Chapter 6:
Kyoko was not entirely surprised to see Ren on her way out of the Darumaya. There was definitely a part of her that had held out hope all day that he would meet her there, and even once she realized the apology note was from Koga, there was a little voice in the back of her mind telling her that he would be there, that he would come through for her.
So when Ren was approaching the door of the Darumaya right as Kyoko walked out, she didn't jump or react outwardly, even when her heart leapt into her throat and her fingers itched to pull at the hem of her skirt to provide a bit more coverage.
"Oh, Tsuruga-san, what are you doing here?" Kyoko could feel her heart hammering against her chest. She wasn't entirely sure why she was so nervous to see him. It wasn't like it was a date she was going to. It was an apology dinner. She didn't even care if he knew where she was going, but something about being caught on the way out like this felt like she was being caught red handed. She had to remind herself that she wasn't. This was not a date she was going on. Besides, even if it was, it wasn't as if she was in a real relationship with Ren, so why couldn't she go in a date with Koga?
"I came because I owed you an apology," he said, and the guilt in Kyoko's chest resurfaced. Why was she going to meet Koga? He had tricked her, after all, was she just doing it to get back at Ren, and was that fair for anyone involved? Maybe she should back out. Convince Ren to let her cook him dinner instead.
"I was jealous, so I lashed out, but that isn't fair to you," he continued, and Kyoko would have given anything to be able to say that she wasn't convinced yet, but it wouldn't have been true. The earnest with which he looked into her eyes melted her heart. "I will find a better outlet for my jealousy, or at least take it out on the people at fault," he added with a glimmer of humor in his eyes. She smiled up at him, her chest warm with honesty that they had shared. But she noticed him tent his brows slightly in confusion.
Oh. Her outfit. He was giving her a once over to take in what she was wearing: a yellow floral sundress that suddenly felt much shorter when his eyes caught for a moment on its hem. She knew it would be too obvious to pull at the hem, but she felt exposed by his eyes. She squeezed her knees together slightly, to at least feel a bit more secure.
"I'm sorry," he said. And when he did, Kyoko realized that he had never actually said as much when he apologized. It was what he meant, certainly, but it bothered her a bit once she had noticed. At least 'sorry I've been a horse's ass' is a sorry. She shook away that thought. She was overthinking things. "Am I interrupting you? You look like you're on your way out" he concluded, his eyes still drinking up her outfit.
"Oh, no" Kyoko said, hugging her box of firecrackers in front of her, a sort of shield between their emotions. "I was just on my way to dinner"
"With Kotonami-san?" He asked. She felt the unwavering pressure of his gaze. He knew, he must have. Why else would he be eyeing her up and down for so long? He wanted her to crack under the pressure.
"No, with Koga-senpai"
"You shouldn't go to dinner with him," Ren said quickly. It wasn't a question. It wasn't a demand either, though. It was a plea. Still, it upset Kyoko a great deal for a reason she couldn't quite place.
"Why not?" This wasn't a question either. It was a challenge. If Ren was so committed to expressing himself better. He could openly admit that he didn't want her to go to dinner with Koga because he was jealous.
"You don't know what his intentions are," Ren responded.
And this had not been an answer. It had been the small flame that had lit Kyoko's frustration into a full-blown rage. She tried her best to swallow it and replied, "I think I'm perfectly capable of figuring out his intentions on my own. I'm an adult who is capable of navigating interpersonal relationships on my own, without you micromanaging them" she thought she should stop, but she didn't have enough control. "And I don't care if that's your jealousy talking, because you're obviously not doing a very good job of not taking it out on me and–" Kyoko stopped to take a breath and Ren took the opportunity to get a word in.
"You're too innocent to see what he really wants from you"
"It's an apology dinner"
"He's interested in you"
"I know that!" Kyoko snapped, surprising herself just as much as Ren. Had she known that? There was definitely a part of her that considered it, but she had been working so hard to suppress it she was only half-aware.
"I'm not a child, Ren, I am capable of understanding what's happening around me. I don't need you to stand guard and tell me which men are looking at me too long. I am perfectly capable of setting boundaries and telling men I'm not interested" Kyoko knew it was a cold and unnecessary addition, but still she tacked on "if I'm not interested"