Chapter 4
The crepe shop we found down a narrow alley off the main street had an unusual atmosphere—small and cozy, with posters of some sentai show plastered all over the place for some reason.
"Hmm, during moments like these, I can never decide between sweet and savory."
Two couples were ahead of us, and Minamino and I were standing in line behind them, looking at the menu. The appetizing aroma of baking dough was making me hungry.
"By the way, Satou, are you okay with things like whipped cream?"
While staring at the menu with pictures posted outside the shop, Minamino asked me.
"I'm not bad with it, but if it's as packed as it looks in the photo, I might feel a bit overwhelmed..."
As for me, I didn't particularly dislike sweets. But just looking at the picture, with so much whipped cream stuffed into the crepe, if the real thing looked exactly like that, it seemed like eating one whole would give me heartburn.
"...Then, Satou, order the savory one, and I'll go for the strawberry cream one. Let's share and eat."
"Sure, sounds good."
So naturally, I agreed to Minamino's suggestion... but then I suddenly wondered.
—Huh? How do you even share a crepe?
As I pondered that, the couple in front of us—probably college students—each received their respective crepes and took a bite, then fed each other from their own portions.
(...Isn't that an indirect kiss?)
Somehow, it felt much more graphic than sharing a bottle or a cup. While emitting an aura of being a couple in love, they walked away, enjoying their crepes together. Although Minamino couldn't have missed seeing that, she seemed unfazed.
Honestly, I had admired relationships like that. And, to be honest, my heart was already taken by Minamino to the extent that I thought it would be amazing if she was the one who would become my girlfriend.
But at least, now wasn't the time to see her like that. Definitely not.
I repeated that twice because it was important.
(Aren't I being too overly conscious…? Or rather, it's impossible not to be conscious.)
The components of being a coward and a virgin that composed me were working in tandem, occupying my mind. So, after that, when we ordered—I went for a safer option which was ham and cheese, while Minamino chose strawberry cream—and paid, I couldn't help but startle at Minamino's words.
"My place is about a 3-minute walk from here, so while eating and walking is fine, how about we sit down first?"
◇◆
Minamino's condo was indeed just a 3-minute walk away. There was no doubt about it, considering I had checked my watch once when she told me to come and once more when we arrived.
As soon as we entered the entrance and turned to the right down the corridor, we reached her room—a six-tatami-mat room. It had a bed, a neat desk, and a shelf lined with cute items that were very Minamino-like.
Feeling a bit restless, I sat at the small table in front of me, which had the crepes, waiting for Minamino to brew some coffee.
Her scent was everywhere in the room, which was natural but it felt much more vivid.
[If you find someone to have a pleasant fragrance, apparently, they have good compatibility with you on a genetic level.]
I remembered what she said earlier. However, no matter how I think, she undoubtedly had a good smell for me. Just then, I heard footsteps. It seemed like Minamino was done making coffee.
"Sorry for the wait... Ahahaha! Satou, why are you sitting in seiza?"
As she entered the room, holding cups in both hands, Minamino burst into laughter the moment she saw me. Indeed, for some reason, I was sitting in seiza, with my posture unnaturally straight.
"...I can't help it, alright? I mean, coming to a girl's house, especially her room, is something I haven't done since elementary school."
"So, you're not gonna say it's your first time entering one?"
"I mean, it's my first time entering a girl's room since middle school. My bad, I'm not used to this."
"No, no, it increases your favorability rating, you know? ...Kufufu."
"You're not trying to hide your laughter at all… Anyways, thanks for the coffee."
"Mm, you preferred black, right, Satou? No matter how I try, I can't drink it without milk."
We knew each other well enough to know each other's coffee preferences. Despite my racing heart, I was able to hold a normal conversation with her without getting into an awkward moment, thanks to that time.
"Let's dig in!"
"Let's eat!"
We said that and clasped our hands together before starting to eat the crepes.
"Eh? It's so delicious!?"
I blurted out unconsciously. Honestly, I used to think that crepes were just a matter of price and quantity and it wouldn't taste significantly different regardless of where you ate them.
—But this…
"Right, right? Makes you wonder if there's something special in the dough or whatnot? No clue why, but it's seriously delicious. Here, try my strawberry crepe too," Minamino said, offering the crepe toward my mouth.
"Ah, this is... surprisingly, the cream isn't too heavy even though it's so rich."
"Exactly. Makes you want to eat more right? Also, can I have some of yours too?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Man, the alternating between sweet and savory is great. I mean, you've always made me dinner at your house, so I wanted you to try mine too... Although my cooking skills are not that good so it's not gonna be homemade or anything, you know?"
As she said that, we continued to share bites of each other's crepes. By the time the crepes were gone, I felt a sense of something being amiss—.
Hah! I was so captivated by the taste that I completely forgot about the indirect kiss thing.
Or rather, at this point, it was natural for us to share our crepes as if it were a matter of course.
Perhaps because I was thinking that way, I found myself staring at Minamino's lips while she said, "It was delicious." Her lips had a texture so translucent and yet so fresh, which seemed entirely different from mine, even though they both shared the same name.
"...Satou?"
Because of that, until she called me, I hadn't realized Minamino was looking at me too. I quickly averted my gaze from her lips and locked eyes with her.
—Minamino and I were surely thinking the same thing.
"Um, you know..."
"Um..."
Both of us tried to start a conversation simultaneously, and both of us fell silent.
Neither Minamino nor I looked away.
—Neither of us could look away.
I glanced at Minamino's beautiful features once more.
Her neatly shaped eyebrows, long eyelashes that were noticeable even from a distance, large glistening eyes, well-proportioned nose, lips that captivated my gaze. All of them were positioned just right. Despite my brain struggling to come up with something to say, my body was drawing closer to Minamino in contradiction, my knees straightened as I stood up, and my hand, tentatively, reached out to her shoulder.
Minamino stiffened a bit, but instead of pulling away, her face came closer, her eyes closing.
—Bang. Thud.
Just when it felt like we were about to sense each other's breaths, the abrupt sound caused both of us to startle and jump up. That was close—what was I doing just now? No, more importantly, what was that sound?
"Eh? Could it be Mom? But she usually comes home much later."
"There was a loud sound just now, though? Err, is it okay if I go with you? I'm a bit worried, and I should greet your mother properly too."
As I said that, I shifted my focus, got up, and followed Minamino towards the entrance.
—————
(4/7)
Aaaahhhh! The cockblock!
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