"Yo." - Person Talking
"Yo." - Person Thinking
And here is a sudden new chapter. Let's a go.
"Haa... What am I doing..." A sulking Hachiman lamented to himself as he laid on his bed in a defeated manner, staring with eyes even deader then usual at the reflection in his phone.
Currently, the raven haired young man was bemoaning his latest folly from two hours prior, having accepted Saika's dinner invitation without a second to think over the decision. An honest mistake for the youth, given his rather eccentric infatuation with Saika as soon as he heard her invite him to have dinner with her, it was almost instinct that he accepted. A sigh leaving his mouth when as he buried his face into his pillow, he cursed his adoration of the silver haired young lady, who he had honestly believed was a young man given their time together and their talks. Why? The young man idly wondered what could drive the silver haired young lady to hide her gender. It didn't seem like bullying was a cause, though that was purely speculation as the raven haired youth had no knowledge of her past or background. He was broken from his rambling when his phone suddenly chimed, the young man stiffening as a message from Saika crossed his screen.
["Hachiman! It's Saika, I just wanted to let you know that w-we'll be having dinner at Tokyo Sea Life Park's terrace restaurant! ! I-I already made reservations for us at seven o'clock, so we don't have to worry about not getting a table or waiting too long! S-See you then!"] Read the message from Saika, the raven haired young man cursing himself to high hell for feeling his heart hammer and flutter with such a simple message.
"T-Totsuka really went out of her way, huh... I-I guess she actually was a girl the whole time... Gah! Damn you, Hachiman! Looking back on all those times, weren't you bordering the line that perverts straddle?! Totsuka has to be an angel sent down from heaven since she hasn't reported you for all of those offenses!" He suddenly screamed into his pillow as the memories of all of his awkward and embarrassing interactions with the young lady came crashing to the forefront of his mind, his face red with embarrassment and self-mortification as he cursed himself for acting like such a fool.
He was broken from lamenting his fate when the sound of his mother calling for help caught his ear, the young man sighing as he rose from his pitiful position and headed downstairs. Passing through his room, he descended the stairs and saw his mother heading to the kitchen with her usual content and somewhat sleepy expression. Catching the sight of her son, she smiled warmly at him as he returned it with a small one of his own, moving to her car to help gather the rest of the groceries that she had brought. By the time Kanami had returned to help her son, she blinked as she saw him carrying the rest of her load with only a slight strain on his face. Smiling, she moved to help grab a few bags that seemed to be hanging a bit lower on his left arm, Hachiman nodding his head in appreciation as the two entered the kitchen together.
"Thanks, Hachi~! How's your day off been? You left the house early, didn't you?" Kanami asked as she started putting away the groceries, Hachiman stiffening a bit as he immediately recalled the rather hectic experience that was his little meet-up with Kaori.
"M-Mmm, it's been alright." He answered rather stiffly as his mother paused to glance at him, Hachiman feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as a rather coy smile slowly crept across her face.
"Ara? Could it be... Has my little Hachi finally found a girlfriend!?" She nearly exclaimed as as skittered up to him with shining eyes, Hachiman feeling his soul practically leave his body when Kanami began to press him for the details of his outing.
"Come'on~! Tell me! Pretty please! You don't ever tell Okaa-san these things anymore!" Kanami pressed her son as she had her arms wrapped around his waist to prevent him from fleeing, Hachiman blushing up a storm as he tried to pry his mother off of him as gently as possible while avoiding her questions.
Pouting at her son, Kanami tried to break down his will with the bribe of making his favorite food, a dark and tempting offer that the young man nearly fell for only for the meeting he had promised Saika earlier to return to his mind. After a few more minutes of struggling, Hachiman managed to free himself as his mother shot a betrayed and faux-hurt look his way, the youth sighing as he continued putting the rest of the groceries away whilst his mother continued pouting. Finishing the task in an awkward silence, he was about to leave only for his mother to stop him, Kanami offering him a small but warm smile as she gestured to the countertop. Seeing what she was getting at, Hachiman had a soft soft leave his mouth though there was a tiny smile on his face as he followed her and sat down beside her.
"You've been smiling a lot more lately." Kanami quipped with a loving tone as her son's cheeks gained a tinge of pink, adverting his gaze as his mother's equally loving laugh darkened the flush on his face while she gained a somber expression.
"I know that your father and I haven't given you nearly as much attention as you may have liked Hachi. Even if you try to deny it, we both know that any child will want some spoiling from their parents." Kanami said in an equally somber tone as her eldest stiffened slightly, a melancholic glint crossing his eyes as his mother reached over and gently ran her hand through his hair.
"And I wish we would've payed more attention to you too, but you've always been the perfect son." She continued as Hachiman flinched at the outrageous claim, turning to look at his mother with wide eyes while trying to see any hint of deception on her face.
"Even when your father and I were busy working late into the morning, when you and Komachi would come home to an empty house; not once did you ever complain to us or cry like Komachi did. All our little Hachi would do was calm down his crying little sister, clean the house after doing his homework before making dinner for him, his sister and the parents who should've been the ones doing it. So don't give me that look, okay? My little Hachi, our Hachiman, is the most thoughtful and kindest son any parents would be lucky to have." Carried on Kanami as she continued to run her hands through her son's hair, Hachiman gritting his teeth while adverting his gaze once more as the all too familiar sting of tears began to nip at the corner of his eyes.
"Tch... A-Any kid in the same situation would do the same. I'm no one special, mom." Hachiman countered with a slight waver to his voice, internally screaming as his mother and her praises towards him still remained one of his greatest weaknesses.
"Hehe, maybe~! But my Hachi is extra special and works harder then anyone when he wants to! And the lucky, lucky girl who tries to snatch him away will have to go through Okaa-san first!" Kanami chirped in a bright tone as Hachiman snorted, a soft but warm fit of laughter leaving his mouth as he shook his head.
How long had it been since he had something as simple as a small chat with his mother? The last time would have been before the incident in middle school. While some would place the blame on his parents for failing to see what their son was going through, Hachiman would refute those claims as they were his worries and his alone. Why would he add another burden for his parents to shoulder when they already had so much on their plates? While it wasn't healthy or a 'right' choice of action, Hachiman would take the humiliation and pain of those years of middle school over and over then adding to his parents' stress. Though, he wouldn't have minded if they told him that they loved him a bit more then they usually did.
"Right, what kind of unfortunate and unlucky girl is going to have to be saddled with this negative and cynical Hachiman for the rest of her life? Even when Saki's father told me that she likes me, I highly doubt that she and her family would be too thrilled to have a husband and son-in-law like me." Hachiman said in an offhanded manner, though he instantly froze once his mind caught up to the rest of his words.
"So you do have a girlfriend! Her name is Saki? What's she look like?! Is she pretty!? She has to be right! Any girl who has the eyes to see my Hachi's good points has to pretty! Can I meet her! You should call her over for dinner! You've already met her parents, so there's no problem right! Ah! Let me call your father and tell him!" Kanami gushed as she fired question after question at her son before pulling out her phone, Hachiman moving to try and take her phone as crimson colored his entire face.
"M-Mom! She's not my girlfriend! Saki is just someone that I know from class! And don't bother dad over something to trivial!" He snapped at her with complete embarrassment in his tone, Kanami ignoring her as she happily skipped away from him whilst texting her dearest.
"Oh, we should have sekihan tonight! Can you please call her over for dinner, Hachi? I really want to meet her!" Kanami asked once more with an even more pleading tone, Hachiman barely being able to utter anything intelligible as he tried to find a way out of the current situation.
"Mom! Cut it out already, sheesh! I'm not a kid anymore..." Hachiman groaned as he buried his face into his hands, Kanami having a lighter fit of laughter leave her as she moved to pat her son softly and lovingly on the head.
"I know, Hachi, but that's exactly why Okaa-san teases you. It's been so long since I've been able to tease you like this, the last time was probably when you started middle school." She said in a soft tone, Hachiman grumbling under his breath as he was unable to refute his mother's claims.
It was exactly as she had said, they never really had these kinds of talks much since the whole middle school fiasco. Seeing it at that angle, he sighed in a good natured manner as his mother giggled happily. Before long, the two were happily chatting about the mundane and everyday that they both experienced, Kanami pouring out her frustrations over the work that 'mysteriously' piled up on her desk while she was away on vacation, a vacation that she had put in nearly half a year prior to actually taking. Watching as his mother childishly whined and pouted about 'undeserving, lazy and malicious' co-workers who were jealous of her achievements and youthful energy, he simply shook his head while making her a small cup of her favorite iced matcha tea. Throwing in a comment every now and again, placed the freshly brewed cup of tea in front of his mother, who offered him a warm smile while taking it and giving it a small sip.
"Hmm! Wow, this is even better then before, Hachi!" Kanami gushed as she happily helped herself to the delightful treat her beloved son had prepared for her, the younger Hikigaya having a small and warm smile grace his face at her praise.
Before long, the alarm on Hachiman's phone went off, the two in the kitchen jumping slightly as the youth rapidly moved to quiet the device. Puling it out, he silenced it as a sigh a relief left his mouth, offering his mother a wry smile that she returned with an amused one of her own. About to put his phone away, he froze before snapping to check the time currently displayed, paling a bit when he saw that it was barely an hour from his appointed meeting with Saika. Cursing slightly under his breath, knowing that his mother wasn't one who was very fond of such crude language, he moved to excuse himself only for a hand to clamp onto his shoulder. Gulping, he stiffly craned his neck and saw the terrifying smile of his mother staring straight at him, the phone held in his hand being snatched away swifter then he had seen outside of manga or video games.
"Ah. M-Mom! Give that back!" Hachiman snapped once he broke from his stupor, quickly making a grab for his phone only for his mother to hop away and look at what the alarm was for.
"...Hachi..." Came the rather eerie voice of Kanami, the young man reflexively standing straight and at attention as she moved to stare at him with a rather unsettling look to her eyes.
"What's this about 'dinner with my angel'?" She asked in that same frightening tone, Hachiman cringing both internally and externally at the horrible naming sense that he had when it came to Saika.
"T-That's... U-Umm..." Hachiman stammered as he was unable to explain the completely idiotic name, feeling his will and resolve crumble when under his mother's glare.
"What were you thinking joking around with Okaa-san!? You have less then an hour to get ready now!" She snapped at him in an angered tone, Hachiman yelping as she basically grabbed his arm and pulled him upstairs before pushing him into the bathroom.
"You hurry up and shower! And be sure to use plenty of shampoo and conditioner! I'll do your hair after you finish so don't dry it completely, having it a little damp will help me style it! I'll also have your clothes picked out for your date, so don't you even think about not wearing what I pick out for you!" She told him in an excited tone before slamming the door in his face, moving to his room to start the battle that would no doubt be one of the toughest she'll face as a mother.
With Hachiman, the young man stood still as he tried to catch up and process what had just happened in the span of a minute. Blinking, he broke from the minor stupor before a sigh of absolute resignation left his mouth, turning to look at the mirror as the exhausted youth reflected in it only added to his growing headache. Figuring that resistance was futile, he stripped down before hopping into the shower, a sound of content leaving as the rain of hot water washed his tension and worries away. But, all good things were to pass as he finished showering, wrapping his towel around his waist before heading to his room. Though, he was stopped when he saw Kanami standing in front of him with a grin on her face, quickly handing him a set of clothes as he sighed before closing the door once more. Looking down, he raised a brow when he saw the selection that his mother had picked out for him. A white long sleeve, buttoned up dress shirt, a gray cardigan, black slacks and matching tie and loafers, it was topped off with his glasses and a black watch resting on the pile of clothes.
Knowing that rejecting his mother's suggestions would be both futile and a sure-fire way to bring her to tears, he relented and donned the garments that she had picked out for him. Once he finished, he opened the bathroom as his mother scanned him from head to toe, smiling warmly as she nodded in approval. Making her way over to him, she rolled the sleeves of both his cardigan and dress shirt up just past his elbows, the young making mentally shaking his head as the idea of fashion still was a mysterious one to him. Adjusting his tie, Kanami stepped back a little to gauge her son's appearance, tilting her head and sticking her tongue out slightly as she moved her hands upwards to start the process of taming his hair. Though, that effort was a wasted one as Kanami sighed whilst throwing in the towel, settling on putting her son's hair into his usual ponytail. A small out crossing her face at her recent failure, she pulled away and gave him one more inspection, blinking slightly when she saw the entire ensemble in full.
"Ufufufu! I knew my Hachi was the most handsome boy around, but even Okaa-san is surprised!" Kanami chirped in a bright and loving tone, still a bit in disbelief that her formally grumpy and frumpy son could clean up so nicely in such a short amount of time.
"Heh, thanks for the bode of confidence, mom. But no amount of change are going to change these." Hachiman joked as he pointed to his eyes, Kanami's own grey orbs softening as she tiptoed to kiss him softly on the forehead.
"Don't make jokes like that, Hachi. Always remember that your family will always think that you look perfect." She chided him softly as he flushed a bit, both from her unexpected kiss and the loving words she imparted onto him.
"R-Right, message received, mom. Umm... I-I should be going now." He stammered as Kanami giggled at his contrasting image, seeing that even after all the years that had gone by he was still the same shy and loving boy she had raised.
"Mhmm! I've got your wallet and phone right here! Do you need me to take you there?" Kanami asked as he smiled a bit at her offer, though he shook his head as he saw underneath the ruse she had set.
"No thanks, mom. Firstly, it's just a train ride away. Secondly and most importantly, I really don't want you to embarrass me. Knowing you, you'd probably want to see just who it is that I'm having dinner with and the moment you knew that it was them, you'd throw me into the fire with all sorts of embarrassing questions and comments." He told with a small smirk her as gasped in shock, unable to believe that her son would even insinuate that she would cause him embarrassment.
"Y-You're so mean, Hachi! I wouldn't embarrass you! I just want to know who it is that you're having dinner with..." She pouted as Hachiman sighed at his mother's antics, still unsure if the stern and serious woman at the office was really the always sleepy and somewhat childish woman at home.
Bidding his mother a quick farewell, getting a quick hug and bode of confidence from her in turn, he descended down the stairs to slip on his shoes before heading out of the house. Checking his phone, he saw he still had just about half an hour to reach the aquarium before the appointed time. Seeing that, he nodded and checked up on the train schedule, seeing that he had nearly fifteen minutes before the next train would arrive. With that knowledge, he slowed his pace to a comfortable stroll, opening up the web app on his phone to get a start on checking out the venue and its menu. Lost in his thoughts, and in the various photos depicting a myriad of tantalizing offerings that were posted on the guest review page, he was completely ignorant of the stares that he was receiving. It wasn't until he arrived at the train station that he finally broke from his thoughts, heading towards the lobby as he awaited the arrival of the train that would take him towards his first proper dinner date.
(Time Skip - Twenty Minutes Later)
(Scene Change - Tokyo: Tokyo Sea Life Park)
Arriving at the sea park, Hachiman glanced around and saw the night life of the aquarium, a slight cringe crossing his face at the number of couples and families floating about. Stifling the sigh that wanted to leave him, he moved towards the fountain that rested in front of the main entrance way to the park. Opening his phone, he saw that he had just under ten minutes left until the fated meeting with Saika, the raven haired young man growing nervous as time seemed to slow and stall. Was he truly ready for such an event to occur? This was, of course, the first meeting with a female Saika not to mention it was Hachiman's first dinner date. Anxiety and tension beginning to cloud his mind, it was broken when he heard the soft and steady footsteps of someone, soft panting soon reaching his ears as he stiffly craned his head to stare at the lightly red face of one Saika Totsuka.
Breathtaking was but an understatement as to what she looked like to the youth unfortunate, or fortunate depending on whom you asked, enough to have laid his eyes on her. Currently, Saika was dressed in a light blue sweater dress of sorts that stopped just past her mid-thighs, the dress hugging her figure in a flattering manner that helped emphasized the curves of her body. A light white fur lined coat giving her a bit more warmth in the lightly chilly night, currently being pulled slightly over her hands as bashfully hid partially behind it. A pair of black stockings covering her milky white legs, she had a pair of simple white flats that complimented the small brown handbag that was currently hanging over her shoulder. The most startling thing about Saika, something that was definitely drawing the attention of Hachiman and a few others, was the french side braid running across the left side of her hair. It was a bit frightening, if Hachiman was completely honest, that such a small thing could change so much about a person. Topping of her look was a simple light blue barrette helping keep the braid both secured and emphasized, the silver haired young lady shyly fiddling with said barrette as she flicked her glance to and from the young man in front of her.
"Y-Yahallo, H-Hachiman! W-Were you waiting long?" Saika greeted the raven haired youth in a slightly anxious tone, the sound of her voice breaking him from his gawking as he locked gazes with her.
"N-No, just got here myself." He answered as normally as he possibly could which, in the current given situation, sounded stiff and forced as Saika blinked before giggling somewhat wryly at his reply.
"S-So, umm... S-Should we go in?" She asked as she scooted a tad closer to her dinner companion, beginning to feel uncomfortable with the number of stares being directed towards her from the others currently in the area.
"Mmm, let's." Hachiman replied in a curt but courteous tone, instantly feeling his 'angel protection protocol' activate upon seeing the slight distress crossing the face of the silver haired young lady.
Her heart skipping a beat when she heard how reassuring he sounded, though there was a nagging whisper in the back of her mind that urged her to think otherwise. Confident? Jealous? Possessive? Saika mentally shook her head as the various strange and foreign feelings that were dancing through her heart and mind were almost too much for her to bear, opting to stick shoulder to shoulder with the raven haired young man as they entered the sea park. For Hachiman, the glasses wearing youth was internally screaming with the current situation, stealing a glance towards his companion when he thought she wasn't looking.
"Oi, oi, oi! What're you doing, Hachiman?! Stop those perverted gazes! What would Yukinoshita say if she saw you doing this?! 'Oh? Hiki-pervy-kun, mind your wandering eyes, you wouldn't want to be arrested on the grounds of sexual assault or harassment by undressing Totsuka-san with your eyes which resemble those of a belligerent criminal's.' She'd say something like that for sure." Hachiman thought to himself as they entered the park, turning to look at Saika as her eyes seemed to sparkle a bit with the appearance of the numerous fish that were swimming around.
A small smile crossing his face at the sight, the two made their way towards the terrace, where a hostess was smiling as she helped guide a family towards a fellow employee. Turning, she blinked when she was face to face with Hachiman and Saika, a smile crossing her face as she bowed in a courteous manner towards them.
"Good evening you two! Do you have a reservation?" She chirped as Saika nodded a bit too enthusiastically for her own liking, growing more red when their hostess giggled in a knowing manner towards her whilst a slightly scary glint shone in her eyes.
"Y-Yes! It should be under Saika Totsuka!" The silver haired young lady replied with a slight hitch to her throat, the hostess smiling as she checked the register, running her eyes down the line of reservations before striking the name that was presented to her.
"Miss Totsuka, party of two, correct!" Their hostess asked once more for clarification, the two young adults nodding in tandem as she quickly fetched a pair of menus before ushering them to follow her.
"Right this way, you two!" Chirped their hostess as she led them to a small table for two beside the window which bore a splendid view, instantly drawing blushes from both teens as she giggled at their expense.
Leaving them alone with their menus, she headed off to get them some water whilst they perused the menu. Alone with just the sounds of chatting and laughter from the other patrons with the soothing music in the background, there was a nearly palpable awkwardness in the air between the two. A deep blush on her face at the romantic atmosphere currently surrounding them, Saika couldn't help but feel nervous and embarrassed when it was just Hachiman and herself. Sneaking a glance at the young man from over the top of her menu, she was a bit surprised to see that he wasn't as nervous or embarrassed as she was, seeing as he had a furrowed brow whilst perusing the menu in front of him. Seeing that her date wasn't as fazed as she was, she forced herself to calm down as she looked over the menu herself. But just as she looked over the menu, the crushing reality of her budget came to the forefront of her mind as she had forgotten to ask her parents for an advance concerning her allowance.
"Hmm... What are you thinking about getting, Totsuka?" Hachiman suddenly asked as she squeaked a bit in turn, jumping slightly as she quickly scanned through the various foods listed in front of her for the cheapest option.
"U-Umm... I-I'm not sure yet, Hachiman. I'm sort of on a budget tonight, hehe..." Totsuka admitted with embarrassment and a bit of shame on her face, instantly drawing a sharp look from Hachiman as he shook his head.
"Don't worry about that. While I find it archaic and a bit demeaning towards males like myself that men are usually left with the bill for an outing like this, you went out of your way to get us a reservation here of all places, so get anything that you want." Hachiman told her as she vehemently shook her head in the negative, unable and unwilling to allow the young man she had invited out to dinner to pay for her half of the meal.
Focusing her gaze on him to refute his offer, she felt her heart catch in her throat when she saw him illuminated in the light of the restaurant. The soft blue lights that were the main sources of light in the restaurant, with a number of brighter white lights dotting important areas for employees and patrons alike. In the amiable and warm glow of the terrace, Saika saw Hachiman's gallant and handsome visage enhanced even more with the lovely and stunning atmosphere, feeling a deep blush burn her face as she tried put a lid on the rabidly bubbling pot that were her feelings for the young man. Meekly looking back down at the menu, she made a soft sound of reluctant affirmation while Hachiman offered her a small smile in turn. The two returning to their menus, Saika indulged herself by looking at the more pricey offerings, hearing a small growl from her stomach as absolute mortification filled her being. Her face now a burning mess, she prayed to any deity that would heed her plea that the glasses wearing youth hadn't heard the mortifying sound. Before long, they were greeted with the sight of their hostess turned waitress with two glasses of water in hand, happily handing it to the two before pulling out a small order pad.
"Would you two like a few more minutes to decide?" She asked as Hachiman mulled it over for a second before he nodded his head in the positive, the young woman turning to look at Saika as she meekly nodded her head as well.
"Though, for a starter could we have an order of the ahi tuna tataki. Would you like anything, Totsuka?" Hachiman asked the waitress in a tone that was a complete contrast to his usual brash and somewhat abrasive manner of speaking, Saika almost finding herself swooning as she became the target of his soft and warm gaze.
"Y-Yes! U-Umm, could we also get an order of edamame as well?" Saika asked as their waitress smiled at the polite pair she had been assigned to, happily nodding in the positive before she bid them a farewell to relay their orders to the kitchen.
"So, have you decided on what to order?" Hachiman asked once more as Saika smiled a soft smile, timidly nodding her head as her companion shot her an amused and expectant look.
"U-Umm... I was a-actually thinking of getting the umm..." Saika trailed off as her blush returned tenfold, Hachiman having to bite his tongue slightly to avoid making an idiotic or perverted comment in such a public setting.
"R-Right, no need to be embarrassed or anything, Totsuka. We're... Friends, right?" Hachiman told her in a somewhat hopeful tone, instantly causing the silver haired young lady to snap her head up to stare at him with nothing but surprise on her face.
"Of course we're friends, Hachiman! We're the best of friends!" She reassured him without a hint of the embarrassment or nervousness from earlier, her eyes burning with a forigen sense of passion that sparked a hint of warmth in the chest of the man.
"Heh, then there's no need to be embarrassed then. What were you thinking about ordering?" He asked once again as she blinked before a tinge of pink colored her cheeks, the silverette playfully puffing her cheeks out at him in a powerful pout.
"Mou... You're so mean, Hachiman!" She snapped at him in a tone of faux hurt, the two staring at each other before a soft fit of laughter and air of levity gently took hold of the two.
"I was thinking of getting the, umm... The 'couple's dinner for two'..." Saika finally said with a sheepish tone, Hachiman soon sharing in her embarrassment though he pushed it aside as he nodded in approval at her choice.
"Fine choice, Totsuka. Not only is it a discounted item, it still let's us have a bit of variety and the freedom to pick out our sides." Praised the raven haired young man as Saika beamed a warm and bright smile at him, the two finding themselves laughing softly once more as their waitress arrived with their starters in tow.
"Alrighty you two! Here's your edamame and tataki! From how you two are laughing, can I guess that you're ready to order now?" Their waitress chirped with a knowing look on her face, deeply enjoying the looks of embarrassment that crossed the faces of the two.
"Mmm, r-right. We'll take the 'couple's dinner for two', please." Hachiman replied as evenly as he could, which wasn't very level as the hint of amusement that danced in their waitress' eyes were a telling sign.
"Mhmm! And are the house salad and dressing, clam clear soup, lobster motoyaki, kobe medallions medium rare, grilled asparagus and mash potatoes fine with you two?" She asked whilst jotting down the order of the two, Hachiman shaking his head in the negative while Saika nodded hers in the positive.
"If I could, could I swap out the potatoes for white rice?" He asked as their waitress nodded with a smile on her face, checking them for any other substitutions before she bid them farewell once more.
"Well, better start eating before these get cold." Hachiman suggested with a slightly wry tone, Saika giggling as she nodded and began working on her order of edamame.
"S-So, how was your break, Hachiman?" Saika asked as she took the initiative to break the ice, Hachiman offering her a small smile for taking the first step as he wiped his mouth.
"Pretty much the same as the others. Though, I did pick up a part-time job." He answered as Saika was instantly drawn in, the mental image of a Hachiman in a butler's outfit or uniform tickling a strange portion of her mind.
"Really, where at?" She asked in an excited tone as the young man flinched a bit at her rather enthusiastic reply, though he opted to indulge her as Saika ruthlessly beat down her lizard brain as it was demanding that he show her a picture of him in his uniform.
The two falling into a light and amiable set of conversation, they were completely ignorant of the terrifying smile that was split across the face of their waitress. With said waitress, she was hurriedly moving to the kitchen with the orders of the two in tow. Making it to the kitchen in record time, she set the ticket on the line before moving to the register to modify the order of the two. While things may have seemed like it was a normal activity, the source of the smile that was currently crossing the face of the waitress was the sole line that was currently empty concerning the drink that the couples who ordered the aforementioned dinner special typically selected, usually choosing among the various wines that lined the walls of the bar beside the kitchen. And seeing that Hachiman and Saika had failed to select a drink, and taking note that both were very underage, their waitress had taken it upon herself to customize their dinner's coupled drink.
"...Azami is doing it again..."
"Ha... Just let her be, she'll hit you if you say anything."
"She really changed and swapped shifts just to serve those two kids..."
"Must be nice being the owner's granddaughter, getting to mess around with young couples in love."
"It's probably why she's still single despite being twenty-"
"If you've got time to gossip about me, then you've got time to get those legs moving!" Snapped Azami as she turned to glare at the employees currently huddled together while pointing and looking at her, the group yelping as they scattered to finish the various tasks that they were distracted from.
Harrumphing while she watched her nosy and noisy co-workers and employees rush to finish their tasks, she clicked her tongue before moving back to the task at hand. Moving to the bar, she selected a rather large highball glass before tossing it in the blast chiller. Grabbing a cocktail shaker, she started filling it with a mix of sakura blossom syrup, a sprig of lemon juice, a dash of lime soda, some body of sparkling water and a bit of pink food coloring to lighten the color of the mocktail. Giving it a set of quick but heavy shakes, she set it aside before securing the chilled glass from earlier. Pouring the freshly mixed drink, she grabbed a strawberry and knife before quickly and expertly carving it into the appearance of a fully blossomed sakura. Sitting it on the rim of the glass, she grinned as she pulled a couple's straw with the signature appearance of a heart. Setting it on a tray, she proudly walked towards the kitchen as the order of the two was just being set out to take, Azami skillfully whisking it away with her free hand. Watching her leave after pulling off such a quick and efficient set of actions were her disbelieving co-workers and employees, all of them still unable to grasp the sudden changes in mood of the brunette.
"It's like she becomes a different person when she's playing cupid."
"Almost makes it feel like the Azami who hates working and would rather just direct customers isn't real."
"I wish that she'd move like that all the time. I would need to use both hands and make two trips to carry all of that."
"Right? All that daydreaming is probably why she's still sing-"
"Work. Now." Snapped the brunette with a smile on her face as she rounded to reprimand the chatting group behind her, the four squeaking as they skittered away to avoid the wrath of the woman.
Taking a second to calm her nerves, Azami reapplied her smile before making it towards the lightly chatting pair that was Hachiman and Saika. Seeing them, her somewhat forced smile melted to a true one, happily taking in the sight of such a vibrant display of youth. Arriving at their table before her own lamentation of her lack of youth hit her, Azami set down the various dishes before the two, giggling when she saw the stunned and awed stares that the couple in front of her were sending towards the food. Taking their finished plates, which they thanked her for, Azami bid them adieu before parting from their table once more, only to hide behind the counter of the bar as she waited for them to take notice of their specially made drink.
"Wow... It looks amazing!" Saika gushed as she pulled out her phone and began taking pictures of their dinner, Hachiman surprisingly doing the same as he sent a photo of his dinner to his mother as she had requested.
Seeing him busy trying to get a good angle for his photo, Saika felt her cheeks heat up and her heart hammer in her ears as she shifted her phone slightly, angling it just enough to capture a photo of the young man. Once she finished, Saika let loose the breath that she realized that she had been holding in, lifting her phone and nearly squealing when she saw the photo on display. There he was, Hachiman Hikigaya in all of his glory; the current photo angled in such a manner that it seemed like he was looking at an important business meeting or message, his face calm yet focused while an assortment of delectable food was laid out before him, seemingly less important then the vital task currently presented to him on his phone. Just seeing that photo, Saika felt herself falling in love all over again with the young man in front of her, a content sigh leaving her as she admired her newest treasure. But when she finally fell from the sudden high that came from seeing such a wonderful photo of her beloved, next came the realization of her words.
"L-Love?! I-I-I love Hachiman!? N-No, I don't l-love him! Yeah, i-it's just the kind of love that best friends have for each other! Mhmm, that's right! Hachiman and I are best friends after all! Love between best friends is all this is! What sort of best friends don't imagine themselves getting happy over a photo of their best friend? Of hanging out and chatting together about everyday things? Or get happy over having dinner together with them? Or dream about them whisking her away from a demon king's castle on a white horse? Or of him valiantly standing his ground against an army of monsters while he reassured her that he would be back for dinner? Or of Hachiman embracing her while teasing her about her femininity only to pin her to her bed and call her a naughty girl? Of Hachiman playfully and painfully dragging his teeth down her neck before he suddenly bit her shoulder, asking her what it was that she really wanted in that husky, deep, spine tingling voice of his? M-Mhmm! T-That's all the things that best friends think about with each other, after all! Yes'sire!" Saika reassured herself as she felt her blood pressure began to rise for some reason, quickly racing to grab the drink resting in the center of the table before while Hachiman did the same.
Breaking from their respective stupor when they felt the fingers of the other, they met each other's gazes before lowering their own, soon having their eyes widen when they saw the extremely 'lovey-dovey' looking beverage in front of them. Yanking their hands back as if the glass were made of fire, they adverted their gazes as crimson burned their faces. Watching the entire exchange was Azami, the brunette squealing as she had tears in her eyes at the youthful sight before her. Wiping away her tears, Azami headed towards the side of the bar and secured her 'cupid's bow and arrow' before stalking towards the pair. A few seconds passed before Saika mustered the courage that she had gathered from the rest of the night and tomorrow, moving to place her mouth on one of the straws while pitifully and pleadingly looking at Hachiman. As for the young man, he wasn't able to comprehend what was even happening at the moment. Was this the fabled 'couple's drink scenario' that he had always dreamed of and cursed those who had truly experienced? Gulping, he stared deep into Saika's eyes and nearly squeaked when he saw her shyly nod her head in the positive, the raven haired young man gritting his teeth as mortification burned through his veins.
"Hachiman. You've already been fed by Isshiki, Yuigahama, Yukinoshita and Komachi. T-This level of attack shouldn't affect a veteran of such battles like yourself!" He screamed at himself mentally, turning to look down at Saika's lips as a small bead of sweat dripped down the side of his face.
"Oi, oi! Eyes up, you fool! Don't dirty our precious angel like that! Just do it and get it over with!" Thought the young man in a panic as he adverted his gaze whilst leaning forward, taking the other straw in his mouth as Saika made a sudden sound of surprise.
The sound startled the young man as he immediately parted with the straw, the sight drawing a saddened whimper from Saika that caused the young man to stiffen. A sigh leaving his mouth, Hachiman leaned forward once more and captured the straw in his mouth, the two sitting motionless as they awaited the other to break the tension. That tension was suddenly broken when Saika took a tentative sip, nearly making Hachiman jump from his skin if he hadn't readied himself for it. Seeing that she was comfortable enough to drink from the same cup as him, he followed suit in an equally shy manner. The two taking tiny sips, their embarrassment began to melt as the rather delicious taste of their drink overtook it. It was when they suddenly locked eyes that they froze once more, pink and red coloring the cheeks of the two as they simply sat there, staring into the eyes of the other while silent. A sudden flash broke them from their stupor, the two jumping slightly as they snapped to stare at the source of the flash.
"Ah... S-Surprise?" Azami said in a weak and forced manner, a wry and equally weak laugh leaving her as she pulled out the polaroid that she had suddenly taken.
Quickly shaking it, she passed it to Saika as the silver haired young lady seemed like she was on the verge of tears. Weakly craning her head to look at the photo, all traces of sadness and embarrassment vanished as she gasped in absolute awe at the breathtaking photo presented to her. It was a simple photo of Hachiman and herself, the lively hustle and bustle of the cityscape contrasting against the calm night sky filled with stars, the two of them staring into the eyes of the other with their matching straws. Everything about the photo was perfect in the eyes of Saika, the silverette turning to Azami as the brunette smile warmly at the hope swimming in her eyes.
"I'll go get you both a copy, ok? Enjoy the rest of your dinner!" She chirped before hopping away, drawing frightened looks from men in the room while the women suddenly began to fix their makeup and hair.
The awkward moment passing, for Saika at least, she happily helped herself to the meal before her. It wasn't until his stomach growled that Hachiman snapped from his stupor, shooting a shy glance at Saika only to see her blissfully enjoying her dinner. Seeing that, he opted to shelve his embarrassment for another time, no doubt a time that would be soon arriving. Before long, the two were happily chatting once more with each other, Saika absolutely overjoyed that her best friend understood her situation and that he promised to stand beside her and support her. His mere words nearly brought her to tears, and would have if not for the timely arrival of Azami and an older woman who seemed to be in her seventies.
"I'm deeply sorry that you two have been inconvenienced by my idiotic granddaughter. Please do not think that this is normal for our restaurant." The older woman said while bowing her head deeply, forcing Azami to bow her head as well as a cry of pain left her when a sudden pinch connected with her neck.
"O-Obaa-chan, i-it hurts! I-I already said that I was sorry! T-They were fine with it, r-right!" The brunette explained while turning to look towards the two for help, Hachiman and Saika laughing wryly when they caught sight of her teary and watery eyes.
"I-It was no problem, ma'am! In fact, I-I wanted to thank her for what she did." Saika admitted in a heartfelt tone, Azami staring at Saika as if she was an angel while the older woman sighed in relief.
"That is a relief to hear. For some reason, my granddaughter finds herself unable to contain herself when faced with 'youth' as she calls it. Again, I sincerely apologize for her unacceptable behavior. Please, feel free to select a dessert from the menu, it's the least that we can do for troubling you two." The woman said as Hachiman's eyes suddenly lit up, something that drew the attention and subsequent laughter from Saika and the owner of the restaurant.
Pink coloring his cheeks as his love for both sweets and free food once again proved to be an enemy rather then an ally, he turned towards Saika for her opinion as she giggled and shook her head in the negative. About to ask, she merely held up a photograph that caused his cheeks to flush even deeper. A somewhat annoyed but embarrassed grunt leaving him, the raven haired young man focused his mind on the desserts menu to rid him of the heat on his cheeks. It wasn't long until the young man selected a dessert, happily and slightly excitedly ordering matcha tiramisu, Saika finding herself drooling slightly at both the sight and sound of the sweet. Nodding with a smile, the older woman gathered their dishes with a single hand before grabbing her granddaughter by the ear, a squawk of pain leaving her as she was escorted to the kitchen.
"That dessert is coming out of your paycheck, Zami." The older woman quipped in a smiling but cold tone, Azami halting in her thrashing before tearfully nodding her head in acceptance.
The duo gone for the moment, Saika took the moment to admire and burn everything about the photo held in her hands to her mind. Not wanting to leave her best friend out, she happily handed Hachiman his copy of the photo as he flushed the instant he laid eyes on it. While he wasn't to deny any and all claims about the photo and it's subject matter, he wouldn't deny that it was a great photo. The framing, lighting, mood and subject matter; everything about the photo was simply amazing. Though, the moment began to picture himself and Saika as a couple, he instantly shattered that train of thought. A somber glint shining in his eyes, he let them close softly before pocketing the photo, drawing a confused and slightly worried stare from Saika. But before the silver haired young lady could ask what was troubling the young man, Azami and her grandmother returned to their table with their dessert in hand. Setting it down, the shining eyes of the two dimmed slightly when they saw the heart-shaped decoration on top of the dessert along with the single fork, turning to look at the pair of older women as Azami's grandmother smiled slightly.
"Though she may be a lazy, spoiled and bratty girl, my Azami hasn't failed once while playing cupid. Her perfect record of paring up others must be the reason why she's still single at her age. Thank you two again for understanding and may your future together be filled with happiness." The older woman chuckled as she bid the pair farewell, her teary eyed granddaughter chasing after her to deny the claim about her being single.
An awkward silence taking hold once more, the duo fought to cool their steaming heads. It took a minute or two, but eventually Saika recovered enough to stare down at the 'lovey-dovey' dessert in front of her. Glancing between the tiramisu, fork and Hachiman, she steadied her resolve whilst grabbing the fork, causing Hachiman to flinch as she shakily took a piece of the cake. nodding her head, she locked gazes with the young man across from her while holding out the fork towards him, Hachiman feeling a serious and foreboding sense of déjà vu at the current situation.
"H-Hachiman! H-Here, you try it first!" Saika declared with a determined fire to her eyes, the glasses wearing youth unable to find it in himself to refuse his angel no matter how painful or mortifying it was to be fed in such a public and intimate setting.
Leaning forward, he took the piece of cake in his mouth, Saika having kept eye contact with him the entire time as her blush seemed to intensify every second that passes. It wasn't just her blush as a slovenly smile soon crossed her face, her eyes gaining a somewhat frightening glint to them as Saika spotted a small smear of cream on the side of his mouth when she pulled the fork away. Her eyes locking onto her new target, her instincts as a maiden in love completely tuned and cut out the cries and screams of her rational side as it begged her to cease before she made a huge mistake and caused an erroneous misunderstanding. A futile effort as Saika slowly leaned forward to capture that stray piece of cream, and perhaps anything else that it was nearby, the tantalizing and delectable looking lips of the young man having absolutely no impact in the silver haired young lady's desire for that stray dollop of cream and anything that it was possibly connected to. Saika was broken from her stupor when fate, or an agent of fate perhaps, passed by them just as Saika was halfway from capturing the lips of the young man.
"Oh, is that you, Hikigaya-kun? Ah, it is, isn't it!" Gushed that agent of fate in a joyous tone, breaking Saika and Hachiman from their trance as they turned to look at the newcomer.
She was good-looking girl with curly shoulder-length brown hair that was freely flowing instead of being in it normal twin-braided form, her fringe was still cut short and parted to the left side of her face with her usual pink hair clips, two on the right, one on the left. Her gray eyes were filled with surprise and joy as she leaned a bit closer to see the face of the young man who she had placed her hopes in and had seen them come to fruition, though it wasn't exactly the way she had imaged it. Her sudden appearance was enough to stun Hachiman, instantly knowing and dreading what the warm and bubbly energy that was currently being exuded by the brunette in front of him would do to the already unfavorable situation.
"Ufufufu! It's your Shiromeguri-senpai! Ah, Hikigaya-kun, you've got some cream there." Meguri noted as she saw the small smudge on the corner of his lip, reaching over before wiping it away as if it were the most normal and natural thing to do in the world.
"Mmm! Delicious!" She chirped as she lapped up the small dollop of cream, instantly shattering the amiable atmosphere as an even more awkward silence took hold.
"Is something the matter?" Meguri asked innocently as Saika collapsed into her chair, a hollow look to her eyes as a single tear seemed to fall from her right eye.
With a happily chattinng Meguri on one side and a distraught Saika on the other, Hachiman lamented his current situation as he mentally cried rivers of tears. What was supposed to be a simple dinner date had evolved into a scene ripped straight out of a cringey rom-com, something that the old Hachiman would have killed to experience. But the new Hachiman, the wiser Hachiman, was above such sub-par cliches and standards; the only thing missing being the overly attached heroine or yandere arriving there or sending a message asking where the protagonist was at the moment, which would sound exactly like the chime of his own phone whenever he got a message.
["Onii-chan, where are you? Komachi asked Kaa-chan and she said that you went out for a little bit. Please come home soon; your poor, poor Komachi's Onii-chan batteries are running on empty not to mention her tummy."]
"...I'm never going to finish the Ruri route..."
And that's a wrap. Thanks for reading, stay awesome.