Chapter 2 got little feedback. Wonder why?
"Yusei!" The customers, staff, and chefs on duty all greeted him in sync.
"How's it going, everybody?" the off-duty scientist responded. Luna stayed quiet, but amazed, as Yusei snapped his fingers. A waitress came up and showed the duo to an open booth.
"The usual iced tea for you, Dr. Fudo," the waitress jumped the gun on drink requests. "And for your friend?"
"Um….if you have lemonade, I'll have some of that," the college girl requested timidly.
"Coming right up," the waitress bowed, dashing off to tend to everyone else.
"You seem really popular here," Luna stated the obvious.
"That's one way to put it," Yusei answered. "Not long after you left the city, this place came up. It didn't take long 'til this restaurant became a hot spot."
"But how do they all know your name?" the young woman pondered.
"Well, when this place came under financial hardship, I fronted a sizeable portion of my salary to keep this place running and get a renovation," the scientist explained. "Ownership and management were so grateful that anytime I come here, the meal's free for me and for anyone I'm with."
"Wow, and here I thought you had gained fame like that Norm character from Cheers," Luna spelled out.
"On a different note, what's changed for you when we last saw each other?" Yusei wondered aloud. "I've already given you a glimpse of what I've done."
"Leo and I were reunited with our parents after leaving New Domino, for starters," she recounted as the drinks were placed on the table. "We told them all about our battles as Signers and all that jazz."
"What'd they make of it?" the older man inquired.
"I'm still not sure," the girl replied. "First they thought we were making it all up. But Leo, in his usual stubborn self, went all out and tried to prove everything."
"What's Leo been doing?" he followed up.
"He got really good with that duel board you built him," Luna continued. "His duel skills also improved greatly. He's even won a few junior tournaments. Plus, as we speak, he's working on dominating the Turbo Dueling minor leagues."
"Impressive," the scientist gauged. "It won't be long 'til Leo is compared to Crow or Jack."
"Funny you should mention that," the girl interjected. "He's told me how he's preparing to take on Crow and Jack in the future and that he'll win."
"Always good to have confidence," Yusei summarized. While they weren't looking, the waitress reappeared, ready to take their order.
"What'll it be, you two?" the peppy female employee asked.
"Reuben melt," the scientist said point-blank.
"All right," she responded, writing down what Yusei requested. "And for your friend?"
"Uh...hang on," the college girl tried to find something palatable. "I'll try the...wheat pasta."
"Coming right up," the waitress said, taking the menus off of the table.
"You know, Yusei, I gotta tell you something," Luna started to say.
"Well, spill it," he requested.
"I didn't think it was possible that I'd be working with you in this internship thing or whatever-it-is," she revealed. "I did believe that I would see you again, but not this way."
"Fate is a fickle thing," the scientist philosophized. "It's capable of good and bad fortune in every extent. All you can really do is hope for the best."
"He's just as insightful as he was ages ago," the girl thought. The idle chatter was put on hold as their dinner was brought to them. From the size of Yusei's Reuben, Luna didn't think he could even shovel it down. Then again, her doubt was out to rest while she saw her older brother figure chomp away at the sandwich.
"He must be really hungry," she figured out while nibbling at her platter. The girl took her time ingesting the noodles after Yusei had swiftly devoured his Reuben. He watched her slurp the noodles while he cleaned his teeth out with a toothpick.
"Looks like I'm done," she announced, dropping her fork on the plate.
"Hang on, gotta leave a tip," the scientist murmured while he pulled a few bills of moderate denomination from his wallet and slapped them down. "All set." Once the girl touched up her makeup, the two were back on the road, ready to call it a day.
"Now that my stomach is filled, there's just one problem left to solve," Luna spelled out.
"What might that be?" Yusei wondered over the revving engine.
"I need to find a place to stay for the next twelve months," the girl pointed out. "I guess I'm supposed to figure that out on my own and I haven't yet."
"That can be remedied easily," the scientist theorized. "My place has a spare room. You can stay with me."
"Um, are you sure about that?" Luna asked apprehensively. "I don't want to be a burden to you."
"It's no trouble at all," he waved off. "I don't get much company as it is."
"If you say so, then I'll take that opportunity," the girl chimed cautiously. Yusei nodded in agreement and turned the car sharply onto a street lit only be streetlights.
"We're here," the guy sang in Luna's ears. She moved her head up to see a domicile that was longer in length and width than most homes.
"This is your house?" she quizzed him in astonishment.
"That it is," Yusei answered briefly, wheeling the car into the garage. "Hang on." He got out of the vehicle, zipped to the passenger's side, and opened the door for the girl.
"How kind of you," Luna complimented him. "Chivalry's not dead yet, as long as you're here."
"I like your wit," the scientist refuted, closing the door and retrieving Luna's belongings. She stayed quiet as Yusei showed her around his home, both stories of it, and to her room for the coming year.
"I can work with this," she gauged the living space. It was outfitted in a periwinkle blue color, a bed on the far side, small high-def TV, closet, and a personal bathroom.
"Glad you like it," Yusei thanked her, setting her stuff inside the door. "If you ever need something, there's always a good chance you'll find me in my office down the hall. My room is right next to it as well."
"Duly noted," she reminded herself.
"I'll let you get settled in," the scientist bowed as he walked out of sight.
"I can feel his saint-like personality radiating," Luna thought. "I think I'll like this place."
The girl took a little over 30 minutes to make this spare room her home away from home. She put a few framed pictures from school on her dresser. In the center went her photo of Team 5D's celebrating their victory in the World Racing Grand Prix.
"Things were so chaotic back then, but we were able to handle it 'cause we had each other," Luna rhapsodized. "Those were the days." She was so caught up in her memories that she didn't hear Yusei slowly approach her open door.
"Knock knock," he gently alerted her.
"Hey," the girl greeted back. "I'm guessing this is you trying to relax?" In this instance, Yusei had ditched his blazer, jeans, and boots, but still had his red and black shirt and long black shorts.
"Gee, what gave it away?" he asked with sarcasm. "Looks like you're settled in now."
"Yeah," the girl replied. "I figured out a way to say 'thank you' for putting me up while I'm here." Yusei was taken off guard when Luna lodged her head under his chin and wrapped her arms around him.
"You're quite welcome," he answered back with a hug of his own. "You should probably get some rest. Even though your flight landed a little over 4½ hours ago, jetlag may have taken that many days out of you."
"I won't argue with that," Luna weighed in. "Good night." Yusei shot her the "it's all good" pistol salute with his hands and sauntered his office.
"His body is so toned, but it feels...gentle," the girl tittered to herself. "Protective, too."
One review on Chapter 2 came up the day it was published. Maybe I put it in on an off day or something. Hopefully this makes up for it. I'm trying to get back to "Sweet Nothing," but I'm on the fence on how it should end. At least this story's somewhat established a small following. I'd like it to grow though. Review if you so desire. How does this chapter rate on a 1 to 10 scale? 'til next time.