Chapter 136 Herbal Teas And Secrets
"Alright, lunchtime. But lucky us, no one here. Sorry, Lyam, don't know any other spots."
"Oh, no worries. This is the place we all went to on Reginleif's introduction day, right? The herbal tea was really good."
"Yeah. Quollio only makes coffee, so I ain't tried the stuff... but might be a nice change."
Feeling a bit tired during lunchtime, it's best to just have a light snack. So here we are, at the café's open terrace. Lyam's pure nature helps cover up my lack of options with a shy smile.
Plus, choosing herbal tea is a good idea. After such a rich experience in many ways, I wanted something light to refresh my throat.
"Still, that was one helluva shock. Think fortune tellers can see into the future like that?"
"Who knows? I'm not too familiar with it either, but it was my first time seeing someone read palms to tell fortunes. They must have been an amazing fortune teller."
"Yeah, there's no question 'bout it."
While waiting for our orders, we ended up talking about that fortune teller. They had such a strong character that the shock was still lingering.
"By the way... what was that compatibility shit all about? How the hell could they figure us out like that?"
"I-I don't know... Oh, I just remembered. The pasta feeding thing... I can't believe I did something so embarrassing..."
Yeah, the palm reading was already quite impactful, but the real issue came afterward. The compatibility reading we did on a whim was beyond shocking.
'Alright, here you go! Chef's whim pasta! Today"s special is carbonara!'
''!?''
'I"m going to have you two feed each other this. This will show your compatibility, so good luck!'
''!?!?''
What I was eagerly waiting to see how they would determine our compatibility turned out to be the pasta the fortune teller pulled out from who knows where. But the request that followed made me think, "Was that menu item for real?" and completely skipped over all my other thoughts.
"Listen up, there'''s no backing out. That fortune teller was so damn authoritative, we had no choice but to do what they said."
"Sigh... I was really worried about what would happen if my sister saw us there. Ugh..."
"Well, considering how deep we dug ourselves into this shit, the results speak for themselves, don't they?"
"...Um. That part was the most embarrassing for me, though."
"Huh? Why are you start stuttering now?"
"N-no, it's nothing!"
I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty for pushing this challenge from the fortune teller on Lyam, who was blushing bright red and shaking her head.
* * *
So, we managed to get through that chaotic morning.
The calm and peaceful tea time really soothed my heart. Even though herbal tea didn't seem to fit the vibe, I took a graceful sip. Just as Lyam recommended, it was delicious and paired well with the sandwiches I ordered to fill my empty stomach.
It was an unusual moment for me, but it felt nice every once in a while.
Just then, a gentle breeze swept through the main street, and I squinted my eyes.
"Um, Hiiro."
"What's up?"
"Um, I'm sorry. It seems like you were trying to be considerate."
"...Huh? Hold up, where did that come from?"
Lyam's unexpected apology made my narrowed eyes widen in surprise.
Wait, what's going on? The girl bowed her head slightly, and my teacup, which I had tilted, came to a sudden stop.
"It's probably my sister, right? Since I've been feeling down, she must have asked you to keep me company to cheer me up."
"What are you talking?"
"Because, Hiiro, it was so sudden. Plus, you were occasionally glancing at my face like you were checking my mood. It just didn't seem like the usual Hiiro."
"Ugh..."
Looks like I got caught glancing over to see if I was cheering her up. Man, this is awkward. I thought I was being sneaky about it.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I scratched the back of my head.
"...But, I'm okay now."
"Huh? Fine? What the hell are you talking about?""
"Well, thanks to you, I feel better now. You don't have to spend any more time on me. Look, I was even on punishment until recently, and Hiiro probably wanted to do his usual training or something, right?"
"......Lyam?"
"Thanks to Hiiro, I'm all good now. I was thinking of going to buy a book after this. But it feels bad to drag you along for that, so let's just call it a day here, okay?"
"......"
Maybe she's saying "let's stop here for today" because she's bored. I almost took it negatively for a second, but it seems different.
Is she being polite? She's talking more than usual, but her smile looks a bit stiff.
I kind of feel like there's an invisible wall between us.
"It's fine. Don't be nice to me anymore."
"......Huh?"
Still, I couldn't miss the faint hint of 'self-loathing' mixed in her whisper.
It was really faint, so I couldn't catch the details. But I could feel it. That line was definitely something a girl like Lyam shouldn't say.
(......Is it about that secret?)
I have no idea why Lyam is feeling self-loathing. Maybe it's related to the secret that fortune teller mentioned. If she's putting up walls like this, she probably won't easily share it if I ask.
Besides, I don't want to push her too hard after saying everyone has their secrets.
But then again, a guy who wants to be a hero can't just ignore his friend's problems.
"......Yo, Lyam."
"Yes?"
"You're messin' with the wrong one."
"Huh?"
"Dat cat girl asked ya ain't nothin' but a feigned interest."
If that's the case, then I only have one option left.
"It's a date. She asked for a date with ya."
"──Wha!?"
I'm smart, so I figured it out. If pushing doesn't work, then try pulling.
Yeah. I should get close enough that Lyam wants to share her secret herself.
So, of course, I can't just let us part ways here.
The choice is clear. Just push through.
"Uh, um, that's just a play on words or something..."
"Nope, I said it word for fuckin' word: a date. But that guy's face back then was half-smirking. It was like he was saying, 'Only if I can actually escort you,' all smug and shit. No doubt about it. That was a challenge thrown my way."
"Uh, um... maybe she didn't mean it that way... oh, I don't know. Since it's my sister, it's not impossible..."
"I got really pissed off. I'm Hiiro, and I don't just back down from challenges. Of course, I accepted it. So everything that happened today has been a showdown between me and that cheeky cat girl. Ain't no apology comin'."
"! ...Uh... um..."
With my passionate speech, her brain must be a bit scrambled now.
The smile that kept her at a distance crumbled, and her usual troubled face popped up.
Alright, this is it. Time to go all in!
"Ya know... You just said I ain't acting like me. So, what's that supposed to mean? It sounds like you're sayin' the usual me is some guy who don't give a damn at all, doesn't it?"
"...Uh, um, the focus suddenly shifted to me... th-that's not it! I've never thought of Hiiro that way...!"
"Nope, that's not true. Seriously, you sisters have some balls to provoke me like this. Hey Lyam, since you started this fight, there's no way I'm lettin' you just walk away. We're gonna have a proper date, and I'll show ya some real consideration, so be ready for it."
"Uh, proper? Um, what do you mean...?"
"──Do ya get it or not?!"
"Pya!? W-wait, I understand! Please take care of the escorting!"
"Alright, good girl."
"Ahhh..."
Yes! I won. I got her to say it.
When in trouble, this is the way to go (passion). I took a big sip of the slightly cold herbal tea like it was a victory toast.
Now that the extension is decided, I need to quickly plan what's next. I can't keep whining about being inexperienced in dating anymore.
"...Hiiro, you're a bit too pushy."
"Just a little? You ain't seen nothin' yet. I'm that kind of fella who walks like he's wearin' confidence as his suit."
"That's not something to brag about, come on..."
On the other hand, Lyam, who was pushed into this situation.
For once, she let out a bit of resentment, but her expression had softened. Her choice of words felt a bit less formal than usual, which might be a good sign.
So, I thought I had to make sure to keep the fun going, and I focused on the facilities and spots in Asgardam... and then it happened.
"Hey, is there a knight around? If there is, come quickly!! Something crazy is happening at the Aegir Library!!"
"──!"
A scream that sounded like chaos echoed through the main street.
Unforgivingly, the plans we had for the afternoon were completely wiped out.
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