Ch. 18 - Friends date.

We continue to walk inside to find the game store with the new games that will be coming out. We keep looking around and we see all beautiful kinds of things from stationary things, to clothing and dresses, from bags to jewelries. But there is one type of establishment that we all like, its the food industry.

Whenever we go out on a food trip, each of us went ahead and look for our personal favorite type of food.

Chinatsu is always after the sweet pastries.

Haruna likes to get her face red with spicy foods.

Kazuo seems unaffected by the intense sour flavors of what he eats.

Ryota likes to munch on anything deep fried.

Meanwhile I on the other hand, other than coffee I really have no specific favorite. I randomly get the feeling of wanting to eat a pizza, burger, steak, chicken or something healthy like fruits and vegetables. What I really wanna eat entirely depends on what my mood is. My friends even jokingly said, that im like a pregnant woman who suddenly gets cravings out of nowhere. It kinda insulted me, but I can't help but laugh at their jokes cause its so true and the way they interpreted it is just hilarious.

We reached the store, however there's a poster that says the games we're looking for wouldn't be released until 9 PM. We were expecting that, we just locate the store so we could all come back here before 9 PM, cause the two couples would go on a date while Chinatsu and I are freely to to whatever we want cause we're both single. I discussed them the plan.

"Alright, we approximately have 2 and a half hours before this store releases the new games. So in the meantime you two go whenever you wanna go for your date, while I will go somewhere else. Lets meet back here."

I told them.

"Alright! I'll see you guys later!"

Said Kazuo as he waves back and takes Fuyuko somewhere.

"See you later~."

"Have fun as well~."

Said Ryota and Haruna. They both left as well.

I glance at Chinatsu and said that she can freely do whatever she wants for the meantime. After that I walk away in a different direction from everybody else. Now time to look where that coffee scent is coming from...

"Senpai, wait up!"

Chinatsu catches up to me.

Akagi : "What?"

Chinatsu : "Let me come with you! I dont wanna be alone."

Akagi : "Okay sure, whatever."

She tag along with me, now everyone is strolling in the mall in pairs. I was just randomly walk around looking at stores after stores looking for the coffee shop. I remember seeing a coffee shop in here, I can feel im right but im also not entirely sure. Chinatsu just follows me around, im sure she's about to ask me something.

"Senpai, where exactly are we going?"

I predicted it.

"Im looking for a coffee shop."

I replied without stopping.

"Are you gonna drink coffee again senpai? At this hour?"

She ask me confused. I simply replied..

"Yes."

And finally I saw the coffee shop within the vicinity, its so elegant looking, and the scent of coffee beans is fantastic. Before I went inside I ask Chinatsu if she would want some.

"How does it taste?"

She ask.

Akagi : "It depends on what kind of coffee you get, like cappuccino, latte, black coffee, flat white and many other things."

Chinatsu : "Aren't they all taste bitter?"

Akagi : "Not really, some are sweet and creamy."

Chinatsu : "I would like to taste those please~."

Akagi : "Okay, you stay here. I will order now."

I enter the place and ordered a large cappuccino for myself and a medium sized frapp for Chinatsu both for take outs. As I left with our orders, I saw her just standing in the same spot checking something on her phone. I handed her the frapp and wait for her reaction.

Meanwhile...

Kazuo and Fuyuko are strolling endlessly in the mall, Fuyuko remains silent and Kazuo wants to cheer her up and he wants to know what interest her. Little does he know Fuyuko is also a bit of an airhead, and Akagi forgot to inform him about it.

"So what you wanna do first?"

Kazuo ask.

Fuyuko snaps back into reality and looks at Kazuo, realizing she's on a date she tried her best to get along.

"Uhmm...well what you wanna do first?"

She replied to Kazuo

"I don't know thats why im asking you."

Kazuo replied.

Fuyuko is shy and she has her own interest, but she's not the type of person to drag someone to pursue her own interests first unless they're willing to.

"I actually plan on accompanying you first."

Said Kazuo, giving Fuyuko the confirmation she needed.

"Then, can you accompany me to the kitchen cookware?"

She ask.

"Sure! Where it is?"

Kazuo enthusiastically replied. He was ready to go anywhere with her and even though he's curious about it he thinks of a perfect time to ask in order not to be seen as an inconvenient person. Fuyuko and Kazuo went to the cookware to buy her needs.

*Kazuo's perspective*

I was just standing right here silently while she was browsing around, looking for a good cooking pan and utensils. I can't help but occasionally glance at her, she's beautiful and quite. This is the most awkward moment in my life since I met Akagi and when he taught me how to cook.

"Do you like to cook, Fuyuko?"

I ask her.

Fuyuko : "Yeah, I want to buy new pans to improve my cooking and have a much wider variety of what I can cook."

Kazuo : "If you dont mind me asking, whats the particular reason for this?"

Hah! I learned to talk in this format from Akagi!

Fuyuko : "I plan to be good as Akagi and I want to conpete against him."

Thats an ambitious reason if I ever heard one, especially from her.

Seriously though? Against Akagi?

If I'd knew better before I can't learn his tricks and secrets and even if I just copy what he does he seemed to be more efficient in it than me.

I just let out a chuckle and after that we went back to being silent.

Its been minutes and she just keeps looking at the very same pans for a while now. It seems like she's troubled in choosing a pan for herself? Can this be an opportunity for me to come in and help her?

Yes! I will show her how capable and decisive I am!

I glance around looking for the same identical pan that Akagi uses, or at least identical to mine. I found it! The famous Fordon brand stainless non-stick pan that Akagi swings around and uses to cook! Yes, this is perfect!

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat...

"If you can't decide which one to get I suggest you get this one! This is the famous brand Akagi uses."

I confidently told her.

"Oh really? What does Akagi cook in it?"

"Uh, Napolitan spaghetti, Sauted beef, fried fish...a whole lot more of his signature dishes! He told also mentions on how comfortable and convenient it is for him when he uses it."

I can't stop talking, I think im being obnoxious and I might be annoying her.

"Oh, I see. I trust your word. But I dont think I could afford that."

I looked at the price tag and I was stunned on how expensive it was! The price is almost 3 times larger than a regular pan!

I feel embarrassed that I just rushed in to tell her about it without even considering that Akagi uses high-quality kitchenware's that has higher prices as well. I guess I should just put it back...

But before I do, I just remembered something that Akagi told me.

"You know? Its not the quality of the pan or tools that allows me to be good at my work. But rather, I pick the ones that I feel like I can associate with, what I like and what I think fits me, what gives me a peace of mine and what inspires me to keep going. Something that can make me feel better. Just like how I always pick dark colors that resembles my outside personality but I use genuinely wholesome things in my private stuff, Which resembles my inner thoughts."

I remembered Akagi based his things on what inspires him, to what gives him a peace of mind. He doesn't always use extravagant materials, he picks things based on his personal taste. I should know what colors or design Fuyuko adores so I can think of something.

"Fuyuko, what's your favorite colors?"

She looks at me.

"I like colors that are elegantly looking."

She didn't give me a straight answer but its an answer alright. Which colors are elegant, I looked around and try to define what colors count as elegant. That's when I stumble upon some colorful cookwares, there's a wide variety of color combinations, I just need to find the right one.

I couldn't make up my mind and i've notice that i've also been starring at it for a few minutes, I look back and Fuyuko moved to a different isle, she's still looking for a good pan. I immediately decided to show her something, I grab a green colored stainless steel pan with gold-like colored handle and rim. It looks elegant enough. I showed it to her, hoping I get a good review.

When I showed it to her, her eyes widened and she was surprised on how it looks. She gently took it from my hands and caresses it.

"Oh wow! its beautiful and the handling is perfect~"

She said.

"And it's not expensive too."

I replied

I could see joy in her eyes, I felt relief and happy I pick the right one first try. We went ahead and pay for it, after that we went to a fast food nearby, we ate together and talk about various stuff about cooking, we shared alot of interest in it. She has a much deeper reason to learn more about cooking rather than just to beat Akagi, she plans to work as a cook or chef as well and she feels she needed that kind of skill level in order to qualify. She's calm and has a collected mind, she's pretty and feminine, I like her alot. Its our first date together and im glad it kinda went well. It was sweet.