Hello again! As promised, I'm now updating this fic as soon as I can as I'm taking advantage of our long Christmas break at school, so I'm just focused on my job and of course, updating the story for you!

In this episode, Tomoyo and Eriol will be having a dinner together. But thing won't go wrong for them, right? By the way, Enjoy reading, guys. Cheers!

Chapter 7 : Are we dating? (Part 2)

It was 6:30 PM when they arrived a a restaurant just five block away from the hospital. As they entered, the waiter assisted them right to the table which Tomoyo had reserved for them. Both of them took their seats. Eriol looked around the restaurant. He was amazed with the interior, the elegant chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the lighting, the tables, chairs, even the utensils. "You know... I've worked for a restaurant before...But... this place is... pretty huge." He said. "Do you think our restaurant will look the same as this?"

Tomoyo whispered. "No, ours will be better."

The waiter approached them, then he gave them the menu. Tomoyo had already chose what she would eat for dinner. Then, the waiter looked a Eriol, but Eriol said. "I'll take the cheapest one...", thinking that he could only afford what the cheapest on the menu.

But Tomoyo encourage him to take the same food that she ordered. "No!" she said, "You should try their best dish here. Their steak is one of the best and I assure you that you'll love it." Then, she asked the waiter to get the same order that she had for Eriol. The waiter walks away with their order.

Eriol was worried about the price of the food that she ordered for him. "I believe it will be expensive." he murmured.

But Tomoyo smiled at him, and she said that he should not think about it. "You shouldn't worry about its price, we're here for dinner. I'll take care of it later."

Five minutes had passed and they're still waiting for their food. Tomoyo had suddenly broke their silence by asking some questions to Eriol. She has a purpose on why she asked him to go with her, she wants to know him more other than just treating him for a warm dinner. "By the way, Eriol... While we wait for our dinner, let's just talk about you first, okay?"

Eriol was surprised. "Huh...me?"

"Yeah, you." she said. " I really want to know you more, that's why I asked you to come with me. These are quite personal but I hope you won't mind.

"Uh... okay." said Eriol.

Tomoyo opened their conversation by asking about his name. "Well, first of all, Do you live with your parents?"

Eriol answered , "Yes. I still live with my father. My mom passed away a week after I was born... She had a delicate pregnancy that time..."

- "Oh... I am sorry. I didn't mean to ask you that question."

"Oh, no" he said "That's okay... I know... you'll be asking it. Right now, I'm happy living with father since he took care of me since birth. B... besides, I do feel that my mom is a good person even if I never met her.

- "That's good. I can also say that you're a good person. Your father is lucky to have you as a son.

"N...Not really..." said Eriol. Both of them giggled. Tomoyo asked another question. "By the way, your name sounds nice. Where did your parents get that?"

Eriol answered, "My father told me that my mom... got it from a character on her favorite English book. She... was working in England for almost 4 years before going back to Japan and marry father. Sh...She had... decided to give me the name... before I was born."

- "Oh, interesting. Do you know what's the title of that book, though?"

"Ah... I don't know. I've asked that to father, too... My father doesn't know it either."

- "I see." Then, Tomoyo moved to a more personal matter. "I've asked the doctor who examined you. She told me those experiences that you shared with her. As I understood, you were bullied by your classmates since you were young, but you didn't fought back, right? Why?"

"Uh... You know... it's a tough question..."

- "Oh, It's okay! I'm not forcing you to answer my questions..."

"But I'll answer it, by the way..." Eriol explained to her why he didn't defend himself every time other hurt him. "Well... I really want to defend myself... but I told myself not to because... I might hurt others, and I don't want that. Everyday, father always sees me having wounds and scars whenever he picks me up from school. One time... he confronted the school management about it, but nothing happened. I've been transfered to different schools because of it... but nothing happened. My classmates continued to bully me, so... he once told me to protect myself from harm. But I told him that it's okay. You know... I'm not like them... I don't want to hurt them the way they hurt me. I know it's quite peculiar but... it's my belief. That's it.".

Tomoyo was quite impressed with his answer, then she shared her childhood memories with him " You know what, my father passed away when I was seven. When I was a kid, I've been known to my school as hard-headed. Basically, I don't let other kids bully me. I fight back regardless of how big those children were. And, every time I go home from school, my father would usually welcomes me a warm hug, then he will see my scars and treat it. Then, he tells me that I should be good to other children so that they won't bully me, but of course I have to protect myself. What I always tell him is that fighting is bad, and I understand it. But sometimes you have to defend yourself if others try to hurt you."

"I agree." Eriol said. "But I just want to live a peaceful life... Father is old, and I don't want to hear that I hurt someone because I tried to fight back."

- "But I'm sure he also doesn't like his only son to be hurt by others, right? Besides, if you cannot protect yourself, who would do it for you, then?!" Tomoyo refutes

"Right... I know."

Tomoyo then revealed the reason on why she asked Eriol those questions. "Well, I told you this because you brought back my father's memories. He's a gentle, loving person. Although he's a toughie when he gets mad. That's why I became close to you from the time that I met you."

"Uh... thank you..."

Both were still in the middle of their conversation. Tomoyo asked so many questions about Eriol's family, his work experiences, everything that she didn't knew about him, when the waiter approached them to serve what they have ordered, which they took.

They're now eating the food that was served to them, when Eriol asked Tomoyo a question. "Uh... Tomoyo, you've been asking so many question about me... Would you mind if I ask one, too? Just one!"

- "Okay, what is it?" she said.

"Umm... well, as I have noticed, you're always beside me every single time... you've been a helpful person ever since... But I don't understand why are you doing this to me since... you're my boss. And now... you have invited me for a dinner..."

- "And so?" Tomoyo asked, then she took another bite from her food.

"If I may ask... are you dating me?"

Tomoyo got choked up by the food she ate. Eriol saw it, as he rushed in to get a glass of water, and gave it to her. She immediately drank it, afterwards, she coughed, trying to catch her breath. "I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... ask you that question..." He said.

Tomoyo only laughed at him after she felt better. "Excuse me?" she said, "I'm just treating you for a dinner, besides, we're not even that close, yet! And you thought that we're having a date?!"

"Uh... as far as I know, when a man and a woman is on a fancy restaurant like this... and they're having a dinner together... isn't it what you called a date?"

- "I also treat my older clients for a dinner, and I also do this with my parents. Now, tell me... you think it's a date? And what's with that blush, huh?"

Eriol was embarrassed. "Sorry..." he said.

- "That's okay," she said. "Anyways, both of us are single, that's why some people might think that we're dating." then they continued eating their food.

Eriol was already done eating. Tomoyo, on the other hand, had called the attention of the waiter. She want to get the bill for the food they ate. Eriol noticed something on Tomoyo's plate. It's was a small piece of steak that she left. "You still have food left on your plate..." he said.

- "But I'm full now." she answered

"Yeah. But as much as possible... don't put that into waste... A lot of people around the world are getting hungry, and you just waste it like that... Besides, eating all of your food is like telling to the one who cooked it that you appreciate the food they served...so..."

Before he completed his sentence, Tomoyo had another laugh. "You really are funny!" she said. "I'm a hard-headed person, but okay, I will finish my food for you, good boy." She took the last piece of meat and ate it. Suddenly, her phone rang. "Oh, mom is calling. Our grandpa came back from London. I'll just answer it. Stay there, okay?" Eriol nods. Tomoyo stood from her seat, and went to the restroom to answer the phone call. The phone call lasted for about 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, the waiter approached Eriol and gave him the bill. "Please get my attention if you'll pay now. I'll have to check the other table. One moment please." The waiter had left him. Eriol checked the amount, and his eyes were wide open and was surprised like he almost fell from his chair upon learning that their bill is running about Six thousand Five hundred yen per dish, plus taxes and surcharges. He looked at his wallet and though he already received his first pay check, it was not en-cashed yet . He also has around 5,400 yen on his pocket. Just enough to buy some groceries for his father, and to pay for a taxi ride.

Tomoyo went back from her seat. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Eriol showed her the bill. "This bill... it's too big..." he said. "See? I told you it will be expensive..."

"You always make me laugh..." Tomoyo reacted. "Anyway, I'll take care of it!" Tomoyo got her purse from her bag. She called the waiter and gave him her credit card.

Eriol was quite embarrassed, thinking that it's quite inappropriate for him not to answer the whole bill, or even his part. "It was so un-gentleman of me not to pay for it..." he said.

"And as if you can pay for all of it, right?" Tomoyo looked at him at his eyes, and smiled. "You know what, I don't like your attitude sometimes. Like, you always do everything by the book. You don't have to think about the bill. I asked you to join me, and It's my treat so I'll answer it for you." Eriol went silent. Then, Tomoyo called the waiter and asked the violinist to play some music for them before they leave. "They have musicians here and they're great! Wanna here one of them play violin?"

"I don't like music that much... but , I'll try..." he replied. A violinist approached their table and started playing the violin. Tomoyo just closed her eyes and followed the beat as if she feels the music in her soul. Eriol just smiled while watching her. Both of them had enjoyed their first dinner together.

It was almost eight in the evening when they reached Eriol's house. "So here's you're house..." she said. "It's simple, but it looks good..."

But Eriol didn't respond. Then, Tomoyo asked him to go home so that he could see his father. Before that, Eriol thanked her for the dinner. "Um... You asked me to come with you. Then, you treat me for dinner... and now, you brought me home even if I have enough money to commute... I dunno how to repay you but... Thanks, anyway."

She ruffled his hair and smiled at him. "I'm not asking for a payback. I'm happy doing it for you. Oh, by the way, You may go now. Your father must be worried since you went home late." He got off her car and say goodbye. But Tomoyo called him again as she gave something to him. It was a check worth 10,000 yen. "Overtime pay" she jokingly told him.

Eriol refused to accept it. "I didn't go with you because of that..." he said. Tomoyo asked him to get it, but Eriol insists he couldn't get it. In the end, she did what Eriol wants. She then bid farewell to him. "See you tomorrow!" she said. Eriol just waived his hand as Tomoyo headed her way home.

Tomoyo was on the road, listening to some music. Then she tried to remember what happened. His reactions, his strangeness, his smile, his innocence. Everything about Eriol that she saw that night. She had one of the most wonderful night, as she gets to know more of this person who saved her life.

Thank you, UnitedOsprey1991 for that feedback. I admit that I lack some research about Savant Syndrome but as much as possible, I really wanted to put it exact definition on this story. I will also do my best to create this fic carefully. Thanks as well for putting this story on your list of favorites. I would also want to thank Wafflesxz for doing the same thing.

That's all for today! Until the next chapter. Happy Holidays to everyone!