"You're going somewhere?" I asked as Kazuha dried her hair. She was already dressed to go out. A cream-colored sweater, a denim skirt, white sneakers. She looked pretty, as always and somehow she even smelled nice.
"Yeah." That was all she said.
Today was Saturday after all. She was probably meeting friends or maybe...
I suddenly remembered the guy she'd given my strawberry milk to yesterday.
"No!" I slapped both of my cheeks.
Focus, Kaoru.
She likes girls.
Only girls.
...
"No, that's not the point!" Without realizing it, I lightly bumped my forehead against the wall.
"Is there something wrong with your head?"
I turned around.
Kazuha looked more frightened than worried.
"Oh... I just got lost in my thoughts."
"Your thoughts make you headbutt walls?"
"Sometimes."
She sighed. "You're going out too?"
"Huh?"
She pointed at my clothes.
Only then did I realize I'd already changed before she finished getting ready.
"Oh... yeah."
"I see." She picked up her bag. "I'm leaving."
"Oh... be careful."
The door quietly closed.
I immediately pulled out my phone and sent Joseph a message.
[Me: She's leaving now.]
My phone buzzed almost immediately.
[Joseph: Great. The weather forecast says it'll rain this evening, so bring your umbrella. Remember the plan: stay calm, act natural, and don't make it weird. Good luck, kid!]
A grin spread across my face.
[Me: Osu, Coach.]
I needed groceries anyway, and I'd been wanting to check out the new café and bookstore everyone had been talking about. If I happened to run into Kazuha... Well... That would just be a coincidence.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket, grabbed my umbrella by the door, and headed out.
Shibuya was packed despite it still being morning.
After finally squeezing through the crowd, I entered the viral cafe I'd seen online. Luckily, there was still an empty table.
I quickly ordered a cup of coffee before looking around the store. My gaze stopped at the corner by the window.
Kazuha was already there.
She sat quietly with a novel in her hands, occasionally taking a sip of her coffee before turning another page. Sunlight streamed through the window beside her, making the peaceful atmosphere around her stand out even more.
For the next forty minutes, I enjoyed my coffee while occasionally glancing toward the window.
She barely touched her phone. Every few minutes she'd turn another page. She looked... Peaceful.
Eventually she stood up and left.
I finished my drink, paid, and headed back outside.
The streets were even busier now. For a moment I lost sight of her before noticing the supermarket ahead.
"Guess I'll buy groceries first." I grabbed a shopping cart and started filling it with things I actually needed.
Just as I reached the vegetables area...
"Whoa!" I nearly pushed the cart into the cabbage display.
Kazuha stood in front of me with her arms folded.
"You scared me."
"Why are you screaming?"
"Because someone suddenly appeared in front of me..." I scratched my cheek. "And she looked a little angry."
She stared at me. "Weren't you at the cafe too?"
"Yeah."
"The same cafe."
"Yeah."
"And now the same grocery store."
"Well..."
She narrowed her eyes. "That's quite a coincidence."
"It really is!" I nodded. "The cafe's been trending online, and I actually needed groceries."
She glanced at my shopping cart. It was already filled with all sorts of groceries—instant ramen, bread, milk, vegetables, and a few other daily necessities. There wasn't anything unusual about it.
She looked back at me before lowering her gaze slightly.
"I see. Sorry..." she muttered. A faint blush spread across her cheeks, as if she was embarrassed for jumping to conclusions and accusing me.
"I just moved into the neighborhood," I added. "I figured I'd spend my first weekend exploring."
She studied me for another second before giving a small nod. "Enjoy your shopping."
As she walked away, I quietly let out a sigh of relief.
The next stop on my list was the bookstore.
I knew she'd loved reading ever since middle school, so I had a feeling she'd stop by here sooner or later.
Sure enough, after browsing the shelves for a while, I spotted Kazuha standing in the history section, quietly reading the back cover of one book before placing it back and reaching for another.
"She really likes these kinds of books." Meanwhile... The only books I'd voluntarily read lately were ecchi manga and light novels.
I reached for a random shelf, pretending to browse.
"Kaoru."
I froze.
"You've been at the cafe."
"..."
"The grocery store."
"..."
"And now the bookstore." She folded her arms and looked straight at me. "I'm sorry, Kaoru, but are you really sure this is all just a coincidence?"
"I-I haven't bought a novel in a long time!" Seriously, Kaoru? Why are you stuttering now?
"Really?" For the first time all day... Her eyes actually sparkled with interest. "What kind of novels do you like?"
"..." My brain completely shut down. "I..."
She sighed.
Think, Kaoru!
Think!
My eyes darted across the shelf before landing on the nearest title. Without reading anything except the first few words, I grabbed it triumphantly. "This one!"
Kazuha looked at the cover, then read the title aloud. "The Art of the Woman's Body."
"..."
"..."
I coughed. "W-Well... I'm a girl now. I mean... I'm still new at being one."
She blinked.
"So... I figured... I should probably understand my own body better," I said, forcing out an awkward chuckle in an attempt to make the excuse sound natural.
Silence.
Kazuha looked at the cover again before glancing back at me. "But isn't this book about how to satisfy a woman?"
...
Satisfy what? My brain immediately blue screened.
Retreat.
Retreat immediately!
Before she could say another word, I hurriedly cut her off. "Anyway!" I laughed far louder than necessary. "I'll leave you to your shopping!"
Without waiting for her response, I turned around and practically speed walked toward the front of the bookstore.
As soon as Kazuha disappeared into another aisle, I quietly returned the book to its shelf.
The moment I stepped back to the front entrance of the bookstore, a low rumble echoed across the sky. A second later, rain poured down without warning, drumming against the pavement and sending pedestrians scrambling for cover.
My eyes widened.
Finally.
I pulled out my phone and typed one quick message.
[Me: Coach... it's my time to shine.]