Hayato blinked, still processing. 'She actually said "yes"?' Although he'd suggested it first, he never thought she would really agree, it was almost half jokingly, but now that she agreed he didn't know what to do.
Across from him, Sayu's head was bowed slightly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. He could tell she was second-guessing herself.
'I can't believe I actually agreed…' she thought. 'But there's no turning back now. Pride isn't going to pay my tuition. Besides… it's just acting. What could go wrong?'
"Are you sure?" Hayato asked, a flicker of uncertainty in his tone.
Sayu lifted her head slightly, giving a small, determined nod. "I am. As you probably saw from my phone, I… I need help."
Hayato hesitated. "Yeah… I'm sorry for checking without your permission."
She waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine. I've thought about it. If it helps me solve this problem, a little acting won't hurt."
Relief washed over Hayato. 'If she had waited another day, I'd already have to tell my mother the truth… and I really don't want to deal with that.'
"Okay, then—" he began, but Sayu raised a finger, cutting him off.
"But we need rules."
"Rules?" he repeated, a little taken aback.
"Boundaries," she clarified, her voice firmer now. "Limits on how far this act goes. I don't want it to interfere with my personal life."
'Ah, of course,' he thought. "Right… so, what do you propose?"
Sayu straightened, her gaze steady. "No acting without the other knowing. Physical contact stays minimal: hand-holding, staged hugs, that kind of thing. Public appearances only, nothing private."
Hayato nodded slowly, impressed. "Makes sense."
"And… what about a time limit?" she asked.
"Oh, probably until my parents let it go."
"Good," Sayu said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "And if one of us feels it's getting too complicated… we stop. Agreed?"
"Agreed," Hayato confirmed, leaning back slightly.
He raised his eyebrows, a teasing glint in his eye. "Also… no real feelings. I know it'll be hard with a face like mine, but I'm not looking for anything right now."
"Of course," she said, forcing a smile slightly. "And it goes both ways."
'Okay… we can do this. Just a fake act… simple, right?' Sayu thought.
Now that they finished with it, they seemed oblivious to the next stage. Silence settled over the table, thick and awkward, as if the air itself wasn't sure what to do now that the deal was done.
A waiter approached, polite but tentative. "Is there anything else I can get for you?"
Hayato glanced at the menu, then back at the waiter. "A… macchiato, please." His voice was calm, but the slight hesitation betrayed him.
The waiter nodded, retreating quietly, leaving them alone again.
"Um… so…" one of them finally said, eyes darting toward the other. "What should we do now?"
The question hung there, unanswered, caught between expectation and uncertainty, as the hum of the café filled the silence.
* * *
Meanwhile…
The bar was quiet, a few customers scattered around, the low hum of chatter mixing with the clink of glasses. Zeno swept the counter methodically, glancing up when the door creaked open.
"Hey," Rin waved as she slid onto a stool at the counter.
"Hey, Rin," Zeno replied with a smile. "What brings you here tonight?"
"Oh… I was just around the area, thought I'd drop by," she said, fidgeting slightly as she settled in.
"Well, I'm glad you did. Can I get you anything? Do you drink?" he asked.
Rin raised her hands, shaking her head. "Oh no, you don't have to."
"I have something you'll like," Zeno said with a knowing grin. Before she could respond, he grabbed a bottle from behind the counter—a reddish-brown liquid—and poured it into a glass.
"Try it," he said, sliding the glass toward her.
I've got an essay to do later… I can't get drunk, Rin thought. But Zeno's expression made it hard to refuse. She hesitated, then lifted the glass to her lips.
The first sip made her eyes widen. "It tastes… sweet?" she asked, puzzled.
Zeno chuckled. "It's apple juice."
"Apple juice… at a bar?" Rin laughed, taking another sip.
"Yeah. One of my VIP customers apparently craves it, so I keep some on standby."
Rin arched an eyebrow. "A customer comes to a bar… for juice?"
"Weird, right?" he said, smiling. His thoughts drifted to the last conversation with his friend.
"What about your friend—the one with you last time? I don't see her today," he asked casually.
"Oh, Sayu? She said she's out meeting someone. Though honestly… I think she went on a date," Rin said, smirking knowingly.
"A date?" Zeno's brow rose.
"Yeah… or some very important meeting. I can tell from her expression," she shrugged.
Zeno remembered the advice he'd given his friend, a smirk tugging at his lips.
That guy… did he really ask her out? he muttered under his breath.
"Excuse me?" Rin tilted her head, curious.
"Oh, nothing," he said quickly, though his mind was already made up. Something had definitely happened.