Forget Me Nots • CHISHIYA SHUNTARO

ii.

CAT'S EYES

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"Arata!" Arata was pulled out of his thoughts as a hand pressed on his shoulder. Looking up, he saw the small figure of Mika standing beside his chair. The woman was grinning down at him, shaking in excitement.

It was one of the rare instances that the two would hang out without Hajime, the other man having been called into work that Saturday, having agreed to meet up for coffee.

"Mika. Hey." Arata smiled up at the woman as he stood, giving her a short hug before he allowed her to grab the seat in front of him. "I ordered your usual."

Mika smiled at him, placing her elbows on the table. "Ahh, thank you Arata." She hummed thoughtfully, before continuing, "You know, any girl would be lucky to have you. You'd make the perfect boyfriend." Arata blushed slightly, laughing nervously as he dropped his gaze from the woman. "I'm serious Arata. You always remember things and you're so kind and considerate. Plus, you have a decent job. If I wasn't so in love with Hajime and didn't see you as a brother I would've snapped you right up." The short-haired woman winked cheekily at him. "It's a shame you aren't interested in dating at all."

A pit was forming in Arata's words as his words were caught in his throat. There was no way he could tell Mika that the reason he wasn't interested in dating was because he was so desperately in love with his best friend, her boyfriend. That it was torture everyday for him to see them together. He had wanted to hate her at first for destroying any chance he had deluded himself into thinking that he had with Hajime. But he found that he just couldn't. They were so perfect for each other.

So he had resigned himself to be in the background of their story.

"I just want to focus on my career for now." He had exhausted the lie. But they believed it for now. Arata was a workaholic. It distracted him from thinking about how shit his life was.

"Well, one day you have to let me set you up!" Mika suggested, "I've got a few friends I think would be great for you."

"Maybe one day." He forced the corner of his lip upwards.

They were interrupted by the server bringing over their drinks, the two friends thanking him as he stepped away.

"Anyway," Mika spoke up again, changing the subject. "Your sad love life isn't the reason I asked to meet you today." Raising his eyebrows, Arata nodded, remembering the woman texting him to say she had a surprise for him. Across from him, Mika buzzed in excitement as she reached into her purse, "so, I managed to pull a few strings, and," pulling some strips of paper out, she thrusted them over at Arata, grinning madly, "Guess what."

"You didn't." Arata breathed, taking the papers from her hand and reading the words printed on them.

Mika laughed, sending Arata her Cheshire grin, "I still don't know what you see in him, his music is so depressing."

"Hey, it's not depressing. It's relatable." Arata responded.

"Anyway, it was Hajime's idea. He knew how long you've been wanting to see him. Happy early birthday." Mika settled down, her soft smile remaining on her face as she sipped at her coffee.

"I love you both so much." Arata shook his head, smiling back. He didn't think Mika realised how much more that statement meant. The two of them were all he had. They'd stick together forever.

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