Kawashita left after he took a shower at my place. He enticed me to join him, but I declined, not ready for that yet. In the end, Kawashita got worried that I might change my mind because I wasn't up for another round, so he told me to come up with my rules to set our boundaries and make me more comfortable.
We agreed to meet over dinner on Friday. I was actually really dreading about it for the past two days. The weather on Friday night made it worse. All I wanted to when my class ended was to go home.
The heavy fall of the rain made the night even darker. Even the wind was a notch colder than last night. Other sounds were drowned with the rain's harsh and seemed endless flow. The worst of it all, I didn't check the weather reports this morning. Kazuya offered to walk me home, and I didn't want to tell him yet that I was meeting Kawashita.
The lobby was crowded. People were also waiting for the rain to let up. It was most likely the reason I didn't see him first. Kazuya nudged me in the arm and tilted his head towards the less crowded area.
"Please tell me he's here for you," Kazuya muttered.
I blinked and rubbed my eyes, thinking it was a mirage, but Kazuya saw him, and Kawashita didn't disappear. Glancing around, I realized that we were not the only ones who noticed him. I didn't know how he managed to stand out in his grey jacket. People had been giving him side glances. Why though? Was it because he was good-looking or because he emitted a different aura from the rest of the crowd? I didn't wait to figure it out. I slunk towards him.
Kawashita smiled when he saw me. "Hi."
"Hey," I muttered, trying to curl my lips but failing. My brows furrowed. "I thought we're meeting at the restaurant."
"It was raining, and I thought you don't have an umbrella. I brought you one." He raised a bright red and a drenched black parasol. "Also, maybe we could just eat at your place. Some takeout?" This time, he lifted a paper bag with Yamaguchi's Noodle printed on it. "But we could also go to the restaurant if you prefer that."
I stared at him and pursed my lips. "Are you some kind of a mind reader?"
"What?" His grin grew. "Why?"
I shook my head and finally let myself smile. Ramen was perfect for this weather, and he brought two umbrellas instead of sharing. Awkward or not. I liked this perk.
"Reiko." Kazuya appeared at my side with a sly smile, eyeing me and Kawashita. "I can't believe you forgot to tell me."
Internally groaning, I kept my face neutral. I couldn't believe I forgot about him. I opened my mouth and hesitated, but Kazuya narrowed his eyes. He added, "I guess I wouldn't be sending you home, huh?"
"That's right." I tried to smile, but Kazuya was still shooting me daggers. "I didn't know he was picking me up."
Kazuya's lips were pursed, but his eyes were gleaming. Kawashita glanced at me and came to my rescue. "We were supposed to meet up for dinner, but it started to rain."
"Oh, really?" Kazuya's smile widened and turned to me. "Were you going to tell me, Reiko? Was I supposed to walk you to the restaurant?"
I glared at Kawashita. Rescue, my ass. Kazuya wouldn't let up next time. Sighing, I took the red umbrella from Kawashita and said, "I was debating about it since I didn't want to inconvenience you, and then he just arrived. I am as surprised as you, Kazuya."
"Alright." He breathed through his nose. "You two go ahead. You can introduce him to us later on."
Kawashita's eyebrows rose. I flinched and then nodded reluctantly. "I promise."
***
My ramen turned out to be udon. We arrived at my apartment in less than twenty minutes. My coat and his jacket were drenched. The rim of our pants were soaked with dirt and water. We hadn't spoken since we left the university, and the awkward atmosphere thickened to the point I couldn't look him in the eyes.
Kawashita set the food on the low table again while I went to get two cans of beer from the refrigerator. We slurped the noodles at the same time.
"Well, this is what I was trying to avoid," he said, sipping the soup of his udon. It was followed by the popping sound of the can.
"Me too." I peeked at him, feeling fuzzy and heavy in the stomach and the udon didn't taste so good. "I'm sorry about my friend."
"No. It's my fault. I came without telling you." He looked down. "It won't happen again."
"I'm quite thankful though." I toyed at the ring of my beer, feeling uncertain at his reaction. "I didn't want to get out in the rain with a shared umbrella. You don't have to meet my friends."
He nodded and glanced up. "Just please tell me you're not backing out now."
"I'm not. I'm not that sensitive."
"I beg to differ. You were quite sensitive the other day." He grinned. "Especially when I sucked your nipples."
I spat the beer in my mouth and started coughing hard that my chest hurt. Kawashita rushed to me and began rubbing my back. Hitting him once in the arm, I slumped into him and shook my head. Then he laughed, diffusing the tense air from before.
"I can't honestly believe you." I put a hand on my chest, sitting up straight. "That hurt, you know."
Stretching out his right arm behind my back, he leaned his cheek to my shoulder. "I'm sorry. It's my bad. It's true though. What I said."
"Shut up, Kawashita-kun," I replied, smiling.