I'll make things clear, there are two POVs: One is Youko's and the other is Sei's. Hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 2

Youko

As usual, I'm the first to arrive at the meeting place. It has been 5 minutes since I entered the restaurant and I have not seen either Eriko or Sei. So, I just looked through the menu the waiter gave me. Then, at the corner of my eyes, I saw Eriko arriving. I set down the menu on the table and turned my attention on her. She took off her light brown trench coat, revealing a silk red sleeveless top tucked in a tiered folded-pleat skirt. I smiled when I noticed that she isn't wearing her headband.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." She said while she sits down in front of me.

"It's fine. I too just arrived minutes ago."

"Where's Sei?"

"She hasn't arrived yet. So, you took your headband off." I gestured on her hair.

"Ah, yes. I decided to change my look. What do you think?" She turned her head to the left then to the other side to let me take a good look on her new hairstyle.

"It suits you." I smiled.

"Thanks." She smiled back.

I checked my watch to look at the time. "Sei is late." I hissed.

As if on cue, Sei walked across our table with an apologetic look on her face. "I'm so sorry. I got caught up in traffic." She uttered as she set herself down on the chair to my right.

"Sei wouldn't be Sei without being late." Eriko teased "By the way, you look good on your clothes."

Sei just grinned at her. "Shall we order? I'm famished. I've been busy all day."

"I thought you're free today?" I asked.

"Yes, I am free, until I saw that my pantry is nearly empty." She retorted while looking through the menu. I just shrugged at her.

"I'm ready to order." She looked up at me then said, "You look stunning on that dress by the way."

That totally surprised me; I blinked twice at her without saying a word. There's minute of silence.

"My my, didn't see that coming." Eriko broke the silence "How 'bout me? Have you noticed something new about me?" Eriko smiled at Sei while batting her eyelashes like she's flirting with her.

Sei looked at her carefully. "O-ooh! You covered your large – ow!" I'm guessing Eriko just kicked Sei under the table.

"Let's just order, okay." I exclaimed trying to change the subject "Waiter!" I lifted my hand and gestured to the waiter who is standing not far from our table. "We're ready to order."

"What will be your order ma'am?"

"I'll have a Grilled Mediterranean Shrimp Linguine."

"Mine is Honey-Citrus Grilled Chicken." Eriko declared as the waiter jot down our orders.

"And I'll have a Grilled Sirloin Steak." Sei uttered.

"How about drinks, ma'am?"

"Apple Juice?" I asked the two and they nodded.

"Is there anything more, ma'am?" the waiter asked.

"And three slices of Strawberry Cheesecake.

"I'll pay for the dessert." I winked at the two girls and they smiled. The waiter repeated the order before he walked away.

"So, how have the two of you been? It's been months seen we've seen each other." I asked cheerfully.

"Nothing much. College kept me busy. I'm so strained from studying and doing projects, particularly now since exams have just ended." Eriko answered.

"Hmm…Really? I thought your brothers are the ones who kept you busy. Don't you date them anymore?" Sei joked as Eriko rolled her eyes.

"Now that I moved out of our house, they can't bother me. Besides, ever since I introduced Eiji-san, they stopped asking me on dates."

"Who's Eiji?" I asked.

"That's Yamanobe-sensei's first name. I thought you knew."

I shook my head, "No. You never really told us his first name."

"Is that so?" she giggled.

"Are you still in love with him, or you've proposed again to another man?" Sei grinned and wriggled her eyebrows.

"Sei, Sei, Sei. I may be fickle, but when it comes to my feelings, it never changes." Eriko beamed, "How about you Satou-san, are you dating someone? I heard that you're really famous in Lillian University, and being the flirt you are, I'm sure there is." she suddenly asked, putting Sei on hot seat.

As a matter of fact, part of me wants to hear her answer and part of me hesitated. Although I call her almost weekly, I didn't have the courage to ask about her personal life because I'm afraid that I might not like what I'll hear. My heart beats uncontrollably as I waited for her answer.

"Sorry to disappoint you Torii-san but I'm not dating anyone, I'm busy with school works." She finally responded.

"I'm sorry. Can you repeat what you said? I think I didn't hear it right."

"I just got uninterested, alright." Sei cried with annoyance in her voice.

"That's boring then."Eriko pouted while flailing her hand in front of her face.

I looked at Sei relieved, but to my surprise, she looked at me back. I searched deeply into those brilliant steel blue eyes for any sign, but couldn't find anything. There was sadness in them but her gaze is unwavering. I have known her actions and thoughts for so many years, but right now, I don't know what she's thinking. Then suddenly, an unpleasant thought flashed on my mind, Maybe I'm the reason she's not dating someone. Am I holding her back? I looked down with grief.

At first, it was just mere concern why I got myself involved with Sei. She was an introvert who always looks through the window, longing to break free; her eyes have the color of the sky when it's about to rain and there was sadness in it. Every day, I made an effort to talk to her and even invited her to join a club but she declined. It only seemed that I was just a nuisance to her. But that never stopped me from, as what she would say, meddling to her affairs.

Then, in our first year of high school, I started to develop feelings for her. As a result, I become engrossed in her personal life, to the point that she's pushing me away. What hurt me the most was that she was deeply in love with someone and even vowed that she's the last person that she'll love.

"Excuse me ma'am, here's your order." The waiter interrupted and carefully placed our order in front of us.

"Do you need anything more, ma'am?" he asked us.

"No, that would be all. Thank you." Eriko responded, and then the waiter left.

The dinner was unusually quiet, and the food was remarkable. After paying the bill, we proceed to my friend's nightclub located six blocks away from De Mari. We rode in Sei's beetle because she's the only one who brought a car, while Eriko and I are seated at the back. She drove as I instructed the directions to her. Naturally, Sei drove like a maniac. She maneuvered through the streets recklessly. When the traffic light turned red, she instantaneously stepped on the break. The tires screeched as Eriko and I lurched forward.

"Sei!" we screamed at the ever so careless friend in unison.

"Are you trying to kill us? We're not in a hurry so slow down!" I exclaimed.

"Sorry," Sei apologized "I'll try to be more careful."

"So where do we go?" she asked when the traffic light changed to green.

"Turn left on the next intersection." I replied as she followed my direction.

"Stop right there." I pointed my finger at a building on the right side of the street "You can park the car on the parking space in front of the bar."

I don't actually know Yamanobe-sensei's first name, and I don't think it was mentioned on the anime. So, I gave him a name: Eiji. I don't know where it came from, but I think I've read it somewhere, or it's just my imagination. Either way, I think the name suits him.