Sukiya

“Ken, look at this amazing beef bowl set, it looks so good!” Mio shoved the Sukiya menu in my face and pointed to the lunch special.” Tell me what you think lieutenant , should I order this? It looks so freaking good!”

“Yes,yes, very good idea capitan, I think we should order should we not capitan?” I quickly look at the other menu Items. “ Is everyone else ready to order? Me and Mio are going with the beef bowl set with Miso soup.” Akane went with Beef and curry rice while Ai chose the salmon set. We placed our orders and waited for the food. “ I wish we all went to the same school but the entrance exam is probably too hard for you Mio.”

“If you passed then I shouldn’t have any trouble at all, let’s face it Ken we’re about the same in terms of intelligence.” A waiter set down our trays and a cup of water for each of us then placed a napkin with four forks in the center of the table before bowing and walking away.” Yay I was starving time to dig in.” Mio grabbed her fork and almost started eating.

“ Wait um I have a request, this may sound weird but can I pray for all of us first?” Ai started fiddling with her hair.

“ Pray for us please.” Mio grabbed Ai’s hand and closed her eyes, me and Akane placed our hands on top of Mio’s and closed our eyes also.

“ Don’t expect anything special. O Gracious God, we give you thanks for your overflowing generosity to us. Thank you for the blessings of the food we eat and especially for this feast today amen.” I felt the words sink right into my soul.

“ Amen… Now shall we eat?” That just slipped out why’d I say amen I'm not even religious.

“ So it’s hitting you too Ken?” Mio put down her fork and looked around at my and Akane's faces I guess trying to read our reactions to the prayer. “ Ever since church I’ve been drawn into the idea of christianity,I guess it’s on your mind too since you said amen?” Mio looked over at Akane who was shaking her head in agreement to what Mio just said.” Should we also join the church? It seems like the message really left its mark on all of us.”

“ I’d love it if you all joined the church… Oh but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.” Ai picked up her piece of salmon and cut it with the fork she then mixed it into the rice. “ Time to eat.” Ai started eating her vegetables and seaweed. Then we all started to eat our food with a somber mood in the air. “ Come on guys I think you should just come with me to church for a couple of weeks then you’ll know if you want to join the church or not. You’re thinking too hard just enjoy your food.” Ai set down the bowl of the veggies she just finished and started drinking

her water.

“ She’s right, let's just enjoy the meal!” Mio started to drink her miso soup. I pick up my fork and start eating my beef bowl. Akane started to eat her curry very quickly. “ Wow Akane you sure can eat fast haha, but I can eat even faster!” Mio started eating her beef bowl as fast as she could. She constantly shoved the food into her mouth but she couldn’t finish it faster than Akane who didn’t seem to be competing with her. “ I lost? no way very impressive master.”

“ Master? No, I just ate like I do at home. It wasn't anything impressive. My mom eats way faster than me anyway.” Akane seemed nervous about becoming Mio’s senpai. Akane looked over at me pleadingly.

“ That was like two minutes. I can eat the beef bowl in about a minute. Watch me, Captain Mio.” Mio took out her phone.

“ Hold on, I’ll time it if it’s more than a minute you have to pay for everyone’s meal.”

“ Fine, but if it’s less than or equal to a minute you have to pay for everyone’s meal.” Mio chuckled.

“ You’ve got a deal.” Mio pulled up the stopwatch on her phone and gave me a countdown from three. “ Three. Two. One. GO!” I start shoving the beef bowland miso soup down my throat. The miso soup makes my throat warm but also makes the beef go down easier. I get about half way through my food when the stopwatch goes off.

“ Dang it, I don't think anyone could finish that in a minute.”I put down my bowl and took a long sip of my water.

“ Pay up Ken, A real man doesn't go back on his word…Right?” Mio laughed and finished her water. “ Is everyone ready to go? Remember Ken’s paying.” Mio laughed even harder.

“” We’re ready, how about you Ken ready to pay.”Akane and Ai sound really smug right now. We walk over to the cashier and I pass him my card.

“ Yay, Ken's paying, not me how’s it feel to be a loser hahaha.” Mio seems really happy about me paying and losing the contest.

“ Excuse me um aren’t you the models in this magazine the one’s dressed like samurai?” We all smiled at her. She had long waist length hair, emerald green eyes and gloss black glasses.

“ Really you recognize us wow would you like a picture or an autograph?”

“ Yes I would love a picture if you wouldn’t mind oh by the way I’m Hikari Yuzawa.” She pulls out her phone.” Um, do I have to pay for a photo?”

“ No way it’s fun taking pictures with fans, this is the first time I've been approached for a photo so it makes me really happy that you want to take a photo with us.”

“ Okay then can you all move closer together?” She takes a few photos then puts her phone in her pocket.

“ Aren’t you going to be in one Hikari?” Hikari looks up and smiles. She walks up to us and gets in the middle. We all make the peace sign then she snaps three photos. “ Thank you very much.”

“ No thank you for letting me take the photos. Well I wish you all success with your careers good luck.” She walks away and I finish paying for the meal.

“ This was a fun day but my parents are here to pick me up so I’ll see you later.” Ai walks to her mom’s car and drives off.

“ My house is in the other direction so I’ll see you around.” Mio walked away.

“ Ken, will you walk with me?” Akane looks up at me.

“ Yeah I’d love to walk with you.” Akane smiles and starts walking beside me.

“ I had a lot of fun today! Church, Sukiya. It was all so much fun. I hope we can do it again.” Her smile is so bright it makes my heart flutter.

“ Yeah I agree maybe we should join the church.”

“ I agree everyone seems onboard with the idea too.” We reach the station and get on the train. After about five minutes Akane falls asleep on my shoulder. I’ll let her sleep until we get to the station. I smile and yawn. When we reach the station she snaps awake.

“ Hello, you finally woke up.” I walk her to her house.

“ It was fun, I'll see you later Ken.”

“ See you.” Akane walked into her house and closed the door. I walked back to my house and flopped down on my bed. “ Yeah it was lots of fun.” I Smile and fall asleep.