Hirano & Decisions: Part Two

The other woman, Leon’s wife Shoko, placed a towel on Katsumi's head with a motherly smile. The boy with the towel on his head sat at the counter next to Kaede. Opposite of them was Leon and Shoko

Leon looked down at her and said, “Thank you Shoko dear. Could you please get this young man something hot to drink as well?”

“Mm, of course,” She responded.

“Oh, no, you don’t have to.” Katsumi tried to argue.

“I insist, it’s on the house.”

Katsumi couldn’t deny this kind of hospitality even if he wanted to.

Kaede rested her head on her hand while smiling at Katsumi. She seemed to be waiting for him to make the first move and tell her why he came.

Shoko came back with a black coffee and set it in front of Katsumi.

“Thank you.”

She gave him a loving look in response, one that a mom would give their sick son when taking care of him.

He stared at the steam rising from the cup, dissipating shortly after rising.

Katsumi seemed to have won the game of who was going to make the first move, as Kaede took out her smartphone. She tapped on it a few times and turned the screen towards him.

He blankly stared at the screen for a second then asked. “W-what’s this?”

On the screen was a text conversation between her and Mayumi.

Mayumi: Can we meet up later today? I need some advice.
↳Reply: Sure, I’d be happy to. But may I ask what this is about?
Mayumi: Do you remember that boy at Leon’s cafe?
↳Reply: Yeah. Katsumi, right?
Mayumi: Yes… Murakami...
↳Reply: Having a lovers quarrel?
Mayumi: No.
↳Reply: Then what’s it about?
Mayumi: Be serious Hirano… Well it was sort of like that. I mean we did get into a bad fight. We talked a little bit about it afterwards but nothing was fixed. I don’t know how to approach or start talking to him again, because there’s still a lot we need to go through.
↳Reply: I talked with him before too, I think it was after you’re argument. I’d be happy to give you some advice.
Mayumi: What!? What did you say to him!?

That was all the text that was visible on the screen.

Kaede added, “It’s been about a week since I’ve seen you. Have you two not fixed things?”

“No…” Katsumi said softly. “She’s barely said a word to me since. What she said was she needed more time, so I’m not going to push it.”

Kaede laughed to herself a little. “Unless you make the first move to talk to her I don’t think you’ll ever reconnect. That’s what she’s like.”

“But we never had a connection in the first place. There’s nothing to work off.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” She replied with a sigh.

Katsumi gave her a confused look.

“What about your trip to Tokyo?”

“Ehh? What? How’d you know about that!?” Katsumi’s face turned a faint shade of red.

“Mayumi told me about it a few days after it happened.” Kaede smirked.

Katsumi looked down into his cup of coffee silently. A dozen seconds passed in silence before he spoke up.

“I-I had a similar talk like this with a friend… I already made my decision…”

“And what’s that?”

“I want to make amends. I’m just… scared. Scared of hurting her again like I did that night.”

Kaede reached out a hand and set it on Katsumi’s head, patting it a few times. “You’re making a great choice.”

Katsumi quickly pushed away her hand. “D-don’t do that.”

“You’re turning so red,” Kaede said with a laugh.

“Shut up.”

Kaede rested her head back on her hand and gave a warm smile. “Katsumi.”

The boy raised an eyebrow and made eye contact without turning his head.

“Even though this is about Arata, don’t forget about yourself. It’s important to realize what this would mean to you.”

Katsumi opened his mouth, about to speak, but shut it.

“No problem,” Kaede said.

“Were you expecting me to say thank you?”

“You were going to though, correct?”

“I think you don’t deserve it anymore for being so cocky.”

Roughly ten minutes passed and Katsumi was gone. A few customers remained and Shoko was serving them.

Leon stood behind the counter looking at Kaede. “It sounded like you were giving some actual good advice earlier.”

Kaede grinned. “There’s something about that kid… He got me to care.”

“Why’s that?”

“...I think it’s because I don’t want to see him make the same mistakes I did when I was his age. A lot of people will tell you to move on after something like this. These moments in your life where someone comes and goes doesn’t matter, they say.”

She turned her head towards the window that was being battered by the rain. “But I believe they matter… This time in your life is the most important part, the connections you make and the people you meet will define you, They’ll dictate how you’ll think and act… It sticks with you.”

“I think you’re just trying to sound cool, Kaede.”

“Maybe.”