"I will help you change everyone's impression of you," Onodera said, saying those words as if they were a declaration.
"Can I have a matcha and also anmitsu?"
"Yes."
As the waitress wrote his order, Onodera's gaze remained fixed on Ishigami, her silence forbidding. She had made a grand statement, yet this guy was more interested in the sweets.
At that moment, they went to a Japanese sweets restaurant near their school. After they met, they went directly somewhere for their meeting, and this shop caught his eye as it was his first time trying Japanese sweets.
As someone with a sweet tongue, it would be impossible for him to ignore this chance.
"By the way, are you really treating me, Onedera-san?"
Nevertheless, it surprised him that she was going to treat him, but as she said so, he wouldn't hesitate.
"Yeah, just order what you want."
Most of the students in their school were wealthy and comprised 1% of the high-income citizens. Naturally, Onodera's parents were also part of such citizens, and as the first daughter of the jewelry company owner, it was impossible for her to be poor, so treating Ishigami to this sweet shop was nothing for her.
"Thanks." Ishigami thanked Onodera and then asked, "By the way, have you tried a Japanese sweet Onodera-san?"
"Now that you mention it, I haven't." When she heard such a question, Onodera realized that she hadn't tried Japanese sweets.
"Then, you should make an order."
"What did you order?"
"Anmitsu and matcha."
"Are they good?"
"I am not sure. I just followed the recommendation since, like you, I have never tried the Japanese sweet."
"..." Onodera looked at Ishigami speechlessly, realizing how much guts this guy had. Trying something new wasn't easy for some people, and they needed a lot of time to make a small decision, but naturally, she wasn't one of those people. "Then, I will order the same, but I will get an Earl Grey ice cream."
After all, there was something that she wanted to discuss with Ishigami, which was more important than a mere sweet!
Still, she didn't mind eating a sweet or two during their conversation.
"By the way, I am sorry for forgetting to chat with you on LINE before." Nevertheless, Ishigami apologized as he had forgotten to remind Onodera when he finished with his problems.
"No, it's fine." Onodera shook her head and asked, "Is the student council busy?" Her expression was better when she heard Ishigami's apology; then, she asked whether she had caused him trouble by inviting him so suddenly.
"It's fine. There is some work, but it isn't something that I can't handle."
While there were many things that Ishigami wanted to do, all of those things could be pushed aside for a while.
"Once again, I am sorry." Onodera apologized for both taking his time when he was busy and for mocking him during class.
"Don't apologize repeatedly. It's fine. You have even treated me to sweets, too."
Probably because it was a habit of every person in this country to apologize repeatedly, Ishigami also understood Onodera's action.
"Thanks." Onodera smiled, and then Ishigami asked, "So, what is it again? Do you want to help me?"
"Yes!" Hearing his question, she nodded repeatedly. "I want to help you!"
"For?"
"So, your impression on everyone will change! You want to change, right? I will help you!"
Ishigami looked at this excited girl strangely and asked, "Why?"
"....."
Onodera was stunned and fell into silence for a while, but she also understood that her action was weird in Ishigami's eyes. She had previously mocked him, and after all of that, she told him that she wanted to help him.
If he didn't think of her as a strange girl, then it was impossible.
Or rather, did she appear creepy in his eyes?
However—
"I... don't know why, but I can see that you really want to change. While I know you might not believe me, especially when I hurt you with my mean words... I regret my actions and words toward you. Maybe it might be just satisfaction, or maybe because I just want to apologize, but believe me, I just want to help you..."
Onodera wasn't sure what kind of expressions when she said all of that, but her expressions were so mixed with many. Frankly, she even wondered why she even took a lot of trouble to help him.
Was it due to the guilt in her heart?
Or was it due to his conviction of wishing to change, which he had shown her previously?
Unlike her, who was so childish, she listened to the rumors and then looked down on the people in the rumors as if she were a higher being than them.
When she saw his eyes, who just calmly looked at her and told her "thank" after she said such mean things, she felt like... she had woken up. It was like cold water was poured on her head.
It might be late or might even be seen as creepy by him, but even so, Onodera wanted to help him.
"Onedera-san."
"Ye-Yes."
After saying all of that, it would be impossible for Onodera not to be nervous and unable to meet his eyes, but his gentle voice somehow made her gain courage and met his eyes timidly.
"Thank you."
"Then..."
"But I am sorry. You don't have to help me."
"Eh?! Why?!" Onodera was stunned by his unexpected answer. She thought that he would agree, yet why did he reject her?
"Let's say you want to help me; what will you do?" Ishigami asked while looking at Onedera in doubt.
"Er..." Onodera thought for a while and said, "I will tell you that you have changed, and you are not like in the rumor to everyone?"
"..."
"...what? Why are you in silence like that?" Onodera felt nervous somehow, wondering whether she had said something wrong.
However, Ishigami wasn't in a hurry to answer Onondera's question as their order came.
"Your order is ready."
"Thanks." Ishigami thanked the waitress politely, to which she responded with a cute smile.
"...." Onodera was in silence, then snorted at the waitress, who seemed to be trying to seduce Ishigami. "What bad service... is she a waitress or a hostess?"
"She did a good job. Her smile healed me from your thoughtless help."
"Huh? What's wrong with my help?"
Watching her confusion, Ishigami sighed helplessly and said, "Let's say that you told them that; what will their response be?"
"Er..." Onodera thought for a while, seemingly confused, so Ishigami added, "Do you think they will nod and agree with you?"
"..." Onodera.
"Instead of having their opinion of me change, I seem like a child who can't join the group and just begging to join with your help. While they might smile outwardly, what will they think inwardly?"
"....."
Onodera's EQ wasn't low, especially when she had many friends, so she understood his words clearly. While they might smile and welcome Ishigami due to her words, inwardly, they disdained him and even talked behind his back. Instead of helping him, she would make his situation worse.
"Moreover, I want to change not because of everyone. It is for myself. I don't need anyone's acknowledgment to show that I am better and I have changed."
If one wanted to change due to everyone's acknowledgment, Ishigami would snort, thinking that it was a shitty reason to change!
Ishigami didn't want everyone's acknowledgment as he didn't want to become Hokage, but then again, he also had to admit that his past was as horrible as Uzumaki Naruto's. However, unlike Naruto, he wasn't so desperate, and his status wasn't as sensitive as Naruto, whose status was comparable to a nuclear weapon.
Moreover, instead of begging those people, he wanted them to regret or beg him as they had alienated him.
Still, his answer made Onodera fall into a daze, thinking that Ishigami really had changed, and this change made her unable to look away from him.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
"No..." Onodera shook her head softly, feeling slightly hot on her face, and said, "But you really have changed."
Or rather, did she just know him better?
She wanted to know him better somehow.
"Is it something bad?"
"No, it's good."
"Then, go eat. The ice on your anmitsu will melt if you don't eat it soon."
"Ah, why didn't you tell me?!"
"I just told you, right?"
As Onodera pouted, she scooped the Earl Grey ice cream on her anmitsu. 'It's sweet, 'she thought, but somehow, not only her tongue but also the sweetness also remained within her heart.