Hide and Seek of Feelings

Today is the day, the first day of my hiding and thankfully all of the employees understand and are already informed about my so called expo just in case Nozomi-san appeared out of nowhere and starts asking randomly anyone of our staff.

I arrive in front of the cafe early in the morning and plan to stay inside the kitchen the whole time and so I stretch for a bit and take some fresh air when suddenly I sense danger, or more likely, I sense Nozomi-san approaching. I run as fast as I can to the back door of the cafe. My hands are shaking and so I am having a hard time searching for the key. Oh come on, I don’t want to talk to him right now.

“Oh excuse me but you are working in this cafe right?” I can hear him speaks and it makes me freeze thinking that he is talking to me.

“Yes, I am a waiter here. Do you need something?” Someone else answers his question.

I slowly take a peak from the corner and I can see Orihara-kun talking with Nozomi-san in front of the cafe.

“Is Mizuki, ah no I mean Mamoru-san, will he really be out for the whole week? I actually came here early hoping to see him at least before he goes out of town, so can I ask if he will pass by here today?”

“Actually he already left yesterday evening so I think it is impossible to see him until next week.”

“Then can I ask where exactly the event he will attend to?” Oh no, is he planning to look for me?

“The event is a little confidential and is only known to all the members of a certain association and so we cannot disclose such information.” Nice answer Orihara-kun I am glad that you are doing your best lying in a straight face but why do you make it sound like I am attending an illegal expo and it looks like we are a member of a secret association?

“I see.” He really believed that?! “Then can you at least give me Mamoru-san’s contact info?”

*gasps* How can you dodge that Orihara-kun?

“I don’t have a phone so I don’t have his contact info.” *gasps* Never thought that you can also use that kind of excuse when someone is asking another person’s number beside yours.

Orihara-kun you are now my second best employee next to my boy Miyoshi-kun. I promise that I will treat you both after this.

“Oh, then you also have no idea where he lives?”

“No. He is not fond of sharing any personal information about him so all of us have no idea where he lives.” How can you lie so seriously like that when in fact, all of you just went to my house last night to drink and have a barbeque party in exchange of your cooperation with my mischief?

Hahahahaha. I am very sorry Miyoshi-kun but you are no longer the number 1 best employee for me, Orihara-kun successfully snatched your place by simply being a poker face and a great liar of the year.

“I’m sorry for asking too much. I will be going now, have a good day.” Nozomi-san eventually gives up and walks away.

I finally find the key for the backdoor leading to the kitchen and casually walk in and as the same time, Orihara-kun enters the cafe using the front door with the key I lend him last night knowing that he is the most punctual among the others aside from Miyoshi who only works during weekends.

“Good morning Mizuki-san. You didn’t bump with Nozomi-san on the way here right?” Orihara-kun goes in the kitchen when he noticed the lights were already on.

“Ahh no, I am actually hiding at the back when you are talking with him.”

“Oh I see. Then did I say something unnecessary to him?”

“No, you actually did great.” I pat his shoulders then give him a smile of approval.

“Oh what is happening here so early the morning?” Nino’s voice ring throughout the kitchen as she walks in between me and Orihara-kun.

“Nothing much, I am just giving early motivating words to him. Do you want to hear one too?” I grab her shoulders and give her the smile she always feared from me.

“No thanks. I think I should be starting to arrange the tables outside and the sign board so see you later.” She drags Orihara-kun along with her outside leaving me all alone in the kitchen.

When the cafe opens up at 5 AM, customers gradually come one by one until the peak hour for breakfast arrived and kitchen got so busy and I didn’t notice the time until someone says that it is already lunch time.

I haven’t been working in the kitchen lately since I am assigned as the manager but I can still remember the days when I am having fun baking cakes and other desserts. As time goes by, the cafe needed me to be hands on in the managerial work and so the only thing I can do is focus on it and be the barista of the cafe.

“Is Mizuki-san not here? I wanted to let my boyfriend try the best coffee here today but it seems that we are unlucky.” I can hear a woman sitting near the kitchen looking for me.

“I’m sorry about that but we assure you that we can give the same quality you wanted today if you like.”

“Really? Then two cups of espresso panna and a slice of red velvet cake.”

“Okay ma’am, I will be back with your order in a minute.”

Nino approached me and gives the order for me to make. I hope that they will not notice that the coffee is really made by the same person they are expecting. I don’t want to be caught in hiding but I also don’t want to risk the quality of the coffee we served and so I have no choice but to do my best.

“Thank you for the wait, here is your order ma’am.”

“Oh thank you.” She takes a sip immediately to taste the coffee I made. “Oh you are right this taste the same as what Mizuki-san is doing. Don’t tell me he is just hiding inside the kitchen?”

“No, you are wrong. He is recently teaching one of our staff so maybe he is getting better with Mizuki’s guidance.”

“Oh I see. Then tell him to keep up the good work.”

*sigh* at least people are getting easy to fool nowadays.

The day ended smoothly and Nozomi-san didn’t show up.

The next day, he didn’t show up either.

During the end of the third day, I am starting to feel a little weird with a slight pain in my chest. What is this, am I dramatically in pain just because he really didn’t bother to show and try harder to find me? Did he just give up after acting so interested in me the last time?

Thursday came and my mood is not getting any better. There was no glimpse of Nozomi-san.

Why am I being like this? Why? I know it is all my idea to avoid him to sort out my own feelings and test his determination but why am I acting like an abandoned puppy here? Arrgghhhh!!! Am I getting crazy? Did I actually fall for that idiot?

Friday came and I am sure that everyone already noticed how much I am spacing out the whole time.

The weekends finally arrived after five days of suffering from my own silliness.

Miyoshi arrive earlier than anyone else and I can see that he is shock to see my lifeless form.

“Uwaahhhh! What happened to you Mizuki-san? Did you get sick during the weekdays?”

“Me? Do I really look like that? Hehehe”

“You should at least see a doctor, the dark circles in your eyes are so obvious and it feels like I am looking at a malnourished panda.”

*snaps* Oh that is the sound of my sanity snapping for today.

“What did you say?! Mi-yo-shi can you repeat that?”

“Huh? What? Wait! I am just trying to make you laugh!”

“Ha-ha-ha-ha”

“Eekkkk! I’m sorry! Wahhhhh!” and then he run out of the cafe with a broom in his hands.

“Pfftttttt, ahahahaha” okay that was a really funny reaction coming from him. My energy comes back a little and maybe the reason for all this uneasiness I’ve been feeling is because I am too busy working in the kitchen to even play around with anyone.

The next thing I knew, I was already in the staff room and looking at myself in the mirror. Eye bags. Yeah, Miyoshi is right. I really look like a skinny panda with these dark spots around my eyes. What should I do now? What if Nozomi-san sees me like this?

Oh wait! Why am I worrying about that? Why would I care to that idiot’s opinion anyway? Hhmpppp, whatever! He doesn’t even check if I am already back and so I should also stop thinking about him.

Saturday ended for me slowly but he is still nowhere to be found.

“Mizuki-san tomorrow is the last day and as you can see, we have done our best hiding you from everyone looking for you so how about we have another barbeque party at your place tonight to celebrate your victorious way of hiding from the loan sharks.” Nanahara, the one in charge of making cakes said to me.

“No\, you are wrong\, it is not a loan shark he is hiding from it is--- *whispers*” Ichigaya\, the one in charge of making pastas interrupted Nanahara.

“Now I get it! But nevermind, all I want now is to eat some barbeque so can we, Mizuku-san?” he looks at me with his pleading eyes.

“Okay fine, but promise me that you should not get yourself drunk and no one should be late for work tomorrow.”

“Yes! We promise.” Everyone, even those outside the kitchen peaked inside to answer in unison.

-A few hours later-

*Bleurghhhhhh* I was the one who told them not to get drunk but here I am throwing up because I have drunk too much.

How did I end up like this? Well Miyoshi being the youngest didn’t drink at all and so he just went home after eating a lot of barbeque, Nino on the other hand also left early after drinking a little because of some urgent call. Orihara-kun and the others were too focused in cooking meat and so I was left to sit between Nanahara and Ichigaya who are quite heavy drinkers and the leader of mischief. They keep filling up my glass and asking me to drink it all at once. Everyone left my house looking happy without even realizing that I am totally drunk thanks to my skill of walking straight despite of being dizzy.

*Bleurgghhhhhh* I swear\, I will get my revenge from those two if ever I ended up having a severe hangover tomorrow.

My head is spinning really badly and my body is burning up. It’s been a long time since I got drunk like this and the last time it happened I swear to myself that drinking too much will only cause an extreme suffering from hangover.

I closed my eyes and try my best to fall asleep until I open my eyes and see myself in a dream or maybe this is not a dream but rather, a fragment of my forgotten memory.

It was dark and I am lying in a small bed with white curtains hanging around just like in hospitals.  I sit up and found my own reflection from the glass cabinet beside me. I look so much younger and it looks like I am wearing a school uniform so maybe this is not a hospital but actually a school infirmary. My whole body feels so hot and my vision is at mess and so I lay back to the bed and close my eyes. After a few seconds, I can hear someone entering the room but I cannot see his face clearly, I just know that he is also wearing the same uniform as mine.

“Mizuki, you don’t know how much you made me worry when you suddenly collapsed in the classroom; I thought that you just died back there.” He brushes my hair with his long fingers as he continued to talk to me who is pretending to be asleep.

He leaned closer and whispers to my ear “I love you so please take care of yourself more.” And then he suddenly kisses my lips.

Who the heck is this guy? I wanted to push him away but something in me feels comfort and happiness with his touch easing all the pain I am having right now.

When I open my eyes, I am back to reality; I am back lying down in the hard floor of my living room. My head is still aching and the scent of booze still lingers all over the place.

This is all Nozomi-san’s fault that I am starting to have weird flashbacks like this.

I stand up but the dizziness makes me stumble down and causing my forehead hit the floor so hard.

“It hurts!” My eyes get a little teary when I felt some blood drifting down my freshly bumped forehead.

I wonder if I still have some medicine and bandage to cover this up until tomorrow. Slowly, I crawled down the floor until I reach my room to search for my supplies and to go get some proper sleep in my bed instead of lying on the cold hard floor of my living room. I open up the first cabinet but there is nothing, I try to search in my drawers but there is still nothing.

I am too unlucky this days seriously. Instead of finding anything useful from my last hope, also known as my bag which I always bring during work, what I found is a piece of paper or to be more precise, the business card that Nozomi Hikaru gave me.

What can this paper do to help me now\, huh? Will my wound and headache disappear if I attach this in my bleeding forehead? *sigh* I had enough of this; I have to do something before I do another idiocy in my life.

I saved his number to my phone with a full resolve to call him tomorrow to have a serious talk with him. I will make sure to sort my feelings for him once I am sober up, I swear but for now I have to call somebody to bring me some medicine even though it is already late. I checked the time first and saw that it is almost midnight and so I cannot call any of my workmates and the only option that’s left is Yanagi-san who is surely on his way home from his weekend check on the cafe.

I scrolled through my contacts to search for Yanagi-san’s phone number and without any hesitation I started the call. It was only a few seconds when the call was picked up and so I speak up immediately.

“Hello, Yanagi-san are you on your way home? Can I ask you a little favor and buy something for me in the pharmacy at the second street? I got into a little accident and I am still dizzy so I cannot go out on my own.”

“.....” he didn’t respond.

“Hello? Yanagi-san it is okay if you cannot make it then, I’ll ask somebody else-”

“I’m sorry but who are you?” he finally speak but it was not the usual calm voice of Yanagi-san, it is much manlier and a little husky just like Nozomi-san. Nozomi-san? Huh?! Wait, did I just make the worst mistake and called him?

I slowly looked at the screen to confirm what I just did and I am right. It is really Nozomi-san!

“Hello? Are you still there? Is this an emergency call for somebody else? I can call an ambulance to your place if you like.” He speaks again but it seems that he didn’t recognize my voice. Maybe I really sound like a kid when I talk through phone calls and audio recordings.

“I’m very sorry for calling in the middle of the night. This is all a mistake, please forget this call and just delete my number. Goodbye!” I end the call and throw my phone in the bed but it bounces back to me and surprisingly hit my nose so hard that it easily makes it bleed out.

“Why?! Why do I have to be so unlucky these days?!” I shouted at the top of my lungs before collapsing down to my bed.

The next morning, I woke up later than my usual time because my phone died when it hit my face so hard and so the alarms in it didn’t went off. I run to the bathroom to take a fast shower before running to work but I suddenly stop washing my face when I saw how I look like.

There is a hug bump in my forehead together with the awful scratch that bleeds overnight and my nose covered with bruises and a little swelling. I definitely look like someone who was beaten up by some gangsters last night. Luckily, I still have the face mask and cap that Nino gave me as a present last year and it is really useful and effective to hide my battered face.

I stop by to the pharmacy to buy some painkiller and band aid before going to work.

“Ohohoho, looks who is late after drinking too much last night?” Nino followed me when I enter the staff room to take some painkillers.

“I have my reason for being late you know.” I take off the cap and the mask and look at her.

“Oh my gosh! What a disaster! What happened to your cute face Mizuki?” she looks so surprise to see my ruined face.

“Uwaaahhh! Manager what happened? Did someone beat you up last night?!” Miyoshi exclaimed louder than Nino when he follow us inside the staff room.

“Lower your voices! I didn’t get into any fight or something like that. I just got into a little tripping accident when I was drunk and it is a little embarrassing to admit it so please stop asking.”

“Pffftttt hahahaha then is a mere result of your hidden clumsiness?” Nino is now laughing at me after being concerned for a few seconds.

“I’m not clumsy. I am just dizzy last night, that’s all. Come and help me patch up my face right now.”

“Manager, you should just have told us that you cannot come today instead of enduring the pain to go here.” Miyoshi carefully applies the ointment to my nose.

“This is not really a big deal so you don’t have to worry and besides, today is a busy day so I have to help everyone here. Oww that hurts!” Miyoshi is now applying disinfectant to my forehead before putting the band aid.

“Not a big deal? You just exclaimed out of pain! And how about our beloved loyal customer who will see your battered face looking like that? Your reputation as the cutest manager and barista will be ruined for sure.” Nino started to poke my cheeks as she scolds me with something unrelated to the issue.

“Nino please calm down, and please stop poking my cheeks because it hurts. I am still working inside the kitchen today so it is certain that no customer will see me like this and besides, I don’t even care what people think about my appearance or anything.”

“But how about tomorrow, the next day, the next next day, and the next next next day? Do you really think that those bruises will come off after a good night sleep later? I cannot handle the managerial job any longer so you have no choice tomorrow but to work outside the kitchen so tell me what should we do now?”

“Nino stop being over acting, this is what you get after reading too much manga since yesterday.”

“Huh? What manga? How did you know I was reading something?”

“I saw it yesterday before you left our drinking party, I saw you reading a post from a famous publishing house about a newly released manga yesterday and the first 100 copies available include a free poster a keychain and bookmark signed by the author. The real reason why you left us in a rush is because you run to the nearest bookstore to buy that right? And if I remember correctly, the title of that manga is ‘My Seme doesn’t Like a Battered Uke like Me Anymore,’ am I right Nino-chan?” I pointed her while impersonating the pose of a detective when he is pointing out the criminal.

“Pfttttt, Nino-san what’s up with that title? Hahahahaha” Miyoshi interrupted our unplanned cringy conversation that turned into a comedy skit.

“And so what if I really did read it last night? It has nothing to do with you.”

“Nothing? But the moment you saw me take off the face mask, I can imagine how that manga flashed before your eyes. That poor uke, you can imagine it as me right?”

“Hold up! How the heck did you even know what is that manga all about? Don’t tell me you also bought one last night?”

“Are you an idiot?” I stand up and flick her forehead, “Anybody will know what the plot of that manga is after seeing that very long title, right Miyoshi?”

“Ah yes! Mizuki-san you are really a genius.”

“Hhmmppp, fine I’ll admit it, I am acting like this because I am really concerned about you and your love life with that hunk Nozomi Hikaru.”

“Well I don’t care what he will think after seeing me like this and besides, he doesn’t even bother to visit the cafe the entire week to look for me, that idiot is just like any other jerk.”

“Ohohoho, did I just see the hidden ‘Mizuki the tsundere’ for a second? Don’t be mad about that, I’m sure that he will show up later, just trust my fujoshi radar.”

“Whatever. Let’s all go back to work now.”

“Ok fine. Just make sure to fix your face before he asks you out for a date.”

“That will never happen, go back to work oh great temporary manager.” I kicked her out of the staff room. “Oh by the way Miyoshi, thank you for patching my wounds, I promise to treat you and Orihara next week.”

“I am looking forward then.” He happily bounces out of the staff room.

Now it is time to face the kitchen staffs who made me so drunk last night.

“Good morning!” I shouted to get everyone’s attention and to answer all their questions regarding my face before they try to make any weird individual assumptions.

“Manager who beat you up?” Nanahara asked immediately.

“Did you win the fight?” Ichigaya follows up.

“First of all, I didn’t get into a fight so nobody wins and lastly, this is just because of a little unfortunate accident after you all left last night.”

“But are you sure you can work for today? You can just have your day off and stay in your house to rest.” Nanahara sounded like a decent being for the first time.

“Nope, I am fine with work. Just make sure not to get in trouble so I won’t be stressed out.”

“Yes sir!” They all answer in unison.

I did my work as usual despite of the little pain I can feel occasionally whenever I move my facial muscles to talk and so I limited my interactions with everyone to avoid talking.

I was too focused in dealing with the pain from my face that I actually forgotten my main problem, but well actually it is not only me who have forgotten but as well as all the staffs here because we are all caught off guard when Nozomi-san arrived during the last 5 minutes of our working shift no one noticed him until we all went off from the cafe.

“Mizuki-san, two caramel macchiato for table 8, one espresso panna for table 9 and table 6 asked for the best seller coffee we have in the cafe.” The last batch of coffees that I will make for today was given to me by Houtaro-kun, our newest waiter who just started today.

“Okay, it will be done in a few minutes.” I started doing the caramel macchiato followed by the espresso panna and when I am finally in the last order, it made me think for a second. All of the coffee I made is loved by everyone so I have no idea what is our bestseller so what am I supposed to make for that customer?

I just stare at the cup when I remembered the coffee that I always make as a default, maybe that normal coffee will do, assuming that the customer is new to our cafe.

“Houtaro-kun, it’s all done. Be careful in serving it.” I put all the coffee in one serving tray and assisted the newbie in walking outside the kitchen.

Finally when Sunohara-san with his staff came in to change shift, my staffs all happily came with me to walk home.

“Mizuki-san, we realized that it is somehow our fault that you are injured right now so please let us prepare something for you to eat in your house.” Ichigaya said as they all follow me walk out of the cafe’s backdoor.

“Are you sure that it is the only reason? Don’t tell me you want to have a drinking party again?”

“Well it will depend on you. Just kick us out after cooking if you like.” Nanahara said with his ever mischievous smile.

“Fine, you can bring drinks but I swear, I will never drink tonight so don’t you dare offer me any.”

“Understand boss.” Nanahara and Ichigaya answered in unison.

“By the way Mizuki, are you sure that you don’t need to go to the hospital for a checkup--- Ahhhh!” Nino suddenly exclaimed as if she have seen a ghost behind me.

“Nino what’s wrong?” I asked her.

“Be—behind you.” She answered with a small voice.

“What is behind me? Don’t scare me like this please.”

“No-zo-mi” she said without using her voice.

Oh crap, our biggest fear is approaching us from behind and I don’t want him to see my face. I wanted to run away but everyone is looking at me and I don’t want to look like a coward running away from him.

“Everyone you can go ahead of me, I’ll just follow later.” I passed on the key of my house to Nino and whispered something to her before turning my direction towards Nozomi-san who is looking at us from the corner.

“Oh hi Nozomi-san, long time no see.” I greeted him with my usual tone but my forehead decided to ache all of a sudden.

“Mamoru-san what happened to your face? Did you get into a fight in the expo you attended?”

“No, it is just an accident and these are just minor injuries so I am fine.”

“I am glad to hear that. By the way Mamoru-san, why are you working in the coffee today? I thought that you won’t be back until tomorrow so it surprised me to find you here.”

“How did you even know that I am at the cafe today?”

“Because of the coffee you made for me a while ago.”

“What coffee? Nobody told me that you are there- Oh wait, are you the one who asked for our bestseller coffee?”

“Yes that’s me and I knew it the moment I tasted the coffee you always made for me.” It seems that he sometimes use his brain to think when he wants to.

“You have a good sense of taste to be able to identify that. By the way, do you need something? Nino-chan saw you lurking from behind so do you have something to tell?”

“No, I just want to see you because I missed you so much. I wanted to visit the cafe the whole week but my work with a client is too complicated and so I don’t even have time to visit your cafe. I am so lucky that I got to see you again today.” My heart beats faster when he looked directly into my eyes as he said those words without even getting flustered.

“Really? Oh well we are both busy with our own work so it is given that we cannot see each other much.” Even though the truth is I really feel lonely not being able to see you for so long.

“Mamoru-san do you have any plans right now?”

“Well my work just ended and I am on my way home so-“

“Then can ask you to have a dinner with me?” his eyes are shining so bright and I cannot stop myself from avoiding to look from his brightness.

“Okay, but it is your treat right?” Nino’s premonition about a date is really true.

“Yes, of course. I’ll take you to any restaurant you like.”

“I’m not in the mood to eat in a restaurant looking like this.” I may be mistaken as a gangster when I walk in a restaurant.

“Then how about the night market? We can eat from different stalls if it is all right with you.”

“That is a great idea, let’s go.” I never imagined that he actually knows about the night market because I assumed that he is from a well-off family who only knows how to eat in fancy places.

We walked our way towards the busy night market which has just started in this early evening. I can clearly see how excited he is as we walk around the stalls, and so now I don’t know any more if he is just happy about me being with him or he is just happy to see all the food around us.

“Hahahaha, you look like a kid running around Nozomi-san.”

“Well I am just happy to be with you here.” He smile so brightly yet again.

We first stop by the stall which sells yakisoba bread, and then we found a table nearby to eat our food.

“This so fun Mamoru-san, it feels like we are in a festival.”

“You are right, though I haven’t been in a festival for ages.”

“Really? Then do you like to come with next time?”

“Sure but I prefer somewhere nearby from this city.”

“I’ll remember that. Oh I already ate my yakisoba bread, I shall go and buy something else, do you want to eat anything else? I will go and search for it.”

“Then how about a cotton candy and ice cream, any flavour will do.”

“You really love sweet things huh. Okay, I’ll be back so be sure to finish up your yakisoba bread before I come back.”

And then he run off like a little kid.

Did I really not been in any festival for a long time? Then that memory when I was a kid...

“Hey wait for me!” my thoughts are interrupted when two high school students pass by while chasing each other. It feels nostalgic watching them even though I don’t even remember my own high school life and additionally, that strange memory I remembered when I was drunk last night, did I actually have a relationship with a boy back then? But why can’t I remember his face? Why can’t I even remember his name? Are we still in a relationship when ‘that’ accident happened?”

After a few minutes, Nozomi-san came back holding a lot of food with his two hands. “Sorry but there is no ice cream available today so I only have your cotton candy but I also bought a lot of different food so you can choose whatever you like.” He put down everything on our table and handed me the stick of cotton candy.

My eyes focused down on the takoyaki he bought and something in my memory is trying to resurface.

“Mamoru-san do you want the takoyaki? You have been staring at it so seriously for a while now.”

“Ahh no, I’m just thinking of somet—umpp” he suddenly shoved down in my lips the hot takoyaki.

“You don’t have to be shy, just eat it” This guy is seriously an idiot.

I have no choice but to finish eating up the takayoki he forced into me and I didn’t expect that eating it will unlock another forgotten memory of mine. I closed my eyes to focus on it more...

“Mizuki, Mizuki, let’s go to the festival tonight” the boy who is wearing a high school uniform called out to me.

The setting changed in a blink of an eye and we are already in the festival. We are walking around while eating a box of takoyaki.

“Isn’t it fun? I wish that I can spend each day with you like this.” I still cannot see his face clearly but I can see how happy he was with his bright smile directed towards me.

I was too distracted with his smile when he suddenly got the last piece of my takoyaki from my hand and swiftly bites it whole.

“Hey that’s mine! You idiot! Give it back.”

“Hahaha too late, I swallowed it already.”

“Hey Mamoru-san, hey, hey, hey, did your battery run out, hey, hey.” My flashback ended just like that when Nozomi-san started bugging me like a kid seeking for attention and so I lose my focus and was pulled back to reality. How can I figure out things with just a short clip and more importantly it is just about two kids and a piece of takoyaki. It feels like I just watched a cliché commercial of two teen boys flirting over a snack.

“You idiot!” I turn all my frustration towards Nozomi-san and so I actually smack him in the face.

“I’m very sorry! I didn’t mean to force feed you or anything like that so I didn’t expect that you will space out. I actually thought that you choked with the food.”

“I’m not an idiot like you to choke with something simple like this. *sigh* I think I have forgotten to do something so I should be going now.”

“What kind of lame excuse is that? Can you at least think of something specific?” He started pouting like a spoiled kid.

“I swear\, I really have something to do so—“ *ring**ring* “See? They are calling me now.” It was a perfect timing for Nino to give me a call just like how I asked her.

“Hello? What is it?” I answer the call and start acting innocent.

“What do you mean ‘what’? You are the one who asked me to call after an hour.” She sounds a little irritated and I can hear the noise of everyone chattering around her.

“Yes, I know. Sorry for putting you in charge again.”

“Just come back as fast as you can. There is limited edition merchandise that will be out in half an hour so I must get it no matter what.”

“Okay, I promise I’ll be there soon. Bye.” I ended the call and look at Nozomi-san who is still pouting.

“I really should be going now. Thanks for the food, see you tomorrow.” I wave at him and started walking away but then he run after me.

“Wait! Mamoru-san! Before you go, can I call you sometimes? I don’t know when I will be so busy again so I at least wanted to contact you” he looked at me with his pleading eyes that are so bright.

“Sure, but make sure not to call me during my work shift.” How can I resist to such alluring gaze.

I walk back to my place when I suddenly realized that something is wrong. He asked me if he can call me but I never gave him my number in the first place. It is just him who gave me his contact info so is he assuming that I will call him first?

*ring**ring*

I almost jumped out when I hear my phone ringing in my pocket. And surprisingly, it is Nozomi-san calling me.

“Hello?” I hesitantly speak up.

“Mamoru-san this is your number right?”

“How did you know my number?”

“Well you called me last night right? I thought I was just mistaken when I heard your voice but after seeing your injuries today, I concluded that it is really you.”

“Oh I see. Sorry about interrupting your sleep last night. It was an accident calling you in the middle of the night.” This is really embarrassing.

“It is okay. Besides it is a great chance for me to actually get your number. I’m so happy.”

“Hahaha you are really are a weird one Nozomi-san.”

“Well I turn weird when it comes to you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Oh hahaha nevermind, I am just happy every time you crossed mind.”

“You are getting way better in flirting since I met you.”

“I thought you like flirting so I tried to learn some while I’m away.”

“Technically, I like flirting but I am not used to being the receiving end.”

“Then be used to it starting now because I will never stop until you start to like me.”

“You are way too smooth Nozomi-san. Oh I think I arrived to my appointment, I will hang up now.”

“Okay, see you tomorrow Mamoru-san. Good Night.”

“Good night.” I ended the call and I feel weird smiling while looking at the screen.

Did his cliché way of flirting actually affects me, the great king of flirting Mamoru Mizuki?

“Hey Mizuki! Did your date went well? You are just smiling like an idiot there you know. Come inside now so I can leave.” Nino is standing in front of my door looking at me.

“You can leave now. Thanks for the hard work.”

“You have to pay me for babysitting those brats with the details of your date tomorrow so be prepared, hehehe. See you at work, bye bye.” And then she runs out at full speed to the anime store.

Details of our date huh? Maybe it really went well because my heart is still beating so loud and I cannot stop myself from grinning. Damn it. Did I really find real love and not just a flirting buddy?

Nozomi Hikaru, I really hope that you can show me that you are a worthy person to fall in live with.

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