Perhaps, Isshiki was fond of this scenery and decided to frequent this store. That’s not to say that she’s the only customer that came here.
“Do you use this store for the student council?” I asked, remembering the two we saw from earlier. Isshiki turned towards me and shook her head.
Then, Isshiki clapped her hands, moved her hand to her chin, and thought.
“Ahh, you’re talking about the VP and secretary. I think it might’ve been because we talked about it last week.”
“You don’t say…”
So that’s why we came across them.
No, maybe the vice president decided to use that as a chance to invite the secretary. “Hey, do you recall that store Isshiki-san talked about the other day? Wanna try going there?” or something! Pfft, disgusting. What the heck are they doing at the student council? Don’t screw with me, do your jobs.
…No, wait. It’s not necessarily the vice president who did the inviting. If it’s the frail secretary girl who mustered her courage to invite him, that made me want to root for her! Of course, I had no intention of cheering for the vice president, though! Because internally, I think I put the vice president in the same category as Tobe. And I mean that in the sense that he’s a victim of Isshiki Iroha.
As I was thinking, the perp in question, Isshiki Iroha, spoke to me.
“I asked the vice president if there was any place I could go out to to have fun on the weekend. And that’s just for today. Just for today!” Isshiki said, emphasizing that last part as she looked up at me. You have to emphasize what’s important, huh…? Being that blunt isn’t very high in Hachiman points.
“I appreciate the gesture, but I would’ve liked it if you just prepared the more basic things first…”
You know, like checking my opinion on the matter or giving me a clear explanation of what our objective is in going out to have fun. There’s definitely plenty of things you should’ve done beforehand…
But letting my complaints in one ear and out the other, Isshiki candidly averted her gaze and changed the topic while mumbling. “Well, I wasn’t expecting to see them here, so that was kind of a close call…”
She stopped speaking there, moved her gaze back and looked directly at me. And then, she softly supported her mouth with her hand as if hesitant of her surroundings and with a smile, whispered secretly, “Next time, let’s go somewhere where we won’t see many people we know.”
“There’s a next time…?” I said. When I was surprised by her words and imagined how much trouble it’d be, my voice came out slightly hoarse.
Hearing that, Isshiki glared back. “Why do you look like you don’t like it?”
“Oh no, it’s not that I don’t like it or anything… Well, let’s just say, I’ll coordinate something in the direction that can consider any positive possibilities as much as I can.”
“Jeez, that doesn’t sound realistic at all…” Isshiki sighed and looked at me with a wry smile. Then, her mouth formed a circle and an excited glitter appeared in her eyes. I turned around to the direction where Isshiki was looking—namely, behind me—and a waiter was carrying over a cake set to us.
The macaron, tea, gelato and coffee were elegantly placed on the table. After looking at the items in joy, Isshiki took out her cellphone and began snapping pictures. For some reason, she even took pictures of my gelato as well.
Why do girls take pictures of their food anyway? Were they recording their diet or something? Or did their RIZAP trainers tell them to send the pictures to them?
Once Isshiki was satisfied with taking pictures, she lowered her cellphone. Just when I thought I could finally eat, Isshiki raised her hand.
“Ah, excuse me. Can you take the picture?”
When she called the waiter, the waiter quickly appeared and accepted her cellphone. Taking pictures again? Just how much longer are you going to make me wait!? I want to eat my gelato already! I took the spoon and my hand was hit.
Upon looking, Isshiki was leaning over and posing in front of the waiter with her cellphone in camera mode.
“Come on, senpai, make a peace sign. Peace.”
“I don’t wanna. You don’t really need a picture of me. The gelato’s going to melt, you know.”
“It won’t melt that fast. So, come on,” Isshiki said quickly, not turning. Apparently, she couldn’t hold her posing face for very long. As if getting impatient, the waiter’s politeness turned a bit crude.
“Um, sir…?” The waiter said, looking at me with a troubled smile. The waiter’s gaze had a feeling of oppression than confusion of wondering what to do… I-I’m sorry for getting in the way of your work…
“Senpai, come on, come on.” Isshiki hurried me. Since I didn’t have much of a choice, I slightly moved the plates and leaned over the table.
“You should get just a little closer…” The waiter instructed me while posing with the camera and I adjusted my body a little more. And then, I was suddenly met with the smell of shampoo. I looked with just my eyes and Isshiki’s soft hair fluttered. Her face was surprisingly close. The moment I instinctively moved my body away, the waiter called out.
“Ah, there, that should be good. Okay, here we go.”
And then, there were two to three snapping sounds.
“Thank you very much.”
After giving her thanks, Isshiki took back her cellphone and looked at the pictures while sinking deeply into the sofa. I didn’t think it’d be so tiring to take pictures… The thing about how your soul getting sucked out when taking pictures might actually be true.
I let out a sigh and the ascending steam from the coffee disappeared. I wanted to drink it before it got any colder.