Ai didn't know what to do!

“You’re in great condition, if I do say so myself,” Rudi says, complimenting Jules on her maintenance record.

“Thanks, Rudi. You’re lucky you won’t need any fine-tuning for another 100 years!” Jules replies with a small laugh. “But shouldn’t you help Ai over there?” She motions with her head toward the booth where Ai and Daisuke are seated.

Rudi peeks over the shared divider and notices Ai trembling and sweating slightly. She attempts to sip from one of her many drinks, only to spill it all over the table. Daisuke laughs at the mess and waves over Tim, the waiter, for more towels. Ai looks toward Rudi and mouths, Help me! But Rudi simply smiles, gives her a thumbs-up, and slides back into his seat, turning his attention back to Jules.

“She’s doing great! Daisuke seems to be having fun, too.” Rudi smiles and resumes reviewing Jules’ maintenance record.

At Ai and Daisuke’s table, Tim brings additional towels, relieved to see the atmosphere is light and friendly.

“Ai, are you cold? Maybe you should ease up on the iced drinks—you’re shaking so much,” Daisuke remarks while cleaning up the table.

Ai regains some composure at Daisuke’s suggestion. “But I love iced drinks,” she replies. Not that that’s why I’m nervous, she thinks, taking a big gulp of her iced tea lemonade. She instantly gets a brain freeze, nearly spilling her drink again. Daisuke, catching on quickly, grabs the glass before it falls.

With a sigh of relief, he sets the glass down and looks up at Ai. Their eyes meet, but they both look away, flustered.

What is happening right now?! Ai wonders, gripping her hands under the table. Her heart races. Calm down. I’m only flustered because Rudi’s note is confusing… and I don’t know what to say. Wait—I do know what to say. I need answers! Her determination steadies her.

Meanwhile, Daisuke ponders, Why is someone so stubborn and unrelenting so fun to talk to—and tease?

They both glance back at each other, their gazes now filled with determination. Before Daisuke can tease her about the mess, he notices Ai’s softened expression.

“Thank you for helping clean up my mess,” Ai says, her voice tinged with subtle meekness. Her words and demeanor send Daisuke’s heart racing.

“You’re, um, welcome,” Daisuke stammers, then excuses himself. “I’ll be right back.” He heads to the restroom.

“Humph, he may be annoying, but I can at least acknowledge his kindness,” Ai mutters to herself. She resumes eating from her assortment of dishes and calls out, “Rudi, say something.”

Without hesitation, Rudi replies, “Something!”

“Rudi!” Ai whines. “Be serious! I need help here.”

“You’re doing great!” Rudi calls back. He then turns to Jules. “So, Jules, wanna see my special outfit? I have it in my storage.”

Ai, realizing Rudi is engrossed in his own conversation, smiles faintly and continues eating. She takes a chicken skewer from Daisuke’s plate and tears whelm up in her eyes.

When Daisuke returns to his seat, he notices a skewer missing. He looks at Ai, whose guilt is written all over her face. Before he can speak, Ai confesses as she covers her mouth. “I’m sorry—I ate one of your chicken skewers.”

“How can you be so cute and stubborn at the same time?” Daisuke blurts out.

Silence falls.

Embarrassed and annoyed, he asks, “Are your ears stuffed with chicken too, or are you just ignoring me?”

“Maybe you should stuff your mouth before saying something even more embarrassing,” Ai snaps, grabbing another skewer. She eats it happily but looks guilty as she swallows the last bite.

Daisuke’s forehead vein begins to twitch. “If you feel guilty about it, why take another one?” he retorts, moving the plate out of her reach.

“I wasn’t guilty about taking it—I felt bad for eating it too fast to appreciate the hard work Tim put into making it!” Ai shoots back.

Stunned, Daisuke takes a skewer and savors each bite. His eyes water from the overwhelming flavor. “It’s so good,” he whispers.

“Told you so, Daisuke boy,” Ai says triumphantly. Feeling calmer and full, she decides to get to the point. “So, what made you want to be a Rent-a-Partner?”

Daisuke wipes away his tears and replies, “I thought it’d be a good way to meet and talk to people. I have regular clients, and it feels nice to be needed.”

Satisfied with his honesty, Ai presses further. “What does your life partner think about you going on dates with strangers? Since you both work as Rent-a-Partners, I guess it’s fine, right?”

Daisuke’s demeanor shifts. Putting on his cool-guy act, he says, “You don’t have to worry, chipmunk. I’m all yours, right here, right now.”

Ai glares in disgust. “Do you seriously think that’ll work on me? I’m so disappointed in you! Hand over the last skewers—you don’t deserve them!” She reaches for the plate, but Daisuke moves it out of her grasp.

“I’ll share if you promise not to eat them all, you gremlin!” Daisuke counters.

“You do not get to call me a gremlin, Daisuke boy!” Ai huffs. After a pause, she sighs and looks out the window. “You could just say you don’t want to talk about it, you know? I get it—there are things I don’t want to share either.”

Daisuke softens. “It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just… not easy. Not everyone’s as straightforward as you are.” He looks out the window. “You and your life partner must have a lot of fun, huh?”

Embarrassed, Ai looks down. If only I had one, she thinks.

Daisuke misinterprets her silence and chuckles. “I guess that’s a yes.” 

He looks back toward the window and continues, "With Rin and me, everything seems perfect. We don’t ever fight. Ha! How are we supposed to fight if we hardly even talk. I mean, it's not like we really need to talk since we know each other so well. It almost feels like we can read each other's mind but it feels like something is missing, but I don’t know what it is. And though I’m scared to find out, I started working as a Rent-a-Partner to see if anyone else felt the same thing with their life partner. But most people just use me as a human Ro-Buddy—they ask me to go shopping with them, carry their groceries, or help with house chores. You were the first to request a date, and honestly, I thought it was a prank. But Jules said she’d take care of Rudi if it turned out to be legit. I told Rin about the date request, and she wasn’t concerned at all. I guess she assumed it was a joke. But still, I wish she’d said something, you know, other than just 'Okay.' Do you get what I mean?"

Ai looks up at Daisuke, who is staring out the window but isn’t focused on anything. "I know what you mean. Like, 'If I mean so much to you, why aren’t you stopping me from going?' Or, 'Doesn’t it hurt to see me leave?'" she says, her thoughts drifting to her parents.

Silence falls.

After hearing everything Ai and Daisuke have said, Rudi and Jules both look at each other and nod. Rudi and Jules approach the table, thanking each other for the company. Ai and Daisuke snap out of their thoughts.

“Are we leaving already?” they ask in unison, then glance at each other in surprise.

Daisuke laughs. Ai looks flustered.

“Well, well, well. Do you two not want to leave?” Jules teases.

An embarrassed Ai, already holding a carryout bag full of food, is standing by Rudi. 

Daisuke smiles and though disappointed, replies, “No, let’s go.”

As they leave the café, Rudi and Jules continue their conversation, while Ai and Daisuke remain quiet, lost in thought.

Daisuke, eager to break the silence, remembers something interesting. "So, anyway, have you heard about the scientist who are going to choose not to give their child a life partner from birth? That's so wild, right?" he shares.

Ai's heart drops. "What did you just say?" she asks anxiously.