Hi, Sato-chan! - Part 2
“This strudel is delicious,”
“Of course it is delicious! My mama made it,”
“Did she teach you how to do it?”
“No. Why would she?”
“So that you can make it for me,”
“Geez, why would I make it for you?”
“Because I ask you,”
“Whatever… Hmmm… Maybe, I will ask her to teach me,”
“And then make it for me?”
“Whatever,”
“Hehe… thanks, Kazunari! If you learn how to do it, let me be the first one to taste it, okay?”
“Okay,”
Nino sat awkwardly in front of Satoshi in the kitchen. The man had requested to talk with Nino in private so Nino brought him to the kitchen since it was his territory in the cafe. Once there, Satoshi asked for the free apple strudel that he had promised. Since Nino was still in shock over the appearance of Satoshi, he complied without objection.
“I’m not your first, right?” Asked Satoshi as he took the first bite of the strudel.
Nino tilted his head, confused by Satoshi’s question. What did Satoshi mean by his first? His first what? He had no idea.
“So, who was your first?” Asked Satoshi when Nino didn’t answer his previous question. He still had no clue what Satoshi meant by that. His first kiss? Satoshi knew the answer to that. His first boyfriend? His first… okay, let’s not go there. He didn’t think Satoshi was talking about that.
“Hmm… Sato…,” He stopped himself. How should he address Satoshi? Was he allowed to call the man Sato-chan as he did when they were kids? Or, should he call him Ohno-san? Ah, whatever. This was not his concern right now. “Whatever are you talking about? My first what exactly?”
“Huh?” Satoshi looked at him confusedly at first. Then, he laughed as he pointed at the strudel on the table. “The first person who tasted your strudel. I am not your first, right?”
Of course it wasn’t Satoshi. Hundreds of people had been buying the apple strudel before he gave it to Satoshi today. Even before he sold it in the cafe, he had let his mother and friends taste it first. But, why did Satoshi ask about it? Why was he interested in it?
“It was my mother,” answered Nino. “She taught me how to make it and then of course, she was the first one to eat it. Why?”
Nino was surprised when Satoshi pouted upon hearing his answer. He looked upset. This action confounded him. Why did Satoshi react this way?
“Did you forget?” said Satoshi, still pouting. “You promised me that i will be the first one to taste it,”
“If you learn how to do it, let me be the first one to taste it, okay?”
“Okay,”
The memory came back to him immediately. How many years ago did he make that promise? If he was not mistaken, he was only five or six years old when Satoshi made that request. He couldn’t expect Nino to remember it. Not after they had been separated for years.
“Satoshi,” The two of them turned to the person who entered the kitchen. It was Sakurai. “Let’s go. It’s almost time for the meeting,”
Satoshi looked at his watch and Nino could hear him curse.
“Wait for me outside, Sho-chan,” said Satoshi. “I’ll be there in a minute. Just need to wrap it up with Kazunari,”
Sakurai didn’t look pleased with the order but he didn’t say anything. As instructed, he got back to the front.
“Ne, can I have another apple strudel?” asked Satoshi. Nino simply nodded his head and then started packing the strudel into a box. Even though Satoshi asked for one, he decided to give more.
“On the house,” he told Satoshi as he handed the box to the man.
“Thank you, Kazunari,” said Satoshi. “You’re the best. Hmm… are you free tonight?”
“Not sure yet. Why?”
“Thought of asking you out for dinner. We didn’t get to talk much,”
“Ah…” Nino wasn’t sure how to respond. He would like to go out with Satoshi. But, he was usually tired after working in the cafe all day. So, he didn’t know if it was a good idea.
Satoshi handed him a card with his name on it. “That’s my number. If you’re free, let me know, okay,” He looked at his watch again before adding. “I have to go now. Sho-chan will be mad at me if I’m late,”
“Hmm… okay, I will let you know,”
“See you later, Kazunari,” said Satoshi and then to Nino’s surprise, the man leaned forward and hugged him. Nino was too stunned to react. So, he didn’t do anything. Back then, the two of them hugged a lot. But, it had been a while.
By the time he realized what had happened, Satoshi was gone. Standing right in front of him were Aiba and Jun. Both of them had weird smiles on their faces. Nino just stuck his tongue out at them and urged them to get moving. It’s time to work!
“Satoshi, is this the reason you asked me to buy the strudel every day?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you know the person who makes the strudel is your childhood friend?”
“Of course. I remember the taste,”
“So, you asked him out for dinner tonight? To catch up, I guess”
“Yes. And if he is single, I will ask him to be my boyfriend,”
“WHAT?”