“Who’s that?” Uta nods in the corner of Anteiku, where a customer sits with a latte and their laptop. Their lips are puckered and their brow furrowed with concentration, and they’re altogether adorable.
“They’re a new regular,” Yomo says, uncomfortable with the interest Uta displays. “Not for eating.”
Uta gasps. “That was not the plan.”
Yomo swallows. “So, what is your plan?”
Uta’s the fun one, of course. Dangerous, tattooed, savvy. He gets all the lovers. But Yomo’s been watching them as they arrive to work every day, at 9 am on the dot, and he’s even exchanged pleasantries with them. And he…he wants to take them to dinner.
Uta tilts his head. “Is this a crush?”
Yomo snorts.
“It is.” Uta grins. “Well, may the best man win.”
Yomo simmers. He knows he can’t compare to Uta. He’s reserved, plain, boring. But…but…his heart still yearns.
Uta notices Renji’s sorrow, and hesitates.
That’s how the standoff begins. Every day for a week, Uta and Yomo show up to occasionally talk to the cute customer but each go no further, convinced the other was best for them.
Until, that is, Itori walks in. “Oh my god. The both of you.”
Itori breezes up to the person and grabs the seat across from them. After twenty minutes of talking, Itori has a phone number and a dinner date.
“And that,” she says with a bow as soon as the customer has left, “is how you do it, gentlemen.”