch here," replied Sakura, happily. She had not notice the man standing next to Tomoyo, until Syaoron had asked whom was he.

"Oh Sakura-chan, Syaoron-kun," said Tomoyo, "this is Igarashi Hideki. Igarashi Hideki, meet Kinomoto Sakura and Le Syaoron. Sakura-chan, Syaoron-kun, meet Igarashi-kun."

"Nice to meet you!" greeted Sakura, oblivious to Syaoron's growing scowl, "are you Tomoyo's friend from her University?"

"A pleasure to meet you too, Kinomoto-san," greeted Hideki, "yes; I am a friend of hers from Kotoyanu University."

"Oh, good!" exclaimed Sakura, "then you will be able to look after her for me! She can sometimes overwork herself. Now with you here, you can take care of her!"

Tomoyo felt herself getting mortified by her best friend, and third cousin, in front of a person, who she could possibly like.

"We can look after her ourselves Sakura," said Syaoron, gruffly, "it's not like we don't have the ability to. And we j-"

Sakura had gracefully stepped on Syaoron's toe, quieting him.

"Syaoron-kun!" exclaimed Sakura, "I'm sure Igarashi-kun can look after Tomoyo just fine, don't you agree Igarashi-kun?"

"Of course," replied Hideki, "I'll be glad to look after Daidouji-san for you, Kinomoto-san."

"See Syaoron," said Sakura, "now do you agree with me?"

Sakura gave Syaoron a lethal glare. Syaoron felt himself gulping inwardly. He decided not to say anything until they were alone. So for now, he was forced to agree.

"Of course, Sakura" said Syaoron softly, "what ever you say…"

Sakura displayed a smug smile upon her cute face. She knew he could not fight back with her. Suddenly, she remembered. Previously, she was planning on meeting up with Tomoyo, to tell her some good news, but since she was here, it made it much easier for Sakura to inform the news.

"Tomoyo! Guess what!" started Sakura, excitedly.

"What?" Tomoyo asked, somewhat uninterested. Sakura usually get over excited over things that was not that intriguing yet, when Sakura gave her those adorable, pleading, puppy-eyes look, she knew it must be something huge that Sakura needed to tell her.

"Bite me," said Tomoyo, a bit more excited than before. Key word: a bit.

"Eriol-kun has come back, to Tomoeda, and will be staying here forever!" exclaimed Sakura. "And did you know, he is actually going to the same University as you Tomoyo! Aren't you happy!"

It seemed to feel like an atomic bomb had hit a place near Tomoyo when Sakura told her that news. Hiiragizawa Eriol. He was the boy who used to sit behind her in primary school. The one she used to chat to when Sakura and Syaoron was having a confidential chat. Not that they do not want her to interfere. In fact, they have usually asked her for suggestion in those old card-capturing days. No, that was not the reason. The reason was she just did not want to bother them and their only time to be together. Yes, she knew Syaoron had liked Sakura for quite a while and was having a troublesome time telling her his feelings. That was why she did not interfere, unless she was needed, so they could have some extra time alone, and a chance for Syaoron to confess his feelings to Sakura. Eriol Hiiragizawa had been her companion, her listener, her advisor, her guidance, her partner-in-crime (for matchmaking Sakura and Syaoron, manipulating them to confess to one another about their feelings towards each other), and her friend. She had been quite lonely when Sakura and Syaoron were together, most of the time, until Eriol came along and became her friend. Tomoyo and Eriol had gotten alone quite well, since they both share most of their interests together. And when the time had come for Eriol to reveal himself as the reincarnation of Clow Reed, one of the most powerful magician who ever lived in the olden days, and that Miss Mizuki and him had known each other already in England, Tomoyo and him were still friends, because Tomoyo knew, that deep down inside of him Eriol was a good person, even after all the incidents he made to occur upon Sakura to force her to change the cards, because his intentions were good. Even though they have written mails to each other, the letters became lesser and lesser when they both were finishing up high school, and getting ready for college. It had been so long. Too long.

"He's back?" asked Tomoyo, quietly. She was quite shock with the news.

"Yes, he is," replied Syaoron. Even though Eriol and Syaoron did not start well in the beginning, they had grown to be friends. After all, Eriol had lent in a hand to help Syaoron confess his feelings.

"It's been so long," said Sakura, "we've just saw him a while ago. At first I didn't recognize him but I felt something familiar about him."

Flashback

"Syaoron!" exclaimed Sakura, "let's go to Mishu Café for lunch!"

"Sure sweetheart," replied Syaoron, as he placed an arm around her slim waist. As the couple was heading towards the café, they saw a strangely familiar figure, up ahead and both had abruptly stopped in their tracks. Sakura suddenly felt a familiar aura around him. Aura, which had the sense of authority and respect around it. The aura was strong and expressed an amount of power. Sakura felt a strange familiarity about the aura, and noticed it was an aura she has not seen for a long time. Syaoron also felt a sense of authority and power around the stranger's aura yet, he was not afraid. Syaoron wore a knowing smirk as the person, with midnight blue hair and sapphire eyes, walked up to them.

"How are you Sakura?" asked the stranger. It took a while for Sakura to reply, since she was currently in a state of shock, unsure if she was seeing whom she thought she was seeing. After what seemed like hours, Sakura let out a squeal of joy.

"Eriol-kun!" greeted Sakura. She ran up to him and gave him a friendly hug. "Eriol-kun! It has been so long! How I missed you so!"

"I missed you too, Sakura-chan. I have come to see how you have been, Sakura, and to see what my cute little descendant's been up to," replied Eriol, with a smirk. He knew Syaoron too well to know how much he loathed the name he had given him.

"Don't call me that," said Syaoron angrily. However, under the fuming exterior, Eriol knew it was his way of saying if he was doing well. Nothing has changed much. Syaoron is always grumpy, but not as much as we were younger. I believe it is because of the charms of Sakura. I guess Sakura's personality is rubbing on him. Moreover, Sakura will always be the cheerful, naïve young woman she used to be, and still is. How I miss this country, this town. This place.

"Eriol-kun, how come you're here?" asked Sakura.

"I came here to continue with my studies, for a higher degree," replied Eriol, politely, "at Kotoyanu University. Have you heard of it?"

"Kotoyanu University? Doesn't Tomoyo-chan go to that university too, Syaoron-kun?" asked Sakura, unsure if she was right.

"Yes, she does," replied Syaoron, "she just started today. Don't you remember Sakura?"

"Oh yeah!" exclaimed Sakura, "oh, I'm so forgetful. I think it's because of the pressure of the work at our university, Syaoron-kun."

"May I ask what university has you enrolled to?" questioned Eriol.

"We both enrolled to Hiakyua University," responded Sakura, "Syaoron could've gone to the same university as Tomoyo-chan, if he wanted to. However, he thinks I needed to be looked after, from the boy student bodies, so he stayed with me. Nevertheless, I could tell you this Eriol, Syaoron is doing really well in his subjects! It is a waste he is not at Kotoyanu University. That way, his career opportunity would be broadening."

Syaoron was just about to argue back, when Eriol beat him to it.

"Now, now dear Sakura-chan" began Eriol, "even though Syaoron doesn't go to Kotoyanu University, it does not mean he has a lower chance of getting a good degree. He just thinks it is not necessary for him to move into another university, just to get a better degree. With universities, it does not matter where you enroll to for education, because it is about the effort you put into your determination to learn. Moreover, he just wants to protect you from those men at your university. After all, you are his girlfriend. And no, Sakura-chan, he does not think of you as a little girl, so do not think that way of him. His intentions are good."

Syaoron was speechless. Even though, in the past, Eriol had helped him before. Numerous times, even. However, that was when Eriol was hiding, shadowing between occurrences. He had never thought Eriol would openly help him. He knew Eriol was helping him because he did not want him and Sakura to argue over such a trivial matter. And with that, he is grateful to have a friend like him, though he does not admit it openly.

"Okay Eriol-kun," said Sakura, giving in to Eriol's lecture, "I won't get angry at Syaoron-kun."

"Now that's how my half-daughter should act," Eriol said, jokingly, "as always, forgiving and thoughtful."

"So, are you staying here temporarily or permanently?" asked Syaoron.

"Well, since I'm going to college here, and studying here, and living in an apartment, with Nakuru-chan and Spinel, I guess I'm staying here," started Eriol, "permanently."

"Yay!" shouted Sakura. She was glad that Eriol was staying here, forever. He was like a brother to her. Not that she did not have one. She had one all right, with the name of Touya. Even though he really cared about her, he still teased her. Even now. She once again hugged Eriol.

"That's good," smiled Syaoron. He did not know what else to say. He still had troubles expressing his emotions properly.

"I better get going then," said Eriol, "we'll meet some other time, okay?"

"Sure! But when and where?" Sakura asked.

"Maybe next Saturday, at Gloria Jeans, at 7.00 P.M.?" asked Eriol.

"Sure. We'll be there," replied Syaoron.

"We'll take Tomoyo-chan with us as well!" exclaimed Sakura.

"Sure," Eriol responded. Somehow, Tomoyo's name seemed to pull a trigger somewhere inside of him. Somewhere, strangely, in his heart, but Eriol just pushed that notion aside. It was just too ridiculous to even think about it. "So I guess I'll be going now."

The couple and their friend bid their good byes, and with a final hug from Sakura to Eriol, they continued with their separate ways, with Eriol going to the right and Sakura and Syaoron turning to the left.

End of Flashback

"And now we're here," ended Sakura, "so will you be joining us to meet up with Eriol again, Tomoyo-chan?"

"Sure thing," replied Tomoyo. She could never say no to Sakura.

"Yay!" exclaimed Sakura, "we better head off then. I feel like eating ice-cream."

"Okay Sakura," said Tomoyo, "talk to you later."

"Bye," bid Syaoron and Sakura.

"Bye," Tomoyo and Hideki bid back. When the couples had left, Tomoyo and Hideki went back to their lunch.

"They seem to be a nice couple," complimented Hideki.

"Yes, they are," replied Tomoyo, with a smile. "I'm sorry about Sakura's favor. She shouldn't have asked you to look after me."

"But I would like to," interjected Hideki, "after all, I did promise to look after you, for Sakura."

From this statement, Tomoyo felt herself blushing all over again.

"Daidouji-san," said Hideki, quietly. "Even though we haven't known each other long, but you would really love it if you would give me a chance to look after you. Will you go out on a date with me, for the gratitude of allowing me into your life, and giving permission of being able to know you more, and admire you even more."

Tomoyo was speechless. She felt a blush creeping up her face. Never had a man ever been this honest with her. In addition, this man happens to be the man she had grown to admire, from the day he saved her from that fall. Even though they did not know each other that much, but she believes, she can give it a go. All she could do was nod her head. From this reaction to his question, he knew it was a definite yes. He was utterly content.

"Thank you!" exclaimed Hideki, "And please call me Hideki, from now on, Daidouji-san"

"Okay Hideki-kun," agreed Tomoyo, "but only if you call me Tomoyo."

"I agree, Tomoyo-san," replied Hideki.