Rival Offline (Anya Forger x Damian Desmond)

Chapter Nineteen: Exploring Kyoto

Damian stood outside the temple, eyes glued to his phone, a scowl on his face. "Say Cheese!" Becky said as the group huddled together, since when were they such close friends?

Anya couldn't help but notice Damian's distant demeanor. She tried to brush it off, but something about his coldness toward her stung. "Come on, Damian, lighten up! We're here to have fun," Becky said, slipping her phone back into her pocket.

Ewen clapped Damian on the back, grinning. "Yeah, man. You need to enjoy the moment. It's not every day we get to visit a temple like this."

Damian sighed, trying to let go of his irritation. "I guess you're right."

Anya, standing close by, overheard their conversation and couldn't help but smile at Damian's discomfort. "Look at you, Desmond. Actually trying to have fun," she teased.

Damian shot her a glare, his eyes cold. "Don't push your luck, Forger."

Anya's smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. "Just trying to be friendly," she muttered under her breath.

As they walked through the temple grounds, Damian found himself glancing at his phone, his thoughts drifting to his recent realization about Sakura. He hadn't yet connected the dots that Sakura and Anya were the same person, but the growing fondness he felt was undeniable.

Becky, ever the observer, nudged Anya. "You notice how he's glued to his phone? Think he's got a girlfriend?" she said 

Anya's heart skipped a beat. "You think so? he and that Emilie girl do seem pretty close"

"For sure. You should ask him about it," Becky suggested with a wink.

Anya felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension. She didn't want to push his buttons especially when she was aware of his secret identity.

As they continued exploring, the group stumbled upon a small, serene pond. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the temple and the vibrant autumn leaves surrounding it. Anya and Damian found themselves standing side by side, momentarily lost in the tranquility of the scene.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Anya said softly, trying to seem more laid back.

Damian nodded, his usual guarded expression remaining. "Yeah, it is."

A comfortable silence settled between them, the sounds of the temple grounds filling the air. For a brief moment, it felt as if the rivalry and tension between them had melted away, replaced by a mutual appreciation for the beauty around them.

Breaking the silence, Ewen called out, "Hey, you two! We're heading to the next spot. Don't fall behind!"

Damian and Anya exchanged a glance, but Damian's eyes quickly hardened again. Without a word, they followed the rest of the group, their steps in sync as they moved forward.

As they caught up, Becky grinned at them. "See? It's not so bad hanging out together, right?"

Anya rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go."

And so, they did. The rest of the day was filled with laughter, teasing, and a growing sense of camaraderie. By the time the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the temple grounds, Damian found himself smiling more genuinely than he had in a long time, though he kept his distance from Anya.

As they stood at the temple gate, ready to head back, Becky pulled out her phone again. "One last photo to remember the day!"

This time, there was no hesitation. The group huddled together once more, and as the camera clicked, Damian couldn't help but feel a pang of something unfamiliar. He brushed it off, determined to keep his guard up, especially around Anya.

As they walked back from the temple, the boys began to grumble about hunger, their stomachs audibly growling. Anya, quick on her feet, spotted a small ramen restaurant just ahead. "Hey, how about we grab a bite there?" she suggested, hoping to satisfy their hunger and extend their time together.

"Sounds good to me," Ewen chimed in eagerly.

"Yeah, I could go for some ramen," Becky agreed with a mischievous glint in her eye.

Damian remained silent, but Anya noticed the slight furrow in his brow. She couldn't shake the feeling that Becky had something to do with their seating arrangement.

Inside the cozy restaurant, they found themselves seated at a table for four, with Anya strategically placed next to Damian. As they perused the menu, Anya stole a glance at Becky, who was pretending to be engrossed in her own menu but clearly enjoying the situation.

"So, Anya, what's good here?" Ewen asked, breaking the tension with his usual cheerfulness, striking up a conversation with Anya.

Anya smiled, grateful for the distraction. "The pork ramen is really popular here, but they also have a great vegetarian option if anyone prefers that." Anya said looking over the menu.

"Sounds delicious," Becky said, flashing a knowing smile at Anya.

Damian remained quiet, his gaze fixed on the menu as if studying it intensely. Anya couldn't help but feel his discomfort, but she kept her focus on the task at hand—ordering food.

After placing their orders, the conversation flowed more easily. They talked about their favorite places to visit, shared funny anecdotes from school, and even debated which ramen toppings were the best.

As they waited for their food to arrive, Anya stole a sideways glance at Damian. His expression was unreadable, but she sensed an underlying tension. She wondered if he was still upset about something or if it was just his usual demeanor.

"You doing okay there, Desmond?" Anya asked casually, using his first name for once to see his reaction.

Damian looked up briefly, his eyes meeting hers. "Yeah, I'm fine," he replied curtly before returning his attention to his phone.

Anya sighed inwardly, feeling frustrated by his aloofness. She couldn't understand why he was always so distant with her, especially when they were starting to get along better during their outing.

Their ramen arrived shortly after, steam rising from the bowls filled with savory broth and noodles. They dug in eagerly, the delicious aroma filling the air as they enjoyed their meal.

Halfway through their meal, Becky nudged Anya discreetly. "So, enjoying your time with Damian?" she whispered teasingly.

Anya shot her a look, trying not to react. "Becky, seriously?"

Becky shrugged innocently. "What? Just making conversation."

Anya rolled her eyes, focusing on her ramen to avoid further teasing. Despite Becky's antics, she was secretly grateful for the chance to spend time with Damian outside of their usual competitive environment. She just wished he would let his guard down a bit more.

As they finished their meal and prepared to leave the restaurant, Anya couldn't shake the feeling that today had been orchestrated by Becky. Whether it was intentional or not, Anya couldn't deny that spending time with Damian had been surprisingly enjoyable, despite his cold demeanor.

With a sigh, Anya glanced at Damian one last time. "Well, that was a nice break from our usual routine," she commented lightly, hoping to gauge his reaction.

Damian nodded in agreement, his expression softening just a fraction. "Yeah, it wasn't bad."

Anya smiled faintly, sensing a hint of camaraderie. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for a truce between them after all.