Takeru/Mako (Shinkenger): It's You

Sa akin ay ikaw ngayon hanggang wakas... (For me it's you now until the end...) --- Ngayon Hanggang Wakas, Daryl Ong

xxxxxx

With how peaceful things had been over the years, life should be going smoothly, right? Then again, when one knew that peace was never eternal, there would still be worries lingering. One couldn't help thinking about how long would this last.

Mako should be thinking of something else that was of similar importance, to be honest. But at the moment, she was just sitting inside a cafe, drinking the coffee she ordered with nothing else in mind.

She did say she wanted to go outside to walk before heading to the mansion. She just got back from Hawaii, after all.

But... could she really go there with her mind still messed up like this?

"Maybe it's a bad idea. But Kotoha would definitely be asking questions as soon as we meet up..."

She had nothing to worry about. At least, she was sure of that. It was one reason why she couldn't understand the anxiety and worry she felt at the moment. Perhaps she would even call it unreasonable.

In any case, she knew she had to decide. She just couldn't stay outside or in a cafe forever. There was no reason for her to feel anxious, anyway. She was just worried over nothing.

At least, that was how Mako wanted to believe.

"You do really take your time to stay outside, huh?"

Her eyes widened as that familiar voice resonated in the middle of her musings. There was no way she would forget that voice at all. For some reason, she would hear it in her head even when she was abroad. She didn't know why it happened like that, though. But if she was going to be honest, it did help her in dealing with the first few months of loneliness that she felt when she was overseas.

Mako smiled as she stood up and took her coffee from the table to approach the one who talked to her.

"I'm just preparing myself before I start dealing with the chaos of our friends as soon as I reach the mansion. Which reminds me..." The smile never left her face as she looked at Takeru. "What are you doing here outside?"

"Just avoiding the chaos that you mentioned. It already started, you know. Also, I figured that I have to talk to you first before we head back to the mansion."

Of course, that one caught her off-guard. Was this the first time he actually wanted to initiate a conversation to anyone? She was pretty sure this has never happened before. Did something happen that she had no idea about?

"That would be weird..." Mako whispered, as she didn't want Takeru to even hear any of her comment with regard to her own thoughts.

"What is?"

She turned to face him as soon as she heard that question. But she just shook her head and smiled. "Nothing. I just thought of something weird."

"You did say that. Then again, you don't usually do that."

"I know. But it's still something worth thinking about, I guess. Especially if it's about everyone."

"More importantly, if it's about you..." But Mako chose to let that thought remain in her mind. It would be extremely embarassing if it even slipped her lips and blurt it out loud in front of this man.

"By the way, how did you know I'm here? I don't think I've ever mentioned it to anyone back in the mansion, though."

From his pocket, Takeru brought out his Shishi Origami and showed it to her. "I asked this little guy right here to help me find you. Finding you only gives me a reason to get away from the chaos inside the mansion for a little while. Even Jii agreed with me."

"Okay. Now that's interesting," she only said since she couldn't think of anything else to retort on that. But admit it or not, it made her happy. Whether or not he was thinking of the same reason as she has, who knew.

Even so, Takeru's words --- most of them unexpected --- were enough to make her smile.

"Thank you... for going out your way to find me. I really don't know where my mind headed if you didn't show up."

A frown appeared on Takeru's face. "Did something happen?"

She shook her head. "No. Nothing like that. But... I've been thinking about a lot of things lately. I don't think I'd be able to get rid of them easily."

"What kind of things?"

Mako could only look at Takeru after he asked that question. Why was he being so inquisitive at the moment? This was definitely an unusual scenario to look at. But even so, it doesn't mean that it was a bad thing.

Just... strange. But in a good way. It wa enough to make her happy for him, though. At least, she knew that it was the truth.

"Maybe I'll tell you some other time. I think that would make a good night time story when you wanted to talk to me." After that, she faced Takeru.

She didn't expect the smile that appeared on his face soon after, though. But for her, it was a sight to behold. That sight, however, only made her realize something important.

She missed this.

She missed looking at this.

And maybe she would always miss looking at that rare smile, wherever she would go.

"Is it okay if we continue walking some more? Together?"

A nod and a smile. For Mako, it was enough as an answer.