Can I brag about my very devoted wife to you?

The right way for high school couples to spend their time (weekends) ④

It was lunchtime, and the hamburger place we were looking for was quite crowded. Riko didn’t seem to know what to do and looked at me with an expectant gaze. I could tell that she was relying on me.

I’ve never had someone trust me like this before, so I was honestly happy. And to have that person to be the girl I like… I don’t want to betray the trust that Riko has placed in me. In order not to make Riko feel uncomfortable, I, who am familiar with this store, have to be firm here.

… Okay. Let’s get a seat first.

I looked around the restaurant and luckily found a seat for two facing the window. I told Riko to wait for me for a moment and went to put my bag with my wallet on the table.

“Sorry, Riko. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

When I went back to Riko, she stared at me with a puzzled look on her face.

“Riko? What’s wrong?”

“Ah! Umm, yeah. Well… you know what? Minato-kun, you’re like a prince, I can’t help but admire you…”

“Guh…! What!? A prince!?”

I was so flustered that I couldn’t help but gulp. What did she see in me that made her say the word “prince”? I think it was the look of disbelief on my face that made Riko squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment before adding a few more words.

“Because it makes me swoon that you’d offer me a seat like that…”

It’s true that I tried my best not to embarrass Riko, but I didn’t expect her to say so much. But if I get carried away here, I’ might screw up…

“I think being able to do this is normal.”

I pretended to be as calm as possible.

“That’s not true. I’m sure I would have gotten confused if I was here alone. Hehe. I’m glad I got to see so many cool things from Minato-kun today. You’re always cool, but is it because we’re spending today as lovers? I’m feeling even more nervous than usual.”

“…”

I can’t help but feel my heart beat faster at Riko’s words.

If I don’t do something, Riko will know that I’m flustered.

I don’t want her to see me in such a bad light.

I gave an unnatural cough and then suggested that we get in line at the cash register. Looking at the menu, I asked Riko what she wanted to order, and she said she wanted the same thing I did.

It was our turn to eat. I mechanically ordered a cheeseburger with fries for two, which is what I usually order, and Riko gave me the same impassioned look as before.

We took our seats and sat across from each other. The table for two was so small that our knees touched each other with just a slight twitch.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine…!”

We exchanged awkward words and twirled our gazes in a shy manner. We always had eaten together, but now it was so different that I couldn’t help but be aware of Riko’s presence.

I need to calm down for a moment.

If I don’t, it’ll look too unnatural and Riko will find out about my feelings…

In my head, I was thinking that, but I couldn’t look away from Riko. Because Riko, every single action and expression was too cute.

Ah, look. Even now, again.

I put my hands together and whispered, “Itadakimasu,” but for some reason, she kept staring at the hamburger in her hands and blinking repeatedly. I found this gesture a little strange and endearing, and it made my mouth water.

“Riko, what’s wrong?”

“Well… I realized burgers were hard to eat…”

“Yeah, that’s true. Even if you eat carefully, you still get sauce around your mouth, right?”

“If I get sauce around my mouth, it would be too embarrassing for Minato-kun to see it.But I’m also embarrassed to eat it with a big mouth to avoid getting sauce on it… Uuu.”

Is that a girl’s heart speaking?

“Well, look, there are proper paper napkins, so don’t worry about it. Besides, no matter what you do, whether you put sauce on your mouth or eat a hamburger with your big mouth, Riko will look cute. I don’t think you need to worry about it at all.”

I don’t know if this will make any difference to you, but I wanted to make you feel a little better, so I told you exactly what I thought.

Immediately after that, Riko’s face turned bright red.

“Minato-kun, you just said I’m cute…”

“Ah…!”

Oh, no…! I got carried away…!

“No, I’m sure that was just a cute thing also meant for animals and babies… don’t be happy…” (TL: Lmao, now the heroine is in self-denial.)

Riko was standing across from me, frozen and flustered, muttering something to herself.

“Ri, Riko?”

When I called out to her hesitantly, Riko blushed and looked regretful, muttering, “I wish I had recorded what you just said…”

Eh? Why…?

“Aren’t you used to being called cute, Riko?”

“I’ve never been told that, Minato-kun.”