Daichi grinned, “So that isn’t just something the papers made up. She really does feed you all herself?”
“Any time she can!” Hiromi said glancing at Shido and Harada. “And we’re lucky she’s a very good cook, right boys?”
Harada just inclided his head in a sedate agreement but Shido nodded eagerly.
“She’s great!” Shido said happily. ”You shoulda seen the spread she made for lunch-”
“That’s great.” Sawatari shot Shido a cutting look and the bodyguard stepped back into line with Harada. “I’ll give you a call later,” he said to Hiromi, “to make sure we’re on the same page.” His eyes flickered to Daichi indicating there would probably be changes to her schedule. He looked at Harada and Shido. “You guys can go find yourselves something to eat and take a few hours off. We’ll call you when we’re ready to leave.”
“Very good, sir.” Harada said and nodded to the table before turning to go. Shido gave the room a quick glance and frowned when Tooru looked at them with clear distress.
He started to speak but saw Sawatari give a quick negative shake to his head from behind her. “See you later, Miz Honda,” Shido said reluctantly. He knew she was in no real danger in the exclusive restaurant, but he felt bad leaving her alone. She looked at him like he was abandoning her.
“You seem to have established a good rappor with your staff,” Daichi said approvingly. “I hear they are even living with you at the moment?”
“You’ve seen how the press is taken with her.” Sawatari answered for her. “We’ve had to be extremly tight on security.”
“That must have been an adjustment.” Daichi said smiling at her.
“Adjustment?” Tooru asked after realizing that Daichi both expected an answer and no one was going to interrupt and answer for her this time.
“From living with your family to living with two men.” Daichi grinned. “I don’t know many young women who would be handling themselves so well. Most girls your age would be too shy.”
“Eh, oh!” Tooru said blushing, thinking how she’d felt when she first started living with the Sohmas. She supposed she could understand that. “Yes, but…” She said quickly, “Harada-san and Shido-san have been very kind which makes it much easier.”
Yoshikawa leaned over and patted her hand, giving her an upturn to his lips that she supposed was meant to be a smile. “You’re a good girl,” he said. Tooru was a bit unnerved.
“So did Sawatari tell you why we are meeting tonight?” Daichi asked as the waitress brought over plates.
Tooru was distracted when the waitress placed a plate in front of her too, something french-looking and smothered in a buttery and rich smelling sauce.
“We ordered for you.” Sawatari said, already starting in on his steak. “Chicken. Everyone likes chicken.”
“Thank you,” Tooru said, trying to figure out what part in front of her had been part of a chicken.
“If it’s not to your taste, feel free to order something else.” Daichi waved to a waitress. “We need a menu over here.”
“No, no,” Tooru said quickly. “That would be a terrible waste! I… I just thought I might have gotten somene else’s meal since I didn’t order.” She smiled. “I’m sure I’ll like it.” It would be a waste of money and food to order something else, especially since her stomach was so full of knots she wasn’t sure if she could eat more then a few bites of anything.
“It’s good,” Yoshikawa assured her, and she saw he had the same thing in front of him.
With everyone watching, Tooru cut off a small experimental chunk. She took a quick polite bite and smiled. It was as rich and buttry as it smelled, and if there was chicken in there she couldn’t taste it for the sauce and toppings. “It’s good.”
Yoshikawa nodded. “See?” He looked at Daichi.
“Anyway…” Daichi drawled, gesturing with his hands to indicate he was chaning the subject, “…I was disapponted to hear that you didn’t pass on to Sawatari that you should keep your schedule clear.”
Tooru glanced between the three men, feeling very lost. “Daichi-san did?”
“When we last spoke.” Daichi said with a teasing smile. “Remember?”
Tooru could feel her shoulder’s beginning to hunch and she wordlessly shook her head.
“Don’t tease the girl.” Yoshikawa glowered at Daichi, speaking around a mouthful of chicken. He looked at Tooru, “He only said to say to not keep you too busy.”
“Oh, yes,” Tooru said faintly. She peeked at Sawatari out of the corner of her eye.