Japan’s summers were just plain miserable. It felt as if my feet were sticking to the pavement. I look down the road and even during the sunset you can see heat ripples streaming from the ground. Makoto hadn’t said too much during our walk, I guess she was deep in thought. She still tended to be that quiet little girl that we met long ago that day. She walks beside me with her eyes fixed on the coming restaurant.
M: Here we are.
As we get closer to the front of the restaurant we could see all sorts of lights and signs. If their job was to get your attention, they completely passed. Baring the absence of the glow the signs had, stands Jun beneath them. He was wearing dark blue slacks and a grey t-shirt. Truly the best attire for a date night. For Jun to put effort into anything other than video games was unheard of. When I take a closer glance I notice the grey shirt he’s wearing is the exact one he had on the day before. The thought of that shirt being what he wore all yesterday and today through school and even a date sends chills down my spine.
“Way to dress up.”
Makoto laughs uncontrollably, his shirt looks as if it hasn’t been washed in years. The pit stains resembling actual human faces at this point. Although, with the heat of the summers here I can’t say I’m surprised. His dark brown hair was flowing 13 different directions and had no conceivable style. I could never go on a date like that. Jun looks at us puzzled as to why we were laughing so hard. He tended to be fairly clueless about most things. As we get closer I notice a tall and slender figure standing next to him. With the street next to them being almost barren this time of night you could easily hear them talking even at our distance.
J: Hey guys!
M: Hey, glad to see you. How are your classes going?
J: They are okay, I’m a little worried for exams, but otherwise I’m good. Oh and by the way, this is Mai.
She stood there lifelessly, her hair long and dark brown like tree bark. Her eyes a cool shade of steel blue. It’s almost as if her looks were calculated. As if she didn’t blink unless she meant to. These thoughts followed by a slew of hurt in my heart. He couldn’t have found someone more of an opposite. His brash, loud, unorthodox, and ill mannered personality was the exact opposite of hers. She was calm, like a steady ocean tide. Always doing the same thing but with a different outcome each time. She was dressed in a navy blue dress that came down just a bit above her knees. Her bangs hanging effortlessly above her eyes.
J: Should we get this night started? You guys are going to love the food here. I wanted to pick a place you guys have never been.
“You going to introduce us?”
J: Oh yea, this is Mai.”
M: Nice to meet you!
She nods her head in agreeance.
We all smile and make our way inside. Before we walk in, Mai looks at me in a way that left me wondering what she could have possibly been thinking about. Her eyes saw right through me. At this moment Jun walks in and we are seated immediately. Inside the restaurant it was very busy. The lowdown atmosphere was accompanied by dim lighting and the smell of cajun style foods. Makoto shuffles into the seat next to me, across from her Mai and Jun looking uncomfortable next to each other. Shortly after ordering our food arrives. Jun had picked out one thing for each of us since no one but him had eaten there before. Small talk proved to be awkward between them. She looked lost and bewildered the entirety of the night. She would make you think she was being held hostage. They hardly talked the whole night. Her expression when he spoke was that of a mummy. She looked as if she couldn’t stand him, let alone date him. Something told me there was another reason for her being here. I don’t know, maybe she saw something in him that we didn’t.
M: My phone is ringing, hold on.
“That’s okay, just answer it.”
M: Hello?
M: I’m kind of busy right now, but if it’s an emergency.
“What was that?”
M: Hiro told me that Sugumi didn’t do her end of the project, so of course it falls on us!
“Does that have to be handled right now?”
M: It’s due in 2 days.
J: I always loved group work.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Yeah, because there is always that one kid that doesn’t do their part and that was always you.”
For the first time all night Mai laughs, it was amazing. Her face turns slightly red as she contiunes to eat her food onlyt to be stopped by the laughter.
M: I’ll see you guys later, sorry I have to dip.
Mai: We understand.
As makoto stands up to leave Jun begins to raise also. I wasn’t aware he was leaving too.
J: I won’t let you walk home alone. Guys I’m going to walk her back home and I’ll be back.
“I can take her back man.”
J: I got it Koshin, I know you’re tired.
“Well you’re not wrong. I’ll just stay here with Mai.
Makoto rubs my back before she leaves, a chill surges down my back. I almost completely brush this off. I glance back over at Mai who is too busy eating to notice anything. I’m surprised the entire bowl wasn’t engulfed. Jun and Makoto make their way out of the restaurant and out towards the road. Before they are even out of vision they start a conversation. Those two always were able to be like that. I’m not quite as forthright as Jun is. Makoto, just like him always states what exactly is on her mind, even sometimes to a disadvantage. I turn my attention to the mysteriousness that is Mai. At this point she had slowed her eating to a decent pace. I thought she was going to explode before. Only problem now was what do I say? I have zero knowledge of this girl. I don’t even know her last name, for the majority of the night she was quiet when they were here. I was relying on them to carry the conversation. I rack my brain trying to think of something to say. The first thing that comes to mind is music. Having no reason why I asked this I just did.
“Do you play any instruments?”
Mai: I play piano, that’s about it.”
“Nice, I play guitar.”
And back to square one. I had no damn clue how to hold conversations with strangers. I’m only ever around those two, It’s been so long that I think I may have forgotten how to speak. For some reason I was approaching this as if I were approaching a girl I was trying to ask out. She’s basically just a friend to me if anything because of what she is to Jun. I relax my thoughts and just say whatever comes out.
“Those two are two of the same, even though Makoto gives him a lot of shit. She really cares about him.”
Mai: He told me plenty about her, how you all met, what she’s studying. He didn’t tell me much about you. What are you studying?
“I don’t really know, I’m just kind of her.”
Mai: Is it because of that girl? She touched your back on the way out, and you just ignored it.
“Damn I thought you didn’t see.”
I give off a hard caught laugh and she responds by chuckling.
“I’m not exactly here for her, I’ve also been friends with Jun forever now. Really the only reason I came to this college is because they wanted to.”
Mai: Does anything other than them keep you here?
“Not exactly, I do like it here.”
Mai: I’m here, and I don’t know what I’m studying either.”
“Well you’re here because of Jun right?”
Mai: How do you figure that?
“With you being together and all, I just figured.”
Mai: Who said we were together?
“You were coming here on a date weren’t you? That’s what he told us.”
She laughs and turns red while taking another bite from her food. It’s obvious that she hadn’t been on the same page. I knew something had to be up, there was just no way. She pushes her long brown hair behind her shoulder. At this point the conversations came in and out. I was having fun talking to her, learning who she was. She certainly opened up since they had left. Maybe she’s like me, I don’t talk much in groups either. After 40 minutes there was no sign of Jun coming back. We still hadn’t received a text or call from either of them. At this point both Mai’s and my food were long gone. I have to admit, he was right. It was great, I’m never really on this side of town to try it. Mai starts to become antsy and exhausted looking.
“What’s wrong?”
Mai: Well it’s certain they aren’t coming back.
A small laugh follows her comment.
“Are you ready to go home?”
Mai: Don’t take it as me not enjoying being out, I’m just tired.
We get up after leaving money for the check and head towards the entrance.
Mai: It was nice meeting you.
“Same to you.”
Something in me was enjoying this, this girl I barely knew. It was dark outside, so I thought of an idea.
“Hey it’s really dark out, are you going to be okay?”
Mai: Don’t make me laugh, I’ll be fine. Unless… you want to walk me. It is very dark so I wouldn’t say no.
“That’s up to you, I’m not doing anything tonight.”
By the time I said that she was already several feet in front of me. What kind of game was she playing? I quit dragging my feet and catch up to her.
After about 20 minutes we arrive to an apartment, it looked o be much nicer than the rest of ours. She takes out a key and opens the front door. As I take my shoes off I see it’s essentially the same floor plan as mine except it’s bigger. She takes off her shoes and puts her bag down on the counter. I walk in further to the apartment and she follows behind me. We both sit on the bed, it being covered in dark blue sheets and a brown comforter. I can’t believe how open she’s been.
Mai: Do you want something to drink?
“I’m good, but thank you.”
M: Well you’re welcome to anything I have. Also why did you want to walk me home?
“I just didn’t want you walking alone.”
Her blue eyes stare right through me, just as cold as before when we first met. She pokes my chest and laughs. I wasn’t sure what this was, but I was sure that Makoto wouldn’t approve. But did that really matter?