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Asuka was bored. Don't get her wrong, the restaurant was great. One of those ritzy places where all girls want to be whisked away to by an equally wealthy guy, with a live piano performance and marble columns. Not empty enough for a lack of chatter, but not full enough for the chatter to rise above a pleasant ambiance. Wine red walls and the hanging plants adorning them just added to the tasteful western decor.
It would've been perfect for a budding socialite like her, but she was with her family rather than a boyfriend. Her family and the family of her father's 'friend'.The closest person her age was a baby girl taking her shoes off every ten minutes or so. But oh well, the things she suffered so that her family could continue rubbing shoulders with the 'most promising senator'. They talked about dull things, her mother regaled embarrassing tales when Asuka was the age of 'little Aoi'. The senator's wife could only nod in a way that signaled how she just married for the money without the actual training. It was painfully middle class. Her father discussed retirement plans with the senator, almost bordering on arrogance. The temptation to pick at her meal was there. She glanced over to her father and a man who looked like any other politician. Then at his young, hapless wife as she tried to get her kid under control.
A scary thought crossed her mind. Will she end up like that one day? Her dream man slowly losing his luster and growing a potbelly? Or will it be because of a lack of him, only settling for a man twice her age earning five times her father's substantial paycheck?
Any other teen wouldn't be having these thoughts, but she could already hear whispers of arranged marriages in her own home. An affluent family needed to be ahead of the curve, children becoming pawns in a bigger game.
She just prayed that whoever her parents had in mind was at least her age.
Boredom overtaking her, she excused herself to the bathroom. Maybe she could text Hanabi or Jen about how brain dead she felt just listening to her family. While her father would complain about the phone bill later, she'll take any form of entertainment she can get. As Asuka was walking, she noticed a booth table close to the ladies room. Was that…Mr.Yashiki?
She remembered the odd history teacher from his time in her class. His scruffy appearance and the assistants he had who looked too old or odd to actually be a part of the school despite some wearing the school uniform. Magnetic but off-putting, like a painting held in old houses. There were a lot of whispers of him being a cradle robber, not surprising considering just how many scandals that involved a student-teacher relationship happened inside her very own school.
Her own friend group was betting that the Student Council President and Vice President were secretly seeing him even after his departure. In Asuka's humble opinion, she thought that he left for that exact reason. Because he didn't want to be caught. No man wanted that mess to be exposed, especially after the previous headmaster dipped. Mr.Yashiki probably had no one to cover his tracks after that.
Except this isn't the same Mr.Yashiki she came to know. His signature stained coat was nowhere to be found, instead replaced with a blazer that did favors to his surprisingly slim waist. His hair, while still messy, looked like it was tossed around purposefully rather than dried in the wind. The biggest change, however, was the fact that the distracting goatee was gone and now he looked at least ten years younger. His glasses and eye bags just added a mature charm to him rather than make him look like the haggard mess he was back at the academy.
If this was the Yashiki Kazuo she met at school, she'd understand why both the President and Vice President would enter an illicit affair with the man.
Seated across from him was an equally handsome man, who had sharp eyes that poets could wax on about and an odd expression that both elevated and ruined such nice features. He had muscle but not disgustingly bulging. The way his shirt hugged his biceps signaled that this man was very fit in a subtle way. Especially in contrast to Mr.Yashiki who had a more 'artiste' build. From Asuka's observation, he was also dressed to the standard of the restaurant. Although his demeanor was like the man wanted to be anywhere but here. The mystery man looked younger than his dining companion, but not by much.
Mr.Yashiki looked like he belonged here despite his poor posture, which spoke about his prestige even if he was a disaster at school. Asuka was willing to admit that he has an air of wealth. That he was from a dignified family despite trying to hide it with poor fashion taste and the skittish persona. It's something your body remembers, there's no erasing that. His companion, on the other hand, reeked of the working class. The smirk that held irritation, yet eyes full of clear fondness. The way he played with his cuffs reminded her of a stray being brought in. Mangy, but appealing in its bite.
She tried not to get any attention from the two men. A part of her suspected that the senator earlier was eyeing her up, but she had no evidence. Still, getting looks from three men thrice her age was something she didn't want, no matter how handsome some may be. As she entered the bathroom, she heard a snippet of the conversation.
"...-zuo, you really know how to piss me off. A place like this for our date? What kind of novels are those kids feeding you?"
Wait…date?
She really wanted to know now. Mr.Yashiki was gay?!!! Oh, that's exciting and juicy. She headed to the stall nearest to the wall. Asuka can judge the bathroom later, but she can't miss out on this juicy Intel.
Luckily, the walls were thin enough to hear the conversation. She snickered to herself, thankful for the obvious shortcuts that the restaurant owner and architect used. Any other day, she would hate mistakes like these. But it worked in her favor tonight.
"Blame Tsukasa and Christie, they said that I shouldn't keep taking you to that 'rundown diner'. Pretty sure they're watching me from a table across so that you could 'taste something decent'." That's Mr.Yashiki, but he sounded so happy compared to his teacher/lecturer voice.
A scoff from what she assumed was the man with him, "Please, I'd take a beef bowl over this peacock parade."
"Oh? So you don't like me dressing up for you?"
"I didn't say that," The other man's voice was somehow teasing and annoyed at the same time, "You can bust out all the fancy clothing you want, no complaints from me. But I'd rather skip the whole 'richass bystander' part and have you all to myself if you want to be eye candy."
"That's rather forward. I remember when I had to fight tooth and nail just to get a compliment out of you. Thought I was still a creepy, old man?"
"Oh you still are, but let's just say recent events had me put things into perspective."
"This is about the girls, right?"
The girls? That would be the President and Vice President. It had to be, there's no way it Isn't.
"You do realize they still feel things for you. It's really painful to watch. If I were anybody else, I'd almost be jealous. If not for the fact they're still twelve years too young to be in your prefered age range."
"Don't remind me. It gives me the chills knowing they do," A pause, maybe a sigh. She couldn't tell that much considering there's a literal wall between them, "I've let them down as gently as I could. Emotions take time, Satoru."
So that was his name. She'll assume this was his first name considering they'll be on that basis. Being that Mr.Yashiki was apparently gay. The novelty never wore off.
"Tch, I still say we should stamp out any hope they have. They'll just keep holding out for you at this age. Teens can be persistent."
"You're just worried they'll make me run out of coffee grounds."
"The amount of times you ran out of coffee increased the more they visited you. Especially that Kinukawa girl. She was so smug about drinking that last cup."
Oh God, she's right. This was so good. She could feel the drama coming from this. It'll be the biggest news since that whole Departed bullshit. Confirmation tasted so sweet.
"It sounds like you're only there for my coffee."
"Well, the one at the office is shit and you make a decent cup. It's one of your redeeming qualities." A chuckle, "At least if you don't drown it in sugar cubes. How you could drink that monstrosity is still a mystery to me."
"But you still put up with it."
"Don't push your luck, Kazuo. And stop changing the subject, you're uncomfortable with them around."
"It's fine, Satoru. I don't need you protecting me from them. They said they feel it slowly going away. I just need to endure it a bit more," His relaxed tone took on a sad turn, "Besides, Moe's happy that she can hang out with girls her age. It's rare for her."
Moe? The one girl that hung around the clinic while Mr.Yashiki was there? She kind of assumed she was another girl that he managed to swipe away, but maybe she was his daughter the whole time? Considering that a line like that was usually reserved for relatives, she must be at least his niece.
"I hate that you're right. Fine, but if this backfires, I reserve all rights to say 'I told you so.'"
A fond laugh, "You always do. It would be scarier if you didn't rub your victory in my face. The Satoru I know wouldn't miss a chance to mock me, anything else would make me suspect a possession."
"Haha, very funny. There's a few things I want to rub in your face, but we can save that for home."
A small hiss, "Satoru, we're in public."
"That's why I said we can save it for home. It would go by faster if our food could get here. Besides, who wants to hear two old men ramble? I bet nobody is paying attention. Not with their own dirty secrets going around here."
It's ironic considering Asuka was doing just that, excited to let loose this new stream of gossip.
"I'd offer something to pass the time, but then you'd make a joke about arresting me for public indecency."
"Oh? An old man propositioning me in public would be suspicious enough, there's even rumors about him taking students away," Another low chuckle, "But something tells me you wouldn't mind me busting out the handcuffs."
A tense silence before the two laughed, "God, what's with those lines? It was kind of sexy for the first one, but the second you mentioned your handcuffs-"
"Maybe it's on purpose. Honestly, I'm surprised you found 'rubbing your face against something' sexy but draw the line at handcuffs. Is there something you want to tell me, Kazuo?"
"I think the food is here."
"Don't think I'll forget this. Just know I won't actually take out my old uniform if you ask."
"Shhh, please don't make me laugh more. Not when the waiter gets here."
"See, if this was the diner, the server wouldn't give two shits about that. Next time you see Tsukasa and Christie, tell them to mind their damn business. Especially Christie."
Then no more conversation. Guess they don't really talk during meals.
Ah, she might as well head back. She made a show of flushing the toilet despite not doing anything and tidying herself up before she left the bathroom. Asuka couldn't judge the facilities, but she got so much more compared to rating the soap they used here.
As she looked back, she noticed that Mr.Yashiki and the now named Satoru were bright-eyed when the waiter came with their food. Or at least as bright-eyed as two perpetually tired, middle-aged men can pull off. With new eyes, she didn't see two very attractive 'maybe acquaintances-maybe business partners', she saw the next biggest story.
It should disgust her, but honestly she was more entertained that the darlings of her school were crushing hard and had to be turned down by a gay man. Maybe that's why Mr.Yashiki left the school so abruptly despite them all knowing his stay was temporary, that he was uncomfortable with two very young, female students who wanted him in a way that can't be reciprocated. The fact he decided to put up with their pestering so that his lonely niece/daughter can have friends was almost admirable in a weird, martyr way.
Could that be why he was so nosy about student opinions? The whole departed investigation nonsense could've been a cover to see if his kind would be accepted if he decided to apply full-time. No, maybe the reason why he left was because he thought his sexuality would be exposed and the upper management disliked that kind of deviance.
Her breath hitched when she took another look back and saw the two men holding hands. For a brief moment, she wondered if her parents were ever in love like that.
If they were ever in love at all.
Oh she can't wait for Hanabi and Jen to learn this.
When she went back to her seat, her mother gave her a concerned look. Suddenly, she was Asuka the budding socialite again and not the giddy schoolgirl she wanted to be. She was sitting with a senator's family and her groveling father. Yet she couldn't bring herself to care. She finally found something entertaining.
"Are you alright, dear? You were gone for a long time."
"It's fine, mom. Just thinking about an interesting rumor."
A rumor she'll start.