The girls quickly explained that they were there to drop off a gift, apologizing for not getting him one sooner. Orihime had been swept up in the atmosphere and bowed along with them.
"Here!" the girls said together as they held out a coffee mug wrapped in a bow.
It was a brand-new coffee mug that had seemingly been white at some point. Now it was painted red and black, with doodles of Arsène all over it.
They were blushing fiercely when they handed it to him. None of them were artistic.
"It's horrifying. I love it," Ren said in jest.
His voice momentarily cracked.
The girls didn't miss that.
"Whew…. I'm glad!!" Ann sighed.
"The mug was Orihime's idea!" Shiho said, giving credit to their new friend. "She said that you would be working here today!"
"Thank you, girls. Really."
RING
Sojiro had returned from his smoke break, the bell causing Ann and Shiho to jump. They immediately ran out of the shop in embarrassment when they saw the man's smirk.
"Something terrifying appeared around her again, huh?" Sojiro commented, looking at the mug. "You better treasure that, kid."
"I absolutely will."
---
After running around one block away, Ann and Shiho froze. Realizing what they had just done, they groaned in embarrassment.
"It was just a friendly gift to show our thanks! Why did we run?!" Ann said in defeat.
"Sojiro's face.... he's too sharp. He noticed," Shiho said.
"Noticed what?" Orihime asked curiously.
"AHHH!" the two yelled in surprise before jumping back-to-back, seemingly checking the area.
"Oh right."
"Sorry, Orihime. We were embarrassed. Sorry for just running."
Orihime looked at the two and asked, "Do you both like him like that?"
Then she blushed, realizing what she had said.
"I'm sorry, never mind!"
She grabbed the two by the hands and started pulling them toward the station.
"Calm down, it's okay!" the two laughed as the group slowed down, walking toward the station with smiles while Ann and Shiho told Orihime about how they met Ren.
---
"Awh... I knew he was a nice guy," Orihime said. "He reminded me of someone I knew when I was a kid."
"An old boyfriend?"
"Eeeeee?! No, no!" Orihime squeaked in embarrassment before looking into the distance with a smile. "Well, maybe in another timeline."
The girls noticed the atmosphere was somewhat melancholic. Nothing like Orihime's usual bubbliness.
"Do you need to talk?" Shiho asked carefully.
"We can listen," Ann nodded sincerely.
"No, it's fine. He passed when we were children," Orihime said. "When I was younger, I would dream he was watching over me. But I haven't had any dreams at all in a long time."
"Whoops, sorry!" she said with her tongue stuck out. "I'm gonna head home. I live in an apartment nearby!! I'll invite you sometime!" Orihime said before speeding away.
The girls froze momentarily and watched her dash away.
"Isn't she absurdly fast?" Shiho asked.
---
"Alright, kid, you're free for the night. You can leave Yongen from now on, as long as you come back before midnight and stay out of trouble," Sojiro announced as he sat down and began to read the newspaper he had been putting off.
"A gas explosion? So close?" he muttered. "And yet another mental shutdown."
"Thanks, Boss!" Ren said with a bright smile. He'd wanted to explore Tokyo at night since he had arrived!!