Today's work ended faster than I expected — almost too fast. It felt like I blinked and suddenly it was 8:00PM.
Honestly, part of me wished it was still noon because I still wasn't mentally prepared for tonight. A double date… after work… with Junpei’s over-the-top antics and Ruka’s unapproachable aura? Lord, grant me strength.
I sighed for probably the fiftieth time that hour as I packed up my stuff. I glanced at the clock again. Yup, 8:00PM. I wonder what time we’ll get home… probably 10PM or later. Why did I agree to this? Another sigh escaped my lips.
After closing up shop, Keiko, Ruka, and I agreed to leave separately and meet at the station — a covert move to avoid being spotted by our gossipy coworkers, Miko and especially that rumor-loving Aki.
If those two caught wind of this, the office would be flooded with spicy new gossip tomorrow. I shuddered at the thought.
I arrived at the station first. Naturally. And here’s where the panic started. I was silently praying for Keiko to show up before Ruka so I wouldn’t have to endure an awkward wait with her alone.
But the gods, in their infinite humor, had other plans.
I saw her walking toward me and instinctively panicked, pulling my hoodie up so far it practically covered my entire face. I probably looked like some urban ninja trying to blend in with the crowd.
Of course, she noticed.
"Y-you're Ryuko, right? What… are you doing?" Ruka asked, her voice as calm and composed as ever while giving me a look like I was the weirdest creature she’d seen all day.
"Uhh… nothing, I was just… waiting for you," I mumbled, taking off my hoodie. My hair, of course, looked like a bird’s nest afterward.
She blushed slightly, but stayed quiet. Wait, did I just say “waiting for you” instead of “for you and Keiko”? Oh, crap. That sounded like a confession scene in a romance anime. My social awkwardness was evolving into its final form.
"O-oh… I mean waiting for you… and Keiko," I corrected myself, then added in a barely audible voice, "We promised to meet here, right?"
Ruka, still maintaining her cool facade, gave a small nod. "Of course. I know that."
Why did this feel like a scene straight out of an awkward high school romcom? Keiko… please show up before I combust into cringe.
I was starting to sweat bullets. "Why’s Keiko taking so long?" I blurted.
"Should we call her?" Ruka suggested, still acting unbothered while checking her phone.
I nodded and quickly called Keiko.
“Hey Ryusei… sorry, I just realized I forgot to write this week’s report for the boss. You two go ahead, I’ll catch up in about 30 minutes, okay?”
I wanted to throw my phone into the nearest river. Keiko, how could you betray me … at my most vulnerable hour? But since Ruka was staring at me, I forced myself to sound casual.
"Oh, really? Alright then. Take your time, let me know if something happens, okay? I’ll… I’ll wait for you," I replied in my best calm girlfriend voice.
Keiko hung up with a simple "Uhnn… will do."
I turned to Ruka, trying not to look like a man whose world just crumbled. "Keiko says we should go ahead… she forgot her report and might be 30 minutes late."
Ruka’s reaction was a quiet, "Oh… let's go then."
And just like that, the awkward walk to the bar began.
Fifteen agonizingly silent minutes. I tried small talk twice — one about the weather, one about new movies. Both times, Ruka answered with a one-word reply and then fell back into silence.
We finally arrived at the bar Junpei picked.
From outside, I spotted Junpei already sitting at a table for four.
And my god, what a sight.
He wasn’t just there. He was there. Dressed in what could only be described as the worst possible tuxedo a human could buy off the internet — shiny, maroon velvet with golden trim.
His hair, for some reason, was longer, styled into some swooping, ridiculous mess that looked like it belonged in an '80s boyband music video.
Did he… is that a wig? Oh god, it is.
"This… is going to be a long night," I muttered.
"Seems like he's there," I said, pointing to Junpei.
Ruka glanced over. I was fully expecting a snarky comment or flat-out disgust. But nope. She just calmly said, "Okay. Let’s go."
Huh? That’s it? Is she immune to secondhand embarrassment?
Junpei stood up immediately, like he’d been waiting to perform his big entrance.
“Ohhhh! Hi hi, welcome girls! Hehe!” he greeted, waving like a pageant queen.
"This is Ruka," I introduced, bracing myself.
Junpei's face lit up like a kid in a candy store. "Ohhh! Nice to meet you, Miss Ruka! Wait I’ve prepared a little something for you!"
He rummaged through a giant paper bag next to him and pulled out…
He tossed some in the air like a budget magician at a kids' birthday party, grinning like it was the most romantic gesture ever.
The bar fell silent as people turned to watch the spectacle.
Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he pulled out a big bouquet of flowers. I swear it was bigger than Ruka's boobs. I mean it was too much for someone you first met.
He motioned to me to grab the second confetti bag.
Me? Why me? I wanted to disappear.
He gestured harder. Do it. Now.
Sighing in defeat, I grabbed it and weakly tossed a handful in the air.
Ruka just… stood there. Her face unreadable.
I braced myself for her to storm out. But she didn’t. She simply said, "Thank you."
Wait. Did her lips just… curve upward? Was that a smile? No way.
Junpei, oblivious to how weird this all was, beamed with pride. "Told you it’d impress her!" he whispered to me.
Keiko… hurry up… before this turns into a full-on circus.