Chapter 13 (Part 1) – Tempura
“Alright, next is shrimp!”
“Hey, you’ve only been eating shrimp this whole time! Have some mushrooms too.”
“I don’t want to! I don’t like mushrooms!”
At the tempura restaurant, while I was feeling uneasy about its upscale nature, Aoi-san and Chi-kun ordered with a familiar attitude, ignoring me.
Honestly, if you’re not going to eat them, give the mushrooms to me.
“Chi, how about sweet potatoes or pumpkins?”
“I like them! Miko-chan likes them too!”
Those words said so casually made my heart flutter!
“I like Chi-kun too.”
“Call me Chi or Chi-chan! Please!”
Uh-oh, I’m going to die from this cuteness!
I hope my nose isn’t bleeding!
So adorable~!
“What about me, Iwabuchi?”
“What about it?”
“… …”
Aoi-san hung her head, and Chi-kun patted her on the back.
“Aoi-san!”
“What?”
“Um, I have a favor to ask… um…”
“?”
“Well, you see, a kiss.”
“!”
“Order a tempura kiss.”
“A fish, seriously?!”
“Don’t make a scene in a place like this!”
As I was getting flustered, the server who had been serving me tempura started laughing. It’s Aoi-san’s fault.
“You don’t have to be scared, just ask directly, it’s okay.”
“I-I’m sorry… Well then, please give me tempura kiss and tempura shishito pepper.”
“Understood.”
Truly a high-class restaurant!
“Ao-chan… Miko-chan is cheating.”
“She makes that cute face for anyone who gives her delicious food!”
“Huh?”
“It’s unconscious!”
“The bad part of you is your lack of self-awareness!”
Ignoring that, I sprinkle a bit of coarse salt on the tempura kiss and tempura shishito pepper that have been served to me and take a bite.
“So delicious~! Thanks for bringing me here, Aoi-san!”
For now, I express my gratitude.
The two of them fall silent for a while.
It’s Chiha-kun who speaks first.
“Anyone would want to give her food.”
“I understand.”
Aoi-san smiles and gives me a playful look.
At that moment, I realize that the vibrating sound of my phone is coming from my bag.
I wanted to ignore it, but if it’s from a client, it could be important.
Reluctantly, I take out my phone.
The screen displays “Boss.”
I sighed and told Aoi-san before answering the call.
“Iwabuchi-kun! Help me! That, um, that thing, where is it?”
“First, calm down. What are you talking about?”
“The documents, um, um…”
“… … The boss is going on a business trip tomorrow, right? I’ll give you the locations in order: A, the third drawer of Boss A’s desk; B, the red file in Ishiyama’s desk; C, the blue file in Hayama’s desk; X, the file labeled ‘For Boss’ in my computer’s folder. By the way, I’ve put everything together and given it to Ishiyama-senpai.”
“Ishiyama’s not here! I’m going to kill him! Seriously, I’m going to punch him until he spits blood!”
“… … Please calm down. You have my permission to punch him. And while you’re at it, punch Hayama too.”
“Oh, and I heard you were confessed to in front of everyone? Are you dating?”
“If you’re saying that knowing how much trouble I’ve had with the Clumsy Brothers, I’ll punch the boss. Of course, I’ll punch him until he pukes blood.”
“I-I’m sorry… Ah, I’ve got all the files now.”
“A box of beef tongue would be a nice souvenir.”
“I’m not going to Sendai, you know?”
“I know. Bring back some beef tongue.”
“… … I’ll order it online.”
“Very well. Then, I’ll expect that. Have a good time.”
“… … I’m going… There’s actually one more thing I want to ask…”
“The list of gifts for your daughter’s birthday is in the top drawer of the boss’s desk. Please choose something on your own.”
“I asked Iwabuchi-kun because I got scolded after choosing on my own.”
“Don’t act tough!”
“Yes…”
“I’ll pray for your consideration.”
I say that and hang up the phone.