Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Love or Hate ❯ Volume Five, Chapter Thirty-One: Crowded Hotel ( Chapter 31 )

Crowded Hotel

The shock came at seven in the morning. Isao got up early on that day. He decided to take a walk around the hotel. It's a little habit of his. Helped to clear his head. Isao went down to the caf� to pick up some tea. The clouds looked heavy with rain. The weather said it would be fine today. Isao hoped this to be true. This was the first day of the festival. He shrugged it off and kept walking.

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Mai wasn't happy with the current situation. Why were they in the same hotel with them? Why did the stupid pipe have to break in the basement? The vocalist gritted her teeth. Her manager nervously laughed.

“It can't be helped,” he said. Mai glared at him. The manager pressed his hands together and bowed his head.

“I'm so sorry!” he yelped. “I tried! I really did!” Mai threw back her head and groaned.

So here they were. The band's manager looked ready to cry.

“I'm so sorry,” he kept saying. Mai wrinkled her nose.

“Stop saying that,” she said. Mai walked out of the room.

“Where are you going?” the manager asked.

“Just out,” she said. Then the vocalist walked out the door.

“Mai-san!” he shouted. The door swung closed behind her. The manager was just left standing there.

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Isao made it down to the lobby. His morning was about to be ruined. When he looked out the window, the vocalist frowned. Just outside in the parking lot was a glittery red and black tour bus.

“Aw, you've got to be kidding me!” he shouted. Isao ran outside for a better look. Sure enough, there was that damned Lady Dragon tour bus. What was it doing here? Isao frowned.

No… No! That can't be…

He turned and ran back into the hotel lobby. Why did they have to be here? Isao cursed himself under his breath.

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Mai sat in the caf� with her coffee. She had to admit that the lobby looked nice. It would be better if…

She shook her head. No, don't think about him. It's not about him. Mai picked up her cup and took a drink. The coffee seemed to calm her down. The sweetness washed over her tongue. Maybe she won't see him until it would be time for the show. She sighed and looked out the window.

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Isao walked into the caf�. He was going to need more tea.

“Oh, you're back,” the barista said. “How can I help you?” Isao frowned.

“More tea,” he grumbled.

“Uh… okay,” she said. “Just like before?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Okay,” the barista said. She got to work brewing his tea. Isao stood back, frowning.

Meanwhile, Mai froze. That voice… No. That couldn't be. Against her better judgement, the vocalist lifted her head. And sure enough, there he was. Isao paced around as he waited. This had to be a joke. Why did the universe hate them so much?

But then, it got worse. Mai noticed him staring at her. Oh great. Now he knew she was here. Mai could see where this was heading.

“Here's your tea,” the barista said. Isao took the tea and paid the bill. He walked over to the table and sat down. He took a sip of his tea. Isao rolled his eyes.

“What do you want?” he asked. Mai lifted her head. Her right eye started to twitch.

“What did you say?” she asked. Isao set down his tea.

“Go on,” he said. “Get it out. Say what you want to say.” Mai set down her cup.

“I have nothing to say,” she said.

“Is that right?” Isao asked.

“Yes,” she said. Mai turned her head away and snorted. Isao shrugged.

“Okay,” he said. The vocalist picked up his cup and took a drink. Mai turned her head.

“That's it?” she asked. Isao glanced up at her.

“Hm?” he asked. Mai felt her face turn hot.

“Is that all?” she asked. He raised his eyebrow.

“Yes?” he asked. Mai gritted her teeth.

“What do you want me to say?” Isao asked. “You don't have anything to say to me. I don't have anything to say to you.” Mai growled.

“You don't get to do that,” she said.

“Do what?”

Mai shook her head. “Nope. Uh-uh! No way! You are not going to bait me into this! No sir! No!”

“Then walk away. It's not hard. No one's stopping you. Just walk away.”

“Are you making fun of me?!”

“No.”

Mai gritted her teeth. She felt like screaming by now. Who did this man think he was? If things were different, she would've jumped him and tackled him. She sighed and dropped her head on the table.

“Are you okay?” Isao asked.

“No!” Mai shouted. The other vocalist shrugged and took a sip of his tea. Mai groaned aloud. Could this morning get any worse?

The whole time, the barista filmed this back and forth. She had plans to post this on social media. This should get to clicks and views.

The first show would be in three hours.

Track Thirty-One