In a small coffee shop Mio and Ren are sitting next to a window at the front of the shop sipping coffee. A few of the male customers kept looking their way, making Mio uncomfortable. “So, what happened last night?”
Mio sighed and took a sip of her coffee setting the coffee cup down and staring out the window at the cars passing by “My father Is trying to get me to agree to an arranged marriage.” Ren’s eyes widened. Happiness filled her heart as she thought she had finally gotten her chance to have Murata all to herself. She did her best to hide her excitement. Mio was still staring out the window as she continued “I ran away from home and somehow ended up at Eizan’s apartment. For some reason I felt compelled to go there.”
Ren now even more excited than before did her best to hold her self back. “Mio that’s crazy, what were you thinking?” Ren’s heart was beating with excitement. "This is perfect" she thought.
Mio started laughing “That’s not the crazy part. One of the marriage proposals was from Towa.” Ren felt her whole world spiral out of control, the excitement she had felt just seconds before was gone, Mio had unintentionally reached out and crushed her heart. Mio continued without realizing the emotional turmoil she was putting her best friend through “And I’m almost certain the other candidate is Eizan.”
A flicker of hope was restored in Ren's heart again, still in shock from the words she had just heard “Almost certain?”
“From the description that was given I think they are the same person. I wasn’t given the other candidates name but Eizan had turned down going to the marriage meeting just as I had. He also had no clue who the other candidate was. He only knew it was a government official’s daughter. I figured out the rest on my own.”
Ren’s gaze became serious “How would Eizan have the merit to propose marriage to your prestigious family?”
Mio smiled gently “Haha, yeah, I would have thought the same thing at first. While, I don’t know that much about his family, I know this. His family seems to be quiet wealthy and influential, especially his grandparents. I pieced that much information from talking to my mother and father last night.”
Ren’s eyes became cold “So what about Towa then are you taking his marriage proposal seriously?”
Mio looked straight at her friend “Well, it’s quite obvious that you would prefer I didn’t my dear friend.”
Ren acted confused and shocked “W-whatever do you mean?” She looked away
Mio giggled “Oh, come one Ren I’ve known you for a long time, it’s obvious that you’re infatuated with Towa.” Mio looked at her friend with a soft smile.
“I-I’s it really that obvious?” Ren was blushing as Mio nodded.
Mio’s face turned cold again “Now, how about you tell me the truth about what happened between Towa and Eizan. I’m not blind and I think I have figured out what happened but I would like confirmation.”
Ren sighed and had an apologetic look on her face “I-It’s all my fault. It was the night you told me you were staying over at Eizan’s during the rain storm. I was scared of what that boy’s motives were, so I told Towa about it. I had a bad impression of him and thought he would do something bad to you, if we didn’t drive him away. I didn’t think Towa would go as far as he did though.”
Mio sighed “Oh, Ren you idiot. Even though you know Towa is in love with me you did that for me. I want to be mad but I don’t think I can be mad at you for trying to protect me.”
Ren laughed “Maybe, you two are a perfect coupled, Eizan said the same thing.”
Mio is stunned “Eizan knows what you did?”
“Yes, he figured it all out on the day it happened. That man is really sharp, frankly he scares me a little. The intimidating look he gave me before reprimanding me about what I had done still gives me nightmares.”
Mio tilted her head to the side “Eizan can be intimidating?”
Ren laughed a little “I can guarantee he has never shown you that side of him. He treats you completely different from everyone else. To everyone else that man is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but to you he might as well be a guard dog. An incredibly cunning guard dog, that you should probably put a leash on before it bites someone.”
Mio still looks a little confused “You act like he’s in love with me.”
Ren smiled softly “I don’t know if he is in love with you. One thing is for sure, he is highly protective of you. And his whole demeanor changes when you are around. He smiles at you differently than he does everyone else. But he’s too cunning to let others know what he’s thinking.” Mio was lost in thought “Mio, I still think you should stay away from that man. He’s dangerous.” Ren sighed “What am I even saying I know you won’t stay away from him.”
Mio smiled softly “Your right, I can’t stay away from him, especially since I am living with him for a month.”
Shimada’s shocked expression made Mio laugh a little on the inside “Y-You’re living with him?” Mio nodded “H-how did that happen?”
“I kind of decided to do It on a whim last night. Both of our parent’s actually agreed to it.”
“Does this have to do with the marriage proposal?” Mio nodded. “Did he talk you into it?”
Mio shook her head “No, I don’t think he knows who his arranged marriage partner is…” She hesitated “Actually, he might have an idea but he hasn’t shown any indication of it.” Mio laughed “Your right, he is cunning. If I was to make a bet, he has probably figured it out already or the thought has crossed his mind once or twice.”
Ren looked down at the rapidly cooling cup of coffee in her hands “W-what about Towa’s proposal?”
Mio got an evil teasing grin on her face “What about it?”
Ren shot daggers at her with her eyes but Mio’s smile never faded “S-stop teasing me. You know what I mean.”
“Oh, Ren you really are in love with him. Honestly, I might have thought about it yesterday. But knowing the despicable things he did to Eizan I don’t think I could ever love him that way. Beating someone who doesn’t even defend themselves is frankly a despicable act in my opinion. There is another reason for turning him down, I see him more as a brother or a cousin. I will have to reprimand him later.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Ren gave her an angry look “Even if he did those things for your sake?”
Mio nodded “It wasn’t the fact that he got into a fight for my sake. It was the way he went about it. And besides I don’t want to see my best friend unhappy. If I excepted the proposal, I think it would break your heart.”
Ren shook her head “I would have gotten over it.”
“Liar” Mio giggled “It would have affected our friendship and that would have made me incredibly unhappy. I cherish our friendship a lot Ren.” Ren had tears in her eyes as she leapt across the table to give her a hug almost spilling their coffee all over the table “Oh, Mio I love you.”
Mio patted her on the head “Calm down, you’re making a scene, everyone is looking at us.” Ren looked around and then immediately sat back down in her seat like a proper lady. Mio was covering her mouth with both hands muffling her laugh.
Ren puffed out her cheeks “Don’t laugh at me.”
“But your so cute when you let your emotions show. You should do it more often.” Ren was blushing but she still had a slightly unhappy look.
They chatted for a about half an hour before. “Wait, is that Eizan and Sano.” Across the street Eizan and Sano were walking headed towards the arcade.
Eizan and Sano are walking side by side chatting “Eizan have you noticed?”
“Yeah, I noticed a few seconds ago.” There are four figures a little distance behind them.
“I thought you said they would be scared off.”
Eizan laughed a little “I might have miscalculated a little. Judging people with pure logic doesn’t always work. Especially, if they’re illogical people.” Eizan looked around at his surroundings. He smiled a slightly evil smile he found something interesting and needed to use it to his advantage. “Hey Ome I need you to do something for me.”
“What is it.” Sano said nervously.
Eizan smiled “Nothing to serious just go over to that coffee shop and buy us some coffee.”
Sano’s eyes widened “What are you going to do?”
“You remember that empty lot about a block from here?”
“Yeah?” He nodded.
“I’m going to confront them in the empty lot.”
“Shouldn’t I go with you?”
“Nah, I need you to get coffee.” He then whispered “Also, make sure to chase after her.”
“What are you talking about?” Sano looked confused.
Eizan’s strange smile confused Sano. “Oh, I’m sure you’ll figure it out soon enough. Now, go get us some coffee.” Eizan started to walk off as he directed Sano across the street. The four figures had stopped some distance away. They looked confused as to what was happening. As Eizan kept walking, they seemed to come to a decision and follow him.
Eizan walked slowly to the empty lot that was surrounded on three sides by a fence. He would definitely be cornered here. He walked towards the fence at the back of the lot and stood there as the four figures approached. “Hello there Murata. I see you brought Harada, Nakata, and Osaki with you again today. Where is Takayama, did he decide this was too much trouble?”
Murata stared at him with a cold glare “You’re acting quite arrogant, for someone who’s about to have the crap kicked out of him again.”
Harada angrily standing next to Murata “You’re going to get it this time you bastard. You got me suspended and you broke Neji’s nose.”
Eizan smiled coldly “You know, I had taken the path of a pacifist. I had decided never to fight again. I wanted to live a peaceful life. But I guess the you guys won’t let that happen.”
Harada’s face contorted “You say that after what you did today.”
Eizan’s face went cold and an intimidating aura could be felt “I said I had taken the path, now I’ve changed my mind. From now on I won’t leave Mio alone and I will defend myself. Honestly, I just hope I can hold myself back from hurting you too much. I really tried my best not to hurt Takayama badly, it’s regrettable that I broke his nose.”
“How dare you speak her first name” Murata yelled angrily. “Mio is my woman I won’t let you have her.”
Eizan smiled wryly “Did she ever agree to that? Besides do you think she would date you knowing her best friend is in love with you?”
Murata’s eyes narrowed and he had a disgusted look on his face “I have no interest in Ren. I find her personality to be disgusting. I am not attracted to her at all.”
Eizan coldly stared at him “Ren is a little hard to deal with I agree, but disgusting. That’s way to harsh, she’s just a little stubborn, she seems to genuinely be a good person.”
Murata laughed “Then why don’t you date her?”
Eizan laughed “Nah, we don’t exactly get along the greatest.”
Murata and the other three stepped forward “Alright, that’s enough nonsense out of you. I’ll shut you up permanently this time.” Murata began to walk forward.
A yell came from behind them “WAIT.” Stepping out from around the corner of the lot.
The four boys turned around to see and angry looking girl standing there. “M-Mio” Murata stuttered.
She slowly walked up to Murata. “SMACK” She had swiftly smacked him across the face. “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING!” She yelled at Murata. He stood there stunned holding his cheek. “SINCE WHEN DID I BECOME YOUR WOMAN AND HOW DARE YOU SAY THOSE THINGS ABOUT REN!” She had an angry look on her face the likes of which Towa and Eizan had never seen before. In an angry tone “Towa your mother didn’t raise you this way. When did you become like this?” He didn’t answer he just looked down at the ground. She looked at the other three boys standing there in shock “You should be ashamed of yourselves. This is not the right way to do things and you know it.” She then walked up to Eizan shaking her head “And you, why do you have to cause trouble everywhere you go?”
Eizan smiled at her sweetly “It just seems to find me wherever I go.” Eizan looked up to see Shimada and Sano standing at the edge of the lot. Eizan looked straight at Sano. Ren had a devastated look on her face. Sano thought to himself "This bastard planned this didn’t he." Tears started to trail down Ren’s beautiful face. Ren buried her head in her hands and ran off. Sano shook his head in a disapproving manner then ran after her. Eizan sighed on the inside "I’m sorry Ren, this was the only way I could show you how much of a garbage human being he is."
Mio turned around and saw Ren and Sano running off. She sighed "Poor Ren." She looked at the four boys in front of her. “This ends now. If you don’t leave, I will call the police.”
Murata raised his head “Mio, why do you defend him? I love you. You should be with me, not someone like that guy.”
Mio tilted her head to the side “Why wouldn’t I defend him when I’m the cause of all this?” Towa had a look of confusion on his face “Towa we have grown up together, and I do love you. But not in the same way you love me, I see you more like family.” She sighed “And I can associate with whomever I like, it’s none of your business.” She turned back to Eizan smiled at him coldly “It’s time to go.” She reached up and grabbed him by the ear. “OW, OW, that’s too hard.” She began to drag him out of there like an unruly child. Leaving the four boys standing there speechless as they rounded the corner of the empty lot disappearing from sight.
Murata collapsed to his knees and began to cry “What could I have done differently? Why doesn’t she love me. Everything I did was for her.”
Nakata walked up to him “Sometimes that’s just how life is. Sometimes we can struggle for something and get nothing. Honestly, I thought you two were already dating. We really went too far this time. Next time you see her you should apologize. I’m done with this. I don’t care what you guys do from now on, but I am done.” Osaki and Harada both looked at each other. “I’m done with this too.” Osaki said. Harada clenched his fist “I still hate that bastard, but no more revenge, this ends today for me.” Murata looked up at them desperately.
Nakata patted Murata on the shoulder “Come on man let’s go. Let’s go sing karaoke and try to forget about all this for now.”