「Fanfic」 Mako - 3
Kazuya sat down on a bench with a cup of latte on hand. As usual, he was ahead of his meeting time with Makoto at Notre-Dame cathedral. Whenever he has no photo assignments on hand, he would make it a point to have dinner with her at least twice a week as both of them were busy with work.
“Hanazawa Rui…” Kazuya muttered under his breath before he drank his latte.
As he glanced over at the cathedral’s direction, he saw a smiling Makoto waving goodbye to her students. When her eyes met his, he smiled and stood up while she was already walking towards him.
“I knew you’ll be here early.” Makoto said as she took the cup from his hand and took a sip.
“Nothing new?” Kazuya grinned as he took Makoto’s hand and started walking.
“So, France or Italy?”
“Japan?”
“Sudden craving?” Makoto looked at Kazuya who nodded as he ran a hand through his hair.
Just as they were about to make a turn out to the main road, Makoto noticed a lady spotting long hair who seemed anxious while talking to two men across the road. From the looks of it, the lady did not seem to be a local and out of curiosity, she crossed the road and a puzzled Kazuya followed suit.
“Ano… This place…” The lady pointed to a piece of paper with words that looked illegible and showed it to the two men who did not seem to understand her.
“Can I help?” Makoto came forward and stood in between them.
“doushio…”
“Ah, nihon-jin ka?” Makoto asked and the lady nodded her head furiously before heaving a sigh of relief. Makoto spoke briefly to the two men before they walked away.
“Hai. Thank goodness I’ve finally found someone to help.”
“Where are you heading to?”
“I’m trying to locate this place but I can’t seem to find it.”
“You’re lost?” Kazuya came from behind as he took the paper from the lady.
“That baka boyfriend of mine wrote it. How can anyone comprehend his words?” She sighed as they started walking.
“Oh, I know this place.” Kazuya said.
“Hontoo?” The lady asked.
“Yeah. We’ve been to this place a few times desho?” Kazuya showed Makoto the paper and she nodded. However, she noticed that the handwriting looked all too familiar to her due to the unusual-looking letter ‘m’ that has a tail at the end but she did not voice it out.
“Tasukatta!”
“We’ll bring you there. It’s just two streets down from here.” Makoto smiled.
“Arigatou gozaimasu! How do I address the both of you?” The lady asked as she kept the paper into her pocket and continued walking.
“Makoto. This is my boyfriend Kamenashi Kazuya.”
“Call me Kazuya will do.” Kazuya smiled as he made a polite bow and that made both ladies laugh.
“Please, you are not suitable for that.” Makoto smacked his forehead and continued laughing.
“Why not? Right? Erm, you’re?” Kazuya asked.
“Oh, my name's Tsukushi!”
“Ah, that café over there is the place you’re looking for…” Makoto pointed to the place where a blue menu stand was seen.
Just as the trio were about to reach their destination, someone came out from the café and looked at their direction. Makoto was stunned upon seeing that familiar face.
“MAKINO! Where have you been?” The guy shouted as he walked towards them.
“Do you want the whole street to know my name?” Tsukushi shouted back and pouted.
“You got lost right?” He slapped her forehead and sighed.
“If not for your illegible handwriting I could have reached earlier. Thanks to them I was able to find the café…” Tsukushi replied angrily as she looked at Makoto and Kazuya.
“Hisashiburi, Tsukasa-kun.” Makoto said and smiled while both Kazuya and Tsukushi looked at her with the word ‘surprise’ written all over their faces.
“AH! Makoto-chan?” Tsukasa asked and Makoto went over for a hug.
“My goodness! I couldn’t recognize you at all!”
“Well, you’re really easy to recognise though.” Makoto laughed as she ruffled his natural curls.
“You know her?” Tsukushi asked and Tsukasa nodded as they entered the café.
“Hey guys! Look who’s here?”
All three pairs of eyes looked up upon hearing Tsukasa and two of them were surprised too.
“Makoto!” Both of them ran over and gave her a big hug while Rui grinned and drank his English Breakfast.
“It’s been a long time… Akira and Jiro…”
“How did you know we were here?” Akira asked in surprise.
“Tsukushi lost her way and so we brought her here. I didn’t expect her to be Tsukasa’s wife.” Makoto explained and Tsukushi nodded in agreement but seconds later she was shocked to hear the words “Tsukasa’s wife”.
“NO! I’m not Doumyouji’s wife!”
“We’re getting married this Sunday remember? BAKA.”
“Try calling me that again and I’ll fly back to Japan at once.”
“YOU!”
“Don’t mind the two of them Makoto. They have been like this since they first met, right Rui?” Soujirou turned back and Rui smiled.
“That’s him?” Kazuya asked Makoto and she looked at Rui before she nodded her head.
“Makoto, this gentleman is?” Akira asked as he pointed at Kazuya.
“Ah, hajimemashite. Kamenashi desu. Yoroshiku.”
Makoto took Kazuya’s hand and smiled as the latter shook hands with the rest. From Makoto’s action, everyone knew that Kazuya was her boyfriend and started teasing her about it while Tsukasa glanced at Rui who stood up and walked towards the rest.
“Hanazawa Rui desu.” He outstretched his hand and Kazuya returned the gesture. Both of them looked at each other for a while and Makoto felt uncomfortable at once. Tsukasa noticed her uneasiness and he came up and placed his hand over Rui’s shoulder.
“We’re heading for the chapel to look around. Do you want to join us?”
“Kazuya and I are having dinner later so I guess I’ll pass.”
“Souka. Will you both be able to attend our wedding?” Tsukasa asked. Makoto looked at Kazuya and when he smiled, Makoto nodded and agreed.
“Here’s the invitation card. We look forward to the two of you coming.” Tsukasa grinned as Makoto took the card from him.
“I guess we’ll make a move first. I’ll see you guys on Sunday.”
Everyone hugged Makoto for one last time with the exception of Rui who went back to his seat and continued drinking. Tsukasa had wanted to talk to Rui but Makoto pulled him back and shook her head.
“Daijoubu.”
“Demo.”
“Arigatou.” She kissed Tsukasa on the cheek before she exited the place along with Kazuya.
When they were gone, the guys sat down and stared at an indifferent Rui while Tsukushi was shocked at Makoto’s kiss earlier.
“You guys have known Makoto for a long time?” Tsukushi asked as he sat down beside Tsukasa.
“Seven years…” Akira commented as he ate his baguette.
“Yeah. Since high school.” Soujirou added on.
“Ne Rui, why are you doing this to her?” Tsukasa asked suddenly in a stern tone.
“What did I do?” Rui replied as he leaned back against the sofa and looked out of the window.
“You knew she has been liking you since high school…”
“HAR?” Tsukushi exclaimed in shock and the rest nodded in agreement. Rui stood up and headed for the exit while Tsukasa followed and held him back.
“RUI!”
“Leave me alone.”
“You’ve lost Shizuka-chan and now you intend to let Makoto go?”
“Tsukasa.” Rui said as he took his hand away from his shoulder.
“You do have feelings for her right?” Tsukasa probed on but Rui kept quiet and left the café.
“He’s always like this! DAMN!”
Tsukasa banged his fist on the table and sat down while Tsukushi took his hand.
“Maa. I think Rui has his own thinking. Besides, Makoto already found her other half.” Soujirou said as he raised his hand to call for the waiter.
“Daijoubu daijoubu. Everything will be fine so let’s continue eating alright?” Akira asked and Tsukasa reluctantly agreed…
~*~