WEEK ONE: Friday, Part 2 (Touji)

The afternoon could not have dragged by more slowly. Sixth period took a lifetime. School chores seemed endless, and then our homeroom meeting went over by a good twenty minutes because we were reviewing the festival schedule for next week. By the time class got out, Yuzuru was already on the train headed for cram school. He sent me a text apologizing that he couldn't wait for me, and as soon as I was able to get to my phone I told him not to worry about it. I wouldn't have wanted him to be late because of me.

I went to archery club, mostly because I knew he wanted me to, and also to kill time until our date. My heart wasn't into practice much, but picturing him sleeping like I had yesterday helped. We finished our rounds, took care of the equipment, changed out of our gear, and at last I was out the door.

I checked my watch as I reached the school gate. It was six. I had about twenty minutes before I needed to catch the train, which was just enough time to get home and change clothes. I wanted to wear something other than my school uniform when Yuzuru and I went out. Plus, if I wasn't in the uniform I'd be able to put some warmer layers on. It was supposed to be cold tonight.

I hurried home, greeted Umeki when she opened the gate, and dashed up the stairs to my room. Then I stood in front of my closet, feeling some of the urgency drain out of me in favor of indecision.

Were jeans too casual? What about a sweater? Should I go for something stylish or keep it simple? I could wear that Armani jacket my parents got me last summer, but would that be too pretentious? Then again, this was Yuzuru... I wasn't sure he'd even care about designer labels.

Ultimately, thinking of Yuzuru's taste was what made up my mind. I went with black jeans, a yellow shirt layered over a snug long sleeved t-shirt, a black sweater with thin yellow stripes, a thick scarf and my long wool coat. Then I pulled a shoe box off the top shelf of my closet and opened it on my bed. Adidas sneakers, the ones I bought on our date last week. Even though the date itself was meant as a joke, seeing his true personality as he ran around that shoe store, his glowing smile and cheerful energy and complete lack of self-consciousness... he'd captured my heart in that moment.

I carried the shoes down to the foyer and stood at the door to put them on. Before I was finished, though, my phone rang. I flipped it open and tucked it between my shoulder and my ear so I could tie my shoelaces.

"Hello?"

"Touji, it's Natsuki. I'm sorry to do this, but I need you to barista at the Sakuragichou shop tonight. Both our regular employees called out sick and I can't get ahold of the others."

My heart sank right down to my toes. Natsuki only ever asked me to cover at our family's coffee shops when it was an emergency. Like my parents, he was of the opinion that high schoolers should study, not work. Normally I was happy to help out, but the timing could not have been worse.

"Did you check with the Kanagawa locations, big brother?" I asked, but I already knew the answer.

"Of course. The ones in Yamate, Isogo and Totsuka too. But they can't spare anyone. I'm sorry, Touji, you know I wouldn't ask if I didn't have to. I'm headed to Sakuragichou myself right now, but it's Friday night—"

"You can't handle the Friday crowd all on your own. I know." I rubbed my forehead. "Okay, bro, I'm on my way. Give me thirty minutes."

"Thanks, Touji. I'll make it up to you."

You can't, I thought morosely as I hung up. I wouldn't even be able to break the news to Yuzuru in a phone call, because he was in class right now. I'd have to let him know in a text. I scrolled to his name and opened up a new message.

I'm sorry, I have to cancel tonight. :( Family emergency.

I took a deep breath, squeezed my eyes shut, and hit the send key.

"Is everything all right, Touji-san?" Umeki asked from behind me.

I sighed and nodded. "It's fine, Umeki-san. Natsuki just needs my help at one of the stores tonight."

She looked me up and down, taking in what I was wearing. "Looks to me like you had other plans for the evening."

I pressed my lips together for a second, fighting back a wave of disappointment. "It's fine," I said again. "Family comes first."

She smiled, her eyes crinkling with pride. "You and your brother are such good boys. How fortunate your parents are."

Her praise made me feel better, as it always did. I took one of her hands in both of mine and kissed it. "We're the lucky ones," I assured her, "to have someone like Umeki-san who takes such good care of us."

"Oh, stop, you sweet talker," she laughed, tugging her hand back. "Well, all I can say is, whatever girl you had to cancel on tonight had better have the good sense to wait for you. If she doesn't, she doesn't deserve you."

My heart twinged a little, but I smiled at her anyway. "Thanks, Umeki-san."

She patted me on the shoulder and sent me off.

XXX

Friday nights at our busiest location were no joke. From the second I walked in the door, there was a line all the way out to the street and every booth and table in the house was full. It was live music night, too, which meant there were two local bands sharing stage time at the back of the shop, and I was kept so busy making drinks and running tables that in no time I was sweating like crazy. I ended up ditching my sweater, coat and scarf in a dusty corner under the bar. Good thing I hadn't gone with the Armani.

It didn't help that our clientele were mostly of the female persuasion tonight, and with both me and Natsuki behind the bar we were fielding a lot of batting eyelashes and loitering counter-campers. Everything I knew about charming girls, I'd learned from my brother. I did all right, but he was a true artist. A flick of his eyes, a well-timed smile, and he could convince even the most determined of ladies to relinquish her spot at the bar to a new arrival.

Every chance I got to turn my back to the counter, I checked my phone. I knew Yuzuru probably wouldn't get my message until after his class let out, but my stomach was tying itself in knots waiting for his response. Would he be angry? He'd worked so hard at his studies this week in order to free up his schedule tonight. I was sure he would have plenty of assignments to work on instead, especially since we were both likely to spend most of our time this weekend on school festival stuff. Would he be as disappointed as I was? Or maybe it wouldn't matter much to him either way.

Things were so hectic that by the time I noticed Shino occupying one of the booths by the window, I had no idea how long she'd been there. The only reason she caught my attention at all was because she was shooing other customers away from her table, with gestures so sloppy and belligerent they could only mean one thing.

"Natsuki. Natsuki!" I smacked his upper arm and pointed. "Shino's here, I think she's drunk."

Natsuki groaned, but kept the pitcher in his hand moving under the espresso machine's steam wand. "Great. Just what we need tonight. I'm sorry, little bro, but do you think you can handle it? I've kind of got my hands full here."

I sighed. He did have his hands full, that was true, but I was also pretty sure he didn't want to deal with Shino right now. She was bad when she was sober, but worse when she was drunk. Much worse. I untied my apron and took it off, making apologies to the girls waiting in front of my half of the bar. Then I stalked over to where Shino sat draped across the top of the table. She was still wearing that white shimmery blouse from this morning, only now it was considerably more wrinkled.

"Shino, what are you doing here?"

She rolled her head to blink up at me, and smiled. "I was hoping you'd be here, Touji. I heard your employees called in sick all at once... So unfortunate."

I gritted my teeth. That was Shino's way of saying that she'd done this. I didn't know how she'd pulled it off, but she'd managed to orchestrate this whole chaotic situation for Natsuki and me tonight. She was the reason I'd missed my date with Yuzuru, and she had the nerve to sit here laughing about it? I was suddenly so angry my voice was shaking. "Shino, what have you done?"

"Don't be mad. I had to do something to get you and Natsuki to talk to me. I'm used to him shutting me out, but now you are too. I can't stand it. Of course I had to do something."

"You need to leave."

"Not until you say you'll see me again. I want to be your girlfriend, Touji. I know you want me. No matter how cute that senpai of yours is, he can't compare to me."

"It's not going to happen, Shino. Go home."

"Just look at him," she spat suddenly, lifting her head from the table to glare in the direction of the bar. My brother was holding some pretty, thirty-something woman's hand across the counter, likely under the pretense of admiring her manicure—one of his go-to flirting tactics. He tilted her hand like he was inspecting it, then cupped it in both of his and rubbed his thumbs across the back of her fingers. That would be the covert massage, masked in compliments about how soft and white her hands were. She leaned in so he could whisper in her ear: if his girlfriend had hands like hers, he would never be able to stop touching them.

And there it was, the stammering blush as he presented her with her drink and smoothly maneuvered her away from the counter, making way for the next person in line.

"He's just doing his job, Shino."

"The fuck he is. I hate him so much."

"No, you don't."

"I want to," she said, looking up at me with tear filled eyes, and her voice broke over the words. I felt some compassion welling up in spite of my anger. While she was a conniving little fox, not everything she said was fake. "I want to hate him. Why can't I hate him? I would be so much happier."

I took a deep breath. "You're drunk. I'm going to call you a taxi."

"I want you to take me home."

"Well, I can't, can I? Thanks to you I'm stuck here all night."

"You really aren't going to give me another chance, are you?" she wailed, flinging herself across the tabletop again. "It's not fair. Why don't either of you want me? What's so wrong with me that I'm this unloveable?!"

I took her wrist and tugged her up from the table. "Come on, you need to go sleep it off."

She stood up, her purse swinging from her shoulder, and looked up at me unsteadily. "Hug me."

"Shino—"

"Please? Please, Touji." Her eyes moved to where Natsuki was working the customer line, flirting with yet another girl as he delivered her drink order, and a sob escaped her lips. "I really need a hug right now."

I knew I shouldn't feel bad for her, but couldn't help it. Dating my brother was no walk in the park, especially for someone as readily jealous as Shino was. It was something we had in common, and I, of all people, understood how crazy it could make a person feel.

I sighed and opened my arms. "Fine." She fell into my chest, her tears wetting the front of my shirt. She was probably smearing her eye makeup all over me too, but whatever. I'd put the apron back on and no one would notice. I patted her back, waiting for her crying spell to pass.

From over my shoulder, I heard the one voice I was least expecting in that particular moment.

"You lied."

My head snapped around. Yuzuru was standing there, in the middle of the coffee shop, staring at us. My mouth dropped open. "Yuzuru-san?"

His attention was focused on my hand where I was holding Shino's elbow, and I realized with horror that her tears had transformed into a triumphant smirk. I dropped her arm like she'd stung me. I'd seen that same confusion and rage on his face last week, when he'd met her the first time at my house. I hadn't understood it then, but I had a better idea of what he was thinking now and my blood ran cold. No, no, no, it's not what it looks like...

"You lied!" he shouted, creating a lull in the background chatter as customers turned to see what was going on.

"Yuzuru-san, I can explain—" I started moving toward him, but he was already backing away, shaking his head furiously.

"Stay away from me!" He spun and ran for the door, making several customers dodge out of his way as he charged past them.

"Yuzuru-san!" I started to chase after him, but skidded to a stop at the door. I couldn't leave the shop, it was hours yet until closing time. He tore off around the corner, and I heard some car horns go off which meant he'd probably run right out into traffic. I clenched my fists and ground my teeth in frustration. This was a disaster.

Shino's giggle piped up behind me. "Well, that answers that."

I turned to snarl at her and she swayed a little, the delighted smile never leaving her face. "He definitely likes you back."

"Get out," I hissed. This was her fault. How could I have been dumb enough to feel sorry for her?

She tossed her head. "This is a public place, you can't kick me out."

I grabbed her arm and started dragging her toward the door. "Get out, you drunken harpy, or I'm calling the police."

"Let go! Touji, you're hurting me, let go!"

"Hey, hey, what's going on here?" Natsuki came jogging over from behind the counter, and I let go of Shino's arm, realizing that every customer in the shop was now staring. I was too enraged to be embarrassed, though. I cursed and looked down, trying to regain control over my jackhammering heart.

Natsuki looked between me and Shino, then sighed. "Shino, it's time for you to leave."

"But—"

"Go quietly, and I promise I'll call you tomorrow."

Her eyes lit with hope. "You will?"

He turned on every last bit of his infamous charisma, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear and caressing her cheek lightly afterward. "Only if you stop making a scene and go now."

She nodded so meekly I wanted to throw up. "Okay."

I turned my back and stomped to the counter, yanking the apron over my head and seething. The line of customers had gotten longer, and I flashed a brilliant smile that I certainly didn't feel to the next person in line. "I'm so sorry for the wait, Miss. May I take your order?"

Natsuki came back after a minute and joined me, and I tried to keep my mind on work but my eyes kept going to the window, looking out at the street corner where Yuzuru had disappeared. What was I going to do? Was he okay? He could be so careless when he was mad. What if he got hit by a car or fell down the train station steps or... God, I needed to call him, to text him, something, but the pace at the bar was relentless.

Natsuki noticed, and nudged me while we were both at the espresso machine. "What kind of trouble did Shino cause this time?"

I couldn't explain, and bit my lower lip painfully. He sighed. "I'm sorry, bro. Listen, if things lighten up I'll try to get you out of here early."

It won't help, I wanted to respond, even though I appreciated the offer. I grabbed a coffee mug and clanked it into its saucer harder than necessary, my hand trembling as I poured in the milk. I don't even know what to say to him.

Around ten PM the rush of customers finally let up. I was able to get to my phone and fire off a quick message to Yuzuru. I get off work in an hour. Will you be up? I stuffed the phone in my back pocket so I'd feel it buzz if he replied, and helped Natsuki start wiping down the counters, loading the dishwasher, and clearing tables. We closed the doors at ten thirty, but still no answer from Yuzuru. We wiped the tables and stacked the chairs, swept the floors and rearranged the sound equipment on the rear stage, squeegeed the fingerprints off the windows and glass doors, and made sure the equipment was properly washed and powered down, ready for the morning shift.

I re-donned my sweater, scarf and coat for the walk to Natsuki's car, clutching my phone in shivering fingers. As he drove us home I messaged Yuzuru again. Can I call you? I didn't want to disturb him if he'd already gone to bed, but the anxiety was making me sick to my stomach.

Once we got home, my phone battery was almost dead. I plugged it into the charger and went to shower and brush my teeth. Finally I crawled into bed, rolling over to stare at the faintly glowing clock screen on the front of my phone, which had remained terrifyingly silent. He's sleeping, I told myself. That's okay, it can wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll fix everything.

I never did fall asleep that night, though.