005

After spending a good amount of time trying to look for a place where we could talk, we ended up looking for a cafe with how lively the streets were during the night.

"I'm surprised there's a lot of people here at this hour," I whispered beneath my breath while observing the people that walked by. There were those who wore suits, looking either exhausted from a long day of work or dreading their eventual time at their night shifts.

Of course there were also the group of friends looking for a fun night out and the couples that held each other in their arms. One of them had to be Katsuo but I didn't have the care in the world to look for him.

"Really? This is usually the busiest time of the night though." Akibara-san pointed out while looking down at her phone, showing me that the time was currently 7:20 PM.

"Well, I can't really know that since the library closes at 6 so I'm already asleep or busy studying by this time." I shrugged and ignored the horrified look on her face.

"What kind of life have you been living?"

It was fairly normal though. I'd have spent my time at the University, taking care of my necessary classes before spending the remaining time in the library to either read books or do my part time job.

I walked into the café with Akibara-san , by my side. The air was filled with the smell of freshly brewed coffee, and the soft hum of conversation buzzed in my ears. The café was cozy, with warm lighting that made everything seem inviting. I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me as I took a deep breath in.

Just like she had said, the café was starting to fill up with people. They were mostly young couples, chatting and laughing over their cups of coffee. The atmosphere was lively, but not too loud, which made it perfect for us to talk without having to raise our voices.

We took a seat in a quiet corner of the café, away from the crowds. Akibara-san soon opened the plastic bag that held our food and slowly placed the four orders of Takoyaki on the table.

"Hmm, are you planning to eat the bulk of it?" I asked her while staring at the rather large sizes of Takoyakis and each order held four pieces making a grand total of 16.

"Of course, you're a man so that much is easy for you." She answered so confidently that I didn't know if I should be offended or not.

I glanced around, taking in the details of the place. The café was decorated with traditional Japanese elements, like a wooden floor and a low table. The walls were adorned with pictures of scenic landscapes and cherry blossoms, which added to the calming ambiance of the place.

"Alright, let's each try two of the different flavors and tell what we think of them okay?" Akibara-san then snapped me out of my thoughts and waved one of the Takoyakis in front of my eyes.

The deluxe order offered four different versions; The original, a spicy one, another with cheese, and last but not the least was the special curry version. I couldn't fathom what that could taste like so I prompted on tasting the original and spicy one.

"Tch, you're no fun. But thanks for taking the spicy one." She replied when I told her of my decision and handed me the original one first.

Appearance wise, it was a simple ball.

As I take a bite into this classic Takoyaki, I could immediately imagine that I was transported to the bustling streets of Osaka.

"It's great, " I started once I finished chewing, "The crispy outer layer gives way to a hot and gooey center, filled with tender chunks of octopus. The savory, umami flavor is perfectly balanced by the tangy-sweet sauce and a sprinkle of bonito flakes. "

Akibara-san nodded eagerly before eating one herself, "You're right. It feels like an old friend just came up to me and said hello. "

She then picked up one of the cheese flavored ones that was topped with a generous amount of shredded cheese to set it apart from the rest.

I carefully watched her pop it inside her mouth and waited for her verdict which didn't take long.

I mean, how long do you need to chew a Takoyaki.

"This Takoyaki is great too. The crispy outside gives way to a warm, melted cheese center that oozes with every bite. The saltiness of the cheese is complemented by the briny octopus and the tangy sauce. It's a rich and indulgent flavor, like a luxurious dessert. " She mumbled in finesse and looked at me as if she had just triumphed over a long, harsh battle.

"Hmm, you're right. It's like a decadent treat." I whispered and wasted no time in grabbing the red ball of dough she was offering me.

The heat hits me immediately, but it's not just a one-note spice.

"Let's see... There's a complexity to the flavor, with a hint of smokiness and a touch of sweetness. The octopus adds a meaty texture that contrasts with the soft batter. " I gave her my findings which wasn't that great, it was simply a Takoyaki with some extra spices after all.

"I'll take your word for it Najisai-san."

"Hmm? You aren't gonna try one?"

"Nope, me and spiciness don't go along well." She tenderly shook her head before greedily chomping on the last Takoyaki of the night, the special curry one.

At first her face warped into a strange, sour look but soon relaxed and almost seemed like she was humming to herself.

"The curry spices are rich and complex, with notes of cumin and coriander. The tender octopus is bathed in a velvety curry sauce, creating a burst of flavor in every bite. The crispy batter adds a satisfying crunch that balances out the creaminess of the curry. " Akibara-san softly reported and pushed one of the curry flavored ones to my mouth without warning.

"Hey!" I complained and snatched the toothpick that she used from her hands before chewing on the food she gave.

She was right, the flavors were definitely exotic but harmonious with each other. It felt like my taste buds were traveling to a different world.

"Well, these are all certainly tasty." I said without a doubt to which she agreed.

"Yes, it was definitely worth coming here for the food. "

I nodded to her words as well, if there was one thing that made things a hundred times better then that would be great food.

"So Najisai-san, how have you been since I graduated?"

I looked over at Akibara-san, who was sipping on her green tea, and I felt a sense of camaraderie between us. We may have been rivals, but maybe I could also consider us as friends, and it felt good to share this moment together.

"Hmm, you already know that I had to stay back one year to finish all of my studies right?"

"Of course I do, unlike you who ignored my existence I actually paid attention to my rival."

"Sorry, at least I did some of the stuff you asked me to do with you didn't I?" I winced at her glare but there wasn't really anything I could do, I only liked studying back then and I didn't even know her name.

"Wow, you are just making it seem like I should be grateful you graced me with your pity party aren't you."

Well, she's not wrong.

"But ignoring that, I am referring to your day to day life. It must have been lonely without me and Katsuo."

She isn't entirely wrong there either, I only noticed that I was truly alone when Katsuo stopped begging me to let him crash in for the night as he got caught banging a girl at campus or when Akibara-san stopped nagging me about how she was gonna beat me someday.

"On the contrary, I enjoyed the silence and most of my projects got finished quickly."

"Wow, rude. You could have just said kind of to give us some faces."

It wasn't a total lie though but then again it wasn't the total truth either.

"Did you stay in contact with any of our other classmates?" I asked.

"Hmm? You're curious about meeting them?"

"Not really, just realized I don't even know most of them." I shrugged and drank the milk tea she gave me.

"Hmm, sweet but overall delicious."

"Glad you like it, and to answer you... Nope, I don't even know half of them " She giggled and leaned back on her chair.

"I see, I heard one of our classmates passed the law board exam though." I remembered what Katsuo had told me a few months ago, "She's probably a great attorney by now."

"Wow... You keep surprising me on how rude you can get." She deadpanned and flicked one of the toothpicks at me.

"Hmm? Was that you?"

"Did you really expect anything less of me?"

"Hmm, I guess you're right. If it was you then passing the board exam isn't far fetched."

Even though I couldn't remember her name, I knew Akibara-san was incredibly gifted with intellect and not only that, she was more approachable plus her looks would be above average based on what Katsuo said.

Just as I was about to ask her how her job was, her phone vibrated and the time 8:00pm flashed on her screen coupled by a ringtone I was unfamiliar with.

"Oh crap, that's my cue to leave."

"Seriously? A curfew? What are we, teenagers?"

"I don't want to hear that from you Mr. I go to sleep by seven."

Crap.

"As much as I want to stay, I need to head home now. I need to wake up early tomorrow." Akibara-san sighed as she stood up and fixed her hair.

"Well, that's fine. It was nice meeting you, I'll just call Katsuo and tell him we're done here so we can go home"

"Hmm? Why do you need to call him just for that? You know he's probably in a motel with my friend."

Crap.

"Well, that's a problem." I chuckled nervously to myself and finished my drink. "I don't have a place to sleep tonight then."

"What? What do you mean?" She asked in a concerned voice while making sure she had everything in her purse.

"Long story, I'll just tell you next time if we meet again. I have to look for a place to sleep in too."

It was already pass 8pm and I couldn't afford to stay in the luxurious hotels nearby nor did I want to stay in another capsule hotel.

The only choice I had left was to look for an inn somewhere and I didn't want to spend the rest of the night wandering.

"Why don't you just sleep in my place for the night?" Akibara-san offered.

"What? Are you crazy? You do realize I'm a guy right?"

"So? I can't leave knowing you might sleep on some random park bench or other places."

"But you can though, plus I'm not comfortable enough to just crash in your house even if it's for a night."

"Ugh, quit being stubborn and let's just go!" She exclaimed with a huff and grabbed my wrist, dragging me out of the cafe like I was a child.

Overall, the café was a warm and welcoming place, a haven from the chaos of the outside world. It was the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy good company, while savoring the simple pleasures of life.

I just wished it could have saved me from the crazy company that I got paired with.