Hi, Sato-chan! - Part 6
It was surreal hearing the confession that came from Satoshi’s mouth. Not that he had never heard of a confession before. He had a fair amount of admirers who confessed to him since school even though it couldn’t rival Jun or Aiba. Before this, he had never felt anything when people confessed to him. He immediately rejected them, saying that he was not interested. But, it felt different this time.
“Hmm…”
What should he say? He didn’t know. All this time, he would admit that he missed Satoshi and had been waiting for a chance to meet the other guy again. He had Satoshi’s email address and Satoshi had his. But, despite his longing to see Satoshi, he was too shy to contact the man again. Not until he was drunk and persuaded by Jun and Aiba to send an email. He never thought it would lead to this.
“Are you serious?”
He cursed himself for asking that. Of course, Satoshi was serious. All his life, he had known Satoshi as someone who stayed true to himself. He would never say anything unless he meant it. Satoshi might change but he hoped that at least that part of him was still there.
“This is a mess, right?” said Satoshi, smiling softly at Nino. Gosh, what did the smile do to him? Why did it make Nino’s heart beat faster?
“This was not how I planned to confess to you. I thought of confessing after dinner. But… well… my mother came… and I got panicked when I saw her bringing a girl to my house… and without thinking, I dragged you into a lie… which I hope will not be a lie after my confession,”
Satoshi’s voice was softer when he said the last part. But, Nino was more interested in what he had said previously. A girl? Yes, there was a young girl among the entourage. Who was she and why did Satoshi panic when he saw her?
“Who is she?”
“Huh?”
“The girl who was with your mother,”
“Oh… I don’t know," answered Satoshi. Nino looked at him with a frown, hoping for more explanation. Reluctantly, Satoshi continued. “Hmm… My mother had been talking to me about getting married. It’s been going on for a while. But, about two months ago, she told me that if I didn’t have any lovers, she would introduce me to her friends’ daughter. So, when I saw her coming today with that girl, I thought about that conversation and panicked and told her we’re dating,” Before Nino could say anything, he immediately added. “Kazunari, I might be lying to her about our relationship. But, my feelings for you are real. I really like you, Kazunari,”
This was the second time Satoshi emphasized on his feelings for Nino, which he found endearing. But, he was not sure about his feelings yet. Yes, he missed Satoshi. But, was he in love with Satoshi? It was too early to decide.
“Hey, I know this is weird,” said Satoshi. “You don’t have to decide now. I’m sure you’re hungry. How about we eat first?”
That was an excellent idea. Nino simply nodded his head. And, he headed to the table, having the first look at the dinner that Satoshi’s maid had prepared for them.
Nino tried to hide a smile that was threatening to come out when saw the meal. It was hamburger steak, his favourite food. Was it a coincidence? Or did Satoshi ask the maid to make it because he remembered Nino’s favourite food? His heart told him it was not a coincidence. Thinking of what Satoshi had told him earlier, he was certain that Satoshi planned for this. He wouldn’t deny it. His heart fluttered upon thinking about Satoshi’s confession.
The two of them ate in silence. But, it was not awkward. From time to time, the two of them would smile at each other and Nino couldn’t help but think how beautiful Satoshi’s smile was.
After dinner, Satoshi offered to send him home. But, he declined. His house wasn’t far so he could just walk home. This time, Satoshi volunteered to walk with him and he agreed. He enjoyed spending time with Satoshi and wished the night wouldn't end just yet.
“Where do you live?” Asked Satoshi as they exited his apartment building.
“About three blocks from here,” answered Nino.
“Oh, that’s close!” said Satoshi, sounding surprised. “Hmm… maybe we could go to work together tomorrow,”
Nino thought about it for a while. Frankly, he would love to do so. But, he didn’t think his working time would match Satoshi’s. He had to be super early in the cafe to do preparation. Satoshi, as expected, was disappointed but he understood the reason.
“I can come during lunch, right?”
“Sure,” answered Nino. “But, don’t expect to spend time with me because I will be busy working during that time,”
“I can help you,”
Nino responded with a laugh as he imagined Satoshi working in his shop. That didn’t suit the man at all. Satoshi would be flustered as he took the order from the customer and perhaps would mix up the orders too.
“You will need some training first before you can help me in the shop,”
“Really?”
“Of course! And, you will train under Jun-pon. I don’t think you can survive,”
“Hey, don’t look down on me. I can do it,” said Satoshi, lightly smacking Nino’s shoulder. Then, he added, “Is he the one with the thick eyebrows?”
Nino nodded.
“Okay, he is scary. I withdraw my non-existent application to work at your cafe,”
Nino could only laugh, imagining Satoshi working under Jun. His friend might look tough but he was a softie.
“Hey, I want to ask something but I forget,” said Satoshi, earning a frown from Nino.
“What is it?”Asked Nino curiously.
“Are you dating anyone right now?”
Well, he didn’t expect the question at all.
“Shouldn’t you ask that question before you confess?’
“Yes but I forgot because of my mother. So, are you single?”
Hmm, Nino smiled at Satoshi as an idea popped in his mind.
“I’m in a serious relationship right now,”
Satoshi looked down upon hearing that. Nino tried to remain neutral as he continued.
“... with my work and game,”
“Huh?” Satoshi looked lost. Nino enjoyed watching his confused face. Satoshi was still gullible. He was going to enjoy teasing the other man.
“Are you tricking me?” said Satoshi, upon realizing what had happened.
“Not a trick,” answered Nino. “It is the truth. I am devoting my time for work and games so I don’t have time to date anyone,”
“Oh…” Satoshi looked dejected.
“But, I’m willing to make some adjustment to allow you in,”
Satoshi’s eyes grew wide and a smile was instantly on his face.
“So, you will give me a chance,”
Nino didn’t answer the man. He had finally arrived at his apartment building.
“See you tomorrow, Satoshi,”
“Hmm…”
What should he say? He didn’t know. All this time, he would admit that he missed Satoshi and had been waiting for a chance to meet the other guy again. He had Satoshi’s email address and Satoshi had his. But, despite his longing to see Satoshi, he was too shy to contact the man again. Not until he was drunk and persuaded by Jun and Aiba to send an email. He never thought it would lead to this.
“Are you serious?”
He cursed himself for asking that. Of course, Satoshi was serious. All his life, he had known Satoshi as someone who stayed true to himself. He would never say anything unless he meant it. Satoshi might change but he hoped that at least that part of him was still there.
“This is a mess, right?” said Satoshi, smiling softly at Nino. Gosh, what did the smile do to him? Why did it make Nino’s heart beat faster?
“This was not how I planned to confess to you. I thought of confessing after dinner. But… well… my mother came… and I got panicked when I saw her bringing a girl to my house… and without thinking, I dragged you into a lie… which I hope will not be a lie after my confession,”
Satoshi’s voice was softer when he said the last part. But, Nino was more interested in what he had said previously. A girl? Yes, there was a young girl among the entourage. Who was she and why did Satoshi panic when he saw her?
“Who is she?”
“Huh?”
“The girl who was with your mother,”
“Oh… I don’t know," answered Satoshi. Nino looked at him with a frown, hoping for more explanation. Reluctantly, Satoshi continued. “Hmm… My mother had been talking to me about getting married. It’s been going on for a while. But, about two months ago, she told me that if I didn’t have any lovers, she would introduce me to her friends’ daughter. So, when I saw her coming today with that girl, I thought about that conversation and panicked and told her we’re dating,” Before Nino could say anything, he immediately added. “Kazunari, I might be lying to her about our relationship. But, my feelings for you are real. I really like you, Kazunari,”
This was the second time Satoshi emphasized on his feelings for Nino, which he found endearing. But, he was not sure about his feelings yet. Yes, he missed Satoshi. But, was he in love with Satoshi? It was too early to decide.
“Hey, I know this is weird,” said Satoshi. “You don’t have to decide now. I’m sure you’re hungry. How about we eat first?”
That was an excellent idea. Nino simply nodded his head. And, he headed to the table, having the first look at the dinner that Satoshi’s maid had prepared for them.
Nino tried to hide a smile that was threatening to come out when saw the meal. It was hamburger steak, his favourite food. Was it a coincidence? Or did Satoshi ask the maid to make it because he remembered Nino’s favourite food? His heart told him it was not a coincidence. Thinking of what Satoshi had told him earlier, he was certain that Satoshi planned for this. He wouldn’t deny it. His heart fluttered upon thinking about Satoshi’s confession.
The two of them ate in silence. But, it was not awkward. From time to time, the two of them would smile at each other and Nino couldn’t help but think how beautiful Satoshi’s smile was.
After dinner, Satoshi offered to send him home. But, he declined. His house wasn’t far so he could just walk home. This time, Satoshi volunteered to walk with him and he agreed. He enjoyed spending time with Satoshi and wished the night wouldn't end just yet.
“Where do you live?” Asked Satoshi as they exited his apartment building.
“About three blocks from here,” answered Nino.
“Oh, that’s close!” said Satoshi, sounding surprised. “Hmm… maybe we could go to work together tomorrow,”
Nino thought about it for a while. Frankly, he would love to do so. But, he didn’t think his working time would match Satoshi’s. He had to be super early in the cafe to do preparation. Satoshi, as expected, was disappointed but he understood the reason.
“I can come during lunch, right?”
“Sure,” answered Nino. “But, don’t expect to spend time with me because I will be busy working during that time,”
“I can help you,”
Nino responded with a laugh as he imagined Satoshi working in his shop. That didn’t suit the man at all. Satoshi would be flustered as he took the order from the customer and perhaps would mix up the orders too.
“You will need some training first before you can help me in the shop,”
“Really?”
“Of course! And, you will train under Jun-pon. I don’t think you can survive,”
“Hey, don’t look down on me. I can do it,” said Satoshi, lightly smacking Nino’s shoulder. Then, he added, “Is he the one with the thick eyebrows?”
Nino nodded.
“Okay, he is scary. I withdraw my non-existent application to work at your cafe,”
Nino could only laugh, imagining Satoshi working under Jun. His friend might look tough but he was a softie.
“Hey, I want to ask something but I forget,” said Satoshi, earning a frown from Nino.
“What is it?”Asked Nino curiously.
“Are you dating anyone right now?”
Well, he didn’t expect the question at all.
“Shouldn’t you ask that question before you confess?’
“Yes but I forgot because of my mother. So, are you single?”
Hmm, Nino smiled at Satoshi as an idea popped in his mind.
“I’m in a serious relationship right now,”
Satoshi looked down upon hearing that. Nino tried to remain neutral as he continued.
“... with my work and game,”
“Huh?” Satoshi looked lost. Nino enjoyed watching his confused face. Satoshi was still gullible. He was going to enjoy teasing the other man.
“Are you tricking me?” said Satoshi, upon realizing what had happened.
“Not a trick,” answered Nino. “It is the truth. I am devoting my time for work and games so I don’t have time to date anyone,”
“Oh…” Satoshi looked dejected.
“But, I’m willing to make some adjustment to allow you in,”
Satoshi’s eyes grew wide and a smile was instantly on his face.
“So, you will give me a chance,”
Nino didn’t answer the man. He had finally arrived at his apartment building.
“See you tomorrow, Satoshi,”