All You Need Is Love (MewGulf AU)

🌞Chapter 10🌻

PRESENT
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"Why don't I take you out to eat to thank you for what you did?" Kashima asked Gulf the following Friday. He hadn't been able to refuse, and they wound up going to a hotel in Shinjuku after their work around town.

Gulf thought that he would die in the glaring midday sunlight, but as it was close to seven in the evening, thick clouds began to cover the sky. 'Rain's coming,' he thought, and headed towards the elevator that would take him to the lobby on the thirty-ninth floor, where Kashima had told him to meet him.

If he had just invited him out for drinks, he could have refused. In fact, at first he had refused. Kashima had looked crushed. He wanted Gulf to give him a chance to make up for the trouble he'd caused the last time.

Even if Kashima was his superior in name only, his boss was still his boss. He'd told Gulf that other people would be coming along. So Gulf reluctantly agreed, convinced that there would be no repeat performance of their last trip. But when he got off at the thirty-ninth floor, he spotted Kashima in the spacious lobby, and he fiercely regretted accepting the invitation.

There was a woman sitting with Kashima at the table. Gulf didn't recognize her. But somehow he could imagine what sort of work she did.

"We're over here, Gulf!"

Before it even occured to him to just turn around and leave again, Kashima caught sight of him. This was going to suck.

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"This is Takako Fukaya, from the Hiroo branch office. She did a lot of good work under me while I was there."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." A classic Japanese beauty with a composed demeanor, she bowed deeply.

Only a few seconds after Gulf sat down, Kashima stood up. "I made reservations for you two at the Japanese restaurant on the first floor. So why don't I let you two get on with it?"

"What?"

"Sorry. I've got to take care of some urgent business. But I really wanted to do something to make up for last time. I hope you two have fun."

"I see. That's too bad." His excuse was plausible, but Gulf knew that it was all a set up. He was disappointed in himself for falling for it. But it wasn't Fukaya's fault, so he saw Kashima off and then turned back to her with a smile. "Well, it won't be the same with just the two of us, but shall we go?"

"Okay." Fukaya replied with a bright smile.

Even after they'd been seated, Fukaya continued to show no reluctance. He began to suspect that she had been in on it from the start.

"Mister Kashima has always gone out of his way to help me. I feel very lucky that he's make it possible to be with you like this today, Mister Gulf."

Once the meal had finished and they had begun their drinks, Fukaya revealed the truth.

"Have we met?"

"There isn't a girl in any bank in the entire city who doesn't know who you are, Mister Gulf."

He was shocked at her intensity when she said this. Maybe Kashima was the one who had been used.

Despite his annoyance, Gulf saw the meal through to its end and took the bill. While he paid, Fukaya left for the bathroom.

Gulf gave the bill to the cashier, but Kashima had already taken care of everything. With nothing else to do, he waited in front of the restaurant. Suddenly, he caught sight of a flamboyant man walking by.

He was carrying an overnight bag, wearing a suit somewhere between navy blue and purple with a garish red shirt. The clothes themselves were exquisite, but the combination he'd chosen made him look exactly like a gangster. He could have been an actor or a model. Gulf was still staring at him when the man seemed to notice him. His gaze, which had been lazily scanning the room, suddenly focused.

That was what made him recognize the person approaching him. It was Mew, walking toward him without any companions.

"Hey. What are you doing here all by yourself?"

"I'm waiting for my friend."

Gulf forced a smile. Just then, a high-pitched voice said, "sorry to keep you waiting." Fukaya was back.

"Oh, it's like that." Mew smirked as he looked from Gulf to Fukaya and back again.

"Who is this, Mister Gulf?" She must have been drunk, because as she flirtatiously spoke his name, she twined her slender arm around Gulf's.

"Mew, this is---"

"Sorry to bother you guys," Mew said quickly, then turned his back on Gulf. Gulf was struck by the urge to run after him. But what would he say to him if he did?

Did he want to tell Mew that he'd gotten the wrong idea? But what was it that Mew had misunderstood?

Even assuming it was a misunderstanding, he didn't owe Mew an explanatiom. They had no connection that would require it. He remembered that fact and wanted to laugh.

"I still have some time before I need to go home, Mister Gulf..."

"I'm sorry, but I just remembered something I need to do. Shall we call it a night?"

They rode the elevator together to the entrance on the second floor and he forced Fukaya into a taxi that was there. He pressed far too much money into her hand to use for the fare. "We should get together again with Mister Kashima. I had fun tonight."

His smile never faltered, and he watched her taxi drive off until it was out sight. Then he ran back into the elevator.

Mew had been carrying an overnight bag and heading for the front desk. If he checked in after they'd run into each other, he might not be in his room yet. Gulf didn't know if he would be in time, but he ran down the corridor of the thirty-ninth floor clinging to this hope.

TBC