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"...My personal details aren't in the menu, sir."
Seeing the man's flustered face, it was easy for Asahi to realize that the man had unconsciously let his inner thoughts slip, asking for his name. Luckily, it came out as a whisper, like wind passing through Asahi and Imari only. No one might have heard Imari but everyone heard his response loud and clear as it became awfully quiet in the room. Asahi immediately covered it up with a smile, gripping his pen and paper tighter to hide the fact that he was shaking from all the attention poured unto him at the moment.
"It was a joke, dear guests. To lighten the mood. Hope you're having fun~"
"What an adorable one! Hey, I've seen you around school, right? I think you're a freshman. Give us your name~ I'm Botan! Want to join?"
"That would be lovely but you see, the cafe is quite busy today."
"Name?"
Ah, he now said it out loud. Maybe he thought it won't be awkward anymore since the girl called Botan asked already. Asahi was quite shocked to see everyone waiting in excitement. What was so good about knowing his name? Still , Asahi felt awkward saying his name out loud while everyone looked their way. It felt like a bomb was ticking down in his mind.
"It really is a busy hour so I'll have to save my formal introductions later...But, I can quickly write my info down and give it to... This young man?"
He smiled and heard the man mutter something about being older than him.He dismissed it and wrote his name and contact information down, handing it to the man who almost immediately took his phone out to save it.
"Great! I've never met a staff as sociable as you so I really want to befriend you."
It sounded like an excuse but Asahi didn't question it any further.He could not think of other reasons for them to actually approach him like this, and he did not dare assume so he just shrugged it off. The approaching waves of doubt made his head ache.
"I am merely doing my job, miss.You are too kind.Then, I'll excuse myself.Please enjoy."
Asahi hurriedly walked away from the cheerful table, now aware of the number of new costumers flooding in. How in the world did he get so distracted that he failed to notice all of this earlier? Mind buried in his own thoughts, Asahi failed to notice the shift in the expression of the man while staring at his small note.
'It'll be a secret between us, Kikuji-san. Don't worry, I won't tell! ^^'
"He knows me?"
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"Imari, what are you doing standing there? You're not going home? Celebration is over. I won't treat you anymore!"
"I know."
"Ah, you're staying for another reason huh."
Embarrassed after being caught, Imari moved and walked forward in an extremely fast pace.
"I'll see you guys off to the bus stop."
"No need.I called my driver.Wait for him."
"Okay."
The girls smiled and said that they'd take a quick walk before disappearing into the night.Wouldn't that make it hard for the driver to find them though?
"Kikuji-san...?"
It was merely a whisper but whispers seemed to work magic between them as the man outside the cafe turned to look back at him immediately.Asahi's heart thumped.It was cold outside so it was natural for the man to have a slightly red face wearing such thin clothing.
"It's not good to walk around like this in this weather, Kikuji-san. You'll get sick..."
Asahi had so many questions. It should be warmer now so why did Imari's face display an even darker flush than earlier? Second, this man was much taller than him. How did he manage to wrap the scarf around his neck with ease?
The man froze once he realized what just happened.Asahi saw him outside and thought he was red because of the weather so he moved to wrap his scarf around him. Aware of their height difference, Imari didn't want Asahi to have a hard time so he instinctively leaned down.
They said none of these and proceeded to stare into each other's eyes in a daze, as if questioning why they're doing whatever this is but also refusing to move first and break the moment.It's as if the two of them know exactly what's going on but is refusing to believe the other is aware of it as well.
"Would you like to walk together to the bus stop?"
Imari wanted to walk him home. To personally accompany him and ensure his safe arrival. To listen to his stories while walking under the sunset or the night sky. He wanted to bask in the other's presence for as long as the other would allow it but he was going to take it slow.
Asahi was different. He didn't know whether it was the weather or the man's flushed face that gave him this sudden burst of confidence but his mind flashed, 'now or never'.
"Kikuji-san, if it's not a bother, would you like to hang out for a bit?"
Thump.
It was unknown whether it was Imari's or Asahi's heart that thumped louder after that but it was certain that at that very moment, two heartbeats started to move in unison.
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Watching the scene unfold from faraway, the girls smiled proudly.
"Stupid Imari.If I hadn't planned this out then he might have continued to admire from afar. I mean, he has liked him for so long already, even without knowing his name! So what's stopping him I from making a move? Told you he just needed a push and an opportunity."
"I might be wrong about this but this Asahi guy doesn't look so different from Imari-san.Maybe it's not one-sided after all?"
"Heaven knows, Kaoru. Let's give them privacy and go on home. Playing the cupid can be tiring, you know?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Several months ago, first day of school.
'Smile Asahi. Smile. Get yourself together. You can't mess this up.'
"Huh? What's that?"
Slumped on the ground under a tree was a person.Was he crying? Asahi wasn't sure if approaching the guy would be the right decision but he remembered his state and couldn't help but feel empathetic towards the man.
"Umm are you okay?"
Dark eyes looked up and met his, and he couldn't help but feel scared for a bit.Scared?To judge someone without knowing them...It was rude of him.
"Are you lost?The auditorium is that way."
"Don't wanna go in."
"Huh?"
"I don't like the way people look at me."
Asahi felt even more bad for his thoughts earlier.
"I see! I get that too and it's really troublesome to have many people look at you and you don't even know what's going on in their minds at that very moment. I understand! I... I also apologize. I won't look anymore."
"Thank you.."
"Also..."
Asahi draped his coat over the man and smiled brightly.
"Now you can't see them, and they can't look at your face either!"
The man stared for a few seconds before hurrying off towards the auditorium, wobbling a bit on his feet.
"What a weird guy!"
Oops. That did not sound right.He did not mean it in a bad way, though. It was more fond than criticising.
"What a strange guy..."
Imari thought, holding his hand over his face to hide a light smile.
"Kind of adorable."