Friends For a Day

“G-Gen?” Losing their attitude again, Tara stuttered. They hadn’t planned on seeing him again so soon.

“Don’t get so excited. I’m on a job. Miyano-San sent me.”

“What kinda job could you possibly have to do here?” Frankie laid her cheek in her hand, scowling at the man.

“I assure you, I am not lying. My employer has given me the task of ending this… thing we have going on here.”

“W-what thing?” Tala was overwhelmed already.

“You.” Flustered, he insulted the old friend. “You’re the “thing.” And I came to… I came to resolve it.”

“Resolve…? What, are you gonna… kill me?”

“Not like that.” He begrudgingly took a seat alongside the tourists, finally noticing the kid at the table. He decided to brush that off for now. “I just need to put an end to… this.”

“Still bein’ vague.” Frankie pushed, no longer intimidated by the shy salaryman.

“I can’t have you distracting me anymore. I can’t be worried about seeing you around when I should be focused on my job. I need to get you out of my life. I thought… one final talk ought to do the trick.”

Tala looked down at their legs. That wasn’t what they wanted, but…

“Just a talk…?” They uttered.

“That’s all.” He firmly stated.

Tala’s eyes drifted across the table longingly.

“If I… promised… never to interact with you again… then… would you consider something else?”

“…Like what?” Privy to negotiations, Ishida listened.

“Could you maybe… go on this next ride with us?”

Gen examined the backs of his hands. He didn’t want to spend more time with them than necessary, but if it meant putting this away for good…

“You promise.”

“I swear, man. …I swear.”

Genkei’s brow furrowed. He didn’t like it… but as a businessman, it didn’t make sense to reject such a good deal.

“…I accept.” He half-whispered.