The Second Test

B-Break up with Rei-kun? W-wait, is he serious? Like completely stop hanging out with them and stuff? 

"Okay, well, you have some options here," Shuu followed up. But I wasn't sure if what he said was supposed to relieve me or if it was even further bad news.

 I asked him frantically, "W-what do you mean? What o-options?"

"Yeah, so, the options are either, break u- oh wait, the food is coming." He paused the conversation. 

"..." I waited for the waiter or waitress to bring me us food, so that we can continue the conversation. My heart is beating so fast and I'm starting to sweat. Break up with Rei-kun? No way... Seriously? I don't know if I can do that. I like being with them. There's a lot of people and they all like me as well... That... I don-

"Ah never mind, it was for another table." He gave me an obnoxious laugh. Him and his snarky smile. Damn him!

"SHUU, STOP PLAYING WITH ME!" He so knew it that I would be panicking hard when I had to hear that I have to break with Rei-kun.

Damn that guy.

"Tell me already!" I sweat even more as I grew anxious. 

"Okay, okay. The first option is, as I have said, you completely stop being friends with Rei-kun and the others. The reason being simply that they are a bad influence to you Ki-kun." Bad influence? H-How...?

"But," Shuu continued, "Miu knows she isn't in the place to decide who you should and shouldn't go out with. So, she was fine if you wanted to hang out with him and stuff, as long as you change a few bad habits that you had developed because of going out with him." 

O-okay... it's good news. I don't actually have to stop being friends with Rei-kun and the others. Thank you Miu... 

But still...

"What habits?" Bad habits that I developed because I hanged out with him? Like what?

"It's kind of a list in a list. The first of them, is... well... it has to do with that thing in your pocket?"

In my pocket? What IS in my pocket?

I placed my both my hands on each pocket, rubbing trying to find something. "My pocket? What do you me-" Before I could finish my sentence, I felt the answer myself. The pocket sized rectangular box I kept within my pockets. 

Ohhh, she means those habits... That might be a bit of a problem, but I can understand what her intentions are. And it's still better than simply cutting ties with Rei-kun. I guess those are bad habits.

Shuu continues, "This sublist also includes stop drinking too much, stop hanging out everyday and stop going out until it's late."

So, in total four things that I have to change. That doesn't sound much, but some of the things on the list are harder to avoid. 

Damn. Actually, I don't know if some of those things are possible to avoid when I am going out with Rei-kun. Alone, at home, yeah, I guess, but I bet he's going to think I'm lame and not the same type of person as him if I don't do some of those stuff. Then he might think I'm weird and stuff. 

Yeah, this might be a bit of a problem. But I guess, it's doable? I really rather not...

"Oh look, our food is coming."

He was right. One of Shuu's coworker came bringing our food. "Let's eat!" Though my mind was still busy questioning the list he just mentioned. 

I mean I guess I have to do it. For Miu. 

But this might cost me my friendship with Rei-kun. But it might not as well I guess. Well, it's not like I have a choice at this point. I HAVE to follow the list. 

But still... I really hope it doesn't break our friendship. Wait... I wonder... what if I just lie to him and say I've stopped those things? I mean, there's no way he would know if I stopped or not. I don't do it when he's around. And he doesn't go to the same school  as I do. 

"By the way Shuu, how are you going to know if you I've stopped doing those stuff or not?"  I mean I guess I have to try hiding them a bit, but that's not that hard. 

"As I've said. I have my ways Ki-kun. You should be careful what you do. But I do place my trust on you, Ki-kun." 

Right he said that before. Shuu's a good friend, I don't want to deceive him. But I'm in a complicated situation. How would he know? Maybe he's just bluffing? 

Ah, thinking about it all is starting to make my head hurt. I'll just do what I can for now. Some of them should be pretty simple enough.

"Enough of the whole list things talk, it's been a while since we hung out, huh, Ki-kun?"

This again? He asked me the same question yesterday. Miu also asked me something similar that day. But yeah, I guess it's been a while.

"Yeah, I guess, huh."

"Man, a lot has changed." 

"Yeah, sure did." 

"I got a girlfriend by the way."

"PFFTTT!" I choked on the ramen soup.

"SHUU WHAT?!"

"Yeah..." Shuu spoke in a sheepish manner. This might be the first time I see him actually embarassed. 

"Shuu! Wait, with who? Is she someone I know?" I immediately asked him.

"No, she's someone from my school."

"No way..."

"Yeah, I wouldn't believe me as well if I were you..."

Woah, this is weird. Really weird. I never get this bittersweet feeling from Shuu. He's usually so optimistic and chill and nonchalant. But now he's actually all bashful and stuff. You don't see that everyday. 

"Wow, Shuu, I'm happy for you. Does that mean you're not hitting on Miu anymore?"

"C'mon Ki-kun. I've given up on her since she chose you. She's yours. We're simply really close friends." 

"Wow..." 

We continued chatting and catching up on things as we ate. He told me about his girlfriend and how he end up working here. For a moment I've forgotten all the problems I have with Miu's list and all. With Rei-kun and the others I couldn't even shake the thought off completely.

Shuu making jokes every now and then. He would play with his co workers sometimes. It's so dumb. But it's nice. 

The food here is really delicious. This is probably why Hamasaki was able to find about this restaurant. It's a shame they didn't have the chance to try it out. 

After lunch we simply walked around and spent the entire day together. It was not even a whole year since we last hung out, but apparently there was a lot that we had to catch up on. And before we know it it was time for dinner. We ate at another restaurant Shuu recommended and afterwards each of us went back home.

"Once a Shuu, always a show Shuu." I joked with myself as I walked back home.

For a moment it was refreshing. Like my mind and body feels so loose and I had no worries. But after a while of walking the feeling subsides, reality snap backs and once again I began to think about the problem at hand. Specifically the current test I have to face. Which made me think about Rei-kun. 

Ah, I forgot, just earlier today we had a small fight. I hope he's not mad at me anymore. I'll chat the group to explain everything and apologize. I hope they understand. 

I took out my phone from my pocket and I opened our group chat. However, one message was already awaiting for me.

"You've been kicked from the group."