Plight

Chapter III

The Dense & The Aloof

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Café de Amore is always full of lovelorn patrons- regardless of holidays, special occasions, and weather, and in this case, particularly the weather.

"Sorry Tsukino…" Azuma opened the door for her. He looked rather embarrassed. "I should've brought an umbrella." He was at a lost. The day started out so hot! Who could've honestly guessed that it would've rain on this particular day?

Tsukino, now drenched from head to toe, walked through the door with a face similar to that of a smitten woman. Azuma just opened the door for her!

"It's alright," she said. Looking around, she began to blush. 'Café de Amore' truly lived up to its name. The whole room was painted and furnished with hot pink and baby blue colored items. Pictures depicting kissing and carnal desires hung on all four walls. Even the patrons were showing their affection openly. She looked with longing at Azuma, expecting to see him blushing at the foray of open affection.

"Oiii! Old lady!" Azuma waved his hand to get the attention of the waitress. Tsukino cringed at the Azuma's inquiry. His careless use of the 'O' word would bring him a world of pain in the future. "Is there an open table?" Looking around, he couldn't find a table that was available.

Tsukino promptly apologized for Azuma's rudeness. The waitress chuckled and explained that his question wasn't the very least offensive. Moreover, she explained that she knew that Azuma meant well.

"There's one over there." She smiled at the young man. He seemed very eager to get a table; evaluating the pretty girl next to him, she didn't find anything wrong with that. "It's right next to flower patch."

"Let's go Tsukino!" He grabbed her hand, unintentionally eliciting a crimson blush on Tsukino's face, and led her to a fanciful pink colored table. He took a seat, she took hers.

"I see you don't have any manners." The old woman was by their table now, holding a notebook. "It's proper etiquette to seat the lady, before taking your own seat." Looking at his confused face, she shook her head. Boys these days! As oblivious as nut in a nutshell.

"You're first date?" she asked Tsukino. The latter nodded her head embarrassingly. Of course it was.

"We're not on a date," Azuma pointed out; he clearly didn't notice Tsukino's answer in the affirmative. His face was twisted in confusion. Why would the waitress assume such a thing? "We're just friends."

"He's right…" Tsukino said sadly, debunking her previous answer. "We're… just friends." The waitress gazed at the young girl's crimson face, before coming to a conclusion. She chuckled.

"Let me guess… he's dense… and you brought him here because of that silly rumor." Tsukino shook her head again, resisting the urge to say 'He's just dense.'

"What silly rumor?" Azuma asked. He felt a bit insulted when she said he was dense; but dense of what?

"There's an asinine rumor buzzing around town that this particular place is magical." Teenagers are odd these days, she thought. "According to what I heard, if a girl or a boy confessed their love for someone here, and the other person accepts their feelings, they would be together forever." She paused for a second and contemplated if that can truly happen. "I find that pretty hard to believe, considering this place has only been open for a few months."

"Wait… What does that have to with us?" Azuma was at a lost at what the waitress was saying.

The entire restaurant went quiet. Everyone was staring at the young bread artisan.

"…." Certainly, this boy couldn't be serious! She immediately changed the subject. "What would you like to order?" Taking out a pen, she licked the tip. Setting the tip on the notebook, she eagerly waited for the young and odd couple to order from her uniquely written menu.

"B-but..!" he interjected. "What were you implying earlier!?" When she didn't answer, Azuma sadly dropped the entire thing. He looked at the special of the day embroiled on the menu. "Hey Tsukino," Azuma scratched his head. "How does 'Eternal Love' sound to you?"

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Kai Suwabara was a man among men; he was strong enough to strike down a tree in one swift blow, and intelligent enough to pinpoint any adversary's weak point, physical and mental. Always wielding his razor sharp katana with a stern adamant face, he was an imposing force of nature.

Consequently, that fact didn't sit well with Monica Adenauer. She too was a force of nature- only a hair stronger and never deniable. She had to be, since she was always sitting on his shoulders with her legs around his head, much to his 'displeasure.'

"Kai-Chan!" Kai's pet name drew curious looks from every person within ear shot. "You promised to take me out on a date!" Bending over his head, she gave him the puppy dog look. It had no effect whatsoever.

"I made no such commitment," was his retort.

"Yes you did!" Her voice bordered on pure yearning. To emphasize her point, she began to shake his head like a rag doll.

"No, I did not." His voice was adamant to the fault. Really, it was to the fault.

"You're mean!" Her voice rung throughout the entire block and again it brought curious looks. "You promised me that you'll take me out on a date! Remember! After I gave myself to…"

"Where do you want to go?" His mortified voice brought a smile on Monica's face. The devil is devious, yes- but he has nothing on Monica Adenauer.

"Hmmm…. Café de Amore!" Her voice was as sweet as cake.

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END