The taxi stopped in front of a traditional old house. The silhouette of a man on the side move towards the car, and the door of the taxi opened. Akira gave my hand a squeeze.
"Hey, man," a low voice greeted, and then a familiar face appeared.
I blinked while the man's eyes widened behind his eyeglasses. He hesitated, looking at me then at Akira. "Matsumoto-senpai?"
"Tanimura-kun, right?" I tilted my head, furrowing my brows.
"What are you doing here?" he asked in English and got in the taxi, settling beside Akira.
"Akira invited me along," I replied in English. "Though Mayama-kun technically did."
"You've met Satoshi?" He put a hand on his chin, still speaking in English.
I nodded, but Akira cut in and frowned at me and his friend. "She's my girlfriend, Kei."
"Oh." Tanimura-kun scratched his head and leaned back on the seat.
"What's with the English?" Akira turned to me. "I thought we were elsewhere."
"Ah." I chuckled. "We're in the same club at the university."
"What club?" Akira's frown deepened.
"English Literature. We have to speak in English during our meetings, and I never see him outside the club." I smiled at Tanimura-kun and shrugged. "I guess it came out on its own."
Akira faced his friend, his tone rising. "You're in the same club, and you didn't tell me."
Tanimura-kun winced, and then he glanced at me, nudging his friend. Akira regarded me. His lips were pursed, and his shoulders were tense, but his body relaxed as panic crossed his expression.
"Is he the med student you're talking about?" I asked, trying to recall if the English Literature club met after my blind date with Akira. I believed I skipped it. But Tanimura-kun never showed that he recognized me from somewhere when he joined the club.
Maybe he and Akira forgot that encounter. Maybe Akira didn't know me before the blind date. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, but I was still uncertain whether it was a good or a bad thing.
"Yeah," Akira said weakly, glancing again at his friend.
"You never told me how your date went." Tanimura-kun peeked at me as if making sure I was really there.
"You're never around these days." Akira straightened and faced forward. "You were also a no-show during Hiba's birthday party."
"I was busy with school works. I believe your girlfriend could relate." Tanimura-kun crossed his arms, stressing the word girlfriend.
The atmosphere inside the taxi turned taut and fragile. As if a fight would break out. I looked outside the window, thinking these boys were truly close and silly. We passed by the unfamiliar dark streets into a busy one. I rubbed my hands. We must be getting near.
"You could have told me during Christmas Eve." Tanimura-kun glared at his friend, catching my attention once more.
Akira glowered back, transmitting his words through his eyes.
These two. I laughed, unable to help myself. It loosened the heavy load of worry in my shoulders. Both guys gaped at me. I raised a hand as I tried to reign in my laughter. "You guys are ludicrous. Will the others be the same?"
Akira grinned and rubbed his temple. "No. It's just him and Satoshi."
"Mayama-kun had the same reaction when he saw me. He was mad Akira didn't tell him about me," I told Tanimura-kun who grimaced.
"Didn't Satoshi tell you?" Akira asked, grabbing my hand absently. "Where is that guy anyway?"
"He stopped by this morning." He sighed as his shoulders slumped. "That's why he'd been going about bringing a date."
"A date?" Akira's eyes sparkled. "Did he ask your sister?"
"Why would he?" Tanimura-kun scowled. "Don't give him ideas."
Akira shook his head and opened his mouth, but the taxi pulled over to the side. The doors opened. I paid the driver before Akira could stop me. Getting off, I gazed at the event center where the said reunion was taking place. The doubt settled back in my stomach once more.
"You're sneaky, Reiko-senpai." Akira stepped next to me.
His breath touched my ear. I shivered but felt lighter. Everything would be fine. I got him beside me.
"Shall we go in?" He offered his arm.
Grinning, I took it as my phone chimed. I let Akira go and went to the side before I took it out and read the message from my cousin, Miracle.
'Are you guys there yet? Give me updates,' it said.
I typed out a reply and returned to Akira's side. I messaged her earlier for fashion advice and ended up asking about relationship. All I said was what it means when a guy told his classmates that he likes you. She came up to her own conclusions and convinced me to ask him myself.
There was a chance he was acting because of our contract, but there was also a chance that it might be the truth. I had been toying with the idea since the night before, and Miracle's push was all I needed.
"Who have you been texting?" Akira asked.
"Miracle. She's been making sure I perfected her makeup advice." I put my hand on the crook of his elbow.
He smiled. "You can tell her you did. You look amazing."
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ears and looked at my heels, hiding my smile and the additional red tint of my cheeks. This was it. I was going to gamble. I will ask. If he declined, I would dismiss it, and he would still stay with me.
I could live with that. As long as he wouldn't leave me.
"I'm going ahead, you two. I don't want to seem smaller," Tanimura-kun called before he headed inside.
Akira gazed at me. "Let's go?"
I hesitated and gulped. "Can I ask you something first?"