"So you haven't seen her in years, but you're hunting for an apartment together?" Sojiro stared at Ren over the top of his glasses.
"Yes. Well, no. Not like that," Ren lowered the heat on one of the burners. Sojiro had insisted he didn't need to help out anymore, but when else was he going to get a chance to use equipment like this again? "We're searching together, for separate apartments."
"I see." Sojiro adjusted his glasses, briefly glancing down at the magazine he was holding. "And you two didn't fool around or anything in high school did you?"
"No. Of course not."
"Or with any of her friends?" Something about Sojiro's tone was rather chastising.
"No."
"Not the blonde one?"
Ren shook his head.
"The one who wanted to run a cafė?"
"Not her either."
"The one with the ponytail who ate a lot?"
"No."
Sojiro's eyes narrowed. "Surely not-"
"I didn't date anyone." When Sojiro's lips started to move, Ren added, "Or 'fool around with' anyone."
"You mean to tell me you were hanging out with all of those girls and you didn't hook up with at least one?" Sojiro held his face in his palm and muttered, "I've failed as a guardian."
"I had a lot going on back then."
They all had.
It wasn't that Ren hadn't thought about it. Pursuing someone seemed risky. The team had to come first. No need to make things worse than they were, especially when he'd only be there a few more months anyway. Plus, he was pretty sure his cat was in love with Ann. Also, hadn't Makoto suggested that girls found him too disheveled?
Who would want to date a delinquent anyway?
His thoughts were interrupted by a low sigh from Sojiro. The older man looked back up at him. "So you say the coffee up there wasn't very good?"
Ren welcomed the change of subject. "Not really."
"Huh," Sojiro looked down for a moment. "And they charged how much for it?