“…Crap, we got carried away talking, didn’t we?”
“Haha, it’s fine, it’s fine. We barely had any customers anyway.”
“Is that okay for this time of year?”
“Everyone grabs lunch at the beach houses, you know. Lately, we only get a few people stopping by on their way back.”
“Huh…”
I’d come around noon, so the place was indeed pretty empty. Now that I think about it, this area’s mostly bustling with people hitting the beach. Maybe only a few bother coming into a shop like this for a limited-time menu.
Or maybe this place is just a hidden gem.
“Well, if that’s the case, I’d prefer to come back when Ruri’s here.”
After chatting for a bit, I found out she’s our homeroom teacher’s daughter, so I quickly dropped the last-name basis. In return, she started calling me by my first name too.
“I’m usually here during summer break, so come by anytime.”
“I’ll shoot you a message before I head over then.”
“Oh, then your contact…”
“I’ve got it.”
“Wait, really?”
“Pfft, haha.”
Ruri’s dumbfounded expression was so funny that I couldn’t help but let out a little laugh.
We haven’t been in touch, and we’ve spent way more time apart than together, so it’s no surprise she forgot.
“You don’t have to laugh that much.”
“Nah, my bad. You just make such a great face.”
I didn’t say it out loud, but man, it’s been a while since I saw such a goofy expression.
“Haha, well, if you say that, you’re the one with the better smile.”
“I get that a lot. Plain, but my smile’s cute, right?”
“Plain…? Plain, huh? You must hang out in some wild places normally.”
“Nah, didn’t I just say? I’m not usually like this.”
Normally, I don’t wear piercings or nail polish. That stuff’s against school rules, obviously. I only do it when I’m out on my own.
Suddenly, Ruri placed a fingertip on her cheek, like something had just clicked.
“So, does that mean you won’t wear makeup when you come see me from now on?”
“Hm…? Well, if it’s not a group thing, I’ll probably put some on.”
“Got it~ Then I’d prefer it if we meet one-on-one again.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You asking me out on a date?”
“Ooh, that’s not a bad idea.”
We teased each other back and forth, sharing another soft chuckle.
We’d only properly talked a few times since meeting, and hadn’t spoken much since, but even from that first meeting, I could tell we clicked. Running into each other again like this was pure luck.
And to think, I owe it to Kiritsuki for bringing me here that one time. Talk about a chain of events.
Suddenly, the bell signaling a new customer rang, and Ruri reflexively called out, “Welcome~!”
“Ao-kun, you heading out soon?”
“Hm… What time do you get off, Ruri?”
“Five.”
“We live in the same town, right…?”
“Yup. I’m just here helping out part-time.”
“Then I’ll stick around a bit longer.”
After checking the time and saying that, Ruri flashed a bright smile and started heading to help the new customer.
“—Himura?”
“No way.”
A familiar voice hit my ears.
It was Kiritsuki and Sakuna. I think I ran into them before while dressed like this, so I didn’t think much of it and raised a hand in a casual greeting.
Then, Ruri leaned in close to me.
“…Your girlfriend?”
“Nah, not at all. But if it was, which one do you think?”
I asked, half-joking, and Ruri pretended to think it over for a moment.
Her eyes flicked between Kiritsuki, Sakuna, and me a few times before…
“Wouldn’t I be the best match for you?”
She said it with that teasing tone again.
With Kiritsuki right there, messing up my response could be bad news.
As I was debating what to say, Sakuna muttered under her breath.
“Another one, huh?”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?!”
“Who knows?”
Since it’s about Ruri’s feelings, it feels a bit off for me to deny it outright, but I wish she wouldn’t just assume things like that.
And can we not talk like I’ve got a whole harem or something?
“Another one? What’s that about, Ao-kun?”
“Uh… I feel like it’s not really my place to say.”
“Hmm?”
Obviously, I can’t just answer a question like “What’s increasing?” with something like, “The number of people into me.” That’d be way too cocky.
Sure, Ruri’s comment wasn’t great, and I probably shouldn’t have asked her that question either, but still. It doesn’t help that I’m pretty sure Ruri doesn’t dislike me, which makes this worse. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind dating her.
But saying that in front of Kiritsuki just feels… wrong.
“Uh, so… Himura-kun, what’s your deal with the waitress?”
“Ruri’s an old middle school friend. One of the few who had my back.”
“Oh, is it cool to say that out loud?”
Ruri looked a little worried when she said that, so I gave her a reassuring smile.
“Yeah, these two are fine.”
“Got it. Oh, I’m Jushinin Ruri, Ao-kun’s old classmate. Nice to meet you!”
Ruri introduced herself with a beaming smile.
“Oh? Hi, I’m Yamabuki Sakuna. I was in Ao’s class last year. Best friend, maybe?”
“…Uh, hi… I’m Kiritsuki Kaname, Himura-kun’s classmate. Nice to meet you.”
Why are we doing formal introductions in a place like this?
“Hey, uh… Jushinin, huh?”
Looks like Kiritsuki picked up on it.
“Yup, she’s our homeroom teacher’s daughter.”
“No way!? She doesn’t look anything like her!!”
I can’t blame Sakuna for being shocked. Our homeroom teacher gets called a battle-axe or whatever, and she’s a bit on the heavier side. No one would expect her daughter to be this boyish, busty beauty.
I didn’t know either. I mean, I’d seen Ruri’s mom at school events back in the day, and she was stunning.
Ruri told me her mom gained weight from stress, which we had a little laugh about earlier. Probably not the kindest thing to laugh at, though.
“Oh, but maybe if she got chubby and wore tiny glasses, it’d make sense?”
Uh, no way that’d make sense.
Ruri’s face still looks pretty youthful, doesn’t it? Honestly, I don’t see any resemblance. Even when I think back to her mom’s prettier days, I don’t recall them looking alike.
“Kiritsuki, why’ve you been staring off into space?”
She’d been frozen, just looking at me, so I called out to her.
Kiritsuki reacted a bit late.
“Huh? Oh, no, it’s just… I didn’t expect you to actually come out here alone and fit in so well.”
“Yeah… and running into someone I know, no less. I might keep coming back for a while.”
Since we’d just been talking about it, I said that, but Kiritsuki gave me a slightly displeased look before glancing at Ruri.
“Mind if we sit with Himura-kun?”
“Oh? Sure, that’s fine.”
“Sakuna, you cool with that?”
“Well, yeah, it’d be weird to sit separately now.”
“True, good point.”
So, the three of us ended up sharing a table. After Kiritsuki and Sakuna ordered some sweets and coffee, Ruri stepped away for a bit.
Oh, right, Ruri’s working here. I felt a pang of guilt for keeping her tied up in conversation.
“So, what’s up with you two? I knew Kiritsuki comes here alone sometimes, but…”
“We stopped by while shopping for swimsuits. Kaname wanted one for when she goes to the beach with you.”
“You didn’t have to say that!”
Oh, right, we did make that plan, didn’t we?
I don’t really care about swimsuits, and I’m not even sure what we’d do at the beach, but still.
“You came all the way here just for swimsuits?”
“We got some elsewhere, but we were debating whether to head back from the station or come here.”
“And finding your crush here? Talk about luck, Kaname.”
“Tch, that’s… well, yeah.”
Kiritsuki nodded, a bit embarrassed.
“Well, another one, huh?”
“I told you, it’s not like that. Probably.”
“Not denying it outright, huh…”
“It’s not about my feelings, okay?”
But seriously, I don’t think it’s like that. I mean, we only just reconnected today.
