After breaking for a debriefing, we once again gathered in front of the laptop.
Since The Best or Bust! Kenken's Journal to Get That Top-Class Publishing Job Offer! had not been very useful, we decided to try searching for something else that seemed good.
Of the various options, the job search websites had some pretty helpful information, like comments from people who were actually employed, plus selection criteria for companies and stuff.
And there, we found some shocking numbers.
"The acceptance rate at major publishers is insane…," I said.
"Thousands of people apply and something like fifteen get in…?"
"The number of examinees isn't official, so we can't know hard numbers, but I would suppose the odds are roughly one in two to three hundred," Yukinoshita said, giving a general estimate.
Hearing her calculations, Yuigahama let out an impressed sigh. "Ohhh, it's tough to become an editor, huh?"
"And that's total number of hires, so if you also take into account the other departments, the number of people who can become editors gets even smaller."
Yukinoshita was right. Some people would be assigned to Operations or Sales, and there were different jobs within Editorial, too. There would only be one or two people assigned to the coveted light-novel editorial department in Zaimokuza's dreams. Worst case, new employees might not even be assigned there at all.
"M-mngh…," he moaned. "G-gnngh… So it would be easier to become a light-novel author…"
"Yeah, maybe." If you're talking purely about the acceptance rate, it seemed easier to debut on the writing side at Gagaga Bunko. It's not like there's an interview to become one.
I wanted the scoop on the acceptance rate of people debuting as light-novel authors from Gagaga Bunko, and I was reaching out to the computer to look it up when someone grabbed my hand from behind.
"H-hold on a sec there, please," Isshiki said with a shaking voice.
"Wh-what? What's wrong?" I asked.
With a trembling finger, looking quite desperate, she urged, "Mm! Mm!" pointing at the computer screen. "Look at this! Look!"
What…? I thought, and looking at the spot she indicated, I saw comments from employees of a certain publishing house, plus their
job descriptions. It contained their universities, their daily responsibilities, an estimate of their weekly work hours and daily schedule, etc. Scanning down the list, my gaze stopped abruptly on one point.
"At age twenty-five, an annual income of a ten million yen…"
No way in hell. You've gotta be kidding. Wow. Publishing giants are something else… You can make that within three years of graduating? And then your income climbs, and you get it every year, right? Talk about a winner…
As I was trembling in shock, behind me, I heard a deep inhale and exhale. Glancing back, I saw Isshiki with her left hand on her cheek, a charming and cutesy smile on. "I'm going to marry an editor."
"Wait, wait, wait. Calm down. Hold on. I'm going to marry an editor."
"You're the one who needs to calm down…," Yukinoshita said, exasperated, and I gasped, snapping out of my trance.
So maybe I lost control a little. When you think about it, ten million yen isn't that big a deal. I'm hachiman myself, a value of eighty thousand yen, so that's roughly nothing more than 125 me's worth. Imagine how annoying it would be to have that many of me running around. Ten million is no big deal at all! Just one me is enough, and it's precisely because there's one of me that I have value!
As I was nodding to myself, winning myself over with mystery logic, Yuigahama was groaning. "Editor… An editor, huh…? Hmm…"
"Wellll, it's good to have a goal, iiisn't it?" said Isshiki. "I mean, until just now, I'd been working hard every day toward my goal."
"Your goal, huh…?" That wasn't very like Isshiki, and it bothered me. Wondering what her real motive was here, I looked over at her quizzically.
She touched her index finger to her jaw and gracefully tilted her head. "Of cooourse, it's to work for a few years before, like, quitting for marriage?"
"Just what part of that involves effort…?" Yukinoshita sighed.
Isshiki pouted huffily. "I mean, I'm not very good at school, and there isn't particularly anything I want to do…"
"I get that. I'm that type, too…" Yuigahama's shoulders slumped.
"Riiight?" Isshiki said. Something must have dawned on her, as her face jerked up, looking over at Yukinoshita. "Oh, but you seem like you'd work really hard."
Yukinoshita blinked in surprise. "I…" She trailed off, apparently having failed to anticipate that the conversation would be turned to her. Mouth open, she started to say something, but then her lips immediately drew tight.
Her long eyelashes pointed downward, and her hair spilled forward, revealing just a peek of her neck. Her white skin was so startling, I found myself gulping.
Her hands, laid politely over her skirt, moved just slightly, her fingers slowly closing into loose fists. "I don't know. I thought so before. But now…I don't know," she said, looking up, and then she smiled as if embarrassed.
"Well, that's fair enough. It's still down the road," Isshiki said lightly, and nobody spoke after that.
I think it was probably because neither I nor Yuigahama was listening to her.
Because Yukinoshita's answer was a little surprising.
There really aren't many high school students who can give a clear answer about their futures. But I'd had the vague idea that Yukinoshita had a solid idea about where she was headed. Or maybe that was just a selfish opinion I'd been projecting on her, but still, a strange sense of dissonance lay heavy in my heart.
With my elbow on the desk supporting my head, I was zoning out, watching Yukinoshita out of the corner of my eye when she noticed my gaze, cocking her head slightly with curiosity.
I gave a little shake of my head to imply it was nothing. She drew her chin back slightly and nodded.
…Well, she was still in her second year of high school, too. It wasn't strange for her to struggle to make decisions about her future. In fact, if she was avoiding making a statement precisely because of her lack of certainty, that reason made sense to me.
With that conclusion, I quelled my unease and turned my gaze forward again.
There my eyes met with Zaimokuza's, right in front of me, his arms crossed as he groaned, "What about you, Hachiman?"
"Hmm, me?"
"I think you're wasting your time asking Hikki…" Yuigahama gave me a chilly look.
I nodded back at her. "Yeah, you're right. My baseline is househusband."
"I knew it was pointless…" Yuigahama sighed, letting her head droop.
Yukinoshita closed her eyes, pressing her temple. "You should actually look up the meaning of baseline…"
Isshiki tapped my shoulder. I turned around to see her eyes sparkling, and then she cupped her hands around her mouth as if she were going to share a secret with me and whispered softly in my ear, "Becoming an editor is my recommendation for you. An editor."
"Nooope. Not working. Not getting a job," I answered, twisting around to escape the faint scent of Anna Sui and the tickle of her breath. "And it's not that easy to be an editor. Well, maybe if I started making a proper effort now, things could change."
"Hmm, must I begin now and put in years of effort…? What an arduous trial…" Zaimokuza gave a low honking moan as he held his head in his hands. But then his eyes flared wide, and he straightened his back. "…Then 'tis easiest to become a light-novel author after all! It's always been number one! Come, Hachiman! We have no time to waste! Let us set about my new book right away!"
Before he was even done with his outburst, Zaimokuza was sprinting toward the door. He came to a sliding stop there, then whirled around back to me. "Hachimaaaan! Pick up the pace!"
As he hopped on the spot, beckoning me, Zaimokuza looked like a repulsive creep, but when there was so much glee in his eyes, I almost broke out into a grin myself.
"Why don't you go?" Yukinoshita prompted me.
"Yeah," Yuigahama agreed. The smiles of both girls were distinctly forced.
"…Well, he is my case, after all," I said out loud to resign myself to the decision and stood.
Meanwhile, Irohasu was clacking away on the computer, looking up something. "You can make a free magazine pretty easy, riiight?" You really have no interest in Zaimokuza…
The sky outside my window seat was blue and cloudless. Despite that, it was strangely lacking in warmth, and though the sky was clear, something about it was chilly. Or maybe this was due to the library atmosphere and the lack of background noise.
There was nobody but us in the hushed library after school. I'm sure there was someone somewhere behind the checkout desk supervising the place, but there was no sign of them.
Sitting diagonally opposite me, Zaimokuza had been scribbling away in his notebook with a mechanical pencil, but at some point, he'd stopped, too.
I wasn't sure if he'd lost steam or run out of ideas or what, but after sitting there staring into space for a while, he suddenly spoke up. "Herm, is there no use in becoming a light-novel author after all? …I mean, I can't even marry a voice actress."
"Uhhh, if marrying a voice actress is a required part of the job, then most careers are out…," I said. "Same goes for editor, too."
"I see. So light-novel author shall not work, and 'tis impossible for an editor, too…" Zaimokuza moaned for a while, but then his eyes sparkled, and he shot to his feet in a eureka! moment.
"Bingo! So then in these times: director! I shall make an anime! DonDon-Donuts, let's go nuts!" Zaimokuza's voice echoed through the quiet library.
When the reverberations faded, I couldn't stop a wry chuckle from escaping my lips. "…Well, as long as you're happy."
Zaimokuza blinked. "Hmm? Why are you talking to me like an exboyfriend…? H-hey, don't. We-we're not like that anymore…"
"Don't blush and get all flustered, creep. This is me throwing my hands up, you idiot. Just write. Or I can't go home."
"Hmm. That is so… I have no choice. I shall write." The excitement of his earlier cries was nowhere to be seen, and he was utterly awash in misery, his shoulders dejectedly hunching inward as he began writing in little dribs and drabs in his notebook.
Oh-ho, so he does intend to write a light novel. Surprising.
Though he didn't seem to exhibit any maturity, Zaimokuza was changing bit by bit. Even as he wandered down escape routes and sidetracks and detours and all sorts of paths, he was heading for his destination. It was too bad that the destination was just marrying a voice actress. Nevertheless, just as writing one character after another, one line after another, will eventually lead to finishing a book, each day passes until the time comes when you go out into the world.
There was one more year until I would graduate high school. If I'm to assume that after that, I would make it into university just fine, then graduate without a hitch, there were only five more years until I went out into society as an adult.
Five years.
It felt like both an extraordinarily long time and the blink of an eye. I think as I grow older, the period of one year will become shorter and shorter. A year's time right now wasn't going to be the same as next year or the year after.
And I'm sure its value will be different, too.
Maybe even this hopeless time spent just looking up at the chilly sky has value.
I think right now, I'll keep gazing at this beautiful dry sky for a while.
2
Surely, Iroha Isshiki is made of sugar and spice and everything nice.
The heater was rattling.
The one installed in the clubroom was pretty old, and something always went wrong with it if you left it running too long. Was the fan stuck? Or was there some problem with the motor? Or maybe the frame was twisted?
After school, around sunset, our club's heater-chan had started to make these very quiet little noises, as if letting us know she was reaching her limit.
When I was focused on reading or when the girls were talking, it didn't bother me much. But the moment things went quiet, I could make it out.
Her eyes down on her paperback, Yukinoshita paused her hand in turning a page, then looked over to the heater by the window. It seemed to have caught her attention, too. "…Seems more quiet than usual, hmm."
"Yeah. It's kinda calming." Yuigahama looked up from her phone and reached out to her mug.
I followed suit, picking up my traditional-style cup as well, chugging the black tea that was no longer steaming.
Yuigahama and I both expelled sighs of satisfaction, and then once again, in the silence, there came the little rattle. Even Yuigahama must have noticed it, as she glanced over to the heater.
Isshiki had been showing up to the clubroom with increasing frequency, so maybe that was why we hadn't much noticed the noises coming from the heater.
It was not that Isshiki was always loud or talkative or made a racket, but simply that when she was gone, her absence turned our attention to other things. I mean, when Isshiki came around, she was generally bringing some dumb issue with her, so naturally, it made things in here more hectic.
Thanks to her, it had been some time since it was so quiet in here.
While enjoying the warm tea and snacks, I distractedly read my book, listening to the sound of one calm voice and one cheerful one chatting in the background, and occasionally joining the conversation.
We had no guests and no work to do—even time was slow. Once you got used to it, it was just an inconsequential, mundane routine, but it had been a while since we'd fallen back on it. It was rather nice. The noises from the heater were almost charming somehow, like the rhythmic patter of rain.
I closed my book, listening to the heater doing its best, and looked over to the window.
As I was gazing at the sunset and zoning out, Yukinoshita started to talk again. "Then how about we call it a day?"
"Yeah, it doesn't look like anyone's coming," Yuigahama replied.
"Last cookie's mine!" she chirped and started cleaning up the snacks.
Yukinoshita and I got ready to go, then took care of the last sweep to make sure the room was ready to be locked. While checking to make sure the windows were closed, I reached out to the heater switch. "You did good today," I said, then flicked off the power, and the rattling stopped. It was going to be cold for a while, so it'd be a good idea to tell Miss Hiratsuka about this to get the heater inspected or fixed.
Wrapping ourselves in our coats and scarves, the three of us went out into the hallway. Yukinoshita locked the door of the clubroom.
Now business was closed for the day.
With work over, all that was left was to return home. When we stepped out from the clubroom into the hallway of the special-use building, Yuigahama shivered, pulling together the front of her coat. "…It's freezing out here! It's so cold in the hallway!"
The emptiness of the passageway alone was enough to create a chill. It was as if the cold air was rising up from the floor. I wrapped my scarf tighter. "It's 'cause the clubroom was warm. It makes you feel colder."
"There's no heating out here." Yukinoshita strode off, implying that we just needed to shake it off.
Lining up beside her, Yuigahama stroked her scarf, a rather pensive look on her face. "Hmm… Oh, I know!" she piped up, leaping on Yukinoshita and clinging to her arm. "Maybe this'll warm us up!"
"H-hey, Yuigahama." Yukinoshita swayed, and her tone was a little sharp, with a protest in her gaze. But seeing Yuigahama's warm and fuzzy expression, she sighed in resignation.
"…Ohhh, you're so warm!"
"It's hard to walk…"
I don't think the temperature had changed much, but the apparent temperature seemed to be higher. Just seeing their exchange did make me warmer, actually!
Even after Yukinoshita was done returning the key to the teachers' room, Yuigahama was glued to her hip. Following the two girls wrapped around each other, I went on down the hallway to the front entrance, where a familiar face emerged from the student council room.
"Huh? It's Iroha-chan. Yahallo!" Her right hand still coiled around Yukinoshita's arm, Yuigahama gave a little wave with her left hand.
Isshiki trotted over. "Ohhh, hellooo! Good thing you're still here!"
"We were just about to leave," Yukinoshita said, with Yuigahama still attached to her. I feel like an outsider would be really weirded out and think, What's with all the flirting…?
But of course, this was Isshiki. Maybe she was just used to it, as she didn't seem bothered at all, replying calmly as usual. "I was just finishing up now, so I was thinking I'd stop by for a bit." "Did you have some kind of business?" I asked her.
"Yes, as a matter of fact!" Isshiki nodded. She glanced at the girls like she was concerned about something, then beckoned me with a tiny gesture. "Heeey, do you have a minute?"
"Huh? Uhhh…sure…" I looked over to Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, signaling to go on without me, and both of them nodded. Isshiki tugged me along by the sleeve to the edge of the hallway, by the window.
The sky had dimmed to a darker shade, and the wind hitting the glass seemed icy. With her back to the glass, Isshiki seemed a little hesitant. "Um, what about that job I asked you about before? I'd like an answer soon…"
"Mm, yeah. I'll do it. I'll figure it out."
Upon hearing job, I reflexively gave her the standard answer of a corporate cog: apparent eagerness, if nothing else. I didn't want her talking to me about work as I was leaving. The Service Club was done with business for the day. I wanted her to leave that sort of thing for another time. It was cold, and I wanted to go home now.
After giving her that slimy reply, I turned around—but then Isshiki called to me from behind. "Oh, really? So then is ten tomorrow at Chiba Station good?"
"Huh? Tomorrow?" I turned back to her on instinct.
That was the weekend. The Hikigaya household has a biweekly break—meaning two days off a week. A day off is a day off. The issue is the Service Club also had a biweekly break—but biweekly in the "once every two weeks" definition. Biweekly can mean different things, you know. There's a nugget of knowledge for you. In other words, if she was saying work in the Service Club sense, then even if it was the weekend, I could be forced into business. If you really think about it, that's not even a biweekly break. What's with this exploitative club…?
"Uh, I can't really tomorrow…" I would give a random excuse in order to secure my weekend.
Isshiki stuck her finger on her chin and cocked her head cutely. "But you know tomorrow's free, right?"
"How should I know…?"
I always wondered why Isshiki kept talking under the assumption that I would be aware of things she'd never told me. I'm not aware of your plans or whatever. I don't know everything. I just know what I know.
Isshiki puffed up her cheeks in that calculating way of hers. "But we're talking about you here."
"Me…? Uh, that makes less sense. Well, it's true I'm free…"
"I kneeew it. See ya tomorrow! I'm looking forward to your being hard at work! Buh-bye!"
"O-okay…"
Isshiki beamed at me, ending the discussion, then waved bye-bye.
Nooo! Irohasu has such a nice smile! Not only can I not refuse her, I feel like I'm not even allowed to ask questions or inquire about details!
Ah, crap! Did I promise something…? She said it was for a job… I bet she asked me to do something…but it doesn't ring any bells…
Somehow that smile felt like a physical shove in the direction of the front entrance.
After a few steps forward, I turned to look back at Isshiki, but she still had that same grin plastered on her face and continued to wave at me.
Well, this was me we were talking about. There was the possibility I'd said whatever it took to get away from her. In fact, that's the only possibility. The issue was the promise itself…
I just couldn't remember. Burying my face in my scarf as I mumbled to myself in muffled grunts, I considered various potential options, but I just couldn't think of it.
As I racked my brain, I arrived at the entrance, where I saw Yukinoshita and Yuigahama standing there talking. I'd made them wait, hadn't I?
"Ack, sorry. You could've just gone without me…," I said, and
Yuigahama spun around to face me. The momentum yanked on Yukinoshita's hand, which was still in her grasp. This is just like when you take a pampered dog that drags you around on a walk.
"Oh, we weren't really waiting for you. Yukinon and I were talking, and we just kinda wound up staying behind…right?" Yuigahama turned to ask Yukinoshita, who stuck her nose in the air.
"…That's right." Yukinoshita somehow looked like a cat that didn't appreciate being held.
"All right. Well, uh…thanks anyway." When I expressed my gratitude, they gave little shakes of their heads. That very trivial gesture was weirdly embarrassing to me, so I slipped my feet into my loafers and walked on out.
When we emerged outside, it was already dark. Though it was almost spring by the lunar calendar, it would be some time until the days got longer.
As I headed from the entrance to the front gate, Yuigahama trotted up beside me. "What did Iroha-chan say?"
"Uh, I don't really know… She has some job, but the details are lost on me…"
"That explanation tells us nothing…," Yukinoshita commented with exasperation and a smile as she came up one step behind me.
But with work, you don't often get much of an explanation. The fact was that our activities as the Service Club thus far had been largely without any details… We had experienced one too many situations where things would have gone smoother if we'd just gotten an explanation to begin with, and now I felt like, you know, reports, communication, and discussion were important.
Taken from another angle: If you just do your reporting and communicating and discussing, you can even flake out on doing the work itself. And if the higher-ups complain, you can worm your way out of responsibilities by snapping back at them like, But I already filed reports and communicated and discussed this with you!
I was ready to wiggle out of the job tomorrow using these tactics!
It was the weekend on a clear winter day. Chiba Station was buzzing with people. It probably wasn't nearly as bad as Tokyo, but I wasn't used to going out on weekends, so it seemed plenty crowded to me.
Watching the people rushing in front of the station in my peripheral vision, I checked the time: 10:05. It was past the appointed time, yet there was still no sign of Isshiki. Unfortunately, I didn't know her number to check with her, either.
If we're meeting in front of the station, you'd assume it's at the east entrance, but maybe she's gone to the other one…? Or maybe she's at Keisei Chiba Station. I mean, it used to be called National Railway Chiba Eki-mae Station Your Guess Is as Good as Mine… That was the name… And even aside from one of the original Chiba stations, there's also Nishi Chiba, Higashi Chiba, and Hon Chiba, and Chiba Minato, Chiba Kouen, Chiba Chuo, and even Chiba New Town… There's so many station names and train lines with Chiba in them. The bar was too high for a Chiba beginner.
Whether you're a resident of Chiba prefecture or Chiba city, "going to Chiba" almost certainly indicates going to Chiba Station, but maybe it's hard for people of other regions to get the hint. If someone from Hokkaido says I'm going to Hokkaido, I'm sure everyone else would wonder what they're on, and if a Tokyoite says I'm going to Tokyo, you kinda get the feeling they're heading out to follow their dreams and make it big.
I was right to wait for her here, since she'd told me to meet at the station. I was stepping in place to ward off the cold as I waited, when I discovered Isshiki among the crowds.
Her beige coat was tightly closed in front, and she wore a fur scarf. Her pleated skirt was short, but she was wearing boots, so she didn't look cold. Her heels were a little on the tall side and clicked as she walked.
When she noticed me, she trotted my way, tightening her scarf and fiddling with her bangs, then took a breath and flashed her face up toward me. "Sorry for making you wait. I had to get ready…" "Took you long enough." Irohasu, you're so laaaate.
Isshiki's response to my complaint was huffy sulking. "I think this is the part where you say, 'I just got here'… I mean, since we're about to go on a date."
"…A date?"
There's a word I'm not used to hearing…
I think a date is a ceremony where you make a raging spirit all loveydovey ushy-gushy and stuff to pacify its wrath… And then at the end, there's a battle! I think. No, wait, scratch that last one. If you just think about it like a normal person, a date is that thing where a guy and girl go hang out together.
But then why would I suddenly be hanging out with Isshiki…?
I must have been an open book, as Isshiki put a hand to her waist as if to say, Good grief. She let out a little sigh. "I tooold you to come up with a plan for this date, didn't I?"
"…Ohhh." Now that she mentions it, she did say something about that last month. I guess she was actually serious?
I seemed to recall giving her some noncommittal response like I'll think about it. How careless! I can't believe she got that pledge out of me!
"If that's the case, I wish you'd just tell me from the start. I need to do stuff to get ready for these things…you know?"
For example, I could have squeezed in some other plans so I could refuse, or never decided on a day and put it off for the rest of my life, or gotten a stomachache on the day of. There were a number of things I could have done. Well, I got the feeling that the end result would be the same even if she had told me ahead of time. And do you always feel like canceling on the day of an event, even when you've been looking forward to it?
Isshiki was unfazed by my vehement arguments and attempts to resist, and her attitude remained the same. "I mean, if I had invited you out normally, you wouldn't come."
"…Well, that's true." She's good. If she understood me to that degree, she could pass about level 3 of the Hikigaya Certification Exam.
Regardless, it was due to my own shortcoming that she'd managed to get a commitment out of me. Even if I made excuses for myself now, nothing would let us part ways on the spot. I had brought about this situation by not thinking critically and replying recklessly. It was fair to say it would be irresponsible to abandon this now.
The optimal plan would be to get this over with as quickly as possible and go home.
"Let's go," I said.
"Yep, let's." Isshiki nodded, then finally smiled at me.
"So where are we going?"
As soon as I said that, Isshiki frowned. Letting out a deep, deep sigh, she pouted grumpily. "Aghh… Is that my responsibility now…? I thought you'd think that stuff up for me …"
"When I'm out on my own, I get excited to map out my day, but when I'm with someone else, my MO is to follow their lead." "Whatever… Let's think about it as we walk! It's cold here." Isshiki's shoulders drooped in resignation, but then she immediately fixed up her scarf as if energizing herself again and set off, heels clicking.
Mm-hmm, looks like Irohasu has gotten used to the way I do things.
By the way, which of us was just made to wait out here in the cold, huh…?
We headed down the long street that led from the station to the central downtown area.
This was the part of Chiba you could call the main street, lined with restaurants, entertainment businesses, and commercial buildings, and on the weekends, there were a lot of people strolling along the sidewalk. Students often stopped by here on weekday evenings, too, so I was familiar with the area.
If we continued ahead, we'd reach an area I often frequented with a movie theater, a bookstore, and an arcade. Turn left ahead, and there was a PARCO department store. If you're going to hang around the Chiba area, this was the street to visit. It seemed a lot of people were on the same wavelength, because it had heavy foot traffic, as usual.
Though I was used to wandering this street, having a girl next to me made it an unfamiliar and confusing experience. I suppose walking side by side would be the natural thing to do, but my feet couldn't help but rush, and if I didn't make a conscious effort, I'd find myself leaving her behind. Blowing out a shallow breath to calm my nerves, and keeping in mind to go slower than my usual pace, I walked about half a step ahead of Isshiki.
As we made our way along, avoiding the passersby, her footsteps sped up to pull alongside me. She leaned forward slightly to look up at me. "Hey, what sort of places do you go to normally?"
"Home."
"Try again."
"O-okay…"
Isshiki's tone was quite a bit sharper than usual as she shot me a withering look.
Iroha-chan, you're freaking me out…! Intimidated by how quiet she was, I cleared my throat and offered a new answer. "The library or a bookstore, I guess. They let me kill time, and they're just fun."
"A library date…," she muttered with a tilt of her head, looking up at the sky. She seemed to be considering for a while, but her head quickly lowered again in apology. "Sorry, but I associate that more intellectual stuff with Hayama. I wanted something crappier from you."
Harumph, this brat… Look at my grades. I can be the intellectual type, you know? Well, I don't want to go to the library with Isshiki, either, so whatever.
I was already a little nervous, so if I went someplace quiet with her, I seriously didn't think I could keep it together. I thought I'd wind up feeling like a dad who wants to take it easy over the weekend but ends up having to watch his whining kids. And on the topic of the library, if I went to one with Hayama, I felt like I would be able to calmly read a book. Uh-oh! Here I am, imagining going on a library date with Hayama! Yeeeek! If Ebina could read my thoughts, it'd be a disaster! No, but actually.
I didn't really care too much about Hayama, so for the time being, let's chase him out from that corner of my mind forever.
Racking my brain, I wondered what other places would be socially acceptable for hanging out.
"Karaoke, darts, billiards, bowling, Ping-Pong… You could go to a batting cage, but there isn't one around the Chiba Station area…" Anything pique your interest? I asked her with a look.
Isshiki looked very serious. "I know this doesn't matter, but billiards doesn't suit you."
"Leave me alone."
"Oh, but Ping-Pong would!"
"That doesn't make me feel better…"
Like, there was something malicious in the way she said that… PingPong is super-cool. Haven't you heard of Matsumoto's Ping Pong? The manga and the anime were real cool.
While we were talking, we arrived at the big five-way intersection and stopped at the light. Turn left from here, and that goes toward the PARCO. If you go straight ahead, you'll hit the movie theater. There's nothing of note if you turn right, so it would be one of the first two.
"…Anyway, is a movie okay? We can kill two hours," I suggested.
"Why are you assuming we're killing time…? Well, I'll leave it to you…"
"Then a movie it is."
Despite Isshiki's grumbling, she'd given me the okay, so I stepped toward the movie theater.
Being that it was a weekend, it was doing good business.
As I browsed the screenings and checked the available seats, Isshiki pointed to a poster for a Hollywood blockbuster. The huge tagline said it was an Academy Award–nominated movie. "I want to see this one."
"Okay. And I'll go see this one." My movie of choice had no relation to any Academy Awards. The screening time for both films was about the same. It didn't seem like one of us would have to wait too long for the other movie to finish.
"All we have to do is decide on a meeting spot," I said. "Is the Starbucks on the floor below okay?"
By nature, I'm not in the habit of watching movies with others, so I thought I was making the obvious choice. In fact, I thought I was being considerate by taking the running times into account, so then whyever would Iroha-chan be staring at me with her mouth hanging open?
"…Huh? What?" I asked.
Isshiki nodded to herself as if it all made sense to her now. "I seeee.
This behavior is the cause of everything, huhhh?"
Not sure what conclusions she's drawing, but I'm just honored she understands me!
Isshiki let out a short sigh of exasperation and looked away from the screen with the previews. And then, she fixed her eyes on one point.
Following her gaze, I saw the sign of a bowling alley. Below it was something mentioning Ping-Pong tables.
After considering that sign, Isshiki spun back around to face me. "Actually, why don't we drop the movie and play Ping-Pong?"
"Works for me, but won't you have trouble in those shoes?" I asked, looking at Isshiki's boots, and she stopped on the spot, examined her own feet, then glanced up at my face.
When she stared at me with her slack jaw and dumb expression, her innocence reminded me that she was younger than me.
She seemed like she wanted to say something.
"Wh-what?" I asked.
"Nothing… I'm just surprised you noticed…"
"Your eye level was higher than usual. I could tell that much."
Isshiki took one step toward me as if to expressly check that, facing me. When I took a step back, her eyebrows knitted, and she came another step closer. That seemed to imply that I shouldn't move. I leaned back slightly, and she peered up at me. Then her full lips split into a grin. "Oh, you're right. You're closer than usual," she observed eloquently.
Our faces were far closer than normal, and it made me realize just how glossy her lips were as she smiled, and I couldn't stop myself from gulping.
When I failed to speak, even she must have felt flustered by the closeness, as her cheeks went pink, and she averted her eyes. She timidly peeked back at me, putting on a bashful act.
"…Well, you can rent shoes, I guess." I looked away from her, striding toward the bowling alley.
"Right." Isshiki scampered after me.
This girl can be so manipulative…
Even so, the worst part was that she was still cute.
Her face was, in fact, cute. Though her gestures were calculated, they were still adorable. And when it came to her personality, even though I feel like there were some defects, you could call it cute how she tried to weaponize her cuteness.
Man. The hell. She is cute. It wouldn't even be weird if she introduced herself as the school idol!! Iroha-chaaan! …No, I take that back. That would be weird.
However, neither her cunning nor her cuteness was directed at me— they were aimed past me, at Hayato Hayama, and that was what enabled me to maintain a certain level of cool. If I'd had to deal with this back in my pure and innocent phase, I'd have been knocked out in one shot, y'all…
Deliberately putting on a pseudo-Kansai accent brought me face-toface with my identity as a Chibanese. Reaffirming my love for my hometown, as well as my own standpoint, calmed me down. That was close—if not for my love for Chiba, I'd have been utterly defeated by Irohasu's wiles. Thanks, Chiba. I heart Chiba.
As I collected myself, I recalled my goal for the day. I'd been assigned the task of coming up with a date plan for her and Hayama.
I turned back to check with Isshiki as we left the station mall hallway and the bowling alley came into view.
"But, like, does Hayama even play Ping-Pong? Wouldn't some fancyschmancy sort of place be better?"
"That's what makes this gooood! If we just go to his usual haunts, that wouldn't set me apart from other girls, riiight?"
"I see…" Now that she pointed it out, yeah. Miura, who Isshiki would see as her current rival, probably wouldn't invite Hayama to PingPong. In that sense, Isshiki would be setting herself apart…though who knows if that was negative or positive. And Hayama doesn't seem like the type to see any difference in the first place…
Well, this is to help my cute junior. Guess I'll give it my best shot.
The bowling alley wasn't far from the movie theater. We paid at the front, then headed to the Ping-Pong table in the corner. At the leather sofa off to the side, I changed my shoes. Sitting beside me, Isshiki removed her coat as well and began changing her shoes.
The pink knit sweater under her coat emphasized the girlish lines of her body, which was slender and modest, and her high skirt showed off the nip of her waist. When she violently yanked off her boots, I could tell how shapely her calves were even through her tights.
There was a sort of lingering childishness to her gestures, and I couldn't help but watch—and then our eyes met, and Isshiki tilted her head as if to ask if something was up. Of course I couldn't say that I'd been captivated by the mismatch between her charm and innocent body language, so with a little shake of my head, I wordlessly offered her a paddle.
Isshiki bobbed her head and accepted it, then fanned herself with it as she stood in front of the Ping-Pong table. "I haven't played this game since middle school gym class."
"When you're in your second year, you can opt into it."
I stood in front of Isshiki with the table between us. She rolled up the sleeves of her sweater and pointed her paddle at me. And then she gave me the kind of bold grin that made me feel uncomfortable… Guess there's two sweaters in here now!
"All right," she said, "how about we say that if I win, you treat me to lunch?"
"We're betting lunch? Sure, I guess…," I answered, tossing the PingPong ball over to Isshiki. If we were going to be having a match anyway, then a wager would add a bit of excitement to it.
The Ping-Pong ball bounced on the table with its characteristic hollow pok, and then she snatched it up and raised her paddle.
"Then it's settled! …My serve fiiirst! Hyah," she called out lazily. There was a badonk as the ball hopped weakly toward me.
"Hup." I tapped the ball back, not hitting it any harder than necessary. It fell perfectly in front of Isshiki, bouncing just to the right height.
"Tah." She returned the ball.
The Ping-Pong ball went back and forth awhile. Badunk, badonk.
The sound really took me back. When my family had gone to hot springs in the past, I'd often played with Komachi. That had gotten me good at cooperating with your opponent to keep a rally going. I'd mastered it with Mario Kart and Puyo Puyo, too. I mean, since Komachi can be a sore loser…
Just like when I played against Komachi, I continued to hit the ball back into spots that would be as easy for Isshiki to return.
"Tah."
"Hup."
We called out lethargically as the Ping-Pong ball bounced across the table. It seemed that one of my 108 Big Brother Skills, "Entertaining the Little Sister," had not gotten rusty.
Though Isshiki's returns started off timid, she gradually picked up speed. Right as I was starting to enjoy this, I saw a suspicious flash in her eye.
As the ball boinged upward, she locked in on it, then took a step forward, and with a big windup, she swung hard. "DIIIE!"
"Uh, that was weird…"
The ball Isshiki had struck flew in a big arc, disappearing with a twinkle into the distance. For some reason, Irohasu was triumphantly saying "How about that?!" with a satisfied smile… Table tennis does not have home runs.
I went to go pick up the ball and restart from my serve, but then due to a stupid slipup of mine, it was Isshiki's turn to serve again.
"My serve then, huh?"
Ponk, ponk went the ball as she bounced it on the table, preparing to serve. That was when she seemed to realize something, looking all around and then popping up a hand to call for a time-out. "Ah, hold on for a sec— HYAH!" She abandoned her call to stop and then suddenly launched it at me with full power.
Don't think I can't see through your little act. I calmly circled around in front of the ball and fired back with an unreturnable strike in the opposite direction of her step inward. "…Nice try."
When I was younger, my dad had gotten me with the same techniques every time we played Ping-Pong. As revenge, I'd subjected Komachi to them a handful of times, and she'd really hated me for it! You can't underestimate the badness genes of the Hikigaya family line! Little Komachi had burst into tears and gone, I'm never playing Ping-Pong with you ever again, Bro! which was too cute…
Komachi had still been small then, so she had really cried her eyes out. But looking over at my current partner, wondering how it would be for grown-up Irohasu, I saw her clenching her teeth in frustration over the failure of her ploy.
"Ngh…"
"If you're gonna use moves like that, then I'll have to kick it into high gear…," I warned, flinging off my jacket. And with a squeak of rubber against the floor, I adopted a stance like a Ping-Pong pro.
With a swing of her paddle, Isshiki protested, "H-hey! You're being childish!"
"Says you… Whatever, let's go. My serve."
This was nothing like my earlier cooperative act. I'd been holding back. This time, I smashed the ball with full force, aiming for the corner of the Ping-Pong table. For someone who had been whining and griping about it, Isshiki sure seemed to be into this, as a short grunt slipped out of her as she scrambled for the ball.
"Hrya!" When her paddle whiffed through empty air, the added momentum made Isshiki's skirt flutter.
Oh, crap. Now that I think about it, she's in a skirt… I should avoid hitting back so fast…
After that, I decided to dial it back a bit, hitting on the light side, but now that I was aware of it, I couldn't stop thinking about it, and my gaze kept being drawn down like gravity. I couldn't stop glancing at the flapping of Isshiki's skirt.
Ngh! Unfair!
Just what was so unfair? The table was in the way, and I couldn't see anything! The hell, something was seriously wrong with this sport!! …Oh, I know, if they invented a Ping-Pong table that was made of transparent I-can-see-right-through-you material, it'd even turn into a fad. Actually, I should invent it and get rich quick.
Maybe it was because I was entertaining stupid thoughts or I was hypnotized by her skirt, but my paddle kept slicing through air, and Isshiki kept racking up points.
She let out a breath and pulled a mini towel from her bag to daintily dab at her sweat before she started to count off on her fingers. "Ummm, you have eight points now, and my score is one, two, three, four… Oh, what time is it right now?"
I felt like I'd heard this one before, but I obliged, looking over at the clock on the wall. "Eleven."
"Eleven. Is that right? Oh, right. My score. Twelve, thirteen."
"Start at six. Six points."
That's some really blatant Toki Soba there. Just how much is this girl going to fudge the numbers? Well, she's a woman of culture, knowing classic rakugo.
When I pointed this out, Isshiki gave me a sulky pout, but it was ineffective.
"C'mon, let's go," I called out, firing off a serve that was on the more relaxed side. Though I was holding back on speed, I aimed for a difficult spot on the table. Isshiki pattered over, but the ball mercilessly bounced away, loudly projecting off the corner.
After watching it go, Isshiki turned back to me with a bright smile. "Ah, that was out, so that's my point, huh?"
"If it were out, then it wouldn't bounce or make a sound…" How can she lie through her teeth…?
And haven't you been pulling some unfair moves? Like…I think your skirt puts me at a disadvantage!
After that, I scored most of the points, occasionally getting distracted by her skirt and making more mistakes, until finally, the game came to a close.
If we're just talking results, then it was a crushing win for me.
The game over, the two of us fwumped down on the nearby sofa. It had been such a long time since I'd played Ping-Pong, and I was almost panting.
Isshiki, on the other hand, was stricken by the shock of her loss and sat with slumped shoulders, crestfallen. …You still have a long way to go!
"…Can we agree I won?" I confirmed.
Isshiki reluctantly nodded. "Oh well… We can call it my loss, this time…" Despite having pulled so many dirty moves, she acknowledged her loss with unexpected honesty. If this had been a certain other sore loser, then she almost certainly would have played until she won.
I'm not the type to fixate on competitions, but it doesn't feel bad to win. A nasty smirk grew on my face despite myself, but when I looked at Isshiki, I couldn't bring myself to laugh in her face.
I cleared my throat to get the chuckle under control. "Thanks for lunch." I tried to keep it light.
Isshiki was still hanging her head, and her shoulders trembled slightly. …H-huh? I didn't make Irohasu cry, did I? Ah, ah, wh-what do I do…?
As I was getting panicked and flustered, I heard a low chuckle from beside me. "…Heh-heh-heh."
Looking over, I saw Isshiki raise her head, an intrepid smile on her face.
"Huh, what? What is it?"
She put a hand on her waist, and with a triumphant expression, she pointed at me. "I did say that if I win, then you would treat me, but I never said I'd treat you if you won."
What is she talking about…? I thought, giving her a dubious look. But then I remembered before our game. …Huhhh?
"...You're right."
Isshiki had only set out a condition for her own victory… She's good. This has been an educational experience… I'll use this on Komachi the next time we have a competition over something. Thinking about finally earning Komachi's disgust again, I couldn't restrain the pounding of my heart…
Anyway, this Irohasu—she really was terrible in both word and deed. "Well, I never really expected you to treat me to begin with, but isn't this kind of sneaky…?" I asked, a little sharply.
Isshiki was about as unconcerned as you could get. In fact, she only smiled gently back at me. She lightly laid a hand on her chest, leaning over just a tad to peer at my face. Her eyes seemed to be teasing me. "Aren't girls supposed to be a little sneaky?"
"Well, all right…" I was exasperated, but I couldn't really argue.
I think it was Mother Goose or something that had that rhyme about girls being made of sugar and spice and everything nice.
It was true. Though I get the feeling Isshiki got a bit too much spice.
"…Whatever. That argument won't work on all boys, okay? Especially when pulling stuff like today."
There were people out there who were serious about games, who would get legitimately angry when they lost at Millionaire, and who were the target of all the jokes.
Well, guys like Hayama and Tobe would lighten up the vibe, and with Isshiki's looks and communication skills, I think she'd be forgiven in most cases. I mean, even I'm forgiving her, after all!
It seemed Isshiki figured out what I was trying to say, and her expression suddenly turned meek. She waved her hands rapidly as if to say there was no way. "No, no, no, of course, there's no way I'd do that in front of Hayama! What if he hated me for it?!"
"…Well, I think he'd like you more if you did."
"For real? Where'd you get that info, huh?!"
"No particular source."
Isshiki suddenly leaned forward enthusiastically, so I shifted a proportionate distance to the side. When I did, Isshiki approached no further, folding her arms as she began to consider. "Hmm… An uncertain source won't count as evidence… It doesn't seem I can execute that plan yet."
"It's not like you have to rush things. Right now, he—," I began, when Isshiki, who had been gradually inching toward me, cut me off.
"So then for now…" She paused there before moving her lips close to my ear, softly and secretively, and then adding one more thing— A pinch of spice all rolled up in sugar.
"…I only do this sort of thing to you."
"I'm just gonna take that to mean you don't care if I hate you…," I muttered, leaning away from her, and Isshiki giggled.
No matter how much sugar you sprinkled on it, a habanero is a habanero. And even if you drizzled syrup on it, Tabasco is Tabasco.
It doesn't come together without that "everything nice."
A certain amount of exercise is guaranteed to make you hungry.
When we left the bowling alley, Isshiki, walking beside me, came to tap-tap on my shoulder. "Heeey, aren't you hungryyy?"
"Hmm, yeah. You wanna get something?" I turned around to answer.
"Yeah." She flashed me a smile, but she didn't offer anything more.
Wait, is this what I think it is? Do I have to ask? The question…
I steeled myself, then said with great trepidation, "…What do you wanna eat?"
"I don't care."
I—I knew it! She's one of those people who claims she doesn't care when you're trying to pick somewhere to eat!
I've heard rumors on the wind that girls of society measure the quality of a boy based on his suggestion. The boy is put on trial… But I will say this:
The secret to success may be the awareness that just as a boy is tested by a girl, we are also in the position of testing a girl.
And I will offer you these words:
"When you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."
—Nietzsche
Whoops, seeing that The Best or Bust! Kenken's Journal to Get That Top-Class Publishing Job Offer! the other day got me all pretentious for a second there… Gotta pull myself together and face reality.
Not so long ago, Isshiki's question would have made me dissolve into anger and go Super Saiyan, but my recent experiences had turned me into an adult.
"How about pasta? Or arrabbiata? Or tagliata?"
"Why are all those pasta…?"
"Tagliata isn't pasta." It's a dish of sliced beef.
My manner of speaking must have irritated her, as her eyebrows twitched for a second. I could count on her to maintain that smile.
Even if she was smiling on the surface, it seemed in the depths of her heart, she was annoyed. In a soft but sharp voice, she muttered,
"…I've always known you were a terrible person."
"Right back atcha."
Isshiki put her index finger to her jaw and did this cute tilt of her head as if to say she had no clue. "But everyone always says I'm so charming?"
Her ability to say that with such a nonchalant look spoke to a strong heart. Yeah, she's a real charmer all right. If we're just talking mental fortitude, she's stronger than the Japan National rugby team…
As we strolled along, I considered our options. "If you're fine with anything, then…Saize."
Isshiki shook her head no. I thought you were fine with anything… It seemed I'd have to come up with an answer that intuited her desires somewhat.
So began Quiz! Guess Irohasu's Lunch! Now I would have to bring up a string of contenders that seemed like they would satisfy Isshiki.
"Then we could go with Jolly-Pasta."
Isshiki turned her face away as if to say, Non.
Wrong answer, huh…? "Ngh, fine, I'll compromise and go with Kabe no Ana."
She tilted her head as if to say, Pardon?
Nghhh, is there any other pasta restaurant…? "W-would
Capricciosa be okay?"
Finally, Isshiki sighed. It seemed my time was up. I got no answers correct in Quiz! Guess Irohasu's Lunch! and scored zero points. "Those were all totally pasta related… I'm fine with wherever you want to go."
"For real? You're okay if it's not pasta or avocado?"
"Seriously, what do you take me for…?" Isshiki glared at me.
I mean, girls liked pasta and avocado… Also shrimp. Or that's the impression I get. I bet they would love a Cobb pasta salad, which would have both avocado and pasta. Best thing since sliced bread, right?
Though she was saying she was fine with the restaurant of my choosing, she'd just rejected Saize. So just in case, I made sure to check one more time. "You're really okay with that? You're not trying to test me?" I asked.
She looked away, gazing contemplatively at nothing. "Well, normally, I would be doing that now, but…"
So she does normally do that… Irohasu can be scary.
"But today I'm fine with your choice."
…That's a relief. I mean, the only other pasta place I know would just be Tapas Tapas, though there isn't one close to Chiba Station.
I guess I should take her to one of my usual spots.
But of course, a mere high schooler wouldn't have much in the way of regular spots, so that automatically narrowed down my contenders. You would expect family restaurants and cafés to be really crowded around this time on weekends. Then again, it wasn't like I knew anything about fancy-schmancy or high-class restaurants.
If I were to borrow what Isshiki had said that day: She was expecting something crappy from me.
That left one answer.
"Okay, then I guess we'll go there…," I said, walking one step ahead of Isshiki to show the way. I headed off for the center of Chiba.
At Chiba Station, there are food establishments clustered in the malls like Sogo, PARCO, and C-one and on the main streets, but there were more businesses on the road that's nicknamed Nanpa Street, as well as the narrow alley that runs parallel to it.
In fact, when you get to be a Chibanese of my level, you make the deliberate choice to go down that alley for holes-in-the-wall. Normally, I'd try to discover someplace new, but on that day, I had company. It was probably best to select a more popular location.
When we went out onto the street, the orange sign of the restaurant came into view. Underneath the sign were stairs that went down into the basement. The underground-hideout sort of vibe made Isshiki's eyes sparkle. "Knowing about good spots scores lots of points, you know!" Tugging at my sleeve, she clearly had high hopes.
So we arrived at one of the biggest Chiba ramen shops: Naritake. It's currently expanded not only to Tokyo, but also Nagoya. By the way, they've also opened a branch in Paris, France, where it's called Paritake (by me).
"…Agh, ramen?" As Isshiki gazed into the restaurant through the glass, her excitement visibly diminished. After all her tugging, she dropped my sleeve, too, and was now just standing there.
"Uh, I mean you said what I always have…"
"Agh, well, should have expected that from you," she said as if resigned, letting out a big sigh.
O-okay… It's true it's nothing fancy, but I didn't think this was something to be that disappointed about…
Based on my experience, I'd assumed girls liked ramen, too. Source: Miss Hiratsuka. Whoa, that's a real unreliable source. For starters, it would be crazy to count her as a "girl." How is it crazy, you ask? It just is.
Miss Hiratsuka would be ready and willing to have Naritake, if it would only nari-take her. But then conversely, as far as I knew, only Miss Hiratsuka would be like that.
To look at it another way here, this was a chance to get Isshiki into Naritake. As ancient generations once said: "A crisis is a crisis, and an opportunity is also a crisis." A crisis is only a crisis, and just when you think it's an opportunity, the rug is ready to get pulled out from under you. You have to stay sharp!
"If I could suggest you try it before making a judgment…" I suddenly started speaking deferentially to her without even thinking, trepidation coloring my voice.
Isshiki gave me a dead-eyed look but then nodded in resignation. "I was the one who said I'd leave it to you, so it's fine…"
Really? Really? It would be nice if that would convince her…
I had gained Isshiki's assent, reluctant though it was, and we went into the restaurant. Inside, someone energetically called out, "Hiya, 'elcome!"
Since it was lunchtime, the counter was mostly full, but fortunately, there were two seats open. I decided to go straight to the ticket machine to buy meal tickets. Isshiki's gaze wandered over the buttons as she looked at all the lines of characters. It seemed she had trouble deciding.
"My recommendation is the shoyu ramen," I said. "The miso is also good, but for your first time, it's good to start with the basics, right?"
"All right."
I bought a ticket for Isshiki and went to the counter. After I took a seat, the first thing out of my mouth was to say to the staff, "Extra."
"Extra? What?" Isshiki, who sat down next to me, gave me a questioning look.
"The amount of fat. Oh, and go easy on hers."
Naritake sold itself on back fat and strong flavors, so even if you ordered a regular, its flavor was more full-bodied compared with other ramen shops. I recommend a beginner start with the light.
"…You're used to this."
"I guess," I replied with a little pride, assuming she was showing appreciation that I was a regular. But then no reaction followed.
Glancing over, I saw she was leaning slightly away from me, giving me a dull look.
Hmm, it seems Irohasu was not saying that out of admiration… We're side-by-side at the counter, so whyever does she feel so distant…?
Hey, boys! Listen up! Boys speak proudly of their knowledge of "fancier" junk food like ramen and curry, but that apparently won't charm girls! Watch out if you think that makes you seem cooler!
Isshiki and I didn't particularly converse as we waited, so I was zoning out while looking at the kitchen ahead of me. "…The 'elcome guy is here today. We're lucky."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Well, Naritake is generally good, but there's some individuality in the flavor, and it comes out different depending on the chef and their shifts. So my favorite is the guy who greets customers with a Hiya, 'elcome."
"…Um, being knowledgeable isn't always a good thing," Isshiki said wearily, and that was right when the ramen arrived.
The extra-fatty ramen was like the peak of Mount Fuji, gleaming under the lights, the rising steam warming the hearts of all who beheld it.
"Whoa, the heck? Is this for real?" Seeing the bowl, Isshiki cried out in shock.
Now was not the time to be paying attention to her. "Time to eat." Following those solemn words, with chopsticks and ceramic spoon in hand, I ate, slurped, devoured, and drank it down. Its flavor was addictive.
Meanwhile, Isshiki seemed mildly put off as she watched me devote myself entirely to eating, but then she resolved herself with a little gulp and timidly picked up her chopsticks. She neatly brought her ceramic spoon to her mouth and closed her lips around it, and then her throat bobbed a little.
She froze. She was still like that for the briefest moment, but soon after, as if remembering herself, she roped in her noodles with her chopsticks and pursed her glossy lips, blew on her food, then began to eat carefully.
It seemed her impression was not a negative one. A little relieved by her reaction, I resumed my meal as well.
Neither of us said anything as we continued, and we were done eating before you knew it.
"…It's frustrating to admit…," she muttered. When I gave her a sidelong glance, Isshiki lifted her head and looked at me. Her expression seemed somehow vexed. She pouted her lips as she continued. "It was good…," she confessed, then immediately jerked her face away.
A smile broke on my lips. "…Good to hear it."
"Well, it might just score pretty high to get someone to take you to a restaurant that's hard to go to with other girls." Isshiki nodded to herself, and whoever she was trying to tell that to, she apparently convinced them all on her own.
I'm pleased to hear my selection was to your satisfaction.
Well, if you really thought about it, pasta and ramen were similar things, and in the sense of oil content, there's not much difference between avocado and back fat, either.
Carbs are just the greatest, irrespective of gender.
Naritake really is god tier.
Guess it was time to go home, now that the meal was over!
…I would have said that out loud, but we were yet again trudging around Chiba city.
"Don't you want to eat something sweet?" Isshiki said, making her next order sound like a question, and so now we were wandering in search of some kind of café.
"Around there, you knooow, there's a place that seems pretty good!" she said, striding briskly on ahead. She went to a spot a little ways from the central downtown hub, a street with a calm atmosphere lined with a park, offices, and apartment buildings.
Passing in front of Chuo Station, we walked down a clean road that had been repaved relatively recently. Unlike on