A Beautiful Model In My Class Comes To The Coffee Shop Where I Work Part-time Only When I'm On Shift - Chapter 25

Episode 25: Shizuku and Reiko

“What…!?”

Surprised, I almost let out a loud voice.

Reiko Inamori, a very popular actress.

She, who is truly a person of the moment, is right in front of me.

Or rather, didn’t she just call my name?

“Oh, was that a mistake?”

“N-no! I am certainly Juntaro…”

“Oh, I see. That’s good.”

“When you mentioned a cute junior, did you mean…”

“I’m talking about Shizuku-chan. I’ve heard a lot about you from her.”

While saying that, Reiko Inamori shows a smile.

“I’ve been wanting to come here ever since I heard about this store from Shizuku-chan. I like coffee too.”

“I-I see. Thank you very much. Would you like your coffee hot?”

“Yes, hot, please.”

“Understood. Please wait a moment.”

With a restless heart, I relay the order to the master.

“Hot coffee, got it.”

“Um… Master, about that customer—”

“The one from the entertainment industry, right? She’s in a drama with Shizuku-chan.”

“Huh, you noticed?”

“The atmosphere is different. You can tell right away.”

What exactly is this ‘atmosphere’? I can never understand Utahara-san’s sense.

“Here’s your hot coffee.”

“Thank you.”

“Please enjoy.”

After delivering the coffee, I tried to leave the table. However, fueled by curiosity, I turn back on the spot.

“Um…”

“? What’s wrong?”

“Is Shizuku doing well on set?”

Why am I asking such a thing? I want to punch myself. Normally, I would never talk to a customer like this. But if she heard about me from Shizuku, maybe she’d indulge me with a bit of conversation.

“Shizuku-chan is doing her best. I think she’s probably putting in the most effort on set.”

“Is that so…”

Everyone is being pulled along by Shizuku-chan, who is a beginner. One of the senior actors said, ‘It’s been a long time since I’ve looked back at my acting in a movie I was in’… It’s not easy to change the mindset of veterans, you know.”

Inamori-san had a wry smile.

She must have had her share of difficulties with other actors.

“Shizuku-chan’s acting is also getting much better, and overall, the quality of the drama has improved, and the viewer ratings are skyrocketing.”

Inamori-san’s tone had shifted without notice.

Her spirits seemed to have been lifted considerably by talking about Shizuku.

It feels good to hear her being praised. Moreover, it’s high praise coming from a talented and popular actress who works on the same set.

To be praised by someone like that is exactly what you’re proud of as a friend.

“Thank you for praising Shizuku.”

“Of course, Juntaro-kun is just as Shizuku-chan described.”

“Huh?”

“Your kind and straightforward… you have a really good look in your eyes.”

What exactly is Shizuku saying about me? Just as I was about to ask what else she said, the bell at the entrance rang again.

“W-wait…! Reiko-san!”

Out of breath, Shizuku appeared.

Inamori-san mischievously sticks out her tongue upon seeing her.

“Oh, you’re here already.”

“If you suddenly called me out, I didn’t expect it to be at this shop… you didn’t say anything strange to Juntaro, did you!?”

“I didn’t say anything strange. I just mentioned that Shizuku-chan always talks about Juntaro-kun.”

“That’s saying something strange!”

Shizuku, blushing furiously and angry, looked at Reiko, who seemed to be enjoying herself. Shizuku, who should have been the one teasing, was being played with.

Adult women are to be feared.

“Well, let’s talk about it now. Come on, sit down?”

“Ugh…”

With an embarrassed expression, Shizuku looked at me once.

“What would you like to order?”

“Um, iced coffee…”

“Certainly.”

While I was about to burst into laughter, I left the table to place the order with the master.

◇◆◇

“W-What do you really mean by this, Reiko-san…!”

Checking that Juntaro isn’t around, I ask Reiko.

“What do you mean by that… Shizuku-chan talks so much about this shop that I got curious, that’s all. Is there a problem?”

“Uh… no, but…”

Yes, there’s no fault with Reiko-san. On the contrary, it’s something to be happy about that she came here after listening to my recommendation. It’s me who’s saying things without meaning.

“…Sorry for being mean. It’s true that I was curious about the coffee at this shop because Shizuku-chan talked about it a lot, but it’s also true that I got interested in Juntaro-kun, whom Shizuku-chan always talks about.”

“Oh, really! …What else did you talk about with Juntaro?”

“We haven’t really talked much yet.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Though I say so myself, Reiko-san seems to enjoy teasing people just like me. And it seems that she has now set her sights on me. It’s a fact that I’m being cared for, but it’s also a fact that I’m being played with.

Where is the neat and pretty image that is spreading around the world?

The actual Reiko Inamori is a mischievous child to the extent that her co-stars find it troublesome.