Chapter 19: Opportunities Are Fleeting!

“Is it really okay for you to abuse your authority like this?”

“What do you know —”

Mitsuki Shimizu glanced at Aoi Momoka, who was sitting next to her, completely bundled up.

“Isn’t it stifling to wear a mask in this heat? And those glasses are hideous. Can’t you take them off?”

“No way!”

Aoi firmly refused.

“This mask is my disguise. I can’t take it off no matter how hot it gets! As for the glasses…”

Aoi reached up and adjusted the pince-nez on the bridge of her nose.

“Do you know… Sherlock Holmes?”

“…”

Hearing this, Mitsuki couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

“What does Sherlock Holmes have to do with you?”

“Everything!”

Aoi became agitated at Mitsuki’s doubt.

“Sherlock Holmes and I are distant, distant, distant relatives! I have zero point zero zero zero zero zero zero zero percent…”

“Shut it.”

Mitsuki didn’t want to deal with the ‘Bakamos’ next to her anymore.

She lowered her head, but her peripheral vision was intentionally fixed on Yuuma Tsugumu’s table not far away.

‘A couple?’

In fact, when Mitsuki had served Yuuma and Sakura Akiba earlier, she could tell at a glance that they weren’t a real couple.

They were being far too unnatural.

First of all, the two of them hadn’t been holding hands when they entered the store.

The distance between them could even be described as ‘vast’ compared to other real couples.

And when she introduced the couples’ discount, the girl had proactively grabbed the boy’s arm just to make the act more convincing.

‘It was too obvious. It felt like she was intentionally putting on a performance!’

Recalling these details, Mitsuki let out a soft chuckle.

‘However, the boy didn’t seem flustered at all when the girl suddenly grabbed his arm. Not even a hint of panic. It looked like he was already used to it.’

‘But still — the earlier details completely exposed those two~’

The main reason Mitsuki chose to let the ‘young couple’ slide was that Sakura’s hard-working attitude was cute.

It really hit Mitsuki’s sweet spot.

The boy, on the other hand, was far too gloomy.

It even made Mitsuki feel a bit physically uncomfortable.

“Hey… what are you thinking about, Little Mitsuki?”

“What’s it to you… just go to the counter and get the Jasmine Latte.”

“?”

Several question marks practically popped up over Aoi’s head.

“Wait, are you addicted to ordering your juniors around? Why are you bossing me around too!”

To her surprise, Mitsuki ignored her and slowly stood up.

“Hey… what are you doing? Sit down!”

“Why sit? Since it’s inconvenient for you to go get it, I’ll go myself. Move over —”

Mitsuki was sitting in the seat against the wall.

Aoi, wanting to see the ‘secret meeting’ between Sakura and Yuuma, had chosen to sit on that same side.

This led to the awkward situation where Mitsuki couldn’t get out unless Aoi moved.

“…”

Hearing this, Aoi’s face flushed red, and she stammered in response, “I’ll go… I never said I wouldn’t!”

Aoi sighed and slowly stood up, heading toward the nearby counter…

***

Sakura Akiba held her Raw Coconut Latte, looking at Yuuma with a somewhat speechless expression.

“Hey, Tsuguo, what do you think those two are talking about over there?”

“Who knows.”

Yuuma was also feeling a bit exasperated.

Shortly after sitting down, they had felt two intense gazes fixed upon them.

After looking around, Sakura spotted Aoi and the shop assistant sitting nearby.

“What is Aoi wearing…”

“…”

“And that shop assistant… does she really think I won’t recognize her just because she’s in civilian clothes?”

“…”

“Sigh —”

Sakura let out another long sigh.

Her interest in implementing the ‘New Plan’ had mostly vanished due to the arrival of these two ‘uninvited guests.’

“Should we just finish the lattes and head home to call it a night?”

“Good idea.”

Yuuma agreed to Sakura’s suggestion with rare speed.

However, as if remembering something, he turned his gaze back to her.

“Wait, what was the thing you said you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Mhm…”

Hearing Yuuma bring it up himself, Sakura’s internal interest was piqued once again.

‘Well… this is working out great —’

Looking at Yuuma as he tried to maintain his composure, Sakura felt she had gained the upper hand again.

‘It seems Tsuguo is still harboring guilt toward me and is desperate to know what I want to discuss — haha, he’s so easy to read. Tsuguo, you’re just too easy to read~ It’s all because you’re too kind and care too much about other people’s feelings~’

At this moment, Sakura was already fantasizing about using Yuuma’s guilt to make him submit to her, imagining him as a bowing and scraping servant.

‘Then, I’ll slowly transition him from that state into someone who can’t leave me, creating a strong dependency! When that time comes, even if he plays tough — any outsider will be able to see at a glance that he’s in love with me!’

“Hehehehehehe…”

As that somewhat carried-away giggle rang out, Yuuma felt a headache coming on.

‘Great, her old habit is acting up again. I wonder what kind of daydream she’s lost in this time.’

“Ahem —”

Yuuma coughed twice, finally calling the ‘silly deer’ back to reality.

“Uh… hmm?”

Sakura wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth and looked at Yuuma with embarrassment.

“Tsu… Tsuguo, I was just drooling because I smelled the Raw Coconut Latte. It’s not because I…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. You don’t have to explain.”

“…”

“Ahem, back to the main topic —”

Sakura also let out two awkward coughs, attempting to steer the conversation back toward a serious direction.

“Tsuguo, regarding what happened yesterday…”

“Mhm.”

“As for me, you know…”

“Mhm.”

“So, like, uh…”

“Are you done yet…?”

“Fine, stop teasing me!”

Sakura shook her head and then looked at Yuuma seriously.

“I don’t care about what happened yesterday at all, so let’s just let it go. I don’t need your apology, and I don’t need any compensation. I’m really not angry, so do you understand?”

“Yeah, I understand.”

“Oh, I already said I’m not ang… what did you say?”

Sakura was stunned.

‘What did this guy just say?’

“I said I understand. If that’s the case, then I’m relieved.”

Yuuma picked up his bag and slowly stood up, holding his Raw Coconut Latte in his other hand.

‘No… wait, this isn’t according to the script?! Aren’t you supposed to insist on compensating me?! No… wait, I messed up! I completely messed up! I overlooked one possible outcome — that Yuuma might actually be a shameless jerk!’

Realizing her blunder, Sakura bit her thumb nail, her heart filled with bitterness.

“Let’s go —”

“Wait!”

Seeing the opportunity about to slip away again, Sakura couldn’t just watch it happen.

“Tsuguo, I thought about it for a bit… as I thought, I’m still a little angry…”

“Hmm?”

“Uh… anyway, I’m just a bit angry! I want you to do one thing to compensate me!”

“Pfft…”

Looking at Sakura, whose cheeks were puffed out like a little pufferfish, the corners of Yuuma’s mouth curled up slightly.

For a moment, he forgot his usual aversion to the girl, and his gaze softened with a hint of calm and warmth.

“Alright — but I won’t do anything illegal or anything like making fake medicine to hurt people.”

“What… what kind of person do you take me for?!”

Hearing Yuuma’s words, Sakura’s cheeks puffed out even further.

“In this life or the last, I’ve always been… I’ve always been…”

“You’ve always been what?”

“I’ve always been a purely good person!”