Desire - H. Umemiya

Chapter 11. Out in the Open

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"He's... kinda annoying." 

"Right?! He also acts so stupid sometimes that I just want to pull his hair!" Kotoha answered in agreement.

"M-me too... no, I-I'd actually just go for a punch... for once for... teasing me...."  Yuki brought her hands up, closed her fists and angled them for a punching pose to which Kotoha laughed so hard on, the former too, smiling at her reaction.

It seems like the two had successfully hit it off.

Umemiya can't help but smile as he watches the two from afar although he couldn't hear anything at all.

It just felt like they have been long time friends from the familiar emotions they have been letting out for each other to understand... the big gestures and the exchanges between them makes him absolutely certain that they are long lost friends, though there is a zero possibility of it. It's just making him curious what the subject of their topic is. His attention was cut short when his phone rung from his alarm.

"I should turn off the stove." he murmured.

He left unaware that they were actually getting along from badmouthing him.

"Though, even if he can be clingy, annoying, or stuck up, Ume is... warm at heart. He's helped a lot of people here, including me, and we really appreciate him so much. He's just really kind, that person..." Kotoha's eyes softened as her eyes followed Umemiya's movement.

"..." To this, Yuki only let out a smile and stared at Kotoha unable to answer. 

She had just known Umemiya, so she couldn't actually just say something, especially when she wasn't sure of it... but somehow she think she can agree to her words. 

'He's quite nice.' she thought.

After that, a pleasant kind of silence has engulfed their surrounding. None was speaking but the atmosphere speaks for them.

Umemiya emerged from Yuki's back and put the plate of hot dish in the table before seating down in one of the seats beside Kotoha. 

"Dig in." He enthusiastically presented the dish but immediately shuts up after that.

He was curious why the two had gone quiet but decided not to speak further. For one, he didn't sense anything wrong about the it and two, he didn't want to ruin the atmosphere the two had built.

Yuki shifted her gaze between Kotoha and Umemiya with eyes seeking for approval, the two only smiled and told her it was fine.

"Then... thank you for the food."

Afater that nobody spoke. Their table exuded the calming type of silence that what was left to be heard are only the sounds of cutlery and the voices of other customers talking about their daily lives with their companions.

Soon enough, Yuki finds herself out of the cafe with Kotoha in tow. Umemiya had hesitantly run  an errand somewhere for Kotoha. He even joke about Kotoha hogging his dear junior for herself to which the latter slapped him in the back.. well just lightly.