We arrive in front of a manga cafe in Kichijoji.
“Wow, so this is a manga cafe...! I’m kind of nervous...”
Ichikawa, wearing her blazer, looks at the sign with flashing light bulbs even though it’s still bright outside, looking like an elementary school student lining up for a roller coaster for the first time.
“Yeah...”
“Oh, are you nervous too, Konuma-kun?”
“Yeah...”
Somehow I’ve ended up as the guide, but the truth is I haven’t been to these places that often either.
I only went about twice during my first year of high school, back when I was a total loner in the ‘go-home club’ and felt a sudden urge to binge-read a certain pirate manga. In the end, I couldn’t finish it all in just two visits, though.
I think that was a manga cafe in Ikebukuro. It had a somewhat decadent atmosphere, and being there alone felt a bit scary. It felt like I was doing something bad even though I wasn’t...
“Heh... Then should we take a deep breath together and calm down?”
“Why...?”
“Hmph, you don't have to make a face like that!”
Since the natural angel was making such a nonsensical suggestion, I reflexively frowned, and Ichikawa puffed out her lower lip as if she were terribly shocked.
“Sorry...”
Wait, is this actually my fault...?
In the end, we both entered without taking deep breaths (of course), and we both made membership cards at the counter.
“About the seat type—since you are high school students, we can only offer the flat booth at the moment. Is that alright?”
The clerk, a blonde gyaru-type with sharp makeup, responded in a businesslike manner despite her appearance.
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“What other kinds of seats are there?”
From beside me as I answered, the curious Ichikawa-san asked a pointless question.
“Eh? Ah... well, I can’t offer them to you so it’s whatever, but there are these private room types with locks...”
The clerk, momentarily showing her real personality in her confusion, pointed to a laminated information photo on the counter.
There was a photo of a woman relaxing in a private room that could be locked (which didn't add much info), and underneath, it said:
『Not available for those under 18 or high school students.』
“Heh...!”
After letting out a voice of admiration, Ichikawa followed up with more questions, wearing a smile full of interest like a student on a field trip.
“Why can’t high school students use these seats?”
“Eh? Yes, well, that’s...”
Before the clerk, whose eyes were wandering, could answer—
“Anyway, the flat seat is fine.”
I cut her off.
“Y-Yes, understood. Then, this is your booth number...”
Giving up on answering Ichikawa’s question, the clerk handed over a small binder with something like a receipt tucked inside.
“Y-Yes...! Um, somehow, I’m sorry...!”
“N-No... Rather, thank you...!”
“Not at all... I’m really sorry...!”
The two of them bowed repeatedly to each other. It was a moment where a mysterious sense of solidarity was born between me and the clerk.
“Hmm...?”
The gaze of the black-haired girl, who was tilting her head with such pure eyes, was painful.
It’s just that you’re too pure; it’s not that we’re dirty...!
We head inside from the counter.
After leaving our bags in the designated booth, we went back out to the hallway.
“It’s quieter than I thought...!”
That’s true.
Ichikawa has lowered her voice significantly, but even then, she feels quite conspicuous. That’s something I didn’t realize when I came alone...
“Konuma-kun, what are you going to read?”
“Hmm... Maybe ONE PIECE...”
Since I didn’t have anything specific in mind, I decided to read that certain pirate manga for now. (Why am I still being vague?)
“I see, I see. Um, where should I go for my ‘Once More, I Fell in Love’?”
“Probably this way.”
Just as I took a step in the direction I thought it would be—
“Um, w-which way...?”
The hem of my shirt was pulled.
“Ngh...?”
I turned around to find Ichikawa-san tightly pinching my hem and looking down.
“A-Amane-sama...?”
“It’s like a maze, so I don't want to get lost... is that not okay...?”
“N-No...”
Of course, I thought to myself that no one would get lost in a single straight hallway like this, but I decided to indulge the excuse Ichikawa had prepared.
I wonder why it feels so ticklish even though she isn't touching me directly...
As we continued walking a few steps like that, we came to a slightly open area in the hallway.
“Oh... what’s this?”
Ichikawa pointed with her free hand at the drink bar.
“Ah, it’s all-you-can-drink soft drinks.”
“For free?”
“It’s not exactly free, it’s just included in the seat price.”
“Heh... how do you use this?”
Ichikawa tilted her head.
“What do you mean how? It’s the same as the drink bar at a family restaurant.”
Is there any other way to use it besides putting a cup where the drink comes out and pressing a button?
“Heh, so family restaurants have things like this...”
With that, she widened her eyes and began to look at it with deep interest.
“Wait, have you never been to a family restaurant?”
“Hmm, not that I can remember... I’ve probably never ordered a drink bar either.”
“Seriously...?”
There are still parts of Ichikawa’s upbringing that I haven’t quite grasped, but it seems she doesn't usually frequent fast food places or family restaurants. I wonder if her mother is maybe a Spartan...?
But.
“Then let’s go sometime...”
I made the suggestion, feeling like a pauper leading a sheltered princess out of her birdcage.
“Konuma-kun, will you go with me?”
“No, yeah, well... I mean, of course...”
What I intended as a casual remark seemed to resonate with more meaning than expected.
“I see...!”
Her eyes sparkled brilliantly.
“You don't have to look so happy... it’s, like, totally normal.”
“No...! The fact that it’s normal makes me really happy, you know?”
Ichikawa smiled bashfully, letting out an ‘ehehe’.
“I-I see...”
As for me, I felt like I would collapse if I took those honest and straightforward feelings head-on, so I looked away to hide my embarrassment.
Then, while saying “I see...” she covered her mouth with the sleeve of her blazer and whispered happily.
“First Mac, first manga cafe, first drink bar, first family restaurant... I’m glad I have so many ‘firsts’ left.”
“O-Oh...”
“I wonder what other ‘firsts’ are left...?”
“J-Just pour your favorite drink, look.”
This person seems to have no awareness of what kind of meaning her words carry, or what kind of grip they have as they squeeze my heart.
While smiling, she gave my hem one last tight pinch before reluctantly letting go and picking up a cup.
“Ah, they have Calpis, which Yuri likes. I’ll go with Calpis.”
Sigh, I wonder how much longer my heart can hold out...
We returned to the booth with our drinks and the manga we were looking for.
Sitting on the two floor chairs side by side and opening the manga, even the sound of turning pages seemed loud.
Feeling like we had to be even quieter than when we were in the hallway, we both held our breath.
“Tell me if you need anything.”
When I whispered that softly, Ichikawa, perhaps thinking she shouldn't make a sound, made a zipping motion over her mouth and pressed her lips together, then nodded once with a smile. What was that movement? If she posted that on TikTok, wouldn't it get like a billion likes?
After reading intently for about ten minutes—
“...Hey, Konuma-kun.”
Ichikawa whispered, bringing her lips close to my ear. Is the zipper from earlier already broken?
It was likely out of consideration not to let her voice leak into the next booth, but having my earlobe tickled made me squirm slightly.
“...What is it?”
Knowing her face was close made me self-conscious, so I replied while keeping my eyes down on the manga.
“You know,”
But this person, with a shy yet somehow serious voice, suddenly said something I couldn't ignore.
“It says here that it has a ‘lemon taste,’ but I feel like it was different for me... So, um...”
...Huh?
“...What did it taste like back then?”
“Eh!?”
Surprised by those sudden words, the moment I whipped my head toward her—
“Ngh...”
I felt my lips slightly brush against Ichikawa’s lips, which had been right next to my ear.
“J-Just now...!”
Did I just do it...!? When I looked over, Ichikawa was covering her mouth with the back of her hand, her face so red it was visible even in the dim light.
“Could it be...?”
She gave a large, firm nod.
“S-Sorry...!”
When I bowed my head vigorously in an apology that was almost a kowtow, Ichikawa’s small voice drifted down from above.
“N-No, it’s not something you have to apologize for...?”
“No, but...”
I raised my face.
“It’s fine, you know?”
Ichikawa averted her gaze slightly, still keeping the back of her hand against her mouth.
“I mean, T-Takuto-kun, from now on, you can do it as many times as you want.”
Ugh...!
As if to deliver the finishing blow to me as I gasped from the damage, she met my eyes.
“...From the first to the last, it’s only you, Takuto-kun.”
With those words spoken with moist eyes, I successfully lost consciousness again today.