Chapter 5 | “Meeting a Tearful Blonde Beauty”
“—Ahn, munch munch!”
Roughly thirty minutes after Sophia-san finished her meal, I was feeding Emma-chan, who had just woken up.
“Is it tasty?”
“Mmm…!”
It’s just reheated, but Emma-chan is gobbling it up with a happy face.
Charl’s cooking is so good, even warmed up—it’s honestly mind-blowing.
As I kept feeding her—
“We’re going out to play…!?”
When I mentioned we’d head out after brushing her teeth well, Emma-chan’s excitement went through the roof.
She probably thought “going out” meant playtime.
Well, it’ll likely be fun, so it’s no big deal.
“Emma-chan, do a banzai!”
“Banzai!”
Just as I asked, Emma-chan threw both hands up in a banzai pose.
While she did, I slipped a cat-ear hoodie over her head.
“Kitty?”
“Yup, kitty clothes!”
“Mmm!”
Spotting the cat ears on the hood, Emma-chan nodded, clearly pleased.
For her, anything with cat ears is an instant win.
“Alright, ready to go?”
“Carry…!”
As we prepared to leave, Emma-chan spread her arms wide.
True to form, she’s always angling for a piggyback ride.
“Today, we’ll do that outside.”
If I carry Emma-chan now, no one’s here to lock the house, so we need to step outside first.
“Mmm…!”
I expected her to pout, but Emma-chan nodded like she got it.
She’s seen Charl lock the door before, so she might’ve figured out no one else is around to do it.
Since we’re heading out, I slipped on my glasses.
“Ooh?”
Watching me, Emma-chan tilted her head, curious.
She’s probably not used to seeing me with glasses.
“What do you think?”
“Mmm, cool…!”
Seems Emma-chan’s a fan too.
“Emma-chan, let’s get your hood up.”
I tugged the hood over her head.
“Nya…!”
Curling her hands like little paws, Emma-chan peered up at me.
With the cat-ear hood on, she’s definitely playing kitty.
“A real kitty, huh? Alright, let’s head out.”
“Mmm…!”
Emma-chan grabbed my hand with her tiny one.
It’s her go-to move—if she can’t be carried, she holds hands.
We stepped outside and locked the house.
And then—
“Mmm…!”
Like she’d been waiting for it, Emma-chan spread her arms wide.
I crouched down, wrapped my arms around her snugly, and hoisted her up.
“—Train…!”
At the station, Emma-chan’s face lit up when she saw the familiar building.
“Yup, that’s the train!”
“Ride…!?”
She must be itching to hop on.
Her eyes sparkled with hope as she asked.
“Yeah, wanna charge the card?”
“Not buy a ticket…?”
Charl always buys tickets, so Emma-chan probably expected the same.
When she saw I wasn’t going to, she gave me a disappointed look.
Emma-chan’s only five, so she doesn’t need a ticket, and I use an IC card, so I don’t either, but…
“Want a ticket?”
“Mmm…!”
Emma-chan nodded enthusiastically.
It’s just a small hassle, so no problem.
“Alright, let’s get a ticket.”
“Emma buy…!”
She wanted to buy it herself.
It’s a chance to learn, so I decided to show her how.
“The station names and prices are up there. Find the price for the station you want, then press that number’s button.”
I pointed at the price board by the ticket machine as I explained.
“…Can’t read.”
But Emma-chan, who can’t read Japanese, puffed out her cheeks, clearly annoyed.
I knew that, but I want her to remember for when she can read later.
“Today, we’re getting this one—”
I told her the price, and Emma-chan pressed the button.
“…♪”
She grabbed the ticket that popped out, clearly delighted.
Naturally, she insisted on putting it through the gate herself too.
“Train coming?”
On the platform, Emma-chan stared hard in the direction the train would come from.
She’s sharp, so she probably remembers which side the Okayama Station train arrives on.
“It’ll be here soon.”
“Hurry…!”
Eager to ride, Emma-chan rocked back and forth impatiently.
“It’s dangerous, so don’t wiggle, okay?”
“Mmm.”
When I warned her, she settled down right away.
Since she was being good, I patted her head as we waited for the train.
“—It’s here…!”
When the announcement played and the train came into sight, Emma-chan’s eyes gleamed.
It’s the countryside, so the train was nearly empty at this hour, with plenty of open seats.
“Wanna sit by the window?”
“Mmm…!”
I checked, and when Emma-chan nodded, I set her by the window in a two-person seat.
I sat beside her, but—
“…”
She puffed out her cheeks, staring up at me without a word.
Apparently, she wasn’t thrilled about being put down.
“Wanna sit on my lap?”
“Mmm…!”
Emma-chan nodded eagerly and scrambled onto my lap.
So I held her tight and slid over to the window side.
“Like looking at the scenery, Emma-chan?”
“Mmm, love it…!”
No wonder she’s glued to the window.
Next time, I’ll take her somewhere with stunning views.
Calmed by Emma-chan’s excitement, I headed toward Okayama Station.
◆◆◆
“—Thank you for coming today. Please pass my regards to Himeragi-sama as well.”
As I left the shop, a woman who introduced herself as the manager bowed with a warm smile.
Apparently, this place is run by a friend of Kanon-san’s family, and they were super helpful.
Thanks to that, I found something with a great design that fit my budget.
Well, my part-time job money wasn’t quite enough, so I had to dip into my savings.
Since I couldn’t buy it right before Charl’s birthday to keep it a surprise, it couldn’t be helped.
I’ll save up again with my next part-time paycheck.
“No, thank you. Your advice helped me pick something perfect.”
“Oh, I was just doing my job. I’m sure your girlfriend will love what you chose.”
“Yeah, I think so too. Thank you so much.”
I bowed and stepped out of the shop.
It’s rare to see such a mature student these days… No wonder the owner’s got their eye on him… Still, selling a natural fancy vivid pink diamond, even a 0.3-carat one, at that price… Well, it’s the owner’s call, so what can I do… Time to put the price tags back and reopen.
I thought I heard the manager muttering behind me, but when I glanced back, she was heading inside, so I must’ve imagined it.
“Where next?”
Emma-chan, totally uninterested in jewelry, tilted her head and asked.
She’s probably bored from being dragged along.
“Hungry?”
“I’m okay.”
When I checked on her stomach, Emma-chan shook her head.
Well, it hasn’t been long since she ate, so that tracks.
My errand’s done, but taking her straight home after bringing her out feels a bit unfair to Emma-chan.
Something she’d like might be—
“Wanna look at soccer balls?”
“Yes…!”
I remembered a sports shop in a big mall near Okayama Station, and when I asked, Emma-chan’s eyes sparkled.
She’s crazy about soccer, so of course she’s pumped.
“Alright, let’s go check it out.”
“Mmm…!”
We started toward the big shopping mall.
On the way—
“““Ah!”“”
I bumped into two familiar faces.
“Whoa, Aoyagi-kun! What’s with the glasses?”
Maybe because we’re out in town, the trendy Shimizu-san asked with a surprised look.
“Senpai in glasses… looks good…”
For some reason, Kousaka-san, who was with her, stared at my face dreamily, her cheeks a little pink.
What an odd pair.
“Well, they’re kinda… for protection?”
“Oh, right. You’re pretty famous now, huh?”
Shimizu-san elbowed—no, more like jabbed—Kousaka-san beside her while flashing a grin.
“What was that for…!”
Of course, Kousaka-san, caught off guard, shot her a glare.
“You’re making eyes at a guy who’s already taken.”
“Tch, that’s not true…! You’re making it up!”
“How is it not? It’s painfully obvious…!”
The two squared off, practically sparking with tension.
They bicker constantly at school, but they hang out a lot too.
It feels like playful teasing, so they’re probably pretty close.
They say the more you argue, the tighter the bond, right?
But… Emma-chan, who hates loud noises, is getting fussy in my arms, so I should probably escape soon.
“Hey, you two. Stop fighting—people are staring.”
Their arguing is definitely bothering Emma-chan, so I tried to cool things down.
“The gyaru started it…!”
“I told you to quit calling me that…! I’m only here because I felt bad you don’t have any friends…!”
Oh no, that’s a sore spot for Kousaka-san…
“—Tch! You’re the one who dragged me out when I didn’t even ask…!”
Kousaka-san, touchy about her lack of friends, flushed and snapped back.
Sounds like Shimizu-san invited her this time.
Well, Kousaka-san’s surprisingly shy despite how she acts, so unless someone pulls her out, she doesn’t go anywhere… Maybe this is just what she needs.
“You replied in like two seconds, all excited!”
“Don’t exaggerate! I wasn’t excited, and you can’t tell from texts anyway…!”
Hmm, she’s not denying the quick reply.
I can totally see Kousaka-san’s face lighting up as she jumps at the invite.
“God, you’re so not honest…!”
“I am honest…!”
Okay, this is getting messy.
They’re just getting more heated.
Shimizu-san usually brushes off jabs, but maybe because their relationship started rocky, she always takes the bait with Kousaka-san.
Still, it feels more like she’s handling a little sister than a kouhai.
Maybe she sees Kousaka-san as a high-maintenance imouto?
“Honest is someone like Charlotte-san or Shinonome-san…!”
“That’s mean…! Akihito-senpai, say something to her…!”
Kousaka-san tried to drag me into her corner.
Honestly, her “honesty” is questionable.
She’s polite and listens to me and Charl, but she’s sharp with Akira and Shimizu-san, teases them, ignores their advice, and talks smack—yet it doesn’t seem like she actually hates them.
If anything, she seems to enjoy the banter.
It often feels like she’s just messing around.
That doesn’t exactly scream “honest.”
Not like Charl or Karin, at least.
“You two seem to be having a blast.”
“““How!?”“”
When I said what I thought, they both snapped back in sync.
Yeah, they’re totally close, aren’t they?
Even with all this arguing, neither of them walks away.
“What’re you two doing next?”
“Ignoring us…”
“Akihito-senpai, you’ve got that side, huh…”
They looked miffed that I dodged their drama.
Yup, their attention’s on me now—mission accomplished.
“So, what’s the plan?”
“Ha… Just wandering, checking out shops.”
Shimizu-san let out a dramatic sigh but shared their plans.
Probably window shopping.
“It’s rare to see you without Charlotte-senpai, Akihito-senpai. And that kid is…”
Curious about the child in my arms, Kousaka-san leaned in for a closer look.
But Emma-chan had already buried her face in my chest.
The noise must’ve upset her, so she’s probably sulking or napping.
“She’s Charl’s little sister.”
“Oh, that’s her…! I didn’t recognize her with the hood.”
“Wait, you’ve met her?”
“Met’s a bit much… but sorta. Plus, she was a hot topic at the sports festival, so I know of her.”
Oh yeah, we brought her to the sports festival.
A cute kid like her at the student tent would obviously make waves.
With Charl’s sister, the hair color’s a dead giveaway.
“Is she asleep?”
Wanting to see her face, Kousaka-san stepped beside me and peeked into my arms.
Her arm brushed mine, and her face was close, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“Hey!”
“Eek!?”
When Shimizu-san poked Kousaka-san’s sides from behind, she yelped and jumped.
She froze, hands curled like cat paws in front of her chest.
“W-w-what was that…!?”
Snapping out of it, she spun around to Shimizu-san, her face beet red.
“‘What’!? You’re so sneaky, no shame at all.”
“What’s that supposed to mean!?”
“Exactly what I said. Acting all innocent while cozying up—sneaky move.”
“Wha—!?”
Shimizu-san’s jab landed, and Kousaka-san froze again.
“N-no, that’s not it…! You’re making stuff up!”
As expected, she hadn’t noticed and started denying it in a panic.
Yeah, I kinda figured, but are they bickering because I’m here?
Without a third party, Kousaka-san might be more open with Shimizu-san.
—So, I decided to slip away while they were at it.
“Akihito-senpai, tell this mean gyaru—huh, senpai…?”
“He ditched you while you were busy making excuses.”
“Abandoned!?”
I heard Kousaka-san’s shocked voice behind me, but going back would just start it all over, so I kept walking.
“That aside, what now…?”
Despite all that noise, Emma-chan’s fast asleep.
She’s got a knack for tuning out stuff she doesn’t like.
Thanks to that, I’ll have a grumpy Emma-chan to deal with when she wakes up.
Which means I’ll need to cheer her up.
“For now, I’ll wake her at the mall—”
“—Waaah, what do I do!? Someone help!”
“English…?”
A sudden cry in English cut through the air.
Looking over, I saw a girl with fluffy, natural blonde hair tied in twin tails, sobbing.
Her hair was knotted into buns at the ties.
She looked about my age, maybe?
“What’s wrong?”
I couldn’t ignore her crying and called out.
“English!? You speak English!?”
Noticing me, the girl snapped her head up and leaned in close.
Wide, sky-blue eyes, crystal clear.
A sharp nose and skin so pale it seemed almost translucent.
She was a breathtakingly beautiful foreign girl, with features that’d stop anyone in their tracks.
She seemed about my age.
…That said, her face is way too close…?
“Uh, well, I can manage everyday conversation…”
This vibe—does she not speak Japanese?
“Help…! I dropped my phone…!”
“I see… Tell me more.”
Realizing why she was crying, I listened calmly.
Apparently, she came to meet a close friend living in Japan but lost her phone.
She noticed after entering the mall, but she had it at Okayama Station, so it must’ve been dropped somewhere between there and here.
She doesn’t speak Japanese, relying solely on her phone to communicate, so she’s lost without it.
“Any guesses where it could be?”
“Sniff… I searched everywhere, but it’s gone…”
Then someone probably picked it up.
“Where’s the last place you remember using it?”
She recalls having it at the station, so she likely used it there.
We’ll need to retrace her steps from that point.
“…”
For some reason, she averted her gaze.
Is she hiding something she feels guilty about?
“What’s wrong?”
“Um… do I really have to say…?”
Her cheeks flushed faintly, she glanced up at me.
Is it something difficult to admit?
“Any clues would help…”
“Right…”
She nodded reluctantly, fidgeting as she pressed her index fingers together.
Her embarrassment is obvious, so perhaps—
“Um… the bathroom…”
In a voice barely above a whisper, she revealed where she last used it.
It confirmed my suspicion, and I instantly regretted asking something so awkward.
No wonder she was so embarrassed.
“Sorry…”
“No, it’s fine…”
An uncomfortable silence settled between us.
I never expected to share such an awkward moment with a stranger.
“Shall we head back there for now?”
I can’t go in, of course, but she can check.
We’ll search step by step from there.
“But I already looked there…?”
“Let’s start there and retrace your steps together.”
She might have missed something after checking only once.
Panicking probably made it more likely.
“Okay, I understand… Thanks.”
“No worries—it’s about helping each other, right?”
Fortunately, Emma-chan’s asleep, so spending time searching for the phone isn’t a problem.
As we headed back to the station—
“Oh, we haven’t introduced ourselves. I’m Olivia Kenny. Call me Livi.”
Perhaps because she’s foreign, she’s incredibly friendly.
Traveling to Japan just for a friend—she must have plenty of them.
“I’m Akihito Aoyagi. Nice to meet you.”
“Akihito…”
For some reason, her eyes widened when she heard my name.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, it’s just… it’s the same name as a friend’s, so I thought it was a funny coincidence.”
So she has Japanese friends too.
It’s not a terribly common name, but coincidences do happen.
“That’s surprising, huh? Are you visiting that friend too?”
“Friend… well, sort of. Meeting him is one reason I came to Japan.”
She must cherish her friendships deeply.
“You seem like you have tons of friends, Livi.”
“Haha, Livi’s a nickname, so just use that. I’ll call you Akihito too.”
I’m not keen on calling girls by their first names, but… a nickname’s okay, I suppose.
“Besides, we’re around the same age, right? You can be more relaxed.”
She’s bold about closing the distance between people.
Not only does she avoid making you uneasy, she slides into your space with a comforting aura—she’s a master of communication.
I wish she could teach that skill to Karin or Kousaka-san.
“Alright, I’ll take you up on that. How long are you staying in Japan, Livi?”
“Hmm, about two weeks?”
“That’s quite a while.”
I assumed it’d be a few days—does she have other plans?
I’d love to introduce her to Karin as a friend, but with the language barrier, that’d be tricky.
“School’s on a long break, so I planned to sightsee in Japan. Well, losing my phone put that on hold.”
Livi’s gaze drifted, and her shoulders slumped.
Losing her means of contacting friends and her translation tool—it’s no wonder she’s down.
“So I was lucky to run into you, Akihito. I was on the verge of tears since no one understood English.”
On the verge? She was already crying…
I kept that to myself, though.
“Well, unlike Tokyo or Osaka, there aren’t as many foreigners here, so fewer people might speak English.”
In tourist-heavy areas, shop staff likely know some English, but Okayama probably has fewer.
…Hold on.
“By the way, did you ask the station staff if they received any lost items?”
“Huh?”
When I voiced the thought that struck me, she tilted her head in confusion.
Oh no, don’t tell me…
“You didn’t ask, did you?”
“Haha… I was so freaked out, I just ran around searching…”
Just as I suspected.
There’s likely at least one or two station staff who speak English.
It struck me as odd that she said no one understood her at all.
“You mentioned checking the bathroom, so let’s ask the staff first.”
And when we did—
“It’s here!”
A kind soul had turned Livi’s phone in to the station staff.
“Thank you, Akihito!”
“Whoa, hold on!?”
She suddenly threw her arms around me from the side, and I froze in shock.
“Thank you so much! I thought I was doomed!”
“Haha… glad it worked out. Can you let go now?”
Even though I’m used to Charl’s affection, I’m not immune to girls in general.
Knowing Livi means nothing by it, I still felt my face heat up.
Plus, it’d be trouble if someone saw this.
“Okay, okay, here’s my thanks—chu.”
A soft, warm sensation brushed my cheek out of nowhere.
It took only a moment to realize what it was.
“What was that!?”
“Haha, your face is so red! Not used to this, are you?”
As I leaped back, Livi laughed with pure delight.
There’s friendly, and then there’s this…!
“You can’t just do that in Japan…!”
“Sorry, sorry. But I don’t do that with just anyone, you know? You’re the first guy I’ve ever done it to.”
“Then why me…!?”
“I told you, it’s my thanks!”
If she casually does this as thanks, I won’t survive in more ways than one.
“Just… please don’t do it again…”
“Alright, alright, you’re so shy, Akihito~”
I seriously doubt she understands, given how lightly she brushed it off.
She’s grinning at my flustered face, so she probably doesn’t.
“Hey, have you eaten lunch yet?”
Overjoyed to have her phone back, Livi leaned in close again.
Too close…
“No, not yet…”
I took a step back and shook my head.
“Then let’s eat together! My treat, as thanks!”
She closed the gap again with ease.
This girl’s relentless…!
“You already thanked me…”
“Come on, show me a good spot!”
I tried to refuse, knowing it’s risky to hang out with someone so touchy, but she grabbed my sleeve.
It was like she was saying, You’re not escaping.
“I don’t live around here, so I don’t know many places…”
“Then we’ll find one! Ramen, let’s eat ramen!”
Yup, she’s beyond persistent.
She’s definitely the type who won’t back off until you agree.
And when she mentioned “ramen”—
“Ramen!?”
Emma-chan, who’d been napping in my arms, snapped awake.
Our chatter must’ve lightened her sleep, but her obsession with food is unreal.
She jerked her head up so fast her hood slipped off.
“Huh…?”
Seeing Emma-chan’s hair and face, Livi’s eyes widened, realizing she’s not Japanese.
“…”
Livi gazed at Emma-chan thoughtfully.
Emma-chan, puzzled, tilted her head, blinking back at her.
But—
“Onii-chan, eat ramen?”
More interested in ramen than Livi, she turned to me, tilting her head again.
I gently pulled her hood back up and smiled.
“You want to eat some too, Emma-chan?”
“Mmm…!”
She must adore ramen, nodding eagerly.
Her stomach shouldn’t be empty yet, but maybe ramen has its own special stomach.
Guess we’re eating ramen now.
I doubt I can shake Livi off anyway…
Livi, looking curious, placed a hand to her mouth and stared at me.
“Uh, what…?”
“That kid’s not your sister, is she…?”
She’s clearly intrigued by Emma-chan.
Fair enough.
Anyone would question a kid who looks nothing like me.
No choice… I don’t want strange misunderstandings, so I’ll be upfront.
“She’s my girlfriend’s little sister. I’m watching her today.”
“…I knew it… What a manga-like coincidence…”
Hearing me, Livi murmured something under her breath.
“Sorry, what was that? I didn’t hear.”
“Oh, nothing! Anyway, Emma wants ramen too, so let’s go!”
When I asked, she waved it off with a smile.
What did she mutter?
Well, she’s smiling, so it’s probably fine.
Even though I only mentioned Emma-chan’s name once, she used it so naturally—her social skills are incredible.
“Onii-chan, ramen…!”
“Come on, she’s excited! Let’s move!”
Livi nudged my back, her voice bright and cheerful.
“Hey, I’ll go, no need to push…!”
“Haha, I thought today was going to be awful, but it’s turned out amazing!”
“Why are you suddenly so pumped!?”
“Just come on!”
I don’t get it, but brimming with inexplicable energy, Livi urged me forward as we left the station.
◆◆◆
“—Wow, this place is popular?”
We arrived at a Tokushima ramen shop my classmates always rave about, and Livi looked up at the sign with a grin.
Honestly, a student hangout means I might bump into someone I know, so I hesitated—but Emma-chan loves ramen.
If I took her to an unfamiliar place and she didn’t like it, she might swear off ramen, so I chose a well-known spot.
“—Emma push…!”
At the ticket machine for ordering ramen, Emma-chan insisted on pressing the buttons.
So I inserted the money and let her select my portion and hers.
Livi offered to cover the cost, but I politely declined.
“Wait, Emma’s eating a full portion?”
“She doesn’t usually eat much, but she can handle a whole bowl of ramen.”
“Wow, ramen’s just that good, huh? Emma, wanna press mine too?”
Inserting her money, Livi smiled at Emma-chan.
But—
“No.”
Emma-chan turned away, uninterested.
Seems she only wanted to press for us.
“Haha, same as ever…”
“Huh?”
Livi let slip an odd comment, and I stared at her.
“Oh, no, nothing.”
She brushed it off with a smile.
Did I mishear…?
I could’ve sworn she said “same as ever”…
“Alright, let’s find a seat—”
“—Oh, there’s a spot.”
As Livi pointed to an empty table, the shop’s door swung open, and two girls walked in.
—Yup, Shimizu-san and Kousaka-san.
“““…”“”
Shimizu-san fixed me with a radiant smile, while Kousaka-san scowled, clearly displeased.
I froze, at a loss for words.
This timing—they were definitely tailing me.
“What’s up, Akihito? Let’s sit!”
Oblivious to the tension, Livi tugged my sleeve, looking puzzled.
I should probably explain, right…?
But Shimizu-san’s smile is so terrifying, I can’t find my voice.
“What’s wrong, mister? Your friend wants to sit.”
Shimizu-san spoke as if we were strangers.
She’s pretending not to know me.
That politeness is what makes it so scary.
“Onii-chan, hurry…!”
“Uh, yeah…”
Spurred by Emma-chan, I reluctantly took a seat.
I’ll figure out how to handle this before we leave.
Since I don’t know how much they saw, lying could backfire.
It’d make it look like I’m hiding something.
Better to be clear that I have no ulterior motives.
“““…”“”
They sat a short distance away but kept their eyes locked on us.
I felt like I was clinging to life.
“—Akihito, you okay? You’re sweating buckets.”
I hadn’t noticed the sweat, but Livi wiped it away with an unused wet towel.
She’s pushy, but she means well.
Unfortunately, that only sharpened the glares from the two girls in the distance.
Since she did it out of kindness, I can’t scold her…
“Emma wipe…!”
For some reason, Emma-chan got competitive.
She probably just wanted to join in.
“She’s your girlfriend’s sister, but she’s really attached to you, huh?”
Watching Emma-chan mimic her by wiping my sweat, Livi asked with curiosity.
“Probably because we spend a lot of time together.”
“Hmm?”
She didn’t seem entirely convinced.
But I don’t need to spill every detail.
“Hey, is your girlfriend cute?”
Now her curiosity shifted to my girlfriend.
“Yeah, super cute. Calling her too cute wouldn’t be an overstatement.”
To me, no girl outshines Charl.
Emma-chan’s in a different category, naturally.
“Ooh, bold claim! Got a picture?”
“I do, but I can’t show it.”
I can’t share Charl’s face without her permission.
“Stingy~ Then tell me what she’s like!”
“Why?”
“I’m curious! If she’s your girlfriend, I bet we’d hit it off!”
That’s probably how Livi builds her friendships.
Introducing a girl to Charl could be risky, but having a friend her age who speaks her native language might be good for her.
Even if her Japanese is fluent, constantly speaking a foreign language could be taxing, and this might ease that.
“In short, she’s polite, elegant, kind to everyone, incredibly cute, and a bit clingy.”
I don’t usually talk about this with others, but the words flowed effortlessly.
Probably because I think about it all the time.
“You’re shy but talk about your girlfriend so openly?”
Livi tilted her head with a teasing grin.
She’s poking fun at me.
“Just stating the truth.”
“Wow, so confident. I like that about you.”
Suddenly, her teasing softened into a gentle smile as she gazed at me.
The playful vibe vanished, so maybe she was testing me.
Why she’d test me, I have no idea.
“She must feel secure with a boyfriend who praises her like that.”
“Maybe? Though I do make her jealous a lot.”
“Like right now, eating ramen with another girl?”
Livi tilted her head playfully again.
I’m starting to think the earlier bit wasn’t a test—this is just how she is.
“Who’s the culprit here…?”
Thanks to her, I’m getting icy stares from two people as we speak…
“Haha, sorry, sorry. I just wanted to chat more.”
Hearing that doesn’t feel bad at all.
Her intentions are hard to pin down, but her friendliness shines through clearly.
Of course, it’s not romantic, which makes it easier.
“Sorry for the wait—”
As we talked, the ramen arrived.
Since a young child was eating, they provided a small bowl and a kid’s fork.
“It’ll get soggy, so let’s dig in.”
“Yup.”
After Livi nodded, I glanced at Emma-chan.
Her eyes sparkled as she stared at the ramen, squirming with excitement.
“I’ll put some in your bowl, so wait a sec.”
I transferred noodles and broth into her small bowl.
“Here you go. It’s hot, so eat slowly, okay?”
“Mmm, thanks…!”
Emma-chan grabbed the bowl eagerly and dove in with her fork.
“Foo! Foo!”
She blew on the noodles carefully.
She knows how to handle hot food properly.
“Yummy…!”
As she ate the noodles, Emma-chan’s cheeks softened with joy.
It’s completely different from the tomato ramen she had before, but she loves this too.
“Mmm, ramen’s just the best, right? I swore I’d eat it when I came to Japan!”
Livi ate with delight, her cheeks softening as well.
She must be a ramen fan too.
Taste-wise, I chose the right shop.
…Though Shimizu-san and Kousaka-san would’ve followed us anywhere…
“Can I add these spicy-looking bean sprouts?”
Pointing to a pile of chili-mixed bean sprouts on the table, Livi asked.
“Yeah, those are fine.”
My classmates say everyone adds those spicy bean sprouts—it’s like a free side dish, tasty like namul.
“Alright, I’ll give it a try.”
Livi sprinkled some into her ramen.
“…”
Emma-chan watched her intently, curious.
“Wanna try some, Emma?”
Noticing her stare, Livi held out the bean sprout container.
But—
“Mmm, no.”
Emma-chan shook her head.
“She probably won’t eat it since it looks spicy.”
Young Emma-chan isn’t fond of spicy food.
Seeing something red, she assumes it’s spicy and steers clear.
“Too bad. You adding some, Akihito?”
“Yeah, I’ll take some. Thanks.”
I took the container and added a small amount to my ramen.
“…”
Emma-chan stared again, her curiosity piqued.
Seeing others eat it must make her wonder.
“Wanna try just one?”
I placed a single sprout on a small plate.
Emma-chan glanced between it and my face, then nodded.
And—
“Spicy…!”
—As expected, it was too spicy for her.
“Drink some water.”
“Mmm…!”
I handed her a cup, and she gulped it down quickly.
It must’ve really stung.
I tried one, and while it has a slight kick, it’s not overly spicy.
Kids must perceive it differently.
“…”
Emma-chan returned to her ramen in silence.
She’s probably sworn off the sprouts.
“—Mmm…!”
Finishing her bowl, she held it out to me.
She’s asking for more.
“Here you go.”
I added more noodles, just like before, and handed it back.
I noticed her mouth was messy with broth.
“Emma-chan, shall I wipe your mouth?”
“Mmm…!”
She paused and leaned forward.
Using a tissue, I gently cleaned her mouth.
“All clean!”
“Thanks…!”
Thanking me, Emma-chan dove back into her ramen with gusto.
Watching her warmed my heart.
“…Man, you’re too perfect…”
Livi, who’d been observing quietly, muttered something.
“Did you say something?”
“Are you always like that, Akihito?”
When I asked, she responded with a question.
“Like what?”
“Always playing the doting dad like that?”
How does this look through her eyes?
“Pretty much, yeah.”
“Mmm, Onii-chan’s nice…!”
When I replied, Emma-chan, who’d ignored our conversation until now, nodded proudly.
“Got it, that’s awesome.”
“Mmm…!”
When Livi smiled at her, Emma-chan nodded enthusiastically again.
Since Emma-chan was distant with her earlier, I thought they wouldn’t mesh, but maybe I was wrong.
She might’ve just been shy.
The atmosphere between Emma-chan and Livi warmed, and we continued eating our ramen happily.
Of course, we still got frosty glares from certain seats.
◆◆◆
“—Ha… That was delicious!”
Leaving the shop, Livi patted her stomach, clearly satisfied.
“Mmm, yummy…!”
Emma-chan nodded in agreement, just as pleased.
They both look content.
“Well—thanks, Akihito. I had a blast because of you.”
Spinning playfully, Livi thanked me with a charming smile.
I thought she’d drag me around longer…
Honestly, I’m not entirely ready to part ways yet.
“No, it was an unexpected encounter, but I’m glad we got to talk.”
But keeping her around might deepen the misunderstanding with the other two, so I resolved to part cleanly.
“—Hey, Akihito.”
As Livi started toward Okayama Station, she paused and called my name.
“Hm?”
“One last thing—answer this for me.”
Turning back, she fixed me with a serious look.
“What?”
“What’s your girlfriend to you?”
I don’t know why Livi’s asking this.
But—almost instinctively, the words spilled out.
“She’s an irreplaceable, precious person.”
When I shared my true feelings, Livi’s face lit up with a bright smile.
“I’m glad I met you today. See ya.”
With that, she walked off, looking fulfilled.
She was friendly but somehow enigmatic.
Alright, we should—
“—Whoa, where do you think you’re going?”
As I tried to slip away from the shop, a hand grabbed my shoulder from behind.
Turning, I saw Shimizu-san with a radiant, terrifying smile.
“Care to explain this?”
Beside her, a sour-faced Kousaka-san held up her phone screen.
On it—a photo of Livi kissing my cheek.
They definitely saw it.
“No, it’s—”
I explained everything from beginning to end.
I made sure to clarify the kiss as well.
Thankfully, they seemed to grasp that she’s just an overly friendly girl with no romantic intentions.
“Be careful, seriously. You’ll upset Charlotte-san.”
“Even if it’s you, Akihito-senpai, I won’t forgive you if you make Charlotte-senpai cry.”
Scolded by a classmate and a kouhai, all I could do was nod meekly.
“Telling Charl…”
“No way we’d tell her—it could spark a huge misunderstanding.”
“Of all people, you got caught with a really pretty one.”
They sighed in unison.
I had no comeback.
I don’t regret helping someone in need, but I need to reflect on getting swept up in Livi’s pace.
“Still, was that really your first time meeting? You two seemed awfully close.”
“Like I said, she’s just that friendly.”
“Foreigners are something else… I’d love to learn from her, but…”
Unable to imagine herself acting like Livi, Kousaka-san tilted her head thoughtfully.
“Even I couldn’t pull that off. Kissing a guy I just met? No way.”
As she spoke, Shimizu-san kept flashing the photo on her phone.
She’s definitely teasing me.
“Delete that.”
If Charl saw it by mistake, it’d be catastrophic.
“Yeah, better delete it.”
“Tch, and I had dirt on Aoyagi-kun.”
Pouting, Shimizu-san deleted the photo.
Apparently, the phone Kousaka-san was holding belonged to Shimizu-san.
After parting ways with them, I took Emma-chan to the sports shop as planned, browsed stuffed animals, and enjoyed some peaceful time together.
