Volume 5 - CH 5

The Tapestry Incident

I came to Master’s coffee shop to run an errand.

“Welcome! It’s Hideyori-kun huh.”

“Yo, Master.”

“Middle schoolers sure grow fast. You will be taller than me in no time.”

Ever since I entered my growing period, my height has increased a lot.

After all, Akechi Hideyori’s good point is only his fair skin, nice figure, and good-looking face.

In the game, he was such a scumbag that all of those went to waste though.

“I was at the entrance ceremony you know. It’s a shame that Sakuya was all dejected because she couldn’t be in the same class as you.”

“We can’t do anything about that though……..also, why did Sakuya get like that just because she ended up in a different class? We can always meet when I come here right?”

“Haa……..just like my sister said, you really are a lady-killer huh.”

“Ha?”

Master began to make coffee with a sigh.

Recently, he would brew me a cup of espresso even if I don’t order it.

“You still remember how she said that she would make you say that the coffee she makes is delicious right……”

“Haha, we are relatives so it’s not like we can just get separated right.”

“At this rate, you might actually get stabbed to death you know………”

“Eh? No way!? Am I gonna die!?”

When Master suddenly made a prediction that seem so close to the original story like that, I started to worry.

Does the scumbag best friend really can’t escape death after all……..?

“If you stay like this then, for sure……..”

Master looked at me and sigh before placing the coffee in front of me.

After thanking him, I take a sip.

“Nnn……maybe I should start learning some self-defense huh.”

“THAT’S NOT THE POINT!”

Master retorted but soon he went “Whatever” and gave up.

“By the way, Master. You know that Oba-san went to Kyoto alone with Oji-san for their wedding anniversary earlier right.”

“Ahh, come to think of it, I heard about something like that from the answering machine when I tried to call her the other day huh.”

“So, here, she bought you a souvenir. It’s her thanks for always treating me to coffee, she said.”

“Oh, let’s see what she bought me then.”

Said Master as he happily looked inside the paper bag I handed him.

“………..the heck is this?”

“That’s some weird tapestry.”

something like this maybe?

“How should I feel about this? Rather, I don’t even know how to react!”

“It’s fine right. She told me she paid 30,000 yen for this you know. You can just put it up as a decoration around here.”

“She paid that much for this?……., is she stupid?……..also, this thing doesn’t suit the atmosphere of my shop at all right.”

He’s treating the tapestry like some oversized garbage already……..

“Did Hideyori-kun also get a tapestry?”

“No? I got a box of Yatsuhashi. It had lots of flavors like red bean paste and sesame seeds you know.”

“Why can’t I get that too!?”

Master is so picky about his souvenir.

Besides, he should tell that to my aunt instead of me.

“Oba-san is so pitiful. To think that her 30,000 yen (USD235) tapestry is being treated like some oversized garbage…… At least you can give it to your daughter right. I’m sure she will be happy with it.”

“She’s not so young that she would be happy no matter what I give her anymore you know. Also, while we are on that note, I can give this to you too right.”

“No way, why would I want an oversized garbage for myself.”

“You are treating it as an oversized garbage too aren’t you!?”

We started pushing the tapestry against each other.

A while after that idiotic battle started, Master suggested that we should play rock paper scissors and the loser has to take the tapestry.

The result?

.

.

.

I lost.

.

.

.

“I don’t want it though.”

“Tell that to my sister.”

When I was wondering what to do with it, I heard a customer enter the shop.

Nope, it was just Sakuya.

When she saw me inside, she merrily made her way toward us.

“Muh? Mongrel, you are here again huh.”

“The usual greeting huh. Can’t you at least say welcome?”

“Welcome.”

“You actually said it!?”

I was taken aback when she actually treated me like a customer.

Is she okay?

This is not a fake Sakuya right?

“Oi, Master! My friends said that they want to see the shop! Can I bring them!?”

“Eh? Sakuya’s friends?…..FRIENDS!?”

“WHY ARE YOU THAT SURPRISED!?”

Master’s face looked like it was the end of the world.

He also started sweating.

“I’m shocked. Sakuya’s been acting like that until now after all. Actually, I thought that you were a loner throughout elementary school you know.”

“I was! I made one friend though.”

“Why are you so proud about that…….? Also, now I’m curious about that one friend you made!”

Certainly, a girl that always refers to others as ‘you mongrel’ or ‘hey, kid’ would be unpopular……

I mean, her personality is pretty intense and sometimes she can be a little timid too…….

I think Sakuya’s friends would have a hard time dealing with her.

“He’s here though.”

“Who’s here?”

“My only friend was Hideyori. Hideyori is special.”

“…….Haa.”

I’m her friend?

Did we ever do something friends would do together?

I was just talking to her normally but she already thinks of me as a friend huh………?

“You are always so mean to me so I thought you hated me though……”

“Nnn……, they were just honest impressions.”

“Don’t think you can get away with everything just by saying that it’s your honest impression.”

I kinda feel that she’s taking me for granted here…….

“I understand. You can bring your friends here. Who did you make friends with though?”

“Risa, Madoka, Emi, and Takeru.”

“Aren’t those all people I know?”

“I managed to make friends thanks to you, Hideyori. Thank you.”

“S, sure…….”

My pace is all over the place when I’m dealing with her……..

“You are blushing you know.”

“Shut up, just keep doing your work.”

“Yes, yes, I’m working.”

It’s uncomfortable when Master is teasingly grinning at me like this.

This must be why he has so few customers.

No doubt about it.

“By the way, Hideyori. What’s that?”

“That?……oh, this? Just an oversi—…….tapestry.”

“Your mind doesn’t even recognize it as a tapestry anymore huh……”

It’s uselessly big and its design also seems way too local so it’s super lame.

I really can’t tell what my aunt was thinking when she bought this as a souvenir.

“That’s right, Sakuya! Do you want this?”

“You are forcing it on her now huh……”

“You mongrel, what are trying to give me!? What an ugly tapestry.”

“It’s my gift for you. That makes it special right.”

“Thanks! Master, I just got a present from Hideyori! I’m gonna go putting this up in my room!”

Saying so, Sakuya disappeared to the second floor of the coffee shop.

Left behind, I and Master could only watch her running off in astonishment.

“Don’t tell me, Oba-san’s taste is the same as Sakuya’s!? She’s too amazing. Maybe I should start calling her Aneki too…..”

(TLN: Master usually calls Hideyori’s aunt Aneki, instead of Nee-san or Nee-chan. You can also call a woman you respect Aneki too, it’s crude though.)

“Why are you calling her that too……….rather, that was probably because……..”

“Because?”

“What a lady-killer……..”

“Why do you bring that up now?”

“Just stay friends with my daughter from now on too alright!”

“?”

Compared to the first time we met, Master is much kinder to me now.

Did we really become that much closer I wonder?

When I was wondering to myself, Sakuya came back from the second floor with a happy smile on her face.