Apparently Yuzuru and Arisa had the same thought.
The two of them ended up going to a nearby soba restaurant.
They could have ordered soba for delivery…
but delivery cost extra.
Since the place was within a comfortable walking distance, going there directly was more practical.
“This is actually my first time going to a soba restaurant.”
“I see. So that’s why you chose soba.”
For a high school girl her age, choosing a soba place was a little unexpected.
Girls might worry about soup splashing or something like that.
Yuzuru had assumed she’d choose a café or family restaurant.
So Arisa’s choice surprised him.
…Or so he thought.
“Ah—no, that’s not really the reason.”
“Oh? It’s not?”
“I’ve hardly ever been taken out to eat. I picked soba because… well, it’s summer, so it seemed nice.”
“I see… what a coincidence. I was thinking something cool would be nice since it’s summer.”
For a brief moment, Yuzuru glimpsed the unfortunate circumstances of Arisa’s home life again.
But he pretended not to notice.
Soon they were seated and glanced at the menu.
“I think I’ll get the kamoseiro with a medium portion. What about you, Yukishiro?”
“I’ll have tempura soba. Regular size.”
After ordering, Arisa’s soba and tempura arrived first.
The tempura came with two shrimp and five vegetables.
It was slightly generous, but considering the price, the portion made sense.
However…
the soba itself—
“Um… did they mix up the portion sizes? The medium one was supposed to be yours, right?”
Arisa looked confused as she stared at the mountain-like pile of soba.
“Ah, this place just serves large portions. That’s the regular size.”
“Eh? But…”
Then Arisa looked at Yuzuru’s bowl.
And fell silent.
Then she compared it to hers.
If that’s medium… then this really is regular.
That realization was written clearly on her face.
“Sorry, sorry. I forgot to explain… uh, want help?”
“Yes, please.”
In the end, Yuzuru took about half of her noodles.
“Are you sure you’re okay giving me this much?”
“I’m not someone with a particularly large appetite.”
Then Arisa pointed to the plate of tempura.
“How about some tempura? One shrimp and… one vegetable.”
“Sure, I’ll take some.”
Yuzuru took the tempura she offered.
Then he picked up a slice of duck meat floating in his dipping broth.
“How about this? Want to try?”
“…Alright. I’ll have it.”
After exchanging side items like that, they finally started eating.
The restaurant was known for large portions, but the quality wasn’t lacking.
The soba had a pleasant aroma and firm texture.
The duck broth was rich and flavorful.
The tempura was crispy and delicious.
“Takasegawa-san, you can eat wasabi?”
Arisa suddenly said.
Yuzuru had indeed been spreading wasabi on his soba without issue.
“Yukishiro… don’t tell me you can’t?”
“…I tried it when I was little. Ever since then, I’ve avoided it. The sharp sensation traumatized me.”
The small mound of wasabi on her plate remained untouched.
Yuzuru briefly thought about asking for it—
but then said,
“Why not try it now? You might be surprised.”
“…You’re right. I’m an adult now. By the way, is it correct to spread it like that instead of dissolving it?”
“Who knows? It’s probably personal preference. But for you… if you dissolve it, it might become too strong. Spreading it might be better.”
“That makes sense.”
Arisa nodded and carefully placed a tiny bit of wasabi on her soba.
Then she dipped it in the broth and took a delicate bite.
“Well?”
“It smells nice and tastes good—…!!”
Arisa immediately clutched her nose.
Her eyes turned red and watery in an instant.
She hurriedly finished her tea.
“…It seems I wasn’t ready after all. Please don’t laugh.”
“Sorry, sorry. It was just funny.”
“…You’re cruel.”
Arisa puffed her cheeks and turned away, teary-eyed.
The gesture was so adorable that Yuzuru almost felt like patting her head.
Before long, they finished their soba.
While sipping the soba broth, Arisa asked:
“By the way, Takasegawa-san… you know Tachibana-san and Uenishi-san, don’t you?”
Then Yuzuru remembered that Arisa had been present yesterday.
She must have seen or heard him talking with Ayaka and Chiharu.
“Yeah. …Do you know them too? They’re in different classes.”
That exchange felt oddly familiar.
They had talked about something similar before.
But Arisa’s answer this time was slightly different.
“My adoptive father told me… that if I ended up in the same class as them, I should befriend them. He said they come from respectable families.”
Arisa frowned slightly.
Being told who you should be friends with would bother anyone.
Yuzuru and the girls had grown up together partly due to family connections too—
but no one had ever directly ordered them to be friends.
“You don’t have to force yourself to get along with them. But they’re both good people.”
“Yes. They’re cheerful, sociable, and beautiful…”
Arisa sounded almost admiring.
Arisa herself was certainly beautiful—
but whether she was cheerful and sociable was more questionable.
She treated everyone equally.
But she never formed particularly close bonds.
There was always that invisible wall.
“Takasegawa-san.”
“Hmm?”
“…What kind of relationship do you have with them?”
“We’re childhood friends. We’ve known each other since we were babies. So yeah—friends. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Technically he and Ayaka were distant relatives too.
But it was so distant that he never really thought about it.
“That’s all?”
“That’s all. …What, did we look like a couple?”
They did stand quite close when talking.
From the outside, they might look closer than ordinary friends.
But—
“No… not exactly. I just wondered if perhaps one of you had feelings for the other.”
“I admit they’re both beautiful. But I don’t have romantic feelings for them. They’re not my type.”
People like them were fun as friends.
But imagining them as a spouse…
Yuzuru felt like he’d never get a moment of peace at home.
“And they don’t like me either. They have someone else they like.”
“Oh… I see. Well, someone that beautiful wouldn’t be left alone.”
“Exactly.”
Though the terrifying part was—
the two of them liked the same person.
Yuzuru pictured the unfortunate friend currently caught between them.
Meanwhile, Arisa asked calmly:
“Was it really okay to turn down the study session?”
Apparently she had heard that conversation too.
Not surprising, given how loudly Ayaka and Chiharu talked.
“I already had plans with you.”
Arisa was the one he had promised first.
So naturally, she took priority.
“…Was that really okay? For someone like me?”
“You’re not ‘someone like that’ to me.”
Yuzuru shrugged lightly.
“I can make it up to them later. But I can only see you on Saturdays. Of course I’d prioritize that. And besides…”
“And besides?”
“I enjoy spending time with you. Isn’t that enough?”
Arisa looked momentarily stunned.
Then she shook her head.
“No… that’s perfectly fine. And I also… enjoy it.”
She narrowed her eyes gently.
The smile she showed was fragile—
like something that might vanish if touched.
Beautiful.
Precious.
It stirred an almost dangerous urge to protect—or even possess—it.
“May I ask one thing?”
“Y-yeah… what is it?”
Yuzuru had been staring at her smile.
By the time he snapped out of it, her usual neutral expression had already returned.
“May I… visit sometimes on days other than Saturday?”
“If I’m free, anytime. You’re always welcome.”
“Thank you.”
Her face remained expressionless.
But her eyes held a slightly warmer light than usual.
Next chapter: “My Fiancée and Exercise” They’ll have an outdoor date.
Look forward to it!
Dere Level: 63%
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