Nishikata lowered his head, thinking for a moment, and recommended several affordable dishes based on everyone's usual tastes, finally suggesting a dessert for after the meal.
Shouko and Ajitani added a few more dishes. After Nishikata put away the menu and left, the three girls chatted about the interesting things that had happened over the past few days.
The rhythmic sound of the sushi chef slicing fish mixed with the soft clink of the soy sauce bottle gently tapping the wooden counter.
Occasionally, they heard the ice rattling in the sake pot, while the chef casually chatted with customers across the counter. Faintly, the sounds of a lively izakaya on the street filtered through the bamboo blinds.
When Nishikata returned in casual clothes, he tried to sit next to Tsuna but was promptly shooed away to sit next to Takagi on the opposite side.
"Miyamura…"
"Hmm?"
Tsuna, scrolling on his phone, looked up in confusion and noticed Nishikata's awkward expression. The blush on his ear tips made Tsuna stifle a laugh.
"What... what have you been busy with this summer? I couldn't even get you to hang out on your days off."
The chatter gradually quieted.
Tsuna leaned back and shrugged. "Isn't it because I saw you were too tired from your part-time job? I wanted you to get more rest."
"Really?" Nishikata looked at him with a disbelieving expression, but still couldn't help asking again.
"Fake," Tsuna said without hesitation.
"…"
"I've been busy with my new book this summer, so I haven't had much time to go out and play."
"New book!?"
"How long has the second volume been out? Miyamura, you've already finished writing a new book??"
Unlike the surprised Takagi and Nishikata, Ajitani, who knew the inside story, remained calm and even felt a sense of secret satisfaction.
She wondered if their jaws would drop to the floor if she told them that Miyamura had already written two books.
Shouko glanced at Tsuna beside her, who never spoke a word of truth, feeling both helpless and speechless.
She had been by his side almost twenty-four hours a day this summer, so how could she not know that he had been extremely busy with his new book during the holidays?
From her understanding of Tsuna, his refusal of Nishikata's invitations was simply because he found the weather outside too hot and didn't want to go out, preferring to stay home...
"Hmm." Tsuna nodded, taking in everyone's expressions. "If nothing unexpected happens, it will be sent to the editor at Futaba Publishing in a few days."
"So, what's the theme of this new book?"
This topic intrigued everyone enough to capture their attention, and Nishikata's initial nervousness about being so close to Takagi had long since disappeared.
"Youthful 'healing'…"
As Tsuna's words fell, the waitstaff brought out the dishes they had ordered. After Ajitani and Takagi had snapped a few beautiful photos, they returned to their conversation.
"Hea… healing…?" Nishikata looked at him suspiciously, trying to find something unusual in Tsuna's faintly smiling expression.
When he thought of the word 'healing,' he remembered 'Anohana,' which they had discussed before. At that time, he had also heard from these two that its theme was 'healing'…
It had really left a bit of trauma...
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Tsuna immediately guessed what he was thinking and spread his hands. "Honestly, the genre classification of 'Anohana' is indeed friendship, growth, and healing, okay?"
"…"
"You can rest assured, okay? The girl won't die this time."
"Then the male—"
Before Nishikata could finish his question, he was interrupted by Takagi beside him. "What's the name of this new book?"
"'I Want to Eat Your Pancreas.'"
"…"
"Miyamura… this… what does this name have to do with youthful healing?" Takagi asked, a little speechless.
"That would involve spoilers. You'll know when it's released." Tsuna lowered his voice. "But if you're really curious, I can tell you."
Nishikata and Takagi shook their heads quickly at the word 'spoilers.'
"Is this one also divided into two volumes, upper and lower?" Nishikata asked curiously.
"No."
Tsuna looked at the two opposite him, who were like curious babies, completely unlike the two beside them who had already started eating greedily.
The meal lasted about an hour, with topics ranging from Tsuna's new book to Shouko's illustration commissions. They discussed almost every topic high school students might find interesting.
---
— — — —
"Sister Mimasu, I'm leaving now. Please tell Uncle Matsumoto for me later."
"Alright, alright…"
Nishikata waved at the waitstaff and was about to turn and leave with the others who were waiting for him.
"Ding-a-ling…"
The sushi shop's front door opened from outside, causing the wind chime hanging on the doorframe to jingle. Tsuna and the others' gazes were drawn to the sudden sound.
"Are you getting off work?"
"Mom? Why are you here?"
"Mom??" Shouko looked in surprise at the woman who had just walked in.
Ajitani secretly poked Takagi, but her mischievous hand was mercilessly slapped away by Takagi.
Tsuna, on the other hand, was expressionless. In his three years of middle school, he had only seen their parents a few times and had a slight impression of them, so he wasn't surprised.
"Your Auntie Keiko and I came to buy something, so we stopped by to see you." Nishikata's mother smiled and waved her hand. "Are you getting off work?"
"Mom, let's talk outside. The shop is still open, and it's not good for us to block the entrance." With that, Nishikata led the way out of the sushi shop, and the woman slowly followed.
"School starts in a few days, so I had a meal with my friends today and took half a day off in advance," Nishikata explained, stopping with the woman in a large shaded area in front of the shop.
"A meal?"
"Ding-a-ling…"
At this moment, the wind chime rang again. Nishikata's mother turned to look at the sushi shop entrance and just happened to meet Takagi's gaze as she came out. Before she could take another look, her view was blocked by Nishikata's body.
"That girl with the light brown hair looks so familiar." Nishikata's mother's smiling eyes met Nishikata's guilty gaze.
Nishikata looked back at Takagi but said nothing.
"Is she the girl on your computer desktop?" Nishikata's mother's smile deepened slightly.
"No." Nishikata shook his head slightly, his denial as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
Nishikata's mother ignored his pleading look and smiled as she called out in the direction of Takagi and the others. "His computer has your photo, and his desktop wallpaper is also you."
This sentence attracted the attention of Ajitani and the others. As Takagi looked over, her gaze met Nishikata's mother's again.
Before Nishikata could stop her, Nishikata's mother continued with a smile, "I guarantee this kid Nishikata likes you."
With that, she raised her hand and patted Nishikata's arm. "Be careful when you go out with friends. I'm leaving now." As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and left, completely ignoring Nishikata's stunned expression.
Tsuna looked at Nishikata's steaming head, which was turned away from them, and also glanced at Takagi, whose expression had frozen for a moment. He suddenly felt that this meal was well worth it.