Double Date

"You know? It's funny, we all attend the same university and we're all in DJ units, yet we still almost never hang out!" Rika remarked as she, Saori, Aoi and Tsubaki all sat down at one of the campus cafes to share a lunch together.

"Well, it's nice that we were all finally able to find time in our schedules to do this," Aoi said.

"I know, right?!" Rika's smile grew even wider as she nodded enthusiastically. "Thank you all for coming today! I'm so glad it worked out so well!"

"Speak for yourself!" Saori muttered under her breath. Even though she was technically free, she originally planned to use this time to work on her next set list. Then someone practically kicked down her door insisting they go on a "double date" with "those cool chicks from the RONDO band!" And of course, since Rika never took no for an answer...

"Well, it's nice to see you again, anyway," Aoi flashed Saori a charming smile. She was always good at sensing when people were nervous, stressed, or upset, and she was even better at calming them down with a reassuring grin.

"Ah!" Saori suddenly flinched, looking away to mask a giddy smile as her cheeks started tinting pink. "You remember me?"

"Of course I do!" Aoi promised, smile widening. "I'd never forget such a talented DJ and rival!"

Saori gave another strangled whimper of delight and mortification, fighting the urge to bring her hands up to her face. Yes, she would admit it, she was thrilled to see Aoi again, and even more thrilled to know that Aoi remembered her, but she certainly didn't need to make that public.

"AWW! I THINK SAORI'S GOT A LIL GIRL CRUSH!" Rika bellowed with laughter. Classic Rika.

"RIKA!" Now Saori did bring her hands up to her face, covering it as she cried out in anger and humiliation.

"Hehe, don't worry about it, no need to be embarrassed!" Aoi said encouragingly. If anything, that only made it worse. As if Saori didn't already regret coming here, Rika only made it worse. Classic Rika. And poor, oblivious Aoi was unintentionally doing the opposite of helping. Classic Aoi.

"Rika, leave Saori alone," Tsubaki finally interjected, looking sternly at Rika, eyes filled with disapproval. She wasn't any happier about this development than Saori was. From the moment Saori started getting flustered sitting across the table from Aoi, Tsubaki picked up on it, and she didn't like it one bit. She managed not to let it show, but when Aoi started comforting Saori, a tiny glare started to form on Tsubaki's face anyway. In a way, Rika's rather rude remark offered up the perfect excuse and scapegoat. Now Tsubaki could pretend the glare was meant for Rika the whole time, and not a sign of her own lovestruck condition over Aoi.

"Awww, I'm just trying to have a little fun!" Rika laughed, still grinning broadly, completely unrepentant.

"Not if it's at the expense of your friend!" Tsubaki continued to scold, shaking her head and crossing her arms. "Honestly, Rika, you're just as bad now as you were when we were kids!"

"Awww, Saori knows I mean no real harm, though, right?" Rika slung an arm around Saori's hunched shoulders.

"Sure..." Saori muttered, eyes still glued to the table. She was waiting for her blush to subside. Tsubaki only scoffed and shook her head again.

"Wait, you two already know each other?" Aoi politely interjected, trying to steer the conversation away to safer waters.

"Unfortunately," Tsubaki smirked.

"Yuppers!" Rika nodded happily again. "We went to the same elementary and middle school, so we hung out like all the time. See, even back then, Tsubaki pretended to be all cool and disinterested in me, but we were still close."