The Nail That Sticks Out

Chapter Nineteen: Ramen

Olivia Mei Sasaki

I take back what I said when I first arrived about this school being a dump. The lectures suck. University life sucks. The people kind of suck. But the food? The food alone saves this university.

I scoop up a giant spoonful of shaved ice into my mouth as Noah rambles on about Nami.

"You know, if she spent a little more time with my mom, I'm pretty sure they would get along. They both like to cook, you know? Nami could be cooking everyday with my mom, I mean, we have a huge-ass kitchen. Instead, she chooses to make cup noodles in that shitty dorm of hers."

"Hey, I live in that dorm too," I defend.

"Is it not shitty?"

I narrow my eyes. "It is."

"Exactly! I'm telling you, my mom's not all that bad."

"Why are you telling me? Go tell Nami that."

"She won't listen! She won't admit it, but I swear Nami just sees my mom as some shallow, racist, tiger mom."

"Nami's just afraid," I tell him.

"Of what?"

I swirl my spoon in the pink liquid that's left of my shaved ice.

"She's afraid of being an outsider. It's not that easy to be so different in Tokyo. And I bet it's not easy when you're not exactly welcomed by your boyfriend's family."

I look down at my bowl as he hums.

"Remind me why you two don't get along?" he asks.

"You mean me and Nami?

He nods.

"Why don't you ask her," I scoff.

"Ask me what?"

I startle and turn to see Nami standing behind my chair, arms crossed.

"Why... you hate peanut butter?" I grimace.

"I don't hate—"

"Oh geez," I jump. "I gotta go to my...thing."

The two of them look at me quizzically as I grab my bag and head out the cafeteria doors.

"Have fun at your thing!" I hear Noah call out.

I get into the elevator, ready to leave campus and return to my dorm when I hear my phone chirp.

Haru Kimura: Are you craving lobster, by any chance?

Lobster. Must be a dish at one of the Agrume's. I type out a text.

Olivia Mei Sasaki: Sounds expensive.

Haru Kimura: Please. Even if you are the daughter of a multimillion dollar company, you know I'd still pay.

I snort at his reply. Of course he'd pay.

I type my reply as the elevator doors open. I walk out only to bump into someone and drop my phone.

Straight down the gap between the elevator and the floor.

I stand there, frozen with my mouth hanging open. That had to be the cleanest drop in the history of bad luck.

Two fingers sit under my chin to close my mouth and I look up in surprise.

Freaking Kai.

"My bad."