Cafe A La Mode

(5) Not So Secret

It was freezing cold. Juri shivered and drew her coat around her tighter as she waited for her friends. Where was everybody? She looked up and down the street, the trees completely bare of leaves, and no one was in sight. She shuddered.

“Juri-chan!”

Juri whirled around to find Emiko running towards her, her short hair pulled back from her face by a cute yellow headband. She was also sporting a think plaid jacket, which looked so snug. Juri made a mental note to herself to buy more winter clothing.

“Sorry I’m late!” Emiko said as soon as she reached her.

Juri smiled. “No that’s okay.”

“We should have a sleepover at my place tonight,” Emiko suggested. “After work I mean.”

“Oh! That sounds like fun!” Juri beamed happily. It had been a while since they all had a sleepover, and she missed those times.

“What sounds like fun?” 

Juri shrieked and jerked back as the voice came from behind her. She looked behind her, her heart pounding in her chest. “Meru-chan! You scared me!”

Meru smiled, and her friends could tell right away that she was much happier than yesterday. She just couldn’t stop smiling, and she had a light bounce in her step. Juri pondered quietly for a moment. Something must have happened after they left the café…and Eiji did stay behind. It would seem that things had sorted themselves out, but before she could ask her friend what, she was interrupted by Emiko.

“I was just telling Juri-chan that we should have a sleepover tonight, at my place after work.”

Meru nodded. “Great. We can brainstorm what we should do this Friday, since we went to Laser Tag last week.”

“Oh! Good idea. Where’s Ari-chan? And what’s taking her so long?” Emiko looked around and found Arisa strolling towards them. She had just come in hearing range when Emiko said that.

“Yyyyeees?” Arisa drawled out in reply, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Juri laughed. “There you are my child~! Emi-chan was just about to tell us something,” she informed her. Emiko laughed and shook her head at Juri’s greeting. Arisa laughed and put away her small pink phone as she waited for her friends to continue.

“Well, I just told Meru-chan and Juri-chan,” Emiko began as they started along the path to school. “That we should have a sleepover after work tonight. Meru-chan suggested we compile ideas on what we should do this Friday night, since we always somehow end up resorting to shopping…”

“The sleepover is tonight?” Arisa asked.

“Yeah,” Emiko nodded and the girls awaited her response.

“After work?”

“Yup.”

Arisa looked thoughtful. Then she shook her head. “Sorry I can’t…at least not right away. I have already made plans.” She shrugged apologetically.

“Really? Doing what?” Meru asked quizzically. Arisa, going out on a school night without them? Exactly what would she be doing? And by herself? The night could be a dangerous place for a young schoolgirl…especially if she wandered into the wrong places…

“Nothing,” Arisa replied, averting her eyes.

“You can’t go alone, you could get hurt,” Juri’s eyes widened at the prospect.

“I won’t be alone. I’ll be fine guys, I can take care of myself,” Arisa assured them. “It’s just a movie…” Arisa drifted off when she realised she had just revealed too much.