Chapter 14: Summer Festival
***
“Matsuda-kun, did you have soy sauce egg rice for breakfast by any chance?”
Miyuki asked as she put the fruit plate in the sink.
I was sitting on the bench with Tetsuya when I replied.
“Yeah.”
“How many plates?”
“One plate.”
“But there are two plates in the sink?”
“I had one last night.”
“Then you had soy sauce egg rice since last night to this morning?”
I feel like something good is going to happen.
I have good vibes for whatever reason.
“That’s right.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why… Egg rice is popular. Easy to make, and tasty.”
“It has no nutritional value. Don’t you think about your health?”
“Hey, did you not listen to the doctor-nim? He said I had a strong body.”
“That has nothing to do with nutrition though?”
I laid on the ground and showed annoyance towards Tetsuya.
“Miura. Your mom is nagging me again.”
“Since it’s for your own good, I think you should listen to her.”
Of course this guy is on her side every damn time.
But saying that stuff was for my own good… Let’s see if you can still say stuff like that later.
Miyuki spoke, empowered by her supporter.
“A couple days ago, I saw that the garbage was full of instant foods, if you keep eating like that, there will be issues with your body eventually. From now on, think about nutrition when you eat.”
I thought she was gonna say that she is going to make me bentos from now on… I feel drained.
Forget about having a good feeling… I shouldn’t have made a fuss about this.
Nah, maybe I’m just the idiot for expecting a bento when I haven’t even known her for two months.
After self reflecting, I replied weakly.
“I understand.”
“So you understand then?”
“I understand.”
When I repeated my words with dead eyes, Miyuki laughed lightly as she spoke.
“Matsuda-kun, give me a thousand yen.”
“Alrig… Why are you messing with me right now… Having fun?”
“Somewhat?”
“Ha… This is why I won’t be able to live a long life.”
“Not because of what you eat?”
“Yo. Yo…! I’ll eat well. Stop talking about nutrition already.”
“Okay. Shall we start studying again?”
Miyuki sat down upright laid out the books on the table.
Tetsuya and I gave each other fed up looks, and walked towards Miyuki like zombies.
**
After getting pummelled by Shimoyama, the next five days went on peacefully.
Me and Miyuki’s relationship developed a bit further, so we could text each other every couple of days.
Because our designated meeting time was spent with Tetsuya, we didn’t get close very quickly, but since I can see our relationship getting better slowly, I’m not in too much of a hurry.
After coming back from the barber, I took a shower then looked at the mirror.
The swelling is almost gone.
There are still some spots with bruises, but they’re very faded.
I smiled in satisfaction and put on a yukata.
Because I was going to the summer festival.
This is an absolute staple in love comedies. How could I possibly miss it?
Plus, I can see Miyuki in a yukata, so I cannot miss this opportunity.
Normally, after Tetsuya enjoys the festival with his family, he meets with Miyuki, as she was going towards the shrine to help her father with his stand.
After the event, he goes on a date with Miyuki.
However, he’ll lose this event to me.
After I finished adjusting my Yukata, I finished getting ready and put on my gate.
As I stepped out, I could hear the characteristic wooden clicking sound as I walked.
Because of the string is grinding against in between my big toe and my index toe, I feel like I am going to be in pain tomorrow.
Holding back the urge to just change into running shoes, I took a taxi to the shrine near Miyuki’s neighbourhood.
The shrine was filled with lanterns, even at the entrance.
Even though it hasn’t been long since the festival started, it’s quite packed.
‘Miyuki is… in the middle.’
Probably helping her dad with the Takoyaki stand.
Tetsuya should be almost here as well.
I have to move before he does.
Ignoring uncomfortable the gate’s were, I bought two Yakitori. (Basically just chicken on a skewer.)
Not for me to eat, but to give to Miyuki.
Her favourite part is the leg meat.
She wouldn’t start drooling as soon as she sees it, but she is going to want to eat it badly.
As I followed the long road to the middle, I finally found Miyuki.
It’s really pretty how she tied her hair to allow some of the hair on the sides come down lightly.
She was taking care of the customers beside her kind-looking father.
Seeing her with a smile makes even me feel better.
When I looked slightly above the stand, [Super Delicious! Great King Tako!] was written on a sign.
Even if it seems a bit old fashioned, it also feels very Japanese.
After clearing my throat a couple times, I approached the stand making use of the time when no customers were there.
I looked at the Takoyakis that were being cooked, and spoke as I laid down the menu.
“May I have six Takoyakis?”
I immediately heard Miyuki’s clear and cheerful voice.
“Welcome! Six Takoyakis, 300 yen… Oh?”
I turned around hearing the surprised tone, and upon seeing surprised Miyuki with wide eyes, I twisted my facial muscles.
“Huh? Hanazawa?”contemporary romance
There was a brief moment of silence after we made eye contact.
Me, Miyuki, and her dad looked at each other and blinked.
Since it was hard for me to pretend that we met by coincidence, I was going to act like I just came back to my senses and speak up.
In that moment, a grubby looking kid moved quickly towards us, then grabbed the paper cups with Takoyaki and ran away.
“Ohhhh…!?”
Miyuki’s father’s confused cry.
I celebrated on the inside.
In the bookstore, the playground, and even now, there were events occurring at the perfect timings.
I really was the true main character of Dokiaca.
I dropped the plastic bags with Yakitoris on the stand, and sprinted as fast as I could, even taking off my gates.
The kid was extremely fast, but a kid is a kid so I caught him after he made it a little past outside the shrine.
“Le-Let go of me!”
The kid who got caught by me from behind started causing a disturbance.
It looked like he was going to give the Takoyaki to his siblings in the orphanage, and not eat it himself.
Since we were at a place without people around, it was a good spot to talk.
I quickly took a breath in before asking.
“Who did you steal this for?”
Was he calmed by my soft voice?
He stopped moving around and answered.
“My siblings! Kugh…”
He saw my frowning face and froze his body.
I didn’t mean to leave a bad impression… I’m hurt.
Don’t make me give you a dutch rub.
“Which sibling? Your biological one?”
“No! The ones at the orphanage.”
“Orphanage? Explain properly. If you mess around even once I’m just gonna take it back.”
When I pointed towards the Takoyaki box and spoke threateningly, the kid spoke weakly.
“They… wanted to come to the festival… But the orphanage was too poor so we couldn’t… They said that they wanted to eat Takoyaki…”
I clicked my tongue before speaking.
“So you snuck out to steal Takoyaki?”
“….”
“This little boy only learnt bad things… Whack!”
“Ahh!”
When I acted like I was gonna hit him by raising my arm, he got scared.
Even though my feet were in pain from trying to catch this guy, I had no intention of hitting him, so I lowered my arm.
This event has three options.
First, you can return the Takoyaki box.
Second, you can you can bring the kid and make him apologize.
Third, you can send the kid away and pay for the Takoyaki myself.
The amount of affection points you can earn is ordered 2,3,1.
If I want the most amount of affection points, I need to do option 2.
If I do that, Miyuki’s dad will understand the kid’s situation and give 20 boxes of Takoyaki for free to the orphanage.
Miyuki will think that a good thing happened because of me.
However, I didn’t have any thoughts of selecting option 2 at all.
Right now, I’m playing an open world game with a lot of freedom.
When there’s an opportunity to earn even more affection points, there’s no need to be bounded by an option set.
I raised the corners of my mouth as much as I could, and spoke to the kid who was fidgeting.
“Yo.”
“… What is it.”
“Where’s the orphanage.”
“It’s nearby.”
“Give me the address and go there.”
“No! You’ll tell them that I snuck out!”
“Do I look like a sneaky guy like you? Do you want to give your siblings 6 Takoyakis? Or 180?”
“…Sorry?”
**
“Matsuda-kun! Did you catch the kid?”
“I did… Wait a sec.. Sorry for the delayed introduction. My name is Matsuda Ken.”
As I bowed to Miyuki’s dad after walking in the stand, he accepted my greeting with a smile.
“My name is Hanazawa Wataru. Nice to meet you. You are Matsuda Ken?”
“Yes.”
“So you were the problem student Miyuki was talking about. You’ve changed now right?”
Miyuki made a gesture to Wateru to stop talking.
So you did speak about me to your parents.
You didn’t speak about me when I was doing gangster stuff right?
“Well… I’m just trying my best. Sorry for asking out of the blue, but could I have 30 boxes of Takoyaki by any chance?”
“Hm…? 30 boxes…? Now?”
Wateru was astonished by the huge number.
Miyuki also looked at me in amazement.
I scratched my head as I spoke.
“Will it be difficult?”
“It’s possible… But why do you want 30 boxes?”
“Well…”
I explained the situation, and that I wanted to help the little kid.
After I explained everything, Wateru was looking at me very positively.
“So that’s how it is. You want to buy 30 boxes and give it to the orphanage?”
“Yes sir.”
“Then I should get started right now.”
Then he looked over to Miyuki.
“Miyuki, lower the covers.”
“Oh, ok.”
The cover was made of material that couldn’t be seen through.
Even if Tetsuya gets here, he won’t be able to see Miyuki.
Father-in-law, thank you so much for helping me.
Do you jerk off to getting cucked by any chance?
When Miyuki was lowering the covers, I pulled out a ten thousand yen note.
“Thank you. I’ll pay first.”
“It’s alright. We’re doing a good deed, and Miyuki always goes over to your house, so I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me anything. I’m the one that asked Hanazawa to teach me. So please just take it.”
“It’s fine.”
Wataru really is Miyuki’s father. Kind personality just like her.
Even now it was obvious, looking at how he was making Takoyaki without a fuss.
Since he was refusing the money, I should use another method.
“Then I’ll help out with making it.”
“Yeah? Then come here and help me put in the ingredients.”
“Yes sir.”
When I walked deeper inside the stand tying up my Yukata, Miyuki showed me the Yakitori that she was holding on to.
“Matsuda-kun. This is yours…”
I waved my hand in denial and spoke.
“You eat it. I’m gonna work.”
“… Matsuda-kun, did you eat something wrong today?”
She must be confused by my sudden change in personality.
It’s because I feel empathy to the kids not having parents, I’m being kind. Can’t you feel that?
In reality it’s for affection points, but as a result the kid and the orphanage will get a happy ending, so it’s a win win situation.
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