Furuhiya was brought out of his thoughts by the waitress.
"Your order."
The same calm voice. Furuhiya looked up and straightened instinctively. She returned carrying a tray, her posture as flawless as before.
Without looking down, she set each dish in front of him with precise, practiced movements.
Furuhiya stared at the table.
"You chose well."
The words were simple.
But coming from her, they felt… different.
Furuhiya looked up.
For a brief moment, her eyes met his again.
Still calm and distant, but not completely uninterested.
"T-Thanks…"
His voice came out slightly awkward. He was confident thanks to his heavy wallet, sure, but pretty beauties will still make him slightly awkward.
She didn't react to it.
But she didn't leave immediately either.
Her gaze flicked once more, briefly, to the keys on the table… then back to him. That he noticed.
"…Enjoy your meal."
And then she turned, walking away once again.
Furuhiya stared after her for a second longer than necessary, then at his keys on the table.
"This place might be worth returning to."
He muttered under his breath, without even trying any of the fancy food in front of him.
He glanced down at the table, as if just remembering why he was here in the first place.
The dishes looked… expensive.
Not just in price, but in presentation. Everything was arranged too neatly, too carefully, like it belonged in a photo rather than on a plate.
Furuhiya picked up his fork, hesitating for a second.
He cut a small piece of the steak, bringing it up cautiously, staring at the redness of the meat before finally taking a bite.
"…Oh."
His brows lifted slightly, he almost left out a slight moan due to how good it was.
The texture was softer than he expected, the flavor richer, layers of taste he couldn't even properly name spreading across his tongue.
It wasn't just good.
It was different than usual.
"…This is actually good."
He muttered it quietly, almost sounding surprised.
For a moment, he just sat there, chewing slowly, processing it.
Then he took another bite. This time without hesitation.
"…Okay, yeah."
A faint nod.
Now that he thought about it, between the food, the atmosphere, excluding Rina with her friends, and that waitress… Especially that waitress.
"…Yeah. Definitely worth it."
He leaned back slightly, a bit more relaxed than before as he continued eating, occasionally glancing around the restaurant.
Furuhiya took his time with the food.
By the time he finished, the plates were nearly spotless.
"…Not bad. Not bad at all."
He leaned back slightly, then raised his hand again.
The same waitress noticed almost immediately and began walking over.
But before she reached him—A different pair of eyes had already locked onto him.
Rina froze mid-step, a glass of champagne balanced effortlessly in her hand.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Of all places, here?
She hadn't planned on stopping.
She definitely hadn't planned on seeing him.
And yet, there he was.
Her gaze shifted. From him… To the table… To the car keys.
A small frown formed.
So he wasn't just pretending earlier.
"What is he even doing here…?"
Her grip on the glass tightened slightly. Her eyes flicked toward the approaching waitress.
The waitress reached the table.
"Finished?"
Her voice was as calm as before. Furuhiya looked up.
"Yeah."
For a moment, everything felt… normal.
Until,
"…Furuhiya."
He froze. That voice. That voice… So she noticed him.
Slowly, he turned his head.
Rina stood there, one hand holding the glass, the other resting lightly against her hip. Her expression was composed, but her eyes weren't.
They were sharp.
Focused. The act of pretending he wasn't who she was thinking of was over the moment his head turned back.
He realized his own mistake quickly, but couldn't fix it.
"Rina."
For a short while neither of them spoke immediately. The waitress didn't leave either.
Her gaze shifted between the two, quiet and observant. Her gaze lingered longer on Rina, as if she had known her already.
Which wouldn't be a surprise, considering Rina was rich.
Rina's eyes flicked to her for a brief second… then back to him.
"Didn't take you for someone who eats at places like this. Earlier at the lobby, you ignored me as well…"
Her tone was light. But not friendly. Furuhiya leaned back slightly in his chair, his legs shaky.
Still he didn't want to back down, not when another beautiful lady was watching.
"People change." He muttered simply.
A small twitch at the corner of Rina's lips. Not quite a smile. She was ignored, again.
"…Clearly."
Her eyes dropped again, to the table, to the dishes… to the keys.
Silence lingered for a second too long.
"Your bill. Cash or card?""
The waitress placed it down between them, breaking the moment cleanly.
Her voice hadn't changed.
But her timing had. Furuhiya reached for it without hesitation.
Rina watched closely. He didn't even look at the number. Just pulled out his phone. Scanned the QR code. Paid.
A quiet ding.
Done.
"…Huh."
Rina let out a soft breath through her nose. Not impressed. Not unimpressed either.
Just… recalculating.
"Since when?"
She asked it casually. Like it didn't matter. Furuhiya glanced at her.
"Does it matter?"
That annoyed her. Just a little.
Her grip on the glass tightened again.
"You were struggling the last time I can remember."
"Past tense."
Another pause. The waitress was still there and he wanted to keep up the act.
Rina noticed then smiled.
But it wasn't warm.
"…I see. You were always extra shy around girls in middle school too. I guess that shyness is now converted into being a jerk?"
She took a small sip from her glass, never breaking eye contact.
Then—She turned slightly, as if finally acknowledging the waitress properly.