Into The Rose Garden (Seidou x Kanae/Karren)

Chapter Sixty-two - Found

I take a deep sigh, bowing and thanking the fellow hosts. Tatara turned to me, nodding slightly, indicating that he wanted a word with me. We all take a step outside, I take a deep breath as Tatara began to speak.

"Well, that leads to nothing. Now what, doctor?" I sigh softly, stretching my arms. "We go back to plan A, going on that hunt. However, I recommend that we regroup and take some time. We'll need it in case we get clues on when he's coming back." The male scoffed, while Eto chuckled lightly. 

"I think he's right Tata, we could use that time to clear our minds. Maybe it could make you less, you know...uptight~." Tatara rolled his eyes, turning his chin up at both of us. "I'm just thinking realistically here."

I cross my arms, clearly exhausted and frustrated. I was just as upset as Tatara, I wanted this to just be over with, and just to find our target already. And now, we're only back to square one! It was...rather bothersome. I needed a moment to think over our next course of action, but I had to do it alone.

I raised my head up, tilting my head slightly. "Sorry to bring this up now, but I do believe it's tea time. So if you don't mind, I would like to go into town, just myself." Tatara's expression changed into that of an unsure and cynical one. "Oh yeah, and how can we know that you're not using that to escape us?" Eto then quickly snorts upon hearing that, pressing her hand up to the male's chest.

"Tata, you seriously doubt Akihiro here?! He'll be fine, I know he isn't like that, at least not with us~! We're all on the same team here, have a little more trust." I smile humbly, nodding as I did so. "Thank you, Eto." "Now maybe it is alright for him to go alone, he'll contact us when he's ready to head off." 

I nod at them both, satisfied with her answer. "I will, thank you." And we headed our separate ways. All of it really was dragging me down, I never thought it would. All I had left was to change the world for the better, for humankind to evolve, but I had lost one of the key elements into doing so.

I wasn't willing to give up, far from it! But this little Flegel wasn't making it any easier on my part. God, it was like he was punishing me on purpose. How annoying. However, I had to clear my mind, and tea always took care of that.

I made it into town, finding a humbled café. Typically, a café would ideally serve coffee, but that wasn't my thing. However, a lot of good ones served tea. 'Re:', such an odd name for a café.

I went inside, welcomed by servers, taking a seat by table fourteen, apparently. I looked into the menu; they lacked in variety, but they had it. A female server with blue hair and eyes goes up to my table. "Welcome to 'Re:' sir, how may I help you?" I put on my 'mask', as I always had. 

"Yes, I would like the sweet iced tea." She writes it down. "Anything else?" "No, just the tea." I hand her the menu. "I see that you don't have many tea options..." The female chuckled softly. Clearly trying to appear normal to me, only to come across as nervous. "Our specialty is in our coffee, sorry about that." "No, it's fine. It's your establishment, run it however you please."

She walks off, leaving me to look around for a bit, and suddenly I'm met with a surprise. "Aki...? Akihiro Kanou from high school?!" I somehow knew that voice, though it clearly aged over the years, it was still familiar to me.  

I turn my head, seeing an aged but familiar face. "H-Hanaka...?" The elderly female chuckled lightly. "I-I go by 'Hana', now...it was a nickname given by my husband." I tilt my head at her. "You've gotten married?" "Yeah, I was married...but he passed away two years ago..." "Oh, I'm sorry to hear about that."

The same female server hands me my drink. "Enjoy." I take a sip, and Hanaka smiles warmly. "Are you alone, may I sit here with you? I would like to catch up." I shrug. "Knock yourself out." She nodded as she takes her seat.