Dinner, Drinks, and Chance Encounters

Haruka's reply was not what Kyo had been expecting at all. She really was interested in him! Doing his best to remain outwardly calm, he smiled back to Haruka and nodded.

"I won't hold you to any promises, then, Haruka-san," he replied. "I know you may have other people in your life, and I don't want to be a third wheel. But as you said, for now, let's just enjoy the night."

He took a sip from his water as their meals arrived. "Either way," he said with a wry smile, "you're going down the next time we square off in the ring," he said, trying to lighten the mood.


******

At the other table, meanwhile, Makie and Toshio continue to squabble until the waiter arrived with a huge platter of ribs. The sight and smell of food diverted their attention for a brief second.

That ended when Toshio said "I have dibs on most of them."

"What? You can't call dibs like that?"

"Oh yeah?" Toshio sneered. "Race ya to the end of these, then!"

"Wh-are you serious?" Makie sputtered. "There's enough here for three people! Neither of us will finish these in time!"

They both paused, realizing what Makie had just said, before slowly looking at Midori.

Makie as busy putting away her spaghetti and meatballs. It was a triple order though and she mindlessly tore into it as if trying to put those carbs in by force of will.

Makie sweatdropped, not quite sure how to get her senpai's attention. "Eh...M...Midori-senpai..."

Toshio made no effort at subtlety in the matter. "Hey Himeno! Up for a challenge?"

Looks up chewing her food and gives a big swallow.

"Yo."

Toshio gestured to the ribs. "I bet you can't finish these before me or Makie can."

"T..T...Toshio-san..." Makie sputtered.

"Up to the challenge?" he said. "If you want, we can add stakes to this bet."

"Toshio, steaks are already on the menu--"

He turned to Makie. "Uh, no, sis, I meant 'stakes.' As in consequences for winning or losing?"

"Oh."

She was still in the middle of consuming her pasta. She looked at the ribs and then up.

"I can't eat that tonight."

Toshio looked stunned into speechlessness for a minute. "But...but...food...challenge..." he stammered.

Makie sighed. "Toshio, my senpai doesn't want to indulge in your stupid eating contest, alright? She has more dignity than that!"

Toshio frowned at his sis. "Aw, lighten up, sis. I was just trying to liven up the mood over here." He briefly flashed Midori an annoyed look. "You and your new instructor are being way too serious about a simple dinner."

He still resents that she's teaching me, Makie realized. She sighed. "Or you're taking this dinner not nearly seriously enough," she countered.

"You two are so cute. The way you fight all the time."

Slurps up some pasta.

For a moment, the two of them were speechless. This was the first time an outsider had commented on their sibling bickering.

"Er...well..." Toshio began.

"We don't fight on EVERYTHING," Makie said, rubbing a hand behind her head in embarassment.

"Well actually, yeah, we kinda do," Toshio admitted.

Makie didn't rise to the bait. Instead, giving Toshio a defiant look, she began to munch down her ribs. If Midori thought she could use some carbs, then dammit, some carbs she would have!

Breaking the silence, Toshio decided to change the topic. "So, uh, sis, do you know who you'll be fighting next?" he asked.

"Not a clue," Makie said. "Besides, I'm not ready yet."

Toshio sighed. "Oh come on, sis, one loss doesn't mean you aren't ready." He glanced warily at Midori. "Wouldn't you agree, Himeno-san?"

"Listen to your "idiot" brother, Makie. For this once, he actually speaks sense. When you pay your dues you might almost be as strong as me one day."