Ha! They Might Never Ever Mature!

"Hello," Himari was neither warm nor cold when she greeted the three of them. She just displayed an appropriate level of respect, "Long time no see. I'm waiting for Nanako."

"Ah, I forgot that you two are best friends," The glasses man spoke again with an amicable smile, "What if we waited for her with you? Then, we can go upstairs together."

The man's words were welcomed with a scoff from the girl who stood beside him. She didn't even bother to mask her displeasure at Himari.

"Let's just go now, Shinji. I don't want to be associated with this country girl. Don't you think so, Kikyo?"

The girl who stood beside the one who was talking just smiled at Himari, "Sorry, Himari. Tomoko just has a bad temper. We could wait with you if you wanted."

Himari was disgusted with their appearances especially when Kikyo played 'the good girl' card.

Up until now, she hadn't forget what this girl had done to her during their high school days.

She had just arrived here. Couldn't she be left alone without having to face this annoying kind for a while?

"It's okay. You guys should go upstairs first," Himari maintained a smile. She shook her phone slightly, "I have some matter to focus on. Don't bother about me."

The three of them appeared interested in what she said.

Shinji smiled sneakily, "Are you texting with someone? Who is he? The man in the flower-viewing photos? Himari, are you seriously dating a widower with children?"

Himari felt an urge to punch this man who was bossier than a woman.

"If that's what you assume, feel free to let your imaginations go wild," Himari answered coolly.

Without paying attention to them any longer, Himari focused back on her phone. It had been more than five minutes since she first read the messages.

[Himari: I'd just stay for a bit with my teacher. If it's something important, you can talk to me tonight]

[Himari: But, is it alright to leave the children at home?]

In less than a minute, Kazuya's reply came as if he had been staring at their conversation since before.

[Kazuya: Shuichi stays the night with them. Then, text me when you're done]

[Kazuya: While waiting for you, I'd treat myself to a delicious meal at the hotel]

[Kazuya: Didn't you say the food there is delicious?]

His replies incited laughter from Himari.

She didn't notice that Shinji, Tomoko and Kikyo were intently staring at her as if they had nothing better to do.

[Himari: OrangeCatOkay.jpg]

[Himari: If the reunion sucks, I'd text you early]

[Kazuya: No biggie. Just call me directly, it's okay]

Himari ended the conversation with another cute sticker. When she looked up from the phone, her soft smile carried a hint of coldness once she met the eyes of the three of them.

"Didn't Tomoko doesn't want to be associated with me? We're not even friends in high school. You three should go ahead."

Tomoko's face changed into a frown. She was offended by how straightfroward Himari showed her dislike to her.

"Ah, Nanako. There you are!"

Before Tomoko could hurl insults, Himari shifted her gaze to her approaching best friend.

Nanako scowled when she saw the three unwanted people standing in front of Himari. Like a tigress protecting her cub, she quickly shielded her friend from the three people.

"What are you looking at? Do you want me to poke your eyes? Huh!"

Nanako didn't give them any chance to greet her as she swiftly threw her disdain toward them.

"...Nanako, don't be too harsh. It has been years since we last met each other," Shinji coughed awkwardly.

Nanako ignored him. Taking Himari's hand, she tugged her friend to follow her.

"Did they make trouble?" Nanako asked once they moved away from the three people.

"Nah, nothing happened," Himari laughed, "But, it seems like some people are still childish despite having entered the society for a few years already."

Himari's words made Nanako snorted, "Ha! They might never ever mature!"

The two of them headed to Ruby Room. By the time they arrived, half of their classmates had already gathered inside.

The room was big and beside the space for dining, patrons could enjoy the entertainment such as singing and dancing on a small stage.

Everyone who came wore their best outfits. The few years they didn't meet each other had shed the last traces of the naivety of their youthful days.

"Oh! It's Nanako and Himari!"

"Wow! You two have grown to be so beautiful ah. Come in! Come in!"

"Teacher Takaki has just arrived. She's on her way upstairs. Take your seats before she makes a grand entrance."

To those who welcomed them nicely, the two best friends treated them the same. They exchanged stories about what they were currently doing; either working or still studying or related to their relationship.

"Do you guys have boyfriends yet?" One man in a smart casual outfit asked Himari and Nanako, "Pick me, ah. My mother is nagging me because I don't have a girlfriend yet."

"Shut it. Nanako's future husband is the VP of Kashino Corporation. You couldn't even rival his toe," a woman nudged at the man's elbow while deliberately showing displease in her eyes.

The group burst into laughter. Himari just smiled at them while Nanako joined the fun.

"Ah, it's the same as Himari, right? Isn't she in a relationship with a widower?"

Silence fell in the room as such words were thrown into the air. All of them looked in the direction of where the voice came.

Himari frowned while Nanako clicked her tongue.

It was Tomoko. Shinji and Kikyo followed her from behind.

Himari felt a headache coming.

Even though she didn't have a good relationship with most of her classmates, it wasn't to the point of purely disliking one another. They just maintained a neutral relationship between them.

Among the ones that didn't even pretend to show that they loathed her was Tomoko.

It seemed like, even after years had passed, this young lady who looked so pretty and had an accomplished life still had an immature brain.

"Tomoko, stop saying that," Kikyo said softly while gently tugging on her friend's arm. She smiled amicably to Himari, "It's Himari's private affair. We shouldn't poke our noses into it."

The disgust that Himari felt when meeting them earlier surged up once again within her.

"Haven't I told you downstairs? If that's what you think, just accept it as the truth," Himari repeated what she had said to the three of them, especially Tomoko.

"Ha! Of course, you're just ashamed to admit it, don't you?" Tomoko scoffed, "Who knows, maybe the widower actually got divorced because of you!"

"Watch your mouth!" Nanako snarled, "Don't slander people!"

"Come at me if you want!" Tomoko wasn't one to back away even though she was at fault.

"Stop, stop! Nanako, Tomoko, stop it already! Teacher Takaki would be here really soon," Their class monitor quickly stepped in between them to stop the two women from fighting.

"Alright, I'll stop," Nanako shot Tomoko a disdainful glare, "I've always acted my age. I do not go around and foolishly provoke other people because I feel insecure."

"What do you mean?" Tomoko roared.

Nanako gave her an indifferent shrug. She pulled Himari away from the crowd to find a place to sit.

The crowd quickly calmed the indignant Tomoko. They understood how spoiled she was due to being a pampered young miss by her upstart family but they didn't expect she still carried this kind of immaturity with her.

"Huh, she really knows to ruin my mood," Nanako downed a glass of cold water to cool down her temper.

"Ignore her," Himari laughed funnily, "Some people won't change."

While the two friends were chatting, more people came to sit with them on the same side of the long dining table.

"Hey, how are you guys doing actually?" A woman with bob hair sat next to Himari. Her eyes brightened at the sight of Himari's dress, "Your dress is pretty! Is this the latest spring collection?"

Himari gave her a warm smile, "You should praise Nanako because this dress is designed by her."

"Ah, I forgot that you are a designer!"

"Nanako, does your company have a wedding dress designer? I'm looking for one."

"I heard you've changed your workplace, Himari. Where are you teaching now?"

"Urgh, I wonder if I should also change my job. My boss sucks. He only knows to give orders but without proper conduct."

"Would you guys go home this Golden Week?"

While Himari and Nanako joined the chat between their old classmates, the door of the private room was opened from the outside. All of them stopped talking as two figures entered through the door.

"Teacher Takaki! You're finally here!"

"Oh, Jun went to pick up Teacher Takaki. No wonder he's late."

"Teacher, how have you been? Is your health good?"

While almost all the people inside the room were busy greeting the two people, Himari just stayed quiet at her seat. Her eyes shifted from the retired English teacher to the man who was helping the her walked.

There he was.

Right in front of her eyes.