CH 13

“What!? You guys aren’t dating?”

Eyes wide open, Takuto was surprised.

Is it really that big of a surprise? I thought so, but even Chinatsu, who was standing next to me, was surprised.

“So what do you two think about your life together?”

“What do we think….?”

Perhaps Takuto was just asking out of curiosity, but I gave the question serious thought.

I had never really thought about it, I told them that I just couldn’t leave her alone, that’s all.

“Can’t leave her alone?” Chinatsu asked,

“Hoho, that’s a bold statement.”

Takuto teased me, and I punched him lightly on the shoulder.

“Then what does Kaede think?” Chinatsu asked Kaede,

“M-Me!? I-I…”

Kaede’s cheeks turned red when she said that. Takuto and Chinatsu, who were watching the situation, had a look of realization on their faces.

For some reason I felt eerily awkward, so I punched Takuto lightly on the shoulder again.

Takuto looked at me for some reason and let out a deliberate sigh.

“Shimizu-san, I know it’s a tough job, but good luck.”

“… yes”

“Kaede! I’m always here for you!”

“Thank you very much …”

They were having a conversation that I didn’t understand, so I asked Takuto and Chinatsu, but they ignored me, so I asked Kaede.

She intentionally changed the subject saying, “I’m looking forward to today’s party.”

And so, as the four of us walked along, we arrived at the meeting place, a restaurant of an acquaintance of Shimokita.

Although I had a vague inkling, my hunch was correct.

Shimokita’s friend’s restaurant was a coffee shop where I work part time.

My face naturally twitched. I felt a little embarrassed to come to my part-time job place when I was not working.

“What’s up? Are you coming in?”

“Am coming.”

As I hesitated to enter the shop, Kaede noticed my hesitation and asked me, “Are you all right?”

“It’s okay… let’s go.”

“Yes, but please don’t force yourself.”

I simply replied, “Uh huh,” and walked into the store.

Since I have only been here as a part-timer, and only a few times as a customer, it felt like a fresh experience.

From the back of the shop came a good looking man with muscles so big that the business apron he was wearing was stretched.

“Ara? Are you friends with Shimokita-chan?”

“Yes, That’s right…”

“Shimokita-chan! Your friends are here!”

Even when the good-looking man said that, there was no response.

“I’m sorry, it looks like your other friends have already started the party… Huh?”

As the man was about to bow his head, he noticed something.

“Ara, If it isn’t Ren-chan~!”

Then, as expected, Kaede, Chinatsu, and Takuto looked at me asking, “Do you know this person?”

“Hi, manager.”

“Eh!? Manager~!?”

The three of them said in unison.

Yep, I had the same reaction at first.

“What the heck – you should have told me and I would have served you!”

“It’s okay, just your feelings are enough.”

“You’re such a good boy, I’m falling in love with you”

“Please stop joking…”

Talking with the manager was exhausting.

“Oh! You guys, come here!”

Finally, when Shimokita arrived, we finished our conversation with the manager and were led to where everyone was.

“You girls go that way and you guys go this way, okay?”

“What? Why?”

“Why, because We’re getting dressed, of course.”

I was about to say, “What do you mean, getting dressed?” but then I thought about it.

Today was Halloween, and there was only one thing to change into: a costume.

I was about to leave the room when Takuto stopped me.

“What are you doing…”

“You look good and I’m on Shimizu-san’s side today.”

I thought he was talking nonsense and tried to shake off his arm, but even Shimokita held me back.

“Don’t think you can escape…”

“the worst….” I muttered,

Eventually, they made me change and dressed me up as a Dracula.

But the first thing that came to my mind was imagining Kaede in a costume.

Most of the boys were probably looking forward to Kaede’s costume

A lot of them have been saying things like “absolutely adorable” and “I wonder what it looks like” since a while ago, and yet, Takuto…

“Chinatsu~ what kind of costume will it be~ it’ll definitely be cute~ I can’t wait for her to come!”

“You just looked at it.”

I unusually praised Takuto for his single-minded devotion to his girlfriend.

The guys sat and waited for the girls to change and come out. Seeing this, I thought,

(Like a dog waiting for its master to come home.)

And chuckled.