We entered the shopping mall and had a light meal at a cafe.
I had Neapolitan, and Kuonji had a sandwich.
The way she ate in small bites was like a small animal, and I didn't get tired of watching her. She was cute.
The two of us continued our meal in silence.
But strangely, it felt comfortable. I didn't dislike this silence.
She was a woman like a natural enemy, but since I started wanting to get along with her or rather, wanting to know more about her, I felt that this atmosphere was actually quite nice.
Just as she finished her egg sandwich, Kuonji straightened her back and bowed her head.
“Sanada. Thank you again for earlier. To be honest, I was a little scared.”
“Don’t worry about it. Besides, guys who come on that strong are rare. It’s only natural to be scared.”
Pick-up artists are rare in this day and age.
That guy said 'everyone does it,' but in this modern era where you can clearly identify your fated person, the success rate of picking up strangers must be low.
The only people who would succeed at that are women who are very open about sex.
In other words, that guy saw Kuonji and thought he had a chance...
“Should I go back and hold a blood festival for him now?”
“How did you reach that conclusion!?”
“Because that guy... no, it’s nothing.”
“W-What? Now I’m curious.”
“I said it’s nothing, so it’s nothing.”
Realizing it was useless to pursue it any further, she took a bite of her tuna sandwich with a lingering gaze.
Phew... Calm down, calm down, me. I probably won't encounter that guy again. Yeah, don't worry about it, don't worry about it.
I wound the pasta around my fork and brought it to my mouth.
Seeing that, Kuonji tilted her head curiously.
“Sanada, is that enough for you?”
“Well, yeah. I drank some protein at home.”
“There it is, protein. So it’s true that you train your body.”
“It’s just supplementary training for kickboxing.”
“Heh... hey, hey, let me touch it for a bit.”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
“——Ah.”
Kuonji stopped her hand as she reached out.
At the same time, the incident on those stairs flashed through my mind.
Back then, just our palms touching sent a shock like a lightning strike through my entire body.
This... I was going to let her touch me normally, but this is definitely bad...
Kuonji and I both froze.
Kuonji's face turned red before my eyes, and I realized my own face was getting hot too.
“A-Ah... let's, let's eat.”
“Y-Y-Yes, you're right...!”
Awkward... but it’s a comfortable kind of awkwardness.
Perhaps Kuonji felt the same way, as she stuffed a tuna sandwich into her mouth while smiling... though trying to hide her dyed cheeks.
The fact that Kuonji and I are going out together and eating together... even if I told myself from a few days ago, he wouldn't believe it.
“It’s strange.”
“...What is?”
“That you and I are going out together like this.”
“...Yeah.”
So Kuonji was thinking the same thing.
.........
Ah, what should I do, my face is about to break into a huge grin, I'm so happy!!!!
C-Calm down, me. Be cool, pretend to be cool.
Just eat the Neapolitan like nothing's happening. Yeah, I am calm.
No, but being happy is being happy!
“? Sanada, what's wrong?”
“W-What is?”
“You're acting a bit strange. Well, you're always strange, though.”
“The 'always strange' part was unnecessary.”
Ah, good. I managed to calm down a bit.
Kuonji tilted her head, and having finished her meal, she wiped her mouth and placed her hands together.
“Shall we order dessert?”
“Is it okay? What about the shopping time...”
“I was planning to order some too. Besides, we have plenty of time.”
When I looked at my left hand, Kuonji also had a look of realization.
I don't know what she thinks, but I don't want today's outing to end with just today.
“...You, about me...”
“Hmm?”
“...No, it's nothing. Now then, what should I eat~”
Kuonji looked at the menu with a big smile.
She must really like desserts; her eyes were sparkling somehow.
In a way, it felt like I was dealing with Kotono.
“Hmm, should I go with the original pudding or the big parfait... I can't decide.”
“...Since I'll give you a bite, you can order both.”
“Really!? Is it okay!?”
“Yeah. A man doesn't go back on his word.”
“Hehe~. What, you're actually kind! Then I'll have the big parfait, so Sanada, you get the original pudding!”
“Yes, yes.”
Her reaction is exactly like Kotono's.
But I won't treat her like a sister. The girl in front of me is truly my Fated Person.
If I tried to treat her like a sister, she would definitely kill me...
Dutiful, a lover of sweets, and possessing a cute side, Kuonji Riran.
Today's outing looks like it's going to be a good one.