A/N: I'm back with another update! Thank you for all the favs, follows and reviews. You guys are awesome! Enjoy :D
Disclaimer: I don't own yada yada, you know the drill.
Announcement
"Ayane-chan! Chizu-chan!" Right in front of Sawako stood her two best friends.
"Hi Sawako." They grinned and threw their arms around her in a big group hug.
"Hey there, guys." Shouta greeted them cheerfully, and only then did they let go of Sawako. "Hey Shouta." Chizu answered and punched his arm lightly. Ayane just shook her head with a 'hello' of her own.
"How long have you two been standing here?" Sawako asked with wide eyes. It wouldn't surprise her, if they'd been waiting outside the entire time she and Shouta were inside.
"We just headed to the mall and saw you inside a few minutes ago. We had to make sure it was really you. Why didn't you tell us you were back?" Ayane asked in light scolding tone, her arms folded across her chest.
"We wanted to surprise you. Sawako has been itching to call you since yesterday." Shouta answered and wrapped his arms around Sawako's waist.
"Surprise us? What for?" Chizu piped up.
"You'll see." Shouta answered mysteriously. He shared a knowing look with his wife and smiled.
"It's been so long. How have you been?" Sawako immediately asked them.
"Ryu and I have been managing the shop. We are considering an expansion." Chizu told them.
"That's great!" Sawako clapped her hands and let out a squeal that surprised everyone. She seemed to realize how unlike her that was and swiftly turned her attention to her other friend. "What about you Ayane-chan?" She quickly asked. "How's Kento?" The question seemed to startle Ayane and she hesitated for just a second. Sawako seemed to be the only one to notice, though.
"He's fine, just fine. He still works for Ladies & Lifestyle, even though he was offered the position of an executive editor at one of their rivalling magazines." She explained with a small smile. Sawako, however, knew something was amiss and made a mental note to check up on it later.
"Ladies & lifestyle, the one that's all about furniture and fashion?" Shouta asked. "Sawako reads that once in a while."
"The very same. The chief editor loved his photography too much to let him go. He got a raise and a few bonuses. Besides, he would much rather be a contributor than editor." Ayane explained with a shrug.
"That's good. I had to admit, I was scared he'd lose interest in his job." Sawako replied thoughtfully. She had seen Kent's photography. It was amazing. Sawako would hate for him to lose something he was so passionate about. Chizu nodded in understanding. She had become a big fan of his photography as well.
"How are you guys doing? Still working to the bone?" Ayane brightened up and poked Shouta in the shoulder.
"We have a few days off actually. That's why we're home." The group had started walking in the direction of the mall, which was also in the genereal direction of the Kuronuma residence.
"So you'll be here for a while?" Ayane looked at them hopefully. They both nodded and Chizu whooped. "All right! Dinner is at Ryu's place tonight!" She immediately engaged Shouta in a conversation about the alterations Ryu had made to the menu. With the two of them distracted, Sawako grabbed Ayane's arm and slowed their pace a little, so they were a few steps behind.
"Ryu hasn't asked her yet?" She whispered urgently. Ayane just shook her head.
"The dolt thinks everything is fine the way it is. He has no clue how long Chizu has waited for him to propose. For the past week, she's been pestering me about looking for dresses and flowers. I'm considering beating some sense into him. You should join me." Ayane laughed. "That's why you were squealing, wasn't it? You thought Chizu meant expanding the family." She looked pointedly at Sawako, challenging her to deny it.
"Guilty as charged." She answered. She could easily picture Chizu in a wedding dress. The thought made her so happy that she had to clamp a hand over her mouth to stop herself from squealing again.
"You never change, do you Sawako?" Ayane shook her head with a fond smile.
"How have you been doing Ayane-chan?" All the mirth disappeared from Ayane's face and was replaced with surprise. She quickly hid it behind a smile that looked a little strained.
"I'm fine. Great actually." She told Sawako.
"You're not. Your smile is too forced. I can tell." Sawako deadpanned. She didn't like pressuring others to talk, but she had a feeling Ayane had kept things to herself for too long. Ayane just stared at Sawako with a baffled expression. She looked at Chizu's back and then back at Sawako, before nodding.
"We'll talk later. The three of us. Just like old times." She promised and looked down at the ground. This time the smile on her face was genuine and filled with relief.
"Alright." Sawako grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze, just as Chizu turned around to tell them something. She saw the look on Ayane's face and raised a brow at Sawako, who just shook her head. Chizu caught on immediately and started telling them about this fish she had seen last week. Shouta, always the oblivious one, didn't notice the quick interaction between his wife and Chizu.
It didn't take them long to reach the spot where they would part. After leaving Chizu and Ayane, the married couple walked back to Sawako's parents' house, still excited about their new house and seeing old friends.
"I can't wait to tell them." Sawako sighed happily.
"We'll tell them tonight." Shouta kissed her forehead.
As evening rolled around the group of friends met up and made their way to Ryu's shop. Chizu had already called him and told him to expect guests. When they entered the shop, they were greeted by Ryu's dad and seated at their usual table.
The second they were sitting down, Ryu showed up with a smile on his face. After their initial greetings and small-talk, he disappeared into the kitchen to fix their orders.
"I'll lend Ryu a hand. You three can do some catching up or whatever you do, when you are alone." Shouta told the girls playfully and got up.
"Why is he so happy?" Ayane put her chin in her hand.
"He got promoted last week." Sawako told them excitedly.
"Finally! That's awesome!" Chizu cheered bouncing in her seat.
"It is. Congratulations." Ayane gently put a hand on her friend's shoulder, to keep her from toppling over.
"If the amount of work he managed to get done, the last time we visited, is anything to go by, I'd say his promotion is long overdue." She chuckled. "Kento was worried he'd pass out."
"Speaking of Kento, isn't he coming?" Sawako broached the subject, she knew was the cause of Ayane's distress.
"No, he's out of town for a few days." She answered almost mechanically and looked down at the table.
"Ayane."
The sound of her name without a suffix made Ayane look up. Sawako only ever called her 'Ayane', when she wanted her to spill and wouldn't take no for an answer. Chizu just looked between her friends confused. She had no idea what was going on, but it had to be something big, since Sawako was being so serious and Ayane so distant. It was like a mother scolding her child.
After a few seconds of silence, Ayane seemed to gather up her courage and looked both her friends in the eyes. "Kento. He- we ended things. We broke up." The silence that followed Ayane's revelation was unbelievably long. Both Sawako and Chizu's eyes widened and surprised gasps left them. Ayane just shrugged like it was no big deal, but she wasn't fooling anyone. It was plain obvious how hurt she was.
"When did you-?" Chizu had always thought they were happy – that they would last. She hadn't been expecting a break up at all. She had been expecting them to take the next step together.
"Two weeks ago. Right before he left." Ayane took a shuddering breath. All the things she had kept bottled up over the past two weeks could finally be let out. It was like a huge burden being removed from her shoulders.
"That's awful Ayane-chan." Sawako was speechless. Anyone would have been. Kento and Ayane had seemed like the perfect match. They had suited each other so well.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner? And all this time I have been blabbering about relationships and weddings. Oh god, I'm so sorry Ayane." Chizu's eyes started watering and she threw her arms around Ayane. She felt like a horrible friend. Caught up in her own relationship with Ryu, she hadn't been able to see through Ayane's façade. Sawako reached over the table and grabbed Ayane's hand, offering her own support.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell you." Ayane blinked back tears. It wasn't a big deal. She and Kento had been drifting apart for a while now, and she knew that. Then why were these annoying tears threatening to spill? Sawako squeezed her hand, and the gesture felt oddly comforting.
"We were just too different. We didn't see things the same way." She offered as an explanation. Sawako had moved to the opposite side of the table and had an arm around her too.
"It's all right, Ayane-chan. We'll get through this." Sawako and Chizu promised her. Ayane smiled at how they immediately had made it their problem too. A single tear escaped her eyes and rolled down her cheek.
'That's right. I have friends who love me.' She thought as she took in the worried expressions on both their faces. She took a shaky breath and wiped her eyes. This was no time to be sad.
She let herself soak up their comfort for a few more moments, before smiling again. The hugging session only came to an end when Ayane assured them that she was all right and just wanted to get her mind off things. Sawako moved back to her seat and suddenly smiled.
"In that case, Shouta and I have an announcement to make." She told them just as Shouta and Ryu appeared carrying trays of food. She nodded to Shouta, who started grinning like the teenage version of himself.
"That's right. We have bought a house today." He dropped the bomb as everyone dug in. His announcement was followed by cheers and congratulatory words.
"Shouta's boss provided us with a new house alongside his promotion, because of all the splendid work he had been doing lately." Sawako explained proudly, kissing his cheek.
"It's nothing. But you should have seen the house. It was awesome." He was being humble as always.
"Let's have a toast!" Chizu suggested with a huge smile on her face. She rose and lifted her drink into the air.
"To Shouta and Sawako. May you live a happy life and never find ghosts in your new house. Cheers!"
And there you have it, Ayane is single and ready to mingle. Or maybe not. Did it go too fast? I wasn't really happy with the chapter, but I don't want to change anything either. Do you see my problem? As for Sawa and Chizu's reaction to the breakup, I figured they wouldn't want to cause a scene in a public place, but fear not, they will get Ayane through a breakdown sooner or later. Anywho, the story is picking up. Next time, the Kazehaya couple will move in and find out a little more about the breakup. See you next time! (=w=)/