Aoi: An Unexpected Ride

“Aoi-chan, are you even listening to me?”

“What? Oh, sorry, Haruka-chan? I was just…” Aoi looks up from her sketchbook and into the grinning face of her friend and classmate. “You were saying?”

“That I can’t change shifts, so I won’t be able to go to that exhibition we were talking about. On Saturday?”

“Oh, that’s too bad.”

“But you should go anyway, and then gush about all the amazing works there.”

“Sure. I’ll tell you all about it.” Aoi glances up at the clock on the wall, still a couple of minutes before the class officially starts. Her eyes move back to her sketch pad, and her pen starts moving, prompting a small snort from Haruka.

“So, what, or rather who, are you drawing? So focused that you stopped responding to my babbling?”

“It’s nobody. Just one of our customers at the café. He’s been coming in regularly for the last month…”

“Regularly, you say?” Haruka-chan manages to put all sorts of insinuations into that otherwise innocent word, and Aoi’s face suddenly feels much too warm.

“Yeah, Moff likes him. Snowy too.”

“Moff  likes him?” Haruka-chan shakes her head in despair. “Considering how much you talk about him, and the way you smile in the mornings when he’s been there… I’d say not only Moff likes him…”

“I… don’t talk about him.” Aoi feels a hot, uncomfortable blush crawl up her neck. “At least not much.”

“Huh, more like you can’t shut up about him.” Haruka sighs, tilting her head thoughtfully. “Honestly, you should just ask him out. Sounds like he wants to, but he’s too shy.”

“But I can’t ask a guest out on a date. That’s so inappropriate!” Aoi gasps, imagining the face the manager would make if he found out. Not that she would…

“But you want to. Might as well admit it.” Haruka-chan leans closer, giving the portrait an appraising look. “Great shading, especially on the neck. But why not draw all of his face? And you’re so good with hair too… Why not…”

“I… haven’t seen his face fully yet,” Aoi admits, the blush now fully blooming on her cheeks. “He always has that hood up.”

“Oh, a mysterious man then… With a great jawline.” She raises an eyebrow. “I wonder why he hides like that?” She taps her cheek with the end of a thin brush, thinking.

“I’m sure he has a perfectly good reason.”

“Yeah, like he’s bald. Or has a big birthmark on his forehead that he’s shy about…”

“I really don’t think…”

“Or he’s famous, and is trying not to get recognized, and succeeding very well.” Haruka-chan gasps theatrically and winks. “Not that you’d recognize anyone from the tabloids – unless they’re some old painter…”

“I would!” Aoi objects, though her friend probably is right. Between school and work, keeping track of tabloids and gossip is very low on her list of priorities. “Not many, but some at least. I don’t live under a rock.”

“Sure…”

“Anyway, famous people go to the fashionable posh places downtown. They don’t come to cuddle cats at MofuMofu no Ouchi, no matter how cosy it is there.”

“Hm,” Haruka-chan doesn’t look convinced. “Perhaps I should come by one of these days, have some of those cute pancakes, and spy on your mystery man. I’m a great wing man… woman.”

“I don’t need a wing woman. He’s not my mystery man. He’s just a customer. Someone the cats have taken a liking to.”

“The cats… right… You know you’re not fooling anyone.”

Aoi doesn’t get the chance to reply before Takahashi-sensei walks into the room, prompting everybody to be quiet and sit up straighter in their chairs.

“Good morning, everyone. Ready to tackle some perspective exercises today?”

“Morning, Sensei!” Aoi joins in the morning greeting, putting her private sketchbook in her bag and taking out the class material. Time to focus.

*

“Looking for your mystery guest?”

Huh, Aoi snaps out of her daydreaming and turns to her co-worker, shaking her head.

“No. And he’s not my mystery guest.”

“If you say so…” Luna-chan clearly doesn’t believe her, but smiles with a happy little sigh. “If he does come in, I hope he has his handsome friend with him.”

“Handsome, huh?” Aoi teases, thinking that he has started to come in alone lately. “But, in this weather,” she waves at the rain-streaked windows, “I guess most people choose to stay home. It’s not often it’s this empty here at this time of evening.”

“Yeah, it’s pouring down out there.” Luna-chan wrinkles her nose at the weather, then turns with a wink. “Not that it stopped you from cluttering up his special table, did it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Aoi mumbles, guiltily glancing over at the table where she was ‘organizing’ the cafe’s selection of flower vases on trays. She’d become pretty skilled at maintaining their little table-reservation game...

“Oh, come on. Everybody knows what you’re doing. And nobody cares. We all think it’s cute.”

“Cute, huh?” She feels a silly blush coming and is grateful when a family at one of her tables is ready to order desserts. Since there aren’t too many guests, she hands the kids feather wands to play with the cats – smiling at the ensuing fun and chaos.

Before she knows it, it’s dark outside, the rain’s picked up, and she’s accepted that he won’t come in today. And then he does. The bell on the door chimes, and there he is. Hood up as usual, a mask covering his face. Alone, and more than a little wet. Smiling, she hurries over to greet him.

“You came, goshujin–sama. In this weather.”

“I promised I’d try to come by, didn’t I?”

“What would you like today?” she asks after she’s cleared his table of vases.

“Some tea. And some dinner.” He smiles down at Snowy, who’s spotted him and is now curiously sniffing a wet shoe, poking at the laces. “You know my favorites, surprise me.”

“Thank you for your trust. I’ll be right back.”

Bringing him the warm chicken and rice dish that was the first one he tried here, she jokes about the decoration, adding an extra little ketchup heart. Wondering if he notices…

As usual, he keeps working, focused, but still happy to chat whenever she stops by his table to clear away dishes or refill his cup.

Suddenly, it’s already twenty past nine, and she heads back to him for a final check-in.

“My shift’s almost over. Can I get you anything else before I go?”

“No, thank you. It’s about time for me to head home as well.”

“Then, if you don’t mind, Luna-chan will take your payment?” She nods toward the register, where Luna-chan gives them a cheery little wave and a very exaggerated wink.

“Of course not.” He starts packing his things in the bag he always brings with him. “Don’t want to keep you waiting.”

“Have a nice evening then, goshujin-sama! Thank you for today!” She flashes him her biggest smile before heading to the back room.

It doesn’t take her long to change into her own clothes, jeans, and a bright pink, slightly oversized hoodie. Waving goodbye to her co-workers, she opens the door and winces; the rain is even heavier than it seemed through the windows. The Metro station is just ten minutes away, so she braces herself and flings her backpack over one shoulder, setting off at a brisk pace.

Not three steps later, she stops. He’s there, hood up and mask on. Huddling under a tree, shoulders raised as if they could ward off the rain, his bag pressed tightly to his chest.

“Hey, you’re still here.” She joins him under the branches, sharing their dubious protection.

“I am.” He shrugs. “I have a taxi coming, but I guess I should have stayed inside until it was here.” He chuckles softly, “It appears to be running late.”

“Oh, yeah. This isn’t the weather for waiting outside. At least not without an umbrella.”

He looks at her already soaked figure and umbrella-less hands.

“You didn’t bring one either, I see. How’re you getting home?”

“Metro. It’s not far.” Somehow, water has found a way into her shoes, and she shuffles uncomfortably, “Look, I think your taxi is coming now.”

She points to the yellow and black car turning around the corner, slowly approaching.

“Finally.”

She’s about to say goodbye when he looks at her thoughtfully.

“Um, if you don’t mind, I’ll be happy to share.”

She blinks, and he quickly continues.

“Obviously, we’ll drop you off first, and I’ll pay.” The taxi comes to a stop close to them. “Only if you’re comfortable with it, of course, but I’d feel bad about letting you walk through this alone.”

She hesitates for a moment, rain dripping down from the branches above. He’s not a stranger. She knows him, and the look in his eyes is so sincere… She nods.

“Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”

“Just glad I can help.”

Leaving the tree, they make a run for the car, and he opens the door to the back seat, allowing her to climb in first. As soon as the door closes behind him, the rain turns into an almost comforting pitter-patter against the roof and windows. Warm air from the heater chases away the damp chill.

“Where to?” the driver asks, his white gloved fingers resting lightly on the steering wheel.

Aoi leans forward, telling her address, and the driver nods. The engine comes to life and they are on their way. Leaning back in the comfortable seat, she pulls her hood down and shakes her damp hair out, smoothing it with her hands.

“Thank you, goshujin–sa…” She stops. What’s she thinking? She can’t call him that, not here. “I mean, thank you, Takamura-san. This is much better than walking.”

“You remembered my name.” He sounds surprised, but pleased, and after removing the mask, he gives her a warm smile. “Neko-chan…?”

“Only at MofuMofu,” she smiles back. “Out here I’m Aoi… Aoi Sakamoto.”

“Nice to meet you, Sakamoto-san,” he says formally. “I’m Yohei Takamura.”

“Nice to meet you too.”

Leaning back, he pushes the damp hood down, revealing a mess of almost white hair. It’s beautiful, just long enough to cover his eyes, and she can’t help but stare as he drags his fingers through it.

“Your hair… is that why you always cover it with a hoodie?” She clasps her hands in her lap to resist the urge, no, the sudden need to reach out and touch it. To push one of the pale stray strands back into order and tell him how pretty it is... Get a grip. Say something normal.

“Is it your natural color?”

“No, I bleach it.” He smiles ruefully. “It’s great to stand out, you know. But sometimes, it’s nice to blend in. Hoodies work great for that.”

“Yes, you said you’re working in the entertainment industry, right? It makes sense then.” She twirls a strand of her own damp hair between her fingers. “Many artists do the same. With clothes, or hairstyles.”

He just nods at that, and Aoi winces at her clumsiness as he turns to look out the rain-streaked window.

“Um, the city looks beautiful like this, the lights and colors all blurred.” She bites her lip and tightens the grip on her bag. What’s wrong with her? She’s normally chatting effortlessly with everybody. Grasping for something to say, she blurts, “Do you know Togashi-sensei? The artist?”

He turns to look at her again and gives a small shake of his head.

“He’s famous for blending traditional sumi-e with a more modern take. The emotions he can put in even the most simple pieces are… outstanding.” She waves one hand around vigorously. “He’ll have an exhibition here with the theme ‘light and shadow’, and I’m sure it’ll be wonderful. It’s opening this Saturday, and I’ve taken the day off so I can go see it.”

Oh no, now she’s babbling, isn’t she?

“That sounds interesting,” he says politely, flashing that little lopsided smile at her.

“I’m glad you think so,” she says awkwardly. She was definitely babbling. What must he think? They sit in silence the rest of the way, and it’s with both relief and regret she sees her building come up.

“Thank you again for the ride. I’m very grateful.” She pushes her hood back up and grabs her bag. “I’ll… see you at the café soon?”

“Not until next week, I’m afraid.” He says it as if he really means it. “But then you can tell me all about that exhibition.”

“Of course.” She almost asks if he’d like to maybe… meet somewhere else, but the words just won’t come. Instead, Haruka’s voice echoes in her mind, ‘Honestly, you should just ask him out. You know you want to.’ Her friend was right, she does want to, but all she manages is, “Goodnight, Takamura-san.”

“Goodnight, Sakamoto-san.”

She walks quickly through the rain until she reaches her door, fumbling with the keys. The taxi remains in place until she opens the door and steps inside, giving one last wave.