The Life You Live

Chapter 8

The next day went along just like every other. Homeroom main curriculum. P.E., Instrumental elective, ensemble club, and tutoring. By 7pm Kaya's stomach was growling audibly in protest when she and Sensei Iehiro began packing up to leave. She was looking forward to sleeping in an extra hour or two before going to the music shop the following Saturday.

"Sounds like I need to pack two bentos." She voiced more to herself than the company she was with. Cooking wasn't her favorite thing, but food was life. While she was well off to eat out as occasion permitted, she still needed to cook foodstuff herself to accommodate her needs.

. . . .

The next day, after he glossed through the schedule with a measure of tiredness; he couldn’t have been more relieved to finally hear the alarm that indicated it was time to go. And, of course, Kaya’s grumbling stomach. He smiled sheepishly as his own followed suit but didn’t say anything yet. Rather, he focused on packing up, locking the theater, and locking the school gate when they were done.
Then, they were walking in the direction of Kaya’s apartment. Though he didn’t necessarily want to go there. Not that he was thinking unprofessional thoughts or anything...
“I found a shortcut home,” he said after a few moments. “Let’s go this way.” He flashed her a shapely smile, potentially mischievous, and looked over his shoulder before crossing the street and leading Kaya down its more populated length. He led her on a bit of a wild goose chase, actually, and she’d find that when ten minutes passed, they’d already moved away from the only two streets that went in the direction of her apartment building.

Should she attempt to call him on it, he’d say something like, “come come, just trust me,” without explanation.
And just when the finally rounded a block, as if to reroute, Bunji came to a stop outside a rather nice restaurant and held the door open; indigo eyes sifting over to her expectantly.
And should she enter, he’d follow her in and they’d be seated after a woman asked, “do you have a reservation?” and when Bunji Iehiro, “Iehiro.”
Not that this was planned or anything…

He all but whipped open a menu, daring a look up at her with a smile she would have learned was reserved for moments outside of school.

. . . .

Kaya's eyes furrowed in curiosity when Sensei Iehiro said he found a short cut. She was 100% that wasn't possible, given she had walked this area for three years she knew the most direct way from school to home. Instead of calling him out on this, she decided to go along with it and see what he was up to.

They ended up at a more populated area of town. Being Friday night people of various ages were out and about shopping, dining, or socializing. They came to the door of a restaurant and when he kindly opened the door she stepped through.

The air in the place smelled exceptionally delicious. She noticed the atmosphere was definitely dine in and posh. This wasn't a cheap place to eat like a ramen cart or fast food as they were lead to an upper level of the restaurant were they got their own private room, typically reserved for business meetings or high number of guests in a particular group. At least the only ones who would see her in her school uniform and him here were the front desk personnel and their server.

Maybe taking a couple of minutes to change into something more business attired before beginning tutoring was an idea worth considering. Not for any unprofessional reason of not wanting to be seen as a student. If anything it would incite further professionalism as her mom always said dress for the part you want to achieve, not the part you are presently.

That's what Kaya thought to herself as they sat down across from one another upon cushions and a table between them while the waitress asked to take their drink orders so they could look over the menu. "Oolong tea for me please." She told and then started looking over the menu.