Chapter 199 A Family Story

A Family Story

We walk through the garden and enter the cafe we’ve reserved.

It’s still hot and my throat is parched.

“I can’t decide. They all look delicious.”

Ichijo-san ponders the menu list, pacing back and forth several times.

“Isn’t this place famous for its noodles?”

“Yes. The main dish is Carbonara, but they also have Neapolitan pasta on the secret menu. I hear it has a good old retro feel to it.”

“That sounds delicious.”

We also have something called old-fashioned Neapolitan on our menu. I really like the Japanese, Showa-style Neapolitan. I couldn’t help but remember that.

“What will Senpai choose? I’ve decided, I’ll have Carbonara.”

Then I’ve decided, too.

“I think I’ll have Neapolitan.”

When she heard my answer, she couldn’t help but wonder.

“Really?”

Her embarrassed look was a departure from her usual personality, and it was adorable.

“Yes, I like Neapolitan. If it’s a secret menu at a popular restaurant, I can learn it at home.”

“Umm, Senpai, you’re trying to get me to eat both, like always, right?”

I got caught.

“That’s not true!”

It’s kinda pathetic that I tried so hard to blurt it out and all I came out with were words like this.

“Moo. Senpai, if you really want to eat something, please put your own will first. I appreciate you being nice to me, but…”

“Yes, thank you. But this time I want to try both. Let’s share.”

“Shouldn’t I be the one to thank you?”

Saying that she started to laugh. She really started to smile more.

I never thought we would laugh at each other’s jokes like this.

Just a few weeks ago, we could not have imagined this.

“The Neapolitan was delicious, right?”

She smiles with satisfaction as she sips her after-lunch tea.

“Yeah, and Carbonara, too.”

I finish my iced apple tea.

This is how we usually spend our time together.

As she puts down her teacup, she says with a slightly determined look on her face.

“Senpai, are you free after this? I have a place I want you to go with me.”

She has made up her mind. Then I have to face it properly.

“Yes, let’s go.”

I answered briefly. That was enough to get the message across.

“Thank you.” She lowered her head and started to contact someone on her phone. Probably to arrange a car.

“Then let’s go.”

A black luxury car was parked in a parking lot not far from the cafe.

Now, she gives her usual intimidating look of being hard to approach, but I don’t care and get into the car. Strangely, she is a different person from the one who laughed with me earlier. I know that this is Ichijo Ai’s attitude in an official setting.

“Please come in, Senpai.”

She leads me to the back seat and I get in, somewhat nervous.

The car starts.

“We will probably arrive at our destination in about an hour. Please relax.”

I don’t think I can afford to relax after being told this.

If I hadn’t already known that this was about Ichijo-san’s family, this situation would have made me even more nervous.

“Sorry. Is this too much?”

“It’s okay. It’s more comfortable than traveling by train.”

When I said that jokingly, Ichijo-san laughed.

“Senpai, this is harder than I thought!”

While returning to a slightly more usual,

“As expected, it’s not good. I’m always back to my usual self with Senpai. I won’t be able to play the strong Ichijo Ai everyone thinks I am. It’s not an interesting story. And yet it was a holiday date, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I want to know more about Ichijo-san, too. That’s why I’m glad you talked to me.”

She closed her eyes and nodded slowly.

A little silence followed. The interior of the car goes dark as we enter the Aqua-Line tunnel. I cannot read her expression.

The car begins to move out of the tunnel and over the ocean. In the brightly lit car, she is next to me, looking straight at me and talking to me.

“Soon we will be at our destination. Will you listen to my family story?”