Chapter 3: This is not a date

Part 3

After school, we met up again at Yukito’s café.

However, the café was filled to the brim with customers that day, so I was called in by Yukito to help until the flood of customers calmed. After an hour of serving and taking orders, I returned to our usual table, Minato was waiting there.

“Sorry, but you could have gone home today. I must have wasted your time sitting here.” I sat down.

“No, I came all the way here. Actually, I’m a bit guilty about using your table the whole time…”

“It’s nothing, the people today wasn’t that much. There was no waiting line, so nothing to worry about.”

“Oh, really?”

When I nodded, Minato let out a small breath of relief. As upright as ever.

“You were studying?”

English textbooks and notes sprawled on the table. Both had a lot of writing on it and pages were worn.

“I heard that your grades are good, you’re studying properly after all.”

“It’s nothing, I’m not a genius. Besides, everyone at Kuze’s smart.” Minato replied somewhat uncomfortably.

I suppose that’s true. However, not everyone has the will to work hard to go to the next level. There are many temptations in life, especially in high school.

“Akashi… Io, how are yours?”

“Well then, let’s start today’s session”

“Somehow… I got the picture.”

She saw right through me. It’s okay, getting into Kuze high is good enough for me.

By the way, she still continues to call me by my name. As expected, it was still embarrassing.

Then, just like before, I touched her cheek once to discern any changes. There were no additions this time, but I did discover a new trend.

“It decreased.”

“Eh?… R-really?” She said with mixed feelings painted on her face.

I checked again, but the result was the same. Comparing the faces to the note, I found the missing one. Matsumoto who was rejected a while before.

“Umm… Farewell, Matsumoto. We won’t forget you.” I crossed his name out.

“W-when…?”

“You’re not even aware of this?”

“Y-yeah…Until now, the number decreases now and then when I’m not paying attention…”

“Hmm”

Well, it’s not like it could increase endlessly.

Besides, pinpointing when affection recedes or disappears, it’s not something a normal person could do too.

“Of course, just in case, any idea of what causes it?”

“Um… No.”

Of course– You don’t even know why you like them in the first place. What am I expecting? In short, no progress.

[TN: The “Of course–” is sassier in the raws]

“So that means we don’t know the reason, and even preference in liking someone.”

“So… What next?”

“I need more data,” I decided.

She tilted her head anxiously.

“Data…?”

“Yesterday, Aoki’s handkerchief incident told us that the length of the relationship doesn’t matter. You haven’t talked to him before, right?” I asked to make sure.

“Y-yup” she nodded.

“Then, when you like more people, we can narrow down the criteria a little more. These samples will lead us the way.”

It was now difficult to obtain any accurate information from the people she had already liked. With that, this option was the best. This is a game of numbers.

“W-wait! That means you want me to increase the number?” She fretted in alarm.

“Yeah”

“B-but! Isn’t that a complete turnaround?!” She protested, her glare on me.

But I quickly cut her off.

“No, your logic is the turnaround.”

Her eyes widened.

“Your goal is not to reduce the number, but to cure the Falling-in-love Peculiarity itself,” I state calmly.

“That’s…”

“Of course, I know it’s hard to be positive. Falling in love isn’t that convenient. But to move forward, we must make mistakes. But those mistakes are meaningful.”

Minato seemed troubled, her eyes casted down, her mouth pressed thin.

She must have understood what I meant. Even so, she still couldn’t make up her mind. That’s the stage she’s in.

“And I do believe that those mistakes are worth it. If you really don’t want to, then it’s your choice. But I’m sure you want to be cured.”

Silence.

Maybe I could have used the “I’ll do anything”.

But that was something that ties to her feelings directly. If possible, I want her to make her own decision. Otherwise, she might get lost in the process and end up regretting it.

I kept quiet and waited for her reply. Around me, I could hear the clattering of dishes and the faint murmurs of the other customers.

When the jazz track Yukito put on ended, she finally answered.

“Got it… I’ll do as you said.”

“Okay…”

She nodded slowly.

Having them decide for themselves, that’s the best.

“Um… I’m wondering…”

“Hm?”

“You’re always like this?”

“Always?”

Always? What?

“You see… During Angel’s consultations.”

“Oh…”

So that was what she meant.

“Somehow, you’re desperate… no, serious. It’s not even your problem.”

“Of course. If I’m not, I won’t go as far as playing up the rumors. Romantic feelings aren’t something to be taken lightly. I don’t want to take on something like this with half-hearted determination.”

“Oh…”

She replied curtly then huffed and turned away. I stared at her profile as she looked around the cafe and blinked two, three times.

The conversation took an awkward turn. The itch to cover up the earlier statement was unbearable, so I added, “Well, I usually hide my gender, use voice change, and a tad bit flowery lingo. Respectful and authoritative, that’s what I aim for. And I use gender neutral “Watashi” as the first person too.”

[TN: The aforementioned different versions of “I”]

“Duh… I can’t care more…”

“Oi, take that back. And don’t sigh.”

“Huh… Is that so, hahh…”

“Hey. Don’t talk between sighs.”

My gibe got a quick smirk out of her as she shrugged innocently.