Starlight (Kojiro Nanjo)

Chapter Seven: Trusted Confidants

"So this Adam guy.." Hoshiko muttered, using her chopsticks to tug at the noodles in her bowl of ramen.

    Reluctantly, the woman had agreed to meet up with Joe outside of S. The plan was to initially meet up with Cherry as well, just so the two men could officially explain everything to get. However, Cherry's body had other plans - meaning the man had to call Hoshiko up an hour before they were supposed to be meeting to explain he had fallen ill with a nasty cold, and couldn't make it. Hoshiko had insisted it was okay, and that rescheduling was already an option. However, Cherry had already convinced Joe to pick her up in his place. Before she could even protest, Cherry hung up the phone and her fate was sealed.

     So Joe showed up at her front door with a smile on his face and a flower in his hand. One he had definitely picked from the rose bush in her her neighbor's front yard, but still, it seemed like a sweet gesture nonetheless. But of course, Hoshiko couldn't let the man be aware of how she appreciated the gift. Instead, teased him for stealing and reminded him that this wasn't a date they were embarking on. This was lunch with a friend to discuss business. Joe pretended to act wounded at the assumption, but decided to drop the flirty guy routine. At least for the most part. Which was nice, to say the least.

"Cherry and I went to High School with him." Joe breathed out, slurping up some noodles from his own bowl. "Not only that, but.. we started S with him too."

"Shokichi mentioned there were three founders, but only ever mentioned you two.. Guess now I know the third."

"Shokichi." Joe repeated the name with a raised brow. "That your boyfriend or something?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." Hoshiko giggled, shoving the man's shoulder lightly. "So why'd this guy ditch you two anyway? Neither of you looked too thrilled when you saw his face."

"There's definitely some history there." Replied Joe. "It's a little tough to explain. Wouldn't want to ruin our first date with some sob story, you know?"

"Not a date." Hoshiko quickly confirmed, earning a light hearted chuckle from the green haired man. "So spill it, Gorilla."

"Not you too." He cried out, dropping his head against the counter to sit and sulk.

     As his forehead remained pressed to the countertop, Hoshiko couldn't help but let out a couple innocent giggles. Joe was.. oddly fun to be around. Admitting that she enjoyed his company felt almost illegal though; something she wasn't allowed to be doing, and found herself a little nervous she'd be caught. As she glanced to the side to look at the man once more, two very familiar figures came into view, sitting on the opposite side of Joe. That's when her laughter seized completely, and she felt her heart drop into her stomach. The lack of noise caused Joe's ears to perk up. A sweet sound he was once reveling in suddenly disappeared, and as he raised his head up, he noticed the smile that had faltered from her face too.

"You okay?"

"Definitely not." The woman muttered, pushing her head against the man's chest in an attempt to hide herself from the two. "This is really bad."

"If you wanted to lay your head in my chest, all you had to do was ask."

"It's not like that at all!" Hoshiko whisper-shouted back to the man, finger rapidly pointing to the two boys sitting directly beside him. "Those two are my students, and they can not see me with you."

"Why not? You look totally normal out here. It'll be fine." Joe replied nonchalantly, truly not understanding the predicament Hoshiko was in during this current moment. "Bet they won't even notice us."