Raku and Onodera stood up from their seats, leaving the table with the empty glasses of Coffee Jelly they had just enjoyed.
"Thank you for serving us," Raku said politely, bowing slightly.
Onodera also nodded, her smile sweet though she still looked nervous.
Mera Chisato, the maid, only replied in a cheerful voice, "Please come again sometime~," but her eyes still lingered on Raku with an expression that was a bit… excessive.
As soon as they stepped outside, the soft evening breeze greeted them, carrying the scent of city streets now filling with people heading home from work or simply strolling around. Raku glanced left and right, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Wow, the city is busier than I imagined," he said innocently.
Onodera adjusted her small bag, then answered cautiously, "Yes… it's usually like this around this time. Uh… but don't get lost, okay."
Raku smiled calmly. "Don't worry, you're here with me after all."
That simple remark instantly made Onodera's face flush red. She quickly turned her head away, pretending to look at a store along the roadside.
However, the peaceful atmosphere was suddenly disturbed.
Graceful footsteps echoed along the sidewalk, accompanied by murmurs of admiration from the crowd. "She's so beautiful…", "Isn't she like a model?", "Could she be an idol?" whispers spread clearly.
It was Teruhashi Kokomi. A girl radiating charm, with long dark blue hair, fair flawless skin, and a smile that could light up any room. Every time she walked by, everyone stopped for a moment, eyes locked on her.
'Ohh~ once again I'm admired today. Alright, now I want to test the reaction of one of those boys,' she thought while glancing at Raku and Onodera walking not far from her.
With a graceful motion, Teruhashi slowed her pace slightly, making sure Raku would turn his head. Ready to hear the usual 'Offu'…
But—
Raku was instead busy looking at a billboard across the street. "Oh, Onodera-san, look. There's a big bookstore over there. Wow, I want to stop by later."
Onodera quickly nodded, her cheeks turning red again. "Eh? A-ah… yes… if you want…"
Teruhashi blinked once. Then twice.
'Hah?' her thoughts screamed.
'He should have been captivated, or at least stopped walking to stare at me. But instead he… ignored me?'
Meanwhile Onodera, who had been struggling with her nerves, grew even more flustered because the atmosphere truly felt like a date. 'Could he be thinking this is…? Uhhh… I'm not ready…' she thought.
Teruhashi grew increasingly frustrated. Her aura of charisma seemed to tremble. 'Me? Ignored? No… this makes no sense. Every boy always says "Offu." Even Nendou, that idiot, does it. But him…? And the girl beside him is blushing, head down, as if she's in some romcom scene?'
From inside Café Mami, Saiki Kusuo let out a long sigh, still sitting in his seat. He scooped up the last of his Coffee Jelly with a blank expression.
"Yare yare… I'm a little surprised," he muttered.
"Even someone as weird as Nendou can't help but blurt out 'Offu' every time he sees Teruhashi. But that boy? Not a single reaction. Just innocently looking at the city. And the girl beside him… her head's full of thoughts about 'is this a date'."
Saiki closed his eyes briefly. "Interesting… so there's someone else besides me who can resist the 'Teruhashi effect.' Or maybe… he truly doesn't care."
Teruhashi eventually passed by, her smile still dazzling, though inside she was boiling.
'No… this cannot be allowed. I… Teruhashi Kokomi… ignored by an ordinary student?'
Raku only turned slightly, noticing how many people suddenly stopped in the street. "Eh? What's going on? Why is everyone suddenly silent?"
Onodera quickly tugged at his arm nervously. "D-don't mind it… let's just keep walking, Ichijou-kun."
Raku nodded, still confused but not dwelling on it. "Alright."
And the two of them continued walking toward the busier part of town, leaving Teruhashi staring at their backs with questioning eyes—while Saiki, from afar, only covered his face with his hand, muttering quietly in his thoughts:
'…The days ahead are going to be more troublesome.'
Raku and Onodera's footsteps echoed along the sidewalk now illuminated by shop lights. The streets grew more crowded, but there was a warm evening atmosphere—people chatting, the hum of vehicles, and the aroma of food wafting from roadside stalls.
Raku pointed at a tall building with a brightly lit sign reading "Ao Bookstore."
"Ah, there it is. Wow, it's so big… I've never been inside a bookstore this large."
Onodera looked too, her eyes shining softly. "Yes, that store is quite famous here. They have a wide collection, even foreign novels."
Once they entered, the atmosphere turned quiet and calming. The distinct scent of paper and ink filled the air. Tall shelves lined the aisles, some customers browsing books, others sitting in corners reading intently.
Raku exhaled in awe. "Wow… it looks like they have every kind of book here."
He walked slowly, his eyes wandering from the geography section, to novels, until he finally stopped at the cookbook shelves.
Onodera, who had been beside him all along, also looked and smiled. "You like cooking, Ichijou-kun?"
Raku nodded softly, his hand brushing the cover of a book titled Popular Japanese Dessert Recipes. "I don't know… lately I've been curious to try making something. Earlier when eating Coffee Jelly, I kept thinking I'd like to try making it myself at home."
Onodera instinctively covered her mouth to hide a smile. 'Ichijou-kun wanting to make Coffee Jelly? That's so cute…'
In a gentle tone she said, "In that case… maybe that book is perfect for you."
Raku turned to her, smiling faintly. "Yes, maybe. Ah, but… do you also often read recipe books? Since your family has a sweets shop."
The question made Onodera's cheeks turn pink. She nodded slightly. "Y-yes… I really enjoy trying new recipes. Sometimes I come here to read recipe books too."
After a short pause, she added in a soft voice, "If you'd like… we could try making Coffee Jelly together… someday."
Raku fell silent for a moment, then smiled brightly without a second thought. "That's a great idea! Then we can practice together."
Onodera quickly lowered her head, her face even redder. 'Why did I say that…? This really feels like a date promise…'
The awkward atmosphere broke when an announcement came over the speakers:
"Attention, the store will close in one hour. Please complete your purchases."
Raku turned to Onodera. "Looks like we need to choose quickly if we want to buy something."
Onodera nodded quickly. They walked to the cashier—Raku holding one recipe book, while Onodera picked up a romance novel she secretly liked.
As soon as they stepped outside, the sky had darkened, street lamps flickering on one by one, painting the city in a warm golden glow.
Raku smiled, carrying the shopping bag. "Thank you for accompanying me, Onodera-san. It was fun looking around like this."
Onodera lowered her head slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was happy too…"
They walked slowly toward the station, the air between them peaceful, though Onodera's heart raced as if it were truly a date.
Night had fully fallen. Streetlights lit the sidewalks with a golden hue, and the air was cooler than in the late afternoon. The sound of trains arriving at the station mixed with hurried footsteps of commuters.
Raku and Onodera finally reached the station gate. They stopped for a moment, standing beneath the bright signboard.
Raku turned to her with a warm smile. "Looks like this is as far as we go. Thank you for keeping me company today, Onodera. If I'd been alone, I probably would've gotten lost."
Onodera looked at his face briefly, then quickly turned away with a small shake of her head. "Ah, it's no problem… I was happy to come along too. Besides… it just felt… well, enjoyable."
Raku nodded softly, his expression still innocent. "Yes, it was very enjoyable. Next time, if we have the chance… we could go out again."
That simple statement made Onodera's cheeks turn red. Her heart pounded fast, as if those words were a precious promise. She lowered her head slightly, hiding a smile. "Y-yes… if there's a chance."
The station's loudspeakers called out, announcing the next departing train. People began rushing inside.
Onodera took a quiet breath, then waved her small hand. "Well then… see you again, Ichijou-kun."
Raku waved back with a gentle smile. "See you, Onodera-san."
Onodera stepped into the station, glancing back every so often. From a distance, she could still see Raku standing in the same spot, looking around the city with wide-eyed curiosity. 'Ichijou-kun really is different… but that's exactly what makes him…'
Meanwhile, after Onodera disappeared among the commuters, Raku stood for a while gazing up at the night sky. Neon signs reflected in his eyes. He exhaled softly. "This city… is so crowded. But for some reason… it feels kind of unfamiliar."
With the shopping bag in hand, he turned around and slowly began walking home.