The quartet, surrounded by the modern elegance of "The Terrace Newtro Italiano" found themselves drawn to the panoramic view of Yokohama visible through the restaurant's expansive windows. Kaito and Aria, silent for a few moments, immersed themselves in the cityscape unfolding beneath them—a mesmerizing tapestry of lights, architecture, and the vibrant energy that characterized Yokohama.
Ryouichi, sensing the need to fill the quietude, acknowledged the inevitable waiting period for their eagerly anticipated Italian feast. "The food will probably take a while," he remarked, his gaze momentarily shifting from the urban vista to his companions. Yuki, in agreement, responded with a nonchalant "Mhm," an understanding shared by all who frequented restaurants that took pride in crafting culinary masterpieces.
Kaito, ever the laid-back optimist, reassured the group with a casual, "30 minutes will pass by, no worries." His words carried a sense of tranquility, an acknowledgment that the wait would be a mere blip in the timeline of their day. Ryouichi, finding resonance in Kaito's sentiment, concurred with a simple, "Well, I agree with that one."
Just as Yuki was on the verge of initiating a conversation, a potential query hanging on the tip of her tongue, she hesitated and refrained. Ryouichi, attuned to the unspoken pause, looked at her curiously, his expression inviting further inquiry. "Would you like to-" he began before he could complete his question, Kaito, seizing an opportunity for playful banter, interjected with a mischievous grin.
"Are you confessing your love to Yuki?" Kaito's words hung in the air, teasingly suggesting a romantic twist to the moment. Ryouichi, caught off guard, swiftly turned to his friend with a mildly annoyed expression, emphatically denying the implications. "No," he clarified, emphasizing the simplicity of the situation. The brief exchange injected a light-hearted dynamic into the atmosphere, breaking the quietude with shared laughter and a renewed sense of camaraderie.
The playful banter continued within the confines of "The Terrace Newtro Italiano" as Yuki, intrigued by the halted inquiry, turned her attention to Ryouichi. With a genuine curiosity, she asked, "I'm curious now. What did you want to ask?"
However, before Ryouichi could provide an answer, Kaito seized the opportunity for a teasing interjection, injecting a playful twist into the unfolding narrative. "Judging by how he started his sentence, he was definitely going to confess his love to you," Kaito teased, casting a mischievous glance at Ryouichi. Yuki, caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, looked at Kaito with a mixture of shock and curiosity.
Ryouichi, quick to dismiss any romantic undertones, countered Kaito's insinuations. "That's not true," he asserted, his tone carrying an undertone of amusement at the absurdity of the suggestion. Aria, ever the astute observer, chimed in with a playful assertion. "I'm sure you were going to confess your love to Yuki," she added, her eyes fixed on Ryouichi, gauging his reaction.
Amidst the banter, a brief pause hung in the air as Yuki, still intrigued, turned her gaze towards Ryouichi. She posed the straightforward question, "Is that true?" Ryouichi, maintaining his composure, responded with a definitive "No," attempting to dispel any lingering doubts about his intentions. However, Kaito, ever the provocateur, persisted in the light-hearted teasing.
"Sure. The way you looked at her says it all," Kaito remarked, playfully challenging Ryouichi's denial. Ryouichi, somewhat exasperated, retorted with a nonchalant "Eh?" Yet, Kaito's follow-up assertion, "No reply? That just strengthens my point furthermore," prompted a resigned "whatever" from Ryouichi.
Amidst the playful banter and light-hearted teasing, Yuki nonchalantly responded with a simple, "Okay." The casual acknowledgment seemed to diffuse the tension momentarily, but Kaito, ever the provocateur, couldn't resist steering the conversation towards more intriguing territories.
Turning to Ryouichi with a mischievous glint in his eyes, Kaito posed a seemingly innocent yet loaded question, "Ryouichi, do you like Yuki?" Ryouichi, clearly exasperated by the recurring theme of romantic inquiries, retorted with a plea, "Can you stop asking that type of question?" Kaito, undeterred by Ryouichi's resistance, opted for a teasing response, "No."
Aria, perhaps sensing the need for a ceasefire in the ongoing banter, interjected with a diplomatic observation. "I think we've teased Ryouichi enough," she suggested, urging for a shift in the conversation dynamics. However, Yuki, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, seemed determined to extract a conclusive answer.
"I don't think so, not until he admits that he likes me," Yuki proclaimed, playfully challenging Ryouichi to reveal his true sentiments. Ryouichi, caught in the crossfire of teasing, couldn't help but express a hint of frustration. "Did you take their side now?" he questioned, followed by a teasing query, "Is it because you love me~?" Yuki, ever the quick-witted counterpart, retorted with a playful, "You wish."
Kaito, observing the banter unfold between Ryouichi and Yuki, remarked on their affinity for teasing each other. The observation prompted a moment of silence, as if the participants in this playful exchange were momentarily caught in a comedic standoff. Aria, injecting a touch of humor into the scenario, probed, "Are you two going to eat from the same plate too?" Kaito, seizing the opportunity to playfully embellish the scenario, suggested, "They might even feed each other."
Ryouichi, seemingly perplexed by the direction the banter had taken, retorted with a genuine "What's wrong with you?" Yuki, opting for a moment of silence, left the question hanging in the air.
As the banter continued to unfold, Yuki, perhaps fueled by a hint of mischief, decided to play along with the teasing. "Maybe I will feed Ryouichi," she declared, causing a visible reaction from Ryouichi, who turned to her with a mixture of shock and disbelief. "Excuse me? Are you just teasing me yet again, or...?" he inquired, seeking clarification amidst the playful banter.
Yuki, adopting an enigmatic tone, responded, "I'm not teasing you... Or am I?" Her words hung in the air, leaving Ryouichi to navigate the thin line between playful banter and genuine curiosity. Letting out a sigh of mild exasperation, Ryouichi found himself caught in the whimsical dance of their banter.
Kaito, ever the provocateur, seized the opportunity to play the role of matchmaker. "Confess your feelings for one another already," he teased, his words carrying a sense of amusement. Aria, seemingly enjoying the spectacle, concurred, "It's quite fun to watch them act like this." The dynamic between Ryouichi and Yuki, oscillating between denial and playful ambiguity, provided entertainment for their friends.
Ryouichi, determined to maintain the facade of nonchalance, declared, "We don't love one another." However, Yuki, with a sly smile, probed further, "Are you sure? You seem to have fallen in love with me." Ryouichi, momentarily caught off guard, remained silent, allowing the words to linger in the air.
Seizing the moment, Kaito continued his playful interrogation, asserting, "Are you staying silent because what she's saying is the truth?" Another sigh escaped Ryouichi, a testament to the entertaining yet slightly exasperating nature of the ongoing banter. Aria, seemingly enjoying the unfolding drama, chimed in with her own perspective. "You love her. Admit it already," she encouraged, adding another layer to the whimsical atmosphere.
Before Ryouichi could formulate a response, Kaito, ever the mediator, interjected with a diplomatic stance. "He does. Let's just let it go for now," Kaito suggested, offering a temporary reprieve from the good-natured teasing.