"Seiya, what happened? How did you ran into Shaina?" Tatsumi asked.
"I saw her at the gym," Seiya replied. "Or rather, she saw me."
After their workout, Seiya grabbed a bottle of water and threw one to Hyoga.
"Here," Seiya said cheerfully. "And I'll grab you a spoon too - for your creamer."
"I don't have creamer," Hyoga said matter-of-factly.
"You don't have creamer?" Seiya asked with sarcasm.
"I don't have creamer," Hyoga repeated himself.
And both burst out laughing.
Saori had worked hard at the cafe. She tried, but was clumsy and often get customers' orders mixed up. For some reasons, she always forgot to provide creamer on the side when customers order coffee even though she never forgot to grab them a spoon to mix the creamer. In the end, customers would stare at the coffee and the spoon, wondering what's the point of the spoon if there's no creamer on the side.
Hyoga reminded her about the creamer. Each time he did, Saori would act as if it's something new.
"Here's your coffee and a spoon for you to mix the creamer," she would say and presented Hyoga his coffee.
"I don't have creamer," Hyoga pointed out.
"Oh you don't have creamer?" Saori asked with surprise.
"I don't have creamer."
Saori would then went to the back as if she was to grab one. But she never returned to Hyoga's table so he went on drinking the coffee without creamer.
This occurred everyday. Shun even suggested Tatsumi create a card with the word "creamer" on it as a reminder for Saori.
Reaching for his phone, Seiya searched "coffee" and came up with a long list of coffee in different flavors.
"What are you up to now?" Hyoga asked.
"Planning my next order," Seiya said. "I will ask for a coffee, with 2% milk, half bag of sugar, Hazelnut flavor and 1/3 of sugar..."
While he was thinking of a new way to torment Saori, Hyoga noticed the smile on his face. Obviously, he was enjoying it. Ever since Saori started working at the cafe, Seiya hanged out there more than ever, much to Saori's annoyance. A couple of times, Hyoga overheard her complaining to Tatsumi that Seiya is only coming to the cafe to torment her. Patiently, Tatsumi told her that Seiya is a customer and customer is always right. No matter how much she disliked it, she had to "serve" Seiya with coffee and cakes.
"Seiya, why are you at the cafe to so much?" Hyoga questioned. "You hardly ever went there other."
"Because..." Seiya began. "Because...I like Tatsumi's new coffee."
"What new coffee?"
Seiya looked away and spotted someone.
"Hey, Hyoga," he said, changing the subject. "You see that woman with green hair? She reminds me of someone."
"Who? Shun?"
"Funny," Seiya replied. "Remember that tall girl back in high school?"
"You mean-" Before Hyoga could finish, the woman with green hair spotted Seiya too. Her eyes widened and within seconds, she marched to them.
"Oh my God! Seiya!" She yelled with her hands on her hips.
"Shaina-san," Seiya greeted her uneasily.
"I haven't seen Shaina-san since she graduated from high school," Seiya said. "I assumed she became a security guard or a cop. Turned out I was wrong. After she saw me at the gym, she invited me out to dinner."
"Invited you?" Tatsumi raised an eyebrow.
"No, she didn't invite me," Seiya admitted. "She ordered me to go out with her, with her nails pointing at my neck."
"Seiya," Shaina began as she sat and opened the menu. "The dinner is on me. You may find this hard to believe, but I had a very big crush on you back in high school."
"I did not know that," Seiya said. "I thought you hated me."
"I did," Shaina replied bluntly. "But it is only because I know you will never like me back. Love and hate are two different sides of a coin."
Seiya laughed nervously. "So, what do you do now, Shaina-san?"
"I am a life coach and a therapist," Shaina said proudly. "I like helping people, especially those who make bad choices in life." Abruptly, she closed the menu and changed her tone, "I heard that Saori Kido has left her rich fiance at the altar. She found a job as a waitress. Is it true?"
"Yeah," Seiya said.
"Kudos to her," Shaina said. "What she did is quite admirable and courageous. Do you have her contact?"
"What do you mean?"
"You have her number?"
"Why do you need her number?"
"Because she'll need me!" Shaina insisted and threw down her business card. "I can give her a discount on my coaching fees. But let's face it, that girl cannot live on her own. Sooner or later, she will have a mental breakdown."
"I guarantee you she's doing just fine," Seiya said. "But I'll give her your contact just in case."
"What about you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You need me too," Shaina said, taking his hand. "I admit, back in high school, I was mean to you. I threatened to tear you apart. I threw things at you. I said nasty things to you. It was all because I loved you. I still do."
"Shaina-san," Seiya tried to take his hand back but found Shaina very strong. "I'm flattered but I can't be with you."
"Why not?" Shaina demanded.
"Because I'm leaving Tokyo," Seiya replied.
"To where? We can relocate. Kyoto?"
"No, I'm leaving this country," Seiya said. "I found a new job. In Greece."
"Greece," Shaina let go of his hand, which Seiya quickly took back. "Far, far away. I don't speak Greek and I don't know that country. I love my job and I worked hard for it. God, why are you doing this to me? Should I stay here for my job or should I follow you to Greece where we can start a new life together?"
She poured herself a glass of wine and began to drink. After her third glass, she spoke, "Seiya, I've decided. I love you. As much as I love you, I love my job more. So, as disappointed as I am, I can't be with you."
Before Seiya could sigh in relief, she added, "But I will see you leave Japan. I'll help you pack and take you to the airport. Take this as my one and only gesture of love."
Shaina is very good a packing, knowing exactly where everything should be. She packed all my clothes in two suitcases. As crazy as she is, she really took it to the heart. I feel bad.
Shun knocked on Seiya's door. He tried to call him but Seiya's not answering.
It took a moment before Seiya answered.
"Shun, what's up?"
"I have something to tell you," Shun went into Seiya's house.
"You have a guest?" Shaina walked out from Seiya's room, holding his boxers. "Finally, a friend who cares that you are leaving."
Shun froze once he realized who she is.
"Uh...I better go," he bolted out of Seiya's house within seconds.
"What's with him?" Shaina asked. "Now Seiya, let me show you how to fold you boxers so you can fit all of them in your suitcases. Make sure you change them on daily basis to avoid infections."
"Is that how Shun broke his ankle?" Tatsumi was amused. "After trying to run from Shaina?"
"That I don't know," Seiya said. "Shaina-san took me to the airport soon after."
"Seiya, I will never lose this," Shaina said, holding a piece of paper Seiya gave her. "Your address, 800 Pegasus Road, Athens, Greece."
"That's all I can do," Seiya said. "I better check in. You...take good care of yourself."
"I will, and I will take care of Saori-san too."
"What?"
"I know how you feel about her," Shaina said. "If I can't have your love, at least I can take care someone you love. Does she even know that you are leaving?"
"I...I better check in before I'm late for my flight," Seiya said quickly. The whole thing was supposed to be a scam, but after hearing what Shaina said, he bought a ticket for the next flight to Athens - for real.
"I'm going to Athens," he said under his breath as he boarded the plane.
"You flew to Athens just to get away from Shaina," Tatsumi said word to word. "That's where Saori-san is now."
"What?" Seiya couldn't believe his ears.
"Saori-san is in Athens with Julian," Tatsumi told him. "That's where their wedding will be."
