I tilt the glass and take a sip.
It tastes lightly carbonated and sweet. And a pleasant aroma of grapes.
The food was served one after another, and we started talking about todayâs movie.
âI didnât think Iâd ever cry that much. Iâm sorry for bothering you all.â
No, Takayama. I think that the scene at the end was a big inconvenience for the rest of us.
âBut the whole thing was well organized and ended well.â
Sugimoto also started talking while eating her salad.
âYeah, I think it all came together. But I got the impression that everyone except the two main characters was a bit bland.â
Indeed. I felt that there were no key characters other than the two main characters.
âWell, itâs their story, so shouldnât the story be centered on them?â
âYes, but I still wanted them to have more involvement with other people, like best friends or siblings or something.â
Anri is holding a glass in one hand and twirling the juice inside.
Then she tilts the glass and takes a sip. Is it just me, or does the way she drinks seem strangely sexy?
Itâs like the way an adult drinks.
âMaybe it would be a little different if they were more involved with their best friends, it would be a little different.â
Best friends⦠Are me and Takayama best friends? Are Anri and Sugimoto best friends?
If we were best friends, would we be best friends forever?
âBut, you know, those two were too distant from each other. They knew they liked each other, didnât they? If they had told each other how they felt sooner, they wouldnât have been crossing paths for years.â
âIsnât it better to tell them as soon as possible? Itâs not always about timing, or momentum, or whether it will destroy the relationship if you tell her how you feel.â
âYou may be right, but there are a lot of things you canât understand unless you communicate them in words, right?â
Sugimoto is right, there may be things that can be conveyed through the physical senses, but you wonât know what they really mean unless they are conveyed in words.
It could be my own misunderstanding.
âAyane is probably right. If you donât convey your feelings in words, they wonât be conveyed accurately to the other person. Words are important.â
Each of us shared our own thoughts about the content of the film and listened to the opinions of the other members.
Each person has a different standpoint, be it gender, age, student, or worker.
It takes courage to convey oneâs thoughts as they are.
As the course meal comes to an end, it is time for dessert.
A plate with four kinds of small cakes on one plate appeared.
A large strawberry was placed in the center, and four mini cakes were placed on top like a clover.
They were beautiful to look at and stylishly decorated. It was too good to eat.
âWith this dessert, todayâs course comes to an end. Beverages can be added, so please donât hesitate to ask.â
Coffee and tea were served together with dessert.
Takayama and I had coffee and Anri and Sugimoto had tea.
âThis looks so prettyâ¦â
âI really like it. Itâs hard to decide what to eat first.â
âIf it were bigger, it would be more satisfying.â
Takayama is still a glutton.
I think there was a reasonable amount of food this time, but from Takayamaâs point of view, it may not have been enough.
âDonât you have enough to eat, Takayama?â
âHm? I think Iâm about three portions. A course meal of this size is like a snack.â
What the hell? Iâm about 80% full. How big is your stomach?
âYou want some for me?â
âNo, no, no, Iâm fine. Weâre going out for ramen afterward.â
Yeah, Iâll go through with it.
Anri and Sugimoto reached for the cake and started to eat.
I guess Iâll have one too.
Quickly, I put one of the mini cakes in my mouth with a fork.
Umm, yum! And soft, and what a taste!
âOh, itâs soooo good!â
Sugimoto is smiling, and Anri is trying to be cool, but her cheeks are slightly upturned.
Thatâs the face of someone who is trying to hold back a delicious face. Iâm happy for you, Anri, that you got to eat this delicious cake.
âItâs really good. Iâm surprised, to be honest.â
âRight? I was surprised too when I first came here.â
As we ate the delicious cakes, our plates gradually emptied and everyoneâs plate became empty.
We each finished eating and took a breath.
Only strawberries are still left on my plate.
âHow was the day? I tried my best to set a course for the day.â
âThank you, Takayama. The movie was good and the food was delicious. Iâm very satisfied.â
âI am satisfied too. Thank you for everything. Iâm glad you invited me to the movie.â
âMe too. You took care of me for the day, thank you.â
Takayama looks satisfied and takes a sip of coffee.
âThatâs great, it was worth all the hard work. But we wonât be able to arrange an event as big as today for a while.â
âOf course it is. If we could do this extravagant event every time, weâd be in trouble.â
The four of us smiled and laughed.
It was finally time to talk.
The movie and dinner were over. Itâs now or never if I want to talk about it.
I look toward Anri and she nods silently.
Eye contact is perfect. Okay, here we go! God, please help me!
âAh, umm, Soâ¦â
âIâm sorry. Iâm going to the restroom. Do you want to go, Tendo?â
I was cut off. I tried my best to make a move, but I was completely cut off.
âIâm going.â
Iâm going to the restroom with Takayama.
Weâll talk when I get back from the bathroom. Iâll definitely talk!
âI couldnât get a chance to say anything. It was hard for me to say, âI have to go to the bathroom during dinner.ââ
âDonât hold back. Itâs bad for your health.
âHa-ha-ha, thatâs true.â
âTakayama. There will be a bombshell after this. Whatever happens, I want you to hear me out and tell me Takayamaâs answer.â
âHmm? A bombshell? Maybe a surprise event? Oh no, thatâs bad for me. No problem, Iâm on board for that event.â
Itâs a misunderstanding. Youâre totally mistaken about something.
What are you going to do? Do I excuse myself here? No, weâve talked this far.
Itâs faster if we go back and talk about it.
âOh, itâs a surprise. Donât miss it, okay?â
âIâm looking forward to it.â
With Takayamaâs misunderstanding intact, we both went back to our room.
When I entered the room, Anri and Sugimoto were having a great time talking about the movie they had seen.
It was like a girlsâ night out, drinking tea and talking about romantic movies.
âIâm back, and I feel great!â
No need to report that.
Itâs time to drop the bombshell. There is no going back.
My heart. My heart is pounding. Dear God, this is the second time Iâm asking for your help!
âOh, you knowââ
âTh, thereâs something I want you all to hear!â
Sugimoto suddenly started talking in a loud voice.
Wait, I was going to tell them! Why is this happening twice?
I turn my attention to Anri and I think I see a few jitters.
Itâs not my fault, okay? Both the first and second times were unavoidable, right?
âI had fun today. I felt I was having fun from the bottom of my heart. So now that the meal is over, I have something to tell you.â
Sugimoto started talking to us with serious eyes.
The look in her eyes was serious, just like the eyes of someone who has made up her mind.
What on earth is she going to talk about? Oh, maybe itâs about that comic book?
If thatâs the case, we can talk a little more peacefully. â¦â¦