Koshigoe station was located near Enoshima Shiraguya restaurant, where Kazehaya will have breakfast with his friends.
It's weird to say a person that is like Kazehaya has friends, he's almost like shut in neet himself. When he's not working, he's either doing homework from campus or watching anime.
He was walking down the road, checking his phone multiple times, messaging his friends.
Koharu: I'll be there in a minute!
Sara: ...you're the one who's paying, right?
His other friends were outside the country, traveling with a group of other friends and the other travelled with their family. Only Koharu and Sara were both available.
As Kazehaya opened the door to the restaurant, the person beside the door welcomed him.
"Welcome!"
Then, a young lady wearing the restaurant's uniform led Kazehaya to an empty seat. She gave him the menu.
When he was about to order his drink, his phone made a soft beep, then it vibrated. Koharu Minase.
"Hello?" Kazehaya raised his phone to his right ear.
Kazehaya―
"―Kazehaya"
"Eh…?"
A voice, not far from where he was. It was so close that he could even hear it in his ears, but it wasn't from his phone.
"Why couldn't you just say hello, Koharu?"
"Sorry, I just wanted to play with you!"
Koharu was standing beside him, waiting for Kazehaya to give her a seat. Kazehaya, obviously the gentleman he is, gave his seat to Koharu. He grabbed another chair and brought it to the table he was in.
"Go ahead, order whatever you want!"
"Oh my, did the selfish and not so kind-hearted Shouta Kazehaya changed because of the―"
"I know what you're trying to say next, and the answer is no!" Kazehaya gave Koharu a deep and long stare.
"Sorry-sorry… I was just joking―!"
After Koharu apologized, Kazehaya gave her a deep sigh then continued ordering the drink that he wanted. Then, Koharu ordered hers.
"Are there any chocolate cakes?"
… why is she asking that? Couldn't she just check the menu―
"Oh! And a banana cake! And a Red bean paste muffin!"
"And, would you like a drink?" the waiter asked Koharu.
"Mmm…"
"What is it? Can't choose a drink?" Kazehaya turned his gaze to Koharu. He was leaning against the table, looking like he hadn't had enough sleep.
"Excuse me, we also have a set for two person, perfect for―"
He's not going to let the waiter finish his words, Kazehaya shot him with a deadly stare and said the following with a deep and scary voice.
"We're not couples…"
"Eek―!"
"Just give her every cake that you have…"
"B-but, dear guest, she wanted drinks―"
"Pick the best one for her…"
"Y-yes… miss, w-we have t-the…" The waiter turned his gaze to Kazehaya, who is still looking at him with a scary glare.
"W-would you like o-our Matcha?" again, the waiter turned his gaze to Kazehaya, now, he's looking at him with a face that can easily be read; you're good now, it's okay, I've forgiven you, you're free to go.
―Koharu nodded her head, giving the waiter a thumbs up because of the achievement that he has earned. It was an achievement that nobody has, even Kazehaya's friend; the will to stand and talk in the presence of the deadly stare of the Shouta, that's what his friends dubbed it.
"Thanks for the breakfast!" both of them said in unison as they left the front door of the restaurant.
"The cakes were tasty, aren't they?"
"―――"
H-how? It's even tastier than the ones our Cafe sells...
Both of them were reaching the walkway that leads to the nearest train station. It was then when Kazehaya's phone started ringing.
"Hello? Why are you call―"
Why aren't you at the restaurant!??
"Eh?"
―――
"We just left"
W-we?!
The call was from Sara, a girl who has no friends except Koharu and Kazehaya.
Kazehaya closed the call, then turned around and asked Koharu.
"Koharu, do you want more cake?"
"We're going back?"
"I forgot that someone existed in this world"
"What are you talking about!" Koharu laughed.
They both walked back to the restaurant to meet the forgotten―Sara Fujiwara.
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"Why did you both leave me!"
"I'm sorry Sara, I thought you weren't coming"
"Sorry, I thought you didn't exist in this world"
"Kazehaya!! Can't you be more kind-hearted to your juniors!? And Koharu, I messaged you didn't I?"
"Oh did you? Sorry, I have too many notifications from work…!"
"Haahhh…"
Sara leaned herself against the wall and slid down against it while both Kazehaya and Koharu looked down at her.
Kazehaya turned his back against Sara and went to the counter to order something for Sara.
"Mister, I'll order one of your best selling cakes"
"Coming right up, please wait here" the man behind the counter pointed at a chair near the front door.
"I guess I'll wait here, I still have time"
Kazehaya said as he sat down on the chair, leaning against the wall.
He was supposed to be at home at this time and help Miss Yamamoto with maid duties because he doesn't want to exhaust her. He has been doing it since the 2nd day of Miss Yamamoto's work day as a maid in the Kazehaya's household.
Hm? Sara calmed down… his mind said while noticing Koharu helping Sara getting up from the floor.
"There, we're sorry that we left you…"
Sara sobbed, then looked up at Koharu.
"It's not fair…"
"What's not fair?"
"Isn't it clear?"
"No…"
"Mmm" Sara looked away from Koharu, she then looked at the half a sleep Kazehaya who was half aware that he was watching his 2 friends.
You're paying, aren't you? Said Sara's mind.
What could I do to make the cake even more sweet? Kazehaya's half awoke mind said.
"Koharu―!" Sara turned back her gaze at Koharu. "What is Kazehaya to your eyes?"
"Eh? To my eyes?"
"Yea, what is Kazehaya to you?"
"Ehmm… how about you tell me what Kazehaya is to you?"
"Mmm"
Before Sara could say anything, Kazehaya walked to the table while carrying a plastic bag. He put down the plastic bag on the table and stared at Sara.
"I'll eat with you"
"Why?"
"You wanted someone to eat with you, right?"
"N-not really…"
"So, you want the cake or not?"
"Mmm" she mumbled as she opened the plastic bag. Inside was a big box that had a big cake inside, it was the most best selling cakes in the restaurant after all.
"―!!"
"I bought the biggest one so everyone could have a bite of it" and of course― "―you don't need to pay"
Kazehaya helped Sara open the box and then Koharu joined in to help.
The side of the package was imprinted with Chocolate Swiss Lava. Everyone could tell the cake was expensive just by looking at the label.
When they cut the cake with the small knife the restaurant had prepared for them, the chocolate was stunning. It would be awesome if you could take the first bite, but it would be even better if you could take another bite.
Each of them only gets two pieces of cake after the three of them split it into equal pieces.
Sara was overcome with emotion and began to cry after taking her first bite. It was as if I were eating something from another world. Koharu had eaten these cakes before when she was shooting a scene on a foreign ground and the manager bought her a slice of the same cake.
For Kazehaya―
"You don't need to say anything Kazehaya, it will ruin the mood" she said with tears dropping from her eyes, as she ate another spoonful. "But... Thanks for the cake!"
"yeah, you're welcome"
The cake was sweet and the chocolate melted right as it entered his mouth. It was clearly better than the cakes they sell in Kazehaya's Cafe.
"Kazehaya, how much was―" before Koharu could finish her words, Kazehaya cut in.
"500.000 yen"
"――?"
"――?"
And those who weren't seated at Kazehaya's table were taken aback. He announced the price of the Chocolate Swiss Lava Cake to the entire restaurant.
Sara got out of her chair and slammed her hands on the table, as though she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Did you really buy that cake to cheer me up?!"
"Kazehaya, are you okay? Why are you acting so nicely?"
As Kazehaya stood up from his chair and pushed it back inside the table, he said.
"I'm leaving"
"―eh?" both the girls said in surprise.
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―I really wish that I could explain
He walked down the stairs, leading him to the beach near his home. The sand was soft. He could feel the sand even though he's still wearing his shoes.
"Now what?"
He looked around his surroundings. There were people walking on the beach. There were parents walking together with their childrends. There were people who jumped into the ocean ahead with full scuba diving gear.
"I'm home!"
The maid inside who was wiping the kitchen table with a napkin, heard her Master and greeted him.
"Oh, Master Kazehaya, welcome back home"
Kazehaya looked around the house as he put his shoe on the rack near the front door.
"It seems that I am late. You're done cleaning?"
"Yes Master"
"I see…"
Kazehaya: have any plans tonight?
Sara: No
Koharu: Today's my day off. Yea, I am free
―what should I do?
The sun was setting and the day was almost over. Tonight, Kazehaya wants to plan something. Something that he can do as a friend―
Kazehaya: want to go to Enoshima? I'll buy you guys food
Koharu: sure
Koharu said, also sending him a smiling emoticon.
Sara: well…
Enoshima was a small island near Kanagawa Prefecture, and it was close to Kazehaya's home. He walked from his house to Enoshima in just ten minutes.
―Kazehaya walked up the stairs and sat on a nearby bench after passing through the doors, waiting for the others to arrive.
Everyone was gathered around him, including parents, teenagers, and children. Several groups of friends were walking together and conversing. Parents and children are having a good time taking pictures of the shrine near Kazehaya as a family. Tourists, too, were accompanied by their friends and relatives.
He was, however, completely alone. Even though he had more than two friends, it was strange to see others laughing, smiling, and conversing with their pals.
He doesn't joke as they do. He walks away after they've talked for a while. He looked down as they smiled―
"Excuse me, may I have a seat next to you?"
As he heard a woman's voice, he raised his head and apologized.
"So-sorry, I was just―!?"
―you?!
As he opened his eyes wide, he could see the person in front of him. Long straight black hair, turquoise eyes.
The girl in front of him waved her hand and spoke in a tone so charming and calming.
"Oh!? Kazehaya! What are you doing here by yourself?"
Takanashi Ichika took a step forward in front of him. He was perplexed for two days by the same girl. The same girl who abandoned him.