"You'll have to endure it for a bit—it might hurt at first." A voice came from behind her.
Iino Miko froze completely.
Endure? Hurt at first? What is Senpai planning to do?! And we're on a public street! This is too much!
"No, no way! You can't do that here!" Iino Miko protested, but since her hair was still in his grasp, all she could do was voice her objections.
"It's fine, really. No one will notice… Trust me, it'll be over in no time."
"...!!!" Iino Miko panicked even more, but amidst her panic, a curious thought suddenly arose.
Senpai always looked so healthy—and with those toned abs, no less. She'd even caught a glimpse before during a student council event. At the time, she thought it was an illusion, but later realized she had seen the real deal: a python-sized muscle!
But now… Wait, could it be? Is Senpai all show and no substance?
"All done." Natsukawa Kanade stepped back, giving her a satisfied nod.
"..."
Iino Miko was dazed.
Done? What's done?
What did Senpai even do? She hadn't felt a thing.
"I just saw a long strand of white hair," Natsukawa Kanade said, walking over to show her the culprit. "I couldn't resist pulling it out for you."
Everyone knows that if you spot a strand of white hair, you just have to pluck it out. If it hadn't been Iino Miko's hair, Kanade might have spent half a day searching her head for more "pests."
"..." Iino Miko fell silent, her face puffing up moments later. "You're such a dumb Senpai!"
Then, she suddenly launched a rocket headbutt straight into Natsukawa Kanade's stomach.
Reeling from the unexpected blow, Natsukawa felt wronged. He'd been helping out by pulling her white hair, only to be repaid like this. How unfair!
Next time, he vowed, he'd think twice before letting his hands wander.
After a brief cooling-off period, the two of them set off again.
Iino Miko still seemed annoyed and didn't say much, but her actions betrayed her as she obediently followed close behind.
Kanade thought it might be a good idea to give her some space to calm down, so he refrained from initiating conversation, playing the quiet guide instead.
Before long, they arrived at a self-service barbecue restaurant. Upon entering, they found the place quite crowded, nearly full. They thought they'd have to wait, but a server led them to a spot upstairs.
"Fetching food might be a little inconvenient, but it's quiet here—perfect for a young couple like you," the server said warmly, with a kind smile.
Kanade turned to Iino Miko to gauge her reaction, but she seemed to misunderstand.
"Huh? Should I explain? Um…" She looked a bit embarrassed as she muttered softly, "Actually, we're not a couple…"
"..."
He was asking if this spot was okay or if they should go somewhere else! Kanade sighed internally but figured her misunderstanding was normal and didn't interrupt her.
"Oh, my apologies. I just assumed…" The server laughed awkwardly, glancing at Kanade with an expression that seemed almost apologetic.
But Kanade felt the awkwardness wasn't about the server's assumption. No, it was more like pity directed at him.
Ah, I see. I've been pitied.
Thanks for your sympathy, but that's not what's happening here!
Before Kanade could explain, Iino Miko had already spoken up.
"It's… It's fine…" She sounded shy, her voice meek. "But… do we really look that much like a couple?"
"Uh…" The server seemed at a loss, glancing at Kanade as if seeking help.
Kanade suddenly felt a sense of camaraderie with the server.
"Ahem…" He cleared his throat to draw attention, then attempted to shift the conversation. "This spot actually seems nice—no need to wait or line up. How about we stay here?"
"Oh…" Iino Miko snapped out of her thoughts and quickly nodded in agreement. "You're right. This does seem like a good spot…"
But internally, her emotions were in chaos, screaming: Ahhh! What was I even asking? Doesn't that make it seem like I care about Senpai?!
Sensing the atmosphere turning a bit awkward, the server excused himself, relieved.
"I'll head back downstairs. I'll bring your sauces shortly—please be patient."
"Thank you. Take your time," Kanade replied politely.
Once the server left, the two settled into a window-side seat. After storing their belongings, they went downstairs together to get their food.
There wasn't much to say about the process—they each picked their favorite items. But since going up and down the stairs was inconvenient, Kanade decided to take a bit extra to minimize trips. Surprisingly, Iino Miko had the same thought, but her portions far exceeded his.
"Uh, isn't this a bit much? You could just take more trips—it's a good way to burn off calories after eating." Kanade couldn't help but comment when he saw the towering stack of food she'd gathered.
Was she planning to bring everything in one go? Did she really hate walking that much?
Iino Miko probably had her reasons, but she replied earnestly, "I think this method works well."
Kanade shrugged, deciding not to press the issue. He patiently waited for the grill to heat up.
Sitting idly, though, was a bit boring, so he tried striking up a conversation. "Have you been to places like this before?"
Kanade wasn't just making idle conversation; he was genuinely curious about why Miko Iino had suggested barbecue. After all, this type of cuisine, much like ramen, often carried a "manly vibe." Aside from a few enthusiasts, most girls rarely ventured into such places willingly.
Based on their morning together, Kanade had already noticed Miko's impressive appetite. She might even rival his own, or perhaps surpass it. She also seemed knowledgeable about food—her habit of taking notes was clear evidence of that.
Could it be that she wanted to seize this chance to explore one of these "forbidden zones for women"? Kanade felt his hunch might be right.
"Not yet. This is my first time at a place like this," Miko replied, shaking her head. Her bright eyes sparkled with excitement as she stared at the grill.
It was, indeed, her first time in a self-service barbecue restaurant. Usually, she avoided these places, fearing her voracious appetite might draw attention. She preferred barbecue spots where you ordered from a menu, as they let her keep her inner foodie hidden. But those places were far more expensive, and even with her generous allowance, she felt it wiser to save money for other culinary adventures.
"I see…" Kanade nodded slightly, his suspicions confirmed.
"Do you need help with grilling?" he offered.
"No, I can handle it myself," Miko replied, shaking her head. Her right hand gripped the tongs eagerly, trembling with anticipation.
Kanade noticed and sighed internally.
Still too impatient, huh?
As a first-timer, Miko likely hadn't grasped the true essence of self-service barbecue. The key wasn't to pile up the most expensive ingredients, but to explore a variety of items—sampling everything you were curious about. It was about savoring each bite, not about quantity or extravagance.
Clearly, Miko hadn't yet understood this. Otherwise, she wouldn't have grabbed so much food in one go. If she ended up disliking some of the items she picked, she'd have no choice but to choke them down or deal with the guilt of wasting food.
Kanade decided he would step in eventually, but first, he'd let her learn this lesson on her own.
He prepared to demonstrate the proper approach: patience, elegance, and precise timing. Wait for the grill to heat up fully, lay the food on gently, flip it at the perfect moment, and savor each bite with care.
The tender meat, the juicy drippings, the tantalizing aroma—only by appreciating all these elements could one truly experience the magic of barbecue.
While pairing the meal with sake would elevate the experience, Kanade refrained. He wasn't old enough, and setting a bad example for Miko was out of the question. Fruit juice would suffice for now.
As he looked up to share this wisdom, he froze.
Miko was fully engrossed in grilling. Leaning forward slightly, her eyes sparkled with intense focus. Her right hand held the tongs with the precision of a master chef, radiating a determined aura—a "barbecue glow," if you will.
"..."
Her movements were astonishingly swift. The moment she decided the meat needed flipping, she acted with lightning speed, the steak turning over in a single fluid motion. Kanade barely registered her action.
Wait—no, it wasn't that simple!
Kanade's gaze sharpened, his expression turning serious.
He had noticed something incredible: when Miko determined it was time to flip the meat, her ears had twitched ever so slightly.
Coincidence?
No!
She must have heard the subtle cues—the sizzle of oil droplets hitting the grill, the faint sound of fat dripping onto the flames. She had used these auditory signals to judge the perfect moment to flip the meat.
"..."
Such skill! Such mastery!
This… this wasn't the work of a barbecue novice. She was a barbecue savant!
Kanade realized, to his dismay, that he had severely underestimated her.
"Miko… are you sure this is your first time at a barbecue restaurant?" Kanade sat up straight, his expression serious. This was no longer the inexperienced kouhai he thought he'd be teaching; this was a master he had to revere!
"Huh? Of course it is," Miko replied casually, not even sparing him a glance as she continued grilling. "I've been to lots of barbecue places, but this is my first time at a self-service one. So, yeah, it's technically my first."
"..."
Kanade sighed in relief, reassured.
He wasn't angry about being shown up. What truly mattered was that she wasn't some barbecue prodigy who'd effortlessly surpassed him.
After all, he had spent years honing his barbecue skills, priding himself as a senior in this art. Losing to a true novice would have been unbearable. Thankfully, this wasn't the case. He had simply encountered someone with a passion and dedication that rivaled his own.
"In that case, my apologies for underestimating you," Kanade said, bowing his head slightly to show respect.
He even considered kneeling to formalize his gesture, but given the meat still sizzling on the grill, he decided against it. Still, his feelings of admiration were genuine—this was the respect of a disciple toward a master.
Miko tilted her head, confused by his actions.
What is Senpai doing? Is he digesting his food or something? she wondered.
But she had barely started eating! There was still plenty of food left from their first batch.
Realizing this, Miko's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Why did I have to reveal my appetite in front of him? she lamented inwardly.
Trying to downplay her gluttony, she shrank back slightly and stammered, "It's not like that… My usual portions are actually much smaller…"
Kanade furrowed his brow, puzzled by her sudden comments, but quickly pieced it together.
Ah, she must feel self-conscious under my intense gaze. It's not about skill—it's just her being shy!
Satisfied with this explanation, Kanade nodded to himself.
While he might not learn her barbecue techniques, he had grasped something even more valuable: the importance of approaching life with a beginner's mindset.
Like Miko, no matter how seasoned you were, you should always approach each grill as if it were your first time. That was the true "soul of barbecue."