Ren watched Makoto inspect the fold-out laundry rod holders out on the balcony. To his knowledge, she didn't have the same otherworldly skill he had, but she was meticulous enough without it.
Just like back then.
Toshiro's warning tugged at his thoughts. Was he just projecting his idealization of Makoto onto her present self?
His circumstances weren't as extreme as Toshiro's. They had come out of their battles safely. When he thought back to the time they spent together, he wasn't weighed down by guilt. Their relationship was different. Sure he admired her in high school, but it wasn't like he had a full-blown cru-
"Have you considered taking the next step?" Toshima had walked up beside him.
"What do you mean?" The words came out quickly. Did she know what he was thinking? How-
"You know, moving in together," she said. "I think I have a good sense of what you like and how you work together now. There are some slightly bigger units we have that might better suit your combined needs."
"Oh, uh," Ren rubbed the back of his neck. It was getting hotter by the second. "We're not together. Not like that."
"My mistake," Toshima looked apologetic… or was it sympathetic? "I assumed because sometimes she seems to plan for two."
Toshima gestured with her chin towards the balcony. Makoto appeared to be measuring the space in pairs.
Could Makoto have a…?
"I don't know if she's seeing someone," Ren mumbled, more to himself than Toshima.
"Seeing someone else? No."
He turned sharply to face her. "How do you know?"
"If she did, you think her beau would be comfortable with her spending so much time with you?" Toshima tilted her head just enough to watch his expression.
"Makoto wouldn't be with someone who'd get upset just because she spends time with her friends." As much as Ren wanted to believe she was single, he was sure she wouldn't put up with that. At least, he hoped she wouldn't.
Toshima continued to regard him a few moments longer before responding: "Even friends who look at her and interact with her the way you do?"