Rainy Days

Honey Ito ran as if the devil was chasing her. She clutched her workbag, careful not to spill it. She evaded the people in her way like an Olympic runner in an obstacle course. The people around her were either staring at her like a lunatic or whispering harsh words about her.

Honey did not care what these people were thinking. All that was in her mind was her goal- THE NEWLY OPENED BOOKSTORE!

Seeing the large new modern building, Honey's fast stride became comically insane. As one man exited the shiny new door of her destination, Honey shouted, "Hold the door!"

The man jumped in surprise before he froze with his arms opening the handle. With a blur, Honey entered the building, passing the man and bumping him into the door, while panting like a hyena.

Honey mentally congratulating herself for reaching the bookstore before closing hours!

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but we are closing," a kind-looking woman wearing a pretty white blouse and black skirt with a nametag said.

Honey wilted, her world crumbling. Her back hunched, her eyes lowered at the ground, and her hands tightened the grip of her bag.

"Can I just see the newly released section?" Honey begged. She silently cursed her boss for making her work overtime. Honey noted to herself to buy a voodoo doll so she can put her boss into the same misery as she is feeling right now.

If only this lady will let her buy even just one book! She had no new books left to read in her apartment! Some have even been reread a couple of times. Honey was desperate to have another baby to read for the night! She had been looking forward to acquiring a new book for weeks now!

"I am sorry, ma'am. Why don't you come back tomorrow? We still have the same discount as today, so there is no worry."

Honey felt all hope drain from her soul. She almost let out a sob.

She was about to beg again when suddenly she heard a loud chuckle behind her.

Honey turned in curiosity, why was this man laughing? She was desperate here! Can't he be a bit considerate to a woman in need?!

When her eyes saw the man, her body felt like it became stone. Her eyes widen the biggest it can possibly be.

NO WAY!

"Watanabe Senpai?"

She almost choked on her saliva when she opened her mouth to speak.

Kai Watanabe still had his hand on the door handle. His lips tilted up as he nodded to her direction in acknowledgment. He gestured for Honey to go out of the store with him.

The hesitation in Honey's body language was very obvious. His mirth grew.

Kai raised the brown paper bag in his hands and shook it in front of Honey's face as he said, "I have a lot of books. I am willing to part ways with one."

Kai's smile grew wider as Honey did not hesitate to nod. He felt as if he was dangling a treat in front of a dog. She never changed after all these years, huh? Still such a bookworm.

The lady that stopped Honey waved goodbye and closed the main door as they went out of the bookstore. Honey followed after Kai like a dog to his owner with its eyes on the prize, in Honey's case, on the brown paper bag filled with books.

Kai's grip on the paper bag tightened. He never dreamt that this day would come. Another chance was given to him, and this time he will not fail to meet expectations.

Honey only stopped when Kai began to open the door of the passenger's side of his black automobile. She stared at the matte car with open mouth wonder. Back at College, Kai had been only a scholarship student with multiple part-time jobs to support himself.

Honey felt a bit insecure at herself. She was just an ordinary office worker with an average wage, and in this city, she couldn't even afford to buy a car.

Kai tapped her shoulder and said, "Come now, I don't bite."

Honey rolled her eyes, "Senpai, you promised me one book."

Kai chuckled, "Dinner first."

"But I-"

"Do you still like Italian food? I know a place that you'd like in Ginza. You wanted to eat in a Michelin Restaurant, didn't you? My treat!" Kai smiled, his hands continued to gesture for her to go inside the car.

Honey realized how hungry she was after all that running she had done before, but her hesitation left her standing on the spot unmoving. Her eyes meet with his, "Why?"

"You used to treat me to snacks in University. I still haven't repaid you for that." Kai quipped, cheerily gesturing for her to go inside the car again.

"Senpai, I wasn't trying to buy food for you. I just couldn't finish the cafeteria food, their portions are large, and I needed to diet at that time." She blushed at her admission.

Honey was very chubby when she was in Uni, so she had to watch what she was eating. It just so happen that when Honey was with Kai, after their common class together, he was always ready to eat what she couldn't finish.

"It was still something that I was thankful for you," Kai said.

After a few moments of hesitation, Kai took his hands off the door handle and got one blue hardcover book. Honey's eyes followed the book. She hungered to get her hands on that book for months now. Honey had once debated to purchase it online, but she had always loved shopping for books, so she had waited.

"They have new English released books..." Honey murmured in admiration. It was hard to find English books in Japan; most of them are often only available online!

Hands reaching out for the book, Honey thirsted for that book. With annoying precision, Kai held the book above his head while his other hand gestured for her to go inside the car.

"Dinner first," Kai said.

Honey pouted.

"I'll give you the book, feed you expensive food, and even send you home," Kai added more to his offer.

Honey's pout worsened, "Senpai, if I don't know you, that sounded as if you have ulterior motives."

Kai stilled, but he just smiled at her while gesturing towards the inside of his car.

FOR THE BOOK!

Honey slowly climbed into the passenger seat. As she turned to the driver's side, watching Kai buckle his seatbelt, Honey's mind was occupied with thoughts of the book that he had baited her with.

Reaching for the passenger seatbelt, Kai made her cheeks reddened as he strapped her without hesitation. Without hesitation, Kai laid the book she wanted in her lap, as gentle as the way he smiled at her while doing so.

In University, he was always kind to her.

Honey placed her clenched hands beside her in awkwardness, trying to calm her frantic heart.

Now, he was still just as kind. If not more, probably.

Honey watched as they passed the front of the bookstore; she never thought that they'd meet again and at a bookstore too.

They had also first met in a bookstore twelve years ago too.

What a coincidence.