Vol. 2 Chapter 22 – Swelling Feelings

—Three hours after the encounter with Sakuramiya Kyo.

“I’m looking forward to visiting Mizumori-san’s place, it’s been a while~” (Hikaru)

We were still walking along the roadside pavement together, hands joined.

“Sorry about this. Making you come along for my own reasons.” (Reiya)

Our destination was ‘Mizumoritei,’ where I worked part-time.

Recalling the strict order to bring Hikaru to the restaurant again, I decided this was a good time to fulfill it.

“Nope, not at all! I’m looking forward to seeing Mizumori-san too.” (Hikaru)
“Well, that’s good. She was nagging me to bring you, Hikaru, so maybe she’ll put extra effort into cooking today.” (Reiya)
“Really? Then what should I eat today~…? The omelet rice last time was amazing, so I want to eat that again, but since I’m here, I want to try something different too~” (Hikaru)

Hikaru walked cheerfully, swinging our joined hands widely like an elementary schooler.

My hand, which had been held continuously since then, was swung along the same trajectory.

Yes, since then… our hands had remained joined the entire time.

While eating donuts, while wandering around the mall again afterward, while riding the train, right up until this very moment.

They hadn’t been separated for even a second; they remained connected.

Moreover, what started as just palms touching had now evolved into a form where our fingers were intertwined one by one… the so-called ‘lover’s hold.’

The contact area was maximized, conveying the softness of her hand, the fineness of her skin, and her warm body temperature almost overwhelmingly.

All of it accelerated the feelings I was suppressing inside, making them swell larger and larger.

While trying to keep them from exploding, we arrived in front of the restaurant.

“Well, we’re here…” (Reiya)
“Yup, we’re here!” (Hikaru)
“Okay, shall we go in…?” (Reiya)
“Yup, let’s go in!” (Hikaru)

I tried confirming indirectly, just in case, but there was absolutely no sign of her letting go of my hand.

She already knew I had confessed, but having this seen again was honestly embarrassing.

Getting teased was inevitable, and it might even reach my parents’ ears.

However, while that shame certainly existed, I was also aware of an even stronger desire within me to stay connected with Hikaru for even a second longer.

Steeling my resolve, I put my fingertips on the handle and pulled the door open.

The doorbell chimed, clang clang, and from inside the restaurant—

“Welcome~! Please wait a moment~!”

—a loud voice echoed, and a woman with a robust build came walking briskly, thump thump.

“Hey, good evening…” (Reiya)
“Oh, Reiya-kun! Right, right, you said you were coming today!” (Kawase)

As soon as she saw my face, she raised her voice even louder.

“Yes, sorry for the sudden reservation.” (Reiya)
“…Is this person your relative, Reiya-kun?” (Hikaru)

As I exchanged brief greetings, Hikaru, who had entered after me, asked.

“No, this is Kawase-san. She’s a part-timer who helps out on days I don’t have shifts.” (Reiya)
“Oh, I see. Nice to meet you, I’m Asahi Hikaru.” (Hikaru)
“Oh my, how polite. Kawase Ryoko, 42-year-old housewife. Chef~! Reiya-kun’s here~! And he brought his cute girlfriend too~!” (Kawase)

When Kawase-san shouted towards the kitchen, a tremendous clattering sound echoed out.

Amidst the piercing metallic noises, I also heard something spill, making me worry if everything was okay… A few seconds later, Ichiru-san appeared.

Her white chef’s coat was stained with red sauce from the chest down, and she held her askew hat in place with her hand.

Me, Hikaru, our joined hands.

Her expression remained blank, as if in a dream, her gaze shifting repeatedly between those three points.

“Ah, Mizumori-san! It’s been a while—” (Hikaru)

Just as Hikaru tried to greet Ichiru-san, who stood frozen without uttering a word.

—Bwah!

…Large teardrops burst forth from her eyes with gushing force.

“Eh… Ehh!? H-Hey, Ichiru-san!? What’s wrong, all of a sudden!?” (Reiya)

I was flustered by this sudden, incomprehensible crying fit.

“I-I don’t know… but… somehow… seeing Reiya-kun looking genuinely happy just made it well up inside me…” (Ichiru)
“I-Is it something to cry about…?” (Reiya)
“Because… I caused you so much trouble too, Reiya-kun…” (Ichiru)
“I-I told you I don’t mind about things from way back then… So, look… there are customers here…” (Reiya)

Had she been worrying about that all this time without me knowing? I somehow managed to soothe Ichiru-san, who had started sobbing uncontrollably.

“I always thought… maybe it was my fault… that you shut yourself up at home and only played games…” (Ichiru)
“That’s seriously unrelated, you know…” (Reiya)

That’s just the karma etched into my soul…

“Uuu… But I’m really glad… I’m as happy as if it were happening to me…” (Ichiru)

Ichiru-san continued to cry her eyes out, large tears still streaming down.

The other customers were also looking our way, wondering what was going on.

“Come on, Chef. I know you’re happy, but there are customers here. If you don’t stop crying, you can’t work.” (Kawase)
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to… I just got really emotional…” (Ichiru)
“To you, Chef, he’s like a precious younger brother, isn’t he? I understand completely how you feel.” (Kawase)

Supported by Kawase-san, Ichiru-san headed back towards the kitchen.

As expected of a mother of two, she was skilled at calming down crying children.

Watching her disappear towards the back of the restaurant, we also headed towards a table in the back.

“…Sorry about that.” (Reiya)

After sitting down, the first thing I did was apologize.

“Hm? For what?” (Hikaru)
“Well, Ichiru-san… I thought maybe she surprised you…” (Reiya)
“Not at all. Actually, I felt envious that she cares about you so much… I might have even gotten a little jealous.” (Hikaru)

She said this with her usual cheerful smile.

“Well, if you say so… By the way, shouldn’t we let go of this soon?” (Reiya)

Following the flow of conversation, I asked while looking at our hands still joined on the table.

“…Why?” (Hikaru)

She tilted her head with a genuinely puzzled expression.

“Why…? Because we can’t eat like this.” (Reiya)
“Well, if you really insist on letting go, Reiya-kun, then I will…” (Hikaru)
“Why do you have to say it so meanly…?” (Reiya)
“Because I don’t want to let go…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru said this, puffing out her cheeks like a sulking child.

“Well, me neither, but…” (Reiya)

There’s no way I’d want to let go either.

Even as we sit here like this, my feelings for Hikaru are amplifying more and more.

There’s undoubtedly no other emotion that surpasses this euphoria.

“In that case, maybe I want to stay like this a little longer…” (Hikaru)
“Okay, just until the food comes then…” (Reiya)

We faced each other across the table.

Not just our hands, but our heated gazes also intertwined.

As the instinctive desire to connect more, even more deeply, swelled within me—

“…Here’s your water.” (Kawase)

Kawase-san placed glasses of water on the table.

For us, lost in our own little world, it was a complete surprise attack, making our bodies jolt.

“Have you decided on your order?” (Kawase)

Kawase-san looked at us with a grinning, amused expression.

“Um… I’ll have the beef stew!” (Hikaru)
“Th-Then I’ll have the shrimp doria…” (Reiya)
“Okay~ Beef stew and shrimp doria it is~. Right away~” (Kawase)

Chuckling softly, Kawase-san retreated.

I took a sip of water to calm myself down.

So much had happened today that I could clearly tell I was getting carried away.

I knew it, yet if I let my guard down, I’d get lost in the moment, forgetting we were even in public.

Before meeting Hikaru, I used to frown upon couples being lovey-dovey in public, but now we were completely becoming one of those silly couples ourselves.

“By the way, changing the subject… Does Mizumori-san have a boyfriend or anything?” (Hikaru)

As I was pulling myself together, she asked in a small whisper from across the table.

“A boyfriend… Probably not right now. As far as I know, anyway.” (Reiya)

I gave the same answer as when someone else had asked me before.

“She’s so beautiful and seems so kind, but she doesn’t have one… I wonder why?” (Hikaru)
“Even if you ask me why, I’m not her, so I wouldn’t know… She’s probably swamped with the restaurant right now, maybe she just doesn’t have time for that.” (Reiya)

As far as I knew, she’d been approached by countless people, more than I could count on both hands.

Among them were even people working for major corporations everyone knows.

Unless she has ridiculously high standards, it’s not like she lacks options.

“Hmm… I see… Right. Running a restaurant must be tough.” (Hikaru)

Though her words expressed understanding, she tapped her glass with her fingertip as if pondering something.

She looked like she wanted to say something but was hesitating.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden? Did something happen?” (Reiya)

When I asked, trying to draw it out…

“Nn… No, it’s just… I was wondering how things are with my brother…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru said, sounding me out.