Chapter 6: Guatemalan Coffee

“Oh, is that so? That’s fine.”

“Th-Thank you so much!”

The next day, Hiiragi Shuichi was dragged out by Aoba Tomoyo to meet with Aoba Mother and discuss the matter of the rent.

Even though it was just a talk about rent, they didn’t choose an outside meeting spot.

Aoba Tomoyo brought Hiiragi Shuichi straight into the Aoba family residence.

Fortunately, the process wrapped up incredibly fast.

Aoba Mother agreed without hesitation, but the downside was her rather peculiar attitude.

Her cold tone carried an inexplicable pressure.

She was a woman who always wore a kimono, like a true Yamato Nadeshiko, yet her face was sharp enough to cut.

That had been Hiiragi Shuichi’s impression of her all along.

“See? I told you Mother would agree~ So then, Mother, your daughter will be taking her leave with Hiiragi-kun now.”

With a giggle, Aoba Tomoyo gave her mother a bow, then immediately grabbed Hiiragi Shuichi’s arm to pull him away.

But Aoba Mother called out to stop her.

“Wait a moment… Tomoyo, even at home, you should maintain proper decorum. What’s gotten into you today?”

As she spoke, Aoba Mother’s gaze pierced into Hiiragi Shuichi like a nail.

But just as he noticed those snakelike, sharp eyes, Aoba Mother suddenly seemed to exude a certain warmth.

‘This family is seriously twisted…’

Hiiragi Shuichi naturally knew that resisting might incur Aoba Mother’s displeasure, so he tried to slip his arm out of Aoba Tomoyo’s grasp.

But the moment he made such a move, Aoba Tomoyo’s terrifying glare cowed him into stopping.

‘Caught between a rock and a hard place, huh…’

The next second, Aoba Tomoyo also realized the awkward position Hiiragi Shuichi was in, squeezed between her and her mother.

It must be rough for him, right?

So she turned around and said to Aoba Mother with a smile.

“Don’t be like that, Mother. Compared to my thoughtless little sister, Tomoyo’s eye for choosing people has never been wrong?”

“Is that so…”

Aoba Mother cast a scrutinizing glance, looking Hiiragi Shuichi up and down.

“Then Mother would like to say one thing to this Hiiragi-kun.”

“Hiiragi-kun, I can understand your hardships. You look and sound quite impressive…”

“That’s precisely why I’m willing to waive your rent. I hope your future goes smoothly…”

“Tomoyo, you as well. Remember to go visit your little sister more often and tell her to come home soon.”

Though the words were warm and gentle, Hiiragi Shuichi could hear nothing but a sense of ‘You brat, you’re not worthy of my daughter.’

Translated plainly, what she meant was, ‘I’m waiving your rent out of pity. Don’t you dare be ungrateful.’

Hiiragi Shuichi could only bow and give thanks, daring not to complain.

Aoba Tomoyo waved her hand, bid her mother farewell, and took Hiiragi Shuichi away.

At a café that night.

Hiiragi Shuichi had already spent the whole day accompanying her on a wild spree of fun.

Now that they were at the café, maybe they could finally settle down.

But no matter what, Hiiragi Shuichi couldn’t refuse Aoba Tomoyo’s request to sit side by side.

A cup of Guatemalan coffee sat before Aoba Tomoyo, wafting the aroma of charcoal roast.

Hiiragi Shuichi, however, had no idea what to order.

He never had the chance to come to places like this, so he naturally knew nothing about coffee, and thus had no clue how to order.

“Senpai, are you really into coffee? I don’t know how to order.”

Hiiragi Shuichi spoke up.

Aoba Tomoyo’s fingers traced the cup handle as she said with a somewhat lonely expression.

“Not really, I’m not that knowledgeable either.”

“As long as you go to a place with a high enough standard, pretty much every coffee tastes decent.”

“I just tell the staff what I’m in the mood for and how I’m feeling, and let them pick for me.”

“This Guatemalan coffee is just what I drink most often, so I ordered it out of habit.”

“How about it? Want one just like mine?”

Two cups of Guatemalan coffee sat on the table.

Hiiragi Shuichi took a sip, and to someone like him who didn’t drink coffee, the taste was so bitter it was almost punishing, with a hint of tobacco mixed in.

Even though there was a sweet chocolate undertone woven through it, Hiiragi Shuichi still couldn’t get used to that overwhelming kick.

Just one sip, and Hiiragi Shuichi’s face twisted into a sour grimace.

‘How does she manage to get used to a taste like this?’

Aoba Tomoyo let out a soft laugh, tinged with mockery, but once the laughter faded, her expression turned somewhat wistful.

Hiiragi Shuichi watched her soft lips slowly part.

“Can’t get used to that flavor? I figured…”

“Not many people would like such a strange taste.”

“Then… do you like it, Senpai?”

“Me?”

She raised her hand to her mouth, covering the corners of her slightly lifted lips.

The warm café lights shone on her beautiful face, revealing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“If I said I didn’t like it… who would be happy about that?”

“Hey, Hiiragi-kun, would you be happy for me?”

That voice—beautiful, enchanting, intoxicating to any listener, devouring everything around it like a black hole.

But everyone knew that stepping into a black hole would almost certainly mean death.

To avoid being drawn in, Hiiragi Shuichi let out a sigh, turned his head away, and deflected as if he didn’t care.

“I wouldn’t dare presume to comment on Senpai’s family matters…”

Aoba Tomoyo’s vague words were undoubtedly about herself.

And if it was about her, what else could it be besides her wealthy family environment?

Hiiragi Shuichi figured he didn’t need to overthink it to understand that every family had its own troubles.

Just recalling Aoba Mother’s sharp face was enough to conjure images of Aoba Tomoyo being forced into all sorts of social gatherings at a young age, mingling with a bunch of adults.

‘So then, did she dislike that?’

Hiiragi Shuichi remembered that night, when she had suddenly said, “I’ve heard plenty of lies. It’s fine.”

“I see…”

Aoba Tomoyo let out an “mmm—” as she stretched lazily, her figure immediately on full display.

Hiiragi Shuichi’s gaze was naturally drawn to her, but out of respect, he turned his head away.

Then, Hiiragi Shuichi felt his shoulder sink slightly.

Aoba Tomoyo rested her head on his shoulder, entirely of her own accord.

Hiiragi Shuichi was a little worried, but not about anything concerning her.

He was only worried that his suddenly racing heartbeat might travel through his body and reach Aoba Tomoyo.

Hiiragi Shuichi froze for a moment, desperately trying to think of a way to push her away, but no idea came to him.

So his body instinctively shifted aside—only for Aoba Tomoyo to grab him firmly.

“Hey… can you call me Tomoyo?…”

“Coffee really is awful…”

Hiiragi Shuichi suddenly felt that he was being sly.

People would lay their vulnerabilities bare before him.

True feelings always surfaced through jokes.

‘So then, what about that day when they first met, that nasty joke about being his “girlfriend”?’

Hiiragi Shuichi thought about it.

Perhaps she really was hoping for someone outside the social circle to suddenly appear by her side, become someone close to her, give her a chance to speak her true heart, give her a chance to drop the act of deception and treat someone sincerely.

Hiiragi Shuichi wasn’t made of stone.

He could understand that feeling, and he could empathize with this Aoba Senpai, but…

He knew that he couldn’t bear the resentment and love she had suppressed for over a decade.

If he accepted it, that flood of emotion might wash him away.

Hiiragi Shuichi tried to gently push her away.

Her attitude seemed aloof and hesitant, but in the end, she refused to let go.

The night deepened.

Outside the window, neon lights flashed amid the flow of traffic, yet inside the café, time stood still in peace, making one reluctant to leave.

As if once you stepped past that threshold, you’d be thrust back into a world of suffering.

Hiiragi Shuichi’s heart softened.

Even though he hadn’t accepted her, after leaving the café, he let Aoba Tomoyo hold his arm and walk a few extra blocks with him, all the way to the station.

There, only the taxi lights waiting for passengers were eye-catching.

Once they left the station, perhaps the world would return to its usual self.

Aoba Tomoyo finally let go of his arm—and she was the one to let go first.

Her resigned expression was invisible in the silent darkness.

Hiiragi Shuichi turned his head to look.

She was still standing there, only three or four steps away—just the right distance.

He couldn’t help but add one more thing.

“Senpai, I suddenly think… maybe coffee has its good side too…”

Aoba Tomoyo froze for a moment, lifted her face, and her eyes seemed much clearer.

“Th-Then, we…”

“But.”

Hiiragi Shuichi gently interrupted her.

“Senpai, I think the Guatemalan coffee has a strange tobacco taste.”

“I don’t smoke, so I don’t understand that flavor…”

“So, I probably can’t understand you either, Senpai.”

Aoba Tomoyo suddenly looked a little sorrowful, but she had already guessed this expected answer.

She merely gave a helpless smile, then waved goodbye.

Hiiragi Shuichi nodded in response, turned around, and walked into the darkness.