Dinner

So I went to the cafeteria.

She was already there when I arrived.

Sitting near the window.

Absolutely beautiful.

Hands encircling the coffee cup.

Kanzaki Mio.

"You arrived early," I said, approaching her.

She looked up.

"You too," she said.

I sat down opposite her.

For a few seconds, none of us said anything.

Only the sound of conversations around us.

Cutlery.

Coffee machines.

— So… thank you for accepting. — I began .

She took a sip of her coffee before answering.

"Don't get confused," she said calmly.

"I accepted it because of the contract. That's all," she continued.

"I know," I said.

"This place is discreet, good for conversations that shouldn't happen," she continued.

I agreed.

" Kanzaki ... I know I crossed a line earlier today," I began .

She looked at me over her cup.

"He overtook several," she said angrily.

"Even so, I needed to speak," I said.

"Talking isn't the problem," he replied.

"Being seen is important," she continued.

She placed the cup on the table.

"Do you have any idea what would happen if they found out? " she asked angrily.

"I have it," I replied.

"No. You think you do," she corrected me.

I swallowed hard.

"If anyone finds out you rented a girlfriend... it becomes gossip. Scandal. Headline news," she continued.

She took a deep breath.

"My mother can't know. My sister can't know. If Golden finds out my identity was leaked... it's over," she said.

— I know — I said softly.

"You don't know," she insisted.

"Because for you, that's a mistake. For me, it's survival," she continued.

Silence has returned between us.

"What if they find out tonight?" I asked .

She stared at me.

" Sakura will look. Her friends will compare. Her friends will ask," she said.

"I'll take care of it," I said.

"It's not up to you to decide," she said.

"It's by chance," she continued.

She stirred the sugar, even though she didn't need to.

"That's why the rules. No intimacy," I added.

"No improvisation. No feelings involved," I said... perhaps a little quieter than I should have.

She didn't comment.

"This ends after today," she said .

"I know," I said.

"It's not 'I know,' it's accepted," he replied .

I agreed.

—Kanzaki …​

"Mio. You can call me that today," she corrected, without looking at me.

My heart skipped a beat.

— Mio… — I repeated.

She looked up.

"Just today," she said.

"Okay," I said.

She finished her coffee and stood up.

"Shall we go? The less time we spend together, the better," he asked .

I got up too.

"Thank you... for coming anyway," I said.

She picked up her bag.

"Don't thank me yet," he said. "We haven't survived the night yet."

We left the cafeteria.

Side by side.

Without touching.

Without staring too much.

(Tonight… it’s not enough to pretend we’re a couple. We need to pretend we’re not us.) — I thought worriedly.

And that…

It was much more difficult.

The restaurant was already full when we arrived.

Warm lights.

Tables too close together.

Laughter that seemed too loud for my liking.

We were the last to arrive.

"Sorry I'm late," I said, flashing a practiced smile.

They all turned at the same time.

— Riku ! — Haruto waved.

"Finally. I thought you had abandoned us ," Kenta finished.

Sakura 's friends looked on curiously.

And then… they looked at her.

Meo.

Simple yet elegant dress.

A restrained posture.

Too calm an expression for someone walking a tightrope.

"So this is your girlfriend?" one of the girls asked, tilting her head.

Before I could answer—

"Yes," said Sakura , smiling.

"That's Kurokawa-san , isn't it?" he asked. Sakura .

The tone was sweet.

Educated.

Too perfect.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kurokawa ," Mio replied, with a slight bow.

"She's beautiful. Very different from the type I imagined for you, Riku ," commented another girl.

"Different how?" Sakura asked, still smiling.

"More... discreet. I thought you'd be someone more flashy," the girl replied, laughing.

Sakura brought her hand to her mouth, feigning surprise.

"Ah, but that's great, isn't it? Riku has always been... how can I say... easily impressed," she said .

My stomach churned.

— Sakura … — I tried to intervene.

— Hm? Did I say something strange? — she turned her face towards me.

— No. Nothing. — I replied quickly.

She turned her attention back to Mio.

" Kurokawa-san , how long have you two been together?" she said. Sakura .

Mio blinked once.

— Enough time — she replied, neutrally.

Sakura chuckled softly.

"What a mature response. I'm even a little relieved," she said . Sakura .

"Relieved?" one of her friends asked.

"Yes," Sakura replied.

" Riku has always been kind of… impulsive. I'm glad he has someone who can keep him grounded," she explained . Sakura .

(That was a direct attack.) — I realized.

Mio didn't change her expression.

"I try to do my best," he replied.

"I imagine so," Sakura said, leaning slightly forward.

"It must be difficult dealing with someone so busy... so famous... always surrounded by people," she said with a smile.

She glanced at me.

Then he went back to Mio.

"Don't you feel insecure?" he asked. Sakura .

Silence.

I felt the air grow heavier.

"No," Mio replied firmly.

"Trust is a choice," Mio explained .

Sakura's eyes widened, as if she were genuinely impressed.

"Wow... that's strong, " she said.

He smiled.

"You really seem like an amazing person, Kurokawa-san ," he said . Sakura .

But there was something in her gaze.

Something that said:

"Let's see how long this lasts."

— Great! Let's order right away, I'm starving! — Haruto clapped his hands.

The tension eased somewhat.

The waiters approached.

But I knew.

( Sakura wasn't just being polite. She was testing.) — I realized.

And that dinner... it wouldn't just be a meal.

It was a game.

And we had just sat down at the wrong table.

The requests were made.

The conversation returned to normal.

Laughter.

Comments about the university.

Minor complaints about teachers.

But I could feel it.

Each word Sakura spoke carried a hidden weight.

Each of Mio's responses was too calculated to be spontaneous.

"So, Kurokawa-san, how did you two meet?" asked one of Sakura 's friends .

My heart raced.

Before I could open my mouth—

— At an event — Mio replied.

"Something small, but significant," Mio explained .

"An event? What kind?" the girl asked excitedly.

"A place where people go to pretend to be someone else for a few hours," Mio replied with a slight smile.

Sakura tilted her head.

"How poetic... Riku always liked things like that," he said .

She stared at me.

"Isn't it?" he asked. Sakura .

— Yeah… I think so. — I replied .

Mio gave me a quick glance.

A silent warning.

"It must be difficult to maintain a relationship like that with tight schedules... secrets... expectations," Sakura continued.

"Relationships are always difficult, the problem is when someone tries to test them on purpose," Mio replied.

Sakura 's smile faltered.

For a second.

"Oh? Are you saying I'm testing you?" she said.

"No. I'm saying that insecure people often confuse curiosity with caution," Mio replied.

Silence.

The friends exchanged glances.

"Wow... strange atmosphere..." one of them murmured.

"Hey, hey. Let's talk about something else!" Haruto tried to reassure her.

Dinner followed.

Main courses.

Dessert.

Coffee.

But something had changed.

Sakura spoke less.

I observed more.

When we get up to pay—

" Riku ," she called.

Hm?

She smiled.

Not the sweet smile.

Other.

"You seem... different from when we were children," she said .

I swallowed hard.

"People change," I replied.

"Yes. They really do change," she agreed.

She looked at Mio.

— Good luck, Kurokawa-san . - he said Sakura .

Mio tilted her head slightly.

"Thank you," said Mio.

But he didn't smile.

We left the restaurant.

The night air hit my face like a relief.

"Well, that was fun . We should do it again," Kenta said.

"Less tension next time," Haruto laughed awkwardly.

Sakura 's friends said their goodbyes first.

Then Haruto and Kenta .

Finally…

Just the three of us.

"I'll take a taxi," Sakura said.

"Good evening, Riku ," she said, looking at me.

"Good evening," I replied.

She turned to leave.

And he left.

Mio released the breath she seemed to have been holding for hours.

"It's over," she said.

- Yes.

We walked a few steps in silence.

"You did well," I said.

— Thank you. — I thanked her for her help.

"Don't thank me," he replied. "I only fulfilled my agreement."

She stopped.

He turned to me.

"After today... it's over," she said.

"I know," I said.

She walked away.

Alone.

I stood there staring at the streetlights.