He walked into the Pink Sakura, definitely not expecting to have such a warm welcome.
"Hi!" Kanroji greeted him with such a big smile it was sure to have blinded his other eye. His snake, Kaburamaru, shivered.
You're so cold-blooded.
That was a bad pun.
"Iguro-san?" Mitsuri poked his elbow lightly. He recoiled from the touch, much to Kanroji's sadness.
"What are you going to eat?" she propped herself up on her elbows, excited to hear. Obanai smiled, the mask hiding his true emotions.
"Mitsuri-chan, I mean, Mitsuri-san."
She burst into a bubble of giggles and butterflies.
"Iguro!" she reached forward to hug him, but he leaned back, out of her embrace. She reached back, slightly embarrassed.
Her face turned the color of a strawberry. A bright, joyous pink.
And to his surprise, he laughed.
He laughed.
Mitsuri's eyes widened at his display of emotion. In all the years he had been coming, he had never shown more than an ounce of emotion.
"Kanroji-" he burst into laughter again, doubling over to prove his point. As if to emphasize or even make him laugh harder, the shade of pink doubled.
"Iguro!" she complained, hiding her red face behind her two hands. Her multicolored hair was flopping, as if embarrassed as well.
"Stop, Mitsuri." he gently pulled down her hands.
"You look beautiful when you blush." he admitted.
Did... he just give her a... compliment?
She stared at him with her wide green eyes.
She hoped she didn't turn even redder at that comment.
"Kanroji-san?" her mother peeked out from behind the sakura curtain.
"Yes, mother!" he posture straightened.
"Quit flirting with the customers! We have people to serve!" she sang, bringing out a plate of tempura and sushi.
She sighed, and pocketed her checkbook.
"See you later, Iguro-san." she winked at him, and left to serve the rest of the customers, who were already hangry, yet clearly some of them shipped the cute waitress with the silent, brooding customer, and didn't mind waiting a few more minutes to watch their ship sail.
...
By the time that Obanai had finished eating and Mitsuri had finished taking care of the rest of the customers, Obanai had already laid the check down.
Mitsuri eyed it.
There was a pricey tip.
Her eyes widened when she saw the amount.
"Iguro-san! You-" she chased after him when she heard the bell jingle. throwing on her coat along the way.
It was freezing cold in Japan, and Mitsuri shivered, still chasing Obanai.
"Obanai! I can't accept this!"
In her rush, she had grabbed her checkbook.
Obanai turned, as if the $300 tip hadn't dented his life's savings in the least.
"Keep it, Mitsuri-chan. You need it more than I do." Obanai's lips curved into a smile.
"No!" she insisted stubbornly.
"Mitsuri!" Obanai pushed the checkbook back gently.
"Iguro!" she threw the checkbook at him and started to walk back, when she suddenly felt the checkbook hit her in the back.
"Ouch!"
Obanai's eyes widened at her statement.
"Did I hurt you?" he panicked, completely forgetting about the checkbook, and rushing to her side.
Mitsuri smiled.
"You do care!"
Obanai frowned.
"Of course I do!"
Suddenly, Obanai grabbed a pen from her pocket and scribbled something in the checkbook. Then dashing away, Mitsuri yelled at Obanai for not saying goodbye.
She winced as she picked up the checkbook, praying it wasn't a bigger tip.
Tokyo Tower, 8 PM, this Friday. I look forward to seeing you there, Mitsuri-chan.
Mitsuri stared at the lazy script. Looking up, she watched Iguro's receding footsteps as the checkbook felt light in her hand.
She bet she turned red again.
