The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
A few tens of minutes later, the dishes Takagaki-san had ordered for us were brought to our table.
“Wow, that looks delicious.”
“It sure does.”
“Let’s dig in.”
The dishes Takagaki-san had ordered ranged from salads to main courses, and they all looked so delicious that I was a little torn about which one to try first.
“Akkun. These french fries are super delicious.”
“Huh, really?”
“Yeah. Here. Open wide.”
“Wow, you’re right—they’re delicious.”
Instead of taking a bite of the fries Kanade had offered me, I picked them up from the plate with my own chopsticks and brought them to my mouth.
“……Akkun. Open wide.”
“Kanade, other people are watching. That’s a little embarrassing, you know.”
“……Hmm.”
A light was shining in Kanade’s eyes… wait, it was glowing.
“So, that means it’s okay to do it when no one else is watching, right?”
“……”
“……”
“…………”
“…………”
“That’s right.”
“Yay!”
To be honest, as long as it’s done where no one else can see, it’s not embarrassing at all—if anything, it’s a bit of a perk—so there’s absolutely no problem.
“……They’re adding way too much natural sugar.”
Takagaki-san muttered.
“Ayaka, what are you talking about?”
“I’m saying the food is starting to taste sweeter and sweeter.”
“Huh? Everything’s salty and delicious, isn’t it?”
“……Maybe I picked the wrong person for this.”
Takagaki-san held her head in her hands and let out a sigh.
……Takagaki-san seems to be sighing a lot today. Could something have happened again that’s causing her stress?
I’m a little worried……
“Ayaka-chan. The food here is really delicious, isn’t it?”
Kanade smiled at Takagaki-san.
“Thank you for telling me about this great restaurant!”
“Don’t thank me—tell that to the people who run this place.”
Takagaki-san replied curtly.
“It’s not like I did anything to make the food here delicious. It’s the result of this restaurant’s hard work.”
“Hehe. Ayaka-chan, you’re so modest.”
“No, it’s just the truth.”
“That’s true. As you said, the fact that the food here is delicious is thanks to the hard work of the staff. But there’s no doubt that it’s thanks to you that we were able to discover this place.”
“……”
“Thank you, Ayaka-chan. And here, Kadokura-san too.”
“Thanks, Ayaka.”
“A-kun, too.”
“Thank you.”
“Gaaah, come on! Don’t spread this awkward vibe to us too!”
Takagaki-san blushed and raised her voice.
Even though it was lunchtime and the place was bustling with customers… I don’t think it’s really appropriate to shout so loudly inside the restaurant.
“…Sigh. Being around you guys really throws me off.”
“Hehe. Hehehehe.”
“What’s with that smirk?”
“Hehe. Come on, Ayaka-chan. Even if you say that… it was none other than you who called us all here today, wasn’t it?”
Come to think of it, that’s true.
It feels a little off to call us here and then talk back like that.
“Come to think of it… Ayaka-chan, why did you gather us all here today, anyway?”
“……”
“Hehe. I’d really like to know.”
“……”
“Ayaka-chan. I’d love for you to tell us.”
“……”
“…Don’t you want to tell us?”
Kanade’s voice dropped a notch.
“I-it’s not that I don’t want to tell you!”
Takagaki-san hurriedly denied it.
“…It’s just… I was planning to tell you all as soon as everyone gathered. I just thought things weren’t going according to plan because you guys are all so self-absorbed.”
“Kanade-chan. Try this hamburger steak. It’s super delicious.”
“Seriously, you’re all so self-absorbed…”
“Huh…?”
Kadokura-san tilted her head slightly.
“Anyway, let’s leave Kadokura-san alone for now and get down to business.”
“Eh, Kanade-chan. That’s mean…”
“Yeah. Let’s do that.”
“Ayaka, too…”
…These three seem to be on the same page somehow.
“Ahem. Well then… everyone, first of all, thank you for taking the time today despite your busy schedules and the sudden invitation.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks. …So, about why I called the three of you here today—the thing Kanade was wondering about…”
Even though Takagaki-san was finally about to get to the point, she blushed and looked away, then back again, seeming embarrassed… She looked like she was hesitating to say why she’d called us.
“Um… well…”
After hesitating for a moment, Takagaki-san continued, as if she’d made up her mind.
“I know this is a bit out of the blue, but how about we all go to the beach next Wednesday?”
Maiasa