Chapter 15: What Presents Should Be Like

The area in front of the station was undergoing transformation into a stylish townscape through some urban development project. The crowds are filled with hustle and bustle, people flow busily, cars flow, never stopping.

Occasionally the air carries a waste smell that makes my eyes sting.

──I'll choose for you.

She didn't say she'd buy it. A masterful narrative trick.

Orimoto raises her finger slightly and closes one eye.

It was an exquisitely annoying wink.

「Ah, I said I'd choose for you, but I can't buy it, so if you're buying it, buy it yourself, okay?」

「...That's not a birthday present.」

Buying your own birthday present. I won't deny it, but it leaves a hollow feeling.

I never even had moments of receiving birthdays originally, so this time spent deliberating is unusual. Moreover, with a beautiful girl, I was feeling even more fresh emotions.

...What am I doing, obediently leaving the house like this?

「Just kidding. When my body returns to normal, I'll properly give you a present. This is like scouting. Really, the way you argue back every single time is so like Kasugai-kun!」

「Orimoto, tell me what impression you have of me.」

「Bad-mouthed, clumsy, argumentative dog.」

「Saying it that clearly is an insult.」

While arguing──we eventually head to the mall in front of the station.

The air conditioning's cool air felt pleasant against my flushed body, and I unconsciously made a sound.

Looking to the side, Orimoto is also breathing out a hot "Hoh". But even during that time, Orimoto was skillfully maneuvering to avoid bumping into passersby while bathing in the cool air.

When people recognize my figure, they avoid me.

But Orimoto isn't included. People are surprisingly merciless, and in just this short time, Orimoto had almost been crashed into several times, looking inconvenient from an observer's perspective.

「Really, I'm here, you know. Everyone, isn't this a bit mean?」

「They can't see you, so it can't be helped.」

「...We're both getting numb to this situation, aren't we? You and I.」

「...Now that you mention it. Well.」

The blazing heat season. The calendar changes from June to July.

The rainy season is ending, and it has been two or three weeks since I started talking with Orimoto, though reluctantly. Soon it will be summer vacation. Time passes by in an instant.

People adapt surprisingly well.

Can't be seen. Doesn't exist.

Doesn't even need food.

While judging the superhuman Orimoto as ridiculous, I'm certainly accepting her. Truth is stranger than fiction──what an incredible find, I recognize anew.

「Kasugai-kun is actually quite caring while complaining, aren't you? Cool-type aloof-type tsundere type?」

「A communication disorder becomes such a lovely array of words. Even craftsmen would be surprised. That's wrong, no matter how much I refuse, you keep pressing.」

That's actually true.

No matter how sharply I try to push her away, the extroverted Orimoto calmly develops her own theories. It seems I can't match her trained communication skills.

Orimoto is a bright person. I won't deny that.

I won't deny that there are moments when the atmosphere relaxes.

(...I guess it can't stay like this forever.)

Let me organize the messy current situation.

Honestly? She's pitiful, and Orimoto, who's exposed to unreasonable circumstances, is unfortunate.

I'll at least listen to her talk. But this isn't my role after all.

It should be Sera, or Michikusa. Kanzashi-senpai would be fine too, but originally someone with a deeper relationship should support her. ──This definitely isn't abandoning responsibility, I... can't step in any further.

「Hmm? Are you thinking about something?」

「No, nothing.」

The disappearance of existence.

If that gets resolved, my job is done. After that, Sera will handle things. If by any chance I could have a romantic relationship with Orimoto──that won't happen.

I'm the one who got dragged into this.

I detested abandoning someone.

I──no, forget it.

I don't need to think about useless things.

Drowning in thought is my bad habit.

Orimoto suddenly stopped. At the end of her gaze is a corner of the food court. A café that's grandly advertised as newly opened. More specifically, she was glued to the standing signboard.

「Kasugai-kun, it's shaved ice!」

「Hou.」

「Kasugai-kun, it's shaved ice!」

「Hou.」

「Kasugai-kun, it's shav──」

「I can hear you!」

「──Kasugai-kun, I...want to eat shaved ice.」

A casual upward glance.

「You're fine without eating, right? Besides, shaved ice is basically just water.」

「Tsk tsk tsk, you don't understand.」

Orimoto smiles while waving her finger.

I felt irritated by that movement, but I at least listened without cutting off the conversation. Toward me like that, Orimoto plastered on a full smile,

「Appearance! Cute! That's all!」

「...What reason do I have to pay?」

「You got hungry for it too, didn't you?」

「Haa. ...Is strawberry fine?」

I've learned how to handle Orimoto Suzuka.

When Orimoto becomes like this, she won't listen to my opinion and will rampage until she's satisfied. Rather than resist poorly, it would be easier to quickly buy it for her.

It feels similar to feeding a dog.

「Kasugai-sama. I'll never forget this debt for life.」

Orimoto bows repeatedly, rubbing her hands together.

「...Just kidding. Ah, I want melon after all!」

「Don't all the flavors taste the same?」

「It's fine, this kind of thing is about mood!」

Even though it's called a café, the syrups should all taste the same.

It looks like fruit is included though.

Fundamentally, it should be a method of deceiving the brain with colors. Knowing this, Orimoto's forceful logic again makes me give in, and we enter seeking shaved ice.

「Besides, café syrups might have fruit juice, right?」

「...Whatever's fine, just order it. I hope it tastes good.」

Guided to seats, I and the invisible girl look down at the touch panel. The menu was decorated with summery, refreshing themes, with shaved ice taking the top spot.

...Now that I think about it, this is my second time coming to a café with this girl.

The first time was to chase Sera and his harem.

Could it be that Orimoto originally likes cafés? Even knowing that wouldn't matter, but I won't be boorish enough to pour water on her good mood.

I'm definitely getting my money back. After all, it was more expensive than expected.

What the hell, crushed ice costing over a thousand yen. Ridiculous.

「Wakuwaku, wakuwaku.」

「Are you that excited by saying it?」

When I asked, Orimoto nodded vigorously.

「I want to enjoy this summer with everything I've got.」

「...Sorry. ...That means?」

「Shaved ice is also an important event!」

It was an answer that made me feel stupid for asking back.

I replied to Orimoto in a low voice. A behavior I was beginning to get used to.

Reacting dramatically each time would just gather unnecessary attention.

「Sorry to keep you waiting~, here's your shaved ice~」

「It came! It came, it came, Kasugai-kun!」

I can't react to that much excitement.

The shaved ice placed in front of me with a clink looks somewhat larger than the menu photo. While I was fearfully wondering if this is reverse fraud, Orimoto couldn't contain herself and took out her smartphone.

The sound of shutters clicking rang out repeatedly.

「Ah, Kasugai-kun's stupid face got in too. Well, whatever!」

「Just having my face in it is fine. You didn't need to say "stupid".」

「But you were making a stupid face. Look, see.」

The smartphone thrust at me shows my face.

A man with a blunt expression, eyebrows furrowed.

Yet he's half-closing his eyes. Stupid indeed.

「...Delete it.」

「Yes yes. Don't sulk like that~」

「I'm not sulking. Just eat it already.」

I stabbed the shaved ice with a spoon and held it out.

Orimoto puffed out a small laugh, then smiled gently.

I didn't know what's funny, but she took another shot of me.

「Thanks for the shaved ice.」

「Eat it before it melts.」

「──Hey, want a bite?」

The spoon stabbed into the ice has ice crystals on it. It's pale green with a small piece of melon sitting cutely on top. She holds it out toward me.

...Does this girl understand what she's doing right now?

「That's something you should do for Sera.」

「...Ah, that's right! C-Come on~, it was a joke!」

「Don't mess with me. Since you annoyed me, give me a bite.」

I snatch the spoon and target not the ice part but specifically the melon, scooping it out. Then Orimoto puffed out her cheeks in protest.

「T-That's terrible! I wanted to eat the melon!」

「It's a punishment for provoking me. It's fine, I'm the one paying.」

「That wasn't provoking you...!」

Flustered, pouting her lips, sullenly writing characters on the table like a dejected child.

Why does it seem like I'm the one bullying her?

But when she glared at me, I was disarmed instead.

「...Tch, here. I'm giving the melon back.」

「Really?! Kasugai-kun is so easy~!」

「You, that was acting...?!」

Orimoto, with her cheeks slightly flushed, stuck out her tongue.