Log: Maiko and Suguru What: Running into each other at the coffee house. When: The Monday they returned to work after New Years Rating: PG
Suguru sat alone at a coffee shop, sipping a cup of chai tea and honey, enjoying a few moments alone. New Years had come and gone, and with it all the dramatic events. Still, it was strange to coexist with Nakano, and in such a small space, it was impossible to avoid each other. The longer they were apart, the more embarrassed he became about the goings-on that night. Even so, it had only been a few days. They'd only just gone back to work for a halfday today. And, after promising Nakano he'd take the subway home this time, he ended up stopping here.
Maiko had gone out after work, simply because she liked to feel as though she deserved it. She hadn't planned to go anywhere special, so she stopped at the first coffee shop she saw on her way home. She pulled into the parking lot and parked, locking the car before walking in through the door. She smiled as the scent of coffee exploded as she walked in. Awesome. She wlaked up to the counter and ordered before turning around to find a place to sit. The boy who was at the booth nearby. He looked... very familiar.
"Hey, there," she said, approaching him.
Suguru looked up, surprised to see the other. He recognized her immediately, despite only meeting her on several short occasions. "Maiko-san, correct? Shindou-kun's sister?" He smiled softly, gesturing to the seat opposite of him. "Would you... like to join me? It's a bit crowded in here."
"That's me," she said, smiling. Oh, good. So he did remember her and wouldn't think she's some freaky fan trying to get into his pants or something. That would be weird.
"I'd love to, thanks," she sat down across from him. "What are you doing here? You look so lonely."
"Me?" he couldn't help but laugh softly. "No, I'm not lonely, really... I'm just taking a break. You see, I've been living with Nakano-san for the past few days, and his apartment is quite small. I wanted some time apart from... anything to do with Bad Luck," he admitted, figuring there wasn't much that she could do with cryptic information like that.
She tilted her head to the side, surprised to hear that. That jerk... he didn't even tell her someone had moved in! Obviously this required a phone call. "Oh, you're living with Hiro?" she asked. "How fun!"
"Fun... ah, yes... it can be," Suguru took a sip of his tea. "It's just temporary, however, until I find a suitable place to move in," he added with a shrug.
"Oh, okay. Hiro's great, though," she told him. "Though I'm sure you know that. Living with him and all." Was this... like a dating thing? No, it couldn't be since he was looking to move out, right? "So what have you been up to? I haven't talked to you much at all, but you seem like such a nice guy."
A tiny blush crossed the other's face. "I... well not much, really. We've all been relatively busy with work. I just spent New Years with Nakano-san. Did you get to see your brother at all, or did he spend it with Eiri-san?"
"No. I never see him anymore," she said, waving her hand to dismiss it. "He's such a jerk. He never calls anymore ever. I'll bet he spent it with Eiri Yuki-san."
"It does seem likely. Sometimes I envy them," he shook his head, clearing his throat a bit. "Then I come to my senses."
She giggled a little bit. "Good thing you come to your senses. No one should ever want to be like Nii-chan. It's bad for your health to try."
Suguru nodded. "There needs to be at least one and a half sensible people in the band, at any rate. So what have you been doing lately, Maiko-san?" he asked, interested in her current situation as well.
"That sounds like you've just managed to fill your quota too," she noted. "I've been working a lot. I"m interning at the news studio down the street, so it's hard work."
"A news studio? Writing or broadcasting? Will you be famous as well?" Suguru teased gently.
"I've done some interviews," she told him. "So I'm looking to be a reporter more than anything. I"m not looking to be famous. It's just exciting."
"A reporter?" He smiled. "It suits you. Something that caters to your inquisitiveness, intelligence, and good looks. Congratulations on a wise decision, Maiko-san."
"Thanks!" she flushed slightly. "I'm glad to hear you say that. I've been worried about it being the right career choice, but it's so much fun. Maybe I'll get to interview you someday!"
Suguru chuckled. "Honestly, I tend to be the one with the least amount to say at interviews. Perhaps if you're the reporter, I'll be able to open up more," he added. He wasn't really flirting with her, he just had a habit of being polite and gentlemanly around the few people he respected. Maiko-san had certainly not done anything to give him a reason not to respect her, and so it ended up like this.
"Then I'll definitely make sure to interview you," she told him. She didn't expect he was flirting. Not from what she'd seen of him, he wasn't the type. Now if HIRO said that... well... "I'd love to interview you some day. I hope they let me!"
Suguru smiled, nodding a little bit. "I wish you the best of luck, then," He leaned back a little, taking a drink of his tea.
"Thanks," she said, smiling as her coffee was delivered. "Are you guys working on anything new?" She grabbed the thing of sugar and poured a little bit into her coffee, stirring it before taking a sip.
"A little bit, here and there," he replied softly. "Not really enough for my liking, but we are working on a few new songs," he cleared his throat again. "Excuse me. I spent a bit too much time outside the other day," he admitted sheepishly, sipping his tea.
"I hope to hear them soon," she said, smiling. "Oh, I hope you're not getting sick. That would suck, though Hiro's a great person to take care of you. He's great if you're bedridden. Ask him to read you a story."
"Nakano-san... reading a story..?" Suguru laughed, having trouble imagine in. "No, I think I just caught a bit of a cold..." he added, a bit embarrassed. "I ended up walking to Nakano-san's house on New Years Eve."
She grinned. "Pretend to be bedridden so he will." She tilted her head. "Why did you walk to his house on New Years Eve?"
"Oh, I..." he blushed deeply. "It's sort of foolish... I walked past the entrance to the subway and didn't notice until I was nearly halfway there..."
"Oh, no," she pouted slightly. "Well, at least you got to spend New Years Eve with a friend, right? That's always a lot of fun."
Suguru smiled, nodding. "Yes, still, it was a strange thing for me to do. I'm usually rather aware."
She shrugged. "I'm sure you have slip ups from time to time. At least you weren't alone."
Suguru did not reply immediately, sipping his tea. "It turned out to be a good evening. Did you spend New Years with your family?"
"Oh, no. I spent it with my boyfriend," she told him. "It was kind of a big party, but it was fun. I'm not used to those, though."
"A boyfriend?" Suguru smiled brightly. "I'm not one for big parties, really, but when you're with someone you like, it's a lot more tolerable. Even fun," he nodded a little bit.
"Yeah," she grinned. "he's really great, but he's more of a partier than I am. I thought it wouldn't be as fun as it was, but his friends are pretty nice. And I spent most of the evening with him anyway."
"Sounds like it was interesting. So... it's not anyone I know, is it?" Suguru questioned offhandedly, finishing off his tea.
"Um... maybe," she thought for a second. "Do you know Tatsuha? He's Eiri Yuki's brother."
"Tatsuha-san? ... Vaguely. He looks something like Eiri-san, correct? Dark hair, though," he recalled, setting the cup down.
"Yeah!" she grinned. "That's him. He's really sweet."
"I haven't spoken with him much," Suguru replied. "But it's good to hear that you two are getting along well."
"Yeah," she smiled and sipped her coffee. "So what about you? Any girlfriends?" Or boyfriends. Whatever.
Suguru blushed slightly, shaking his head. "No, I'm... single, at the moment.."
"Really? That's hard to believe," she said with a smile. "Got your eye on anyone?" She giggled a bit at the thought. He'd be so cute, she had a feeling, with a crush on anyone.
"No," He shook his head, the blush darkening. "I mean, I'm not sure, really.."
"Why noooot?" she asked him, sipping her coffee, even more interested. "Are you really that focused on work and stuff to not be interested in anyone?"
"...it's a secret, Maiko-san, but... there is someone," Suguru said with a slight smile.
"Oh, really?" she asked, her eyes almost sparkling with interest. "Oh, come on. You can tell me. Who am I going to tell? The boys don't talk to me anymore anyway."
Suguru shook his head. "I shouldn't. I don't even know if he likes me back," he noticed his slip up, still blushing.
She pouted. "Sooo? I've had tons of crushes where the guy hasn't liked me back. It's still fun to tell people. At least one person."
"You do have a reporter's personality," Suguru laughed softly.
She flushed slightly. "Oh? I guess I do a little bit."
"All right then, Miss Reporter. If you don't publish it, I suppose you can be privy to the information," Suguru smiled softly.
"I promise not to publish it," she assured him. "we're off the record now." She giggled a little bit.
"Well.." he looked around, making sure no-one was listening. "It's... Nakano-kun, actually."
She nearly squealed with delight. "OOH! I knew it!" She lowered her voice then, still grinning. "So what makes you think he might not like you?"
"Well.... It's a long story, Maiko-san," Suguru shook his head. "We ended up... ah... kissing on New Years... and... when I told him later that I liked him, he needed some time to think about it. He's going to tell me today, actually. I went to stay with Tohma-san over the weekend..."
"OH MY GOD!" she grinned widely and nearly squealed, causing people to look over slightly. She flushed and quieted down again, lowering her voice. "Good luck, Fuji-kun. I hope everything works out for you."
"We'll see," Suguru laughed softly, trying to act inconspicuous.
She was nearly bouncing in her seat. "That would be so cute, Fuji-kun! You would make an adorable couple!"
He blushed deeply. "I don't know, he definitely has at least some interest in girls. He might not want to commit to someone like me..."
"Psh. So what?" she asked. "Hiro's good about committing to people he's intersted in rather than a specific gender."
"I suppose," Suguru nodded. "I suppose I'll have to wait and see."
"That's the best you can do," she said, finally, taking a drink of her coffee. This was good coffee...
"I'm glad I got to talk to you," Suguru said, seeming significantly cheered up.
"I'm glad I got to talk to you too," she told him. "You're so nice." She glanced at her watch and sighed. "I should get going, though. I need to finish up some things. I'll definitely push for an interview with you guys, though."
Suguru nodded, clearing his throat. "It's cold out there. Take care of yourself," he told the other, standing and stretching.
"Thanks! Bye Fuji-kun!" She grabbed her coat, paying for the coffee and headed out the door to her car. Time to finish up that report for tomorrow. And do laundry. Yuck.