Expectations

"So, where are you taking me?" Samantha asks.

"Tokyo Skytree. They have a nice place on the 345th floor."

"A Starbucks would have been enough, you know."

Kei chuckles. "The view from up there beats any Starbucks, any day." He smirks.

They finally reach the Skytree and they are greeted at the entrance by two employees.

"Welcome, Mr Ichihara."

They are then escorted to the 345th floor and shown to a table. The view is amazing, Sam can't argue that. All of Tokyo sits way below them and extends to the horizon. Kei grins at her reaction.

"Still prefer Starbucks?" Sam rolls her eyes, which makes his grin even bigger.

"I haven't had a proper breakfast." Kei admits, remembering Hana's tasteless comments. "I'm ordering something to eat. Please, feel free to order whatever you want."

The waitress brings their orders after a few minutes. When she places the food in front of Kei, she lets her eyes linger on him a bit too long.

'Some things never change.' Sam rolls her eyes. She sips her hot coffee while enjoying the breathtaking view of Tokyo.

"So are you going to tell me who upset you earlier?" Sam eyes him for a few seconds. He will not drop it until she tells him.

She sighs. "One of the students hit on me."

"What?" Kei's coffee cup slams on the saucer and some of it is spelled on the table.

"Nothing I can't handle," Sam says calmly.

"What is his name?"

"Excuse me?"

"I said what's his name?" His voice is grave and low.

"Why?"

"I will have him expelled by the end of the day."

Sam is starting to get aggravated by his attitude. "Why do you even care?" She studies his face for the answer, but all she finds is confusion.

Kei opens his mouth to answer, but nothing comes out. 'She's right, why do I care?' He doesn't know what to say.

He shouldn't feel this worked up over this. Yes, Sam is his childhood friend. Yes, she is his ex-girlfriend. But that was a long time ago, and things didn't end well between them. He should not feel this way.

"I am sorry." Is all he can say.

Disappointment envelops Sam's heart for some reason. She doesn't even know what she has expected. A better answer, maybe? One that hints that Kei once cared for her. She scoffs. 'Who am I kidding?'

"I shouldn't have come." She pushes to her feet. "Thank you for the coffee." Kei stands and watches her back disappear without uttering a word.

'Shit.'

It takes him a moment to come to his senses and run after Sam. He barely makes it to the elevator as the doors are closing, he blocks them with his arm.

"Let me give you a ride back. Please."

Sam is about to decline when she notices that she doesn't have her purse or her phone with her. She left everything in her classroom.

"Fine." She answers.

They walk to the car silently, both cursing themselves for their behavior. Kei is still confused by his reaction. It has been thirteen years, he should not have acted the way he did.

Sam, on the other hand, knew exactly why she felt disappointed. She expected something that was not there. She knew she should have refused his invitation from the start. Nothing good will come from opening old wounds, and there are so many between them.

"Where are you staying?" Kei asks as he turns on the ignition.

"The Sakura."

"Oh, okay."

Sam is silent for a moment as Kei drives through the crowded streets of Tokyo.

"I met your wife." The words escape her mouth like birds out of a cage.

Kei is astounded. He can't think of any situation where Sam and Hana could be in the same room even. "Oh yeah?" He tries to hide his surprise.

"She invited me to your birthday party."

This time, Kei can't hide his shock. He turns to Sam and stares at her for a while. 'Hana knows the relationship Sam and I had. Why would she invite her?' He thinks about it for a moment.

"You should come."

"I should?"

"Yeah, Mom is going to be there."

"That's exactly what your wife said."

Kei presses his lips together. He stops the car in front of the hotel entrance and faces Sam.

"You should really come, Sam. I think everybody would enjoy seeing you."

Sam eyes him for a bit. 'Why would he invite me?'

"Thank you for the coffee... and the ride." Sam gets out of the car and Kei follows.

"You don't have to walk me in."

"Actually, I have something to take care of here."

"Oh, okay." They walk into the lobby together, the whole energy of the place immediately changes. Employees start rushing around as they bow to Kei. "It seems that you are a famous man in Tokyo." Sam raises her brows.

Kei grins.

"Sam." Ed rushes to them. "Thank God, you're okay."

"I'm sorry, I left in a hurry."

"You didn't even take your phone with you. I was freaking out."

"Yeah, I'm so sorry," Sam apologizes with a grimace.

Kei studies the man up and down. 'Who the hell is this?' He can't help but feel a bit bitter.

"Oh, sorry. Kei, this is Ed, my agent. Ed this is Kei…" She pauses for a second, thinking about how to introduce him. "He is a childhood friend."

Kei looks at her, but doesn't say anything. Her introduction stings a little.

"Nice to meet you, Ed." He shakes his hand. "You must have your hands full with this one." They both laugh.

"You have no idea."

"You should come with Sam on Thursday, we're having a party." Kei meets Sam's eyes. "If you decide to come of course."

"Thank you." Ed smiles.

"Alright, see you." Sam pulls Ed by the arm and heads to the elevator.

"It was nice to meet you, Ed." Kei calls.

"Likewise, Kei."

"Are you done bonding?" Sam crosses her arms once the elevator doors close.

"He is hot. Any chance he is gay?"

"Sorry, he is married... to a woman."

"I see, that's too bad."

"Yeah," Sam doesn't even realize that she said something. Ed doesn't comment, but he notices the look on her face, he has never seen it before.

"So, how was your first day?" He asks when they enter her room.

"I like teaching." She answers, ignoring the discomfort she felt when Denji was making advances at her. She crashes on the couch.

"That's great. Do you want to order some food?"

"Yes please, I'm starving."

Ed picks up the phone to call the front desk but he hears knocking on the door. He rushes to open it.

"Good evening sir, you have been upgraded to the presidential suite as a guest of CEO Ichihara."

Ed looks back at Sam who just shrugs at him. "Thank you?"

"Do you need help moving your luggage there?"

"Yes, please." Three people enter the room and start packing everything.

"This is for Ms Martin." The manager hands a business card to Ed with Kei Ichihara on it.

"Can I have a childhood friend like yours?" Ed jokes.

"Trust me, you don't want Kei Ichihara in your life," Sam says.

Ed notices that she has the same expression as before. He is sure that the two have some history, but looking at Sam's face, he is not brave enough to ask her about it.