Remi glared suspiciously between Luna and me. Since she was the only one in whom Yu had confided about his crush, she probably assumed the meeting was just going to be the two of them.
As much as it pained me to admit, her suspicion was… valid. We wouldn't have found out if not for the fact that I knew cafes weren't Yu's thing. Had he chosen an arcade or something, I wouldn't have questioned anything, and thus Luna and I would never have known.
Yu briskly walked up to Remi and gave her two lighthearted taps on the shoulder.
"Oh, what's the big deal? The more the merrier! Right?" he exclaimed.
Remi dramatically clicked her tongue and spun around. "Fine! As long as the two of them don't get in the way, then I don't care!" Without waiting for a reply, she began walking away.
"Wait! Hold on!" Yu quickly adjusted his bag and followed suit until he was right beside her.
Luna and I took a quick glance at one another.
'Don't get in the way'? What the hell does she think we'd do?
Luna nodded as if she'd read my mind.
"I know, right?! Why does she think we'd get in his way? Of course, we'd try to help him!"
That's what I was thinking.
Luna and I continued to communicate through our eyes as we walked at a fixed distance behind Yu and Remi. For two people who had only become friends recently, it was impressive how they could talk to each other with no awkwardness.
Well, if there are two people who could pull that off… It's probably those two.
The walk only lasted about twenty minutes before we reached the Chinese restaurant. Yu held the door open for all three of us before entering.
Once we got in, Remi approached the hostess and asked for a table of four. The hostess gave a quick bow before leading us to a table.
Yu and Remi sat on one side of the table, while Luna and I sat on the other. The waiter handed us two menus. I opened one and leaned closer to Luna so she could look; meanwhile, Yu opened the other, and Remi leaned in closer to him.
As we scanned the menu, I couldn't help but address the elephant in the room. "So, why isn't Sora here?"
I felt a slight twinge of guilt doing this whole thing without him. It felt as though we were excluding him on purpose—even though that wasn't the case.
Remi didn't lift her eyes off the menu as she responded. "Oh, he wanted to study for the upcoming exams."
Huh, now that I think about it, I guess exams are only like a week away.
I saw both Luna and Yu flinch from the corners of my eyes. Shortly after, they stopped moving entirely, causing the mood to go sour.
Remi glanced around at all three of us, confused.
Well, it wasn't much of a surprise. Just talking about exams was enough to ruin anyone's day. That was especially true for these two.
I sighed, then turned to them. "Don't worry. I said last time that I'd tutor you. So, while I can't say you will definitely get better, I'll try."
Both Yu and Luna perked up, shooting me a look of gratitude—and desperation.
"Really?" Yu asked. "I thought that was only if you lost the bet–"
"Don't say anything else or he might change his mind!" Luna interrupted.
I wasn't going to, but saying it twice was embarrassing, so I was quite thankful to Luna.
"Anyway," I said, changing the topic, "Why are you here then, Remi? I thought you normally hole yourself up in your room during exam season."
Remi snapped her head at me as if I had said something wrong. "You make me sound like a nerd if you put it that way."
Well… you kind of are.
But she quickly shrugged, the irritation disappearing just as quickly as it came. "Normally, I would be." Then, she jabbed Yu in the arm. "Buttttt, Yu was so desperate for help, and I couldn't just say no. So, here I am."
Wow, I almost actually admired you for a second there.
Still, I guess I had to hand it to Remi. She was being a really supportive friend.
The waiter came by and asked if we were ready to order. Remi nodded and listed out what she and Yu had picked. She talked for a solid thirty seconds.
....I know for a fact that about eighty percent of that was all for Yu.
The waiter then turned to me, and I listed the things that Luna and I wanted. Once we finished, the waiter picked up our menus and left.
It was then that my phone buzzed in my pocket.
"So," Yu said as he turned to Remi, "What am I supposed to wear tomorrow?"
Remi took out her phone and began showing him various pictures. "Based on what I've seen of your closet, I think the first outfit I made is more 'date' like, but I think the second one would look better on you."
I took out my phone and read the message displayed on the screen. It was early July—the peak of the summer heat—yet my body felt just a bit colder.
I hurriedly typed my reply.
Luna leaned in closer to them with a slight frown. "Okay, guys, I'm feeling kind of left out here. You mind showing me too?"
"Ah!" Remi yelped, looking somewhat guilty. "Sorry! Here, this is what we are looking at." She showed Luna her screen.
Another message appeared shortly after my reply.
Luna squinted as she examined both images carefully. "Hmmm, I think even though you look better in the second outfit, you should go with the first."
Remi tilted her head. "Really? I think he should go with the second one."
Luna shook her head, which was resting chin-first on the table, causing it to wobble. "Nonono, it definitely has to be the first one."
Remi clicked her tongue. "No! It has to be the second one!"
Luna furrowed her brow deeply. "Hah? Why are you yelling at me?!"
Remi slammed her hand on the table. "Because you're being so stupid!"
I read the message carefully, then typed my reply.
Yu put a hand between Luna and Remi, trying to calm them down. "Guys, guys, relax! We can just ask Hoshino for the tiebreaker."
They all turned to me. After sending the last reply, I put my phone away and glanced at Remi's screen.
"Which one is this?" I asked.
"The first one," Luna replied.
I examined it for a few seconds before gesturing for Remi to show me the next one. Without even spending five seconds on it, I answered: "The second one."
Remi's face lit up; meanwhile, Luna's face contorted. The two of them began their bickering once more, but it all fell flat in my ears as I pulled out my phone and resumed the conversation.
My phone displayed.
The world around me seemed to blur with my phone in the center of it all—crystal clear.
Another text came.
I quickly typed my reply.
Another text came. I replied. Another. Reply. Another. Reply. Another. Reply.
Suddenly, the table shook, dispersing the haze. I took my gaze off the screen and glanced at the table. The food had finally arrived.
"Man, I'm starving!" Yu said as he picked up his chopsticks and grabbed multiple pieces of duck. "Let's eat!"
Luna reached over to the plate of fried tofu, but Remi stole her piece and quickly put it in her mouth.
"Hey! What was that for?!" Luna cried.
Remi giggled while covering her mouth. "Finders keepers~."
Luna's eye twitched. "Fine, you're on then!"
I stayed back for a moment longer as a part of my attention lingered on the phone screen.
Yu, whose mouth was half full, turned to me and asked, "Hoshino, are you not going to eat?"
I slid my phone under the table and picked up my own pair of chopsticks.
"Don't be stupid," I said, "I paid good money for this, so I'm going to eat."
Yu laughed out loud as we began having our own little eating competition.
From under the table, with the screen illuminating the darkness beneath it, I typed: