"Where is this place??" Hunk asked again. Karin sat in the passenger seat directing Hunk where to go. They had been on the road for almost half an hour now.

"This shouldn't be legal. She is directing us blindly guys.." Keith pointed out.

"Shush up." Pidge said. She was watching some video on her phone. She had forgotten her earbuds and headphones at home so she had to listen out loud.

Matt had told her to keep the it on low so everyone else didn't have to hear whatever she was watching. But that meant they had to talk quietly so she could hear.

"It's only a little while from here." Karin said.

"Okay..." Hunk said still going straight on the interstate like Karin directed.

It took a little bit more time before they finally pulled up at a crowded building shaded in neon green and blue lights. "This is...really nice..I didn't expect this Karin." Pidge said looking out her window over Lance.

"I have good taste in food, what can I say?" She replied smugly.

"The food is better than the building?? Oh we have to go now!!" He exclaimed. He quickly took a spare parking spot on the rear side of the building.

"Seems...kinda busy" keith muttered as they weaved through lines of families and couples entering the building.

"Don't worry. I come here all the time." Karin said smiling.

"She's a regular." Matt said as if taking note.

The building blared the words "Han no Daidokoro Kadochika" in bright green letters. It would have been ugly with any other color, but the deep blue almost gave it all an aquatic feel.

They walked in and quiet chill vibes music started playing. "This reminds me of Allura for some reason. Is that bad?" Lance asked.

Keith shrugged. "I kind of see it. She's got this eloquence. Kind of simple beauty aura you know?"

Lance nodded. "Yeah she's like a goddess." Keith's eyes trailed off to Lance's face. Lance had a faraway look in his eyes. Keith's chest burned.

"Alright here we go." Karin said walking up to a nice round counter that had a short woman, her black hair tied in a tight bun.

"ちょっとマリーズ/Chotto marīzu" Karin said excitedly. (That means Hey Marise in Japanese)

"かりん！いつもとは違うの？

Karin! Itsumo to wa chigau no?" Said Marise in a sweet light tone. (That means Karin! I see not the usual?)

"実際には6人用のテーブルではありませんJissai ni wa 6-ri-yō no tēburude wa arimasen"(That means No, actually a table for 6 please.)

Marise nodded and nodded to man in the corner dressed in a nice green and blue suit. He led them to a table towards the back of the restaurant, a dark wood with peach hand towels wrapped around shiny silverware. Matt, Hunk, Keith, Lance and Pidge's eyes all widened as they were seated at the nice table.

"Drinks?" The waiter asked in a laggy voice. He smiled softly, which is not usual for most waiters.

"Hi Keato" Karin said smiling.

Keato blushed smiling back. Everyone seemed to like Karin.

"I'll take..." Pidge started looking at the menu. Her eyes widened as she went down so she closed it. "A water please." She said.

Keato nodded. Keith and Hunk both went with waters too. "A sweet tea. Light ice." Karin said.

"The usual." Keato said nodding.

"For you?" Keato asked Matt and Lance who were still peering at their menus.

"Do you have soda?" Both said at the same time. They stared at each for a second curiously before turning back to Keato.

He nodded. "Uh yes. All coke brands..some others too.."

"Pepsi." Matt said.

"Coke." Lance said.

"Eww what?? Pepsi is literal shit dude what?" Lance asked turning to Matt.

"No no no. It's better than that crap you call soda. Tell me how that actually is good enough to be put in that category. Please. I'd love to know." Matt shot back.

Keato went to go get the drinks and let everyone order while Matt and Lance continued their argument on the soda choices.

(Hey~ Pepsi or Coke?/I'm honestly neither lol ROOT BEER IS SUPERIOR. Lmao what's your favorite soda??)

Hunk seemed completely indulged in the menu alone.

"Some of this I've only heard of on the Sunday night "Cooking with Louis!" This is remarkable! Beat that Martha Stewart.." He muttered. Karin grinned, bathing in her own glory for bring Hunk here.

Pidge and Keith just scanned it and then looked at each other. They didn't know what half of the stuff in this menu even was. "Why is there no microwaved Ramen??" Pidge whined.

"Because this is cuisine." Hunk muttered not looking up.

"Yeah sure okay. Last time I checked, Ramen is cuisine too." she said.

It was silent for a little while when they all actually started to figure out what they were ordering. Then Keato was back.

"So orders?" He asked cheerfully.

"I will take my usual." Karin said.

"One Japanese Curry. And you?" He asked turning to Hunk.

"I will take the SukiYaki please." He said. Matt, Pidge Lance and Keith all raised eyebrows but Keato and Karin nodded. "Good choice." Karin said.

"You?" Keato asked Lance. Lance quickly replied. "I would like to try the Donburi Rice Bowl." he said confidently.

"Wow you must know your dishes!" Hunk said. Lance shrugged.

"It just sounds good."

"You young lady?" Keato asked Pidge. She was still fiddling and hadn't looked at the menu again.

"Do. You. Have. Ramen?"

"Uh- yes we do. Actually." Keato nodded.

Pidge's face lit up. "See Hunk? They do have Ramen!" She exclaimed.

"Just not the microwaved kind.." Keato muttered.

"You?" He asked Keith. Keith shrugged. "I'll take the uh- Udon noodles." He said blankly.

"My favorite." Keato approved. "And lastly?" He asked turning to Matt.

Matt read over his menu again. "Um..maybe the- no not that. I'll take the uh- wait what is that? Actually I think I'm going to go with- no.."

"Just pick!" Everyone said in union.

Matt chose what his eyes first landed on. "Tempura?"

"Okay. I will be back soon with your drinks and then food." Keato said nicely and walked off.

"Wow Matt what were you doing when you were supposed to be choosing a dish??" Karin asked.

"Looking at you." He said grinning.

"Im flattered." She said sarcastically.

---------------------

The food came in a little while later with their drinks. It turned out the ramen was more like soupy noodles, but Pidge was pleased nevertheless. The Donburi was a rice bowl with beef and assorted veggies. The SukiYaki was a huge saucy bowl of veggies,meat and noodles. And the curry was a reddish liquid with scattered seasoning on top. The Udon noodles for Keith were thick and starchy but his friends could tell he had them before.

"So. Now Lance the real reason you're here." Pidge said after everyone started eating.

Lance looked at her confused. "Uh..my family??"

"No dummy. To tell us embarrassing stuff about Keith as a small boi!"

"Why did you say it like boi instead of boy??" Karin asked curiously.

"Cause she is like that. I honestly don't think this is a good idea Pidge..." Keith muttered.

"Of course you don't but I do. So spilk Lance."

Lance laughed. At Keith's red face, and Pidge's insistence. Lance shrugged. "Well for one thing, when we were thirteen Keith was super obsessed with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Lynrd Skynrd-"

"That's not that bad they're okay." Matt said shrugging.

"- and Soap Operas."

"Woah! Like- like The young and the Restless and General Hospital Soap Operas??" Pidge exclaimed choking on her laughter.

Lance nodded. "Sorry Keith." he said at Keith's frown.

"It's fine Keith we all still love you anyway." Hunk said with a small smile. He seemed to be chuckling too though.

"So what else?" Pidge asked getting all giddy.

Lance thought a moment.

"Well he didn't do many other embarrassing stuff...he crashed his dad's car when we were 14.."

"What? Oh please elaborate." Matt said sitting close.

"I'm..actually interested." Karin said.

"I think Keith should tell it. Don't you?" Lance said asking Keith.

Keith's eyes furrowed. At everyone's peering eyes, he couldn't help it as he recalled the day. "I was stupid okay? I wasn't thinking...it was my dad's older car. Not vintage of course just not that new. He showed me like the main controls and stuff... i knew how to drive an automatic car since I was like 12? But it was a manual. So yeah he showed me and I thought I was so cool.."

Lance piped in. "So he came by the next day in his dad's car. I had been outside for some reason and Keith came by like 'Hey dude let's go for a ride!' And I was like cool. Of course I should've asked if his dad had given him permission..."

"But I hadn't and I still hadn't gotten the hang of the car..so we were only going down the main street outside the block-"

"Did you guys get hurt? Cause if you did I don't want to hear this.." Karin said.

"No. We just spinned out to the side of the road. I hit a fire hydrant but we were fine. My dad's car wasn't though..." Keith said quietly.

"He was grounded 2 months, me? 1 month for going with him..I didn't deserve that at all." Lance pouted.

"But it was fun!" Keith said.

"It was yeah.." Lance said smirking. "Like that time I tried to teach spanish!"

Keith laughed. "Oh yeah that was horrible. I can barely remember it though.."

"Really? Because I remember it like it was yesterday.."

As the two went on about their memories together the others quietly ate and listened. There was obvious a hold back in emotion from those two...maybe left feelings?

"..and when we used to go skating..but then i got hurt remember? That time in the hospital.." Lance trailed off as he remembered Keith giving him a kiss on the cheek. Neither had ever talked about it but they hadn't forgotten.

For Lance, it was the beginning of his long crush on Keith..up until he left. He had always thought Keith was decent looking, but that was his best friend. The guy he did everything with, but maybe that was good enough.

For Keith, it was a continuation of his crush. He even believed they could have something..more. He was just scared it would be awkward between them and he valued their friendship more than everything else. But he needed and wanted Lance. For some reason, he expected them to grow up together and never be separated. That he would have forever to tell Lance...

It was silent. Then someone cleared their throat. "Is everyone done?" it was Keato back to give them the bill.

"Uh yeah." Karin said pleasantly.

"I'm paying." Hunk said raising his hand.

"No no no.. It's in me. To thank you for becoming my new friends!" Karin insisted.

"Are you sure? I mean I have enough probably to cover-"

"I'm grateful but no." she said sliding a debit card into the bill. Keato stalked off with it his hands.

"Should we do a toast?" Pidge asked.

Everyone looked at her confused. "Idiots. To Lance and Karin! Our new friends!" She said.

"Aww Pidge you've accepted meee." Lance said swooping down to give her a hug. She squirmed but let him.

"To Lance and Karin!" Matt said raising his Pepsi.

"To Lance and Me!" Karin said.

"To Lance and Karin!" Pidge said.

"To Lance and Karin!" Hunk said grinning.

"To Karin!" Lance winked. "And me of course."

"To Karin and Lance!" Said Keith smiling sheepishly. They all clinked their drinks laughing.

Keato brought back Karin's card giving her a small hug and they exited the restaurant.

As everyone piled into the car Karin brought Pidge to the side.

"Hey..I know it's bad of me to ask being you know..not that in the group i guess."

"No tell me its fine."

"Well I was wondering.." She glanced at Keith and Lance. "What..what happened to them? They are like super close but at the same time..strangers.."

----------------------------------

Karin was surprised as Pidge texted her the story on the way to the hotel. Matt was driving this time, so everyone was pretty squished in the back.

(Pidge and Karin text conversation)

Pidge(8:02)- That's pretty much it

Karin(8:02)- That's terrible! But it makes sense you know? So..you guys have known Keith for a while now?

Pidge(8:03)- few years now yea..he is my best friend other than hunk

Karin(8:03)- don't mind me asking..how is he? Like he seems different around lance..

Pidge(8:03)- a little yeah.. He is an introvert definitely.That stuff lance said lol soap operas and heavy metal..i see it in him. He is dramatic and can be emotional and head strong but he is trusting and loving.

Karin(8:04)- i see...

Pidge(8:04)- lol u gonna start experimenting now?

Karin(8:04)- he would make a fine lab rat

Pidge(8:04)- yeah he would lmao

Karin(8:05)- pidge? Katie lol..

Pidge(8:05)- yeah?

Karin(8:05)- uh thanks

Pidge(8:05)- for what?

Karin(8:05)- idk u just seem easy to talk to. Thx for telling me "their" issue.i was super confused hehe

Pidge(8:06)- of course! Oh and Karin?

Karin(8:06)- yeah?

Pidge(8:06)- call me katie

------------------------------

They arrived at the hotel and parked. They walked Karin to her car, and waved as she drove away. It wasn't too late but Pidge wanted to go get some work done on her computer so she hid away in a corner of her hotel room with it, but everyone could clearly see she was on the phone with Karin too.

Hunk and Matt went to bed too so it was just Lance and Keith sitting on their separate beds facing each other.

"I feel like I'm growing on your friends." Lance said.

"Yeah especially Pidge, and that's not usual."

"Except Karin."

"Yeah."

"I didn't expect you to make such great friends. They fit your personality." Lance said smiling.

"They're okay..I had to find someone right? After you left me." he had meant it as a joke..but some of the actual hurt from years alone leaked and...Lance paled.

"I'm sorry Lance-" keith started.

The lanky cuban shook his head, standing to sit by Keith.

"No. I'm sorry." he said. He sat close enough for their shoulders to touch. Keith felt a shiver through his spine, he had forgotten how warm Lance always was.

"It's not your fault this happened." Keith muttered.

Lance nodded. "You're right. But the past is the past..what matters.." He turned to look Keith in his wide dark blue eyes. "Is that we are together now."

Keith blushed and hesitantly raised his arms. Lance laughed and hugged Keith back.

The next morning, everyone woke up around 9 due to Hunk waking them up. "Guys I have a great idea!" he said shaking Pidge awake.

"What? Its before 10 what are you doing?" Lance asked rolling off the bed. Keith sat up crankily, Matt was laying on the floor in front of the t.v.

"We can go sightseeing today! I talked to Karin and she gave me a list of amazing places!"

Everyone groaned. Hunk grinned. "What are we waiting for?"