A few hours later, the clouds weren’t making any sign that the rain will stop anytime soon. Anna could swear she was back to England. Having nothing to do that day, Anna started to clean the mess she has done and the mess Nao has done earlier that day. Truthfully, now that she started to take a closer look, the apartment was actually neat except the books and papers thrown randomly.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquQtrSmYAu
She finished cleaning the kitchen rather fast but it left her with a small amount of agreeable and comestible food. Anna had to go out and shop for groceries. Also, since she didn’t bring many clothes with her in that extraordinary and very unenthusiastically adventure in Japan she had to buy some more. She knew exactly where to go and who to call for help on that matter.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEeeL0W7kK
“So you want me to come and accompany you shopping?” Takeshi asked, fondling with a piece of paper he found on the ground, next to the couch. “And why would I do that?”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OHtVPoUA4
“Because you are a highly respected fashion prodigy whose mother is an excellent fashion designer. That’s one point why you should come. The second would be the fact that you love to play dress-up with me, on me actually.”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZP3aqB3WF
Takeshi rubbed his chin and raised an eyebrow. For one second he was reluctant but in the next one, he smiled happily.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoWPnUUJOJ
“You know me too well.”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhDO5J9Sxl
Anna shook her head and laughed. That, until she realized the piece of paper Takeshi was playing with. She tilted her head to the side, like she usually does when she is confused or curious, and grabbed it from him.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtxS7cJaLK
“What is this…”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzXOEsHysd
She unfolded it, quite hard actually since Takeshi practically messed with it badly, and started to read out loud.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36Tfqdqf2w
“Mister Naoki Watanabe, I am honored to have you working on the cover of our magazine. However, I have to inform you that the project we are currently running for New World Magazine is shortly running out. You have to send us the pictures immediately. There is one week left until the close up. Please, keep in mind that it is just the first round. Best wishes and good luck, President of New World Magazine, Isaac Morin.”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJY591HIqx
At the same time, both artists made a sound of comprehension.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2ktoeWbya
“New World Magazine is a French magazine for environment. They usually try to show their readers the beautiful places in the world that are still intact. And people. They put a lot of accent on the way people live. He must be really good if they chose him to work on their cover.” Takeshi concluded.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VcrlDxk5P
“But he has just one week left to take the pictures he needs and all he’s done until now is…”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijiBhaLZQI
Takeshi smirked and wiggled his eyebrows.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTPhzIL1RU
“Follow you around?”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40HrSdQPCf
She glared harshly at her friend and walked into her room. Takeshi followed closely and leaned against the doorframe. He watched as she dressed really fast into a pair of pale green pants and tucked her large cream shirt in. She brushed her hair one again and grabbed her glasses.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CLvISCv4C
“We're going shopping?”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2OkCOQYT1
While she ran around, looking for the house keys and an umbrella, she shot him a sarcastic smile. Takeshi watched as she grabbed her small leather jacket and tied her shoelaces. She looked quite badass now that he looked better. Not noticing, Anna walked closer to him and patted his chest.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU02ENRCz6
“You’re going shopping.” She grabbed a list from the counter and gave it to him, or more like threw it into his hands. “We’ll meet at the groceries shop across the street after I’m done.” She smiled really cutely and walked out her apartment, leaving a dumbstruck Takeshi behind. He sighed and shook his head.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MGpWWIVLL
“She’s such a child…”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGDOsvAZIH
Even though he was annoyed because she just let him do her chores, he couldn’t help but also get amused by her twisted personality.
“This was such a bad idea.”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNphMnfvJ3v
After she left the apartment, she originally wanted to take a taxi to Chris’s hotel, where probably Nao was. The only thing she ignored until then was that…967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkfaK2FpUV
“I don’t have any idea where the hotel is…” She puffed her cheeks, annoyed, in the middle of the street while it was raining heavily. Trying to contain her anger, she closed her eyes and bit her lower lip.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcCFK3aayK
“What are you doing?”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w8WKvsuc1
Sensing that whoever spoke was probably referring to her, because no one was that dumb to stand in the middle of the road except her, she sighed heavily and turned to face the stranger. Surprisingly, it was Kyoya. He was dressed in a way that made him look like a host, which wasn’t something unexpected since he did work as one before.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKxK5gRNNW
“I wanted to get somewhere but I forgot I don’t know the address.”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncTbvNSvoe
Kyoya had the same habit as her: he tilted his head to one side and pouted, confused.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnVpBAwduM
“Where is that?”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3DMpZyqnw
She shrugged. She didn’t even know the name. Maybe Nao wasn’t even at Chris’s hotel for all she could know. It was all really messed up. 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHlP4hji1C
“Well what’s the name?”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrNjwLV8ap
“I think it’s called Riverview -or something- Hotel.” Kyoya raised an eyebrow, making him look even cuter than before. “Well? Do you know where it is?”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGstEULLdD
Kyoya shook his head, making Anna drop hers in shame.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2GsA33cra
“Come on. Let’s go get coffee. You look like a lost puppy.”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyI43xmYM0
Anna rolled her eyes and playfully pushed him. Surprising was the fact that he actually stumbled, trying to regain his balance.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8AFUNwpJM
“You’re such a girl.” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy7M8QZQSQ
He scoffed and started to walk in front of her, making her chuckle. 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGETA7aCtV
They ended at Kyoya’s workplace: the bohemian coffee shop. It was really warm inside and granted to the weather, there were many customers. The place wasn’t big enough therefore it was quite crowded.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xNbYaL5fO
“I thought you said we’re going to drink coffee?” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcyomtl7fw
Kyoya nodded and led her to the stairs. That was a place made especially for customers that also helped the small coffee shop throughout time. Anna, by herself, helped a lot by always coming with new customers. She also helped promote it in other countries, therefore having an honorable seat already prepared.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptmJdvm25J
The upper part of the shop looked bigger and had just three people wandering around. It looked like a flat, from what she could see. There was a large hall, where they were standing, with a lot of colorful cushions and small tables, with big glassy windows that didn’t show the outsiders what was there, a lot of posters with musicians and a huge white piano next to one of the windows. It was beautiful and not even Anna, who was rarely amazed, could be so ignorant and unappreciative. 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmyNzuJxW5
Being entranced by the room, she didn’t see the person walking in from a different room. He was amused to see her there but also, he knew how special that place was for her.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEWFkUbGn2
“Ah, Nao! You’re here?”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D3bGZJ1Bm
That three letters name was enough to get Anna back to reality. She blinked a few times while the subject simply stared at her, a taunting smirk playing on his lips. 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOFHZ1We8D
Kyoya backed off, sensing how the atmosphere got very tense. 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5Zwbczjuk
“You know each other?”
“Yes.” Both responses came on the same tone. “What are you doing here?” Again, they asked at the same time. 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EuVe4am7V
Anna narrowed her eyes suspiciously but Nao seemed pretty neutral.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTM3RlTucwn
“Actually, I wanted to see you.” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuazRWIZ82
Anna’s words got the older man almost suprised. Almost. He wasn’t sure if he should back off or stand still when he saw her walking closer. When she finally stopped in front of him, she grabbed something from her pocket and showed it to him. 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeafV5edju
“It seems you have just one week to send the pictures.” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuyWBXTJAy
For a moment he looked dumbstruck. He was still registering her words. When he finally caught on what was the information about, he nodded and took the paper from her hand.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6Ms1xdERc
“Thanks” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7oKPwpBfb
With a one word answer he turned his back on her. He could still hear, though. Her scoff didn’t go unnoticed but neither his facial expression. She could see his reflection in the window. He was smirking smugly.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcFahdsix9
“You’re an annoying brat.” She commented but it didn’t seem to affect him. 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4BzQHNfJK
Moreover, it just urged him to piss her off. With a graceful turn, he walked closer to her, occupying the space that was earlier between them and leaned in. Their faces were very close and even though she was trying really hard to be calm, she was mesmerized by his eyes. Not as much as him, though. Her green orbs were definitely the cause he couldn’t sleep multiple nights after he left her apartment 4 years ago.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7wLkEJyxR
“Who came all the way to see me?” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFxidK0byB
She puffed her cheeks childishly but didn’t respond. He definitely caught her without a comeback. It sincerely made him happy to see her acting like a normal woman instead of a smartass.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECOM2Dvi8a
“Back off…” She mumbled, pushing him slightly.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZNRgfEO3h
She couldn’t really face him in that moment. Every piece of courage left in an instant. It pissed her off but she couldn’t negate how weird it felt when he was too close.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxBkXEEqyM
It was amusing therefore he started to chuckle, making her feel innocent in front of him. It was a feeling she never felt before. It was a weakness and she had to get rid of it as fast as she could.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQkGeteh37
Trying to ignore him, she walked towards the table in the middle of the room. It was round and really big. Right in time, Kyoya entered the hall again with two cups of coffee. Sensing that the atmosphere changed in better, he smiled boyishly at Anna and sat next to her.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtn8xlICHO
“So, do you like this place? It’s been a while since you had last seen it, it improved a lot huh?” Kyoya’s excitement was contagious. 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4tqcMnPVZ
Anna forgot about the older male quickly and moved her attention on the youngest.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuuDfh4m9K
“Indeed. It was just an abandoned place before. It really looks amazing.” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9gtTRajqr
Kyoya nodded happily.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhGqunCyKK
“And do you know who’s responsible?” The young male pointed at Nao even though he was not paying attention. 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqErGoaIQZ
He was looking at Anna’s reflection on the mirror. Seeing her again, being playful around her, pissing her off wasn’t actually his intention. In his mind, the whole scenario was romantic. Reality was harsh and it came like a slap on the face. He was stupid to think that she would simply run to him and share her unconditional love for him. That didn’t happen and he was sure it won’t happen in the near future either.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sHA7Ma7sb
“Him? But I brought him here just once; 4 years ago. Did he come by often after I left?”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H6KxrlGjd
“Seriously? Often? Maybe almost every day in the next year or so! After that he left too and eventually got married. He never brought his wife here though.” Kyoya sais before he rubbed his chin, thinking deeply about something. “Right. Naoki-san! Why didn’t you bring Ai-chan around?” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GBCpPmdth
Nao sighed and rubbed the back of his head. He didn’t know how to explain himself with the reason being right there.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyI1qSkBCa
“She’s a busy person.” His response was vague. 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGuIxoQNfb
Anna chuckled silently, trying not to grab attention. That coffee shop was something she introduced to Nao. Naturally, it meant something for their relationship. His wife didn’t have any place in the equation so she understood Nao’s emotions.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7XpEgiEWM
“Then,” She started. “I should thank you for helping this little place, right?” She tilted her head to one side and smiled softly. For her, it didn’t mean much. It was just a sign of respect. For him, though, it meant the world. His heart started to beat faster and he felt himself sweating. It was quite a big gesture.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5trfXzyk0
While Nao started to think about a response for her, the door opened again and the three pairs of eyes turned in sync to see who entered. It was a man that Anna hadn’t seen in quite a long time. She still remembered him, though. His eyes looked more tired and his whole appearance was better than in college; he actually looked like a business man.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxUsU09hAJ
“Well, well, look who came to visit my humble home,” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqXe8p3zvu
Anna started to chuckle and flipped him off. The man started to laugh and walked closer to her. They hugged and he kissed her cheek. Nao and Kyoya didn’t expect the two to know each other and they just remained perplexed in their seats.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9yrmkHM6W
“I honor you with my presence, Ayumu. Like always.” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhyVSBRFT2
They let go but Ayumu still had a tight grip on her shoulder.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmofp3c0An2
“Old habits die hard, little princess?”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsQE6U5bXW
She stuck her tongue at him and pouted.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJLZKQsndE
Nao and Kyoya were still surprised, though. The interaction between the café boss and the author was more than friendly. Nao could see in Ayumu’s eyes that he was looking differently at her than most men.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZTlrofWN2
“How do you know each other, boss?”967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC83cEMDCV
Kyoya was one talkative boy. He didn’t like to be left out of something and he definitely didn’t have any patience. He was very forward with his words and very sincere. That was a good point for him but it also meant that he felt the need to tell people the truth. That was how he got fired from his last job as a host.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNWVrDggRw
“We went to the same university. Believe it or not, the little princess here majored in Business and Management. We were classmates.” Ayumu answered with a smile.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxmRUnvKop
It was obvious that Ayumu looked up to the woman even though she was younger. They were classmates which meant Anna had spoken to him about a lot of things before. Ayumu started to ramble about how they met and the whole history of their friendship. It ticked Nao off that Anna used to hang around so many boys and didn’t really have many friends who were girls.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTWlM5novf
Brushing off his possessiveness, he remembered what he wanted to ask the café boss in the first place.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaV9falCLLo
“Ayumu-san, that other room at the end of the hall,” The man nodded as a sign for Nao to continue. “I heard it is unoccupied?” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwW9h1AYGD
The man nodded again but he knew were that was going. He smiled happily and let go of his friend. He walked towards Nao and stuck his hand out. The older man stared at his hand, a little taken aback.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZi0aeWmoT
“Consider it yours. You have done a lot for this coffee shop, Naoki-san. This is my way to repay you. You can use it for how long you want.” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxj0EvNDb2
Nao smiled politely and shook hands with the boss. Ayumu’s grip on his hand, though, hardened at some point and he pulled Nao closer.967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG80yzOweG
“Girls are not allowed up here without my approval.” 967Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1VfynOTJe
The older man nodded and Ayumu let his hand go.
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