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Hisao: "It's a good school though. Very quiet and remote."



Hina: "One of my workmates actually told me about that school."



Hisao: "Really? Who's that?"



Hina: "Her name is Natsune Ooe. She works with me at the Itsu Cafe."



Hisao: "Natsune.... I remember her. She was in my class! She sat next to Naomi!"



Hina: "Yeah, she talks about that Naomi girl sometimes."



Hisao: "Wow, someone from my class is in the city....wait a second, doesn't she have arthritis? Doesn't that affect her work?"



Hina: "She does simple things like taking orders. Also she does physical therapy."



Hisao: "Well does she go to Handai?"



Hina: "No she goes to a different university. Osaka's a big place."



Hisao: "Yeah I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Big cities like Osaka attract a lot of people, even people who went to your school."



Hina: "Yes, I'll tell her you're my classmate....uh..."



Hisao: "Oh, my names Hisao."



Hina: "Okay Hisao. I'll be sure to say something to Natsune."



Hisao: "Alright."



She walks off to continue her day like nothing, while I watch her leave. I don't know what it is, but I can't help to gaze at her. She's slender an pale, tall, with a hairstyle that fits her. She has beautiful black hair, beautiful eyes, a soft voice that's shy, but not shaky like it was filled with fear. Everything about her is...pleasant. She has a familiar smelling perfume that smells "womanly". She dresses pretty nice, she speaks confident enough with a hint of shyness and uncertainty. I find myself feeling something I haven't felt in a while.



My mind says it's a bad thing, as it's only setting me up for disappointment, but another part of me wants to feel alive again. A warm feeling of excitement when seeing someone in class, something I haven't felt. I've been dead-ish inside for a while. But talking to Hina has made me feel something again, and it wasn't even about anything deep. All it was about was introductions and Natsune.



That's another thing. She's apparently friends with Natsune, an old classmate. I'm glad I didn't do anything embarrassing in class, or Natsune would blab it to Hina. Or maybe not, I never really got close to her. What am I saying, Hina probably won't even mention me. It was only one conversation after all. Apparently Natsune works at a cafe called Itsu. I wonder if it's like that other cafe I used to go to, the ShangHai. I'm almost tempted to go.....Nah. That would be weird, I wasn't really close to her. And if she tells Natsune about me before, she would think I came there for a purpose. If she tells her after I go, she might be weirded out that I went there just because she was there. Either way I can't act like a coincidence of us meeting.



But maybe I worry too much. I could act like it was a coincidence and hope Hina forgets about it. Or maybe I could be the one to bring it up, but I don't want to seem like I'm seeking her out. OR I could try this place out and stop caring. I guess I'll just act like it's a coincidence if I see her. I'm pretty hungry anyways.



...........



I look up the address of the Cafe on a laptop in the library. Not that far away actually. I'm still gonna take a cab. Our campus is in the city, and buses and cabs are easy to find. I walk out of the library and catch a cab. He drives me to the place in professional silence, and I give him my money. The cafe is sandwiched between a book store and a game store. It's a moderately busy part of the city. It's 5:30 on a Thursday, so it would probably be busier on another day.



I walk in not knowing what to expect. I guess I was expecting a stranger to show me to a table. Instead I see Natsune sitting at a table in uniform. She's sitting with the girl from earlier, also in uniform, talking casually. At least they WERE talking casually, until they noticed me. Their attention shifts to me, and two looks form on each of their faces.





The one on Natsune's face was a look of pleasant surprise, and the one on Hina's looks like a different type of surprise. The type of surprise when you get home and find out someone is in your house. It's a puzzled look and slightly fearful look. What I didn't want to happen happened. I came here to see if the place is good and too see if Natsune is here. And me coming here has made me seem like a stalker, though that might not be inaccurate.



Natsune: "Hey, speak of the devil!"



Hisao: "Hey! Natsune!"



Natsune: "We were just talking about you. She told me about how you came up to her and asked for her name."



Hina gives a disapproving look.



Hisao: "Yeah, she told me you worked at a cafe. I just wanted to see if this place is good."



Natsune: "Alright, Hina could you go get him a menu?"



Hina nods and gets a menu. Natsune gets a pad and pen out.



Hisao: "I guess I'll have.....a sandwhich? And some Tea."



Natsune writes it down and both of them go in the back. Natsune comes out with some tea.



Natsune: "So I didn't know you were here in Osaka this whole time."



Hisao: "Same. I was surprised when she told me you were working here. I didn't think I'd see anyone from Yamaku again."



Natsune: "Neither did I. I was prepared to leave behind everyone I've grown close to. The last meeting of the newspaper club was a sad day."



Hisao: "Have you stayed in touch with anyone from Yamaku?"



Natsune: "Actually yes. Naomi and Hanako. They are two hours away."



Hisao: "Really..they must visit."













