Business as Usual

"Ryo, dear! Table Two is asking for you!" trilled Mrs. Kato

I sighed. It wasn't exactly unexpected, but I didn't necessarily enjoy standing for an hour straight.
Sure enough when I exited the lounge, there they were, sitting by the window.
Ren, Fumiya, Haruto... and Yui.
It still took some getting used to seeing another face.

"What may I get for you esteemed gentleman and lady?"

The group stared, and after a moment Yui attempted to speak, before being nudged by Haruto.

"He does this every time, just let him do it," Haruto muttered.
"I can hear you, you know."
He decided to ignore me, and the group fell into silence, leaving the ambient chatter of the restaurant to be heard.

"Okay then..." I started. "One Hamburger Steak," Haruto didn't even open his mouth, "One Tarako Spaghetti with no Nori," Fumiya gave a thumbs up without glancing up, "and one..." I paused, "unsweetened green tea." 
Ren winked, and grinned, "Guilty."
How did he say that with so much pride? He ordered like an old man.
"And how about you, Yui?"

She smiled sweetly, glancing once more at the menu.
For the first time in a very long time, I clicked open my pen.

"Well, what would you suggest?" she asked.
"I'd go for whatever is cheapest," I said, my mouth twitching slightly. 
I glanced behind me to make sure Mrs. Kato didn't hear my comment. Ren had the courtesy to chuckle, while Fumiya just shook his head. Haruto was staring daggers at me.
Yui glanced at Haruto, as if unsure if I was joking. She better get used to my jokes.
"That was a joke, I apologize.
I'd suggest our gyoza. It's a good first order."
Yui's smile widened in thanks. "Then I'll go with that."

As I walked away, I couldn't help but toss one last comment in.
"It also makes for a good date food. Not messy."
I turned around as I heard Haruto object and Ren snort loudly.



Predictably, Ren finished his drink before anyone even started eating.
"So," Ren prompted, placing his empty cup down, "How's everyone's break been so far?"
Fumiya answered first - "Fine, I guess. Nothing super exciting, unlike some other people here. But it was good," he shrugged.
Haruto and Yui both reddened a bit at the comment. 
"Well, besides that, then," Ren continued, his attention on the couple.
"We've-"
"We've-"
Haruto and Yui began to speak at the same time, before gesturing for the other to speak. They looked at each other before starting to laugh.
"We've been doing very well, thank you for asking," Yui finally said, her face still slightly flushed.
"Just... you know... been hanging out a lot together, I guess," Haruto finished off.
"Yeah, you stole Haruto from us, Yui," stated Fumiya. "It's fine, though. He still hangs out with us."
Fumiya saved himself at the end there.

"Listen," I said. "As long as you both are happy, then we're happy for you two. Just enjoy the time."
I smiled at the couple. Sure, Haruto wouldn't be around as much. But that's just how it is. He looks happy. Genuinely, visibly happy, in a way that's hard to argue with.

Ren, eager to stoke the fire, began to speak in a sing-songy voice: "I remember Haruto promising us that nothing would change, you know." He sighed dramatically, "and yet, here we are.
It just..." Ren sniffled loudly, "I'm so proud of him-" He proceeded to be shoved against Fumiya by a blushing Haruto, while Yui giggled.
"Ow," Fumiya muttered.
"Oh, c'mon, that didn't hurt," Ren said, patting him firmly on the back.
"Yeah, but that did," Fumiya spluttered.

All in all, things felt pretty normal. Fumiya and Ren had not, by any regard, held back on Yui's account.
We paid the bill and relocated, as we usually do when no one wants to go home just yet.

The metal swings were getting annoying. We had moved our conversation to a park. The sun was shining brightly in the late afternoon, but a cool breeze that wafted by indicated the coming Fall. Haruto and Yui were sitting together on the pair of swings, talking quietly. 
I couldn't help but be a little bitter that they had taken the only two "seats". My legs get tired, you know, and leaning on jungle gyms only got you so far. 
If we weren't there, I could imagine the relationship progressing much faster due to an inevitable deep conversation between the two. 
But, unfortunately for them, we were there.
I was flicking the tab of my soda can absentmindedly, only half paying attention to my surroundings, before Ren sighed, grabbed the empty can from me, and hurled it towards the nearby trash.

In a glorious moment, the can sailed right into the side of the basket, bouncing onto the ground with a clang.
"Make sure you throw it away properly, young man!" called out a walking passerby.
Fumiya and I snickered.

After the commotion subsided, I sighed deeply. Fumiya, who leaned next to me, glanced over, before asking "what's up?"
"School starts the day after tomorrow, right?"
Everyone including Yui sighed.
"Just thinking about tests and homework makes me tired," Yui admitted. 

"And then you never have time to relax or hang out..." I continued.

"Have you ever thought that maybe you can't relax properly because you're too busy procrastinating homework and studying?" 
Ren stared, mouth agape, at Fumiya.
Fumiya. Bro.
"That being said," he continued, "I never have enough time to play the games I want to."
"But it's never as bad as you think it is, right? We always get through it!" Haruto said.
At that, Yui smiled, even while Fumiya shook his head vehemently. 

"You know, you and Hina are very alike, Haruto. Maybe that's why I like you so much..."
Yui trailed off, a flush creeping up her face.
Haruto, clearly unused to the blatant affection, looked as if he wanted to disappear.
As for me, I felt like I was intruding on a private moment.
"Hina?" Ren asked. Intentional or not, he managed to cut the tension.
"Oh! Right, of course you wouldn't have met her. She's my best friend.
I should introduce you all some time. I think you'd all get along."

"Well, what is she like?" Ren asked. "Because you comparing her to Haruto makes me think she's as clueless as a newborn baby."
Haruto slumped in defeat. "Yeah, yeah."
"It's not a bad thing, bud," Ren finished sincerely.
Yui smiled at Haruto, her eyes full of affection.
"Hina is just very... bright. She lights up any room she walks into." Suddenly, Yui scrunched her nose.
"Eugh, that was so cheesy.
And Haruto... you being clueless is part of why I like you, you know. It's part of who you are."

"So," asked Fumiya, "does that mean Ryo kinda sucks? Since he's pretty self aware and all."
Hey, Fumiya. Want to stop it with the friendly fire?
I smiled genuinely, and answered before Yui could object.
"Everyone has different tastes, man. Aren't you the one who swears by mint ice cream with no chocolate?"
"That's... fair," Fumiya answered.
"Wait, you basically like eating toothpaste?" asked Haruto.
"We're not having this discussion right now."
"Okay, okay..."

The sun was beginning to set, which cued everyone to start walking home. Haruto and Yui left first, which was only right. Some sunsets are better with two people. And after giving the couple a good head start, Ren, Fumiya and I began to head home too.


"It's not that weird, you guys," Fumiya said suddenly.
"What's not that weird?" Ren asked blankly.
I sighed. 
"He's still talking about plain mint ice cream."
"Ohhh, right. Yeah, no. It's weird, man."
Fumiya didn't even retort. It seems he accepted his wrongdoings. We all fell into a comfortable silence. All that was heard was our own footsteps on the asphalt, and the birds and insects chirping in the distance.
I have to say, it was a beautiful sunset, perfectly silhouetting the trees and houses. Haruto and Yui probably had something to do with it. I'll allow it.



Our trio split for the night, and I continued walking home in the dusk. It felt a little strange. Not lonely, per se, but I felt like something was missing. I guess I'd become accustomed to the status-quo of always being a group of four. Now, our group was more of a pair and a set of three. Haruto and Yui are a great pair. But as much as I'm happy for the both of them, it means things will never really be the same. Haruto will prioritize Yui over our group, as he should. 
And that means it will just be quieter. I hadn't ever really thought about what would happen after Haruto and Yui were together for real. 
What the aftermath would look like.
Maybe that's a bit selfish to think about, though.