ex-husband

thought about it ?

"You what?"

You stared at Mei in shock, as she smirked, with your phone in hand.

"I set you up a date. Why am I not hearing a thank you?"

"Because you don't deserve to be thanked," you scowled as you swiped your phone from her hands, opening the messages she'd sent and reading over the back and forth she had with that guy who hit on you.

"He said he's been seeing you everywhere - in his dreams mostly, but a week ago, he said he saw this woman with what seemed to be her boyfriend, and that she looked exactly like you. He was gonna embarrass himself and come up to say hi but you disappeared, he said."

"Hm," you grunted, not really taking her words in. "Can you think of a clever way to let this guy down nicely, now? Maybe be honest and tell him that you're my weirdo friend - or maybe even just go on the date with him yourself!"

"Hey, this guy is seeing you in his dreams," Mei insisted. "Give him a chance."

"Maybe in like, 10 years."

"By that time, you'll have gotten back together with Satoru," Mei muttered.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing," she smiled sweetly. "Seriously, just go on one date with this guy. It's not gonna kill anybody."

No, it just brutally maimed Satoru's heart.

After your little bakery date last week, he thought that you'd left things off on fairly good terms, despite everything. You were a little embarrassed about your outburst, but Satoru did everything possible to embarrass himself so that you didn't think about it.

Things had been going well, generally. You both had a plan to take Kiyo out this weekend, and he had been over way more often. You got to the point of asking if he had any assignments that the elders were pestering him about for being at home all the time and Satoru lied, smiling, saying "Of course not!"

But of course, they were. Satoru had just given them a stern reminder of who held the most power in their society. They decided to be nice and give him a little break.

The Wednesday before your perfect trip, Satoru had already meticulously planned out to have the most picture perfect family trip ever (sharing ice cream, having your fingers slightly brush against each other, taking photo booth pictures where'd you all stick your tongue out and - ooh! both of you could kiss either side of Kiyo's cheek and maybe if Satoru was quick about moving Kiyo to the side he could have an accidental lip brush with you -- ) Satoru slapped his face.

Okay, he was getting a bit too crazy. He needed to be happy with what he was getting. And he absolutely was.

Until you told him about your date.

You were super hesitant about it. Lots of, "I don't even want to go's," and "Mei is so annoying's," but Satoru kind of short circuited and stopped working after you said the words date and man. He kind of just had to nod and agree, looking like a dunce, letting you know that he could pack the bags before the trip if it made it easier for you ('AM I STUPID????' is all that went through his brain as he said those words).

"No," you shook your head. "I'll pack before then, I'm already being a nuisance with this stupid date." You clearly weren't looking forward to it, you clearly didn't want to go. And while it may seem reassuring to other people, Satoru was imagining the scenario where this mystery man blows it out of the water with his charm and romance skills, and sweeps you off your feet.

The horror.

The second he was alone, Satoru frantically called Mei, begging her to stop pushing you, telling her that he'd give her as much money as she wants. But for once (and only this once), Mei refused.