one [sachio ueda]

s i x : m a i

It had been days since Fujio told me he'd bring Rao to Oya. I tried to bring it up once or twice but he kept saying he'll bring him one day. I asked him if he was even Rao's friend and he got offended. Instead of calling Rao, he was busy hanging out with Sachio. I quietly kept an eye on them every time they crossed streets or sat in a public place. Stalking. The exact word is stalking. I didn't ask Fujio about Rao again. I didn't want to look desperate or curious. Maybe Fujio wasn't bringing him because he was actually ugly.

It was nearly ten at night when I was wiping the tables at the cafe after a customer had left and heard the door open.

"We're about to close." I said flatly, without turning around.

"But Fujio said it's alright if I visit now." The deep, gruff voice made me turn around.

There was a man, not less than 6'2, wearing black shorts and a t-shirt. His messy hair and attire made it look as if he just woke up for a midnight snack. And his face? He didn't look like a man. He looked like a Greek god. I scanned him from head to toe. He was definitely a professional athlete. How can someone be this tall and buff? He even had the perfect amount of muscles that made him look lean... Not big muscles like a wrestler or bodybuilder.

"Fujio?" I stopped wiping the table as he sat down at a table. "We open at 10 in the morning. You can come tomorrow if you want. We're done for today." I walked back to the counter after cleaning all the tables.

"He also said someone was expecting to see me." He added.

Someone expecting to see him? There was only one person here and that's me.

That could only mean one thing.

"Rao?" I furrowed my eyebrows and turned towards him.

"Yes?" He replied, his eyes full of innocence. He didn't say 'yes, that's me' and that, for some absurd reason, was insanely attractive.

"Y-You're Rao?" I stuttered. I had never seen a guy so huge in real life... I've only seen some in pictures. K-Pop idols, basketball players and other celebrities. I never expected to see such height in an ordinary man.

"Yes." He smiled. That smile made my knees weak. I'd fall any moment now.

"I thought..." I spoke aimlessly. "I thought Fujio... I didn't know you were coming."

"He didn't tell you?" He leaned forward, crossing his arms on the table.

"He did." I blinked multiple times. "He did but I didn't actually expect you to come."

This made him laugh a little. "It's fine. If you want..." He got up from the seat and started heading towards the door. "You can join us for dinner at Fujio's house after you're done."

I stared at him. For some reason, I couldn't speak. I was busy looking at his beautiful face. I saw him as he gave me a smile before closing the door behind him. Then I let out a sigh.

Fuck it. I should've said something. This just made me seem like some anti-social, depressed girl. No. It made me seem rude. Blatant rudeness.

"I'll be there soon." is what I said in my mind.

It was always my responsibility to lock the gates of the cafe and drop the keys back to the owner before midnight. I don't know why the owner gave me this duty. I wasn't even trustworthy.

I mean... Amongst the other two workers, I was probably a better option.

Clicking the lock and closing the door, I heard someone's footsteps behind me. As soon as I turned around, I let out a shriek.

"Yo, what the fuck." I caught my breath, scanning Tsukasa from head to toe.

"I thought you'd forget about us so I came here to drag you back." He grinned.

"I wouldn't say no to Rao." I raised my eyebrows. We started walking down the lane towards Fujio's house.

"You already met him?" His eyes widened. "Where? When!?"

"He literally came here a few minutes ago just because Fujio told him to. Can you believe it?" My voice became shrill like a fangirl screaming for her idol.

"He'd do anything for Fujio." Tsukasa clicked his tongue.

"What's for dinner?" I changed the topic. "I cannot have pizza tonight, please."

"No, apparently it's homemade food."

"What?"

"Fujio said you wouldn't eat anything else."

Aw man.

This man is good to be the end of me. Can't I go one day without feeling guilty?

When we reached, I let Tsukasa open the door first. I was planning to hide behind him but I failed terribly. As soon as we stepped in, there was an uproar. There were more than ten people here. Half of them looked familiar and the other half seemed like they came from another planet.

"They're here!"
"Finally."
"I thought they would come after we finished everything."

"Sorry Mai." Fujio got up, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards the table. "We started eating without you. We couldn't wait, you know. Plus, I couldn't make Rao wait-"

My eyes fell on Rao after scanning the room. He was just sitting there with a small smile on his face. He's the definition of a cute face with a hot body.

The fuck am I saying...

I thought I had learned my lesson with Sachio.

Do not judge a person by his looks... Especially if he's devilishly hot.

I gulped, sitting opposite to Rao and beside Madoka. Madoka was one of Fujio's friends since childhood too.

The number of friends Fujio has made me question all my decisions in life.

I dived right into the food. I hadn't eaten anything for lunch. From the corner of my eyes. I could see Rao looking at me as if I was some clown. He was smiling. He wasn't judging me but still it was embarrassing. Not everyone was a critic like Sachio.

The awkwardness made me look everywhere but at Rao.

Fujio, who was sitting beside Rao, started the conversation. "Mai, you know Rao's full name? It's Mario Misaki. Such a cool name, right?"

"It sounds like the main character of a video game." Tsukasa commented, making Rao laugh.

"Eh? You play video games, Tsukasa?" Fujio leaned in.

"No, but I've heard many avatars having names like Rao's."

"Rao even fights like an avatar. What do you think his weapon would be? A big hammer? A club? Or maybe magical powers." Fujio rattled on.

"No way." An unfamiliar man with spectacles butt in. "Rao's weapon would be a spear."

Everyone cooed at his words.

I looked at Rao. He seemed happy but uneasy. Maybe he didn't like all the attention but he was happy because he was with his friends.

Our eyes met once again as he felt a gaze on him. This time I didn't look away.

Smile, bitch. Smile. Be nice, Mai.

But I was unable to smile so I ultimately had a look away.

I seemed like the only one who ate at the speed of lightning. I finished dinner in less than ten minutes. I ate a lot. And I ate fast.

This is the reason you're not losing weight, Mai.

"I'll am going outside for a while." I told Fujio as I got up.

"Why?" He tried to stop me at first.

"I need some air." I pulled away.

I sat outside the diner on a bench.

It was dark and there were only two streetlights at the end of the lane. The only source of light was the gibbous moon and the stars. The road was filled with the smell of roasted meat. It always was. Oya at night was peaceful. In daylight, there were a lot of hubbubs especially from old aunties. And the direct sunlight depleted all your energy.

I was alone but I wasn't lonely.

"You don't seem to have many friends." I heard a voice that made me jump.