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The metal counter was sticky—slick from spilled glasses over the course of the night. No amount of wiping would get rid of the thick layer of sickly sweet stickiness. Cool blue lights illuminated the counter top and the bass from big black box speakers pounded in your chest. Dots of light rose and fell in time with the beat across patrons and staff as they clamored around bar. Some held out money, others held their phones high in the sky with their flashlights on.
You leaned your body gingerly against the almost too tall counter, hoping to flag down a bartender. With a half raised hand and an awkward, half smile, you motioned to the bartender who stood a short distance away. The woman put up her index finger as she topped off a drink with the soda gun and placed it in eager hands. Once finished, she pushed past her coworker who was serving a giggling group of girls.
“What do you want? Do you have a tab?” she asked above the blaring speakers.
“Can I have a te—” you started.
“Jack and coke,” a man interjected. The bartender looked between you and the man with a raised brow. The man turned his attention down towards you with his brows furrowed. “Were you waiting?” he asked.
“Oh, um, no..” you replied, shrinking back
“What?” he yelled.
“Never mind…” you muttered as you slunk away from the crowded bar. You glanced back to find the space you had occupied had been filled within an instant by another thirsty patron.
Sometime within the night, you had separated from your friends.
The space seemed far past the maximum occupancy rate and the DJ was playing some Top 40s mix of what sounded like the same ten songs on shuffle and repeat. Regardless, the bass boomed and shook the walls of the small establishment. Sweaty bodies jostled and pushed you against others. Some people threw dirty looks and others went unbothered by your presence. They were too absorbed in gyrating with the rhythm of the music.
There was no use in fighting the immovable sea of dancers, The more you struggled, the more you felt elbows jab into your side and shoes landing hard on top of your own. After waves and waves of people crashed against your frame, you decided to give up flailing against the current. You danced along halfheartedly as a song droned on overhead. After it ended, there was a small opening against the wall that presented itself to you. With renewed vigor, you pressed your body into a thin line.
As you danced with and past others, you were finally just a few feet away from the sweet sanctity from the sweaty and rambunctious crowd. However, just as you were about to hit that finish line it seemed as if there was a mass that was preventing you from your safe haven. You trailed your eyes up the tall and limber body, only for your gaze to rest on Okita’s face, who seemed just as equally surprised as you were.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Am I really that scary?” he asked.
“You, scary? Not in the least,” you replied.
“You look nice,” he said. His gaze was cast far off behind you as he spoke.
You glanced behind your shoulder, hoping to see the poor person who was at the receiving end of his ‘compliment.’
“Is that a joke?” you asked when you found nobody else participating in the conversation.
He didn’t respond. A cool breeze blew down from the exposed ceiling duct. It was a welcome sensation, but it wasn’t able to cool the annoyance that grew like a patch of fire along your shoulders. Okita was unwavering as you held his coy and distant smile. You hoped yours conveyed a clear display of displeasure.
Over the past two weeks you had checked, double-checked, then checked again to make sure that Okita wouldn’t be able to make it. Sano, Saito, and Chizuru had sworn that he had a multitude of excuses to not go out dancing. Why you felt assured by that was beyond you. If there was one thing you could count on Okita for was his unpredictability.
A sharp and sudden jab against your back sent your stumbling forward. Strong arms pulled you against a warm mass and once the pain subsided, you glanced up. Okita wore a scowl that pulled the features on his face down.
“You should be more careful,” he said as you pushed away from him.
Your back landed on the chilly concrete wall with a thud. “just shut up,” you muttered.
“That’s not very nice,” he chided.
You could feel his gaze prickle across your skin but your foolish pride refused to let you leave.
A catchy beat blared from the speakers. The bass line, though remixed was instantly recognizable as a favorite from youth. The jubilant lyrics and instruments saturated your hearing, washing away the resentment you held in your stiffened limbs. Your head bobbed with the beat, forcing your eyes to close. The sound coursed through your veins and it wasn’t long before you let the music move your body the way it told you to.
When you opened your eyes, Okita had disappeared from your side. Even then, there was a space beside you that was big enough to be filled by his body. Still, you were glad; it gave you a chance to let loose a bit.
A hand grabbed onto your wrist and your eyes flew open. The usual shy and sweet Chizuru stood before you with a toothy grin and rosy cheeks. Something inaudible came from her mouth as she pulled you back into the crowd. You noted that she had shed her jacket to reveal the light blue crop top beneath. Her shorts we just a tad too short, exposing just a bit of her ass. It was so contrasting to the conservative air she put on in her daily life.
A new age, a new attitude, you surmised.
As the music travelled through the decades, you let it take you for a ride and you danced along with your friends. Your hands were suspended above your head as the rest of your body followed in languid motions. The song faded into a group favorite—Chizuru was first to start mouthing lyrics and bouncing on the spot. Sen and Suzu quickly joined in, then you followed suit. The lyrics from the song were mingling in with the excited singing of the group, which had grown from just the girls to include most of the people invited out that night.
As the chorus hit, a wave of singing voices overpowered the blaring speakers, drowning out the song. Yuri gripped your left and Chizuru took your right. They thrust each arm into the air while bouncing excitedly with the beat. As the chorus faded into the second verse, you found your arms dropping at your side but was still compelled to move with the music.
A flash of light suddenly blinded your vision. When it returned, your eyes spun about wildly looking for the source—a cat-faced grinning Okita. He waved, then quickly snapped a photo of Chizuru who was surrounded by a majority of the group. Sen and Suzu hung off her shoulders. Sano rested his head atop hers and was flanked by Heisuke, who stood on his tippy toes and Nagakura throwing up a trendy peace sign while winking. Kaoru was fighting for a spot, trying to push past the trio. Hijikata and Saito were content to stand behind the commotion, with very little expression on their faces.
Okita disappeared into the crowd once he took the pictures, leaving you fuming from the temporary blindness. Ken’s hand landed on your shoulder and he shook his head.
“Leave him be, it’s not worth it,” he yelled into your ear.
“He’s just so annoying,” you shouted back.
“Who’s annoying?” Yuri asked when she popped up between you and Ken.
“You know who—Okita!” you groaned.
Yuri snickered and exchanged a look with Ken.
“Have you considered that maybe he likes you?” Ken asked.
“Ew no! Him? Gross.”
“Why don’t you just kiss and make up already?” Yuri asked while rolling her eyes. “There’s so much tension between you two that I can cut it with a knife.”
“Yeah but if it wasn’t for his personality, Wouldn’t you think he’d be a dreamy prince?” Ken jumped to your defense.
“Spare me please…” you groaned as another catchy song from youth played overhead. The birthday girl and her closest confidants had disappeared into the crowd along with most of the group. That left you and your posse swaying to the music.
You and Ken clapped as Yuri showed off her best moves. She twirled and stuck her leg out, waving it with a fluid motion while her foot stayed grounded. With a practiced movement, she grabbed Ken’s hand and twirled him into her place. Ken took the spotlight while you and Yuri cheered him on. He pumped his chest while his feet made patterns. With your friends, you lost yourself within the music once more.
A prickling on the back of your neck had you pause and glance around. Nothing immediately caught your attention, but that feeling prevailed. Then, a small part in the crowd revealed a trio who were so uncharacteristically into the music, you couldn’t help but snort.
Okita, Saito and Hijikata of all people were dancing with drinks in hand. Their hands moved in and away from their bodies in patterns, following their chests that pumped with the rhythm. Your feet were rooted to the spot, mesmerized with what you considered a once in a lifetime scene. Everything around him was a blur as you hyper focused on how he flowed and danced so seamlessly to the beat.
His eyes locked with yours and you gasped. He beamed back at you with none of his usual coyness. For once you could see the point that Ken had made. His tawny hair framed his face and sparkling emerald eyes. You quickly took notice of how well his shirt fit.
“What are you looking at?” Yuri asked with a drink held out towards you.
You startled and turned towards her as heat rose in your cheeks. You took the drink from her and watched as she trailed her gaze back towards Okita. “Oh, I see…” she said with a laugh.
“I don’t want to—” you started.
“Maybe I was wrong…” Ken said as he suddenly appeared at your other side.
“That’s not—no, never—”
“Maybe it goes both ways!” Yuri teased.
“Just stop!” you exclaimed.
Both of your friends exchanged a look of bewilderment, then shrugged. You rolled your eyes and pressed your way back through the crowd and to the safe haven under the AC. Your eyes unfocused from the details of the crowd and only took in shapes of movement. Slowly, you drained the sugary drink from the cup, but with nowhere to toss it, you held the empty cup against your chest.
The nostalgic set was slowly replaced once more by Top 40s songs. The repetitive beats still had your head bobbing in time, no thanks to the drink you had sucked down. Your lids drooped as the infectious sound travelled through your body and made you move. How much time passed, you couldn’t tell. Only a movement at your side ripped you from your trance.
From your periphery you could make out the familiar tall lankiness of Okita, who had fallen in against the wall beside you. He seemed to have a clear cup in his hand that was filled with ice and a mystery liquid in each hand. He held one of the drinks out in front of your face. You stared, your brows furrowed and a frown set deep on your features mulling over the possibility of drinking something spiked. Okita was unbothered and in fact, didn’t acknowledge your confusion or well, you in general—except for the drink that was thrust out for you to take.
He sipped on the straw of his drink as his eyes surveyed the crowd. Must be nice being his height, you thought as you took the beverage from his hand. After some hesitation and glaring at the ice in the cup, you took the drink and brought the soggy paper straw to your lips. When the cold beverage hit your palate, you were pleasantly surprised to taste nothing but the faint tartness of lemon.
Once the water was gone, you stacked the chilled clear cup over the other in your grip and scanned the crowd. Within it, you could make out Yuriko and Ken who seemed to be dancing together… Erotically.
She shook and bounced her booty against Ken, who grabbed onto it as if his life depended on it. She spun and her hip glued to his and they moved fluidly together.
You huffed a laugh as they seemed to be deep within a conversation despite their perverse cavorting. Even Yuriko, the self-proclaimed biggest lover of women on the planet, would dance that way with Ken who was teetering the edge of reclusion. They were two of the strangest people you had ever known, but your heart swelled just at the thoughts of them.
“Would you dance with me like that?” Okita’s voice was low and sensual as he murmured into your ear. Shivers ran down your spine and a small flame lit from deep within.
You whipped your head to the side to find his face mere inches from your own. His gaze was half-lidded and a smile played across his face. Half-melted ice flew out of the cup and disappeared on the floor as you let out a yelp. He held a self-satisfying grin on his face—the one you detested so much.
“Just stop,” you retorted and averted your gaze. You couldn’t hear over the music, but you could feel it— Okita’s body was quaking. That could only be from one thing…
His body shook as he laughed to himself. A stone sunk to the pit of your stomach and your gaze fixed squarely on your shoes as he continued to laugh. The music of the club faded as you retreated into your own psyche. You wondered what you did to make him target you with his ill-mannered jokes. Your thoughts drifted back to his words…
They conjured images of his hands roving over your body as you pressed into him. The feel of his breath on your neck, or his grip on your waist… you swallowed.
Your name was called, bringing you back down into the present.
“What?” you asked.
“Are you okay?” he asked in response.
“No—yes, I mean yes, I’m fine.”
“If you say so.” He shrugged.
You concentrated on your friends, who were joined by the likes of Sen, Suzu, and the Birthday girl, Chizuru. You made eye contact with Sen, who smiled and beckoned you over. You tilted your head and pointed at yourself and Sen nodded. But for some reason you hesitated and looked to Okita for direction.
He exchanged a look that you couldn’t figure out the meaning of with Sen. Then, Sen once again made eye contact with you and flashed the widest, most knowing grin she could make. A tap on your shoulder broke you from your wordless conversation and you looked up at Okita. He motioned with his hand and you tilted your ear up towards him—
“Wanna get out of here?” he asked.
Your face flushed and you swallowed a thick lump down your throat. Okita let out a small snort in your ear before taking your hand gently within his.
You glanced back in the direction of your friends for help… only to find none. The rest of the group was staring and occupying the space you left. Their expression of disbelief made the tips of your ears burn and you were sure the group chat would light up your phone later. Yuriko thrust and emphatic thumbs up in your direction and you smiled sheepishly at the gesture.
With lithe and precise movements, Okita led you through the thick crowd of people and towards the entrance of the club.
A chilly breeze wove its way between the high rises and through the night street, kissing your cheeks as it passed. It was such a staunch contrast to the damp hot air in the club, even if it was uncharacteristically cold for August, it was welcome.
A small smile played across his lips as he gazed down the street. His strong hand gave yours a gentle squeeze, making your heart leap into your throat. “I’ll show you something cool,” he said.
Your heart pounded in your chest and you were vocally paralyzed—and yet… you felt oddly comfortable. So, without speaking, you let him lead you towards an unknown destination.
People lined outside of bars and clubs, mingling in small groups while chatting and sharing their screens excitedly. Too many cars crowded the thin street, with people jumping out of their rides in the middle of the road. Music poured out from open doorways flanked by imposing bouncers. A resounding growl cramped your stomach at the scent of late night eateries and the long lines that stood outside of the establishments.
You followed diligently after Okita, and eventually came to a halt at a busy cross street. As you waited for the sign to allow you to cross, your eyes slowed the cars momentarily as they caught your attention. The towering streetlights cast their bright glow and illuminated the shadowy figures within each cabin. With each passerby, you couldn’t help but to wonder where those people were racing to at such a late hour.
After many crawling seconds, rows of bright LEDs came to a halt and the little man in the walk sign lit up. You stared for a moment, the little figure in the sign not registering. The bright blue-white headlights illuminated the chunky lined crosswalk as the drivers waited patiently or impatiently for their green.
Okita had stepped out partially in the crosswalk before he turned back. “coming?” he asked.
“Yeah,” you replied and hurried across the street as the sign began to tick its countdown. Your hand felt cold.
Okita stood next to the stoplight with a soft smile waiting for you as you crossed the street. Your chunky sneakers thudded across the paved road as you raced against the timer. A raised bit of concrete caught on toe of your shoes, sending you tumbling forward with a yelp. You braced for impact—but it never came.
Your hands landed on the rough fabric of Okita’s olive denim jacket and a strong arm wrapped around your waist. His emerald eyes glittered in the warm streetlight beneath his shaggy bangs that were blowing in the breeze. Everything around you blurred out. All that mattered was coarse fabric of his jacket and the strong arm that wrapped around your waist. Your throat felt tight—you swallowed as a heat rose in your cheeks. It seemed that his cheeks had flushed a deeper shade of red.
The harsh buzz from the walk sign shook you from your stupor. You pushed away from him and flattened your ruffled clothing.
Without skipping a beat, Okita immediately turned left. His brows were set in a deep V as he walked down a dimly lit street and away from the bustle of the downtown block. His pace suddenly quickened and you struggled to keep up with his lengthy stride.
A quiet mumbling drew your attention to a man pressed up against a building and… you trailed your eyes down to a growing pool of liquid. A string of curses muttered as his pants slipped just past his knees, exposing his backside in the dim streetlamps. Your eyes flickered wildly at the scenery around you, trying desperately to erase that memory from your mind.
Having seen more than your fair share, you trotted after Okita, who was quite a ways down the street. Of course, you rolled your eyes, it was just like him to take you to such a seedy area of the city. Neon signs flickered from overuse on buildings cracking from age. A couple men stood under the harsh blue light of an arrow shaped sign that pointed down a steep set of concrete stairs. The acrid smoke from their cigarettes stung your nose and lungs, forcing a cough to rise from your chest.
Their eyes crawled over your body as you passed. They shared a hushed exchange that was just in your earshot, then a scratchy laugh that was followed by one wet, forceful cough. A shiver ran down your spine as you hid in Okita’s shadow. He fell in beside you, his pace finally matching yours.
“We’re almost there, don’t worry,” he said.
“Great…” you mumbled.
“You can hold onto my arm if you’re scared.”
“Why would I be scared? This is nothing.”
“Have it your way.” He shrugged and turned his attention back towards the street. Just past the next intersection, two shadowy figures emerged from between the buildings. They seemed to walk with a purpose as they headed straight towards you much too quickly for your liking. Your fingers dug into the rough denim of Okita’s jacket and you pressed against him, hoping to turn invisible.
Their footsteps grew louder and the men’s gruff voices carried a heated conversation to your ears. Blood pounded in your ears and for some reason, Okita never stopped walking. He was walking to your doom, your mind screamed.
“`Evening,” one of the men greeted as they passed by.
“`Evening,” Okita responded in kind. He looked down at your arm coiled around his with amusement. His cat-like expression had returned, which seemed to mock you. “Not so scary, is it?”
“Not at all,” you retorted.
The bright LED sign blared out a staunch warning to not cross the skinny street you had come to. Though no cars crossed, you were poised to wait—but—Okita, without skipping a beat, crossed any way. Just a few more steps and you stood at the gaping maw of an alley. From far within its belly, a dim yellow light illuminated the smallest portion of the alley.
He looked down at you with a raised brow. “ready?”
“I think so,” you replied.
You swallowed as you made your way down the alley. It was much too dark to see and a cold wind blasted your face as it funneled between the buildings. You glanced around at your surroundings but couldn’t make out much of anything. There seemed to be many corrugated metal shutters with some sort of lettering on them.
Okita stopped abruptly within the yellow light. You were greeted by an imposing steel door with a frosted glass panel. The source of the dim warm glow that filtered out into the alley came from behind the obscured glass panel nestled within the door. A wooden sign above the door, but the light wasn’t strong enough to be able to read it.
Your eyes slammed shut as Okita reached out to pull the handle. The door creaked on its hinges and a bell jingled at his entrance.
The pleasant aroma of simmering broth and aromatic vegetables filled your senses as a puff of air hit your face. You cracked your eyes open, only to be greeted by that soft light which welcomed you into a quaint and cozy restaurant.
Okita didn’t spare any time looking around before he took a seat at a booth closest to the corrugated shutter. You trailed behind him across the off-white tile floor and sat on the pleather booth seat. The cushion let out a slow breath as you lowered your body onto it.
You glanced about the restaurant. A curtain draped over a doorway behind the unmanned bar, that was barely two meters long. A window flanked the left side of the door, providing a peek into the kitchen. Steam filtered out of the kitchen, bringing that lovely aroma from the simmering broth. A small vine plant in a jar of water crawled its way down from the window sill and disappeared behind the wooden bar countertop.
There were only a handful of tables dispersed throughout the room, giving plenty of room to maneuver about. There was, however, a couple stacks of folded tables and chairs against the far wall. You tilted your head.
“Don’t worry, this place is open really late,” he said while tapping at the QR code taped to the table. The tape was browned and rolled over itself at the edges, desperately needing repair. He picked absentmindedly at the tape, furthering its shoddy state.
Your eyes were fixed on the very top of the pot on the stove through the window—how the steam pushed its way between the lit and pot. “Oh I see,” you replied.
The seat sunk further when Okita squeezed in your side of the booth. He nonchalantly invaded your space and pressed his body against yours. His screen was a soft orange and on it, he presented a food delivery service page. Menu items were listed and he scrolled emphatically.
“What do you want? They have anything you really want. Look, here’s soba and udon, there’s also grilled fish if you like that. Do you like okonomiyaki? They have sets too, you can choose the meats you want with noodles or rice… and the vegetable choices are here. Their soups are the best, do you—hey, what’s that look for?” he asked, wide-eyed as he looked down at you.
“Sorry, this is just too much,” you said while stifling a laugh.
Okita’s look of shock melted into his signature cat-like grin. “What, did you think I was taking you to a love hotel? Or maybe you thought I was going to murder you!” he teased.
“How am I not supposed to when you walked down that sketchy alley? This whole area is so sketchy!” You smacked his arm.
“Ow!” he exclaimed with a faux look of hurt. “I picked up the pace for a reason. Anyways, what are you going to get? I’m hungry.”
“I’ll have whatever you’re having then,” you said as you glanced over the menu. Nothing in particular jumped out. “surprise me.”
Okita’s grin remained as he placed an order.
It was more than awkward as you sat elbow to elbow with Okita. Surprisingly, there wasn’t much conversation to be had… or at least from what you could come up with. Now that you realized it, he had always been the one to strike up something with you. Was there ever a point that you initiated something? You pondered the question silently as he looked down at his phone.
You shifted in your seat, hoping to gain just a smidge more elbow room and accidentally smacked Okita’s leg with your hand.
“Sorry,” you said.
“That hurt,” he replied.
“Good.”
Okita sighed and scratched his head, then, he angled his body to face towards you. You shrunk against the wall and tried to look anywhere but at him.
“Do you hate me that much?” he asked.
Your eyes snapped up to his and was shocked to find that he wore such a serious expression. You squired in your seat and wrestled with words as he waited in anticipation for your response. “I don’t necessarily hate you…” you finally said.
“But you admit you don’t like me?”
“That’s not true!”
“I swear, you give me such whiplash. It’s hard for me to figure out if you don’t like being around me.”
“You’re just so difficult to deal with,” you started. “Sometimes you’re so nice and other times you’re just downright unpleasant. It’s so hard to be around you.”
“So I make you uncomfortable?”
“I didn’t say that—”
“You may as well have,” he muttered, silencing any further response from you. Okita slumped over the table with his elbows propped and phone in hand. There was a far off look in his eyes and a scowl that washed over the entirety of his features.
Something about his demeanor rubbed you the wrong way. An annoyance nipped at the back of your shoulders, that familiar warmth spreading as an anger grew in the pit of your stomach. But… it wasn’t directed towards him as it usually was. He seemed lost in the mindless scrolling on social media and the longer it went on, the stronger a new pang in your chest became.
Why was is so hard to find a way to say something nice about him? You begged yourself to find an answer, but nothing came in the moment you wanted it to. Instead of angering yourself further, you turned your attention to the kitchen window. The head of a man appeared at the stove.
He picked the lid off of the pot and a plume of smoke rose into the air and filled the restaurant with its delectable scents. Your stomach rumbled quietly. The man then ladled out some broth into another pot, then disappeared to another part of the kitchen, leaving you sitting awkwardly beside a brooding Okita once more.
You watched from the corner of your eyes with great interest as he lingered on a collection of images posted on his social. For a few dragging moments, his gaze lingered on an image that was too grainy and underexposed for you to make out without a closer look.
“You know, it’s rude to stare at other people’s phones,” he said as he pressed the sleep button on his phone. “If you wanted to see, you could have just asked.”
Red hot embarrassment coursed through your veins. You fumbled over words, feeling like a moron as you blubbered helplessly. “I-I’m sorry,” you finally said.
“Thank you,” he replied with a coy grin before he turned on his phone screen. “Since you’re so curious, do you want to see?”
“A little bit, yeah.” You leaned a bit closer and he angled the screen for you to get a better look. It was grainy and underexposed, but you were still able to make out two figures in the image. You were standing next to Okita against the wall with a cup in hand. Even though you were looking at something the camera didn’t capture, Okita’s gaze was fixed solely on you.
His lips were pulled back into a genuine smile. Your heart skipped and fluttered. Okita swiped to the next picture of you and him. That time, he was leaning over and speaking with you. Another swipe and it was once again, a photo of you and him. He held your hand in his, pulling you along behind him.
Heat rose in your cheeks when you looked away from the images. His softened gaze and smile were so, so close. Your pulse pounded in your ears and all you could focus on was how dazzling he looked in the warm lighting. You swallowed as the distance between you and him grew smaller and smaller.
Your lips parted slightly anticipation. Okita brushed the back of your cheek with his knuckles before taking it gently within his palm. You leaned eagerly into the touch and your eyelids fluttered closed as you braced for the warmth of his kiss…
but it never came.
Two large steaming bowls landed on the table in front of you and him with a soft thud. The man, which you recognized as the one in the kitchen, looked between you and him, then left with haste. Okita cleared his throat and withdrew, leaving a dejected feeling in the pit of your stomach.
You handed him a pair of chopsticks from the elongated box that sat against the wall at the end of the table. He took them wordlessly, then mumbled under his breath before digging into the food.
To say it was good was an understatement. The savory flavored broth was complimented by the toppings of dried flaky red peppers and sesame oil. The slippery udon noodles were held delicately between your chopsticks. They were perfectly chewy, the perfect noodle accompaniment to the soup.
“You look like you’re enjoying yourself,” Okita said between bites.
“How can I not? This is amazing!” you replied.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Me too.”
You looked for the man from the kitchen, but he was nowhere to be found by the time you and Okita finished your food.
Okita threw his jacket back on and you followed him out of the restaurant.
Light poured down onto the alleyway, blinding you with its neon brilliance. A loud clattering from behind caused you to jump. You spun around to find that the metal shutter was lifted and revealed the inside of the restaurant to the rest of the alley.
When you looked back at your surroundings, the other shutters were also lifted or in the process of opening. Signs clicked on. Lights and life filled the once intimidating alleyway as people meandered over to the late night eateries. With your hand in his, Okita led you up the street and past the other storefronts. Aromas of fried and grilled food filtered out into the night air.
“This place is amazing Okita,” you said. “How did you find it?”
“You think so? Well, I used to work down here in my first and second year of college,” he replied. “The surrounding area isn’t great and sometimes the customers weren’t either… but it was an interesting job.”
“Really? Why did you choose to work down here?”
“I saw an ad for a cook and I needed a job… so I took it. Not much else than that.”
“Ah, I see…” You took in the seats that filled up quickly with people from all walks of life. Exhausted third shift workers shared space with drunks and night-life employees. Like the people, the restaurants came is all sorts of variations. From shops with little more than a counter and kitchen, to seemingly higher end restaurants, lounges, and simple diners like the one you went to—there was an abundance of culinary creativity all around you.
“We can come back here if you want,” Okita said.
“I would love to,” you replied.
“It’s a date then.” He flashed a toothy grin.
A warmth flooded throughout your body and you were dumbstruck for a moment. He gave your hand a gentle squeeze, bringing you back to the present. “I never said it would be a date,” you protested.
“What would you like it to be then?”
You pondered for a moment, trying to sort out your emotions. “I’m… not sure,” you admitted.
“Then it’s a date.”
Bright LEDs rushed by as you and Okita emerged from the other end of the alley. Finally you were back into the hustle and bustle of the city. Cabs and rideshares dove between the curb and traffic, dropping off and picking up all sorts of traffic. A woman dressed in a restaurant uniform raced out of a cab and down the alley. Your eyes followed her until she swung open a door and disappeared.
Your gaze swept over the rest of the alley before turning up towards Okita, who was looking down at you with a smile. He raised his hand and motioned out at the street and it wasn’t a moment later before a cab pulled over and Okita turned towards you.
“It’s late, you should get home,” he said.
You glanced at your phone, it was just past two in the morning. You wanted to protest, but Okita put his finger up to your lips. “there’s always next time,” he murmured.
The cabbie honked the horn impatiently. You hesitated, glanced at the door, then back at Okita, who motioned for the cabbie to wait.
“Thank you for the food, it was fantastic,” you said.
“I guess that means you hate me a little less now?”
“Maybe,” you replied with a wry smile.
Okita cracked a grin. “I’m glad,” he said, then reached around you to open the door.
“I don’t want to leave…”
“I know, but you need to get home and rest.”
You shifted on the spot and cast your gaze down towards the sidewalk before stepping into the cab.
Before you could sit, however, Okita called out. “Wait,” he said.
The light from the streetlamps was obscured behind a wall of tawny locks. A gasp escaped your mouth but was cut short by a chaste kiss that was planted on your cheek. His hand gently guided you to sit in the seat.
He tried to pull away, but your arms wrapped around the back of his neck prevented him from doing so.
“You gotta let me go,” he chuckled.
“Not yet,” you murmured.
His eyes widened in surprise as you pulled him closer. This time, your lips met his. His eyes widened, then his strong hands gripped your shoulders as he deepened the kiss. For many long moments your lips moved against his. Every little bit of annoyance you had felt towards him melted away with each intoxicating breath you took. Your teeth grazed his bottom lip, which elicited a low groan from him. You sucked in a breath and he used that to pull away.
You gazed up at his hooded gaze and took in the deep red that stained his cheeks. How you never noticed just how handsome he was, was beyond you. It was as Ken had said—he was a dreamy prince, with or without the attitude.
Okita closed the door to the cab after the driver cleared their throat. You rolled the window down as the cabbie waited for an opening in the traffic.
“How much do I owe you for this?” you asked.
“How about… get home safe?”
“Wait, Okita, I have to pay you back,” you said as the driver finally took an opening and pulled away from the curb.
Okita said nothing except motioned with his pinky and thumb up to his face. You nodded and watched as his figure disappeared in the distance.