DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ao Haru Ride, obviously. I just wanted to write a story since I noticed that there are barely any out there. So I hope you all enjoy (:

A/N: I've really been MIA here! Sorry to those who have waited! If there's anyone out there who are still waiting for me to finish this story, I do have a few ideas for the upcoming chapters if you're still interested. This is just a short something so you guys know I'm still alive hehe. Hopefully you're all staying safe during quarantine, and this gives you a little something to read in the meantime. We'll get through this everyone!

CHAPTER 5
- RESERVED -

Time until movie: 3 hours and 12 minutes

"OUT OF SERVICE"

In front of the newly hyped arcade machine stood a very dumbfounded brunette and her slightly disappointed boyfriend.

"Out of service? How? It just came out!" Yoshioka frowned. All her anticipation to beat Kou in Cops and Robbers for the first time, even if it was just virtually, crashed.

"Talk about over hyped. Game fell apart just as quick as it arrived" Kou smirked as he poked at the dislocated joint stick. "All that overflowing faith you were talking about really had me nervous for a second. Thought you would finally beat me today". He let out a disappointed sigh as he shook his head and stuck both hands in his pockets. Yoshioka knew all too well that he was just teasing her, but gave him a pout anyways.

"Sorry about that, guys! Turns out this game really brings out the competitive side of people. Some guy just lost his temper the other day and broke off the joint stick"

The two turned to their right to see a young girl around their age, arms crossed as she leaned against the claw machine.

Oh, she works here. Yoshioka thought as she noticed the girl's uniform. "Do you know when the machine would be fixed by any chance?"

"New parts won't be coming in until later next week, so…" the young girl's eyes slowly drifted from Yoshioka to Kou and immediately widened. "Mabuchi?"

"H-Hi?" Kou looked like a deer caught in headlights. It's been a while since someone has called him by his old name. He felt bad for not remembering the girl's name, or who she was altogether. But as he looked at her face more, she did start to look more familiar, he thought.

"Wow, long time not seeing you around here!" Never mind. Her face nor her voice rang any bells in his mind. Why isn't she wearing a name tag? Is that not a thing for workers here?

"Yeah, well we heard about the new game and wanted to try it out. Looks like we'll just have to come back another time" he shrugged.

Yoshioka stood there eyes switching between her boyfriend and the part timer. A small smile made its way on her face. She always wanted to meet some of Kou's other friends. Seeing different sides to her boyfriend and slowly getting to know him more and more, is the exciting part of their relationship that Yoshioka always looks forward to. She's about to introduce herself when the girl makes her way closer to Kou.

"Well it should be up and running soon, so how about I call you when it's ready?" She took a step towards him. "Then we can do a little test trial together?" Two more steps. "I don't think I have your number though…" she was close. Too close. With each eye flutter and lip bite, the genuine smile that was on Yoshioka's face slowly turned into an annoyed one. Her eyes began to burn holes into the side of the girl's head, but was left unnoticed. Kou on the other hand looked as he normally did to the public eye; unfazed and unemotional. Although many would take this as a hint to leave him alone, unfortunately his tsundere exterior is exactly what attracts girls to him.

"That won't be necessary. Thanks though" he says nonchalantly, taking Yoshioka's hand in his as they walk past the part timer. Yoshioka takes a quick glance behind her to see the girl very taken back and upset. She couldn't help but feel a little bubble of pride burst within herself. "I'm pretty bad at that guitar hero game, but I can still beat you at it" Kou turns to smirk at Yoshioka as they walk through the arcade. There's a look in his eyes, faint but it's there. It's comforting, as if telling his girlfriend not to worry about what just happened. While everyone is aware of Kou's unconcerned and composed surface, it's these little looks that are reserved for Yoshioka's eyes only. And seeing them never fails to fluster the young brunette. Maybe she'll ask him who that girl was later, but she's calm right now and doesn't let it get to her head.

It's her turn to smirk at Kou. Although it's not something to be thinking of right now, especially while on a date with her boyfriend, she recalls the times where she was able to muster up exceptional guitar hero skills due to a certain Touma. She shrugs off the old memories and squeezes her boyfriend's hand.

"You're on"