Ch 31: Lemonade & Strawberry Short Cake
It was bittersweet walking into that café. The same café that the five of them used to hang out at so often in their school years, sipping on their drinks and chatting about 5year's newest ventures or dreaming about becoming idols themselves.
The décor and menu had not changed, yet the overall atmosphere couldn't feel any different.
Minami stared at their usual table, picturing Juri, Akina, Saki, and Naoto all sitting there laughing as they waited for her to arrive – she'd typically be the last one to get there after all. However, as she got closer to the table, the others faded, leaving only an adult Naoto sitting by himself. Soon, even he would be gone.
She felt a pang in her heart as she placed her white bag on the empty chair next to him.
Giving a half smile, she waved, "Hey, it's been a while."
He looked up at her, his eyes wide. Naoto shoved his chair aside as he stood.
"Minami…." His gaze softened as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. Pulling her closer, he pressed his lips against hers and closed his eyes.
'Why is there so much warmth in the way he holds me and kisses me like this?' She wondered as she placed her hands on his cheeks and closed her eyes, returning his kiss.
'It's the last one we'll have, so I might as well enjoy it for old times sake, right?'
After some time, Minami reluctantly pulled away and sat down across from where he had been sitting. A wave of embarrassment suddenly overtaking her.
Luckily, there weren't many people in the café today and Akina hadn't arrived yet. Even still, she felt shy displaying so much affection in public.
Naoto also took his seat and slid a glass of lemonade towards her. He scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly, "I got this for you…or did you want strawberry today?"
Why couldn't he be THIS Naoto all the time….the Naoto that was sweet and thoughtful….that thought of her and gave her sweet kisses.
This was the Naoto she wanted….the Naoto she liked….that she had feelings for…..
She sighed as she sat down, a sadness sneaking it's way into her eyes.
"Thank you." Minami carefully picked up the glass which was slippery from condensation and took a sip.
"Strawberry…would've been better?" He asked defeated. The sadness in her eyes was evident, as was the tone of her voice when she thanked him. Something was up, although he wasn't sure what.
"No, this is good. I wanted plain today." It was better to have something sour to go with the sour feelings of today anyways.
"Oh…" Naoto ran his fingers through his sandy locks, which had grown out a bit since the last time she'd seen him, "So…what did you want to talk about?"
Minami sat in silence, sipping her drink as she stared at him. She wanted to remember this look on his face, she wanted to capture it in her memory forever. The look of the man she'd fallen for. This was the Naoto she wanted to remember.
"Minami….can you just spit it out? You're making me nervous." Naoto laughed nervously as he took a sip of his own drink.
She finally set her drink down and gulped hard. "Let me just see something really quick…"
He nodded as she pulled out her cellphone.
She checked her messages.
'What? Akina should've already been here by now….'
She glanced at Akina's last message.
[Akina] On my way!
She tapped on the screen, sending a message to Akina.
[Minami] Hey, where are you?
[Minami] Are you okay?
[Minami] Let me know when you're getting here.
[Minami] I hope you're okay.
It wasn't like Akina to not let her know if she got held up somewhere, or to just stand her up. She was starting to feel worried now.
"Is everything okay?" Naoto's asked, his eyebrows furrowed as he examined her expression.
"I think so. Can we just wait a second? Do you want to split a dessert in the meantime?"
Naoto nodded slowly, "Y-yeah..sure…strawberry short cake?"
Minami also nodded slowly, "S-sure…"
Not that she didn't like strawberry short cake, but that was typically Akina's choice and she'd never seen Naoto order it before.
'Wait….does he know that Akina is coming? Is that why he ordered it? Did they somehow have a conversation beforehand about her arrival? Is that why she wasn't coming?
She grabbed her phone as Naoto ordered the cake for them.
Still no messages from Akina.
[Minami] Akina, did you tell Naoto that you were coming today?
[Minami] Did he tell you not to come or something?
[Minami] I'm getting really concerned…
[Minami] Can you at least let me know if you aren't coming and if you're okay?
Naoto returned to the table and stared at Minami texting on her phone.
"Who are you texting so much?" He asked as he lifted himself a little higher to try and get a peek at her screen.
"I'm texting Akina."
"Oh, what are you chatting about?"
"I invited her to come be with us today."
Naoto looked irritated, "Aren't we….supposed to talk about us today…?"
Minami nodded, "Yes. I wanted Akina here though while we talked because I felt nervous about doing it alone….I just wanted to have someone of comfort here with me."
She awkwardly played with the hem of her teal skirt as Naoto huffed.
"Why would you invite her to listen to our private conversation?! Am I not enough of a comfort to you?! You should never have invited her!"
Minami bit her lip and furrowed her eyebrows, "It's just Akina. She's not going to care. You haven't been a comfort to me recently, no….that's why I want Akina here."
Naoto looked like he'd just been stabbed in the back, "What do you mean I'm not?! I don't want Akina here anyways! Tell her not to come! Tell her now!"
"She said she was on her way right before I got here, and she still hasn't arrived, and she's not answering my messages. So I think she's probably not coming anyways…" Minami responded with a sigh that was half disappointment and half frustration.
"I can't believe you'd do this to me Minami…." Naoto scoffed and shook his head as he leaned back in his chair.
The waitress brought the cake over, momentarily cutting the tension as both Minami and Naoto responded with a polite, "Thank you!"
They waited for her to leave before continuing their conversation.
"….Are you two in a fight or something?" Minami asked cautiously.
Naoto glared at her with a ferocity she'd never seen from him before.
"No! Why would you ask that?!"
Minami gulped. What was he so mad for?
"You just seem so upset about it…"
"Obviously I'm upset! My girlfriend invited a third wheel to our conversation without even talking to me about it. You two would've bombarded me! And don't pretend like you wouldn't've!"
Minami shrunk in her seat, "It wasn't that, it was just so she could be supportive and maybe mediate between us. I'm sorry for not telling you. I was scared you'd react like…well…kind of like this…"
Naoto huffed again, "You should really stop bringing outside people into our relationship."
Minami tilted her head, "What do you mean? I also wouldn't really consider Akina an outside person…she's been with us since we met. I planned on telling her that we'd been dating today too…but I think she'd be supportive of us."
Naoto laughed, "I'm sorry. Akina wouldn't have supported us at all. I can't believe you'd think that."
"Why wouldn't I believe that? Akina is supportive of everything I do! She's my best friend!"
Naoto continued laughing, "You should really rethink that and think about how close your friendship REALLY is."
"…What do you mean…?" She felt a pang in her heart. Could Akina have turned on her too just like Juri and Saki? Was she doing something that was causing this phenomenon of friends abandoning her out of the blue?
Naoto saw how her body suddenly tensed up. It probably wasn't noticeable to the normal person, but he knew her well enough to know the signs.
He sighed, "It's nothing. I just said it to make you mad. Sorry."
Minami's body relaxed as she exhaled sharply, "Okay. Maybe, we should just come back to this at a different time. Akina's not here and I feel like we're already off to a bad start…"
She hadn't even gotten to breaking up with him yet and he already had such a reaction to just the mention of Akina coming for emotional support.
"Fine. You can eat the rest of the cake. My appetite is ruined anyways. Next time we talk, don't invite Akina or anyone else."
Minami slowly nodded, "Okay, I won't." She watched as he got up and walked out of the café and slowly pushed the cake away. Her appetite had also been ruined.
Well, now that he was gone she could call Akina and see what was up.
She attempted, but there was no answer.
[Minami] Hey, Naoto left. I'm going to leave too. Let me know if everything is okay?