Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna
Source: Syosetu

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12, Special


After I parted with Kai at school, the three of us headed to a café.
The atmosphere is so good that I suspect I would be denied entry if I entered the café alone.

The college-age clerk looked a little tense when she saw my face, but I was able to enter the store.
　
Then Touka and Kana order a set of pancakes, and I just order a drink.

After I finished my order, Touka turned to me and asked.
　
"Speaking of which, senpai, how was Otome-chan?"

"She's dangerous."

I responded reflexively, and thereafter became impatient, wondering if perhaps I shouldn't have said so.
When I look at Touka,
　
"Well then, Otome-chan. I guess she was a little shocked after all..."

She looked dejected, and said so.
It seems she took my words as "mentally damaged and in a dangerous state".
Actually, it's wrong.

Her thoughts, or rather her ideas, are dangerous. That was the woman called Tatsumiya Otome.
So, seeing Touka's concern, I correct her words so as not to disadvantage Tatsumiya.

"I'm sorry, I made a mistake. I meant to say that she is more dangerous than I thought."

"What do you mean?"

Hearing my words, Touka tilted her head and asked.

"Tatsumiya is... too straight."

Swallowing the words "against her desires," I tell her.

"Otome-chan seems to be quite stoic, doesn't she? Then, she might study so hard for the next test that we are worried about her."

Touka's words make me smile wryly.
That might have been better... I thought.

"I think Touka-chan is usually stoic, too... By the way, what about Tatsumiya-san?"

Kana asks, tilting her head curiously.
I explain to Kana that Tatsumiya is depressed because she has lost in test scores not only to Ike but also to me.
Except, of course, for Tatsumiya's crazy ... overly optimistic.

"Come to think of it, Yuuji-kun, you placed second on the test again! I think it's amazing!"

"Compared to Ike, who is undefeated first place, I am still a long way off."

"I think it's nice to be humble like that."

Kana smiles, "Ehehe".
I feel somewhat embarrassed and look away.

I looked away and saw Touka, and this time my eyes met hers.
Normally she would have glared at us with a reproachful gaze, but ... surprisingly, today she only laughed weakly.
I wondered what was wrong, and as I was thinking this, the pancake set and drinks we had ordered were brought to our table.

"Wah, that looks delicious."

"Yeah, actually I've been wanting to try it too"

Touka and Kana were getting excited in front of the pancakes.
"Itadakimasu," they said, then cut the pancakes with a fork and knife and brought them to their mouths.

"Mmm, delicious!"

Kana said,

"It's really good. Senpai, you can take a bite!"

Touka offered me a pancake she had cut up.
I said, "Hmm, oh," and decided to take a bite, taking advantage of her kindness.
I took a bite and thought ... sweet. Then I taste the texture and feel of the pancake.
I am not a sweet tooth, but I thought it was honestly delicious.

"Delicious"

"Right~!"

Touka smiles happily and with satisfaction.
Then I felt a stare from Kana, who was sitting opposite me.

"What's wrong?"

"I want to do 'ahn' too, Yuuji-kun. This is also delicious, ahn♡." 

Kana held out a cut-up pancake to me, her cheeks turning red.
Come to think of it, it was so natural that I was allowed to eat it as a matter of course, but it was a rather embarrassing thing to do.
After reflecting on this, I cough one more time and say to Kana.

"I'm sorry I misbehaved. Now you two can enjoy your pancakes."

I tell her that I cannot accept it from her.

"Even though you ate Touka-chan's... You're mean!"

Kana looked dissatisfied and stared at me with an upward glance.
Just when I was thinking that it was bad, Touka next to me interjected.

"Yuuji-senpai and I are lovers. So we can feed each other. ... right, senpai?"

Touka, as usual, made a light-hearted remark that agitated Kana.
Kana was not hiding her dissatisfaction at hearing those words and was pouting, but I felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Touka's voice sounded somewhat uneasy.
But I had no idea ... what her concerns were.

I looked at Touka, who was chewing a pancake next to me.
She looks at me too and our eyes meet.

"What is it, senpai? Do you enjoy watching your girlfriend eat sweets so much? ... I'm a little embarrassed, you know?"

Touka said mischievously.
Seeing that, I decided not to think too deeply about it.

I gave a wry smile, then muttered a small "nothing," and suddenly remembered what Tatsumiya had asked me to do.
If it's these two girls, they might know something about it.
With that in mind, I turn to them and ask.

"... Speaking of which, it just crossed my mind. Has Ike ever had a girlfriend?"

"Aniki?"

In response to my question, Touka says curiously and then makes eye contact with Kana.
Kana, too, "Hmm..." she made a thinking gesture, and then,

"Never heard of it"

Shaking her head, she replied.

"Then have you ever heard of a girl he likes or something?"

"I don't. I don't have any idea at all."

Touka looked stunned and affirmed.

"I don't know either. I know a number of girls who say they like Haruma. I've never heard of Haruma liking anyone, or even imagining him liking anyone... It's kind of difficult."

Kana's words make me ask.

"What does that mean?"

"Because Haruma gets special treatment from everyone. But Haruma doesn't give anyone special treatment."

At those words, Touka nodded with a wry smile.
... Indeed, now that you mention it. I also couldn't imagine Ike becoming a lover with anyone, either.

As I was thinking this, Kana was asking me in a fearful manner.
　
"... But still, why did you ask that so suddenly?"

Indeed, I reply, thinking that it was an abrupt topic.

"No, sort of. No particular reason."

"...Could it be, Yuuji-kun is"

Kana looked at Touka, who had a bitter look on her face.

"Like with Kai-kun earlier, I think he's unconsciously heading in that way...?"

"H-He's not! Please stop making weird accusations!"

I don't know what the two of them are talking about,
Seeing Touka's upset, I felt somewhat uneasy, but since it was kind of hard to ask, I was indescribably confused.