Chapter 11: Will You Rest at the Inn?

It came out of nowhere, on a quiet Friday night.

Earlier that day, I’d received a one-sided LIME message from Toudou, her words tinged with disappointment: “I can’t hang out after school… sorry.” It didn’t bother me much, but I could tell it weighed on her. A small, smug part of me couldn’t help but feel a flicker of satisfaction, though I didn’t have the energy to gloat. I sent back a simple sticker in response, letting the moment pass.

Then, as the evening settled in, my phone buzzed. A new LIME notification. The screen read, “You have a message from Mashiro.” The robotic simplicity of the alert didn’t capture the jolt it sent through me.

Mashiro: Hey, do you have time tomorrow? Or not?

I stared at the message, a wry thought crossing my mind. “This sounds like the opening to some kind of death game…”

Tomorrow was free, as always. Just another Saturday reserved for gaming, like every other week.

You: I’ve got time.

The message was marked as read instantly.

Mashiro: Yay! Then 10 AM tomorrow! I’ll be waiting at the cafe in front of the station! Here’s the address! See you there! You better come! I’ll be waiting!

“What the heck…?” I muttered, blinking at the screen.

So much about her message left me puzzled, but one thing stood out clearly: we were probably going to play games together.

＊

The next day greeted me with brilliantly clear skies.

I woke up strangely early, far earlier than my usual groggy roll out of bed. Normally, I’d just pull the covers over my head and sink back into sleep without a second thought, but today, even with my eyes closed, I couldn’t drift off. The cheerful chirping of sparrows filtered through the window, tugging me fully awake. With a sigh, I slid out of bed and flung the curtains open, letting the morning light spill in.

Today, I had plans to meet Toudou.

“Totally got this,” I muttered to myself, though the words felt hollow, like I was trying to convince someone who wasn’t listening.

A glance at the clock showed 5:30 AM. Way too early. Four and a half hours until our meetup, but better early than late and looking like a jerk. I shrugged off the thought and shuffled down the outdoor stairs to the first-floor bathroom.

Splashing lukewarm water on my face, I looked up at the mirror. My reflection stared back, sharp-eyed and grumpy as ever. If Toudou Mashiro stood next to this face, it’d be like a heroine beside an extra—or maybe the protagonist next to the culprit. Polar opposites, no matter how you sliced it.

Yet here I was, meeting her. Probably just to game together, but getting called out to a cafe felt… different… new even.

“Meeting at a cafe, huh…” I mumbled, the words lingering in the quiet.

It almost felt like we shared some kind of special connection. What if classmates spotted us and rumors started swirling?

“Nah, I’m overthinking it. Toudou was the one who invited me, after all.”

The me in the mirror, with those same sharp eyes, seemed to nod in agreement.

“Might as well practice smiling…” I said under my breath. If you can just act friendly, human relationships tend to work themselves out. I had normal friend stuff back in middle school, didn’t I? Time to channel that vibe.

A small smile. A bigger one. An affirming grin. A nod-and-agree sort of smirk—

“Uh, wh-what are you doing?”

A voice cut through from behind, and Akane’s face appeared in the mirror, small and curious.

“Nii-nii… why are you smiling like that…? If something’s bothering you, wanna talk about it…?”

I wished she’d just called me creepy and left it at that.

Clearing my throat, I tried to play it cool. “My dear sister, you’re up awfully early. Though, I guess I am too…”

“Nah, I’m just heading to bed now,” Akane yawned, rubbing her eyes like a sleepy cat. “From my side, you went to sleep super early for a Friday night, Nii-nii.”

Right. I shouldn’t expect normal hours from a gaming addict at a fancy girls’ school.

“Oh, yeah. I tried going to bed early, yep. No other reason…” I said, hoping to brush it off.

But Akane froze, her sleepy eyes snapping wide open, sharp as a stray cat spotting prey. “Wait, what’s with that reaction? You went to bed early on purpose to wake up early?”

“I didn’t say that. Definitely not.” I dodged, throwing in some exaggerated radio calisthenics moves for good measure.

My sharp-eyed sister wasn’t buying it. She stared at me like a black cat catching a glimpse of a ghost in the corner. “No way… you’re meeting a girl?”

I choked on my words, caught off guard.

Akane’s brows furrowed with worry. “Come on, Nii-nii, are you serious…?”

“I am serious…”

“But if that’s true, then it’s definitely…” She stepped closer, and I swallowed hard without thinking.

“Wh-what?”

Akane nodded, brimming with confidence. “Totally a honey trap. You’ll go anyway, so leave your money and ID at home.”

“Wha—”

“Nyahaha! Nii-nii’s so gullible!” Her serious expression flipped into a cackle as she sauntered toward the fridge, clearly relishing her chance to mock her big brother.

I glanced back at the mirror. A pathetic older sibling stared back at me.

“Uh, smile, smile…” I muttered, forcing another grin.

Just one high school guy, standing at the sink, trying to look less like a fool.

Following Google Maps, I found the cafe with ease, just a ten-minute walk northwest from Nanaho Station, right in the center of Nanaho City.

Five minutes before our agreed time, my phone chimed, “You have arrived at your destination.” The shop sat off the main street, tucked down a narrow side path. It caught good sunlight, giving off a warm, inviting vibe with its brick-style walls and four wooden-framed windows, though lace curtains kept the interior hidden from view.

Heading somewhere new for the first time always sets my nerves on edge. But time was ticking, so I pushed open the solid wooden door, the bell jingling softly as I stepped inside.

“Excuse me…” I said, peeking through the door’s gap.

Unlike a family restaurant where a server would’ve rushed over, no one greeted me here. The interior had a classic charm, all dark brown tones, with eight counter seats and three booth seats separated by partitions—or so I guessed, since the long, narrow layout hid the back from view at the entrance.

No customers at the counter. Had Toudou arrived?

“Welcome,” came a low, gravelly voice.

A middle-aged man, likely the owner, stood behind the counter. His stubble gave him a rugged look, but he wasn’t unkempt—more like a private detective from some noir film. Tall, dressed in a sharp black uniform that suited a cafe master, he glanced my way and, for reasons I couldn’t place, frowned briefly.

I nearly stepped back when a familiar voice called out, “Ah, over here!” From the farthest booth, Toudou peeked out, waving me over with a bright smile. Her silky hair, usually cascading freely, was tied back in a ponytail under a cap, the loose ends swaying lightly.

“Oh, yeah. Coming…” I replied, feeling a nervous twinge, like I was walking into a job interview. The master’s gaze lingered on me as I navigated the narrow aisle.

When I reached the booth, something struck me as odd.

Toudou’s eyes were blue.

“…?”

“Oh, these?” Toudou pointed to her eyes, a playful glint in them. I hadn’t even noticed the glasses at first—fake ones, as it turned out.

“I have a habit of disguising myself in private,” she said with a mischievous grin, letting out a soft “hehe.”

I stood there, struggling to find a response. Why were her eyes blue? It sounded cliché, but they sparkled like jewels, vivid and striking.

To me standing there frozen, Toudou said it like she knew the question.

“Why are you staring?”

“Ah, no, your eyes…” I stammered, gesturing vaguely.

Toudou pointed to them again, unfazed. “These? They’re my natural blue.”

For real? On top of her ash-blonde hair, she’d been hiding that too?

Shock loosened my tongue, and I blurted out, “Your eyes are pretty… like a game character’s…”

“Huh?” Toudou’s expression went blank, her eyes widening.

An old Western song played softly in the shop, its chorus filling the silence, but Toudou didn’t move. Then, like a power surge after a blackout, she burst into laughter. “Ahaha!”

Her face flushed bright red, and she clutched her sides as if she could barely breathe.

“Aren’t you laughing too much…?”

“No, s-sorry,” Toudou gasped, still catching her breath. “It’s just… the first time someone’s put it that way. It’s so you, Kuroki-kun.”

“Ah, I see…” I muttered, sensing the gap between us widen, like she’d effortlessly outclassed me. Deflated, I slid into the booth across from her.

Toudou said to me.

“I’m praising your expressiveness, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah,” I shot back, unconvinced. That’s definitely a lie.

She shrugged, her grin unshaken. “Well then, while we’re at it, try praising my casual clothes too.”

What kind of high-difficulty quest was that? I hesitated but couldn’t back down, so I leaned back slightly to take in her outfit as she angled herself to show it off. A black tank top layered under an oversized white shirt, paired with a short denim skirt. The black cap and black-rimmed glasses tied it all together.

I had no clue if her fashion sense was “good” or not, but it suited her perfectly. She looked like she’d stepped straight out of a magazine. Still, my vocabulary for fashion was nonexistent, and one word summed it up: stunning.

But honestly, her clothes barely registered. Those blue eyes, clear as a cloudless sky, stole every thought in my head.

Toudou’s expression softened, like she could see right through me. “Well, rather than praising my clothes, you’re more interested in my eye color, right? This is natural. Same as my hair.”

“Unlike your hair, you’re hiding it, huh?” I pointed out. At school, her eyes were always black.

She pursed her lips, a faint frown crossing her face. “I wear colored contacts. Blue eyes would be fine, but people would gossip or assume I’m wearing contacts anyway… It’s such a hassle. Having to explain ‘this is its natural color’ to everyone just feels… wrong.”

I nodded, understanding the weight of her words. “It might make you feel like you’re being denied.”

Toudou’s face lit up, her cheeks softening into a delighted smile. “Exactly! As expected from Kuroki-kun. You’re the comrade I had my eye on.”

“Sounds like a lot of trouble,” I said, half-teasing.

“Hmm. I’ve been wearing them since elementary school, so I’m used to it now.”

Even so, those eyes were unreal, captivating in a way that made it hard to look away. I could’ve stared at them forever.

“Hey! Why are you getting closer bit by bit? That’s scary!”

I froze, realizing I’d been leaning forward, my hips half-lifted from the seat. “Sorry…” I mumbled, straightening up and settling back down, my usual apology slipping out.

A voice interrupted from above. “May I take your order?”

I looked up to find the middle-aged cafe master looming over us, his gaze sharp, almost like he was glaring at me. My eyes darted to Toudou, a silent plea for help. She, however, seemed completely unfazed by his intimidating presence, as if she was used to it.

Abruptly, Toudou pointed at him, her expression bright and unbothered.

“Don’t worry, Kuroki-kun. This guy’s seen me naked before. We’re like that. Not in a weird way, though.”

“N-naked!?”

He didn’t flinch or scowl, his expression steady, while Toudou’s smug look only grew. My face, of course, was the only one burning bright red.

The man let out a small sigh, shaking his head. “Don’t say things that could be misunderstood. What if there were other customers? They’d call the police.”

“We are customers. We could call the police too.”

“A niece isn’t a customer. She’s family.”

“There’s someone else here, though.”

“A niece’s boyfriend isn’t a customer either.”

Toudou’s composure cracked. She slapped the table, her voice rising in a fluster. “He’s not my boyfriend! He’s my gaming buddy!”

“Gaming?” The man’s brows furrowed, his tone skeptical.

I tilted my head, echoing his confusion. “Niece…?”

Their gazes snapped to me, their faces now side by side. For a moment, I noticed it—their eyes, sharp and strikingly similar, glinting in the dim cafe light.

I ventured cautiously, piecing it together. “So, this place is your uncle’s shop, Toudou?”

“That’s right, This guy’s my mom’s little brother. The uncle who saw me naked when I was little.” Toudou said while glancing down at the menu.

The master—her uncle—didn’t miss a beat, his tone steady. “What are you blabbering about, kid? Back when I was jobless, I had to babysit you. Don’t forget the favor I did washing your pants when you wet yourself.”

“H-hey!?” Toudou’s head whipped between us, her face a mix of anger and fluster. “What are you saying!? I didn’t wet myself, okay? I didn’t, Kuroki-kun!”

Her uncle’s lips twitched upward, a faint, amused smirk breaking through. “What, what? Such an innocent reaction.”

Toudou pursed her lips, her expression turning almost childish. “Shut up!”

“So, miss, your order?”

“The cafe latte cake set!. That’s okay with you too, right, Kuroki-kun?”

“Ah, yeah…” I mumbled, too caught off guard to even glance at the menu.

“Understood. Take your time,” her uncle said, flashing a businesslike smile my way. But his eyes were sharp, sizing me up.

I leaned toward Toudou, lowering my voice. “H-hey… did we make too much noise? Is your uncle mad…?”

Toudou’s voice carried, unbothered. “Huh? That’s just how he always is. Probably lost at gambling again, right? No talent for it!”

A gruff voice called from the counter. “I can hear you.”

“I said it so you could hear.”

“No cuteness at all,” her uncle retorted. “I thought you brought your boyfriend, and this is your attitude? Get dumped already.”

“He’s not my boyfriend! I said that earlier!”

She shot up from her seat, her retort sharp, but the table jolted with a loud bang. She’d smacked her thigh against the corner. “Kuh…”

A flicker of pain crossed her face, but she stayed half-standing, waving a hand at me. “Kuroki-kun, say something too! We’re not dating, right?”

The once-quiet cafe interior buzzed with the sudden commotion. My thoughts scrambled, unable to keep up. The noise was part of it, sure, but the real issue was visual. Her thighs were right there, inches from my eyes. Her skirt, tugged up slightly from standing so forcefully, made it impossible to focus on anything else.

“…Toudou, you should sit down.”

“Huh? What?”

“Just sit down anyway.”

“Huh, all of a sudden? what?” Her voice pitched higher, still not catching on.

I flicked my gaze downward, subtle but pointed. “Your skirt is, uh, kinda shifted.”

“Huh? Ah—ah!”

The table jolted with another loud bang as Toudou dropped back into her seat, her face flushing. “Y-you didn’t see anything, right? I check angles like that objectively all the time. I got photographed upskirt once, so my defenses are perfect. So you didn’t see!”

“Of course I didn’t. So calm down.”

Her panic only made it seem like I’d seen something I hadn’t. Toudou turned her head away, muttering as if trying to brush it off. “I am calm? I’m quite calm?”

What was with that tone? She seemed off, somehow younger than usual, less guarded than the Toudou I knew from school. That’s when it hit me—she really did put up a front in class, hiding this freer, more open side of herself. The realization settled in, and I nodded to myself.

“Why are you nodding, Kuroki-kun?”

“Nah, just thinking you have it tough too, Toudou.”

“Somehow it feels like you’re looking down on me… Even though my birthday’s earlier.”

Since Toudou pursed her lips, I denied it. “Not at all. I’m always the one getting looked down on.”

“I don’t think that’s something to say so confidently…”

Without thinking, I pulled out my smartphone, sensing it was about time to game. Toudou mirrored me, pulling out hers as well. This was our rhythm—banter, then gaming. Same as always, even here in this cafe. For some reason, that familiarity made me feel a quiet pride, like I’d cracked a piece of the Toudou puzzle.

I let out a smug “fufun,” my breath puffing through my nose. Toudou shot me a suspicious look, but I just shrugged. No way I’d explain that.

We faced each other, smartphones in hand, the game already loading. In this unfamiliar place, without a word, we were about to dive into the same virtual world. Here, no matter where we were, we were equals.

I couldn’t deny that I felt inferior to Toudou sometimes. In the classroom, the gap between us was obvious—her effortless charm, her presence. But in front of a game, we stood shoulder to shoulder, caught up in the same thrill.

Toudou flashed me that mischievous smile, the one she saved for gaming. “Alright, let’s get back on track—first, let’s game, Kuroki-kun.”

Then, with a natural wink straight out of some drama, she caught me off guard. Those blue eyes locked onto mine, gripping my heart in a way I couldn’t shake.

Oi, oi, Kuroki You

Weren’t we equals?

Or is some other kind of relationship about to start— nah, no way that’s happening.

After that, we stayed in the cafe until sunset, lost in our game.