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Arc II - Many Firsts [Chapter 3: Coping]

Anyway, I'm so happy and consider myself very lucky to get all this help.

"Thanks, guys, for waiting.", I say to the group with a touched voice.

Reki: "Not for that, Izzy."

Laha: "You ready?"

"Uhn. Let's go.", I reply.

I won't allow our sacred Friday ritual to be canceled again because of me. Today is the end of that!

[A little later, 'Marlies' Coffee Bean']

From my regular seat, I take a thorough look around in our café. It seems like I haven't been here for ages, yet it hasn't been long. The café is so familiar but at the same time feels different. I hate the fact that this place, with which I had only good memories until recently, is now tainted with a shadow. Inevitably and irrevocably associated with Tamamushi.

That's why I detest this person even more.

Laha: "How are you, Izzy?"

I exhale shakily, but don't answer right away.

I'm strong!

Shin: "Izzy?"

Then I shake my head, "It's alright, I'm fine."

Right now, I'm actually not scared, because of course Tamamushi is nowhere to be seen, but I'm pretty sad. I'm also angry. Especially angry with myself for letting this person threaten to ruin our ritual.

In general, anger and sadness are my loyal companions these days.

Laha: "Let us know if you want to leave."

"Won't be necessary.", I smile, but it doesn't reach my eyes.

Suddenly I feel a menacing aura to my left. My eyes land on a very angry Kacchan, who is literally staring down the tabletop in front of him. Kacchan looks like he wants to blow the place up.

As he didn't like Tamamushi before the incident already, it's easy to imagine how things must be now. He probably detests him just as much as I do.

Showing his face here again would be absolutely foolish, if only because of Kacchan. Tamamushi is gone though. As if he had vanished from the face of the earth. The police still have no leads on his current whereabouts. It's reasonable to assume that he's gone underground in Tokyo illegally. As far as I'm concerned, he can stay there forever and rot.

I quickly check the menu to distract myself. "So, what kind of cake do we have on offer today?", I mumble more to myself than anyone else.

When a waitress comes to the table shortly after, I'm relieved as we get some more effective distraction while the ordering round starts. Furthermore, happy that they have apparently quickly found a replacement for Tamamushi, since the waitress must be new here.

It goes in turns. Most of them order the usual.

Waitress: *looks at me kindly*, "And for you?"

"Ehm, I'd like a large coffee with a dash of milk," I order. "Oh, and a slice of that poppy seed cake, please."

I don't have to look at my people's faces, I know they're surprised by my order. They're probably thinking: 'What? No Latte Macchiato? WTF, does he have a fever or what's going on?!

Waitress: "Sure." *types into her device*

Now I do actually look around, to recognize surprise mixed with a bit confusion, and then shrug my shoulders casually, "Time to try something new, isn't it?"

Even such seemingly irrelevant changes to the setting around Tamamushi I consider helpful right now. Somehow it gives me the feeling of having at least a little bit of control. Does that make sense?