Chapter 13

A simple game.

Brought to you by Noir

1.

(POV: The Present)

(POV: Changing between Arizuki and Miya from time to time) 

As nervousness and joy mix together, my body temperature starts to increase.

Arizuki may have just heard the name of his benefactor casually. However, Miya’s heart was beating so hard that even she could listen to it.

Damningly dense.

I could even see Shun and Sayaka stealing worried glances in our direction. Nope, I think Sayaka is just amusingly looking at this situation.

[TL note: Just a reminder, Shun, and Sayaka are Yuu’s Parents.]

I don’t want to use a fake name in this situation.

(I didn’t want to lie to Yuu-nii.)

However, I don’t want to tell him my name yet.

What can I do…

I remember those nostalgic days of my childhood spent with Arizuki. Those revived memories start flashing in front of my eyes.

That’s right!

Those memories reminded Miya of how mischievous she was during her childhood days.

“It’s a secret.”

Arizuki, on the other hand, had a blank look.

“Eh?”

Turning towards him, Miya smiled brightly.

“May I call you Isamu-san if you’re okay with it?”

[TL note: Maybe Yuu-san is the short form?]

I haven’t felt this way for quite a long time.

That satisfying feeling I got whenever I toyed and tossed Arizuki around me.

“Sure.”

“Well then, Isamu-san, let’s play a game for the time being. If you are able to win against me, then I’ll do anything you’ll ask me to.”

“What do you mean by anything, Eh? a game?”

“Yea~ There is no deadline for this. You have to try guessing my name correctly.”

2.

“You will get one chance to answer every day. If, by any chance, you successfully guess my name correctly, then I’ll do whatever one thing you ask me to do.”

I had only asked for her name, but it seems that now I have to play a game with the high school girl.

“No~ no~.”

“Why not?”

“What if I am unable to guess correctly?”

“Well, when that happens, how about a penalty? Now, let’s see.”

Even if you say, “Let’s see,” how do you expect the person you’ve just met to guess your name correctly? There is no way I could know.

I glanced at my mother, begging her to help me with this. But, in response, she just held a hand to her mouth, stifling a laugh.

“Of course, you can’t ask anyone for help secretly.”

“Ugh~hh”

Come on, it’s a guessing game.

“Well then…”

A strange feeling of tension surrounds my surroundings in the cafe.

What is even the purpose of all this, or does she simply don’t want me to know her name?

“How about something like Sairenji Madoka?”

“…”

“…”

“Incorrect.”

With that said, the high school girl moved her hands to my armpits.

“! ?”

And began to tickle.

“Fu~ hahaha~.”

“Endure it. It’s a penalty game.”

After a round of tickling, the high school girl had an expression of satisfaction and accomplishment on her face.

“Fu~uu, you made me tickle you so hard that it made me drop a sweat. Well then, let’s meet again later.”

*****

“Saying Sairenji Madoka, Sairenji Madoka… Puku~kuku~ What’s with the naming sense? It’s hilarious.”

My mother plops down on the table, her shoulders still shaking.

“Hold it. I came up with that name because she seemed like a nice rich young lady. I mean, I don’t get it either. Mother, you must know that girl, don’t you?”

“We know her very well. However, it’s against the rules for us to tell you.”

“What is it even with that?!”

My armpits were hot. No, my entire body felt like it was on fire.

Even though the girl had left, the burning feeling in my body hadn’t subsided.

No, no, no, she is a high school girl. This kind of sentiment towards a high school girl will get me to jail.

But…

“She’s a regular here, isn’t she?”

“Yes, she is. Maybe she’ll come back tomorrow. Anyway, you’ve been to Hello Work, haven’t you? Did you find a good place for work?”

“Ne~ Ah~ah”

I pulled out the job applications from my bag, which I had brought back, and crumpled them in a ball.

I don’t need this stuff any longer.

“Ah~ I’m inheriting this cafe.”

———————————————————END OF THE CHAPTER————————————————