one [sachio ueda]

t w e n t y : t h i r d p e r s o n

"You're not talking much." Rao plucked the lettuce from Mai's burger.

"Thinking."

"Thinking what?"

"Thinking thoughts."

He scoffed out a laugh.

"How did I even become Fujio's friend?" She exclaimed, making Rao jump. "It was him who became friends with me, isn't it? If you see it that way, we have nothing in common anymore. I don't think we ever did. It's like he forced me to become his friend. Like adopting me." She paused and caught a glimpse of Rao smiling down at his plate. "He did the same with you, didn't he?" She pointed a fork at Rao.

Rao's smile just widened. He didn't reply but his expressions told her everything she needed to know. There she was. The person whom Rao was looking forward to meeting. The talkative version of Mai.

Suddenly, the wooden door of the diner swung open, revealing two familiar figures. Mai jerked up right after her eyes fell on them.

"Fujio and Sachio? Hi." Rao looked up at them too.

Mai distorted her face and hid her face in her hands. Is this a joke to Sachio? She literally left Toaru this morning. Mai hated it when Sachio came to Oya. It was those times when she couldn't even be comfortable in the place she lived in. He should just stick to Toaru.

"Rao! My big boy!" Fujio jumped on him from the back, wrapping his arms around his neck.

Sachio squinted his eyes at Mai as he sat at the same table they sat in. He snatched Mai's burger from the plate and started eating it.

"What the fuck?" She slowly turned her head towards him.

"So, Rao..." Sachio's voice came out muffled as he kept chewing. "What are your intentions with Mai?"

"Sachio, shut up." She snapped immediately.

Sachio ignored her and took another bite. "Do you plan to throw her into the river? I'll help you. Or maybe feed her to the animals in the zoo?"

"Wow, you are lame." Mai commented, which obviously, again, was ignored by Sachio.

Rao kept quiet and covered his smile, as expected from a calm giant. Fujio sat down in between Rao and Sachio, facing opposite Mai.

Mai couldn't make Sachio shut up with words. Maybe it's time for action.

"Rao, let's go and give this 'couple' some privacy." Mai reached out for Rao's hand and pulled him up, dragging him out from the table.

This definitely caught Sachio's attention. He stopped chewing for a few seconds, as if the food got stuck in his throat.

"Bye." Rao gave them both a small wave. His face was as innocent as ever.

"Couple?" Fujio turned back, seeing them leave the diner. "Are they talking about us?" He looked at Sachio cluelessly.

Sachio in reply, sighed and put down the burger. His appetite was suddenly gone after seeing them hold hands. Rao not reacting negatively to Mai's touch made him feel more envious. He blew another chance.

"You seem very upset recently." Rao stated as they walked down the lanes.

"I'm always upset." She started kicking stones and pebbles away from the path as she walked.

"Then..." He continued. "Today you're extra upset."

She kept quiet and kicked the stones harder.

"You can't do anything about it."

"I'll try." Rao pulled out something that was in his pocket the whole time. It was a miniature pink rabbit wearing a scarf. "Here."

"This?" She took it from him and examined it. "You want me to have this?"

"Will it make you feel better?"

She scoffed in reply. "Where did you even get this?"

"A girl at the orphanage gave it to me."

"And you're giving it to me?"

"I have no use for that."

"You think I do?"

"Yeah?" He wrinkled his nose. "It made me happy. It'll make you happy too."

Mai hid her small smile as she shook her head. "The thought counts, I guess." She said, looking down at the figurine on her palm. "It's cute."

That's when Rao knew he succeeded.