Awkward Meeting (for Raiye-san)

" They're not here, I'm here alone. "

A truth proven by the unlikely group being the only patrons of the shop.

"Oh..." Haruka grimaced. "I'm sorry... I'm just very nervous right now..."

She startled anew as Lute approached, blushed for the umpteenth time as her new acquaintance dove deep into the jade doors of her soul. "Ah... Lute-san?"

" Cerbera was right, truly a beautiful and dedicated person. You really are a great person with great intentions.. I don't know you but I can already see that much shines out of you. "

Haruka bowed in respect, thanks and embarrassment. "T-thank you, Lute-san," she softly replied. "I think you're also a very nice person... I'm glad to meet you..."

" Hehe! Same here! Now let's go get some ice cream! It's quite delicious.. "

Lute turned and put the ice cream straight in her mouth to hold it there while she grabbed both Masato's and Haruka's hand to tug them into the shop happily, Zera was looked up at the menu with widened eyes, not believing all the flavors on the menu. Sindel had gotten another phone call and waited outside as she answered it.

Masato and Haruka's blushes matched as they got dragged to the counter.

"H-hi," Masato greeted the counterwoman. "The usual for us two, please." He smiled at the stupefied Zera. "What would you like to order, Zera-san?"

Haruka was looking for Sindel. She spotted the girl outside the shop. Not for once, she wished she could read lips. Who is Sindel-san calling?

Sindel nodded with a slight saddened look, closing her phone and putting it back in her pocket.

" ..So.. She's here too.. "

Zera was still looking at the menu, a few blinks but nothing more. She really had trouble picking something when she hadn't tried any of them at all.

Lute looked over at Zera and stepped over to her, smiling at her and patting her on the shoulder.

" You seem like a strawberry person, Zera! "

" Eh..? Alright.. Let's go with that then. "

Masato didn't quite manage to hide his grin. Zera-san likes strawberry? That's unexpected...

But then he turned serious upon spotting Sindel. She doesn't look happy... what's wrong now? Almost absently he cast a look around him. Lute didn't seem to be a threat, nudging Zera to pick a sweet flavor. Haruka was also focusing on Zera now.

"Uwaah, Zera-san likes strawberry?I thought you'd be a chocolate lover..."

Sindel stared off at the sky for a moment to focus on something before she turned and headed inside to display a fake smile, looking at the menu quietly for a while.

Lute snickered as she got her order rather swiftly, taking the pistachio ice cream with tiny chocolate fudge pieces in it, quickly taking a seat somewhere to place it. Zera chuckled at Haruka as she took her own small bowl of ice ceam.

" I enjoy that too, but I try to taste all new flavors before picking a favorite one. "

" I enjoy that too, but I try to taste all new flavors before picking a favorite one. "

"I see." Then it was Haruka's turn to receive her small glass bowl of peach-flavored ice cream with sweet fruit. "Thank you!" she told the counter woman.

Masato wasn't fooled by Sindel's smile, but he politely kept his peace. Though...

"Haruka, why don't you sit with Zera and Lute?" he asked. "I want to discuss some business matters with Sindel. You'd only get bored if you hang around us." He could wait for his vanilla ice cream; of course the only guy in the group got served last.

To his shame, Haruka believed him utterly. "Okay!" She took Zera's hand - blushing a bit as she did so- and would try to guide the bigger girl towards Lute's table.

Zera blinked quickly when her hand was taken and guided to the table well Lute was carefully eating her ice cream, blushing slightly since she wasn't used to be guided by someone. She took a seat at the table with Haruka and placed the bowl gently upon the table.

Sindel kept on looking at the menu, trying t mke it sound like nothing was wrong.

" Strawberry.. Mango.. Peach.. Chocolate.. Pineapple... I never had Coconut before.. I would like that, please. "

Sindel nodded at the person, who went to scoop up a few bowls for her.

"There," Haruka opined happily as she, Zera and Lute now shared the same table. Her blush deepened as she tried to think of an icebreaker topic. "Ah... Lute-san... Zera-san... do you mind if I ask... what's your favorite color?"

She kicked herself, mentally and literally beneath the table, for such a dumb question. Baka Haruka, baka baka baka...

Masato sat beside Sindel. Part of him felt bad to see Haruka not minding him sitting next to another girl. "Coconut sounds good," he agreed. In a low whisper that couldn't be picked up by Haruka: "What's wrong, Sindel-san?"

Zera thought about it for a moment, taking a spoonfull of ice cream from her bowl and lifted it up. Parting her lips and letting the spoon move slowly into her mouth, closing it and taking the ice cream from the spoon as she pulled it back, closing her eyes and mmming softly.

" Mmm.. I suppose.. Red. "

Lute was twirling her spoon in her bowl, making the ice slihtly less hard and more smooth to take in later on.

" I don't know really.. The color of the night when all the stars are lit on it... That's the type of color I could enjoy.. "

Sindel shifted her eyes to look at Masato for a few moments before the woman came back to give her her bowl of ice cream, paying for it before she'd take a quick bite out of it.

" ...Nothing of importance. "