4 is for "happiness" and doesn't mean "to die"

Chapter 8

I watch individuals, couples and groups of people pass by as I wait at our meeting point. In my excitement, I arrived ten minutes early.

Yui and I are going on a date!

A romantic date!

I fiddle with my top and then play with the trimming of my bag. I check my face with my phone's front camera and fix up my fringe. Nervousness builds up as I wait.

I hope I look cute enough for her.

Maybe I shouldn't have come this early.

But I'd rather wait than make her wait.

I catch someone who looks like Yui, but she has a face mask on so it's until she gets closer that I'm certain it's my girlfriend.

I grin and run up to tackle Yui into a hug. She stumbles a step back but quickly stabilises us before I can panic about tumbling down.

"H-hey...! Sorry I'm late."

"You're not late. I'm just early."

"Sorry for making you wait."

I look at Yui, confused as to why she's so apologetic.

"It's okay, Yui."

Her eyes widen and she whips around as if to check her surroundings. "C-can we not use our names around here?"

"Ah, sorry," I sheepishly say. No one is paying attention to us but if it makes her feel more comfortable, I'll definitely comply.

"Let's go?"

"Hm? Okay." I thread my fingers with hers and lead us inside. I openly admire her as we walk up the stairs. She's really dressed up for me.

"You're so cute Yu—um."

She laughs and hides her eyes with her free hand momentarily. "Guu. Call me Guu."

Is that after Ariana Grande?

"Nice to meet you, Guu," I say cheekily. "I'm M."

"Nice to meet you, M."

"You're cute, Guu."

"You're cuter," Yui fires back.

I narrow my eyes. "No, you're cuter."

"You are!"

"No, you!"

We continue to bicker as we reach the level of the gay bar where we met. When we reach the door we silently agree to behave ourselves as we open it.

Nanako instantly recognises us. "Welcome back! Can I take your order?" she asks.

"Fried chicken and takoyaki please."

"Same."

"Coming right up!" Nanako confirms.

We look around. It's just us two and another couple for now. We move to an empty spot a good distance away from them and sit down.

I bring our hands onto the table and play with them.

"You're so brave," I say. "I've been trying to confess to you for a while but I keep putting it off."

"Really? How come you keep putting it off?"

I don't want to tell her that I broke a friend's heart. I saw how painful it was for her; actually I cannot imagine how painful it was.

"...I was scared I'd hurt you," I murmur, not really lying. "I wasn't sure if I deserved you."

"Well you do and more. I won't let you go no matter what."

"Oh?" I look at Yui's face and she becomes flustered.

"Um. If you don't mind," she murmurs at our table.

"I won't let you go too. Please take care of me."

Yui meets my eyes again. "Please take care of me too."

Nanako comes by with our orders. We both eat a piece of chicken.

"I'm curious though. What made you confess now?" I ask.

"Who else but our dear older sister."

I laugh.

"She said," Yui continues, "that you're never going to make the first move so I should ask you out before we ... we all grow old and cranky."

I noticed how she hesitated. Instead of following up I mutter, "Wow, Su-chan."

Yui darts a certain look at me and I quickly cover my mouth.

"Woops. I'll be careful."

"You'd better," she warns. She glances over at the other couple. "Wanna go karaoke after this?"

I beam. "Yeah!"

We can have a private room that's soundproof, so we can talk without worrying about being overheard.

I also want to serenade her with a love song. And maybe have our first kiss.

Our date goes well. We didn't talk much in the karaoke room but we're having a blast from singing song after song. Yui looks happy and that's all that matters.

But I don't expect her to look devastated and cry in the middle of my serenading.

I drop my mic and hug her tightly. "Did I do something wrong?"

Yui shakes her head against mine. "No, you're perfect. I love you so much but... but I'm going to hurt you."

"What do you mean? I love you too." I'm happy at the first half of her confession but the latter half worries and confuses me.

"...I'm leaving."

"Leaving so soon? Do you have to go somewhere?"

Yui shakes her head and clarifies her answer but I don't hear it properly over the song that's still playing. Or I did but I need to make sure.

"I'm leaving BABYMETAL."

I inhale sharply.

I knew this was coming.

I knew but I was hoping that it wouldn't happen.

What a selfish person I am.

"It must have been an extremely difficult decision, Yui. I'm proud of you for saying 'no'."

"How come you're not crying..."

"You want me to cry?" I laugh as my heart clenches and my eyesight blurs.

"Because ... because the anime project won't go ahead because of me...."

I watch as Yui's face scrunches up further; she's bawling.

She's so hurt on my behalf because I was looking forward to the launch of the BABYMETAL anime project.

She's hurt because she doesn't want me to be upset.

I hug her tightly as tears flow down my cheeks, wetting her top. "But now you can recover properly and then change your road towards the future. Your health and dreams are very important, Yui. Don't forget that."

四 四 四 四

A/N: Another short chapter for another small victory! The next one that some people may read will be double the length heh heh heh

For reasons