Chapter 20 | Talking With Ishida

After school, I headed to a coffee shop that I frequented with Airi. The place, which is tucked away in a residential area, is a place we found by accident.

It is also a place of memories with Airi.

I remember when she forced me to order coffee even though I didn’t like it.

That was hell, but I think it was fun with Airi. I was foolish back then, going out of my way to pay for something I didn’t like and forcing myself to drink it…that was only a few days ago, though.

─Ishida was already waiting for me when I arrived at the store.

When Ishida noticed that I had entered the restaurant, he beckoned me over. He then urged me to sit down on the opposite side of the table.

That seat is also the table where I used to sit with Airi… I don’t like her now, so I’m not asking her to cherish her memories of me, but… it kind of pisses me off.

“Well, have a seat.”

Is it your own house? Well, I’ll sit.

I sit down and the waiter comes to ask me what I want to order.

“What would you like to order?”

“Iced tea and the usual dessert.”

“Ah, it’s my first time today, so I don’t know what the usual is!”

“Oh… is that so…? Well, I’ll have the cheesecake, please.”

“Sure thing!”

I’m so embarrassed. I want to go home. I wanted to show off my knowledge of this restaurant in a cool way, but I’m so embarrassed!

I’m sure he’s laughing inside when he sees me now, Ishida…

“…pfft…”

“You’re laughing your heart out!”

“No, I laughed out loud. But you have a surprising sense of humor, Sakamoto-kun.”

“Well, everyone makes mistakes.”

I returned it appropriately and decided to wait for the drinks and cake.

I was waiting for my drink and cake.

I hope he comes soon…the usual waiter…

“I heard from Himeda-san that you like the coffee here. Did you have iced tea today?”

“Hmm? Oh, she doesn’t know anything about me, so don’t worry about it.”

“Eh…?”

Ishida stares at Yuuji in surprise. What I said must have come as a surprise to him. Ishida thought it was not the kind of thing you say to someone you know well.

“Could it be that you had a fight with Himeda-san?”

That was all he could come up with. He must have said those harsh words because we were temporarily quarreling…

He never dreamed that our relationship had become hopelessly strained and was now beyond repair.

“No. We’re not fighting or anything, okay? Before we start talking, I just want to say that I don’t like Airi Himeda, so this isn’t going to happen the way Ishida is worried about it, okay?”

Ishida’s eyes flutter in surprise. He was going to ask how well she and his childhood friend were getting along, but he was understandably surprised when that premise was overturned.

“No, no way.”

But it didn’t look like he was lying. It was because Yuuji’s eyes were straight and sparkled needlessly.

But that would be a big departure from the persona I usually heard from Airi.

However, even if you hear that, you can’t rest assured… Ishida drank the iced coffee that was brought to him before Yuuji, and he decided to look around a little more…

It was exactly the right time.

A pair of ill-looking men came into the store. They looked around the restaurant and reacted as if they had noticed something.

Apparently, the “something” was Ishida, who staggered toward the table where Yuuji and the others were sitting.

Ishida’s expression turned grim as he watched.

He must have been deeply displeased with the person. He stared straight at Ishida as if they felt the same way.

Yuuji was not on his mind.

“Oh, no~? Superstar-sama is drinking coffee elegantly?

“Tch…that’s troublesome.”

The guys were Ishida’s classmates in junior high school.

Although the high school he attends now is different, Ishida, who was excellent in sports and appearance even back then, was unusually popular even in junior high school.

Because of this, he was unable to make any male friends…on the contrary, many were jealous of him, like these two men.

“You’re hitting on women again…hmm? What is it, a man? Haha! You got friends too?”

Mind your own business.

At this point, one of the two men with a bad temper put his hand on Yuuji’s shoulder.

“You, stop it, stop it, stop it… it’s not good to be friends with this guy, is it? Do you want to get hurt? Hmm?”

Is this punk trying to pick a fight?

Yuuji brushes off the man’s hand on his shoulder.

“…now since we’re talking… would you mind leaving for a moment?”

“What…? Sakamoto…?”

Yuuji confronts the punk head-on.

Ishida seemed to be surprised by his appearance and shouted in surprise.

(Why don’t you just abandon me and leave…? And wouldn’t he be scared…?)

As Ishida thought, Yuuji was not scared at all.

His sister is a woman who is at the top of the Yankee world every day… Yuuji is not scared of a petty gangster now.

In addition, to clear up the misunderstanding about Airi, Yuuji went all the way to the restaurant, which was not his favorite place. He was not at all happy to be interrupted by a thug-like person.

“What? What the hell are you doing…!”

Yuuji was grabbed by the chest.

Naturally, he had never been in a fight before, but he figured that if the worst happened and he got hit, he could just tell his sister.

The other thing is, since it’s inside the store, the shopkeepers will probably stop it… such a foolish plan.

“He’s always playing with girls, he’s never had a male friend. What’s the use of having relations with him?”

“That’s just being backhanded. What does it matter if Ishida is always playing with women? That has nothing to do with me.”

In fact, it doesn’t really matter.

I don’t need to be bothered at all if he’s blowing bad news about Ishida…he’s just an acquaintance related to Airi.

“First of all, isn’t Ishida’s being liked by women a result of his efforts?”

“Damn, you…”

“Sakamoto… you’re…”

“Wha? What?”

What? Why is Ishida looking at me with teary eyes? Maybe he was scared of the Yankees? They’re just a bunch of losers, it’s fine, okay?

─ It was natural for Yuuji to protect Ishida.

Ishida is a classmate of Yuuji’s, but Yuuji has never met Ishida before, and they go to different junior high schools. It was natural for Yuuji to protect Ishida, considering their future school life.

However, to Ishida, who does not know Yuuji’s intentions, Yuuji now looks like a hero who stands up to a Yankee.

He is a hero who stands up for himself.

(I can’t win in a fight… but if you touch me with even one finger… then you’re in trouble with my sister)

“I want to talk to Superstar-sama! Get out of my way!”

“I’m the one who has business with Ishida, okay? I mean, Ishida doesn’t seem to like it, so you guys should go home.”

“You’ve got some nerve, you know that?”

“Sakamoto…!”

Finally, the men became impatient and tried to hit Yuuji…at that very moment.

“…Hey boy, who are you picking fights with?”

“You’re coming from behind, you b*****d! Hiii!”

“Eh…Yoshizawa-senpai!”

“Thank you for coming…but…why are you stopping?”

“What’s the matter with you? ─ Yuuji’s little boy. I’m sorry I’m late to stop you… please give my regards to Yuka Anego… you guys go to the front!” [TLN: Anego means “A woman who is charming and powerful”]

“”Ha, hai~!””

The duo attempted to strike at Yuuji but were taken away by a strong-looking man who appeared from behind them.

It was so sudden that Yuuji and Ishida could only watch with a blank stare.

“Sakamoto… what was that guy?”

“I don’t know… but that guy was scary… if it was him, I wouldn’t have been able to be so aggressive… oh, scary…”

“He was so muscular…”

I mean, could it be that my sister is awesome?

She’s called Anego by someone who looks so dangerous… I wonder how she became such a Yankee when she used to be so kind… And yet…

“I don’t think I’m in the mood to talk today.”

“After what happened I’m sorry to have bothered you.

“It’s not Ishida’s fault…”

“Thank you.”

Why are you so red in the face…you are indeed too scared.

Well, I don’t know Ishida’s contact information even if I wanted to reschedule the meeting…what should I do…oh, that’s right!

“Ishida…can I use your phone now…?”

“Actually, it ran out of charge at school…”

“Oh, in that case…”

Yuuji took out a notepad from his bag and wrote something on it… then handed it to Ishida.

“Register my number when you get home. We’ll pick up where we left off today on another day, okay?”

“…!”

Hearing this, Ishida stood up vigorously from his chair.

He then approached Yuuji.

“Are you going to give me your contact information?”

“Uh, yeah…it might be easier to talk on the phone, and maybe we could just chat or something.”

“Me chatting with a guy?”

That’s creepy, right? What’s wrong Ishida? You weren’t like that before…?

Or maybe you don’t like it? If so, that would explain why you suddenly became so creepy…

“If you don’t like it…”

When Yuuji tried to withdraw his hand, Ishida hurriedly grabbed the note and held it tightly, not letting go. 

“I’ve never had a boy give me his phone number before… such a miracle…”

“Ummm…see you later…”

Ishida’s behavior was strange, so Yuuji got up from his chair and tried to leave the place.

“Well, wait a minute! If you’re giving me your phone number, that means I’m allowed to contact you! I’m allowed to send you chats, right?”

“Uh, yeah, I guess so…?”

“Well, I’ll talk to you later…I promise…!”

“For sure? … Well, I understand.”

When the conversation was over, Yuuji was finally able to leave the place.

Why is he so excited?

…Oh, I’ll have the cheesecake and iced tea wrapped up for takeout.

Yuuji picks up his takeout items at the counter, waves to Ishida on his way out, and leaves the store.

After Yuuji left, Ishida clutched the paper with his phone number on it with a happy look on his face.

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TLN: I’m back with this series. I’ll continue translating this alongside Nerd Gal.

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