Setting aside Miko Iino's peculiar reasoning, it was clear from her expression that she felt inspired by their earlier conversation. Her previously gloomy demeanor had noticeably brightened. However, a promise was a promise, and the planned trip to the barbecue restaurant wasn't going to disappear.
After wandering around for a while and finding it unremarkable, they decided to rest at a nearby dessert shop and figure out how to pass the remaining time before lunch.
Having already eaten several meat buns earlier, Natsukawa wasn't particularly hungry. Feeling a bit low on energy, he ordered an iced Americano. Miko, however, seemed to have an unquenchable appetite. She ordered a crepe, a strawberry sundae, and a matcha cake, all of which she began eating with visible enthusiasm—not as someone sampling flavors, but as someone thoroughly enjoying every bite.
Natsukawa couldn't help but gape. "If I remember correctly, you ate breakfast with me earlier, didn't you? And that included five meat buns… How are you still eating all this?"
"Mm…" Miko's cheeks puffed up as she paused mid-bite, clearly caught off guard by his remark.
Realizing it was too late to salvage her image, she stammered out an explanation. "S-sweets don't count as food!"
She quickly added, "Oh, right! There's that saying: girls have two stomachs—one for meals and one for desserts! I'm just filling up my second one!"
Natsukawa: "…"
I've heard that before, but this is the first time I've seen someone use it as a justification…
What surprised him even more was that Miko didn't appear anywhere near her limit. She ate without hesitation or signs of slowing down, and Natsukawa had the odd feeling she could easily handle another three servings if she wanted.
Ordinarily, someone with an appetite like hers might eat in a more unrestrained or messy manner. But Miko? Every time she took a small bite, her face lit up with a hamster-like expression of pure bliss. She looked elegant and dainty, even as her speed and capacity defied expectations.
Before he knew it, she had polished off all three desserts while he had only finished half of his iced Americano.
"…"
"Hmm… It wasn't as good as I expected," Miko declared, her critique starting as soon as she finished. "The crepe's fruit wasn't fresh, the matcha cake wasn't soft enough—probably an issue with the baking—and the sundae was overly sweet, which masked the strawberry's natural flavor."
As if that wasn't enough, she pulled out a small notebook and started jotting down notes, muttering to herself, "Overall, I'd give it a 6 out of 10. Barely passable, but certain items need improvement…"
Natsukawa: "…"
He found himself increasingly bewildered. Every time he thought he was getting a better understanding of girls, something like this happened to throw him off.
It wasn't the act of taking notes—he himself kept mental notes to avoid bad experiences—but the sheer contradiction in her behavior. One moment she was radiating joy, savoring her food; the next, she was ruthlessly critiquing it.
Do you have multiple personalities, like Kaguya or something?
"Mind if I ask something?" he ventured cautiously. "No offense intended, just curious. You seemed really happy while eating earlier, so why the harsh critique now?"
He had seen it clearly—her joy was genuine, to the point where her legs had been swinging under the table. It wasn't an act. That's why he wanted to understand.
But as soon as he asked, he regretted it. Miko gave him a look that screamed Are you stupid? and responded matter-of-factly:
"They're not mutually exclusive. I was happy because I enjoy eating, but the desserts weren't great. I can't waste food or get mad at it, can I?"
"…"
Natsukawa opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words.
That… makes an unsettling amount of sense.
Deciding not to pursue the topic further, he sipped his coffee quietly, reminding himself that the mysteries of beautiful girls were best left alone.
While they rested, he charged his phone and began searching for suitable birthday venues. A suggestion for "Haidilao" popped up, but he immediately dismissed it. He knew such a place wasn't for entertainment—it was for being entertained. Moreover, it made him question the internet's understanding of "entertainment venues."
Ultimately, he decided on a cat café, thinking it would be a relaxing choice that suited their casual acquaintance.
Still, it was best to check with Miko first.
"By the way, Iino, do you like animals? Cats, for instance?" he asked.
"Eh?" Miko blinked, surprised by the sudden question. "Cats? They're fine, I guess. I used to want one."
"But my parents are always busy with work, and I was worried I wouldn't be able to take care of it properly, so I gave up," she admitted.
"I see…" Natsukawa nodded. "Well, how about visiting a cat café? It's probably more fun than sitting around here doing nothing."
"Cat café…" Miko considered it briefly before nodding. "Okay, I don't mind."
She wasn't particularly decisive, but her love for good food often led her to fill her plans with eating-related activities.
"Great. Let's aim for around noon," Natsukawa said, finishing his coffee and messaging the café to reserve a spot. "Oh, by the way, the café has food, but the selection is limited. If there's something specific you want, it's better to buy it now."
He didn't think she could eat much more, but he mentioned it just in case. Her response, however, defied his expectations.
"In that case… I'll get a vanilla cake and some sablé cookies," Miko said brightly before heading to the counter to order.
"…"
Natsukawa could only watch in stunned silence.
Resigning himself to her boundless appetite, he confirmed the café's operating hours and finalized the reservation. As he waited for her to return, he wondered if she'd leave any surprises for the barbecue later.
Not long after, Natsukawa heard the hurried sound of footsteps approaching. Turning his head to see what was happening, he was met with the sight of Miko Iino looking utterly panicked.
"Senpai, what should I do? Two of my classmates just walked in!" she whispered urgently.
"Uh…" Natsukawa blinked in confusion. Your classmates? So just say hi to them… Why are you asking me? "So… what's the problem?"
"It's a huge problem!" Miko was about to explain further when she noticed that her classmates had already entered the shop and were heading toward the counter. "Darn it, no time to explain!"
Her eyes darted around like a cornered animal searching for an escape, eventually locking onto the seat beside Natsukawa.
"Senpai, make some room!" she said, squeezing past him and attempting to crawl under the table.
"...???" Natsukawa stared at her in disbelief. "What are you doing?"
"Don't talk! Let me hide here for a bit!" Miko crouched, trying to fit into the narrow space beneath the table. Unfortunately, the gap between the table legs was too small for her. Defeated, she stood back up, only to bump her head against the table.
"Ouch!" she yelped softly, clutching her head. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she stifled any further sound, unwilling to draw attention.
"…"
Watching her antics, Natsukawa couldn't help but feel exasperated.
What's the point of putting yourself through all this?
He finally pieced things together—Miko clearly didn't want her classmates to notice her. Though he didn't know her exact reasoning, it wasn't an unfamiliar situation. Similar scenarios had played out among the girls he knew before.
"Just keep your head down," Natsukawa advised. "They probably won't notice you if you avoid eye contact. Or better yet, lie down and cover your face. If they can't see you, they can't confirm it's you."
It might feel a bit like playing ostrich, but if they can't see your face, you technically don't exist!
Miko obediently nodded, lowering her head while barely daring to breathe, fearing her voice might give her away. Silently, she prayed that her classmates would quickly finish their purchases and leave.
But as the saying goes, the more you fear something, the more likely it is to happen.
Not only did her classmates linger, but they also walked over to Natsukawa's area, seemingly looking for a seat.
One of them—a sharp-eyed male student—immediately recognized Natsukawa. "Hey, isn't this the student council president? Wow, what a coincidence!"
He walked over, waving casually.
"I thought you were alone… Oh, sorry, I didn't notice," the boy said, his tone a mix of curiosity and awkwardness.
His gaze shifted to Miko, who was lying across Natsukawa's lap, her small, timid figure doing little to hide her embarrassment.
"And this is…?" the boy asked, his eyes gleaming with barely contained curiosity.
Natsukawa's mouth twitched. Suppressing a sigh, he maintained his composure and replied, "She's my little sister. She came to visit me on my day off, so I decided to take her out. She's a bit shy, which is why she's acting like this."
At his words, Miko's body visibly stiffened. After a moment, she relaxed again, remaining silent.
"Oh, your sister, huh…" The boy didn't look entirely convinced but refrained from pressing further. His female companion tugged on his sleeve, glaring at him.
"Sorry for disturbing you," the boy said sheepishly, scratching his head. "Enjoy your time. We'll be going now."
Natsukawa: "…"
What exactly do you think I'm "enjoying"? Taking my sister out? Or… something else?
The misunderstanding was obvious. If Miko really were his sister, there'd be no need for her to hide like this. Her behavior screamed "suspicious."
Resigned, Natsukawa sighed. Looks like the rumor mill will have new material soon. Something along the lines of, "Student council president secretly cosplays as a big brother and forces his girlfriend to play the role of his little sister."
Thankfully, the couple was tactful enough to leave the shop with their desserts, waving goodbye as they went.
"They're gone. You can get up now," Natsukawa said.
But Miko remained frozen. Thinking she was still worried, he reassured her a few more times before she slowly lifted her head and moved a noticeable distance away from him.
Then, to his utter confusion, she began mumbling, "I… I get it now. After all, Senpai is… is a boy…"
"Huh?" Natsukawa stared at her, completely baffled.
"N-no, it's nothing…" Miko stammered, covering her face with her hands.
Following her gaze, Natsukawa realized what she meant and looked down—to his lap.
"…"
"…"
"It's my phone!" Natsukawa blurted, panicking. "You bumped into my phone! Don't get the wrong idea!"
"Oh… uh-huh… I know… it's your phone…"
"…"
Like hell you "know"! The look on your face says otherwise!