Running into Mizuki-san… this is the worst possible day.
Forcing down the stress that made me feel sick, I turned to face her.
“Mizuki-san. I’ll arrange a place where we can talk, so could you please call a taxi?”
Mizuki-san nodded silently and brought her phone to her ear.
“Sasaki-chan… no, Kiraboshi-san.”
“Just call me Sasaki like usual.”
“But—”
“It’s fine. I’m the same as always.”
“O-okay.”
“The taxi will be here in two minutes.”
I decided to use the café I often go to—the one where I once ate couple pancakes with Makishima—as the place to talk with Mizuki-san.
The owner there understands me, so it should be fine.
After that, while riding in the taxi Mizuki-san called for us, I phoned the café.
The owner who answered said, “We’re slow today anyway, so sure,” and happily agreed.
When we arrived, the female owner, wearing glasses and a triangular headscarf, was waiting at the register.
The moment we stepped inside, she flipped the sign to closed.
“Ayane-chaa~n, thanks for bringing your friend today~”
“Owner, today’s not that kind of situation.”
“But last time it was your boyfriend, and today it’s a friend? You’re living the good life, Ayane-chan~”
If she didn’t irritate me unnecessarily, she really would be the perfect ally.
“Ayane’s boyfriend?”
Mizuki-san cut in from the side.
See? Trouble already.
“Huh? You didn’t tell your friend? Ayane-chan was making a huge fuss about finding her first love, and the very next day she actually brought that first love here! As her boyfriend! He was a handsome guy, just like in the photos~ I think his name was Maki—”
“O-Owner, stop talking already!”
I reached out, trying to shut that endlessly flapping mouth like a broken coin purse.
“Ayane’s… first love.”
“What is it, Mizuki-san? Are you planning to complain about my private life too?”
“No, not at all. More importantly, let’s talk quickly. Now then, your school friend as well.”
“I-is it really okay for me to be here? Sitting with two amazing people like this…”
“It’s fine. Now that you know who we are, we can’t just let you go freely.”
“Y-yes… that’s true.”
I feel terrible for dragging Aihara-san into this so suddenly.
As soon as we entered the café, we were guided to a four-person table.
“May I ask your name, young lady?”
“I’m Aihara Yuzu. Um, I’m a fan of MIZUKI-san. I listen to your new song every day!”
“Hehe. Thank you, Aihara-san.”
Mizuki-san was talking to Aihara-san, yet her eyes never left me.
“Ayane, did you listen to my new song?”
“No way I did.”
“…I thought so.”
Even sitting at the same table, the distance between Mizuki-san’s heart and mine never shrinks.
“U-um! After you quit Genesistars, did the two of you stop interacting?”
“We did. I didn’t really want to see her face, if possible.”
“Eh…? Sasaki-chan, that’s a bit harsh.”
“It’s fine. Ayane is still a child, so that’s all she’s capable of saying. Personally, I wouldn’t have minded meeting her once in a while.”
“That condescending attitude of yours hasn’t changed. Do you still think you’re the leader?”
“And you, still sulking over that incident? You’ve really polished your childishness. I bet you’re getting your head patted by some overly sweet boyfriend and turning bright red, right?”
As our argument escalated across the table, both of us were half-rising from our chairs.
“W-wait, stop! Please stop fighting! Owner, don’t just stand there spacing out—say something!”
“Have you decided on your order?”
“That’s not the point!”
After that, Aihara-san managed to calm us down, and Mizuki and I sat back in our chairs.
We continued glaring at each other in silence.
Post a Comment