I'm cleaning the counter and Ryo is with me right now and helping me run the restaurant tonight. I didn't ask him to help me but he came here on his own, I know his reason why he wants to help me is that he wants to see if Erii is really going to come or not and if she does come to meet with Aiko, that means she still has a feeling for me, and Ryo might be a bit disappointed about it. I do want to ask him, but I think it's better for both of us to not talk about it.
It's almost 7 P.M. and if I remember correctly, Aiko should be here by now. As soon as I think about that, I can hear the sound of a sports car's engine revving outside, Ryo immediately looks at the window and he turns around to look at me while he's pointing his finger at the door. I know who's car is that by the sound of the engine, but I never thought that she would come here because she didn't ask me if the restaurant is open or not.
I approach Ryo and look at the window, I see Ritsu and Aiko are getting out of the car. I can tell by the outfit that Ritsu is wearing that she just leave from her work while Aiko is in her baggy white t-shirt and ripped jeans while wearing a black hat and sneakers. Ritsu is locking the car and the alarm is beeping while Aiko is looking at the restaurant and the buildings surrounding it, they both are having a conversation and I think Ritsu already know the situation and she's here to be the one who will give the advice for Aiko and Erii, I'm glad that she's here.
Ritsu and Aiko enter the restaurant, Ritsu looks around with a bright smile on her face.
"Ojamashimashu!"
Ryo bows.
"Welcome!"
Aiko is judgingly looking at the interior of the restaurant, and then she nods while humming. Ritsu is walking toward the counter and sits on her favorite spot, she looks at me and smiles.
"Can I have the usual, please?"
I nod.
"Okay, you got it!"
Ritsu turns around and looks at Aiko.
"Hime-chan, come here and sit next to me."
Aiko is nodding and sits next to Ritsu, she looks at the menu while humming.
"Ritsu-nee what's your favorite ramen?"
Ritsu is pointing her finger at the menu.
"You like your ramen spicy, right? This one suits your tongue and taste."
Aiko nods and she looks at me while pointing at the menu.
"I'm going to have this then."
I smile and nod then walk into the kitchen while Ryo is serving them hot tea.
I'm busy making their ramen, and then I hear someone is entering the restaurant. They both were having a conversation but why are they know so quiet over there? I take a peek and I see Erii is standing at the entrance while Ritsu and Aiko are looking at her. Ritsu smiles and waves at her then tap her hand on the seat next to her, Erii nods and walks toward her and takes a seat. Ritsu is sitting in between Aiko and Erii, the atmosphere over there looks quite heavy already.
I take a deep breath and go back to the counter to offer Erii what ramen she wants.
"Erii, do you want the usual?"
Erii looks at me and slightly shakes her head, but then Ritsu tilts her head while staring at Erii.
"Erii-chan, we are going to be here for quite a while so I suggest you get something to eat. It's my treat today so you must order something."
Erii is hesitant but then she looks at me.
"Yes, I will have the usual then."
I nod and go back to the kitchen.
Ritsu is taking a sip of her tea and she keeps looking straight while Aiko and Erii are not saying a single word. Ritsu clears her throat and looks at both of them.
"So, what this is all about? I know the story from Hime-chan's side, but I haven't heard from your side, Erii-chan. Do you want to tell me what's going on between the three of you?"
Erii is looking at Ritsu's cup of tea.
"I think there's nothing else that I have to say since Hasegawa-san already told you all about it, right? I believe she's telling the truth and not adding or removing a part of the story."
Erii takes a deep breath.
"They both kissed at the mall and Aze said it was an accident because they both were being a bit intimate because of Hasegawa-san's situation, and I think they both used that opportunity to take advantage of the situation. I think that's not the only reason because if that's the case, I don't think Aze or Hasegawa-san would do something like that. I know that Hasegawa-san has a feeling for him, but I still can't believe that she would do something like that while Aze let her do something like that even though he knew he already have me back there."
Ritsu is humming with understanding.
"So you hate Aze more than you hate Hime-chan?"
Erii nods in agreement, Ritsu then looks at her while smiling.
"Do you have a reason why do you hate Aze more than Hime-chan?"
Erii looks at her and shakes her head.
"I don't know..."
Ritsu scoffs and smiles.
"Of course you know, you just don't want to say it. I know you for quite a while now, Erii-chan. I know what kind of person are you, you're a pushover and a caring person, you would give anything to the people that are precious to you, but you also want everything to be the way you want it to be, and when it didn't go as you want, you would blame it on them since you gave them what they want in the first place, but if it's someone that you don't know or someone that you just know recently, you don't want them to feel burdened and you would let it go as if nothing happened. You hate Norl-kun because he's someone that's close to you, and he's not just close to you but he's someone special to you, and you feel betrayed because things didn't go as you thought they would be while Hime-chan is just someone that you know recently and you thought it doesn't feel right to blame everything on her. Is that correct?"
Erii is surprised and she slightly nods in agreement. Ritsu scoffs and smiles then she raises her eyebrows.
"And yet you hit her quite badly, that means you really hate her for what she did, isn't it?"
Erii isn't saying a single word while Ritsu is sipping her tea.
"If that's the case, why are you blaming Norl-kun?"
Erii looks at Ritsu while furrowing her forehead.
"Because he kissed her. If it was Hasegawa-kun, are you not going to be mad at him for kissing another girl?"
Ritsu without hesitation shakes her head while smiling.
"No, I wouldn't blame him for that because I know it was just an accident, and an accident can happen anytime. Whenever an accident happens, it could be one of the party's fault, it could be the other way, it could be nobody's fault, and lastly, it could be both of their faults."
Erii is so confused and keeps furrowing her forehead. Ritsu chuckles and takes another sip.
"You're asking for my opinion, and that's my answer. You're not me, and I'm not you. I can tolerate almost everything as long as it's not putting me in a dangerous situation, and that's my personality because I'm a laidback person. We are born with our personality, we grow up with it, and personality is what makes us different from each other. People said that we can change our personality, but that's not true, and even if you see or hear someone has changed, that's not a personality, that's just a mask and they believe that's their new personality. Those were made, not born with you."
Erii looks at her and then looks down at her cup of tea. Ritsu looks at Erii and Aiko then she chuckles.
"I know you both are new in this, and you both barely know anything about the opposite sex. Here, let me give you an example. Watch me carefully."
Ritsu looks at Ryo and she waves at him. Ryo approaches her and raises his eyebrows.
"Yes, Miyazaki-san?"
Ritsu looks at him and looks at his pocket.
"Can I have a cigarette?"
Ryo is surprised but he immediately smiles and grabs the pack of cigarettes in his pocket. He gives one to her and Ritsu grabs it from his hand, Ryo then lights the cigarette while Ritsu inhales the smoke and puffs it upward. Ryo looks so happy knowing that Ritsu is a smoker as well, and he's mesmerized just because of it. Ritsu then looks at Ryo and she's tapping her right cheek while leaning toward him, then he immediately kisses Ritsu's cheek without hesitation.
Ritsu puffs the smoke and looks at Erii and Aiko.
"Do you know what I'm trying to prove to you both?"
They both shake their heads, Ryo is confused and Ritsu chuckles.
"When a man is swayed by the mood and feeling comfortable or happy, they would do or say anything stupid without thinking first. No matter if they're single, or have a partner, they would do something stupid when they're being in that kind of situation."
Ritsu barely smokes the cigarette and she already puts it down in the ashtray.
"So what I'm trying to say is that the three of you are in the wrong in this matter, and that's my opinion."