Traveling With a Beautiful Girl - Chapter 11: Lunch in Atami

During our discussion on what to do for lunch, the differences in personality between Nanase and me became apparent.

As we strolled through the shopping district, I suggested we go into a shop that caught our attention. In response, Nanase said we should go to the highest-rated restaurant on a food review website.

“If a restaurant has high ratings online, then it’s guaranteed not to disappoint.”

“But isn’t it okay if we end up with disappointment? I think wandering around and casually entering a shop is part of the charm of traveling.”

“There’s a risk of missing out on good restaurants that way. We’ve spent time and money to come all the way here, so it would be irrational to have a disappointing meal.”

“Well, when you put it like that, I guess you’re right.”

In the end, we went to a highly-rated restaurant on the food review website, as guided by Nanase.

We arrived at a Japanese restaurant with a calm atmosphere.

Upon entering, the scent of wood in the air heightened our anticipation and nervousness. As ordinary people who usually dine at chain restaurants, we felt a peculiar excitement in our chests.

We were seated at a location in the tatami room where we could enjoy a panoramic view of the Atami sea.

A waitress in a kimono handed us the menu.

I ordered a seafood rice bowl that looked like a jewelry box, while Nanase ordered the restaurant’s most popular dish, a simmered red snapper set meal.

“Ordering the most popular menu item is so like you, Nanase.”

“It’s the dish the restaurant has the most confidence in. Don’t you think we should prioritize trying it when we can’t come back often?”

“I get what you’re saying, but I tend to make decisions based on my feelings.”

“You’re the type who orders curry at a soba restaurant, aren’t you?”

“Wait, is the curry at a soba restaurant not good?”

“Why would you order curry at a restaurant that specializes in soba? You can have curry at Coco Ichibanya.”

(T/N: “CURRY HOUSE CoCo ICHIBANYA”,known as “CoCoICHI”, is a chain restaurant specializing in Japanese-style curry rice.)

“My mood takes precedence over anything else.”

“It seems our taste in food doesn’t align, Takahashi-kun.”

“It’s not just our taste in food, it feels like there’s a more fundamental difference between us.”

As we continued our incompatible conversation, our orders arrived.

The seafood rice bowl glistened with the sunlight pouring in through the window, making it look like a treasure chest.

There was no way it wouldn’t be delicious.

In fact, it was exquisite.

The large slices of fatty tuna, yellowtail, and salmon were incredibly fresh without any fishy smell. The sea urchin was creamy and sweet, and the shrimp with heads were plump and satisfying.

“This is amazing…”

Is there a better word to describe my current mood? Enjoying a superb seafood rice bowl while gazing at the Atami sea, instead of picking at a cold lunch at school.

The sense of liberation was indescribable, beyond the power of words.

…Nanase had been oddly quiet for a while.

When I took a quick glance, I saw Nanase closing her eyes, looking up, and moving her mouth as she chewed.

Her expression remained stern as always, but she couldn’t hide the aura of bliss. The grains of rice on her lips symbolized her enjoyment of the meal.

“…What?”

“No, I just thought you have a surprisingly childlike side.”

“Excuse me?”

Nanase glared at me.

“How can you possibly think that? And I don’t want to hear that from you, Takahashi-kun.”

As she continued to glare with her sharp eyes, it was hard not to see her as a hamster with a grain of rice stuck to its face.

What a charming creature this is.

“Sorry, sorry. It’s just that you looked like a child eating a kid’s meal, so I couldn’t help it.”

“I wasn’t making a face like that. The food at the restaurant I chose was just so delicious that I was thoroughly enjoying it.”

“Maybe it’s just because you always have a stern expression, seeing your relaxed face was refreshing.”

“You always find the most annoying things to say, Takahashi-kun.”

“Coming from someone with rice on their face…”

“What…!?”

Nanase hurriedly rubbed her mouth. The gesture only made her look more childlike.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

“Hey, wait!”

I retreated before she could snap at me. I could swear I heard a growl from behind me, but I ignored it. When I finished up and checked my smartphone, I saw several missed calls from my parents. I decided to pretend I hadn’t seen them. When I returned to our table, Nanase had already finished eating, leaving the red snapper reduced to a neat pile of bones.

“Hurry up and finish eating, we’re going to the hot springs.”

It seemed as if the rice grain incident had been wiped from her memory.