The events of last night's restaurant encounter were stuck on a loop in his head.
And yet, he didn't think he was in the wrong.
"Seriously, you're not wrong to tell someone they're being loud if they're literally being loud in a restaurant. It's just common sense to be respectful in public, my dude," said the husky voice of the sporty-looking guy in sweats and a t-shirt. He leaned back on the bench they were sitting on in the campus' main courtyard that was bustling with students walking to and from classes. The sun was out and bright, complementing his sunny disposition and gleaming on his spiked hair and oily skin that was made pink from being outside often. "You know, you were brave callin' her out, man, I wouldn't have the balls to, honestly."
Rikyu considered mentioning the part about race but figured it wasn't important. He simply replied, "yeah."
A sarcastic voice came from behind them. "Even though you're a loud, brash person yourself?"
"Yo!" Spikey-hair looked offended and turned around abruptly to look at the pale-skinned girl with straight black hair and black, punkish clothes who had spoken. "Keiko, manners!"
"Manners yourself, Chu." She smirked. Then she leaned down and rested her elbows on the back of the bench between Chu and Rikyu. She looked specifically at Rikyu. "But the real important question is, Senri, who was that girl you were dancing with at the club on Saturday? You sure looked enthralled."
"Me, too, I wanna know. Spill it, Rikyu!" Chu chimed in, leaning in to get a better listen.
Rikyu groaned and looked up to the sky as if for heaven's appeal. "Look, again, I don't remember. And also, she was probably trying to lead me on. I'm never going to see her again so it really doesn't matter. Clubs really aren't my thing."
Keiko smiled mischievously. "Ooh? You sure liked drinking, though."
Another voice, this time high pitched and angelic-sounding emerged from their left. "Oh, what are you all talking about?" Standing there was a pale-skinned, thin, well-shaped girl with a small face, large brown eyes, and hair that was curled and dyed a light shade of brown. She wore an orange-yellow sundress that complemented the smile that she constantly maintained in her overall expression. She carried herself confidently, and yet not so much to break her humble demeanor. People passing by in the courtyard seemed to flash glances at her as they walked by.
Keiko's smug smile turned into a beam. "Shiora, my love," she said and went over to hug Shiora.
Meanwhile, Chu laughed like a dork and said, "look who's curious!"
"Why? What did I miss?" Shiora asked. She glanced between the members of the group before her eyes landed on Rikyu. However, he had taken out his phone and was typing something.
"Not much, you weren't at the club to see Senri being hit on!" Chu said and Rikyu with a punch on the shoulder.
Rikyu fumbled for his phone as it jumped from his hands and he clicked his tongue irritatedly. "Chu, that was not a requirement..."
Shiora smiled in an obligatory manner. "Ah," she said. She looked as though she wanted to say something else. Instead, her smile broke slightly as she looked at Rikyu, and the subject quickly faded away as Chu began to tease Rikyu for his skinny arms.
"Well, how was your modeling gig?" Keiko asked, startling Shiora out of her trance.
"Oh, it went fine as usual. They're looking for new models recently since I and a lot of other models are attending college these days."
"Oh really? That's amazing! You should seriously get me some original prints." Keiko winked.
Chu butted in again even though he was in the middle of messing up Rikyu's hair. "Seriously, you can give us original prints?!"
"Y-yeah! Of course." Shiora looked hesitant but tried to be as chipper as possible. "I'll see if they can give me some."
Chu stood up and stretched. "And also Shio you've gotta have a boyfriend by now, right? Like, you're in the magazines, dude."
"Knock it off, dude, she's too good for the likes of a relationship," Keiko said, crossing her arms.
Shiora laughed in a charming, practiced way. "Guys, you're all so kind. But I certainly wouldn't have a boyfriend. I'm just working at a small fashion company that takes leftover models, you know! I'm definitely not tall enough to go to the international stage, let alone work for a big company."
"No way!" Keiko insisted. "You're super amazing."
The banter went on for several minutes. Rikyu had been on his phone all that while, alternating between the same apps that had nothing new. Nothing was new in his emails either - the last thing he'd received was something from his uncle two weeks ago, which he raised an eyebrow at but didn't pay much mind. His mind kept wandering to last night. He kept thinking of the words he'd said to the person who had yelled in the restaurant at the worker.
What exactly had gotten into him at that moment?
In fact, what was wrong with him these days? Going to a club on a whim, letting a random clubgoer seduce him, calling someone out in a restaurant - it was all something he'd thought himself incapable of.
Maybe it was because Uncle wasn't hounding him about money since he had gotten the convenience store job. He was letting go too much. That was probably it.
Adding on to that anxiety, something about the person at the restaurant seemed similar to the person he'd met at the club. It didn't help that he remembered next to nothing from that night, nor that the room was too dark and the neon lights were too fleeting, and nor that there were at least five other girls with similar skin tones he'd seen around town. But still, something distinguished her, so what if -
Rikyu was dragged back into reality when Chu messed with his hair again and said, "Yo Rikyu, don't you have class soon?"
Rikyu jumped out of his seat, dropping his phone. Everyone looked shocked.
"You alright?" Keiko asked.
"Sorry, I have to go." He directed a small nod to all of them. He picked up his phone and bag, then briskly walked towards the mathematics building across the courtyard.