Linked Paths

Arc II - Many Firsts [Chapter 3: Coping]

Waitress: *raises an eyebrow*

She quickly returns to her task, however, and then focuses on Kacchan, the last one of our table. As she sets her eyes on him, her whole posture instantly changes, and her face reveals that she has something to her liking in front of her.

Waitress: "Hey.", *brushes loose strand of hair behind ear*, "And what can I do for you?", *blinks eyes*

She's unabashedly flirty. Should I roll my eyes or giggle? I do nothing of the sort, just observe Kacchan.

He doesn't notice a thing.

Kacchan is leaning back loosely in his chair by now, hands in his trouser pockets, eyes turned inwards. Though he looks a lot less lethal already, you can tell he's still pissed. Giving a damn, yet still attracts. Must be the scar.

Well, now I'm really close to giggling.

Denji: *kicks him*, "Bro, it's your turn!"

Kacchan: *jerks*, "Hah!?"

Denji: *gives eye signal*

Kacchan: *runs hand through hair*

Waitress: *blushes*

And now I'm really close to rolling my eyes.

Kacchan: *looks at the waitress*

Waitress: "Hi.", *cute smile*

Kacchan: *frowns, then looks at me*

Hm? I lift an eyebrow.

Kacchan: "Same as him.", *points to me with thumb*

I bet he doesn't even know what I've ordered.

Waitress: "Anything else?", *ambiguous voice*

Kacchan: "Hell no!?", *annoyed*

Waitress: *eyes widen*, "O-okay...", *leaves disappointed while typing into the device*

Reki: "How rude."

Laha: "No surprise, though."

Denji: "Bro!"

Kacchan: *sighs*, "Shut it, Denns."

Denji: "Why missing such easy hook on with a hottie!?"

Kacchan: *death glare*

Denji: "Damn, she's a 10! And obviously wants you naked on top of her! Wants your co-."

Kyō: *neck slaps Denji*, "Hold back with dumbness like that at this table.", *fleeting sideways glance at me*

Denji: "Kyon!", *looks from Kyō to Kacchan to me*

Kacchan: *grunts annoyed*

Denji: *scratches head in shame*, "Oh...eh, I..."

Then it dawns on me. Are they holding back on the topic because of me? So as not to overwhelm me? I hadn't realized that until now. Some recent behavior suddenly makes sense to me.

"Guys, I'll strangle you, seriously, if you don't talk about such things as usual when I'm around.", I almost spit out.

This is just useless!

"I can handle such, dammit!", I add very loudly, not caring that the people at the nearby tables must hear everything. Not caring that my reaction is kind of an indicator for the opposite. Though, all I want is to be confronted as usual with such shit.

You see, today in particular is like a rollercoaster ride in regard of my emotions. It's from one side to the other, up and down. Sometimes within a ridiculous timeframe. Perhaps I'm more affected by today's session with Suzuki-san or the day in general, than I thought or wanted to admit, because all of a sudden, I feel my emotions spilling over, getting both angry and sad once more. This time though to an irrational level. Like fat layers wrapping around my brain. Underneath those fat layers of emotions, I know they mean well, but I just can't get through to that place this very moment, which causes me to overreact.