Red Faces and Off the Rails

I take a sip from my huge glass of cold beer, it feels so refreshing in this heat. Tomori shortly does too, surprisingly this is the first time that I've ever actually drunk with someone.

Then I eat the food as quickly as I can because for some reason it feels awkward just eating with someone in silence, and I don't want the noodles to get soggy, and I want to devour that beer.

I finished it, still tastes good like years ago.

I devour the beer until it's only about a quarter left, it tastes good.

"I want to stay here forever." My head starts getting fuzzy.

She sips the beer, "Why? I thought you had everything in the city."

"I don't know either."

What about your band?"

"Yeah, what about my band? I still want to be with them."

"Do you have a problem in your home?"

"My mom doesn't like me being in a band, I'm tired of hearing her saying that I should get a real job instead of jamming with my friends. That's why I ran away here. It's like she doesn't appreciate what I do, it's not like I'm not making m money, I do make money, not much but I make enough for me to live." I drink all that's left in the glass, "I wish she would just appreciate me for what I am. She doesn't even listen to our music and see our growth, all she knows is that I don't have a real job."

"Maybe try living on your own if you don't like her."

"Ah, actually yeah that's a good idea, but I also like the quietness of this place though."

"You can always go here, I'm sure granny likes it."

"Yeah, I'd think about it when I get sober."

"Off topic, but have you ever fallen in love?"

"No, I don't know why, just the thought never passes through my mind, at least for men, but for women maybe borderline, I don't know either."

"For some reason, I still have a crush on someone from when I was still in high school, we haven't met for a long time but I still want to meet the person, I just think that there's no other one that is the same, because I guess the memories are still very strong that it still holds on until today."

"You know, our vocalist Ruru also had a similar experience back then, when she still couldn't move on from her high school days and her crush back then, she wrote a song about it and it's wonderful, let me show you." I play the song on my phone and then I give it to Tomori, "Here, listen to this, it's called 'Last Summer Voice', it's gorgeous."

We played it out loud, without caring that there are other people in this place, I think everyone should hear it because it's one of the greatest of all time.

Tomori is soaking in the music, I think she feels it because even though I never have experienced something like it, I can feel it too.

Towards the end of the song, tears start dropping from Tomori's eyes to my phone screen.

"Tomori, are you okay?"

"She just like me for real!" Her shout echoes through the room. "I'm just glad that I can be with her back then, and now to spending time with her again, it's something that I should be really grateful for, right?" She cries harder, and I don't know what is she talking about anymore, she's too far gone. "I think I'll hate myself forever if I don't say this right now, I know it's probably not a big deal for you, but thank you for being with me."

"W-well, no biggie."

She stops crying and just looks down at the table, she just sits like that for a full minute and I am just sitting there watching her in silence, until she breaks the ice, "Olivia, I love you."

"Do you want some water?"

"No, I actually mean it."

"Why?"

"I don't know if I just interpreted my feelings wrong, or is this love? I always waited for the holiday so I could play and hang out with you when we were teens, and when you suddenly did not come here, I was concerned, I was sad, and I missed you. It's not like I don't have any other friends, but spending time with you is the memory that I cherished the most, I don't know why either, love is weird, humans are weird."

"I'm sorry, let's get closer and chat more from now on."

"Yeah."

I hope the owner is okay with us causing a ruckus like this.