Chapter 5 - Street

"Hey, Yuka!" Kumi greeted as she walked towards Yuka's desk. "Hey," Yuka responded with a smile. "Are you coming to the company dinner later?" Yuka was confused at first but remembered that her boss told her something about a company dinner but she was too busy at that time that she didn't even bother to pay attention and just nodded in response. "It's not like we have a choice," Kumi whispered with a laugh. Although it wasn't mandatory to attend the after-work dinner or party, there was already that unspoken rule that everybody needs to attend unless they are in a life-and-death situation that they need to excuse themselves. This applies strongly to interns and juniors within their company. Some of their bosses would just appear and drink a beer or two and leave. Yuka always envied the convenience that comes along with a higher position at work. How she wishes that could be her someday, having the option of whether to say yes or no to attending after-work parties.

Kumi asked Yuka to stop at a convenience store before going to the restaurant where the company dinner will be held. "Yuka I just need to grab a pad at a convenience. I forgot to bring extra from the office." Kumi explained as they walked towards the store. "Sure" Answered Yuka as they walked towards the convenience store. The convenience was crowded inside since it was a Friday. Yuka decided to wait outside. She stood there staring blankly at the crowd passing by in front of her. She was feeling exhausted and relieved at the same time. She was tired of how a week of work felt like a month and relieved that she can finally enjoy the weekend after this night. It's not like she had anything planned other than sleeping and grabbing something at the mall to mark that she did something on her weekend.

"Yuka! Hey, Yuka!" Yuka heard a familiar voice and looked around where it was coming from when she saw a guy waving at her, it was Tomo. Tomo walked against the crowd in between them. "Didn't expect to see you here," Yuka said smiling. "Yeah. Ishi and I just started our internship in the area." He said smiling. "Congrats! You look good and very professional in that suit." She said sincerely. Although it was only the second time that they met, Yuka was comfortable talking to Tomo. Maybe it was Tomo's friendliness that made her comfortable or maybe it was because of him being his cousin and roommate's friend. "Thanks," Tomo answered shyly. "So, what are you up to?" Tomo asked. "Oh, well I had to attend a company dinner tonight," Yuka said trying to sound more enthusiastic than she is. "That must be nice!" Tomo said. "Yeah. And you, what are you up to tonight?" Yuka asked. "Not much. I'm just meeting Nato and the band." He said excitedly. "Oh you guys must have been busy these days," The band must have been busy that she barely sees Ryu in the house. She hasn't seen Ryu for almost a week now. "Yeah, but not really. Ryu has been sick lately. I heard he still isn't feeling well, last time I heard from Nato."  Yuka was surprised but she doesn't want to show her surprise and Tomo misinterpret her. "Really? I didn't realize that. I thought he was just busy." Yuka said. "Yeah, we have been. Especially Ryu. He was preparing for a huge project proposal which thankfully he just got. But he burnt out himself too much." Yuka was relieved to hear that at least Ryu got the project. "We were supposed to celebrate today but everyone decided to move it and instead just have a chill dinner tonight." Yuka can't even process how she missed that her roommate was sick and she didn't even notice. "Yuka!" Yuka looked and it was Kumi who was calling her. Kumi must have been done. "Hey Kumi, this is Tomo. Tomo this is Kumi. He is my cousin's friend." Tomo bowed his head and Kumi did the same. "Nice to meet you," Tomo said. "Anyway, I have to go. It was nice seeing you again." Tomo said as they said their goodbyes.

"Never thought you knew a lot of people around here Yuka. " Kumi said as they walk away from the convenience. "I don't, it was just a coincidence," Yuka said as Kumi and her walk the other direction.

"Ryu! You came!" Tomo stood up as he greeted Ryu from the table. The guys insisted that they should just drink at Mr. Takos's restaurant, but Ryu told them they should be drinking somewhere close to their internships. "Hey man!" Ishi said as they gave each other hugs. "How have you been? It's great to see you!" Ryu took off his jacket as he sat. "Yeah, it's great to see you guys too. Been sick for days, I don't even know what day is it." "It's Friday, are you feeling okay now?" Ishi asked as he signaled the waiter to bring beer to their table. "Yeah a lot better, I have to move my body so it's good that we're drinking tonight," Ryu said as he grabbed his mug and took a sip. "Where's Nato by the way?" Ryu asked. "He told me that he'll be late tonight, he had to attend a company dinner before going here." "Man I wonder how drunk he will be when he gets here," Tomo said as they all laughed and tell stories of how Nato would always get drunk first and do the silliest and craziest things.

There was one time that the four of them went out drinking like they always do and Nato took notice of the pitcher that they were served and told everyone that he never saw a pitcher with this design. While they were drinking, Nato continue to tell everyone how amazing the pitcher is and that he liked how it was designed after aesthetics and function. As they get drunk, Nato seemed to make an attachment to the pitcher. The pitcher was resting on his leg while his arm was wrapped around it like he was holding a baby. he continued to hold the empty pitcher while they were exchanging stories. Everyone thought nothing of it and just continued drinking and laughing. Until it was time for them to leave, Nato wouldn't leave without the pitcher. He forgot about his jacket and wallet on the table but not the pitcher. It took them almost an hour to make him leave the pitcher at the pub but he wouldn't let anyone take it from him. The owner realized the situation and was kind enough that he told them that they should just let Nato take the pitcher and bring it back whenever he can. Everyone was too drunk and tired to even argue with Nato, so they just apologized and promised to bring back the pitcher tomorrow. The next day Nato went to the restaurant early in the morning and brought the pitcher back. He was so ashamed and apologize repeatedly. The owner said it was okay and everybody had a good laugh about it. That year on Nato's birthday, the three of them gift Nato that pitcher. They asked the owner where he bought it from and went to the store to buy it as a birthday gift. They all laugh it off and decided to paint it gold and wrote on it and decided that they place it in the studio that Tomo's family owns. Every time each of them saw that pitcher, it reminded them of the good times.

"Oh, by the way, I saw your roommate Yuka this afternoon," Tomo said. "Really? Yeah, I think she said she works somewhere around here." Ryu said. "She does. She was heading out with a coworker or something. It's nice to see people that you know around here." Tomo said. "Yeah, it was intimidating when I started my internship like everybody knows everyone except me," Ishi said. "Yeah, I get that feeling too. I bet Ryu knows a lot more people to call around here than us when he gets drunk. He made so many deals around here." Ryu laughed. "No, not really. I know their phone numbers but I would rather get hit by a car than call them drunk." They all laughed because they knew almost everyone that Ryu had to meet was a CEO, producer, or manager and he had to build and maintain good relationships for work.

The three of them continue to drink when Ryu picked up his phone. "It's Nato," Ryu said as he answered the phone. "Hey Nato, what's up?" The two of them talked on the phone while Ishi and Tomo continued to drink. "Okay, I'll wait for you at the convenience store around the corner," Ryu said as he hang up the phone. "Is Nato on his way?" Ishi asked. "Yeah he is but he said he couldn't find the bar. I told him I'll meet him at his convenience store. I have to buy a cigarette anyway." Ryu said as he grabbed and wear his jacket. "I'll come with you, I want to grab a coffee," Ishi said. "Okay I'll order and wait for you guys here then," Tomo said as he called out to the waiter.

"Wow it's getting cold these days," Ishi said as they went out of the bar and walk towards the convenience. A lot of people were hanging outside the bars saying their hellos and goodbyes. Some people are just starting their night, and some are already drunk and passed out along the street. They went inside the convenience store and decided to smoke outside while waiting for Nato.

"I heard that you are planning to visit your hometown," Ishi said as he took a sip of his canned coffee. Ryu offered Ishi a cigarette which he took and lit. "I don't have a choice. They will know it sooner or later." Ryu said. "I think this is a good time to tell them after we just got the project." "Yeah, I think so too," Ryu said as he took a puff of his cigarette. Ryu knew that his parents wouldn't be disappointed that he dropped out of college but they'll be disappointed that he chose to stay in the city and pursue a different career rather than take over their small hometown business.

"Is that Yuka?" Tomo said pointing out from across the street from them. Ryu looked where Ishi was pointing. "Should I call her?" Yuka was walking behind everyone talking to a man while the woman beside her was on the phone. "I wouldn't even bother. She's too far she wouldn't hear you." Ryu said. He felt a bit uneasy watching Yuka from a distance. "Yeah, you're right," Ishi said as he took a sip of his coffee. Ryu would always feel a sense that he needed to look after Yuka as his friend's cousin and his roommate. Ryu took a puff of his cigarette to burn off his uneasiness. He then felt relieved about how well his roommate Yuka carried herself outside and on the way home after drinking.

"This area felt so huge and intimating when I started my internship here but things seem to get smaller and reachable when you are drunk," Ishi said as both of them watch Yuka vanish into the crowd. "Hmm." The only thing that Ryu could say. He agreed with what Ishi said. Maybe that's the reason why Ryu loves drinking, he overthinks things less and gets to celebrate the emotions that life throws at him whether it would be happiness or misery.