Ritsu is quick to get on her feet, and is very soon standing uncomfortably close to Hanako, who takes a few steps backwards to distance herself.
R: Hello!
Ritsu is too loud. Hanako takes yet another step back into her room, and her facial expression takes an even more cautious form. I want to step into the situation and say the right thing, but I have no idea what it is or even what outcome I should be aiming for, and Ritsu is too fast for me to keep up with.
R: Wanna do something fun?
Hanako’s eyelids blow wide open, before slowly dropping along with the corners of her mouth. She stares uncomfortably at the floor, before lifting her eyes and freezing when they reach Ritsu. Like she suddenly remembers that she is in somewhat of a conversation and that the ball is in her court. Her mouth moves, but there’s no words coming out of it, no audible ones at least.
She tries again, it goes slightly better.
Ha: Wh-What?
Her words are still a stuttering mess muffled by the hands she uses to cover her mouth. It seems awfully impractical. Ritsu, however, isn’t fazed by it, or at least doesn’t let it show.
R: We could go to the Shanghai or something. Hisao haven’t been there yet.
As usual, I’m left on the sidelines. I don’t really mind it.
I don’t even know what the Shanghai is.
Hanako gives a conclusive answer in a short nod and Ritsu grabs the opportunity before she changes her mind. Soon enough, the three of us are headed towards town.
The walk is incredibly awkward.
Ritsu is skipping away in front, while Hanako and I are tagging along at uneven paces a few meters behind. Hanako is always either too far ahead or behind me for it to be natural to start a conversation, and Ritsu doesn’t even try, seemingly satisfied with getting this far.
Whenever I try to catch up with or slow down to Hanako, she does the opposite, I swear it’s on purpose, but I don’t want to call her out on it. We reach the town eventually either way.
It’s as expected, just a typical small town with a convenience store, a bunch of houses, and not much else. Ritsu leads the way to a building that I guess is the Shanghai. I never would have guessed if I weren’t lead here. It’s remarkably little Chinese-looking.
We’re greeted by a familiar face as we step through the door and are lead to an empty booth by a woman I recognize as the school librarian. She almost trips and proceeds to apologize for the remainder of the extremely short voyage.
R: Don’t worry, it’s really nothing at all. It wouldn’t even bad for us if you actually tripped. At worst it’d give us a small laugh.
The waitress tries to laugh too, but it ends up as some sort of creepy half-grin. She quickly retreats from our table even though there aren’t really any other customers to tend to.
 
Hanako and Ritsu settle down on one side of the table each, and I hesitate just long enough for my choice of seat to look like a conscious decision.
Damn.
I end up taking the seat next to Hanako. I don’t really have any reasoning behind it, but I guess it makes it easier to not stare at her scars.
R: how rude, leaving before we got to order.
H: I weren’t ready to order anyway. I’ve never been here before, and I haven’t even seen the menu yet.
R: I don’t think they have a menu. I’ve never asked for one though.
Ha: th-th-they don’t…
Hanako’s voice is barely a whisper, but both Ritsu and I have the decency to be quiet for it.
Ha: A-Akira asked f-for it once…
R: Akira? That’s Lilly’s sister, right?
Ha: Y-Yes! I should have told you first… I’m sorry…
At first I’m a little impressed by how Ritsu knew that. But it’s pretty obvious. Hanako probably doesn’t know anyone else. It makes me a little sad, even though my current social circle isn’t much bigger.
R: No problem at all. Is she nice? We heard her through the walls on your birthday.
Hanako blushes furiously and attempts to use the hand that is already covering the scarred part of her face to cover the rest too, with a rather lackluster outcome.
Ha: Y-yes.
R: Cool. I wanna meet her sometime.
Hanako doesn’t give an answer, so the conversation hits a dead end until Ritsu speaks once again.
It’s always awkward when someone gets two consecutive lines in a conversation like that. I should probably have said something.
R: well, shall we order?
Hanako nods. I don’t give any response at all. I haven’t decided on anything, but there’s nothing to decide on either.
What kind of café doesn’t have a menu?
Ritsu gets the waitress’ attention with a small wave, and she comes over to our table. Ritsu orders some rice dish and Hanako orders a sandwhich. I end up choosing the latter, mostly for the convenience of just having to say: “the same as her”
The food is prepared in record time, probably because there’s no one else here right now, but it feels more like an apology for the lack of menus. The sandwich is pretty good, and we’re also served tea, I actually prefer coffee, but I don’t mention it.
 
R: Could you please… Not skip out on our concert. It’s important.
That’s blunt.
R: I didn’t really want to imply that you would, but you know, the possibility is there, with you skipping school all the time and all.
She’s tangling herself up again, it’s considerably less cute than last time.
R: Argh, just forget I said anything.
She slumps over the table with the face of defeat on her face, even though Hanako never said anything or even made a definitive facial expression.
Hanako looks down at Ritsu while uncertainly nibbling on her lower lip. She doesn’t look as shocked or offended as the situation calls for.
Ritsu pushes herself up with her left hand, her face is only inches apart from Hanako.
R: But it’s really important that you show up, we really need you, it’s not the same without you, and not just because we’d be missing vocals!
Hanako actually smiles slightly.