CH 34

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to call you out of the blue. Here, it’s not much.”

Ishimizu san held out a drink box.

“What’s this?”

“A bad looking juice.”

“It’s really not much !:

“Hear me out. There’s a good reason for this.”

“What is it?”

“I’m intrigued, but I don’t like the idea of drinking this myself. So I thought I’d like you to try on it.”

“That’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard !”

“Come on, don’t be shy.”

I looked at the juice box that was pushed by Ishimizu san.

[Mugwort Lemon Olé]

–Who’s the person who gave the go-ahead to this product….!

It seems to be good only for your health.

Ishimizu san stared at me with puppy eyes. A silent pressure to drink this quickly.

I let out a sigh. After shaking it thoroughly, as the directions say, I stick the straw in and suck on it.

The yellowish-green liquid trickles down and flows into the straw that tickles my mouth.

Bitter, sour, and milky. Each of these tastes is not bad or anything. But somehow, when they are mixed together, it tastes like the soles of your feet after wearing leather shoes all day. No, of course I have never licked the soles of my feet, but I can assure you that there is no more appropriate description than this.

“Ugh !”

My body refuses to accept the Mugwort Lemon Olé. But my moral sense, which tells me that food should never be wasted, forced me to resist the urge to vomit. It’s not the mugwort, lemon, or milk that is to blame, but the human race that has combined them.

I couldn’t keep it in my mouth any longer. I made up my mind and gulped down the liquid that tasted like the foot sole.

Waiting for the aftertaste and aroma to disappear, I said, 

“I drank it !”

“Good work.”

–So effortless.

Just two words of appreciation. Too effortless for the hardships I’ve gone through.

“So, how was it? Did it taste good?”

“What the hell does it look like…..!”

I told Ishimizu san the details of the taste of Mugwort lemon Olé.

“Hmm. –Then, for the main topic.”

“At least make it sound a little more interesting.”

“Lately, Yua’s been acting strange.”

“……”

I wanted to protest, but when the subject was brought up, I had to pull back.

But to ask me about it–.

“I-I’m not the cause of it ! Maybe…….”

“I know. I trust you.”

“Eh?”

I had no idea that Ishimizu san thought of me that way.

“You can’t judge a book by its cover. Besides, you’re too transparent.”

“Is there anything you say that can make me happy?”

Ishimizu san made a face as if to say [I’ve done it] and rephrased it.

“Ah～……, not that. I mean you can bring out the other person’s color, that’s what I meant.”

–……Hm? Are you complimenting me by any chance?

It’s easy to misunderstand her with her stern atmosphere and expression, but I think she got a good heart.

Perhaps embarrassed, she changed the subject quickly.

“Enough about you.”

“T-that’s right. We’re talking about Yua. Is Ishimizu san also….?”

“For a moment, she looked as if she was out of her mind.”

It seems I wasn’t mistaken after all.

“Do you have any idea what caused it?”

“No…. How about you, Ishimizu san?”

“No.”

“I see……”

“Well, then.”

Ishimizu san turned her back to me and started walking away.

“Eh, hey, wait. Are you going back already?”

“Because it’s a waste of time for two people who don’t know anything about it to figure it out.”

That’s reasonable, but you’re too quick to judge.

“Then you should ask someone who might know something.”

“Is there anyone?”

“Her brother.”

Indeed. He seems to know Yua the most other than me and Ishimizu san. He lives with her, so he might know something we don’t know.

“But how can we contact him?”

“I know where to reach him.”

“Eh, why is that?”

“I’m getting a haircut.”

–Even I don’t have his contact information…….

Ishimizu san started operating her phone while I was feeling alienated. I guess she’s contacting her brother. As expected of her, she’s quick to take action.

She asked me while looking at her phone.

“Are you free on your next day off?”

“Eh? Well, it’s not that I don’t have any plans at all, but I can make time, especially when it comes to important appointments—“

“Too long. So you’re free then.”

My bluff was easily summed up.

“But why asking me?”

“Because you’re the one who’s going to talk to her brother.”

“M-me? Why?”

Is she perhaps relying on me?

“Wouldn’t it be a bother to ask her brother separately? Also, I thought it would be easier for him to talk to another man.”

“So it’s like that.”

She’s a good girl but she’s a little dry. That’s why she’s easy to get along with Yua.

Anyway, I was lucky to get a clue. I wish her brother knew something…..