Due to the overwhelming number of story alerts, favorites, and reviews, I've managed to get enough confidence to continue the fanfiction. Thanks, everyone!

"I'm leaving for my lunch break," Romano issued curtly to his secretary. She nodded and noted it down in her little black log. He subsequently left, exiting the Veneroma headquarters and making his way to his motorcycle. Today he was going to the Café du Monde to eat. Romano barely noticed the things taking place around him as he whizzed by at a breakneck speed. Who gave a shit about the young couples kissing on park benches, the children playing on the side of the road, the sun shining brightly over everyone? He sure didn't. Anyway, he planned on taking his time; nothing very important was occurring at work today and he didn't feel particularly pressed to return early. The way to the café was so embedded in his mind that he did not even have to pay attention to where he was going. So he arrived as usual and walked into the establishment. On his way inside he noticed that the former "Help Wanted" sign in the front door was gone. Whatever. But, upon entering, he was immediately assailed by an oddly familiar voice.

"Welcome to the Café du Monde! Hey, do I know you?" The server standing before him, Romano was startled to see, was none other than—

"You! You work here?" He hadn't meant it to come out in such an undignified way, but the shock was great. Antonio cocked his head confusedly. Then he brightened up.

"Romano, right? Yeah, I remember! You gave me a ride! Come on, I'll show you to a table." Along the way, he explained, "I was going to apply for a job here when you brought me. Thanks again, by the way! I only got here in the nick of time; Francis was about to give the job to someone else." All Romano could think was that Antonio was really very chatty and enthusiastic. It seemed that every one of his sentences was punctuated by a glaring exclamation point. How irritating.

"Uh huh." Then something occurred to him. "You know Francis Bonnefoy?"

"Yeah, he and I are friends! He agreed to hire me as an employee here." So Antonio had connections. He wouldn't have believed that at first glance. Maybe the man wasn't as stupid as he seemed.

"Right. So, is there a free table anywhere?" It seemed that they were ambling in circles around the café.

"Oh, yeah!" Antonio led him to a seat near the window. "How's this?"

"Fine. Thanks." Romano was relieved when he was finally able to sit down and order something. However, his server seemed intent on talking his ear off.

"Do you come here often?" Antonio asked when he brought the food over. Romano merely grunted in affirmation. He just wanted to eat in peace, damn it! After a few more moments of pointless chatter he finally said,

"I'd like to eat. In privacy." His server didn't get the hint.

"Do you want your own room to eat in?" Antonio asked, baffled. "I don't know if we have any private rooms…"

"What I mean is I want you to let me eat in peace."

"Oh, I see!" But he obviously didn't, since he remained standing beside Romano. However, he did cease talking for the duration of the meal. It was better than nothing, at least, so Romano ceased caring. He finished only to find Antonio with the same star struck expression on his face as he had had the first time they met.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked, frowning.

"Nothing at all!"

"Okay… I'd like the check now, please." Antonio whipped the little tray out with lightning speed, eliciting a high-pitched squeak from the wary diner at the table. After clearing his throat several times, Romano paid for his meal. He also retrieved a tip for his server (it was mandatory or else he would not have bothered) and held it out awkwardly.

"Uh, here."

"Thanks!" The man took it in his hands reverently, as if the stained and creased five dollar bill was the Holy Grail. Romano found that he wasn't necessarily complaining about the adoration in his server's eyes. As the designer rose to leave, Antonio inquired casually, "So, will I see you tomorrow?" This made Romano hesitate. There were millions of answers floating around in his head: So what if I do? Maybe I will. No, never again! But he wasn't sure about which one to pick.

"Maybe," was his final, noncommittal reply as he exited the café.

He did return the next day, though it was more from habit than anything else. Or at least, that was what he told himself as Antonio greeted him once again.

"You came back!" he exclaimed joyfully, nearly succeeding in making Romano flush red. Stop it. He's just another person to leave behind when you pass away.

"Yeah, yeah. Are you going to seat me or not?" Despite his gruff reply, Antonio led the way with a sunny smile and a deluge of words.

"So, what can I get you?" Romano heard upon tuning back into the other man's prattling.

"Pasta with marinara and could you tell them to put a couple of tomatoes on the side as well?"

"Sure! You seem to like tomatoes a lot."

"I guess."

"Me too! I think we're going to get along just fine." If that was his logic, then Antonio had another thing coming. As if his brash mannerisms and cheerful personality were going to make an impact on Romano…!

But Antonio's forwardness was something new. Romano was not sure how to take it except it really was very naïve and that weird thrill he just felt was from the breeze coming through the window. He couldn't afford to have it be from anything else.

"So, are you from around here?" They were getting rather familiar, he observed. That was dangerous. However, responding might keep up the façade of normalcy for a bit longer before the end.

"Yeah."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a designer."

"A designer? Hm, a designer…" Antonio thought for a while. "Ah! You're Romano, from Veneroma!"

"You know the line?" A simple plebeian like him? Romano was mildly impressed.

"Yeah! I see it in stores all the time!"

"Ah." Romano took pride in having Veneroma well known. "Do you wear any?"

"No." For a moment, Antonio looked a little less happy. "I can't afford it."

"Oh." Romano tried to put a note of disdain in his voice (to distance himself from Antonio), but it was a weak attempt. He was still slightly curious as to the cause of Antonio's financial situation.

"It's okay, though. " The man's lightheartedness was back again. "Wow, a designer! I can't believe I know one!"

"Yeah."

"What's it like being you?"

"Oh. It's, uh…" Bleak? Dreary? Painful? "Nothing special."

"That's pretty vague."

"So?" His angry retort hung in the air. While Antonio rushed off to help another table, Romano tried to calm his agitated mind. He could not become close to anyone (if a person managed to provoke a dramatic reaction from him, how could they not be considered close?). It would make his departure from this world much too complicated. Antonio would not—could not—be the one to influence his decision to die. This he vowed to himself.

However, even with his iron will, he already knew that resistance was futile.

I hope the plotline still interests you after this chapter. *is nervous* Please tell me how it was!