“But you know, isn’t it polite for the guy to try to look cool? You’ve dressed up nicely too, Remi.”
“Oh? Now that you mention it, this outfit might be for your benefit in a way. But if you start expecting something in return for such things, that’s not a healthy relationship.”
Just as I was about to respond, the waiter began placing our orders on the table.
“Wow…!”
What awaited us was a spectacular sight.
Pasta, eggs benedict, tiramisu generously dusted with white powder for dessert, and black coffee wafting a rich aroma.
The dishes sparkled brilliantly, making me understand why everyone takes photos.
Completely forgetting my previous response, I eagerly reached for the coffee cup.
Just as I was about to drink, Remi amusingly remarked:
“By the way, black coffee isn’t particularly cool.”
“Eh!? But it’s adult-like!”
“I’m saying this because that childishness is showing through.”
My childhood friend mercilessly cut me down and took a sip of her iced tea.
Then, to my surprise, she took a delicious-looking bite of cheesecake.
“So you start with the dessert. I guess it’s because you want to eat it while it’s still cold?”
“So dates really do involve going to cafes and stuff. I had no idea how it worked.”
“I told you it’s a sure thing. Well, that’s just based on internet information though.”
“Oh, so not from personal experience?”
At my comment, Remi put down her fork with a clank.
“Well, I have absolutely no experience. Going out with a boy alone, you’re pretty much the only one in my life.”
“…Seriously?”
“I probably haven’t changed in that aspect.”
I had assumed she was escorting me because she had experience.
So that means she looked up all these places and things for our first time?
That might be an incredibly happy fact.
During the movie, I thought Remi had gone through various experiences in middle school.
To hide my embarrassment, I gulped down some black coffee, which made me choke.
“Ugh, it’s so bitter!”
“You’re not supposed to drink that in one go…”
If I had burst out laughing like in the cafeteria, I probably would have been hit. Actually, I wish she had hit me then.
I cleanse my palate with tiramisu, its smooth cream accented by a hint of bitterness.
Everything tasted better than its price suggested.
Today, most of my month’s allowance will disappear.
The sense of fulfillment outweighs the sense of loss, perhaps because my childhood friend seems to be enjoying herself in front of me.
Or maybe it’s the anticipation for the event to come.
Remi, having drunk about half of her iced tea, opened her mouth with “Come to think of it.”
“Why don’t you use social media, Ryota? Thanks to that, I couldn’t contact you.”
“That’s quite sudden.”
After slurping some pasta, I answered.
“Well, there are all sorts of values on social media, right? I don’t want to be swayed by people whose faces I can’t really see.”
“Hmm. So you had a proper reason.”
“Yeah. I wanted to contact you too, but we had the house phone, and I thought if worst comes to worst…”
“…Yet you never called even once.”
Remi spoke in a low voice.
…I did try calling once, but it didn’t connect because our mothers were talking, so that doesn’t count, right?
It’s only been about a month since then, but the phone call Remi mentioned was probably from much earlier.
But I had something on my mind, so I tilted my head.
“Did it cause any problems in your life?”
“Not really.”
“See, it didn’t.”
“But I felt lonely.”
I stopped the fork that was twirling pasta.
Remi had always been straightforward about her feelings.
But not to this extent.
As I was surprised, Remi scratched her cheek as if hesitating a bit.
Then, as if remembering something, she gazed out the window.
I followed her gaze.
Outside, a cloudless sky stretched out.
“They say the sky is connected everywhere, but that’s just a pretty phrase. Actually moving is quite challenging for middle schoolers, you know.”
“…Well, that’s true.”
“In such a situation, not being able to contact someone you were close to was quite painful.”
Just imagining being thrown into an unfamiliar place at a distance that requires train travel is terrifying.
Especially for someone like me who almost became isolated at the start of middle school, despite knowing a few people.
“I’m sorry. I should have contacted you after all.”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
When I turned my eyes to Remi, she was already facing me.
“No need to apologize. I just thought you were being cold… Oh, I guess apologizing would be normal in this situation. I’m such a troublesome woman, aren’t I?”
“You are, but I genuinely think I was wrong.”
“I didn’t expect you to agree that I’m troublesome.”
“Sorry, I was referring to the part about apologizing being normal, not about you being troublesome!”
“Hmph, I wonder about that.”
Remi narrowed her eyes and took a sip of water.
I wonder if she had been thinking about me all this time since she transferred.
“Transferring must have been tough. A far-off place is almost like a different world, isn’t it?”
“How mercenary. It’s too late to try and follow up now.”
“Ugh…”
I involuntarily shut my mouth at Remi’s perceptive comment.
Seeing my reaction, Remi’s mouth curved into a smile.
“Hehe, I’m joking. Now that you mention it, we’re both guilty of not calling each other.”
“That’s half serious! Was middle school that tough?”
When I asked, Remi put her index finger on her chin and said, “Well…”
She didn’t seem to be angry, so I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Well, things were certainly different. But it was fun, you know? I got quite a few farewell messages too.”
“Wow… You’re really different from me in terms of social skills. Back in elementary school, you hardly talked to anyone around you.”
“Hey, you’ve always talked to girls, haven’t you? Stop adding weird settings!”
Remi pouted as she replied.
Then, as if remembering something, she averted her gaze and continued.
“I’m as surprised as you are about how much I’ve changed. But it’s too late to go back now.”
I’m aware that I showed more affection towards the old Remi.
I wonder if Remi is concerned about that.
“Just so you know, the current Remi is cool and mature too.”
“Oh, really?”
“Wow, you don’t sound happy at all.”
I sighed and drained the now lukewarm black coffee.
A dark brown stain remained in the empty cup.
“I’m not happy at all. Adults are all just holding back what they want to say. I told you on the day we met after a long time, right? We’re not at an age where we can say anything anymore.”
“Then why is Remi trying to be an adult?”
“I just think that’s how I should be.”
“I see.”
“Well, I guess you wouldn’t understand.”
“Did you even intend to make me understand?”
“Nope.”
“You didn’t!?”
As I was shocked, Remi smiled with the corners of her eyes lowered.
“That’s why I told you to stay the way you are, Ryota.”
“…Oh, okay.”
I replied shortly, feeling confused.
One thing I understood.
In Remi’s mind, being an adult isn’t cool.
Maybe I, who see being an adult as cool, am having too many illusions about the future.
After that, we talked about school life, current events, and lost track of time.
As if trying to fill in the gap of time we missed.
At the same time—as if we were in a hurry for something.
Eventually, Remi looked down at her smartphone screen and opened her mouth.
“…Time flies. We have about an hour left until we meet up with Yuzuha and the others.”
“Well, we watched a movie. Of course it feels faster than the actual time.”
“The movie, huh. Whether it’ll be useful as a reference for today aside, it was quite realistic, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, it was a relaxing time.”
The empty large plate and coffee cup reflected an orange light.
The stagnant light reminiscent of the setting sun made me clench my fist.
“—If Hanazono and I start dating, we won’t be able to hang out like this anymore, huh.”
Remi closed her mouth.
It was something I had been vaguely thinking about for a while.
This time spent alone with Remi would disappear if things went well with Hanazono.
Maybe Remi had been thinking the same thing.
Perhaps Remi had been considering this all along and was helping me despite that.
Whether that was a happy thing for me or not, I still couldn’t clearly understand.
“Do as you like. It’s not for me to decide.”
“…Yeah. You’re right.”
The first girl I’ve ever gotten close to.
Unlike when we parted ways before, we won’t be separated by different schools no matter what kind of relationship we end up in.
Just having that assurance gives me some peace of mind.
“Even if things look promising with Hanazono-san, you still don’t know how it’ll turn out, right? Right now, any talk about it is just counting your chickens before they hatch.”
“…You’re right. I guess I just have to do my best for now.”
“That’s right.”
In just two hours, we’ll probably know how well the date with Hanazono went.
In three hours, our relationship might have changed.
Thinking about it that way, I suddenly felt nervous.
As if seeing through my thoughts, Remi spoke up cheerfully.
“Alright, shall we finish up by going wild at the arcade?”
“Oh, I thought we were just going to wait at the cafe!”
“Now that you mention it, this might really be the last time. Let’s play at the place we used to go to often.”
Remi’s expression as she said this seemed somewhat adult-like.
More than any expression she shows in class.
Before I could figure out what that meant, Remi stood up alone.
The seat she left behind looked unexpectedly desolate.
Only the BGM playing in the store continued to cheerfully keep the rhythm.
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
BUY THE SOURCE MATERIAL TO SUPPORT THE AUTHOR !!!
Kindly click on the green button above and contribute to filling the green bar if you’re interested in having another LN from the request page translated. Also, every donation is being used to purchase the source material and to fund more English translations.
Please consider joining my Ko-Fi membership. By becoming a member, you’ll also gain access to 2-10 additional chapters of all of the novels from this site translated into English. Last but not least your support will also assist me in upholding the translation quality and speed. For more information, please follow the link.
Donation for faster release is always welcome
Additionally, I am now accepting translation requests.
