I Was Supposed to Be Giving Love Advice on the School Radio, but Before I Knew It, the Beautiful Girls at School Were Hitting on Me
My junior, who wasn’t there a moment ago, is smiling broadly while holding a tray. Seeing my tense expression, Shirahama looks puzzled and leans closer to me.
“What, do you know her?”
“…Well, sort of.”
I didn’t want to go into detail, so I gave a vague answer. Shirahama’s eyes widen.
“You two seem pretty close. That’s an unexpected friendship.”
“Leave us alone.”
“You two seem to be quite close, don’t you?”
However, Makino remained standing there. It was unbecoming of a store clerk, but the atmosphere was not conducive to reprimanding her.
“Senpai, who is that person over there?”
She held the tray in both hands and didn’t move a muscle.
“Ah, um, this is Shirahama Mikuri from the same executive committee.”
“Nice to meet you, I’m Shirahama.”
“Hello, I’m Kinami Makino, a long-time part-time colleague of Kageyama senpai.”
For some reason, she emphasized “long-time.” Makino looked at me cheerfully, but for some reason, I couldn’t meet her gaze today. Shirahama, who had been watching us, suddenly clapped her hands as if she had thought of something.
“Part-time colleague……so Kageyama was working here?”
“Uh, well…”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You should’ve told me ! I feel like an idiot for bringing you here with such a smug expression.”
“That’s right, Senpai. It looks like you wanted to hide the fact that you came here with Shirahama senpai.”
Actually, I did want to hide it. As Miharu san said, I just want to finish my coffee quickly and make room for the next person, but I can only sit here shrinking back.
“By the way, Kinami chan…are you free right now?”
“Yeah, it’s break time, so…”
“Then, why don’t we have some tea together?”
However, Shirahama, who doesn’t know my face at all, makes an even more outrageous suggestion.
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s fine, it’s not like anything will be lost.”
“I agree, I was thinking I’d like to talk a little too.”
Shirahama waves her hands. She doesn’t seem to understand the seriousness of the situation at all. Still, Kinan is also working, so this is a clear dereliction of duty. As a senior, I have to warn her.
“Well, but Kinami is also working right now, and it’s not like the staff can just leave their shifts…”
“It’s okay, right? There aren’t many customers.”
“But what if a group of customers suddenly comes in? We’ll have to deal with that, right?”
“If they come, we’ll just deal with it then. Besides, Miharu san is here too.”
“…….”
Hmm, well, if Kinami is saying this, maybe stepping back a bit is a sign of kindness as a senior.
“…Kageyama, you’re weak at arguments, aren’t you?”
Shut up.
♢
A few minutes later. A third saucer was placed on our table, and Kinan, sitting next to me, tilted his cup with a polite gesture.
“Americano is delicious, isn’t it, Senpai?”
“…Yeah.”
I sipped the pitch-black liquid, which was too bitter for American coffee. I grimaced at the reflexive bitterness, but I couldn’t feel the rich aroma and acidity due to my nervousness.
“Yeah, this flavor is nice.”
“Even though it’s your first time ordering Americano……”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
My retort was silenced. I looked around for help, but Miharu san and the manager were still in the back and showed no signs of coming out. Damn it, I can’t count on them.
“Mmm, it smells good.”
But the person who created this situation was relaxing and enjoying the steam rising from the coffee.
“Delicious ! Maybe Kageyama was right about the blend after all.”
“Hmm, Senpai’s recommendation…”
Makino, why are you glaring at me?
“Senpai, you never recommended coffee to me before.”
“Because you don’t usually drink coffee. You said you don’t like bitter things, like orange…”
“Ah, no !”
She slaps me repeatedly, as if to drown out my remark. This is a coffee shop, you know…
“I can drink coffee, you know !”
“Hey, you !”
Ignoring my protests, she downs the cup in one gulp…but immediately grimaces.
“Ugh, it’s bitter…”
“That’s because you tried to drink black coffee. Here, I’ll put some sugar in it for you, so give me the cup.”
“But…”
“But nothing. Are you going to waste the manager’s coffee?”
“Ugh…”
Reluctantly, Makino finally handed me the cup. She’s just trying to act cool… Makino quietly sipped the coffee with sugar.
“…It’s delicious.”
“Black coffee isn’t the only kind of coffee. Apparently, some shops serve it with sugar already added.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’ve never been there myself, but I’d like to go there once in my life.”
In the old days, they used to decide how much sugar and milk to add based on the customer’s face. It’s mentioned so often in my favorite novel that I’ve always admired it. Watching us, Shirahama was smiling for some reason.
“You two are close, aren’t you?”
“Eh, no, it’s just…”
“It’s obvious when you see it. You can talk freely with each other? It’s really enviable.”
Shirahama’s usual straightforward compliment. I feel a bit embarrassed, but Kinan, who is meeting her for the first time, is blushing even more.
“Well, it’s not that much, but…”
“Wow, Kinami chan blushing is so cute~”
“Hey ! Don’t tease me !”
Kinan takes a sip of sweet coffee and clears her throat lightly, changing the subject.
“So, what’s your relationship?”
“What do you mean? We’re just classmates, and we’re in the same club too.”
“Hmm, just classmates hanging out at a café after school…”
Kinami glared at me. Her gaze seemed to contain resentment for changing her work shift.
“No, no, Kinami chan.”
However, Shirahama, who was sipping her blend, waved her hand.
“I invited Kageyama because I wanted to talk to him about something.”
“About?”
Makinoh shifted her gaze to Shirahama and widened her eyes.
“Yeah, a love consultation. Kageyama does love consultations on the radio, right? So I thought I’d ask him for advice too.”
“So, a consultation…”
“Exactly, so there’s nothing to worry about, Kinami chan. Don’t worry.”
“I see, then…”
Shirahama smiled cheerfully, like a senior should. Okay, I don’t know why, but Kinami’s attitude seems to have softened ! I’ll follow up on that.
“Yeah, and we had a proper meeting with the executive committee today, so this isn’t skipping out.”
“Please be quiet, Senpai. That’s not important right now.”
Not important? Isn’t that the problem?
“Love advice, from Kageyama senpai…”
But Kinami is staring at Shirahama with a serious expression.
“…By the way, Shirahama senpai…”
“Hm? What?”
“How much have you listened to Kageyama senpai’s radio show?”
“Well, to be honest, I only started listening to it recently. I guess I was just being stubborn about it until now.”
“I see, so you’re still new…”
Why are you acting so superior? Makinoh ignores the fact that I’m giving her a dirty look and calmly tells Shirahama.
“Just so you know, don’t do anything weird under the pretext of love advice.”
“What do you mean by ‘weird’?”
Shirahama suddenly looks puzzled. But for some reason, Makinoh blushes.
“Don’t make me say it out loud, it’s embarrassing.”
“What are you really planning to do !?”
I wonder…..could it be something like my radio being used for information transmission by a shadowy organization?
As I trembled at the existence of an unknown organization surrounding me, Makino downed her coffee in one gulp.
“Well, then, that’s it. Shirahama senpai, would you mind talking to me again sometime?”
“Oh, sure ! Of course !”
“Hey, what do you mean by ‘that’?”
However, she didn’t answer my question and headed toward the counter. But she glanced back at me for a moment.
“…Senpai, I believe in you.”
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about, but don’t worry, Makino.”
When I called her name, Makino left with a faint smile, as if she felt a little relieved.
Maitoshi