Four days remaining before Ralmé's meeting at Cafe Ai. Haru's shift had ended that Monday afternoon, and he had changed into his oversized white shirt and black cargo pants, and he had also accented his style by wearing his black snapback backwards. He headed to the balcony where Kiyoshi was working, and he was accompanied by a lit cigarette sitting in a round glass ashtray.
"Ralme just sent the approved version of the menu, and I'm glad we do not need to make any more revisions here," Kiyoshi stretched his arms up in the air. "I just have to input this on the template Nana created last week. Have you seen it?"
"I've been told, but I haven't seen the template yet," Haru responded as he sat at the next table. "She told me the picture she used for the background was for her photography class and was taken during the cherry blossom season last month."
"As elective?"
Haru nodded. "What did Kyoko say about this?"
Kiyoshi shrugged his shoulders and held the cigarette stick in between his fingers, puffing some smoke before speaking. "I already sent her all the necessary stuff, but she hasn't replied to my emails yet. Is she coming here?"
"Nah, I'll just see her at home," Haru took out his phone from his pocket and peeped at it.
"The convenience of staying at a friend's house, huh?" he smoked his cigarette and shook off the ashes into the ashtray. "What a smart ass. She's under your care, uncle spoils her, and she somewhat gets food for free."
"Why do you sound so surprised? It has been like that ever since coll-"
Kiyoshi cut him off as he faced him, "Man, I wonder how Sakura would react if she sees how close you are with Kyoko. Mei Mei even thought you two were a couple the first time she saw you both."
"Seriously?" his eyes almost widened in astonishment as he couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had never thought of being paired up with someone who treats him like a younger brother. Heck, he was even pairing Kyoko with Kiyoshi during their college days.
"Maybe the vibe you two exude. You look so intimidating when you're together. Dang, now I wonder why I became friends with you two when I look so nice and friendly," he jokingly sighed in disbelief and faced the laptop again.
"Bullshit. I should be the one saying that line," Haru laughed.
"Speaking of Sakura, I've heard some things from Mei Mei," Kiyoshi said with the cigarette stick now placed in the corner of his lips as he continued working on the stuff needed on Friday.
Like a broken record, the images of Sakura's doll face being kissed by Haru in his dream have been playing in his mind ever since last week. He glanced to his side, anxious to hear what Kiyoshi was about to say. "What things?"
"The usual, except when you took off your clothes before passing out. I was actually even more surprised she didn't drag you to her apartment," the other barista snickered.
Haru became preoccupied while remembering what he searched on Google last week. He was eager to know whether the kiss was real or not, but he was also unsure when and how to ask her. He hadn't seen her for days, and they had only exchanged a few messages since both of them were busy preparing for the meeting. His train of thought was then cut short when he received a chat notification from Kyoko.
He bid goodbye to Kiyoshi and left the café immediately. As soon as he turned to their street, the tall woman, who was looking at her phone while leaning against a metal black 4x4 Suzuki Jimny, instantly caught his eyes. Since her attire complemented the color of the auto, it was as if she was in a pictorial that sunny afternoon.
Haru walked towards her and when the lady saw him in the corner of her eye, she turned to face him, and her long midnight blue hair underneath her black bonnet flew with the wind as she dashed towards the tall handsome man.
Her toned abs were seen underneath her black oversized cropped top and her top was paired with white sweatpants and black chunky sneakers. She flung her arms around his neck and whispered near his ear, "You're late."
"I'm right on time, Kyoko. You were just 15 minutes early," he wrapped his arms around his friend's waist and gave her the tightest hug before patting her back.
Saotome Kyoko, owner of Café Ai, a baker, and a part-time model, is Haru's first-ever friend after moving to Tokyo. Like Kiyoshi, she's also two years older than him. Being an only child and growing up in a wealthy family, she started treating him like her own little brother, and even grew closer with each other in college.
"Tsk," she hissed and pulled away from the embrace. She then studied him from head to toe. "I do not see you often, yet every time I do, you keep getting more and more handsome."
He chuckled at the flattery he just received. "Please, you always look great yourself," he grinned as he patted her cheek gently.
Haru had always admired her cat-like beauty. She is 10 just centimeters smaller than him and is fair-skinned with a unique v-face shape, tall nose, and gorgeous single-lid cat eyes. The mole near her bottom lip was also an attractive feature of hers.
Kyoko swatted his hand away, "I already know that, but stop it! I'm not a dog. Geez, you've just gotten taller than me, and you already have the audacity to do that."
Haru let out a light laugh, "Of course, it's because I missed you."
She slightly hit his stomach with her elbow, "That's not an excuse." She turned her back on him, flipped her long hair, and started walking back to the car, and grabbed her luggage from the rear seat. "I'm also wondering…" she glanced at him, "since when did you get this so charming?"
Kyoko had also admired his mysterious, yet alluring looks, but she didn't know that he could also be this irresistible. She'd known Haru to have a very meek personality, so seeing this nature of his made her a bit surprised. She wondered why she hadn't noticed it before, but she thought that it might be because she couldn't visit them often and stayed longer in the metropolis like she used to.
He followed her and helped her with her things, "Since when I worked at your cafe? I'm not really sure, but I've learned a lot from Kiyoshi, just so you know."
Kyoko feigned a cough. "Heh, I wouldn't trust that guy when it comes to his charms."
"You should be thankful we're making you filthy rich," he smirked.
She laughed and quickly showed him a deadpan expression, "But then I'm afraid…"
"Of?"
"I am afraid that your extreme attractiveness will break the hearts of many women, especially that woman with the cherry blossom pink hair."