Chapter 9: 2.3

On the appointed day, when I arrived at the bus stop next to the main gate of the university, Misono was there first, as usual. The one-piece dress she is wearing is something I’ve never seen before and as expected, it is cute, but overall, I don’t feel that she has put any effort into it at all. Of course, even Misono, as usual, was much better looking than me, who had worked hard to keep my appearance in order. I have no reason or intention to complain.

 

However, even though I knew it was not a date, before I knew it, I was wondering what Misono would be wearing. I was quite depressed to find myself in such high spirits. I was also angry at my own selfishness in expecting things on my own and feeling down on my own. And yet—

 

“Makimura-senpai. Hello. Please take good care of me today.”

 

“Hello, Misono.”

 

Misono finds me and bows to me with a smile, and I greet her back. Why does just this make me feel better?

 

“Um……you look great. Today’s Makimura-senpai.”

 

“T-Thank you…….”

 

I thank Misono, who compliments “today’s” me with a slight blush on her face, even as I feel my own face heat up. I am glad I came dressed like this.

 

“I’ve been looking forward to it ever since we made the promise.”

 

“Yeah. I’ve never been there, but it seems to have a good reputation, so I’m looking forward to it.”

 

“No, that’s, um……you’re right.”

 

Although the price is somewhat unfriendly to student wallets, the restaurant we are about to head to has a good reputation. I’m glad to hear that Misono was looking forward to it. Although she is looking at me with a disappointed gaze.

 

 

 

“This is the third time I’m taking this bus.”

 

Misono said that happily on the bus between the university and the station.

 

“All three times I’ve had nothing but good memories.”

 

The expression on her face, which looked more like she was chewing on her happiness than looking happy, was dazzling.

 

“When you say three times, you mean today and when you took the exam? Then……last year when you came to the cultural festival?”

 

“Yes. I have wonderful memories of all the buses I took in the direction of the train station, including the one I took today.”

 

“Even when you took the entrance exam?”

 

On the way home after the festival, and then today when you’re looking forward to it, I understand, but a good memory even on the way home from an exam……

 

“You mean like, I did well, I studied hard?”

 

“Yes. It was all thanks to Makimura-senpai.”

 

“Me?”

 

She thanked me with a big smile, but I wondered if there was any contribution from me to Misono’s entrance exam.

 

“Ah……well. I was able to study hard for the exam because I came to the festival.”

 

Misono gave a troubled look for a moment, but then immediately smiled shyly and began to explain the reason.

 

“I worked hard in my studies thinking, ‘I’m going to join the executive committee next year’. So it was thanks to you, Makimura-senpai.”

 

“I’m glad you say that, but you’re way overestimating me.”

 

“No, that’s not true. It was Makimura-senpai who showed me that view.”

 

The shy smile disappears, and a serious look shoots through me. Why does this junior think so highly of me?

 

“I’m sorry. It’s troubling for you if I say anything else like this, isn’t it?.”

 

Misono’s serious face broke down and she giggled.

 

“No. It’s not troubling me, thank you, I guess?”

 

“Yes.”

 

This time, I was the one smiling in embarrassment. Misono looked at me and smiled.

 

 

 

After that, while we were talking about our new lives, the bus arrived at its destination.

 

I have never escorted a woman, of course. I have sent some girls home, including Misono, but I wouldn’t call that escorting. So once we get off the bus, we are stepping into an unknown area. For now, let’s just remember to keep in step with each other.

 

“Shall we go then?”

 

“Yes, please.”

 

Because of the May holidays, there were far more people in front of the station than at normal times. Although it was not crowded enough to be swallowed up by the crowds, if we were not careful, we might bump into someone.

 

“I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

 

If this were a romantic scene, I would have dashingly taken Misono’s hand, but since we are just seniors and juniors, I can’t do that. But since we are just seniors and juniors, we can’t do that. I mean, even if we were lovers, it would be impossible for us to suddenly hold hands.

 

“Let’s just walk slowly.”

 

“……Yes.”

 

Misono, who had turned her head slightly down, seemed to move her hand slightly for a moment, but she kept a half-step closer to me, probably to avoid getting separated from me. We were not so close that our shoulders touched each other, but if I swung my arm too far, we would probably bump into each other. I was so embarrassed to see Misono looking up at me from such a distance that my heart jumped.

 

We were just a little closer. And yet I was so nervous, so lovers in the world are doing moderately amazing things on a daily basis. In the midst of such idle thoughts and nervousness, I matched Misono’s stride and headed for my destination.

 

sp

 

“It is Makimura, who made the reservation.”

 

Our destination was a Japanese restaurant on the tenth floor of a hotel two minutes walk from the station. The restaurant is modern in style, with sliding doors, shoji screens, and other Japanese furniture, as well as beautifully grained wooden tables and chairs, all arranged without a sense of foreignness. There seems to be a private Japanese-style tatami room in the back of the restaurant, but I decided not to rent it because it would cost quite a bit of money.

 

“It has a nice atmosphere. It’s wonderful.”

 

Misono seemed to like it, which was a great relief for me as the person who made the reservation. When we made the promise to have a meal, I was going to let Misono choose what she wanted to eat, but Misono insisted, “Please give priority to Makimura-senpai’s wishes”. I thought that Italian or French food would be the standard for a restaurant where one would go to eat with a girl, but I decided to go for Japanese food because I thought it would be too pretentious even though it was not a date. However, when I arrived at the restaurant, I found it was also a pretentious place.

 

“Here is the menu.”

 

After being shown to our seats, I sit Misono down in the chair by the window and hand her the menu list.

 

“Thank you. Is something wrong?”

 

“It reminded me of when Misono came to the family restaurant.”

 

Misono asked me curiously when I had a little reminiscent laugh, but it was the person in question that I was remembering. I remembered Misono hiding her reddened face with a menu list, and it was funny to compare it with the situation in front of me.

 

“Please forget it……Makimura-senpai, you’re teasing me, aren’t you?”

 

“That was so cute, it’s impossible to forget it…….ah.”

 

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Misono’s sulky remark was so cute that I ended up making a genuine response, but by the time I realized it, it was too late. Although I felt awkward for a moment, a reenactment of that moment took place in front of me, which was funny and made me laugh again.

 

“Ah…… Uuhh.”

 

She must have noticed the situation. She lowered the menu list and gave me a protesting look with her face stained vermillion.

 

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’ll stay out of your way and we can decide what to order.”

 

“Yes…….”

 

I tried to keep my composure as much as possible, but my face was burning up when she looked at me like that after I had let slip my true feelings about how “cute” I thought she was. I was relieved to be able to direct Misono’s gaze to the menu.

 

Misono, who had narrowed down the menu to some extent in advance, looked up from the menu list rather quickly. There was still a hint of warmth in her soft cheeks.

 

We then ordered the spring lunch menu, which is only available until May.

 

“I’ve actually never had a Japanese course before.”

 

The first dish was the unohana, which was supposed to be followed by nine other dishes. I heard that it is a little different from kaiseki cuisine, but since I could not understand how it differs from kaiseki cuisine with my knowledge that I had not been given in advance, I must confess that I am not familiar with it. I didn’t even really know what Unohana was in the first place.

T/N : Unohana, soybean pulp. Kaiseki, a traditional Japanese meal brought in courses

 

“I see. It’s an honor.”

 

“Honor? Why?”

 

“The first experience is memorable, isn’t it? The fact that you chose me as your partner.”

 

“Well…….Be easy on me.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Fufu, Misono said with a smile. I hadn’t thought of that concept at all, but I certainly won’t forget about today.

 

“Shall we eat?”

 

“Yes. Itadakimasu.”

 

“Itadakimasu.”

 

I think this is what is good about her. Sane said, “Women who say “Itadakimasu” are consciously doing it on purpose, so be careful,” but looking at Misono, I don’t think that is true. “Itadakimasu” came out naturally and elegantly.

 

“It’s delicious.”

 

“Yes, it was good.”

 

To be honest, I was truly relieved to hear those words. I was really glad that the restaurant lived up to its reputation.

 

“Don’t worry so much, I’m not unsatisfied with the restaurant you chose, you know, Makimura-senpai?”

 

“……Did I show it on my face that much?”

 

“Just a little bit.”

 

“I thought I was able to hide it.”

 

“Because I’m watching you.”

 

Then Misono smiled a little proudly.

 

 

 

After the second dish, the third dish was a soup with yuba. I had never had yuba before and had heard that it tasted like soy milk, so I was a bit hesitant to try it, but it was surprisingly delicious.

T/N : Yuba, one of the names of tofu skin, an East Asian food made from soybeans

  

 

“I’ve never had yuba before, but it’s pretty crunchy, isn’t it?”

 

“Yes. This one is a little thicker, so it feels even more so.”

 

Misono has probably eaten yuba before. It just so happens that I have never had it, so it is not that it is unusual to have eaten yuba, but as you can imagine, she is accustomed to such things. She has probably had more expensive kaiseki cuisine before. Her manners are beautiful and she does not have any hesitation as I do.

 

“You look troubled again.”

 

“Ah……what do you think it is this time?”

 

Misono smiles a little troubled, and to hide the fact that I’m feeling a little inferior, I say mischievously, so as not to give the impression that I don’t enjoy being with her.

 

“It’s not like I know everything.”

 

Misono returned with a giggle and a happy voice, as if she had understood my intention.

 

“Oh, Makimura-senpai, would you like to order some sake? I think it’s time to start having something to go with it.”

 

Perhaps she has family members who drink alcohol, and she seems to know when to drink on these occasions.

 

“It’s a tempting suggestion, but I’m not going to do it. I’m holding off on drinking out until my birthday.”

 

Not that I don’t drink.

 

“When is your birthday?”

 

“September.”

 

“I’m in September too! What date is it?”

 

“The 18th. What about Misono?”

 

“I’m on the 30th. Then……”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“No, it’s nothing after all.”

 

Misono’s face lit up and she was about to say something when we found out about each other’s birthday, but she swallowed her words. I was a little curious, but my thoughts turned to what kind of gift I would give her on September 30th. I was very quick-tempered, even if I say so myself.

 

After sashimi, grilled fish, takiawase, fried dish, takikomi-gohan, and pickles, what appeared in front of me now was dessert. There were three kinds of desserts: bite-sized sakura mochi, strawberry daifuku, and apricot jelly. Misono seems to be no exception to the common belief that girls like sweet foods, and she is happily looking at the desserts.

T/N : Takiawase, food(meat, fish, vegetable etc.) cooked separately but served together on one dish. takikomi-gohan, rice seasoned and cooked with various ingredients

 

“I love strawberries.”

 

That being said, I remember that day at my part-time job again. What I served to Misono (and Shiho) was strawberry mousse. It was a cheap one from a family restaurant, but I was happy that I seemed to have drawn the right answer.

 

I thought about giving Misono mine if she liked it so much, but decided not to because she might feel bad that she made me care about her so much if I did that. I don’t know what the right answer is.

 

“I’m glad to hear that.”

 

“I’m really glad I took the plunge and asked you out today.”

 

Misono, who had shifted her gaze from the dessert on the stylish Japanese-style plate to me and squinted her eyes, smiled gently at me. I am really glad I came here today. I wonder how many times I have thought so.

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