An Awkward Meetup

The faces of the four teenagers were one of surprise, as Iscodaya and Kei, locked eyes with Yusuke and Rin at a clothing store. Not a while later, the four sat awkwardly at a small restaurant.

Yusuke and Kei were fidgeting awkwardly while Iscodaya and Rin were hiding in the menu. But after what felt like an hour, Yusuke decided to break the silence. “So, were you guys on a date?” he asked.

Iscodaya and Kei slightly flinched at the question. Iscodaya turned to Kei and was about to say ‘yes’ in a flirty way. “Yeah,” but Kei got to him first, making him slightly blush.

“I see, I saw from your stories that you two are going out a lot,” Yusuke continued, and as a response, Kei glared at Iscodaya.

“Because a certain somebody has been coming over to my house every few days,” she insinuated. Iscodaya initially recoiled at the call-out, but then a sly grin came over his face as he leaned over to Kei.

“And what? You don’t like it?” He cheekily asked.

Kei’s face turned bright red, and using the menu, pushed Iscodaya’s face back, “Stop putting words in my mouth.” Yusuke and Rin watched with shock. From what they’ve heard, the two have only been dating for a short time. Not only that, but their dynamics have completely switched.

But as Iscodaya and Kei were reminded of their friends’ presence, they quickly composed themselves. Seeing that the air was now lighter, Kei decided to open her mouth, “Are you guys dating?” The question was one that was answered as Kei and Iscodaya saw the two’s faces turn bright red.

“Y-yeah, we are, after the party, I kinda asked Rin out,” Yusuke confessed, as Rin really tried to hide her face on the menu. Iscodaya gave a warm smile as he heard this, but as he turned to Kei, he could see her mischievous expression coming on.

So when she was about to pounce on Rin and tease her, Iscodaya grabbed her jacket and said, “No, stay here. You’re making her embarrassed.” Kei let out a defeated yelp as Iscodaya set her down.

Though it started awkward, the four began to converse like normal friends yet again. The two quieter ones giggled and made slight comments, while Kei and Yusuke rambled on and on about the latest things. However, there was a time when Iscodaya and Yusuke shared being frustrated at a game they were both playing.

But as their food came, and they ate, Kei and Yusuke were catching each other’s glances more often. And it was clear to Kei, that Yusuke wanted to talk to her. So when they finished, Kei stood up, and so did Yusuke.

Though he knew that they wanted a private talk, Iscodaya let them, as he trusted Kei. On the way to the girl’s and boy’s bathrooms, Kei and Yusuke were staring at each other. Kei saw that Yusuke was on edge, as he was scratching the top of his head and not making eye contact.

So, Kei tried to lighten the mood, “Why are you so tense? Just chill, you can tell me everything,” she told him. Hearing this, Yusuke took a deep breath as he readied what he was going to say.

“...So, I heard from Iscodaya that you used to like me,” he stated. Kei’s eyes widened, as she didn’t expect this opening.

“When was this?” She asked. Realizing that it sounded like he was telling Kei that Iscodaya told him her secret, Yusuke shook his head profusely.

“Like a little over a month, but it wasn’t Iscodaya that brought it up. He thought I already knew, so he spilled it by mistake,” he explained, causing Kei to understand. Yusuke realized that their conversation started badly, but he decided to keep on, “So yeah, I just want to clarify, you don’t like me anymore, right?” He asked.

Kei’s eyes widened at the question, only a month ago she was still getting flustered at him, but now, “I don’t know,” she admitted. Yusuke was a bit shocked, but Kei continued, “I mean it's only been a month, so I think there are still some embers there. But I don’t know, because when you said that you and Rin were dating, it didn’t hurt me like it did before… I still think you’re handsome and charming, but my heart rate doesn’t skyrocket when I’m around you anymore.”

Hearing what she was saying, Yusuke nodded along. When she was finished, Yusuke realized something, “Well… thanks for telling me Kei. First off, I’m sorry that I was ignorant about your feelings when you still liked me, and in an alternate reality, I’m sorry that I would’ve rejected you. But second off, from what you’ve told me about your feelings for me now, you don’t like me anymore. Sure I might look attractive in your eyes, but that doesn’t mean you like me.”

Kei nodded along with what Yusuke was saying. After years of liking Yusuke, and hiding a lot of things, having a clear talk with him was one that Kei found refreshing. But when the topic of Iscodaya came up, Yusuke realized something.

“I think the reason why you moved on so fast was because of Iscodaya,” he began, “Not just because of the ball dance and his confession. I think because you already knew that you’d get rejected, meant that you already mentally went through a recovery process. And because of that, even though your body still reacted to me, I think your mind was already searching for someone else. And the one closest to you the entire year was Iscodaya, so it was easy for you to like him the second you got the confirmation.”

Kei agreed with Yusuke’s thoughts, “Wow, I forgot that you were sometimes smart.” A chuckle came from Yusuke as Kei smiled, then, as she opened her palm for a high-five, she asked, “Friends?”

Seeing this, Yusuke smiled, “Friends,” as he accepted the high-five. But as the two were going back to their chairs, they saw that Rin and Iscodaya looked to be having a deep conversation. The two snuck behind the chair out of view of the two to see what they were talking about.

“Your entire attitude completely changes when you’re with Kei,” Rin stated, causing Iscodaya to flinch, “I didn’t expect a quiet type like you to be flirty.”

Iscodaya looked out of the window in embarrassment as he hid his mouth behind his hands, “Me too to be honest,” he uttered a statement that came as a shock to the three listening. Iscodaya watched the outside for a while before he continued, “But after Yusuke told me that Kei didn’t think highly of herself, I wanted her to see that I did.”

Kei’s eyes widened at Iscodaya’s statement, as she slightly pinched Yusuke for it.

“I see,” Rin smiled as she drank some water, “And you’re not embarrassed.”

“Like hell I’m not,” he quickly replied, “The embarrassment sometimes gets too much, and I just want to be invisible.” Hearing Iscodaya’s true feelings about his new personality, Kei was going to ask him to stop if he was feeling like that. But he continued, “But I don’t know, every time I see her reactions, it’s always so precious. I see in her eyes that she isn’t used to being loved, and I hate that, so I shower her even if I feel embarrassed.”

Kei’s heart almost left her body at what she was hearing. But hearing his real feelings, Rin smiled, “You’re a good boyfriend Iscodaya,” she complimented before closing her eyes, “Okay you two can come out now.”

Yusuke, Kei, and Iscodaya’s eyes widen in shock, as the two, especially Kei, got out of hiding, shaking. Her brown and his red eyes met as Iscodaya quickly looked away. Rin stood up as she went to Yusuke, “Alright, we’ve got a date to go to, I’ll see you guys later,” she remarked as she dragged her boyfriend out.

After paying, Iscodaya and Kei both stood silently outside the restaurant. Iscodaya was still as red as a tomato, but while he was internally dying, he felt something wrap around his arm. Looking to his side, he saw Kei, clinging to him, “You being here is enough, no need to embarrass yourself,” she remarked while kissing his cheek.