The Guy I've Always Loved (Anime Story)

Chapter 36: Visit to Hakata

- Akihiro's POV -

9:29 AM

I sat in my office as usual and looked through papers of the company. On the laptop, I researched what the company should and shouldn't invest in. 

Knock Knock

"Come in." I looked up to see who was coming in. 

Mariko walked into my office with a tray of food. "I have your breakfast ready, Aki." 

"Where's Naoto? He usually brings my food." I continued to look at the laptop. 

She put the tray on top of the desk I was working at. "Since I'm your fiancé, I wanna do things that could help you." She sat on my desk and looked at me. 

"Get off my desk, Mariko, that's unsanitary." I looked at her with cold eyes. 

"Sir?" Naoto walked into the room with his hands behind his back, elegantly. "Is this a bad time?" 

I cleared my throat. "Not at all. Did you want to tell me something?" 

"Yes. Today, a company in Hakata wants us to sponsor them. You and your older brother, Kaito, would be attending." 

"Can I come too?" Mariko looked back at Naoto and smiled. 

"If you wish." Naoto bowed. "We will be leaving at 10:15 AM." He opened the door and left the office. 

"Hakata? Isn't that where you used to go to school?" She tilted her head. 

I closed my laptop and got off my chair. "Yeah." 

In Our Airport

Kaito, Mariko, and I walked up to the private jet that we owned. 

"Oh my god! This is so big!" Mariko lifted one leg off the floor and put her hands together in excitement. 

Kaito walked up to me and put his hand on my shoulder. "We're only gonna be there for a short while, so don't get too attached." 

I rolled my eyes and gave him the death stare. "You don't tell me what to do." 

"Calm down now, Aki." Mariko touched my arm. 

Kaito smirked. "Don't I? You will listen to my every command if you want your precious friends to live a happy and peaceful life." 

I continued to give him the death stare, but I realized it didn't matter, I have to follow his commands. "Let's just get on the plane." 

4 Hours Later: 2:36 PM

"We have landed in Hakata," The pilot said on the speaker. 

I walked out of the plane and Mariko, immediately, clung onto my arm.

Kaito got off the phone while looking at his phone. "Appears we have the meeting at 4 PM." He put his phone back in his phone. "My statement still stands, don't get too attached. I'll text you the location later." He was escorted out of the airport and then disappeared.

Mariko clung onto me tighter. "Let's go sightseeing, Aki."

I closed my eyes and exhaled. "If you want..."

"Great! Let's go to Fukuoka, I heard there are great Gyozas there." She jumped in excitement and dragged me out of the airport.

At the Gyoza Store

We walked inside while linking arms as everyone looked at us. It was almost like everyone thought we were foreign. Not a surprise since I was wearing a tuxedo and she was wearing an expensive dress.

Mariko walked over to the counter. "Can we have a plate of Gyoza?"

The cashier nodded his head and started to make us some.

"Have you ever tried Gyoza, Aki?" She smiled.

I just looked at her with a blank face while my hands were in my pockets. "Eh."

Mariko pouted. "That doesn't say much..."

"Here you go." The cashier put the plate in front of us.

"Wanna eat it here?" She asked while taking the plate of Gyoza.

"Nah, let's go walk around." I headed out of the store.

Mariko quickly ran up to me and put her arm around mine while holding the plate. "Aki, try some." She poked the Gyoza with a skewer and put it near my mouth.

I opened wide and took a bite of it. My eyes widened and I chewed on it some more. "Wow, this is really good." 

She smiled. "I told you so." 

We stood next to each other on the street, waiting for the light to turn white for us to cross the road. Mariko continued to eat her Gyoza peacefully with a skewer. 

I looked down at my watch and it said 3:10 PM. I put my hand back in my pocket and looked straight ahead. "School's out already." 

The light turned white and the civilians around crossed the road. She threw the plate away once she was finished with her food. I waited for her to grab onto my arm and then we walked the road. Suddenly, a boy and a girl ran across the road trying to avoid bumping into others. 

"Hey, give me back my school bag!" Her forehead had cross-popping veins and her fist was in the air when she was running. 

"You'll have to catch me first!" He stuck out his tongue and ran past Mariko and me. 

"That's not fair! You have fast legs!" She kept on running after him and when she was next to me, everything was in slow motion. 

I looked to the side and my eyes widened. Takami. Why are you in Fukuoka High School's uniform?