Do You Like Romantic-Comedy Protagonists? - Chapter 25: Do You Like Tailing? 2

Chapter 25: Do You Like Tailing? 2

After preparing for the tailing at Hachiya’s house, with less than an hour until noon, Akaishi and Hachiya left.

Their destination was “La Torche.”

※

They arrived near “La Torche.”

While walking, Akaishi asked Hachiya a question.

“Hey, Hachiya, can I ask something?”

“Make it quick.”

“Isn’t tailing a crime?”

Hachiya’s steps halted abruptly.

With a creaking motion, as if gears were grinding, she slowly turned her head.

Their eyes met.

“Listen. Today, you and I are a couple. We’re a naïve couple from the countryside, visiting the city for fun. You’re a pathetic boyfriend who researched online to escort me but fumbles everything. We just happened to come to the city and saw Sousuke. That’s the story.”

“Why’s the setup so elaborate? And my role’s the worst!”

“Shh! Hide!”

Before he could argue, Hachiya ordered him.

Reluctantly, Akaishi crouched near some bushes, hiding behind dense leaves.

“There’s Sousuke… Coming so early, he’s so kind…”

Hachiya peered out, gazing dreamily at Sakurai.

Checking the time, it was 11:15 a.m.

“Forty-five minutes early is too much. That’s not kind—it’s just bad time management.”

“What! It’s Sousuke’s thoughtfulness to not keep someone waiting! You don’t get romance at all! No wonder you’re not popular!”

“You’re not exactly Miss Popular either.”

“I’m plenty popular!”

We’ve had this exchange before, Akaishi recalled.

“Then Sakurai’s so lovesick he can’t bear to make his date wait, checking his watch nervously. I’d say bad time management’s better.”

“…”

Hearing Akaishi, Hachiya looked down, clenching her fists.

I messed up, Akaishi thought instinctively.

He deeply regretted spouting something inconvenient to Hachiya in the heat of the moment.

He believed his guess—that Sakurai was nervous about his date—was likely correct.

But he didn’t think telling Hachiya was right or justified.

Reacting to her retort, he’d laid out his reasoning, knowing it would hurt her.

Through their repeated interactions, Akaishi had seen Hachiya’s fragility beneath her tough exterior.

He reflected deeply and fell silent.

A heavy, somber atmosphere filled the air.

After a while, Hachiya wiped her eyes.

“Sorry…”

Akaishi apologized.

His rational mind couldn’t stay cold seeing a girl’s tears.

“What’s sorry for! Hurry up and watch Sousuke!”

As if nothing happened, Hachiya regained her usual demeanor.

She looked toward Sakurai.

Her eyes were redder than usual.

※

“Morning~ Sorry, Sakurai-kun, did I keep you waiting?”

“Nah, not at all! I just got here, like, right now!”

It was 11:40 a.m.

Twenty-five minutes had passed since Akaishi and Hachiya arrived.

As expected, Suijou joined Sakurai.

Chatting, they entered “La Torche.”

“Sousuke’s really dating another girl!”

Hachiya, watching from the shadows, muttered with anger.

Akaishi and Hachiya moved to a bench out of sight from “La Torche.”

Just before Sakurai and Suijou entered, for a fleeting moment—too brief to count—Sakurai seemed to glance their way.

Maybe it was imagination. But Akaishi couldn’t shake the feeling Sakurai had looked at them.

“La Torche”—

A luxurious, stylish café built near the station a few years ago.

Immensely popular with high school girls, many were inside taking photos of drinks.

Hachiya, clearly displeased, glared at Sakurai and Suijou’s rendezvous.

“This ticks me off…”

“You look like a demon.”

Hachiya’s glare was downright menacing.

A few minutes into watching—

Gurgle.

“…”

Hachiya’s stomach growled.

She pressed her stomach and looked at Akaishi.

“I’m hungry. I didn’t eat breakfast because of you. I was cleaning.”

“Don’t blame me.”

In a rom-com, a heroine would blush and try to hide her stomach’s noise, but since it was Akaishi, that didn’t happen.

He felt a bit disappointed but saw a wild instinct in Hachiya’s actions.

“Akaishi, go buy me food at a convenience store. I’m busy watching Sousuke. Hurry.”

“You… Fine.”

Feeling used, Akaishi gave in and went to buy food.

※

“I’m back.”

“Took you long enough.”

“That’s no way to talk to the guy who got your food.”

Akaishi pulled convenience store food from his backpack.

“That’ll be 3,056 yen.”

“What!? You’re charging a girl!? And that’s way too expensive! What’d you buy!?”

Hachiya looked genuinely shocked at Akaishi’s demand.

“Hey, it’s fine. We’re not dating or anything.”

“Even so, 3,056 yen is ridiculous!”

Akaishi showed the receipt.

“It’s 356 yen. Whatever, it’s not much. I’ll cover it. Be grateful.”

“I’ll be grateful the tiniest bit.”

Akaishi didn’t actually demand money.

For rational Akaishi, asking for money was in character, but such a small amount risked Hachiya’s displeasure, so he paid.

He made excuses to himself about wanting to look good for Hachiya, but this time, it wasn’t true.

He wouldn’t demand small sums from anyone.

Avoiding displeasure. Buying favor with money.

Rational Akaishi weighed emotions against money for profit.

He calculated even human feelings in monetary terms.

“Here.”

Akaishi handed Hachiya two jam buns and milk.

She looked at the food, dumbfounded.

“Are you stupid!? Jam buns and milk for a girl!? Are you crazy!? Buy a sandwich or something!”

“We’re surveilling, so jam buns and milk are normal.”

“I’m a girl! Why jam buns and milk!? You’re missing screws! Even if I accept that, this is ridiculous!”

Hachiya thrust the milk at him.

The one-liter milk Akaishi gave her.

“One liter! O-ne li-ter! Have you ever seen a girl chugging a liter of milk outside!? That’s insane!”

“I thought of that and got a straw.”

“That’s not the issue!”

Akaishi offered a straw, but Hachiya slapped it away.

“…”

He silently picked it up.

Through repeated talks with Hachiya, Akaishi’s true nature was emerging.

Rational and unemotional, yet he enjoyed teasing others childishly.

Like with Suda, his penchant for silly banter was slowly showing with Hachiya.

Such behavior toward others signaled a slight shift in Akaishi’s emotions.