"I see. That's why you were staring at the hill."
"Pretty much."
"Want to check it out on the way back?"
"No, it's too dangerous."
I gently declined Summer's suggestion. During the day it might be fine, but at night, it just felt risky. I resolved that if I went, it would be alone.
"Oh, I can see it!"
As we emerged from the alley, a tempting aroma welcomed us. Following the delicious scent, we spotted a charming, wooden building with a Showa-era aesthetic. In this area, it seemed like this was one of the few places still open at this hour, along with the convenience store.
"Oh, you're back again?"
As soon as we entered the restaurant, the self-proclaimed owner greeted us, clearly remembering our faces.
"Is it still okay for you time-wise?"
"Yeah, we're good. Just bring the water, and we'll find a seat."
We settled into the same seats as the previous two days. Aside from us, the place was empty, giving the impression that we had the whole restaurant to ourselves.
"...I wonder if this place is doing okay financially? It was empty yesterday and the day before, too."
"Maybe it's busy during the day...?"
"You don't have to worry about it; there's no problem here."
The self-proclaimed owner set glasses of water on our table.
"Ah, I'll have the ginger pork set."
"I'll take the mackerel miso set."
"Alright, just wait a moment."
The owner retreated into the kitchen, looking like she had something to say. Almost immediately, the sounds and aromas of cooking wafted toward us. Sky's stomach growled, and both Summer and I eagerly awaited our meal.
"Here you go! Ginger pork set and mackerel miso set!"
And then, the moment we had been waiting for arrived.
The dishes placed in front of us looked so delicious that I couldn't resist swallowing hard. My ginger pork set, Summer's mackerel miso set, and then a pork cutlet set – the enticing aromas filled the air. Wait, why was there a pork cutlet?
"—Mind if I join you?"
Seated across from us was a girl with the pork cutlet set. To our surprise, it was Aoi Yuki. Even Summer seemed stunned, frozen in place with her rice bowl in hand.
"What are you doing here?"
"How rude! This is my home."
"Home?"
"Yes. My house is on the second floor. My mom is the self-proclaimed owner of this restaurant."
Even her own daughter has to add "self-proclaimed"…
"I occasionally help out here. Well, not many customers come, so it's pretty easy."
As she drizzles sauce over the tonkatsu on the table, Aoyuki lets out a sigh, clearly concerned about the lack of customers.
"We were thinking of having dinner here almost every day."
"Really? I wouldn't mind if you came every day instead of just almost."
"Summer wants to eat the Dawn stew, so we plan to have that at home. After that, we'll be coming here regularly, so bear with us."
"I'll allow it."
"Thank you, that's a real blessing."
In a playful exchange reminiscent of a historical drama between a master and servant, we continue our meal.
"This miso soup is really good. What kind of miso are you using?"
"Red miso. Plus, I use a special dashi, but that's a trade secret."
"Can you cook too, Aoyuki?"
"I can make everything on the menu. I cooked for both of you."
"No way. You're a pretty good cook, Aoyuki."
Hearing my honest compliment, Aoyuki shyly rubs her cheek.
"What about you two? Can you cook?"
"We're the type who can cook but don't because it's a hassle," she said.
"But you cook, Dawn?"
"Only because Summer asked me. As her brother, I have no choice but to say yes."
"...You're such a siscon."
Aoi Yuki declared bluntly, resting her elbows on the table, her icy white hair cascading lightly.
"Water's Rapids! I'm a die-hard brocon!"
"That's not something to brag about. At least you're aware of it, which is something."
"No sister in the world believes she's not a brocon."
"By that logic, all younger sisters would be brocons..."
"All younger sisters are brocons."
"That's a bold assertion... Where does that confidence come from?"
"Obviously, it comes from me."
"By the way, all older brothers worldwide are siscons."
"I get that you two have a good relationship, but can you be quiet already? My head is starting to hurt."
When told to be quiet, there was no choice but to comply.
I silently focused on my meal, moving my chopsticks. Ah, the ginger pork is delicious...
"Would you like some tea after your meal?"
Just before we finished eating, Aoi Yuki's mother brought hot tea to the table. I thanked her and took a cup as all three of us slurped our tea in unison.
"Ahh, this feels nice, big brother."
"Yeah. Without that final cup of tea, it doesn't really feel like dinner."
"I'm glad to be Japanese..."
As we savored our tea, the after-meal gathering began. From a distance, Aoi Yuki's mother watched us with a warm smile.
"Have we overstayed our welcome?" I asked as we settled the bill and stepped outside. Aoi Yuki greeted us with her hands clasped together, her face beaming with joy.
"Not at all! My mom seemed to be having a great time. You'll come back again, right?"
"Of course. We'll be back the day after tomorrow."
"If you two don't mind, invite Jasper and Kaba, and Sunny too. I'm sure they'd love it!"
"They'll help boost your sales, right?"
"I'm not even thinking about that!"
"Then look me in the eye."
Aoi Yuki quickly averted her gaze—an obvious sign of something on her mind.
"Well, aside from that, feel free to come anytime. Both my mom and I will be waiting for you."
"Will do."
"Good night, Aoi Yuki," I said as we wrapped up our farewells and headed home. Aoi Yuki waved until we were out of sight.
To be continued...
"Oh, is that Kaba?"
"Is that Ethan?"
On a Saturday afternoon, while taking a leisurely stroll with Summer still lost in a dream at home, I unexpectedly bumped into Kaba.
"What a coincidence running into you here! Just out for a walk?"
"Yeah! The weather's so nice today—perfect for a stroll!"
"Hey, if you're up for it, want to take a walk together?"
"Sure! I was just thinking I could use some company."
"Alright then, let's just stroll around."
"Sounds good!"
I started walking leisurely along the field path, matching Kaba's pace. I noticed I was moving much slower than when I was alone, but it felt nice this way. The warm sunshine made it so cozy that I could easily drift off to sleep if I closed my eyes. As we meandered without any destination, my mind emptied of thoughts. Butterflies danced around the fields, and as I absentmindedly tracked their flight with my eyes, I caught Kaba looking at me.
"Is something wrong?"
"Hm? I just thought how Ethan really is a boy."
"What do you mean by that?"
I never quite understood what Kaba was thinking, but her answer left me even more puzzled, making me tilt my head in confusion.
"Would you like some dango?"
Without a care for my confusion, Kaba cheerfully pulled out a pack of sweet soy glazed dango from her tote bag and offered it to me. The delightful aroma reminded me I hadn't eaten lunch yet, and I opened the pack, grabbing one without hesitation.
"You know, until I met you, I hadn't really talked to any boys properly."
Realizing this was a continuation of our earlier conversation, I listened intently to Kaba as I chewed on the dango.
"I'm not really a guy hater, you know. It's just that I haven't had a chance to talk to one. So being able to chat with Ethan like this now is all thanks to Jasper!"
"Then I should thank Jasper! It's not every day you get to be friendly with such a handsome guy."
"I do think Ethan is good-looking, but saying it yourself kinda takes away from the charm."
"Oh, speaking of guy haters, does Kaba know that Jasper dislikes them?"
"We're friends, so of course I know that!"
Kaba's response only deepened my confusion.
"Aren't you curious about it? How Jasper and I get along? It seems pretty unnatural to me."
"Now that you mention it, it does seem odd. I wonder why? Jasper is great at talking to anyone, yet he puts up a wall with guys."
"Is it because I don't come across as a man to him?"
Just saying it makes me a bit sad. But Kaba shakes her head firmly.
"I don't think that's it. From what I've seen, Jasper seems to be aware of Ethan."
"If Kaba, as a girl, sees it that way, maybe there's some truth to it... but it just doesn't sit right with me."
"I get what you're saying, but I'm just telling you what I see. If you're curious, maybe you should ask Ethan yourself!"
"I feel like this will end up being deflected."
In the last class, Jasper hasn't shared anything crucial. I couldn't figure out what he was stubbornly trying to hide. Looking back, I realized I might not know anything about Jasper at all.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to wait for Jasper to talk, right? It might take a while, but I think that's the best approach," she said cheerfully.
"Yeah, that makes sense. I'll be patient."
"Exactly! Take your time and don't rush. That's what's important!"
"Motoko, you're always so relaxed."
"That's one of my strengths!"
With a carefree smile, Motoko paused and stretched her arms wide.
"Anyway, the weather is really nice today!"
The spring sky was clear with no clouds in sight. The temperature was comfortable—neither too hot nor too cold. A gentle breeze occasionally blew, refreshing and pleasant. The birds soaring in the sky seemed to be lively and spirited.
I took a cue from Motoko, stretching and inhaling deeply, savoring the fresh air that brought the vibrant breath of nature, something I could never experience in the city.
"I love spring the most of all the seasons," she said.
"It's funny—your name feels more like autumn, yet you prefer spring."
"I like autumn too! The leaves change color beautifully!"
"You're really cute, Motoko."
The moment I said that, her face flushed crimson like an apple, and she started to open and close her mouth like a goldfish. It seemed she had little tolerance for compliments, and her reaction was so amusing that I couldn't help but tease her.
"Hey, no teasing! I'm not cute at all..."
"What? Kaba, you're more than cute. You should have more confidence. I guarantee your cuteness. Kaba is adorable!"
"Stop calling me cute! It's so embarrassing, I might just die of shame..."
Kaba's face was as red as it gets after a long soak in the bath. If this keeps up, I might actually die of embarrassment, so I should probably tone it down.
"Ethan, you're so mean..."
"Not at all! The truth is, I think you're cute."
"Ahh... you said it again... I get that you mean it, so can you just stop?"
Kaba looked up at me with pleading eyes. Her shimmering irises made my heart race. I cleared my throat to mask the flutter in my chest and subtly shifted my gaze away from her.
"Huh? It seems like Ethan's face is turning red too..."
She noticed…!?
"Ethan is weak against puppy eyes… Well, I'll be sure to share this with everyone!"
"...Wait, share?"
Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket, signaling a new message.
"Uh, Kaba?"
Kaba kept smiling, not moving an inch. A chill ran down my spine. I had a bad feeling before even reading the message. I steeled myself and opened the message screen.
"Just kidding!~♪"
I gently closed my smartphone and let out a deep sigh. It felt like a jolt to my heart.