Chapter 26
TL: Akabane
***
"Why did you come to this cafe?"
"Because I really liked the atmosphere when I was here before."
She eats her curry carefully. I moves to a nearby counter and rests my right elbow on the table, turning only half my body toward Yamamoto.
I thought about sitting down with her, but I don't think she would feel good if I could see her eating from the front. I decided it would be better for both of us to be this far away from each other.
Fortunately, there were only so many guests that it wouldn't be a problem to talk to her like this. I can't say it too loudly, though.
"The curry is delicious."
"Of course it is. It's my favorite place."
"Is that why you went here the other day?"
"Yes. There are no customers, and the master is a person I can trust."
I couldn't get rid of the smell of cigarettes, but I still wanted to proceed in my own home. After all, this was my first time negotiating for a poster, and I didn't want to get upset over the slightest thing.
"Yamamoto-san, do you mind the smell of cigarettes?"
I asked, suddenly curious. She had curry in her mouth and was chewing it carefully, covering her mouth with her hand. The timing wasn't right, so I averted my gaze and waited for an answer.
"I do care, but ...... not so much these days."
If she didn't care, she wouldn't have chosen a smoking-only cafe. Her reply was plausible.
"Then, why?"
"...... I wonder why."
The key is the reason. She put down my spoon with a thump and seriously considered it. I don't bother to go that far, but she looks for a solid reason.
"............"
"Hmm?"
My eyes meet Yamamoto's. She's looking at my face seriously, but I don't think it's such a big deal.
"No, no. Nothing ......."
I thought so, but she turned her face away from me and put the curry in her mouth. What the hell. If you have something to say, why don't you just say it honestly?
When I turn my back to her, the master is spreading a newspaper in front of me. He looks bored, so I end up calling out to him.
"I knew it, I think we should have a separate smoking area."
"......I was just thinking that too."
Perhaps because I usually smoke in smoking areas, I was uncomfortable puffing away in front of non-smokers. The old guys around me were smoking regardless, but in front of her, I felt like I had to be extra careful.
"Hey."
Her voice was the most beautiful voice in the place.
It was beautiful and well delivered, cutting through the background music in the store, and it was definitely directed at me.
I turn around. This time with my body, spinning around the spinning chair.
"What?"
"Are you ...... paying attention?"
"Why not?"
"I understand. Because that's the kind of person you are, Araki-san."
This girl occasionally pricks people's hearts. But it's not unpleasant, it's pleasant, and it tastes happy. It's like a drug that, if said too often, can be misunderstood.
The straight, beautiful eyes sting. I turn away slightly because I feel like my heart would be completely taken away if I kept looking at her.
"You're buying too much."
"No, no. If Araki-san wasn't here, I--"
She seemed somewhat impatient.
I don't think being bothered by me is a reason to be impatient. She was about to say something, then thought for a moment. I wait a few seconds, but no words come out of her mouth.
"Yamamoto-san?"
"......Um, that's..."
I shifted my gaze and saw that she had finished her curry. A girl who eats well is more attractive than a girl who leaves something halfway. In that sense, too, she is a crisp person.
"I started seeing Araki-san, and it's not that the smell of cigarettes isn't bad. ......"
"Huh?"
"So I want you to smoke that ...... without hesitation. That's all."
It was, of course, the first time a girl had ever said such a thing to me. In the first place, many people probably don't like smoking, and it's true that it's a natural smell or discomfort to be disliked.
I'm a smoker, so I don't think anything of it if a girl smokes. But it must not look good to those who don't smoke.
"Are you stressed out ......?"
"Eh?"
"I mean, because you say you don't mind the smell of cigarettes."
I didn't mean to make fun of her, but her expression blatantly clouded over. By the time I realized that I had completely misspoken, it was already too late.
"Excuse me, Master. After-dinner coffee, please. And some mini pancakes. Araki-san's treat."
Despite my unintentionally upset reaction, the master responded to her order with a grin. At the same time, he said to me, "You don't understand the female mind."
I don't think so. Because that's what cigarettes are for.
"What is it?"
"Oh, nothing at all. ......"
I thought I glanced at her. Our eyes unexpectedly met, and I was taken aback. I'd finished my coffee, so I was feeling very empty-handed.
I decided to take your word for it and leave the store after having a smoke.
I lit a cigarette and let the smoke fill my lungs, and I was filled with an indescribable feeling of happiness. I exhale at least a little, aiming it at the master so that the smoke doesn't reach her. She gave me a look of blatant disgust.
Naturally, I can't look at Yamamoto. But I could feel her eyes on me. I put my right elbow on the table and inhale, trying to look a little cool.
"You're trying to look cool."
Her sharp point is made. It's a little light to be sarcastic.
"It's fine, right?"
I spin around and face her again.
In my right hand is a cigarette. I plop it down in the ashtray once to keep the ashes from falling out.
I wonder if you will tell me that you really don't mind the smell that has seeped into my suit and is now climbing up from my right hand to the ceiling.
I hope so, I thought, inhaling and exhaling toward the ceiling.
"...... Baka."
"I know."
I don't know why she said that to me, but strangely enough, I don't feel bad. Because I felt like I was the only one who was told that by her.
Yamamoto has coffee and mini pancakes on the table. It was supposed to be ice cream, but it turned out to be a more expensive dessert. I do realize it's my treat. It's an extra expense because of the master. Well, I don't mind this much.
"You should eat the pancakes before they get cold."
"The smoke might melt them."
"Yes, yes. I'll turn my back on you."
I think I've become a lot more lighthearted. Not just her, but me too. I even miss the days when I was a Momo-chan fan.
As I declared, I turn my back and put my mouth on my cigarette. As I'm smoking, she suddenly says...
"I'm going to try out for idol."
Oh, no. The timing is too bad.
With the smoke in my mouth, I can't turn around. I wanted to see what she would say, what I wanted to hear the most, and what kind of face she would make.
After I let out a puff of smoke, I felt embarrassed to look back at her now. So, with my back to her, I took in her words and chewed them.
"--Yeah. Revenge."
Something she had been thinking about for a long time. There was no lie in those words, but my heart ached.
It was because I smoked too many cigarettes. Yes, it must be. So I shoved it in the ashtray and missed my watch. It was just before 01:00 in the afternoon.
"Thanks for the food. Master, the bill, please."
"Yes, sir."
I get up from my seat and take out my worn-out long wallet that I had tucked away in my pocket. As I open it and check to see if I have a thousand yen bill and some coins, something hits me on the back.
"Hey."
It was the second time. I felt her beautiful, thin fingers. I wondered if she didn't like the fact that I was leaving without saying hello. If so, I was going to do it from now on. She is an impatient girl, I thought.
When I turned around, she was there.
"Ahn~"
She held out a small pancake on a fork to my mouth. Without pausing to speak, I just accepted it. It was so abrupt, I had no shame or anything.
But after it melted in my mouth, it came.
"...... Ah."
"It's delicious, isn't it?"
I mean, it almost burned the fire out of my face. I can feel my cheeks, ears, and even my palms turning bright red.
Who would have thought that at my age, an "ahn~" from a girl would do this to me. My calm heart is pumping blood through my body at full speed.
I couldn't help myself, so I just paid the bill and ran out of the cafe without even saying hello to her. The winter air doesn't seem to cool the fire.
I had seen her as an idol. Only at that moment, she was reflected as a girl. Or, I should say, I saw her as a girl.
It's no good. I'm not good like this.
Anyway, now I want to smoke again. I want to smoke and forget the taste of that pancake.
However.....
It's so sweet that it drowns out the taste of the cigarette.
And at the same time....
It was sour like my youth.
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