Life Without You

Chapter 8 - Date Out with Hiroshi

The Michelin-star-awarded Azure 45 at The Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo had a classy interior and served French and Japanese fusion cuisine of exquisite flair. It also boasted a magnificent view of Tokyo from the 45th floor.

Ariel and Hiroshi were seated where the view of the Tokyo tower was visible.

She praised the minimalist and attractive food styling on her plate while carefully taking each bite of her rare beef and studying its taste. Hiroshi observed her with fondness. She was dressed in an off-shoulder, figure-hugging black dress which stretched till above her knees and wore silver stilettos, with her hair tied in a chignon while Hiroshi donned in a smart casual wear with a blue blazer and a white shirt underneath.

Knowing she was a teetotaller, Hiroshi opted for water instead of wine.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"Hijou ni oishii! (ie. Very delicious)!" she nodded, cutting out another small piece of meat with her fork and knife. "Well flavoured with salt, cooked to perfection and bursting with flavour!"

"Sou desu ne! (ie. I agree!)" Hiroshi chuckled as he found her reaction cute. "Don't stress over the flavours of the food here. Just enjoy and have a good evening. It's not work hours now."

"Right, but I can't help it!"

They both giggled.

Hiroshi flashed a gesture to a violinist who came to their table and started playing a romantic ballad, taking Ariel by surprise.

The diners around them turned their heads to witness the scene.

"What's the special occasion?" Ariel tilted her head with a queried look on her face.

"You mean you don't know? It's Valentine's day today!" Hiroshi was baffled at her apparent ignorance.

"Oh!" her jaw dropped and she swiftly covered her mouth. "Pardon my forgetfulness, I didn't know..."

"It seems you've not celebrated Valentine's Day for a long time."

"For years, actually," she said shyly. "I'm a novice to such things."

Hiroshi chuckled, "Then I'm honoured to be the first guy in years to invite you out."

When the violinist finished playing the music, Hiroshi flashed a stalk of red rose from inside his blazer and handed it to Ariel.

Ariel nodded at the rose with a smile, "Thank you. That's so sweet." She smelled the sweet scent from its petals.

"It's a special day that I want to have with you."

"With me? So this is suppose to be a date?"

She realised now why he wanted to invite her out alone.

Hiroshi's cheeks reddened and he turned his head towards the Tokyo Tower through the window.

"I'd like to take you to Tokyo Tower after dinner. Shall we?" He pointed to the tower.

Ariel glanced at the tower. It was the place where she and Leon almost kissed. A part of her did not feel like it, but she did not want to be rude to Hiroshi by refusing.

"Y-yeah, sure. It sounds like a good idea..." she forced a smile.

"Great!" Hiroshi wreathed in smiles and tucked into his food.

————

"Isn't it beautiful?" said Hiroshi as he scanned the Tokyo skyline at the observatory in Tokyo Tower.