Thanks for the reviews! They're very encouraging.
She dipped the spoon into her bowl of muesli and took a big mouthful.
Crunching on her morsel, she looked over the sun-rise from the thirteenth store window with narrowed eyes.
She gulped down.
"Enough."
Her clear voice resounded around the empty room.
Having gotten a good share of sleep last night, she had awoken with a lucid mind in the morning.
She had planted a kiss on Hinata's pink cheek and left the room to clear her thoughts.
Auyzawa prided herself to be a rational, methodic person. And that was exactly how she was going to deal with the last night's happening.
First of all, she had been tired and agitated all day, she explained to herself. Being back to Japan had taken a serious physical toll on her body.
And then she had seen Usui, after years and years. Of course, everything had added up and led to the mini mental breakdown in the evening.
But she was fine now. In fact, she did not even feel guilty any more.
She was certain of her unshakable love for her boyfriend, and the last night's.. digression had been the result of series of the aforementioned unfortunate events.
Misaki had made her resolve. The fact was that Usui was back in town and she needed to talk to him.
Not to get closure, no, but to tell him things that had been weighing on her mind for years. After all, both of them were adults now. They would sit and she would tell him what she had to say. It was only fair.
Ever since Kanou had revealed the truth, she had been overcome by a heavy blow of mixed emotions, but she was fine now. Life was not a movie and she believed that people grew out even the most intense attachments.
Content with the logic, Misaki took another spoonful of muesli and walked back to the adjoined kitchen.
Kanou. She took her phone from the kitchen counter and searched out the number of her old friend and her only link to Usui.
The doors of the elevator opened and as soon as Misaki stepped out, she saw him waiting for her at the open door.
Somehow, he did not seem surprised to see her. But he had had few minutes to prepare himself.
Getting the information of his whereabouts from Kanou had been easy. He had been back from Britain for a week already, she learnt from Kanou, and they had even dined together at the hotel where he was staying. He had been always a very perceptive person, Kanou, and he had immediately understood her reasons for wanting to see him. After all, she thought, he had been the one to reveal the truth about Usui to her five years ago.
The receptionist at the hotel had called Usui in the room to check if the unannounced woman - although unarguably breathtaking - was welcome by the highly-esteemed guest. The phone conversation had lasted ten seconds, the receptionist's question being cut short after he had uttered her last name.
"He is expecting you, Miss Ayuzawa", he had said, somewhat flustered and told her the number of his room.
There they were now, facing each other.
Even though his smile did not touch his eyes, his body seemed relaxed enough - leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed - for her to know that at least he did not hate seeing her.
No greetings were exchanged, hands were not shaken. Somehow all the rituals seemed unnecessary and artificial.
Neither broke the eye-contact. Gone were the days when Misaki would have blushed fervently under his gaze, whenever he gave her that look.
"I got the address from Kanou", said Misaki finally. She was glad her voice sounded clear and strong.
"I know". His voice was deeper. She shifted her weight on another leg.
He turned sideways to the door and made a casual gesture with his hand, inviting her in.
Following him inside the room, she used the opportunity to observe him closely. He was wearing his glasses, was barefoot and his shirt was open at the collar.
His face was unreadable, the thin smile still lingering on his lips.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure, Ayuzawa," he motioned her to sit down on the large couch, as he poured down amber drink in two glasses.
He had not even asked her if she wanted one. She scowled slightly, but gratefully took the glass from his hand, taking great care to not graze his skin.
Finally he sat down at the opposite end of the couch, one foot tucked under him. The vague smile on his face was replaced by an openly curious expression, as his eyes finally focused on hers.
Ayuzawa tried to mildly smile in a friendly manner. She needed this to happen in the least dramatic way possible. She needed to say everything as it was, with as little emotion as possible.
"I wanted to talk to you. About what happened."
Usui's eyes flickered away from hers for a split second. His thumb outlined the edge of his glass contemplatively.
She waited for him to answer, but he simply nodded slightly.
"The thing is, Takumi", her use of his first name managed to focus his slightly startled eyes back to her face, just as she had intended.
"I know everything. I know why you disappeared ten years ago."
His hand on the back of the couch closed into a loose fist.
"And I'm here to say thank you."
A/N
What happened ten years ago? What did Kanou reveal to Misaki?
Just few things I want to explain: my intention in this story is to envisage the characters as real humans. Flawed, imperfect, with ambivalent emotions and insecurities. Thus nothing like the ''superheroes'' presented in the manga/anime.
I've always been intrigued by the love triangle between Hinata, Misaki and Usui, and in fact wondered how things would have played out if she'd ended up with loyal, earnest Hinata. However, I'm an ardent Misaki-Usui shipper myself.
Please please review and I'll try to update in the next few day.