The taxi slowed down as it entered downtown Ōmiya, where the streets were wider, too clean to seem casual, illuminated by warm lights that reflected in the elegant shop windows. The car stopped in front of a discreet but sophisticated building, with a light stone facade and a simple sign in cursive letters: Bistro Le Plaisir.
Isagi paid the fare, thanked the driver, and got out.
The place had that kind of elegance that didn't need to announce itself. Nothing flashy, nothing overdone. Just good taste, the type of restaurant chosen by someone who wanted to talk without haste, eat well, and forget the rest of the world for a few hours.
He took his phone out of his pocket before even entering.
"I arrived...."
The response came almost instantly.
"I was already waiting, Saa-kun. Table in the back...."
Isagi put away the phone and crossed the glass door. The interior was welcoming: soft lighting, well-spaced dark wooden tables, classical music low enough not to disrupt conversations. The smell was a pleasant mix of butter, fresh herbs, and something lightly sweet that betrayed freshly prepared desserts.
He walked to the back of the room.
And then he saw her.
Maria was sitting with her hands resting on her lap, posture elegant but relaxed. She wore a simple dress in light tones, with a thin coat folded over the chair beside her. Her brown hair fell softly over her shoulders, and when her eyes met his, the smile that appeared was immediate, warm, sincere, the kind that made the environment seem a little brighter just by existing.
She stood up before he even reached the table.
"Saa-kun!"
It wasn't a loud exclamation. It was said in her way: soft, laden with closeness.
In the next instant, Maria was already enveloping him in a firm, comfortable hug, without any hesitation. Her face fit naturally against his chest, as if that gesture had already been repeated dozens of times.
Isagi stood still for half a second… and then reciprocated, resting his hand on her back.
"…Hi, Maa-chan."
She laughed softly against him before pulling away just enough to look at him.
"You took less time than I thought," she commented, her eyes analyzing him with affectionate attention. "You look tired."
"It was a long day, sorry for the delay." He admitted....
"It's okay, I didn't wait long, Saa-kun..."
Maria held his hand for a moment longer than necessary before pulling out the chair for him to sit. She did the same on the other side of the table, crossing her legs with natural elegance.
For a few seconds, they just looked at each other.
A waiter approached soon after, interrupting the moment with professional discretion, placing two menus on the table and wishing them a good evening before stepping away.
Maria picked up hers, but didn't open it immediately.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly, resting her chin on her hand, watching Isagi with that small, affectionate smile that only appeared when she was genuinely happy.
"I'm glad you came, Saa-kun..." She said: "Even though you're busy."
Isagi opened the menu, but his gaze returned to her almost instantly.
"I promised."
She smiled a little more, and inside, she thought she really liked that side of him; he had always been someone who kept his promises....
Maria opened the menu, but it was obvious that it was more of an automatic gesture than real immediate interest in the food. She scanned the options, but every now and then lifted her gaze to Isagi, as if just confirming that he was still there.
"So…" She began, in a tone too casual for someone who was clearly curious: "Saa-kun, was your Saturday… productive?"
Isagi let out a half-smile, resting his elbow on the table.
"Depends on what you consider productive."
She closed the menu slowly, placing it on the table.
"Hmm. That answer usually means 'yes, but I'm not going to tell everything right away'." Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Want to try again?"
"You're too sharp lately."
Isagi sighed. She had always been overly perceptive when it came to him, to the point of making it almost impossible to hide anything. Even though he was no longer his predecessor, did he still carry some unconscious habit that betrayed him? Or maybe she simply had a "sixth sense" when it came to him…
"I learned by observing you." She replied, feigning pride. "But tell me. How was your Saturday?"
Isagi took a deep breath, without going into too much detail.
"I went to the mall. Cinema. Ended up spending more time than planned."
Maria tilted her head, her smile remaining, but now more attentive.
"With a girl?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
She didn't make a scene. Didn't change her tone. Just rested her arm better on the table.
"I see."
The silence that followed wasn't heavy, but it was charged. Maria fiddled distractedly with the edge of the menu, then lifted her eyes again.
"I'm not going to pretend I don't feel jealous, Saa-kun..." She said, with honesty, as expected from the Madonna: "But I'm not going to put you on a leash either..."
Isagi frowned slightly.
"You never did that."
"Because I trust you..." She replied immediately. "Even when it hurts a little."
He looked away for a second, bothered with himself.
"…Sorry."
Maria smiled faintly, almost indulgent.
"Saa-kun," She said, calling him by his childhood nickname as she did when she wanted to soften things. "You didn't do anything wrong."
She leaned forward a little.
"Just… promise not to drift away from me."
Isagi met her gaze again.
"I don't intend to."
That seemed to relieve something in her. Maria relaxed visibly, leaning back in the chair.
"Good." She smiled. "Then we can talk about normal things."
"Like what?"
"Like the fact that you always order simple dishes in fancy restaurants."
"Is that an offense?"
"It's a pattern." She replied, laughing softly. "You've done that since you were a kid. Remember when we went to that Italian restaurant with your parents and you ordered plain spaghetti?"
"It was safe."
"You were a child."
"Exactly."
She laughed for real this time, bringing her hand to her mouth.
"You never change."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"It's not." Maria replied without thinking. "It's comforting."
The waiter returned, asking if they had decided. Maria ordered a sophisticated dish, describing it with perfect pronunciation. Isagi ordered something more straightforward, exactly as she had predicted.
When the waiter stepped away, she crossed her arms, feigning disapproval.
"See?"
"You seem happy anyway."
"Because I am...." She admitted, without beating around the bush. "I'm having dinner with you."
It didn't take long for the dinner to arrive on impeccably arranged plates, with portions that looked like miniature works of art. Maria's was a salad of fresh greens with goat cheese and raspberry dressing, followed by a grilled fish fillet with herbs that exuded a subtle aroma of lemon and thyme. Isagi opted for a creamy mushroom risotto, simple but rich in flavor, the kind of dish that warmed from the inside without unnecessary complications.
As they ate, the conversation flowed like a calm river, without haste, touching on old memories and everyday nonsense. Maria cut small pieces of the fish, chewing slowly, and every now and then tilted her head to the side, as if absorbing every word from him.
"Do you still read those old mangas you kept in your room?" She asked, wiping her mouth with the napkin in an elegant but unaffected way.
Isagi nodded, stirring the risotto with his fork: "Some. Lately, I've been revisiting some about soccer. It reminds me of childhood training."
She laughed softly, her eyes shining with a mix of nostalgia and affection.
"You were always obsessed with that. Remember when I tried to drag you to play something else and you insisted on kicking a ball in the backyard? I ended up running after it, pretending to be the goalkeeper."
"You were terrible at it...." He retorted, with a crooked smile. "But at least you tried."
"Hey, I was great! It's just that you kicked too hard." Maria feigned a grimace, but soon softened into an affectionate smile. "I think that's why I liked it. You never made things easy, not even for me."
The conversation drifted to lighter things: the unpredictable weather in Ōmiya, which alternated between fine rains and clear nights like that one; a movie she had seen recently, a romantic comedy that made her laugh alone on the couch; and even about the new cafe that had opened near the station, with lattes decorated like cartoons. Isagi talked about a game he had watched on TV with his father, describing the plays in detail that made her eyes widen, even if she didn't understand half the technical terms.
"You get so excited talking about it..." She commented at one point, resting her chin on her hand again, watching him with that quiet intensity that was uniquely hers. "It's like the whole world disappears."
He shrugged, but felt a subtle warmth in his chest. "It's what drives me. And you? Do you still practice piano every night?"
Maria blushed slightly, fiddling with her fork. "Yes, but only when I'm alone. It helps me relax. Sometimes I play those songs you liked, the simple classics."
They laughed at a shared memory: once, as children, she had tried to teach him a basic melody, but his fingers were too clumsy for the keyboard.
"You gave up after five minutes..." She teased.
"It wasn't my strong suit," he admitted, laughing along.
Time passed slowly, as if the entire restaurant conspired to prolong the moment. They ordered dessert: she, a crème brûlée with a crunchy crust that cracked under the spoon; he, vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, nothing extravagant. As they ate, Maria talked about a book she had read, a subtle love story between childhood friends, and Isagi listened, commenting here and there, feeling the comforting familiarity of that dynamic. It was as if the world outside, with its pressures and complications, didn't exist; just the two of them, exchanging glances and laughs about nothing and everything at the same time.
When the waiter brought the bill, Isagi insisted on paying, ignoring her protests with a casual wave.
They left the restaurant arm in arm, the night air in Ōmiya fresh and inviting, with a light breeze carrying the distant scent of cherry blossoms, even out of season. The streets were illuminated by soft lanterns, and couples strolled slowly, as if the entire city was in a decelerated rhythm. Isagi suggested a walk, and Maria accepted immediately, squeezing his arm with contained enthusiasm.
They walked without a defined direction, stopping at shop windows that were still open. In a small boutique with handmade accessories, Isagi noticed Maria looking at a delicate necklace, silver with a light blue stone that matched her eyes. Without saying anything, he entered the store and bought it, ignoring her protests that he didn't need to.
"Saa-kun, you're impossible...." She said upon receiving the package, but her smile betrayed genuine happiness. "Thank you. It's beautiful."
"I thought it would look good on you..." He replied simply, helping her put it on.
His fingers brushed her nape for an instant, and Maria felt a subtle shiver, but maintained her composure, turning to admire it in the reflection of a window.
They continued the stroll, stopping at a traditional sweets shop, where Isagi bought wagashi, those rice and sweet bean treats molded like flowers, just because she had mentioned loving their smooth flavor. Maria laughed as they ate while walking, lightly smudging their fingers, and told silly stories about her week: a friend who got into trouble with the chemistry teacher, a dog she saw in the park and wanted to adopt on the spot.
"You always had a soft heart for animals..." Isagi commented, wiping a bit of sugar residue from the corner of her mouth with his thumb, a casual gesture that made her blush.
"And you, you've always been more practical than me..." She retorted, but with affection. "I think that balances things out."
They passed through a small illuminated park, with wooden benches and a fountain bubbling softly. They sat for a while, talking about silly dreams: she, about traveling to Russia one day to see real snowstorms; he, about maybe opening a soccer academy for kids. They laughed about how things changed, but some remained the same. Maria occasionally leaned her head on his shoulder, and Isagi didn't mind; it was comfortable, familiar, like an old habit that never fades.
Further along, they entered a small arcade that was still open at that hour, full of flashing lights and sounds from old games. Maria insisted on playing one of those dance games, and Isagi, reluctant at first, ended up joining, stepping awkwardly on the glowing mats while she laughed at his mistakes.
"You're better at real soccer!" She exclaimed, breathless from laughing so much.
"At least I tried...." He said, feigning offense, but laughing along.
They bought tokens for more rounds, and for almost an hour, they had fun like teenagers: he won a small teddy bear in a claw machine and gave it to her, which she hugged dramatically.
"My hero..." She joked, kissing the bear's cheek.
Time flew, and when the stores started closing, they found themselves back on the main streets, a pleasant tiredness from the day settling in. Maria stopped suddenly, turning to him with a more serious look, but still laden with affection.
"Saa-kun… come home with me tonight?" She said, her voice low but direct, her eyes meeting his without looking away. It was clear what she wanted; the invitation carried an implicit intention, a desire for greater closeness, for not ending the night alone. "We can keep talking… or whatever."
Isagi paused, looking at her calmly.
"Not tonight, Maa-chan..." He replied softly, without judgment or hesitation. "But it was a great night."
She bit her lower lip for a second, a pang of disappointment crossing her face, but soon nodded, forcing a small smile. "Okay. I understand."
Isagi called a taxi for her, waiting by her side until the car stopped.
Before getting in, Maria turned, approaching him and planting a soft kiss on his cheek, lingering a moment longer than necessary. "Good night, Saa-kun. Take care… and call me tomorrow, okay?"
"I will..." He promised, watching her get into the car.
The taxi drove away, and Maria waved from the window, her face illuminated by the glow of the streetlights, a mix of contentment and a slight regret in her eyes.
Isagi stood there for a moment, sighing softly while bringing his hand to his cheek, feeling the residual warmth of the kiss. He had received two kisses on the cheek today..... He called another taxi for himself, getting into the back seat and looking out the window as the city passed by.
Tomorrow would be another day: the anime convention with Marin. Besides that, he decided to take advantage of the fact that they would pass near the city mentioned by the taxi driver when he went to meet Maria and make a visit to the Temple of the God of Love, perhaps in search of some clarity amid all that.