Holding each other's hands so naturally as they went on a date after school, Ishigami and Onodera thought that this was something that they had never thought of before.
Or rather, the two of them had never ever thought of becoming a couple, to begin with.
Yet, this was normal, especially since Ishigami had a bad reputation due to someone's slander.
Meanwhile, Onodera was like others; those who believed in that bad reputation bad-mouthed him so she could feel better than others.
If Ishigami was a bad guy, he would use the chance of Onodera, who confessed to him at that time, to get revenge by rejecting her, giving her a mental trauma. Yet, he accepted her, and the two became a couple and were happy to be together.
Still, if that was the case, then it was good, as he knew well that instead of rejecting her, his revenge was even heavier as he had become someone he hated the most.
However, he knew that this was a time for him to settle everything.
Everything was good, but he felt it was too much for him to remain silent after what he had done for the past two days.
Whether it was a foursome or taking Chika's first time inside the music room, then going on a date with Onodera as if nothing had happened.
If he was such a callous guy who thought nothing of a woman's feelings, then he would just ignore them and hide everything until everything exploded before they might stab him.
So, before all of that, he knew that he had to solve everything.
"How about we get a western sweet?"
"Hmm... like our first time going out?"
"Ahaha, do you remember?"
"I do." Ishigami looked at Onodera and said, "Even now, I was startled when you suddenly talked to me."
Onodera also showed an awkward expression. "Yeah, I am sorry about that." Yet, how could she not be? On their first day of going out together, she mocked him before all of a sudden inviting him out. Frankly, it was even amazing that he would go out with her, and that was why she treated him at that time.
"I will treat you this time."
"It's fine. The western cafe where we went isn't cheap."
"It is nothing to me, though."
"Capitalist."
"Aren't you the same?"
The two smiled as they then went to the popular cafe, famous for serving pancakes with a 100g block of butter.
"I wonder how many calories there are."
100g of butter?
Ishigami felt like it was like swallowing a block of calories.
"Yuu, you are wrong. The sweet will enter a different part of the stomach. It won't make you fat."
"....."
"...you will order that, then?"
"No, I have to admit that 100g of a block of butter is a bit too much."
Rolling his eyes, Ishigami thought for a moment and said, "I will order that then. I am working out anyway."
"Thanks~!" Honestly, Onodera wanted to try that pancake with 100g of butter, but she was afraid to get fat. If she could take some from her boyfriend, then it would be different, right?
"No problem."
"Then, I will order scones."
"That's a good choice. The fruit sauce seems delicious."
"Right? I want something salty, too, though."
"Should I get this cheese toast, too?"
"Can I take a bite?"
"Go ahead."
"Yay~!"
If it was Iino, she would swallow the whole toast, Ishigami thought, but then, he stopped thinking of Iino since he was still in the middle of a date with Onodera, and while he wasn't sure why, girls seemed to have a strange instinct that could tell that their man thought of another.
Nevertheless, as they made their orders, Ishigami ordered a hot coffee for his drink, and Onodera ordered a banana juice.
"Banana juice?"
"It seems interesting, right?"
"I have one, though."
Onodera blushed and nudged his side.
"Oh, I will get a cheese comparison, too."
"Isn't that just a stick of cheese?"
"It seems unique, so I am curious."
"Maybe you should order all of them, then."
"I can't eat all of them."
"Really?"
"Well, if I try hard, then it might be possible, but all of them are mostly sweet, so I might not be able to finish them."
Foods with savory taste aside, the sweet foods made him quite overwhelmed if he ate too much.
"Maybe if you get a little fat, you will be cuter."
"I think it will make me less popular."
Onodera raised her brows and asked, "Do you still want to be popular with me by your side?"
"I just think that I will be more pleasant in your eyes if I fit, right? More importantly, if I get fatter, then my banana will be shorter."
"...don't get fat then."
His popularity aside, if being a little chubby might affect his health, then Onodera would stop him.
"Good choice."
Yet, watching his handsome profile, Onodera sighed inwardly and was amazed, especially due to his feats. Yet she remained in silence since she didn't want to break up, so wasn't this good enough?
Nothing had happened; she would pretend that she saw nothing, and that way, she could enjoy being with him forever.
As she thought so, their order came, starting with their beverage.
Drinking her banana juice, Onodera licked her lips as she enjoyed the sweet taste of the banana, which made her look at Ishigami's lower body.
"Eyes. Your eyes."
Onodera rubbed the back of her head awkwardly as Ishigami discovered her naughty gaze. Still watching him, enjoying his bitter coffee calmly, like an elegant young noble, and causing all the women in the cafe to look at him, she sighed inwardly, then moved closer to him.
Ishigami didn't say much; he only put his hand around Onodera's thigh, which was supple and soft, rubbing it softly.
Onodera blushed, thinking that this guy was as bad as ever!
Shouldn't he wrap his hand around her, then reassure her that he was hers?
However, this guy put his hand on her smooth thigh, which made her roll her eyes.
Still, her mood felt better, though.
Nevertheless, after that minor accident, the two quickly enjoyed their food.
Whether it was the pancakes, scones, cheese toast, or even cheese sticks, they enjoyed them all.
"This cheese stick is kind of nice."
"It is strangely well suited with the coffee."
"...that coffee is bitter, right? Is it really good?"
"Do you want to try?"
"...okay."
Onodera had tried bitter black coffee before, and naturally, she didn't like it, but this time, she decided to try it.
Sipping the coffee from her boyfriend's cup, as expected, it was bitter, she thought, yet strangely enough, unlike before, this bitterness was strangely comfortable, and because of that, she took a second sip.
"...you are going to drink them all?"
"It's strangely nice somehow. It is bitter, yet I can drink it smoothly, and as I taste it further, I can taste the complexity of the taste. Hmm... fruity, chocolaty?"
"It's good, right?"
"Yeah..."
Yeah, it was good; just like this, Onodera wanted to continue to be with him.
"The 100 g of butter is a bit too much, though."
"You said that again."
As the two laughed, they talked and enjoyed their time together.
They were a perfect fit, Onodera thought, and that was why, even if she knew the truth, it didn't matter since no matter how those vixens tried, they could only be his secret lovers.
Yet, at the end of the time, unexpectedly, Ishigami said, "Rei, let's break up."