Reiko, still sick, settled down after some fussing. Hayashi Shuichi fed her cold medicine, and she drifted off to sleep.
Tucking his sister in, Hayashi Shuichi grabbed the bowl and headed downstairs with Hii Eri.
"You're really doting on her," Eri said, her face stern. "You spoil that little brat too much."
"She's still young," Hayashi Shuichi said helplessly. "And sick. I can't just ignore her."
"When I was young, you weren't this attentive…" Eri muttered under her breath.
"What was that?"
Hayashi Shuichi, already at the izakaya's entrance, turned back, surprised.
"Nothing!" Eri huffed.
Hayashi Shuichi gave her an amused glance, but as he stepped toward the izakaya, someone rushed out and crashed right into him.
Caught off guard, the bowl flew from Hayashi Shuichi's hands.
Eri lunged, snatching it just before it hit the ground. Relieved, she looked up—only to grit her teeth.
The person who'd run out was Fujimine Yukiko, who'd barreled into Hayashi Shuichi's arms.
Ignoring Eri, Yukiko hugged Hayashi Shuichi and bounced excitedly. "Shuichi, the agency just called—I passed the audition!"
Yukiko, only slightly shorter than Hayashi Shuichi, kept jumping, inadvertently giving him a faceful of her enthusiasm.
"Have you two hugged enough?" Eri's icy voice cut through, each word laced with frost.
Hayashi Shuichi quickly let go. Yukiko, still elated, didn't notice and turned to give Eri a bear hug. "Glasses girl, I passed my audition!"
Eri froze, eyes wide, stunned by the sudden embrace—their first close contact. "I-Is that so? Congrats."
"Hehe!" Yukiko tilted her chin up proudly, fists raised to her chest. "First audition, and I nailed it. International stardom's not far off!"
"Focus on acting well in this film first," Eri said, throwing cold water. "If it flops, your star dream might crash with it."
"Tch, can't you skip the buzzkill on a day like this?" Yukiko pouted, deflated.
The trio entered the izakaya. Smelling the fruit porridge, Yukiko grabbed a spoon and helped herself to a bowl. "Where's the little brat and Kogoro?"
"Reiko's sick, Kogoro's on a date," Hayashi Shuichi said, serving Eri a bowl.
"Sick? Is it serious?" Yukiko asked, concerned.
"Just a cold, some fever," Eri snorted. "But sleeping in Shuichi's room, she'll probably be fine by afternoon."
"Shuichi's room cures illnesses?" Yukiko blinked, confused.
"Are you dense?" Eri snapped. "That brat's using her cold as an excuse to hog Shuichi's bed!"
"So what?" Yukiko shrugged. "Reiko's just a kid."
Well said! Hayashi Shuichi secretly gave her a thumbs-up.
Eri rolled her eyes, ignoring her carefree rival.
"By the way, who's Kogoro dating?" Yukiko asked, gossip mode on. "Someone from our class or another school?"
"Doiwaki Ruri, an old friend of ours," Eri replied, stirring her porridge.
"I think you've mentioned her," Yukiko said, tapping her chin. "Another childhood friend, right?"
"Yup, we knew her back in kindergarten," Hayashi Shuichi smiled. "Same school through elementary and junior high. She moved away from Tokyo in high school."
"You sure have a lot of childhood friends…" Yukiko muttered, a hint of jealousy in her tone.
"Ruri's always liked Kogoro," Eri said, glancing at Yukiko. "She even confessed to him after junior high."
"But that idiot turned her down," Hayashi Shuichi added, relieved. "Good thing he came to his senses. Yesterday, while we were out, he called her."
"Her taste's questionable if she likes Kogoro," Yukiko said, half-amused, half-relieved.
Eri huffed, ready to defend her friend, when the izakaya door swung open. A stylish girl in a white wide-brimmed hat and a sky-blue dress walked in.
"Sorry, we're not open yet—" Eri stopped mid-sentence, recognizing her friend. "Ruri!"
Eri rushed over, hugging her. "You're not even wearing glasses? If I hadn't seen you without them before, I wouldn't have recognized you!"
"It's only been two months," Ruri laughed softly. "You're exaggerating."
"She's gorgeous," Yukiko whispered, nudging Hayashi Shuichi. "Didn't Eri say her friend wasn't into dressing up?"
"Ruri used to be plain," Hayashi Shuichi murmured. "Ponytail, thick glasses, study fanatic like Eri."
"Hey, Mr. Heartthrob, I can hear you badmouthing me!" Ruri teased, her gaze shifting to Yukiko. "Aren't you going to introduce the beauty next to you?"
Hayashi Shuichi made introductions, then asked, puzzled, "Ruri, weren't you meeting Kogoro for your date? Why're you here?"
"We were supposed to meet here," Ruri said, confused. She scanned the room, her face falling when she didn't see Mouri Kogoro. "Where's Kogoro?"
"That idiot!" Hayashi Shuichi and Eri facepalmed in unison.
"What's wrong?" Ruri asked, startled.
"About an hour ago, Kogoro left," Hayashi Shuichi said, glancing at the wall clock. "Can you believe he got the meeting spot wrong…?"
(Chapter End)
--------------------------------
Hello everyone! I have posted new chapters on Patreon, if you like my work and want to support me on this creative journey, you can support me here: [patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you for your support!!!