Chapter 5

Not wanting to be on a crowded bus again, and with no other plans for the day, Misaki decided to walk home.

Can I really work there again? Even if it's under their brand, just walking into that building again feels like too much. I don't think I could keep going there. She clenched her fists at her sides, thinking about Akihiro.

But when am I going to get another opportunity like this? I still have money, but it'd be nice to have a real income again. She glanced at a nearby clothing store and stared longingly at the cute swing dress that had caught her eye a few weeks ago. Then, I wouldn't have to keep worrying about how long my savings will last.

The store next to it caught her eye with a poster of Hayase in the window, their song playing softly through the speakers.

I can at least sell him that song. It sounded right with him singing it, and it'll sound even better with both of them. She waited by the store until the song finished and continued on her way.

It's time I finally move on, but maybe we can at least meet somewhere else.

Misaki took a deep breath, stuffed her hands in her pockets, and kept walking until she came across Haruka's Diner.

Grumble.

Oh, right, I couldn't eat this morning.

As soon as she entered, Haruka greeted her. "Hello again, are you here to retry?"

"Nope, not today." She hesitated. Possibly never. She sat at the counter and pulled her mask off. "You know, I got an interesting offer last night because of someone who found one of my pieces of sheet music."

"You don't say." Haruka smirked and set down a glass of lemonade, as she'd usually order.

"Thanks." Misaki sipped on it. "But I should really be mad at you for giving my info."

"Should be? As in, you aren't? Did things go well, then?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"Fair enough. Here to ponder?"

"Partially, but I'm hungry because I was too nervous to eat breakfast." Misaki rubbed her belly.

"One hearty meal coming right up, and this one's on the house for not getting angry. That man sure was insistent on finding out who you were, though."

"Turns out it was someone I used to know from my training days. It's been a long time, and he's just as I remember him. He wants to work with me going forward, but it'd technically be under the brand I had issues with in the past."

"I know him too from years ago. We're near the building, so when it was smaller, many trainees came in. Kinda miss it."

"They don't stop in anymore?" Misaki raised an eyebrow.

"On rare occasions, but it's mostly you." Haruka grabbed the rice omelette with a ketchup heart on it from the window to the kitchen and set it in front of Misaki. "The hubby is rooting for you, too, Misa."

"Thanks." Misaki dug in and melted at the rich, familiar flavour. I could eat this every day. "Mmm..."

"So, it sounds like you want to work out a deal, but the company is holding you back? I'm sure he and his brother could work something out."

"But they'd probably want me to work in that building with them. Going there once is bad enough— never mind having to every weekday or something."

"Hmm..." Haruka scratched her chin as she thought. "If location is the biggest issue, you can always use another studio. I'd suggest here, but there'd be an uproar in no time once they figure out who he is."

Misaki nodded.

"With how eager he was, I'm sure he'd find somewhere else if you asked," Haruka said.

But I don't want to inconvenience them. Misaki slowed her pace, picking at her food.

"I can ask if you want me to—"

"Please don't." I need to do this myself.

"How about I invite him over here, and you can talk to him?"

Misaki shook her head. "I was just there; I should think things over for longer."

"If you say so, but I'm sure that boy wouldn't mind."

More people flooded in as lunchtime hit, so Misaki quickly finished her meal. "Thank you for the food and for the chat."

"Anytime, darling." Haruka took the empty plate and moved on to her next customer.

Misaki put her mask back on and headed home, a few minutes away. "This is driving me crazy," she complained as she dropped her backpack at her desk and flopped onto her fluffy bed with their business card in hand.

It's an opportunity to write songs that will be treated well, and I doubt they'd stab me in the back. They're not Aki... She grabbed the closest plush, a big soft bunny, and closed her eyes as she thought.

Ring, ring, ring.

"Hmm?" Misaki groaned and blindly reached around for her phone on her bed. "Hello?" she mumbled.

"Are you okay? You sound sleepy."

Who is this? Sounds familiar. She looked at the display. "Ren? Why are you calling? If you're asking for my decision—"

"Not yet, unless you're ready to say yes?"

"..."

"Guess that's a no." He sighed. "Anyway, I stopped by Haruka's diner for a bite, and she said she saw you earlier. She might've also mentioned not wanting to be at the Eclipse studio."

"She shouldn't have told you that—it was meant to stay between us."

"Actually, I figured that's something we should figure out together—"

"Just use our personal studio," Shun suggested, listening in on their conversation.

"Personal studio?" Misaki asked. I shouldn't be surprised if they have one.

"Yes, and it's nearby. How about I pick you up and show you the place? It might help you decide."

He's going to be relentless if I don't, isn't he? "Fine," Misaki sighed and sat up with her bunny plush still in her lap.

"Text me your address, and I'll be by to pick you up in a jiffy."

"I can just meet you at the diner."

"But aren't you at home?"

"Yes..."

"Worried about me knowing your address? I promise I won't hound you, even if you don't say yes." Ren sighed.

Promises, promises, they only mean so much. "Fine. I'll see you soon." She hung up and texted him her address. After a few minutes of prep, since she had massive bedhead, the buzzer went off.

She hit the button on the display next to her door. "I'm coming." Misaki threw on her mask, hat, and sunglasses, and headed out.

"Hello again," Ren greeted her. "Do you really have to hide so much? Even your hair?" He plucked her hat off just long enough for her hair to fall loose and plopped it back down.

"Hey, what are you..."

"Much better. My car has tinted windows, so you can take the mask off in there and relax a little." He led her to his fancy sports car parked outside and opened the door for her.

"Thank you." She sat down, and he closed the door. Couldn't have used a car that doesn't stand out? At least it's comfortable and clean.

Ren sat in the driver's seat, buckled up, and glanced at her before tugging the mask strap from her ear.

"Hey! Why do you keep doing that?" Misaki automatically went to fix it.

"Because I like being able to see who I'm talking to, and it's harder to read expressions when they're hidden by a mask. Besides, it must be exhausting to hide so much, and I want our areas—like in my car— to be a safe space for you. No one can see you to stare or start rumours."

Misaki took a deep breath and pulled her mask off the rest of the way.

"Thank you." He drove off, careful not to speed so he wouldn't scare her. "So, I have to ask, do you have a car?"

"Is this your way of saying you didn't actually want to drive me there?"

"No, no, no. I'm just curious, since you didn't drive to Eclipse."

"Never got my licence."

"Oh?"

"Well, by the time I was that age, Aki always drove me around, and said I didn't need to have one. Not sure what to think when he said it was safer if I stayed as a passenger in the back..." No faith in me, maybe.

"That's... weirdly controlling. If you want to learn to drive, I can teach you."

"I don't have space for a car here, since I didn't need it... Besides, we have an amazing public transit system."

"It's so amazing, having to hide all the time."

Misaki glared at him. "Why would you want to teach me, anyway?"

"Are we friends?"

Is this a trick question? "Yes?"

"Then that's all the reason I need."

He's still trying to butter me up to say yes.

"And I don't like that he discouraged you from doing something you had wanted to." Ren sighed and glanced over at her as they stopped at a red light. "No strings attached to it, just an offer to teach, and an area around my house to practice in."

"Generous of you."

"I can hear it in your tone that you think it's conditional on saying yes to our collaboration, but it isn't. I gave you my personal phone number because we're friends, and this offer is also because we're friends, okay?"

"Okay." If you say so. Misaki took a deep breath and leaned back as she stared at the people waiting at a bus stop.

"We're almost there." Ren turned down a street lined with trees that led up to a gate, which opened automatically. "Welcome to Chez Hayase."