Lapis - 1
At an outdoor café near the bus station in Maesaki City, Lapis had two cups of drinks ready on the table.
An important meeting of just two persons had been arranged. She took her seat, waiting for a certain young man to show up.
Right on time, a bus arrived at the station to drop off the person of her interest after it made a decent trip from a town, which its true name didn't appear anywhere on the human's world map.
In a casual clothes, he didn't appear that much different from those times when he put on the role of commanding the Taimanins. It was still the same shady face with a somewhat funny looking dead-fish eye. Fuuma Kotaro was just like her, a strategist who possessed a quick-witted mind and flexible intelligence. Though, there was a clear difference between them. He was more of a schemer and she could see through those intentions easily.
After taking a moment to look around, he found her among the occupied seats. Carrying a foldable support stick, he made his way to her. He took the other vacant seat and settled in their meeting place. Lapis didn't let it show, she felt a bit surprised to see his form wobbling in each step. The long sleeves of his shirt were covering both arms, her keen eyes noticed a layer of bandages underneath, wrapping all the way to his wrists.
"You don't appear to be in good shape, Fuuma Kotaro. Did something happen?"
It wasn't like she had the need to concern about his well-being. No, she did not. While they had gotten along, it was still strictly for business. The Wild Fang preferred to take a neutral stand. Lapis wasn't feeling sympathetic towards him, not at all.
"A rotted tree fell right on top my head." He said with a straight face. "After its branches struck me."
Although Lapis wasn't convinced, she made a light nod at his words. To be honest, that was such a weird explanation. If he received those wounds during a mission, just say so. Why the need to conceal the truth from a fellow Spinel's worshipper?
"Hmph." Lapis took a sip from her drink. She doubted he would ever noticed the corners of her lip were curving downward.
"Is this one for me?" Kotaro asked, staring at the cup placed in front of him.
"Coffee is your cup of tea in the morning, isn't it? Do please enjoy it if you believe the content inside is your favorite and not some plain soft drink."
He blinked at her.
"Since when did you know my favorite cup of tea in the morning is coffee?"
Because that was the exact thing he ordered the last time they were here. Lapis had paid attention while she grilled him for being flirty towards Spinel, but she would never disclose that to a schemer.
"I merely took a guess that you like bitter drinks."
"I do like coffee but that sounds like a bad impression you got of me." He grabbed the plastic cup. "Thanks, anyway."
She hummed softly while he took a long sip from the drink, which she ordered...for him.
"Well then, Fuuma Kotaro. Are you aware of the reason why I arranged this little meeting?"
"I do." He said, his hand reached into the pocket and took out a letter. "Here's your...necessary information."
Kotaro put the letter on the table and pushed it into Lapis' reach. She had a serious expression on her face when she picked it up and inspected the content. Her breath hitched upon looking at photos taken from different angles.
"Do you have anymore copies of these? You must be, right? Give them all to me, do not withhold it from your fellow members."
"Those are everything Saika gave me. By the way, she took those, not me."
"I see. Another potential member of our group has showed interest in Spinel's unrivalled cuteness."
"No. No, she's not. She gave me a thousand yards stare when I asked her to take pictures of your leader eating the hotpot."
Not really listening to his retort, Lapis spread the photos on the table. Her eyes sparkled like she was enchanted by the captured moments of Spinel's flustered face due to the spicy flavor from the hotpot.
"Ahhh~, Spinel! My Spinel~, I thought she couldn't possibly be anymore cuter but I was wrong!"
While Lapis allowed herself to be lost in her own dreamy world, Kotaro watched her cuddling the photos like a mother who has too much fondness of her daughter.
The purpose of this meeting was just that, to provide Lapis photos of Spinel trying the hotpot at his house. Back then, Lapis couldn't join in due to being busy solving an errand for her group member. She had invited him here to handle that personal request, and...to check on a certain rumor about him being gravely injured in a big incident.
Seeing him like this was enough to confirm all of her doubts.
"As a thank-you for your contribution to this club, allow me to-"
"Oh, that's okay. This coffee is enough for me." He tapped the plastic cup with his finger.
"Are you...sure?"
Lapis was at a lost for words. He'd gathered this much amount of evidences about Spinel's cuteness for the sake of their club, she couldn't really afford to let him go back with just a cup of coffee for doing her favor.
"How about breakfast? Have you taken breakfast?"
"I'd already ate during the bus ride."
"V-Very well. How about another drink?"
He shook his head.
"Appreciated, Lapis. Seriously, you don't have to repay me."
Lapis wanted to raise her objection to those words. But before she could try to persuade him into accepting the honored badge of their club, Kotaro had something to say.
"Spinel actually wanted you to join in the hotpot dinner with us. She was a bit down that evening since you couldn't join due to circumstances. Spinel expressed that she wanted you to share these memories with her too. That's why I followed your request, so you can see her smiles saved in those exact moments."
"Oh."
Doki!
Her heart...for some reason, it throbbed. She consciously placed a hand to her chest to make sure it wasn't a product of her imagination.
Deep breath. Deep breath, Lapis.
Good. Her heartbeat was normal, nothing out of ordinary.
"You know, when Spinel arrived alone and told me you weren't able to come over. I felt like we didn't pick the right time for both of you, I should have checked first before sending the invitation."
When he put it like that, had he been feeling concerned for her because she didn't go with Spinel that day?
Doki!
Oh?! There is it! Her heart throbbed again as she thought about his words!
Lapis pressed her lips to the straw, that rich taste in her drink came up slowly. Oddly enough, her mind began to switch from this meeting to a non-existing memory.
She thought of walking to the Fuuma Estate together with Spinel who was smiling and excited about getting to try the human's food called hotpot. Once they had arrived, Kotaro would open the door to invite them inside his home. In the living room, a big table filled by a luxurious showcase of various dishes.
Immediately, Spinel made her seat with others, she was quick to blend in the bright mood. Lapis wanted to take a spot next to her but someone else already occupied it. Feeling a bit troubled, she looked around for a nice spot that can give her a clear view of Spinel's smiling face but there seemed to be none.
At that moment, Kotaro entered her view. He led her to another table in the kitchen, it was smaller and only had two seats. Lapis expressed her doubts on his dubious intention for wanting to eat alone with her in a different room. But Kotaro meant nothing like that, he knew of a way to clear her suspicion. Pointing his thumb at the door they just walked past, Lapis saw a clear view of Spinel's adorable smile soon changed into a red face as she was overwhelmed by the spicy taste of the hotpot.
"Water! Water! I need water!" She heard her saying loudly and caused everyone to laugh.
When Lapis turned back to look at him, he was smiling too. The emotion was genuine, which gave her some ease. She was not ready to drop her guard and sit together with him. It was just them alone at this side of the house.
"Lapis! Sit down, you should eat this too. It tastes really good!" Spinel waved at her and said so with such a happy smiling face.
Lapis complied without an ounce of hesitation. In spite of that, her keen eyes still observed him as Kotaro suddenly took her bowl and poured in the food. The hot steam coming from it hit her nostrils, she could already smell the sapid burning taste of the so-called hotpot.
After filling it up, he set down the bowl in front of Lapis. Her icy blues met his amber left eye. Then, he just watched, waiting for her to get the first taste. By no mean she was being enchanted by his charming gaze.
Doki!
That one strong pulse of her heart meant nothing. Lapis had a feeling this was another one of his tactics to flirt with women.
In silence, he propped his chin on his arm and continued to sway her mind with his shady-but-handsome look. Ever the schemer, she'd show him she wasn't such an easy target. Lapis leaned forward, giving him a stern gaze that would (never) gradually turn alluring. But Kotaro didn't faze, a smirk formed on his face.
No, this was another strategy to lure her into believing that both her heart and mind had been reacting to his flirt. Too bad for him, it would no longer work on her. As a fellow strategist, Lapis refused to be confused and led around like a helpless dancer on this grand stage he conducted. She deflected the flirty gestures by demanding a cute story about Spinel from him, right here in their private table. Kotaro's eye widened, he didn't expect the sudden shift in this mood he tried so hard to set up.
"I have some, but most of those stories involve you." His respond.
Urgh! She felt lightheaded at those intentional words, he'd already found a way to counter her move! Fine, using fire to fight with fire! Lapis leaned further into the table edge, the amount of critical damage she has in her arsenal would throw Kotaro off guard and eventually he could no longer keep that smug look.
Breaking the silence, Kotaro finally spoke.
"Glad you enjoyed it, I'm heading back."
"Huh?!"
The non-existent memory in her mind crashed down like a shattered mirror. A flabbergasted Lapis found herself back in the meeting place outside the cafe and Kotaro was about to leave. Before she could fully gather herself, he already stood up and brought the coffee cup with him.
"W-Wait!" Lapis shot up from her seat, startling him. "Are you truly satisfied with going back empty-handed?"
"It's for you and the club, I don't really do this to be rewarded. If anything, you bought me coffee."
The support cane unfolded, Kotaro leaned on it as he walked away. Lapis couldn't let him go just like this, it would be an unjust treatment to a valued member of the Spinel Club. She followed him to the station and sat on the same bench while he was waiting for the bus.
"As the leader of the club, I would like you to receive the badge of honour."
"What?"
Lapis insisted and after looking at the image of chibi Spinel, which engraved into a small circle piece of metal, he gave her a long stare. It seemed like he wanted to say something to her but the lack for words had held back his voice. Ah! He must had felt the appreciation swelling from the bottom of his heart.
"Fuuma Kotaro, your devotion has earned you this. It's only right that you should receive it."
"That's...never mind."
Lapis smiled as he accepted it, even though there was a bit of reluctance.
They continued to chat some more until the bus arrived.
"Just a moment!" She called out right before he entered the transport. "You're going to need this."
Lapis held her hands together while she was standing close to him. A shining bright came from within her palms and a blue gemstone appeared, its light spread, reaching to Kotaro and his closing right eye.
It was her ability, Lapis can construct gemstones that provide healing effects. However, the gemstones she created tended to be short-lived and break quickly.
She decided to make one for him, a small gem with just the size of a thumb. It was necessary for him.
"This will speed up your recovery. It's only you that this gemstone will show its effect, it will only last for some times."
Kotaro placed it inside his pocket.
"Thanks, Lapis."
"I look forward to your next contribution~."
"Sure, next time I'll take pictures of her when you two are together."
Doki!
Another lightheadedness came. But it was fine, she knew what these feelings meant.
Once the bus was already far off in the distance, Lapis walked the opposite direction. She looked at the photos Kotaro'd brought to her and hummed softly.
The non-existent memory in her mind began anew.
/
Author's Note: Lapis is growing on me. I blame the intimacy events!