Chapter 23 Relieving Stress?
#Ikemen no Bishoujo TomodachiRelieving Stress?
Sou, Haruki, Mizuki, and Manami visit the family restaurant near their school.
After entering the restaurant, Haruki and the others still seemed to be in a good mood and sat down at the table freely. This family restaurant allows you to choose your own seat.
“I’ll sit on this side.”
“Manami too!”
Haruki and Manami sat on the nearby chair, while Mizuki sat on the opposite one.
Sou, of course, sits on the last remaining chair.
“What shall we order~?”
Manami takes the menu prepared on the table. She spreads it on the table and looks at it.
Haruki looks in from next to Manami and shares the menu with her.
“What would you like to order, Amane-kun? Here’s a menu.”
As before, speaking in a gentle tone, Mizuki hands the rest of the menu to Sou.
Sou takes the menu.
“Oh, thank you. Umm….”
Mizuki is Ishii’s childhood friend. Sou only knew her name. That’s why he didn’t know Mizuki’s family name. Of course, he was hesitant to call a girl he didn’t know very well by her name.
“Now that I think about it, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Nakatani Mizuki (中谷瑞貴). Nice to meet you.”
Mizuki smiled thinly as she willingly introduced herself. Her expression made her look even more like a Japanese beauty.
Of course, in Sou’s eyes, she looks attractive.
“I am Amane Sou. Nice to meet you, Nakatani-san.”
Following Mizuki’s example, Sou introduced himself with a slight bow.
“I already know~ You don’t have to be so shy~”
Mizuki created a relaxed atmosphere.
This atmosphere made Sou relax a little.
“Eh? Mizuki didn’t tell Amane her full name?”
Turning her attention away from the menu, Haruki asked a question.
“That’s right. There was no chance. I guess Haruki-chan and Manami-chan already did that?”
“Yes. I’m the first.”
“Manami did it too.”
Haruki and Manami answer Mizuki’s question. Manami also looks away from the menu and looks at Mizuki.
“I see. I guess I’m the last.”
Mizuki gives a wry smile while playing with her bangs.
“I know this seems like an interruption of the conversation. Manami and I have already decided what to order, but what about Mizuki and Amane?”
Haruki closes the menu that was open on the table and puts it back in its original place. It seems that the menu is no longer needed.
“I guess we haven’t decided yet. Amane-kun, let’s decide quickly.”
“O-okay. Understood.”
Sou spreads the menu in his right hand on the table. He looks at the menu.
“Which one should I choose?”
Mizuki looks at the menu from right next to Sou.
Sou and Mizuki are very close to each other. So, Mizuki’s face and Sou’s arm will almost touch. The scent of green apples gently caressed Sou’s nostrils. It was a pleasant and attractive smell for Sou.
“I think I’ll have some meat sauce.”
After looking at the menu that Sou was leafing through, Mizuki decided on her order.
Not needing to look at the menu anymore, Mizuki distanced herself from Sou and returned to her previous position. Now she was facing Manami.
“Um. I think I’ll take pepperoncini.”
Sou was the only one who hadn’t decided yet. Even though he was not urged to do so, he was in a hurry and decided on a menu. He had the feeling that he was making Haruki and the others wait. Not wanting to cause them any trouble, he quickly decided on his order.
“Well then, I’ll press the button.”
Without waiting for an answer from the three, Haruki pressed the call button on the table.
—Ping-Pong~
A faint sound fills the restaurant.
In response to the call button, a waitress comes to the table where Sou and the others are sitting.
“Thank you. I will take your order. What would you like to order?”
The waitress is a woman about the same age as Sou and the others. She serves Sou and the others with a charming, good-looking smile.
“I’ll have the Neapolitan.”
Haruki orders first.
“Manami has hamburger steak.”
After Haruki, Manami places her order.
Then Mizuki and Sou order in turn.
“Let me confirm your order. One Neapolitan, one hamburger steak, one meat sauce, and one pepperoncini, is that correct?”
The waitress repeats their order.
“Yes. That is not a problem.”
On behalf of everyone, Haruki responds. She uses polite language when talking to the waitress.
“I understand. Please wait at your table.”
With a slight bow, the waitress leaves for the kitchen. Probably to give the chef the menu to order.
“Still, this is sudden, but three weeks suspension? Shitty #1 and Shitty #2 deserve it.”
Haruki breaks the ice. It looks like a meeting to talk about the bitchiness of Shitty #1 and Shitty #2 is about to start.
“Really! But we’re not satisfied. We have to make him suffer even more. And listen! Shitty #2 has completely forgotten the promise he made. He says he doesn’t remember making any troublesome promises. Isn’t that too much?”
Mizuki’s tone changes slightly. Her words become more passionate, and she loses some of her gentleness. This must be something Mizuki is so passionate about.
“Seriously! That’s impossible!”
Manami also expresses her sympathy.
“I think so too.”
Having gained sympathy, Mizuki becomes even more passionate.
As if she agreed with Mizuki’s words, Haruki nodded her head. Haruki must feel the same way as Mizuki.
“Shitty #2 is really a worthless guy. A real shitty guy.”
“I agree.”
“Me too.”
Haruki and the others felt the same way. It was clear that they were under a lot of stress because of Ishii. We could see it in their words and actions.
“Wait. We shouldn’t be the only ones who are upset. Does Amane, Shitty #1’s boyfriend, have anything to say? Maybe something to complain about those shitty guys.”
Haruki, being considerate, turns the conversation over to Sou.
“Eh, me?”
Confused by the sudden nomination, Sou points at himself with his index finger.
“Ah. That’s right. You can complain all you want. It’s like getting rid of something that’s piling up.”
“Yes. I think Amanecchi is really hurt.”
“You can say whatever you want. We’ll just listen in silence.”
Haruki, Manami, and Mizuki look at Sou with warm eyes. It’s as if they give him a feeling of security.
Sou’s mouth moves at the kindness of their words.
“I see, then, I want you to listen to me for a second——”