CHAPTER 85

I do not own skip beat! Yoshiki Nakamura does.

First Trip and Its Wonders: Part 9

Ren came back as Ken and Kyoko were both chatting. He looked aghast and grumpy, Ken noted but he still smiled at Kyoko when she addressed him, so he thought he was fine. Kyoko excused herself to the bathroom, taking her bag with her.

Ken became very aware he was wrong about his first impression, and he realized it fast. The sleek gentle man was quick to criticize, and it was so against character from his friend that Ken was slow to react, and thought he had sincerely been sloppy in his efforts. Nothing was good enough and no matter what he did. Nothing was not okay. Ken explained he needed help to free himself from a man's grip or any hold, really. He was going to go straight to the essential with what he needed, hoping it would quicken his escape. But even then, his friend remained unhappy. He was about to snap angrily at him – enough was enough – , he was doing his best, but then his friend stopped and took a step back from him. What was wrong now?

"I apologize," he told him suddenly to Ken's surprise. "My behaviour had been unacceptable since we started."

Ken nodded sharply, glad his friend was aware of it, and his friend took another step away, letting out all the air he had in his lungs, and breaking deeply for a minute.

"Could you give me ten minutes, Ken?"He finally inquired with a gruff voice and annoyance back on his face. "I need to release some energy." Ken nodded reflexively, confused by what he meant by that, but giving him the floor.

His friend went straight to the sandbag and started punching. One. Twice. Trice. Twenty. His wide shoulders undulating in a fast liquid roll under the tightness of his tight top and to the rhythm of his throws firing, up and down, up and down. Hard. Very hard. His knuckles leaving dents into the poor bag each time. Deeper and wider. Until a high shriek was heard and the skin of the bag tore apart, discharging rivers of sand on the ground.

He didn't even look at Ken as he took his wallet, went to the secretary, surely to reimburse the sports bag. When he came back, he was carrying a new one on his left shoulder and set it up and hang it fast before resuming. Some fume seemed to have left, however, because his launches were not hard as before, and eventually he turned back to Ken with a tense smile.

"Could we start back?"He proposed. "Now that my mind is clearer, I've actually thought about a few ideas to help you if you'd like to test them out."

His lips unfurled that all out as if it was nothing and as if he hadn't just exploded a hard sandbag by sheer frustration over something he didn't even know about. Alright, he might have a not-so-wild guess on the reason. Or the who. Ken contented himself with an arched a brow, signifying that he was not duped in the least, but nodded with what he considered to be a graceful slide from his side in the not-poking area. They got to real training and when he was composed, Ken discovered, his friend was actually an excellent teacher, making it easy for him to understand.

§§§

On the other side of the glass, three terrified friends that had just witnessed the damage on the bag decided to leave and to never, never, anger Tsuruga Ren. Ever.

§§§

In the meanwhile, a few metres away, in a bathroom, in a dark tiles shower, two feminine feet stepped inside a walk-in cabin. Water began to pour, mind thousands of miles away from her present actions.

It imagined the heavy weight of a masculine body glued to her own, rubbing her. She pushed back her hair and let freezing water rain over her, drenching her. Her overheated body didn't seem to grasp the dip in low temperature and welcomed it like a light refreshing shower, cooling her frazzled turned-on nerves. Her palm glided from her nape, down her breasts, and lower. Grasping at her touchy sore hip and grazing it faintly while her fingers dipped even lower. She imagined her hands to be bigger, rougher, and dexterous. Her hips pushed forward in the air, balancing to a slow penetrating and invisible tempo. Her swollen nipples brushed the tiles surface while a race happened between her legs. She bend backwards when rapture seized her body, and a low rough cry escaped her. Her whole front tilted forwards as she relaxed, resting on the dark wall. The man really drove madness to a whole new level. Tenseness remained in her muscled even after that, and she had to push release twice more until she felt sufficiently spent to be sure she could handle coming out and facing him.

He is driving me mad. She thought as she wrapped herself in a towel and went to grab some clothes.

When she came back, Ken-san looked tired and was sitting on the mat, and Ren was drinking water like a mad man. Another sandbag had also replaced the one she had been using earlier.

"Sorry for taking so long." She told them. "Also, what happened to the old bag?"

Ren cough.

"I broke it." She lifted a brow at that. "I used too much strength."

Ken-san snorted but didn't comment and she wondered if she had missed something. Did they argue? But they seemed quite at peace. She shrugged it off at being her imagination when they didn't seem angry in the least, and even joked together.

They focused on Ken-san training for the next hour then moved to their choreography.

They had finished rehearsing the big chunks of their choreography by the time Ken-san told them he needed to leave because of a call to his music studio. By then, they were confident that even if they didn't get the time to redo it, they would be fine with the remaining training planned by the director. They were still intending on training one more time during the trip but things had gone smoother than expected, considering they already both had some experience in fighting sports and mock combats.

But when she came back to the move for her sole sequence she had failed to master yet, she wondered if maybe she wasn't the only one feeling a little awkward. It might have been only her own awareness, however. But Ren didn't try to show her the move once or help her physically once, and solely focused on giving her verbal explanations.

She was starting to think she was getting closer to success but for once was a little frustrated he hadn't helped her positioning or anything in that length. Deep down, she also kinda had to recognize her frustration mostly came from the fact she desired the extra contact, and those sorts of "professional moments" sometimes gave her an excuse to have the desperate drops of touch she craved so much. It would never be enough, she knew. But she still relished in the feels, each time she had the occasion to have his hands on her. Even if it scraped her raw, made her heart twist in agony and drove her nuts. She still liked it.

She was about to give up on the spoken explanations and ask him to show her the right position when someone entered their gym room.

It was Mei.

"Anô, sorry to bother," She said in that silky voice of hers, and Kyoko really wondered if it was only her jealousy making her hear falseness in that sugary tone.

Stupid. You're just jealous. She told herself.

"I was wondering if I could borrow Ren-san," She said sweetly, not really greeting her neither really asking her but Kyoko knew she wasn't appreciated and accepted that. She grabbed Ren's hand and Kyoko's water bottle she had been holding to give herself a countenance, cracked in her grasp. "Ren-san, could you come help me? The others aren't available and you have more experience in equipment than me." She rubbed her fingers on his arm slightly. Stop fucking touching him! She hated it. She hated seeing that damn girl being all touchy with him. She hated feeling this way. She hated being this possessive and not being able to be a good friend, no matter what. Especially when she had no rights claiming anything. Stop it, Kyoko. She turned away. She gulped down nearly everything remaining in her water bottle then poured the bottom on her towel before rubbing her face with the cold cloth. The freshness helped her cool down a little.

"Mei-san, I'm sorry, but – ." She heard Ren started but the young woman cut him.

"The shop is closing soon. Please, it won't take long." She looked genuinely worried, Kyoko thought as she looked back slightly. Maybe it was indeed important.

"I'm training with Kyoko right now," he began again and Kyoko sighed. She was only tagging along. She shouldn't bother their trip by monopolizing Ren's time. She knew. And she had still selfishly taken everything he proposed.

"You should go, Ren." She said at last, hating her mature self never like before. She wanted so much to a conceited brat at this moment that bitterness flooded her mouth. "It seems important." She added.

She saw him ready to protest so tried to reassure him, waving his concern away.

"We had covered the most important, and I can work on my own on that move later. Go." He opened his mouth again.

"Go. Before that shop closes." She insisted.

"Okay." He said at last after a small sigh and a nod. "See you later." She nodded.

"Thank you, Kyoko-san!" Mei-san beamed.

They left. And she was so pissed that he did. Even as she told him to.

And Kyoko hated herself even more for being reasonable and for telling him that.

She was fully incoherent.

She discharged all her negative energy on the new sandbag after that. Took a new shower and left the gym centre. She needed the cold air.

To clear her mind.

She wandered about in the snowy streets, meandering without a clear purpose with her sports bag on her shoulder when her eyes landed on a gallery of recording studios. Right by musical stores and food commerces. She had known the region had some but she was still surprised. She didn't expect them to be that big and numerous. Now, the instruments in the cabin made a lot more sense. It didn't excuse their poor shape. She stepped into the extended buildings area. It would distract her of her gloomy thoughts. And maybe she could find a new mediator for her guitar. Touristic fields often had especially fancy or cute ones. You only had to check it was good quality enough.

She progressed through the front stores, indulging herself with some sweets when she saw hot chocolate crepes being sold. She was hungry and moody, nothing better than eating something sweet.

She munched through the delicacy in record time, and finally reached the studios area. She hadn't seen the musical stores yet and reviewed the studios as she moved forward. She admired the few studios in open display where she could see some people with headphones on their heads recording, impressed with the confidence and non-bothered attitude. She could never. Not only because no one could ever know she sang. But simply because the exhibitionist nature of those types of studios disturbed her. She liked her privacy too much.

She could understand why it had success, though. Watching consumed professionals working was always impressive in her opinion. Whatever the field. Looking at those singers, she couldn't help to compare. Sure, she was selling albums and she would always fall into a world that only belonged to her as she sang. Recording or not. But she wasn't trying to live or make concerts out of it. She was more of an amateur in her mind. Or maybe, an artisan.

She spotted the classic private studios down the corridor and in a far more secluded zone as she walked by the myriad of booths going on and on. No wonder it was famous. They had so many and you could try out different things, and even organized concerts, she noticed, as she saw the flyers glued on several walls.

She was about to retrace her steps when her eyes landed on direction panels showing off washrooms and other stuff but also something intriguing. A garden courtyard where tiny concerts were sometimes given.

She followed the signs steadily, turned five times and found an opened door leading outside.

She stepped in the crispy thin snow ground, obviously cleared often as the layer was so thin. A big oval backyard graced her eyes with several entrances at different areas of the gallery, opening to the small open space. A tiny stage was in the middle but no one was singing at the moment and the platform seemed to be covered in protection. She guessed it was a bit early for concerts, or maybe it was just an off day. Lightened up braziers were still there, however. And she saw why, when she made out a few people chilling out or grating lightly a guitar. She could tell it was musicians because they either had instruments near them or were in the middle of playing, or they were discussing with one. Ah-ha. So, it was a chilling area for musicians when the place wasn't used.

She saw an unoccupied tiny flight of stairs near another entrance and near a brazier – lucky to her – and padded her way there, buying a hot sugary coffee at a vending machine on the way, and deciding to finish to cool down there. Between their wrestling on the mat earlier and Mei, she felt too raw in her emotions.

She dropped her bag on the top flight upon reaching the little stone-carved steps, and fished through it. She had a pack in case of emergency. Most of the time, she didn't need to tap into it but she was nearly always carrying one since she came back. Mr. fairy's fault.

Her fingers wrapped around the still two-thirds full package and she pulled it out before closing her bag. She sat down one step down and stretched slightly sore legs, crossing them at the ankles.

By the brazier it wasn't too cold and she was glad because the slightly cold wind on her face and around the neck loose cut of her pull was very refreshing. But she knew if it had been any colder, she would have wished for a scarf. Here, it was warm enough that a few minutes near and she removed her coat, dropping it on her bag.

She closed her eyes, it was so quiet and appeasing, hearing the faint subdued drumming of fingers on cords from all around the courtyard gave off a soothing background she craved intensely in the turmoil happening inside of her.

She stayed like that, closed eyes and seemingly resting for a while before opening her coffee and gulping down half of it at once.

She crossed her legs then, and using the support of that position by resting the palm of one hand on her top knee, she pulled out one of the little tubes from the pack and lightened it up with a lighter, hiding it with her other hand to not let the wind extinguish it.

Holding it between two fingers, she took a deep drag of her smoke before letting it out in a long sighed blow.

I'm going to break a fuse if this goes on…

She closed her eyes. Trying to unsee their closeness. The way their bodies fit earlier on the mat. The feeling of his strong muscles pressed hard on her breasts. His hands around her hips, tightening, pulsing. Those cord arms around her body. Their legs mingling. Their hips so close and yet, so far. But even then, at the perfect angle if he had wanted to…

She finished her cigarette and lighted another one.

She smiled ruefully at the sight she must give. Sweets, coffee and smoking. She had to use all three at once. That damn man.

He is driving me to the walls.

She kept her smoke between her lips and leaned back against the steps, tilting her head as she closed her eyes again. She was going to chill a few hours, she was sure. She needed some time to collect her bearings.

She pulled back her cigarette from her lips to let out a long puff of smoky air in the cold outside. She stared at fire dancing to the rhythm of wind, reliving moments.

A few young men walked by her a minute later, coming from the entrance she was sitting by. She didn't pay them any mind and several contented themselves to cross the backyard to reach another entry. A couple of them looked like they had stopped because one addressed her. Sighing a little internally to have to socialize right now when she just wanted to be left alone, she pulled back the long locks she had let loose after the training to clear her view and turned her head a tint. She wanted it clear she was not available to idle chat right now. She nodded at the closer one in greeting and arched a brow in question. His two other friends had their backs to her, and she couldn't decipher what they looked like- not that she cared – and she felt glad it was only one person she needed to talk to.

"Do you have one to spare?" The young man that talked to her, asked, and eyed the beige package pointedly. Right. That she could do.

"Here. You can have two if you'd like." She said with a warmer expression, and he blushed slightly as he accepted. "Thank you." He replied and caught two of the little tubes in his fingers before pulling them out.

"Sure." She replied before turning away quickly to cut short the discussion before he tried to engage in one.

Another voice echoed then, stopping her before she could return to her wandering thoughts.

"Wait. Wait a minute."

"Dude, what are you doing?" Said a third voice in the background she guessed was owned by the third guy. What? Did they all want a cigarette?

Fast steps hurried closer, and she already wanted to sigh at the prospect. Could she not be left alone? Couldn't they see she was chilling in her little corner, here?

But then…

"Kyoko? Kyoko, is it really you? Holy hell, your hair." Said a far too oddly familiar voice and she nearly dropped her smoke from her mouth from the shock.

She pulled out the alighted thing as it let out weak grey fumes in the frisky air and turned to him. Muddy brown eyes and spiky glaringly yellow-blond hair greeted her on a face that had slightly matured but was still mostly the same. It was indeed her old childhood friend. Of all people to cross paths with…

Once the shock passed, though, she waved the hand with her cigarette before returning to her musings.

"Hi Sho." She briefly said. Her eyes noticed he was sitting just as his friends left them, and she groaned, seeing her peace of mind fleeting further away with each second passing.

Understanding he was determined to not leave her alone, she sighed, and taking a puff, she set herself to be civil. "You are recording here?"

But he didn't reply.

She dropped her cig with another sigh and turned to him. But he was looking at her with a mix of wonder and amazement. A rare sight directed at her, coming from him. Though, she knew she should not judge, a long time had passed after all. And she didn't know what he had become, besides that his music was doing well. Observing him from closer, she could actually see he had grown. He didn't look like a punky teenager brat, well, besides his hair, that is. He had proper normal clothes now. She also thought he might have taken a couple centimetres. Not by much because she knew she was more or less the height he had before, so he had maybe took three, or four centimetres.

"What?" She dropped because he was starring too much.

"You changed." He commented and she snorted.

"It has been five years, Sho. Of course, I changed." She said. She might have felt a little defensive but she was moody and she was waiting for the thorns he usually threw at her.

He shook his head.

"I know, and it's not a reproach." He amended. "I just – … I expected you to have changed but this is – …"

She arched a brow at him, surprised by his collected attitude.

"I see I'm not the only one that changed."

He shot her a dopey smile.

"It has been a while, after all."

She nodded, but didn't revive the conversation.

" … and fuck, how many inches did you take?"

She groaned.

"… Sho…"She tried to deter him but to no avail. Until she accepted to stand. She cursed and stood, annoyed he just couldn't let her be.

"Happy?"

"Wow … you are fucking tall. What did you eat in the States? Magical growing mushrooms?" He commented and she rolled her eyes, but despite her irritation, she wondered if those kinds of mushrooms could exist in the fairy world.

"How tall?" He asked all of sudden and she sat back without replying.

"Roughly your size before the three centimetres you took, I guess." She eventually said when she could feel he was still staring.

"Hey, it's four centimetres."He protested, and she couldn't help the little smile. Not everything had changed. He still cared about his size.

"But it's still mad."He said, sitting back near her.

"A weird growth spurt, but yeah."She commented before taking a puff of her cig.

"Since when do you smoke?"He asked. "It's bad for health, you know? Also, give me one."

She wanted to snort. Yeah, she knew.

"I don't really." She said, dropping her pack between them so he could serve himself. "Well, not regularly."

He took one, and she lighted it up for him.

"Rough day then?"

She sighed. He wasn't letting it go.

"Somewhat."

Leaning back on his palms, he stretched his legs wide, and took a drag.

"What happened?" He asked at the end.

She ignored him.

"Come on, I can listen, you know."

She laughed at how surrealism this situation felt but didn't bother with a reply again.

" … right."

He sighed at long last at her resistance, and they smoked in silence.

"You are still as stubborn, you know that."

She quirked her lip.

"Yes. That trait isn't leaving anytime soon."

"What a pain."He said, and she had to let out a rough laugh this time.

She kept staring ahead but felt when his eyes were on her again, analysing.

"But seriously, you changed, no more boring – "

"Finish that sentence and I make you swallow your smoke." She cut him. "And I'll let you know I learned a huge variety of fighting sports so I can absolutely swipe the floor with your ass if you revert to your old jerk ways, Sho."

"Yo, so scary!"He said and she couldn't help the tiny smile when she saw him glide a few inches away from her on the step he was sitting on.

"Is the crankiness the new you, or simply today?"

She had to ponder.

"Today, I guess." She let out but then add. "And you make it easy to stay annoyed."

"You are ruthless…" He said and she couldn't help the little smirk that graced her lips. "I can barely recognize you."

"Five years have passed, Sho. What did you expect?"

But he didn't reply. He swiped back his butt closer, and eyed him with a warning but he lifted his hands in a white flag.

"So, ô, deity of crankiness, can I have a new cig, please and respectfully?" He required with opened hands, and she wanted to roll her eyes at his antics.

She presented the pack to him and he took another one.

"So, what got your panties in a twist in that beautiful snowy day?" He inquired.

"Don't you have something else to do? Or I don't know, sing? Write new songs?"

"I've got time. I just finished the last album and I'm not expected for a few hours."He told her and she wanted to groan.

He actually caught her expression and grinned wickedly.

"Yes, so I've got all the time to stay and annoy you until you speak."

She stood, going to the vending machine and grabbing another coffee. She would need it.

She sat back with a sigh near him, noticing him looking at her oddly.

"So, what are you doing here?"He asked again and she figured she could respond to him since he seemed to be civil.

"On a holiday trip."

He nodded with a knowing smile.

"With him."

She dunked half her coffee, feeling her annoyance at herself rose. She had known it would come back to that.

"With him and his friends." She said, hoping stating the truth would deter him enough to drop him.

"So, it's him the issue, huh?"

"Don't you dare start, Sho."

He waved his hand away, with a little smirk and quirked a brow.

"I dealt with my issues towards him, don't worry. I'm not trying to fight."

She frowned at him.

"I know he will always be taller," he started and she started to roll her eyes, "and that he has the heart of my childhood's friend."

She cough in her coffee. Barely managing to not put brown liquid everywhere.

She glared at him.

"Didn't I just tell you to not start?"

He crossed his arms, relaxing against the steps, grinning and looking far too happy.

"I'm not saying this with anger so chill out."

She eyed him warily, not sure she could believe the words coming out of that jerk's mouth.

He smiled at her tension as he continued.

"I might not know the person you have become," he began, "but this, I just know."

She turned back, judging his babbling just didn't deserve an answer and leaned forwards again.

"You can pretend all you want, Kyoko." He stated in a voice she was surprised to be able to qualify as gentle. "But you won't fool me."

She didn't reply. No matter what he said, their glaring past echoed in her mind, reminding her she couldn't trust him.

"You can be convinced of whatever you want." She commented. Silence prolonged as he fixed her, while she was determined to make him drop the subject.

She was persuaded she had succeeded when he opened his damn mouth again.

"You should tell him."

Her mostly empty can of coffee dropped to the ground and she looked at him in shock.

"… I beg you pardon?"

It was his turn to roll his eyes at her.

"The whole press had plastered how close you are, you should tell him."

She closed her mouth in a snap, shaking her head at this absurdity.

Not him too.

"We are friends, it's normal we are spending time together," She stated, "and you shouldn't read gossip magazines. You have been in the industry enough to know there is barely any truth in those."

"I read it in a classic newspaper." He retorted smugly and she was ready to send himself off but he continued. "And you are not just friends, you are always together."

She sighed and lighted up her third smoke of the evening. If he forced her to do this, she needed something to stay calm and not strangle him.

"We are close friends, if you prefer." She amended.

She ignored him and brought the cig to her lips, dragging the pull as long as she could.

"You shouldn't smoke."He said again.

"Fuck off, Sho."

"Yeah, I know, hypocrite much, huh?"He said, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Why don't you tell him?"He asked all of sudden, and she let out a loud groan as she dropped her head, rubbing her temples.

"Would you please shut the hell up!" She ordered him, shooting him a virulent glare.

He smiled at her a bit too innocently, and she tried to enjoy her damn cigarette while he wasn't talking. This was supposed to help her relax.

Unfortunately for her, he found another way to annoy the hell out of her, proved by his persistence to keep his stare rooted on her like some irritating fly, bzzing around your head when you wanted to sleep or focus.

At the end, she caved.

"…"

"…"

" … it's one-sided, okay?" She mumbled in a low defeated voice, defying to say anything. But he just frowned. She just arched an eyebrow, wondering what was so hard to get. His frown deepened and she shook her head, this was enough nonsense for her for today.

A gigantic sigh was let out all of sudden, and she felt his shuffle by her side. She didn't bother turning around anymore.

"… I need to say something," he said in an apologetic tone and if she was confused by his voice, she didn't turn right away.

" … because if there is any chance…" She heard him mumbled but he stopped.

Fine, she would bite. She turned his way. She looked at him, and the goofy smirk was gone, only seriousness remained, along with something she had a hard time determining the nature of.

"I need to say something I should have said years ago." He told him, and she finally unknit what she was deciphering on his face. Remorse.

"I need to apologize," he started, "I'm sorry Kyoko. I'm sorry for being such a bastard. I'm sorry for hurting you when we were younger. I'm sorry it took you so lightly. I'm sorry I didn't respect you. I'm sorry for abusing your trust and your time. I'm sorry for not understanding you."

He bowed deeply, and she was so shocked by the heartfelt apology she just remained staring, a frozen statue, with a cig in the mouth.

She eventually pulled out of her frosty state, though she was still staring at him like he had said he wanted to learn flamenco. She messed with her hair, trying to say something, to find how to react.

Her mind munched over his words, and she found herself relaxing a little. It was coming far away after the battle, and her wounds had long healed from him but it was still very pleasant to hear. She realized she had been a bit too hard on him during this chat. He really had changed. And matured. By a lot. She was actually impressed. Something she didn't think would ever happen again concerning Sho.

"You've really come a long way, huh?" She said and she shot him her first true smile. A small one but one nonetheless.

He looked back at her and redressed. Seeing her expression, he grinned.

"I know, right?"He commented proudly. "I went to downright brat and bastard to simply jerk."

She shook her head but she was amused.

"Good for you that you noticed."

She turned away, mulling over her words. Then, she said.

"Thank you, Sho. For saying that."

"Sorry it's coming so late."

"It's better than never."

He bumped his shoulder against hers.

"I even have a proper girlfriend. One that can stand me."

"I'm dumbfounded," she commented with a chuckle, and she was. "You are all big and matured."

He laughed at her little snide.

"It was about time, don't you think?"He said, and again she was surprised at the new humility she could hear in his voice.

"Damn right."

That girlfriend must be something, She thought. If she had managed to tame that bratty beast.

They stayed in an actually pleasant silence for a while, after that. But then, he came back to the charge, breaking her peace.

"You should still tell him." He said.

"And I told you why it was not possible."She replied dryly.

A sigh and a pregnant pause followed.

" … then, he doesn't know what he is missing."He said at last, and she had to double-check it was indeed her childhood friend that said that.

" … you actually learned how to comfort people."

He grimaced. "I can hear so many of the things I didn't do in that sentence."

It was the truth so she didn't apologize but she didn't insist. It was the past, anyway.

"But anyway, yes, I'm learning, somewhat. Thanks to my girl." He said proudly, though she could also hear it was tough for him. She chuckled. Who would have known that the moment would come Sho Fuwa would flaunt the merits of his girlfriend with so much pride and openness. Time sure passed.

"So," he restarted as she was in the middle of pondering taking another coffee but it was getting late and she wanted to sleep this night, "what's the actual reason you are hiding in our little private corner?"

She thought about shooing him off again but he had very honest and correct, so she decided on a brief truth.

"He is driving me nuts. I was pissed for many reasons and needed a time-out."She curtly said.

He chuckled.

"How nuts?"

She rolled her eyes, already hoping she wouldn't regret sharing that titbit with him.

"Is this why you are smoking like a chimney and drank two coffees at past seven p.m?"He inquired with a smirk.

"I have you know, usually I only smoke one cig a month, more often every two or three months."She grumbled out, knowing very well she had well passed her usual quota in one day.

"Doesn't answer my question."He retorted.

" … maybe."She finally responded.

"Wanna talk about it?"He proposed after a moment.

"Nah."

"Alright."

She remained silent after that, until it was time for him to leave.

"I need to go," he said, brushing off his pants as he stood, "but I will be here for a few days, still. So, if you need another escape and wanna chill a little, just send me text. I might send you one anyway but I won't push if you don't wanna."

He had sent her his phone number by blue-tooth before she could even utter a response, and he went on his merry way after a last wave.

She received a text soon after, and she grabbed her phone she had placed on the ground besides her. She had already replied earlier to Ren she needed to do something when he had inquired where she was, so she knew she still had some time. She opened the text message window.

"I stole your cigs. You already smoke three. It's bad for your health. Sho."

Nosy-body jerk.

"Bastard." She replied and he sent a laughing smiley.

She stayed chilling for a little longer but the calm never came and she stood. She bought a new pack at a near konbini, and decided to take a prolonged walk to return to the cabin.

PS: Hello everyone. Look who is back. And fast with that. Let's all hope it lasts, okay. Anyway, i wish you to love this chapter. I know, not enough Ren, i can already hear you all. But you are meeting evolved Sho, so i think it's worth it. See you soon. I hope you are all well, happy and healthy.

Kisses.

Mimagfan.

AUTHOR OUT.