A/N: Decided to give you some Haruto time before more dreaded Mason and Benji buffoonery XD Anyways, enjoy <3

Ollie's POV

"You're an absolute idiot, Ollie." Courtney had said for the umpteenth time today. "He most definitely meant you!"

"There's no way!" I shot back. I turned to Mahealani for backup, but she shook her head.

"Court's right, Ollie. He wasn't subtle one bit."

"There's no way that Haruto would look at me and think I had more to offer than those other amazingly beautiful people that come into this shop."

Mahealani sipped her iced coffee rather loudly. "He's totes in love. There's no doubt about that."

"You're wrong." 

Courtney scoff. "It's like you're trying to deny yourself of him when he's obviously into you. Who else could this adorable idiot be? Besides that description is spot on."

"No," I drawled. "If he was, and did mean me, where is he now? Tuesdays, he works the 3-10 pm shift. And he's not here now, is he?"

Courtney looked at me with a pointed look. "I mean it is getting close to their thesis deadline, right? It's a week before our finals. He's probably got a bunch of work for that."

Letting out a sigh, I took another sip of the subpar cold brew. "Besides, we haven't really talked since then, even the other day when he was working, they were so busy that he couldn't sit with me during his lunch."

"Doesn't mean he doesn't like you."

"Whatever. I just don't want to get my hopes up, alright?"

Courtney rolled her eyes before turning to her girlfriend. "He's hopeless. How is he that good at school but literally has no common sense?"

"I'm right here, Court."

"Physically. Mentally, I'm not sure anymore."

"Whatever."

Mahealani chuckled before something caught her eye out the window. "Hey, isn't that prince charming? In the flesh."

Both Courtney and I whipped our heads, to see Haruto himself walking past the giant window. I almost didn't recognize him, his outfit far different from his norm. Was that a suit?

"No," I groaned, not because I didn't want to see him, but thought how awkward it would be with the girls here. They were most definitely not subtle as they hit each other's arms with a squeal. Internally, though, my mind was doing the same, freaking out as the chime to the door rang. He even had a tie and matching pocket square on.

"Yes," Courtney hissed. He stepped through the door, and I never wanted to hide my face more than I did at that moment. He looked towards Mi-young and Janice who manned the registers before his eyes scanned the cafe, settling at our table. He waved, smiling at us. 

"He's hotter in person, geez, Ollie." I kicked Courtney for that comment which earned me her signature glare. "I mean look at him. He's even got a fancy-schmancy suit on."

Mahealani nodded approvingly before giving Haruto a sheepish wave. He strode over to the registers, Janice getting him a cup of water just as Courtney gripped her shoulder bag. "I think it's time to go."

"What?"

Even Mahealani looked at her funnily, but Courtney gave her a stern look. "Right babe?"

"Wait, why?"

Courtney scratched her head. "Yeah, sorry. I totally forgot we had something to do, right babe?"

Mahealani's brow rose but she nodded her head aggressively after. "Oh, yeah, lots of things to do, sorry. Can't keep it waiting."

"Girls," I whispered, bordering a whine. "Don't leave me."

Alone with him, I wanted to add. I wasn't ready to face him, not after that giant bombshell he shared. What if he was meeting that person here. Seriously, it looked like he was going on some fancy date. I couldn't just stay here awkwardly by myself. Courtney gave me an impish smile. 

"Rude."

"Bye," Courtney sang-song, before whispering lowly. "Enjoy your Haruto time."

"He's not mine," I hissed back, just as Haruto had neared the table. 

He tilted his head, a curious glint in his eyes after he waved to the two girls leaving me behind. "Hm?"

"Nothing," I rushed out, a wave of warmth rushing to my cheeks. He looked out of place in that suit of his. Even his hair had been styled. "Um, nice to see you? Didn't know you were off today, or busy or anything. Very fancy suit you got. Got a date or something?"

I wanted to smack myself. What was I saying?

"Oh." He looked down as if forgetting his outfit, before grinning. "Yeah, actually."

"Oh. I see." I couldn't quite mask the disappointment on my face at that. Of course, he did, I had told the girls that this was likely, yet it still felt like another stab to the chest. "With that person, you were telling me about?"

"With my professor, actually," he added abruptly as if catching himself. "Thesis deadline. Wanted me to dress the part to practice this morning."

"Oh," I said, relieved, my shoulder relaxing a bit. "But a suit and a tie?"

"Yeah," he laughed it off. "He's a bit serious about this thesis business, but he's a great mentor. Anyways, coffee alright? Mi-young's cold brew is better than Janice's, I bet."

"Could be better," I agreed. "Nothing beats yours though."

"Want me to make you some?"

I shook my head, gesturing to the half-empty cup. "It's alright. I'm assuming you took the day off, then?"

He hummed, before leaning over the table. "Yup, you hungry?"

"I'm not allowing you to steal from your store again."

"No, I mean for real food. Street food? Make up for the fallen shrimp tempura and overwhelming mall experience."

"Uh, I don't think I've had street food. Unless you count the taco truck on campus."

Haruto feigned a hurt expression. "You haven't tried any of the vendors from Chinatown? They have the best food, and it's all relatively cheap. We can go now, it shouldn't be crazy busy."

I glanced down at the table. After his crush-revealing news, I had told myself I wouldn't allow myself to be swept into these temptations, but the rumbling in my stomach and the promise of food wasn't easy to turn down. Especially coming from Haruto. 

Clearing my throat, I pointed to his suit. "Dressed like that?"

"Many of the regulars go there straight from their offices after work, you'd be surprised to see that most of the patrons wear their fancy business suits or dresses."

"Aren't you tired, though? You had that thesis thing and—"

"I'm not tired one bit, just extremely hungry. I can show you my favorites."

The offer was too perfect not to reject. I mean, food and hanging out with Haruto. I could almost forget about that last conversation we had. Not to mention ogle at him in a suit—not saying he didn't look good in his normal cafe attire, but this was definitely a step up. I tanked the last remaining quarter of the drink before letting out a sigh. "Sure, let's get some food, then."

He beamed like he had won the lottery as he waited for me to pack my belongings. He gathered my trash and threw it away for me as Mi-young and Janice had waved to us with a curious glint in their eyes on the way out. I could almost pretend to ignore that with Haruto's promise of food.