Can I Please Take Your Order?

A smirking grin was all that she received from Maiko when Noriko gave a questioning stare to her. She had invited Hiroyuki to the lunch group. And while it wasn’t the first time that he went with them, this time definitely was targeted. There was no hiding that fact. No escaping it was also a fact. One that she tried to find an excuse to leave. Maiko had a grip like iron.

There was a file that she forgot to submit, Maiko countered with everyone being out on lunch so it wouldn't be missed. She had a meeting to prep for after lunch, Maiko knew her schedule and didn’t remember this magically convenient meeting Noriko remembered. Sane excuses stopped at that point and just devolved into checking on pets she didn’t own, family members with illnesses.

It did pass the time to the restaurant, but there was no fleeing. It was the problem with trying to create a lie with her best friend present. They were just dismantled before having a chance.

They visited an Italian place that claimed to have one of their chefs trained in Italy. None of them knew if it was just a marketing gimmick or not, but when they wanted a break from their routine it usually came up. Though not everyone they invited to lunch would enjoy their brave culinary adventures, but Italian food hardly seemed crazy. So they learned not to surprise people.

It gave them a different cast of characters than their usual lunch outing. Arata came along on her invite, but so did Higashiyama. In total, there were six coworkers, but one of them was Hiroyuki. Just being nearby was enough to elevate her heart rate. Him just being in her sights was enough to have hot flashes between flowery bloomed out imagery and sweating in panic. Her body was so confused.

Maiko and her couldn’t handle getting a table this time around, so Tomio did the honors for them obediently. He was back in a hurry standing before them. “I got us a table in the back there, Miss Shirane!”

“Thanks, Ihara! That really helped us out.”

“Really? I’m glad to help!” She had to do everything to resist the urge to pat his head. Between the eager energy and soft eyes that just made you turn into jello, he was adorable. He made for the perfect balance to Hiroyuki’s tall and sharp build like he stepped straight out of a shoujo manga.

Noriko snapped back from the thoughts as they walked over to the table. It was just large enough for the six of them, but two had shared sides. And while Arata and Higashiyama skirmished over their side, Noriko tried to go for the solo chair. But Maiko beat her to it sitting down so fast it was like a blur for her. And she just smirked with a shit eating grin before pointing over to the other side. Opposite of her was Tomio claiming the other.

There was no choice anymore. She grumbled finding her seat next to Hiroyuki. Her heart had only just managed to calm down and now it was back to racing. She couldn’t even look at Hiroyuki. Part of her wished her fantasies would take over. It’d calm her down and ease things for lunch. But that wasn’t even helping anymore. Her shoulder was nearly touching him. She really shouldn’t be this close. This wasn’t where she belonged.

“…make a decision…” Maiko’s voice came through like she was underwater. She could barely hear anything. And just the words added pressure.

Then a hand touched her. She jumped and looked in the direction. “Did you make a decision?” Noriko stared confused. “Your order. They’re waiting.”

She looked up seeing the waiter standing next to them with a pad in hand. “Oh, right! Sorry.” Noriko pulled over the menu trying to remember what the restaurant even served. “Italian, right…” Staring at it for ten seconds wasn’t giving her anything. It should have just spoken to her or even in her stead.

In the end, she just went with a salad and some basic noodles with chicken. She was pretty certain that she had it before, but her mind was rather empty at the moment. The waiter gave her a brief moment of pause, but it didn’t change her panicking heart.

Each second she expected him to talk to her or ask about the other day. Any number of things she imagined would happen, but haven’t yet. It felt like it was just a matter of time. She kept her hands under the table to hide their fidgeting.

If anything she was getting some exercise.

A minute or two passed and Hiroyuki’s voice started to roll out, though in a weak fashion. “Shirane…?”

There was unfortunately enough awareness in her at the moment that she heard him. She quickly looked around and went for the first thing that she could. Taking her glass of water, she started to sip on it and turned to look over to Hiroyuki. “…mmm…?” Noriko made sure she had half of the water still in her mouth making it impossible to say anything.

“Nothing…” He turned away looking a little dejected. Part of Noriko felt a little guilty for that. But not guilty enough for the next time he tried. She shoved herself full of breadsticks, failing again to give him a clear answer. The third time she rammed enough lettuce from her salad to look like a head of vegetable.

Now she actually was starting to feel genuinely guilty even though panic was driving her actions. Her hands couldn’t even reach the steering wheel. It was on a mad course downhill. There wasn’t even a thought, just flee imprinted as the only command in her brain.

She had managed to successfully waste away lunch, though her stomach wasn't happy about the manner in which she did it. Afternoon would be miserable. But she had somehow gotten through it, evading him. She just needed to do it for the rest of the day.

Hiroyuki recently stepped away from the table. It meant Maiko pressed more aggressively on her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Tell him no and end it already!”

“I can’t do that, it’ll hurt his feelings!”

“You’re already doing that looking like a chipmunk.”

“But…yeah…”

“So say it!”

Noriko started to grumble in her waffling. Waffles sounded really good. She shook her head to focus. She needed to have some confidence like Maiko said. Chugging her ice cold water she immediately hit a bit of a brain freeze from the wave of cold. She jumped up a little holding her head only to be startled hearing Hiroyuki sitting down next to her.

In a reaction that she couldn’t even understand, her leg bolted out accidently kicking his chair. She gasped and panicked knowing something was wrong. “I’m sorry!” Her words came out before she even turned.

And to her surprise, she managed to completely remove the chair from under him while in motion to sit. Frankly an impressive magic trick to please the crowd. Though even more in awe was the trick Hiroyuki managed stoically holding a seated position at the table like he didn’t even need the chair. Her mistake hadn’t even broken his cool and collected demeanor. She didn’t know how he did. He looked even hotter.

Hiroyuki was actually sweating profusely under his shirt that no one saw. His arms were shaking, but glued to the table as his only balance while he prayed his coworkers would get the chair for him and stop looking on in awe.

It was Tomio that saved him, much to the dismay of Maiko and pleasure of Noriko. As he slid the chair back in place giving his friend a warm smile Maiko didn’t last long and was in nosebleed heaven with her friend. The sight was too much for their rotten hearts to hold in.

Decisions were lost in the depravity of delusions.