Chapter 5: Forget-Me-Not ③

While Takamine-san was reading my novel, I was furiously scribbling on paper, practically assaulting it with my pen tip, to write the novel I couldn’t write yesterday when I went to the beach.

Once I settled down a bit, I took a breather.

“Phew.”

“Amazing concentration. Your coffee is completely cold, would you like a refill?”

Just as I took a break, Yoko-san noticed and showed that consideration.

“Yes, please.”

I quickly finished the cold coffee left in the cup.

Yoko-san then expertly took the empty cup.

“And you, Hana-chan, you read a lot.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Because Shiranui-kun’s novel is really interesting. Even though I don’t usually read books, I get completely drawn into it.”

“So she says, boy.”

Yoko-san said, patting me on the back.

“Ahaha…”

I could only give an empty laugh in response to something that was difficult to respond to.

“I’ll bring you a refill now, wait for me.”

Takamine-san, who had been following Yoko-san with her eyes as she headed to the kitchen, suddenly returned her gaze to me.

Feeling ashamed that our eyes met, I desperately pulled out a topic.

“How was the novel?”

“Hm? Like I said earlier. It was really interesting.”

Regardless of whether the praise came from the person I admired, I couldn’t help but feel joy from the simple compliment about the story.

“But…”

“?”

“I don’t know, I feel like something is missing compared to the story you showed me before summer vacation…”

“Something…”

That ‘something’ was probably what Takamine-san had given me.

But I couldn’t say that.

I couldn’t, of course.

In the end, I’m a coward who watches her—an unobtainable flower—from afar.

“Fufu, well, it’s just the opinion of an amateur reader, so don’t worry too much about it, okay?”

“No, I’m happy just to hear a vague impression like that.”

Clink, a coffee cup was placed in front of me.

“Here you go. Your coffee refill.”

“Thank you.”

Perhaps because she had gotten a little busy, Yoko-san left immediately this time without lingering to chat.

I took a sip.

“Hey, Shiranui-kun.”

“What is it?”

“Is the coffee good?”

“It’s delicious.”

“Then… maybe I’ll take a sip…”

“Eh?”

Her eyes were fixed on me.

Meaning, she wanted a sip of my coffee.

“Is that a no?”

“It’s not that it’s a no, I don’t mind, but… I’ll put a little sugar and milk in it.”

I put one cube of sugar and a little milk into the coffee.

I stirred it, then handed the cup, saucer and all, straight to her.

“Thank you, Shiranui-kun.”

She received the cup, then deliberately turned it halfway before drinking.

If I hand her the cup that I just drank from straight, and she turns it halfway to drink, then that means…

“Ah…”

Without seeming to care, she took a sip of the coffee.

“Ugh~ it’s bitter after all.”

She shut both eyes and stuck out the tip of her tongue, unable to handle the bitterness.

An indirect kiss.

That fact, like the sugar and milk I had just stirred into the coffee, stirred up confusion and embarrassment in my heart.

She’s a high school girl her age, so doesn’t she care about an indirect kiss?

Or am I the childish one for caring about something like this?

“Hahaha… I guess it was bitter after all.”

It was my laugh that was bitter.

“Yeah, it was bitter. But… I didn’t haaate it.”

“Eh?”

Was she saying she didn’t hate the coffee, or the indirect kiss?

I instinctively asked again, wanting to know her true intention.

“…From now on, I’ll try drinking coffee little by little.”

“A-ah, the coffee.”

Was I relieved or disappointed?

Contradictory emotions dominated my heart.

“…didn’t hate it, I.”

“Hm? Did you say something?”

“No, it’s nothing. More importantly, it’s completely dark outside now.”

“Huh? Is it that late already?”

Since this coffee shop is located in an alley, it’s dark even during the day, so I hadn’t noticed, but if I looked closely, I could indeed see that the sun had set.

It seemed I had spent more time writing than I realized.

“You’re right. Let’s head home soon after you finish that coffee.”

“Understood. I’ll drink it now, so wait for me for a bit.”

“Fufu, you don’t have to rush so much.”

If I were to turn the cup halfway so the handle was back in my dominant hand, I would be making an indirect kiss again.

It felt a little unnatural, but I decided to drink it without turning it halfway.

An unfamiliar sweetness spread in my mouth.

“Ah…”

“What’s wrong?”

“N-no, it’s nothing.”

Saying that, she gave a smile that felt a little lonely.

“Say, Shiranui-kun. Can I take the parts I couldn’t finish reading today home?”

“Oh, I don’t mind.”

“Thank you. Then, I’ll return it once I’ve read all of it.”

This time, her smile didn’t feel lonely at all.

It truly captivated my heart.

I quickly finished the coffee to calm my dancing heart.

The sweetness of the sugar and the indirect kiss made me feel almost sick.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’ll go ahead and pay the bill.”

“Ah, I have to pay for the tea…”

“Eh? I’m treating, right? It’s fine, I’ll pay.”

“I was just kidding, though… but maybe I’ll take you up on that offer.”

I picked up the check.

“Then you can take the novel with the paper bag as is.”

I then walked towards the register.

“Paying the bill?”

Yoko-san, who was nearby, called out to me.

“Yes.”

“Understood. I’ll be right there.”

She took the check from my hand and expertly rang up the total on the register.

“That’s 1300 yen in total. Would you like to pay separately?”

“No, paying together is fine.”

“Right, the boy has to pay for the date.”

“N-no, it’s not like that…”

“Ahaha, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just wanted to tease you. But you were really focused on writing.”

“I… suppose so. I didn’t really notice, but perhaps the atmosphere and the coffee allowed me to focus more than usual.”

“Say, if you ever have the chance, would you let me read some of your work?”

“If you think it is good enough to be read, then absolutely, please do.”

“Thank you, I look forward to it. Here’s your change. Thank you very much.”

“Thank you for the drinks.”

Takamine-san had already stepped outside, so I left the shop as well.

The moment I stepped out, the humid, hot summer air clung to my skin.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Takamine-san.”

“It was a nice place, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. I felt like I wanted to come back.”

“Then, how about… next week? Let’s meet here again on this day next week. I’ll make sure to read all of this by then.”

She held up the paper bag.

“Understood. I’ll make progress with my writing by then, too.”

“Well, let’s head home. Don’t forget our promise for next week, okay~”

“I’ll definitely keep the promise.”

The two of us started walking away from the coffee shop’s entrance.

A thought crossed my mind, and I looked back.

Somehow, I felt like this coffee shop was going to become an important place for me.

“What’s wrong, Shiranui-kun?”

“Oh, ah, it’s nothing.”

Summer vacation is almost halfway through.

By this time next week, it will be the turnaround point.

But… I feel like my summer vacation has only just begun.