58 - Curious About That Flavor Too

RAW

Haruto silently hoped that this limited edition ice cream wouldn’t be too easy to find.

Perhaps his prayer was answered, as they failed to find it at the second department store near the station.

“It’s really hard to find, huh?” Ayaka said as they left.

Her words might have sounded disappointed, but there wasn’t a trace of gloom on her face. In fact, she was smiling as brightly as the sun above them.

“Yeah, it is. But, I’m sure it’s still available somewhere.”

“Yeah! That’s right!” Ayaka nodded enthusiastically.

Haruto took a moment to check the time.

“Speaking of which, it’s almost lunchtime. Should we grab something to eat?”

“Oh, it’s that late already? Time just flies when I’m with you, Haruto-kun.”

“...”

Haruto quickly looked away, using his hand to cover the smile tugging at his lips.

“Cough! Ahem! So, lunch then?”

He tried to compose himself.

“Yeah. Where should we go? What do you feel like eating?”

Without mentioning his awkward coughing, Ayaka tilted her head, leaning in a bit.

Her closeness, her cuteness, and the warmth of her hand in his made Haruto’s expression soften.

“Actually, I’ve reserved a place for lunch. Is that okay?”

“Wait, you made a reservation?”

“Yeah, well... it’s a date, so I thought it’d feel more real that way.”

Looking away shyly, Haruto rubbed the back of his head.

Ayaka’s eyes widened with delight and surprise.

“Wow! What kind of place did you reserve?”

“That’s a surprise for when we get there.”

Ayaka’s face lit up, her mouth forming a wide smile.

Seeing her reaction, Haruto started to feel slightly nervous. He had wanted it to be a surprise, but what if she didn’t like the place? He tried to keep his cool as he explained.

“Just to be clear, it’s not a fancy restaurant or anything. It’s a casual place for high schoolers.”

“Haha, I’m really looking forward to it! Thank you for making the reservation—I’m so happy!”

“Y-yeah. Well then, let’s go.”

Walking beside him, Ayaka was in a fantastic mood, even humming softly.

With her in such high spirits, Haruto’s left hand bobbed up and down as they walked, making it a bit awkward to keep pace. Still, he didn’t mind, adjusting his steps to match hers.

As they made their way to the restaurant, Ayaka’s vibrant smile drew people’s attention. She was already beautiful, but her expression made her even more radiant, catching the eyes of many passersby. Usually, Haruto would have felt overwhelmed by the stares, but today, he was too focused on hoping Ayaka would like his choice of restaurant.

Eventually, they arrived at a charming spot with potted plants near the entrance and a few outdoor tables.

“This is the place I reserved.”

“Wow! It looks nice! It’s... a pancake café?”

“Yeah. I heard the pancakes here are delicious… You’re okay with pancakes for lunch?”

“Absolutely! I love pancakes!”

Relieved, Haruto led Ayaka inside, feeling reassured by her smile.

Since the place was popular, it was bustling with customers, but thanks to the reservation, they were quickly shown to their seats.

“The interior is so stylish!” Ayaka said.

“Yeah, it feels like being in a forest cabin.”

“Totally!”

They exchanged warm words as they took their seats in the rustic, woodsy atmosphere, complete with plants and wooden beams overhead.

“Places like this are really calming.”

“They must have lots of negative ions here,” Haruto said, patting the wooden table.

A waiter arrived with water and menus, politely excusing himself as he set them down. Ayaka immediately opened hers.

“Wow! Everything looks delicious!”

Clearly a pancake fan, Ayaka’s eyes sparkled as she scanned the menu.

“Oh... it’s hard to choose… Haruto-kun, have you decided?”

“I’m going with the matcha pancake.”

“Hmm, Haruto-kun chose that...”

Ayaka looked at the options intently, as if making a life-changing decision, and Haruto chuckled.

“Which ones are you torn between?”

“Well, all of them, but… if I have to choose, maybe this one or that one?”

She pointed to two options: one was a classic butter-and-syrup pancake, the other was decked out with strawberries, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream.

“Can’t decide, huh…? How about this—I’ll get the butter and syrup one, and you can order the photogenic one. Then, we can share. Sound good?”

“Oh, but that means you won’t get to try the matcha…”

“I wanted to try the classic one too, so it’s fine.”

“...Really? You sure?”

With a cute, tentative look, Ayaka glanced up at him, and he nodded, his expression softening.

“Yes.”

“Yay! Let’s do that! Can I order then?”

“Yeah.”

Delighted, Ayaka placed their order, her excitement clear.

“Haruto-kun, you’re so sweet.”

“Nah, it’s nothing.”

“That’s not true! You’re really sweet.”

With a mischievous smile, Haruto teased her.

“You were looking pretty desperate there. I didn’t have the heart to tell you to pick just one.”

“Well... if you hadn’t brought me to such an amazing place, I wouldn’t be in this position!” she huffed playfully.

“Oh come on, that’s unfair!”

“It’s not! It’s totally your fault, Haruto-kun!”

Her playful pout made him laugh, and she joined in, their laughter echoing together. They shared happy glances while waiting for their pancakes to arrive.

Soon, two fluffy pancakes were set in front of them, and Ayaka’s excitement reached its peak.

“Wow! They look so good!”

“Yeah, and they smell amazing.”

She quickly took out her phone to snap a few photos.

“Mind if I take a picture, Haruto-kun?”

“Go ahead.”

He slid his plate closer, making it easier for her to take pictures.

“Hehe, I’ll show these off to Saki later.”

Grinning in satisfaction, she picked up her fork and knife.

“Let’s eat.”

“Yes! Itadakimasu!”

The pancakes were fluffy, with buttery richness and maple syrup sweetness spreading through each bite.

“Delicious.”

Savoring the taste, Haruto let a soft smile escape. Ayaka, meanwhile, was savoring her fruity, whipped cream-covered pancake with delight.

“Mmm~!”

Her small, joyful movements conveyed just how good it was.

“Haruto-kun, this is amazing!”

“Yeah, it’s great.”

As they continued, Haruto cut half of his pancake and offered it to her. Instead of taking it, she cut a piece from her plate and held it up to his mouth.

“Here you go, Haruto-kun.”

“...Huh?”

“Since we’re sharing, I’ll feed you the rest of mine.”

“I can feed myself—”

“This is part of being a couple, right? Look at that pair over there.”

Haruto glanced in the direction she indicated, where a couple was sharing bites of their pancakes in a cozy, affectionate manner.

“Close couples do things like this, you know?”

“...”

Seeing the real couple, Haruto couldn’t argue.

“Come on, Haruto-kun. Say ‘ahh’.”

Smiling brightly, Ayaka held the pancake to his lips, and he leaned forward to take a bite.

“Is it sweet?”

“...Incredibly so.”

The pancake seemed even sweeter than before.

“Haruto-kun, I want to try your pancake, too.”

“Oh, uh, sure.”

Trying to steady himself, Haruto cut a piece of his pancake and held it up for her.

“Here you go, Ayaka.”

“Thank you.”

With a happy grin, Ayaka took a bite, her cheeks flushing slightly.

“Yes, it’s sweet and delicious,” she said, her smile softening.

“Haruto-kun, here comes another ‘ahh’.”

As Ayaka cheerfully offered him another bite, Haruto’s expression relaxed into a warm smile.