After his shift at the book café started at noon, it was now 9:45 PM.
“Thank you very much! Please come again!” (Haruto)
There were less than fifteen minutes left until the end of his shift.
Haruto sent off another customer with his usual bright smile, only to flinch at the sight in front of him.
Outside the store.
Beyond the glass, two figures were staring right at him.
One of the figures was a blonde woman with a stylish figure, wearing glasses with sakura-colored lenses.
The other was a brown-haired woman who seemed to be wearing a large pair of glasses that probably belonged to the blonde, as the frames didn’t quite suit her.
“It’s Rina-san and Ayaya-san…” (Haruto)
Even though they were disguised, Haruto could immediately tell who they were.
However, today’s meeting spot was the izakaya that Rina had reserved.
He gestured for them to come in, but then Ayaya made a gesture.
She mimed drinking something with both hands, then quickly crossed her arms into a big X and nodded.
She was probably trying to signal, “We don’t plan to buy drinks, so we shouldn’t come in.”
“Haha…” (Haruto)
Haruto’s honest thought was that it wasn’t something to worry too much about… but considering the store, that might indeed be the most sensible course of action.
Haruto nodded to signal that he understood, then extended his hand in a “peace” gesture, indicating for them to wait a little longer.
“Haruto-chaan!” (?)
“Y-Yes?!” (Haruto)
The voice calling his name in that way belonged to only one person among his acquaintances.
It was the manager, who had come up behind him.
“I’m sorry to surprise you, but you can leave early today. There are only a few customers left, so I’ll adjust your clock-out time to match the regular end of your shift.” (Manager)
“Eh!? No, that’s really—” (Haruto)
Haruto wasn’t sure why he was being told this, but he truly felt guilty for being pampered in this way.
He had been working at this shop since high school and had received so much care from the manager. He felt a deep sense of gratitude and wanted to repay that kindness with sincerity.
“Don’t worry, you don’t have to hold back. You’ve got plans with those two over there today, right?” (Manager)
“That’s true, but…” (Haruto)
“This is just a little something to thank you for all the hard work you’ve been putting in. It’s not much, but still.” (Manager)
Haruto felt a hand gently pat his shoulder, and the manager gave him a warm smile.
It felt like the manager was considering the circumstances of his family life, where he never had the chance to relax or play around when he was younger.
With such kindness, Haruto found it impossible to refuse.
“Ah, thank you so much, Manager… I’ll do my best to be even more helpful in the future.” (Haruto)
“I’m counting on you.” (Manager)
“Yes! Well then, I’ll be on my way.” (Haruto)
With a deep bow, Haruto returned to the staff room, filled with happiness, and pulled out a memo and pen from his pocket.
Haruto wrote a quick note saying, “Thank you so much,” and placed it on the desk where the manager usually worked, before rushing to change his clothes.
—He didn’t want to waste a single second of the time the manager had so thoughtfully given him.
After exchanging one last greeting, Haruto hurried out of the store and immediately ran over to the two waiting for him.
“Sorry to keep you waiting!” (Haruto)
“It’s totally fine. More importantly, thanks for your hard work!” (Rina)
“Good work, Haruto-kun!” (Aya)
“Thank you very much!” (Haruto)
After the exchange with the manager, Haruto’s face clearly showed how grateful he was for their kind words. Then, he finally brought up something that had been on his mind.
“Um… So, about that… did something happen? I thought we were meeting directly at the izakaya today?” (Haruto)
“Oh, sorry! Didn’t mean to worry you. Nothing like that happened. We just decided it would be better to meet together first before heading off.” (Rina)
“Eh?” (Haruto)
“To explain, it was because ‘This way, Haruto-kun will be happier!’ or at least that’s what Ayacchi insisted on.” (Rina)
“Wha—! R–R-Rina-san! We agreed not to bring that up!!” (Aya)
Suddenly, Aya raised her voice.
It was obvious that she was flustered.
(That’s so like Aya-san…)
The reason she had emphasized her point so much was likely because she knew about Haruto’s family situation.
She probably guessed that he didn’t have many opportunities to go out for meals with friends and wanted to make this experience as enjoyable as possible for him, not wanting it to be obvious that she had planned it.
“I did say that, ‘I’ll definitely let him know!'” (Rina)
“I-I thought you were being sarcastic!” (Aya)
“Hahaha.” (Rina)
Misunderstandings like this were unavoidable.
Perhaps feeling embarrassed, Aya, with her hand on the frame of her sunglasses, was doing everything she could to avoid showing her face.
I could feel her strong determination.
“I’m honestly happy. About Aya-san’s words, and that Rina-san went along with it. I’m glad that the three of us are heading to the restaurant together.” (Haruto)
And Rina also knew about Haruto’s family situation.
She must have had her own thoughts, but decided to go along with Aya’s plan.
“Well, everything worked out in the end! Right, Ayacchi?” (Rina)
“Uuuu…” (Aya)
As Rina patted Aya on the back, it was clear that Aya was trying her best to switch gears and get over the embarrassment.
Since they regularly do collab streams, it was natural for them to have such a good bond, and their closeness was truly apparent.
“Well, speaking of which, the reservation time is approaching, so we should head over soon. I’ll lead the way.” (Rina)
“Sorry, and thank you.” (Haruto)
“Rina-san will lead, and I’ll walk next to Haruto-kun.” (Aya)
“Huh? Can’t we walk in threes?” (Rina)
“That’s your punishment for telling Haruto-kun.” (Aya)
“Ugh~ If you’re going to be that mean, then I’ll sit next to him at the izakaya.” (Rina)
“Wha!!” (Aya)
As they began walking, Rina, her beautiful blonde hair swaying, glanced back with a mischievous smile that was clearly up to no good.
“Haruto-san, is it bad if I sit next to you?” (Rina)
“Not at all, it’s fine.” (Haruto)
“Hehe, then I’m happy.” (Rina)
Rina slightly lowered her colored glasses, smiling at Haruto with a playful gaze.
She likely wasn’t aware of it herself, but her expression had a certain charm to it, a hint of calculated flirtation.
(Yeah, it’s completely different seeing it in person compared to through the screen…)
If this had happened when it was just the two of them, he might have started to see her differently, not as a streaming partner, but as someone of the opposite sex.
Just as that thought crossed his mind…
“Stop! S-Stop right there!!” (Aya)
Aya stretched out her right hand, desperately trying to stop Rina.
“Hmm? What’s wrong, Ayacchi?” (Rina)
“I-I’ll apologize for what I said earlier, but… um…” (Aya)
“Un-un.” (Rina)
“Well… well, so, like Rina-san, I want to sit next to Haruto-kun too…” (Aya)
“Eh?” (Haruto)
She grabbed the hem of her clothes, and after briefly meeting Haruto’s gaze, Aya turned toward Rina.
“Hehe, you really say cute things, don’t you, Ayacchi?” (Rina)
“I-I mean, it’s the social gathering, right?!” (Aya)
“Ahaha…” (Haruto)
As a result of their conversation, they decided that they’d take turns switching seats at a set time.
Also, there was one more thing.
(…)
Haruto noticed that Aya’s face was turning red through the gap in her sunglasses.
At that moment, a memory resurfaced.
The words she hastily said in her flustered state came flooding back to him.
∮
They entered a beautiful building and took the elevator up to the 6th floor.
After entering the izakaya, which was illuminated by indirect lighting and had the store name floating in a 3D design, they sat down.
“W-Wow, this place is amazing… It’s my first time at an izakaya like this.” (Haruto)
“I’m glad you think so~ This is one of my favorite spots.” (Rina)
The space was fully private, separated by shoji screens. Springing his feet into the dug-out kotatsu, Haruto looked around at the traditional Japanese atmosphere, still in awe.
“Hehe, you’re reacting just like I did the first time I came here, Haruto-kun.” (Aya)
“So you’re not a first-timer here, Aya-san?” (Haruto)
“Nope! Rina-san has taken me to all kinds of places!” (Aya)
“Well, I kinda forced Ayacchi to come with me to some of them.” (Rina)
Sitting across from Haruto, Rina narrowed her eyes and flashed a white smile.
At first glance, it was hard to tell whether she was joking or serious, but there were plenty of signs to consider.
“Considering it’s Rina-san, I understand that you’re exaggerating the ‘forced’ part. Everyone would probably say the same thing.” (Haruto)
“…I feel embarrassed when you say it so seriously.” (Rina)
“Haha, sorry about that.” (Haruto)
Seeing Rina scratching her cheek with her nail-painted finger, and Aya, sitting next to her and quietly smiling after taking off her sunglasses, Haruto could tell he had hit the mark.
When it came down to it, he couldn’t imagine Rina forcefully dragging someone out without considering their circumstances. He knew her persona from her streams, but the most telling moment had been when she didn’t hesitate to fix Yuno’s bike, even when her hands got dirty.
“Haruto-kun, you have a bit of a sly side, right, Rina-san?” (Aya)
“I get that too. The gap between someone who does those kinds of streams and this? It’s seriously unfair.” (Rina)
“You’re going to bring that up now?!” (Haruto)
It was unavoidable, but the fact that his streaming persona had been brought up was embarrassing.
“Hehe, when we collab, we absolutely have to push things this way, Ayacchi. The viewers would probably want to see it too.” (Rina)
“Un-un!” (Aya)
“In that case, please be gentle…” (Haruto)
Haruto feels a bit overwhelmed, but he doesn’t reject the idea because he senses there is a demand for it.
The kind of interactions that can only happen during a collab stream are factors that contribute to the entertainment.
“Ah, sorry! I got so caught up in the conversation, I didn’t give you the menu. Here you go, Haruto-san. Take a look with Ayacchi.” (Rina)
“Thanks.” (Haruto)
Haruto takes the menu with both hands, leans a little closer to Aya, and opens it.
The moment he does…
“…Huh!?” (Haruto)
Haruto’s eyes widen, and a muffled voice escapes him.
Almost everything on the menu is priced in the four-digit range, with some daringly high prices.
“Hehe, Haruto-kun, you’re reacting just like I did.” (Aya)
“I thought this place would have a decent price from the atmosphere, but I’ve never seen prices like this before…” (Haruto)
“But don’t worry, the portions are about two servings each, so it’s okay.” (Aya)
“Uh, I see…” (Haruto)
Haruto, still with a tense expression since he hadn’t seen the actual dishes yet, felt a little reassured.
“By the way, today’s on me, so Haruto-san, feel free to order whatever you like and eat as much as you want.” (Rina)
“No, no, I can’t let you do that.” (Haruto)
If it were a small price, he might have let it slide, but seeing these prices, he couldn’t accept it.
“Let me be a cool senpai here. Right, Ayacchi?” (Rina)
“Let’s repay this favor by aiming for first place! Yeah!” (Aya)
“Or so she says, Haruto-san.” (Rina)
“Haha, so that’s how it is, huh?” (Haruto)
Rina smirked, the corners of her mouth lifting.
It was clear what kind of response she was expecting. In fact, she must have anticipated that Haruto would try to refuse from the very beginning.
“…Alright. In that case, I’ll aim for victory as well, so I’ll let myself indulge this time.” (Haruto)
“Thanks for this.” (Rina)
Rina said this so confidently that it was truly impressive.
“…Oh, and by the way? The earlier exchange was all pre-arranged with Ayacchi.” (Rina)
“Wha!?” (Aya)
Rina stuck out her pink tongue playfully, while Aya’s eyes nearly popped out of her head in shock.
“R-Rina-san! You can’t say that!!” (Aya)
“Well, it was Ayacchi’s idea in the first place.” (Rina)
“My idea!?” (Aya)
“Yep, yep. Haruto-san, you already noticed, right?” (Rina)
“…Honestly, yeah.” (Haruto)
“!!” (Aya)
There were several obvious signs.
When Aya had said, “Let’s repay this favor by aiming for first place! Yeah!” she had been awkward.
And after that, she had avoided making eye contact, turning her face away.
She must have tried to hide the discomfort, but once she stopped looking at the menu, it was clear what was going on.
“This is what makes Ayacchi so charming, isn’t it?” (Rina)
“I think so too.” (Haruto)
“Huh, you two are oddly in sync… You don’t have to bring up stuff like that so seriously, you know…” (Aya)
“Hehe, come on, don’t say that.” (Rina)
In this kind of situation, it was probably more embarrassing for Aya to be complimented rather than teased.
With a weak voice, Aya leaned forward again and started peering at the menu, trying to act casual.
It was at that moment…
“By the way, you two are really impressive.” (Rina)
“…Huh?” (Aya & Haruto)
The two of them responded in unison, their voices overlapping.
“This is about what we were talking about earlier, when you both first looked at the menu. Even though you’re both making a lot of money at the ages of 18 and 20, your sense of money is so well-balanced. See, when I started gaining traction with my streams around the age of 20, I was reckless with money, and I wasn’t saving at all…” (Rina)
Rina laughed bitterly as she recalled that time, her expression filled with a sense of regret, as if to say, “I really wasted so much.”
“Rina-san says that, but… I mostly get my meals through Uber Eats, so I’m actually living pretty luxuriously, you know? I even buy dessert sometimes…” (Aya)
“I’ve also been buying things like pudding more frequently, and I’ve started using convenience stores more than before, so I’m definitely indulging as well…” (Haruto)
“No, what’s impressive is that you’re both maintaining a standard of living where you can still save money! The ‘luxuries’ you’re talking about are actually necessary things, and when you’re young, you just want to buy everything.” (Rina)
Rina, having experienced failure in the past, especially felt this way.
And there was one heartwarming thing from their conversation.
“By the way, Haruto-san, you’re way more modest than I thought.” (Rina)
“R-Really…?” (Haruto)
“Yeah, your indulgence is so cute, and I bet you buy pudding for Yuno-chan too.” (Rina)
“Un-un. I don’t think there’s any other person in the industry who’s living more modestly than you, Haruto-kun.” (Aya)
“Well… um, my income in this industry is still not that high compared to others.” (Haruto)
It was a world where there was always someone above you.
In reality, the person sitting right in front of Haruto was Rina, a streamer with over 700,000 subscribers.
Next to her was Ayaya, a VTuber with over 450,000 subscribers.
Meanwhile, Haruto had 250,000 subscribers.
Simple math showed that, in terms of income, there was a difference of two to three times between them.
“By the way, Haruto-san. I know it’s a bit of a bothersome question, but do you think you’ll be able to get enough for Yuno-chan’s university fees? If it’s difficult, don’t hesitate to ask me for help, okay?” (Rina)
“You can ask me too!” (Aya)
“…! T-Thank you so much…” (Haruto)
Normally, one would respond with a joke and refuse politely, but despite knowing that in the back of his mind, Haruto was overwhelmed with gratitude for what they’d said. It left him unable to do anything but feel deeply thankful.
His eyes began to water, but he held it back.
“That said, my imouto still has about a year and a half until graduation, and if things continue like this, I think I’ll be able to save up enough for her entire four years of higher education.” (Haruto)
“W-Wow, Haruto-kun, that’s amazing!!” (Aya)
“You’re doing great!” (Rina)
“It’s nice to hear such reactions… haha.” (Haruto)
Some might think, “Well, that’s to be expected if you’re acting like a guardian,” but conversations about family situations or savings aren’t things one can have just anywhere.
Since this was the first time he was being praised for it, he couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed.
“Just, make sure you don’t overdo it. I’m sure you understand this the most, Haruto-kun, but Yuno-chan would worry if she knew.” (Aya)
“Yeah, you’re right. Thank you.” (Haruto)
Lately, he had been forgetting to bring his wallet to the convenience store and worrying people outside of work, so her words really hit home.
“Ugh… I really envy you, Rina-san… Not only did you get to meet your little sister, but I heard you even went into Haruto-kun’s house…” (Aya)
“Well, it was a series of coincidences, you know~”(Rina)
“Wh-What kind of coincidences?!” (Aya)
“Hehe, if I were in Ayacchi’s shoes, I’d probably be saying the exact same thing.” (Rina)
“…” (Haruto)
From this exchange, Haruto realized that Rina hadn’t told anyone about how she met Yuno.
It was typical of Rina not to mention that she had helped by fixing Yuno’s bicycle chain; she never boasted about doing good deeds.
“On that note, I have to say, Yuno-chan is seriously such a great girl. She’s kind, considerate, and so mature for a high schooler.” (Rina)
“And she’s good at cooking, right?” (Aya)
“To be honest, she was as good as I was when I was attending cooking classes.” (Rina)
“As good as Rina-san!?” (Aya)
“She had great organization skills, could cook by eye without measuring, knew a wide variety of recipes, and even thought about the nutritional balance. I was really impressed.” (Rina)
“Really!?” (Aya)
Haruto, who was only listening to the conversation, felt a deep sense of pride. To hear his family being praised was an incredibly joyous moment for him.
Wrapped in a moment of happiness, he couldn’t help but smile… but it didn’t last long.
“She probably studied a lot to keep her onii-chan healthy. Just like how someone else started a whole persona that didn’t fit them just to grab attention, right?” (Rina)
“?!” (Haruto)
The unexpected and unwanted remark hit a sore spot.
“Um… Ah! Right! Aya-san, do you want to see a picture of my imouto?” (Haruto)
“Is it okay?!” (Aya)
“Y-Yeah, of course! In fact, please, take a look.” (Haruto)
Trying to change the subject, Haruto hastily took out his phone from his pocket, all while ignoring Rina’s smirk.
“Yuu doesn’t let me take many pictures, so this is from her birthday last year…” (Haruto)
As he spoke, he entered his password and opened the “favorites” album, quickly displaying the photo.
“This is my imouto, her name’s Yuno.” (Haruto)
He placed his phone on the table, showing a picture of Yuno, who was shyly flashing a peace sign in front of a cake with 16 candles.
This reaction came immediately.
“Eh, this is your imouto-san!? She’s super cute…!” (Aya)
“And she’s domestic too, so there’s no way guys would ignore her, right~?” (Rina)
“Well… As a brother, it’s a bit strange to say, but she’s really my pride and joy. So, it’s weird that I’ve never heard of her being involved with anyone that way. ” (Haruto)
“That’s probably because of you, Haruto-kun.” (Aya)
“…Me?” (Haruto)
“Yeah! I’m sure she sees all your good points and hasn’t found a man as great as you around her.” (Aya)
“No way! I don’t think so at all.” (Haruto)
It wasn’t a way to hide his embarrassment; he was speaking honestly.
The kitchen was always off-limits for him because he was “too dangerous and might start a fire.”
To be more specific, it was because he was “likely to injure himself with a knife.”
When he forgot to contact her, he’d sometimes get spanked with a shoe.
He always showed such unreliable sides of himself, so he couldn’t believe it, but Aya’s opinion was another matter.
“Nonono! It’s easy to get influenced by the people around you when you’re in high school. For example, my dad was really kind, so I ended up liking people who were kind, just like him.” (Aya)
“Ahaha, I see.” (Haruto)
“You’re really trying to flirt, aren’t you, Ayacchi? But isn’t that kind of thing more effective when you’re alone with them?” (Rina)
“!! Th-that is not what I meant at all—” (Aya)
Before she could finish her words, their eyes met.
In an instant.
Aya’s face turned red, and she lowered her head, sliding the menu across the table like she was wiping the floor towards him.
He felt that she was implying to “Just look at it by yourself for now…” and he was right about that.
With a speed that seemed to create wind, Aya quickly turned her neck and shot a glance at Rina, trembling as she let out a voice.
“Because Rina-san said something weird, it turned into a really awkward atmosphere…” (Aya)
“Sorry! I didn’t think you’d take it so seriously!” (Rina)
“Of course it’s gonna be like this if you suddenly say something like that!” (Aya)
“Hehe, that might be true.” (Rina)
“Might be true? No, that’s exactly what happened!!” (Aya)
The two of them, four years apart in age.
A relationship where one teases and the other gets teased—Rina teasing and Aya being teased.
With their voices serving as background music, Haruto happily picked out dishes from the menu.
How many minutes had passed since then?
As the dishes they ordered arrived one by one, Haruto was savoring his food, thoroughly enjoying the moment.
“Now that the atmosphere has calmed down, let’s move on to today’s main topic. The schedule and flow for our collaboration.” (Rina)
“Looking forward to it.” (Haruto)
“It’s fine to talk while eating, right?” (Aya)
“Of course. Let’s talk while eating. Actually, I was planning to do just that.” (Rina)
Rina grinned and started transferring the fried chicken to a small plate.
Seeing her actions match her words, Aya and Haruto also laughed and began preparing to eat.
“Alright, first, about the collab schedule. I’m thinking we should do it sometime this week. Next weekend is the start of the event, after all.” (Rina)
“I don’t have anything planned for this week, so I can match whatever works for you two!” (Aya)
“How about you, Haruto-san?” (Rina)
“I’m really sorry. I have plans this Saturday…” (Haruto)
It was during his evening part-time break.
He had received an email from Yuno and replied.
—[Suzuha-chan is also free this Saturday. So, let’s go out that day. Just choosing clothes won’t take long, so I’ll add some other plans as well. Also, if your streaming schedule doesn’t interfere, I’d like to have Suzuka-chan stay over.]
In response to this, Haruto had replied:
—[Got it! If her parents are okay with it, I’m fine with her staying over!]
Since he’d made this promise, he couldn’t change those plans.
“Arara. If it’s not Saturday, I think Haruto-san will have work scheduled for all the other days… Is that still okay?” (Rina)
“I usually stream after my part-time job, so there’s no problem on that front! It’s just that, because of the shifts, it’ll have to be after 10 PM…” (Haruto)
If it were just a regular personal stream, it wouldn’t be an issue, but for a collaboration stream, that timing was too late.
Haruto apologized sincerely, but there wasn’t a hint of displeasure on their faces.
“Don’t worry about that at all! If we can still do the collab, there’s no problem.” (Aya)
“Yeah, just like Ayacchi said.” (Rina)
“I really appreciate it…” (Haruto)
Though he didn’t usually speak so formally, the words slipped out naturally.
He felt deeply grateful for their understanding.
“Then, how about this Thursday? Friday works too, but I was thinking Saturday might be tricky due to your plans, Haruto-san.” (Rina)
“Thank you so much for being so considerate. If it’s Thursday, I don’t have any plans, so that works for me.” (Haruto)
“Great! Then let’s meet between 10:20 to 10:30 PM on Thursday, and we’ll start by discussing the character lineups. I think that way, we can build some synergy with the viewers.” (Rina)
“Okay!” (Haruto)
“Can’t wait for it~” (Aya)
“Alright! Once we’ve decided on the setup, we’ll do one or two practice ranked matches and wrap it up. And each of us will make an announcement about the collab once.” (Rina)
“Got it! I’ll put together the schedule and share it with both of you later.” (Aya)
“Thanks!” (Rina)
As expected from these two, who had handled countless collaboration streams and projects before.
Everything fell into place smoothly, without hesitation, almost too effortlessly.
Amidst all this, Haruto had one thing he needed to ask.
“…Um, I’d really appreciate it if you could answer this, but regarding the event, how much of my trash talk should I use? I really don’t want to cause any trouble for you two…” (Haruto)
The two were from Axcis Crown, a major professional team, and were also colleagues. And on top of that, they had been so kind to someone like him.
He couldn’t let them clean up after his mess.
“Ah, I’ve thought about that too, but in the end, I think it’s best to leave it to your sense, Haruto-san.” (Rina)
“Is that really okay!?” (Haruto)
“Well, because Ayacchi hasn’t had any issues streaming with you, and you two have had some really well-received collabs, and the more restrictions you put, the less ‘Oni-chan-ness’ you’ll have, right?” (Rina)
It was an important topic, but Rina casually took a bite of her tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omlette), as if she wasn’t worried at all.
Aya also just nodded in agreement.
“To be honest, on the day of the event, I think it would be fun for both me and Ayacchi to join in on your persona, so we might just do that depending on the mood.” (Rina)
“Oh, I was thinking the same thing!” (Aya)
“Are you serious!?” (Haruto)
In other words, just like Haruto, they were planning to tease the other streamers.
“Pretty serious. Since both Ayacchi and I know all the participants, we can pretty much do whatever we want and they’ll get the vibe, right?” (Rina)
“We can always apologize behind the scenes.” (Aya)
“I-I see.” (Haruto)
If that’s the case, then depending on the viewers’ reactions, it might be worth going for it.
It might be an easy way to stir up some excitement.
“If I could make one request of you, Haruto-san, it would be for you to be a little more aggressive in the conversation. If you do that, I’ll make sure to match your energy and respond in kind.” (Rina)
“I-I understand. If that’s the case, I’ll do my best!” (Haruto)
Haruto had prepared himself for a tough request, but it was simply about keeping the usual style of his streams, which made him feel relieved. With that, the conversation started to settle into a clear direction.
“Hehe, I’m really looking forward to the collab next weekend!” (Aya)
“Same here. It’s my first collab with Haruto-san.” (Rina)
“I’m really glad we got to meet in person today. Without this opportunity, I think I would’ve been really nervous on the actual day.” (Haruto)
“Hehe, hearing that makes me feel like reserving this restaurant was totally worth it.” (Rina)
“I had a great time, thank you!” (Haruto)
“You’re welcome.” (Rina)
The more they built their relationship, the more the tension eased whenever they interacted.
It would become easier to collaborate.
This time truly felt irreplaceable.
“Hey, Ayacchi.” (Rina)
“Hmm?” (Aya)
“Well, could you switch seats with me soon? It looks like the time we had set has already passed.” (Rina)
“…R-Really? We’ve only been sitting for about 30 minutes, so it feels like there’s still a little bit more time left…” (Aya)
“Uwa! Haruto-san, what do you think of this? She took 10 extra minutes just to keep the seat next to you all for herself! And then she’s gonna say ‘Thank you for the extra time!’ right after!” (Rina)
“Ah! I-It’s just a joke, you know!?” (Aya)
With the new facts being revealed one after another, Aya hurriedly picked up her plate and stood up.
It looked like she was ready to give up her seat, showing how light-footed she was. However, Rina had seen through everything.
“Go ahead and spill about Aya’s possessiveness on the stream, Haruto-san. I’ll make a special exception and allow it.” (Rina)
“What!!” (Aya)
“Well then… how about the alternative where she tried to buy every stuffed animal she liked? That could get some good reactions, don’t you think?” (Haruto)
“Or how about the time she ate all the fried chicken we ordered together at the izakaya?” (Rina)
“Haha, that’s interesting.” (Haruto)
“And she also tried to make sure I only smelled the good food but didn’t let me have any!” (Rina)
“Haha!” (Haruto)
“It’s not funny at all!!” (Aya)
Haruto, now understanding why Rina liked to tease Aya so much, helped with moving napkins and glasses to assist with the seat change.
The space was filled with laughter, thanks to the bright energy of the two.
In the midst of the fun, Haruto was able to forget the exhaustion from his part-time job, enjoying the rare chance to dine out with them.
TL Notes:
Thanks for reading!
It’s kinda cute that Aya gestured that they weren’t buying a drink, so they shouldn’t come in.
Also, Aya predicting MC’s reaction and how to respond to them was amazing. The two of them really knows each other well.
thanks for the chapter