The hangout went well.
Really well, actually.
They ate way too many donuts, although Orihime insisted that taking the leftovers home meant they hadn't technically eaten too many.
Ren disagreed.
Mostly because he'd eaten four.
Whatever.
They were good donuts.
The ranking system got out of hand almost immediately. Taste and texture were obvious, but then Orihime added filling distribution. Ren added structural integrity after a jelly donut exploded down the front of his uniform and Orihime almost choked laughing at him.
Coffee compatibility briefly made the list.
That was Ren's fault.
He removed it before Orihime could start experimenting.
He knew better.
After that they went to the handicraft store, where Ren discovered that Orihime could spend an absurd amount of time comparing thread.
Not colors.
Thread.
Apparently two shades of yellow that looked exactly the fucking same were completely different.
"They are!"
"I didn't say anything."
"Your face did."
Ren wisely kept his mouth shut.
She knew what she was doing, though. Once they were inside, most of the nervousness she'd had outside Shujin disappeared. She bounced between shelves, picked through fabric, beads, thread and little charms while explaining things she wanted to make.
Ren mostly followed behind her.
At some point, he ended up holding one of the bags.
Of course.
They wandered around afterward and talked about nothing particularly important. School. Food. Crafts. Whatever came up.
No Hollows.
No Palaces.
No Madarame.
No mysterious psychopath running around the Metaverse in a black mask.
For once, nothing fucking happened.
Ren liked that.
---
It was dark by the time they reached Orihime's apartment.
"You know, I could've gone home by myself," Orihime said.
"I know."
"It's pretty far back to Leblanc."
"I know."
"And we have school tomorrow."
Ren looked at her.
"Hime."
"Hm?"
"Are you trying to get rid of me?"
"What?! No!"
The answer came out so fast that Ren laughed.
Orihime puffed out her cheeks. "You did that on purpose."
"Maybe."
"Mean."
"Probably."
She smiled anyway.
Orihime had gotten quieter during the last few minutes of the walk. Not upset. Ren would've noticed that pretty quickly.
Just... weird.
She kept glancing at him.
Then away.
Then back again when she apparently thought he wasn't looking.
Ren caught her twice.
The second time she nearly walked into a pole.
He decided not to mention it.
They stopped outside her building.
Orihime held the shopping bag against herself and rocked slightly on her heels.
"Thank you for today."
"You invited me."
"I know." She smiled. "But thank you for coming."
"Of course."
That made her smile wider.
Ren smiled back.
Fuck.
She really was cute.
Arsène chuckled somewhere in the back of his head.
'Not now.'
'I said nothing, mon ami.'
'You laughed.'
'Can I not enjoy myself?'
'You're me.'
'Indeed.'
Asshole.
"Ren?"
He blinked.
"Sorry. Arsène."
Orihime giggled. "Was he teasing you?"
"Always."
'I resent this.'
Ren ignored him.
Orihime looked toward the door.
Then at Ren.
Then back toward the door.
She still wasn't leaving.
Ren shoved his hands into his pockets.
"You okay?"
"Yes!"
...
Way too fast.
Ren stared at her.
Orihime's face slowly started turning red.
Oh.
Wait.
Was she—
Orihime stepped closer.
Ren's thoughts stopped.
"Hime?"
She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.
Just for a second.
Warm.
Then she pulled away.
Ren stared at her.
Orihime stared back.
Her face went completely red.
...
What?
"Goodnight!"
"Huh?"
"THANKYOUFORTODAYGOODNIGHTREN!"
She spun around and ran.
"Wait, Hime—"
The door opened.
Orihime vanished inside.
The door shut.
Ren was left standing on the sidewalk.
He blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then touched his cheek.
What the fuck?
Arsène was suspiciously silent.
Ren narrowed his eyes.
'Don't.'
Nothing.
'Don't you fucking dare.'
A quiet laugh.
'Fuck you.'
Byakko rumbled.
Ren immediately started walking.
'You too.'
That only made it worse.
Fucking Personas.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and headed toward the station.
Why did she kiss him?
...
Okay.
Stupid question.
People generally didn't kiss someone on the cheek and then flee into their apartment like they'd committed a crime for no reason.
Did Hime like him?
Ren frowned.
He knew that was possible.
He wasn't completely oblivious.
Probably.
Knowing Orihime was attractive was one thing. Realizing he was attracted to her had already been enough of a headache, especially after Byakko helpfully pointed out Ann and Shiho.
But this was different.
She actually kissed him.
Was that hangout supposed to be a date?
No.
She asked him to hang out.
They hung out.
Nobody said date.
So it wasn't a date.
Right?
Could something accidentally become a date?
That sounded fucking stupid.
...
Maybe?
Ren rubbed his face.
He'd deal with it later.
---
Sora watched from the roof of the building next door.
Ren never looked up.
He'd watched the two of them come down the street together, Orihime talking happily while Ren carried one of her bags.
The boy actually listened to her.
Sora liked that.
Then Orihime kissed him.
Sora covered his mouth, laughing quietly when his sister immediately panicked and ran inside.
Some things didn't change.
"I'm glad you're happy, Orihime."
Something cracked.
Sora looked down.
Another piece of the chain hanging from his chest broke away and disappeared.
His smile faded.
There weren't many links left.
He knew that was bad.
He'd known for a while.
The emptiness in his chest was getting worse too.
So was the hunger.
Sora didn't like thinking about that.
He should leave.
He knew that.
Go somewhere else.
Move on.
Whatever he was supposed to do.
Then he'd see Orihime smiling.
Or she'd come home and talk to his shrine like he was still there.
How was he supposed to leave after that?
Sora looked toward her apartment.
"...Maybe tomorrow."
The chain creaked against his chest.
---
DING.
Sojiro looked up from the counter.
"Welcome ba—"
Ren walked inside.
Stopped.
Touched his cheek.
Then stood there staring at nothing.
Sojiro slowly lowered the cup he was cleaning.
"Kid?"
"Hm?"
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
Ren touched his cheek again.
Sojiro raised an eyebrow.
Ren noticed.
"What?"
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"Bullshit."
Ren frowned. "Why does everyone know when I'm lying?"
"Because you're bad at it."
"I am not."
"You've touched your face three times since you walked through the door."
Ren's hand stopped halfway up.
...
He lowered it.
Sojiro's mouth twitched.
Fuck.
"How'd things go with Inoue?"
"Good."
"Good?"
"Yeah."
Ren looked toward the stairs.
He could just leave.
Actually, that would probably make this worse.
"Boss."
"What?"
"Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"That."
Sojiro smiled.
Ren immediately regretted coming home.
"What happened? She give you her number?"
"I already have her number."
"Hold your hand?"
"No."
"Ask you out?"
"No!"
Sojiro laughed.
"Then what's with the face?"
Ren adjusted his glasses.
Didn't need to.
Sojiro noticed that too.
Goddammit.
He looked away.
"...She kissed me."
Sojiro stopped.
Ren cleared his throat.
"On the cheek."
There was about half a second of silence before Sojiro started laughing.
"Boss!"
"I'm sorry."
"You aren't!"
"No, I'm really not."
Ren dropped onto one of the stools and rubbed his face.
Sojiro was still chuckling.
"I don't see what's so funny."
"You should've seen yourself when you walked in."
"I was thinking."
"Clearly."
"I don't know what happened!"
Sojiro raised an eyebrow. "Girl kissed you."
"That's the part I'm confused about!"
That got another laugh.
Ren glared.
"We were just hanging out."
"I didn't say it was a date."
Ren stopped.
...
Wait.
Sojiro watched the realization happen.
Then snorted.
"You really haven't done this before."
"No!"
"I remember."
"This is bullshit."
"What is?"
"I don't know!"
"Good talk."
"Fuck you."
"Language."
Ren groaned and dropped his forehead onto the counter.
Sojiro let him suffer for a little while.
Then, still sounding way too amused, he said, "If you need advice, ask."
Ren lifted his head.
"Huh?"
"Girls."
Ren stared at him.
Then looked around Leblanc.
Looked back at Sojiro.
Sojiro immediately narrowed his eyes.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You didn't have to."
Ren smiled.
"I did pretty damn well when I was younger, smartass."
"Sure, Boss."
"Watch it."
Ren laughed.
That actually helped.
A little.
He stood and started toward the stairs.
"Seriously, kid."
Ren stopped and looked back.
Sojiro shrugged.
"If you need advice, let me know."
Ren was quiet for a second.
Then nodded.
"...Thanks, Boss."
"Yeah, yeah. Go do your homework."
Ren started upstairs.
Sojiro waited until he was halfway up.
"Oh, and kid?"
Ren looked back.
Sojiro grinned.
"What'd I tell you?"
Ren already hated where this was going.
"The ladies love a guy who can make curry."
"Fuck off."
Sojiro laughed.
Ren went upstairs.
He closed the door to his room, leaned against it and stood there for a second.
Then touched his cheek again.
Arsène chuckled.
Byakko joined him.
Ren closed his eyes.
"Fuck."
---