Chapter 10: The Extraordinary Time I Spent with the Older Woman I Met at a Café at Night
The Extraordinary Time I Spent with the Older Woman I Met at a Café at Night
“Ryou… Ryou-chan.”
“Ayane…”
“Ryouta, you’re not even in a club. What brings you to school?”
Trying to protect the flustered Ayane, who had run into me at school, Minato shifted the conversation toward me, as if to steer my attention away from her. Of course, I ignored him and asked Ayane about her club, but she only said it was already over. For the time being, I decided to let it go and talk with Minato instead.
“The homeroom teacher called me in, so I didn’t really have a choice, Minato.”
“Ryouta… don’t tell me you’re in remedial classes!?”
“Huh!? Are you kidding me!?”
Suddenly, Natsuki, who had been quiet beside me, spoke in a low, threatening tone that made Minato flinch and take a step back.
“Whoa… Natsuki-chan, why are you mad?”
“Don’t call me by my name, you piece of trash!!”
“…”
Seeing the usually calm Natsuki lose her temper left both Minato and Ayane frozen in silence. As her older brother, I had no choice but to calm her down.
“Natsuki, they’re your senpai. You shouldn’t talk to them like that.”
“Ah… sorry, Onii-chan.”
Her voice shifted from that low tone back to her usual cute one. She didn’t apologize to Ayane or Minato but instead looked up at me with her big, round eyes, her expression irresistibly adorable.
“It’s fine. You’re my cute little sister, after all.”
“Ehehe, Onii-chan~”
I figured that if we stayed with Ayane and Minato any longer, Natsuki might snap again, so I decided to leave.
“Alright, we’re heading home.”
“O-oh… see you, Ryouta.”
“…”
“Ayane?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll keep believing in you, always.”
“…Y-yeah. Me too, Ryou-chan.”
“Ryouta, what’s that supposed to mean? You’ve been saying that a lot lately.”
“Really? Must be your imagination. See you tomorrow, Ayane.”
“Tomorrow then, Ryou-chan. Bye-bye.”
“‘Bye-bye,’ huh…”
“???”
With Ayane watching us with a puzzled look, I rode home with Natsuki along the school road. After arriving home, I tossed off my sweaty uniform and got into the shower. While I was washing up, Natsuki, who I thought had been eating ice cream in the living room, suddenly came in.
“Onii-chan, Natsuki wants to join~”
“Hey, Natsuki? It’s still your brother’s turn, you know?”
“Onii-chan’s turn only lasts a few seconds. It’s Natsuki-chan’s turn now, so hurry up, I wanna feel refreshed too~”
Without any embarrassment, Natsuki barged into the bathroom and snatched the shower from me. To maintain my dignity as her older brother, I quickly escaped into the changing room.
“Geez, you don’t have to run away~”
“Idiot… of course I do!”
“We’ve seen each other since we were little, Onii-chan~”
“When we were little and now that we’re older are completely different things, you know?”
I couldn’t possibly react like a man after seeing my sister naked. I quickly dried myself with a towel, changed into some casual loungewear, and went back to my room on the second floor. While scrolling through my phone, a message came from Ayane.
[I stayed at school after club because I had some unfinished class committee work.]
[That must’ve been tough after your club activities.]
[I was with Yoshioka-kun because he’s also on the class committee.]
Even though I hadn’t asked, Ayane kept sending messages, desperately trying to explain herself. Didn’t she realize that might only make me more suspicious? I replied casually.
[They say it’ll be hot again tomorrow. Want to go to the beach for the first time in a while?]
Up until now, she had been replying instantly, but when I changed the topic, the message stayed on read. It took over ten minutes before she finally responded.
[Sounds fun! Let’s meet at 9 at Misaka Station’s west exit.]
[Got it.]
She had decided everything, from the place to the meeting spot, on her own, but I agreed to her plan. I placed my phone beside my pillow and took a nap. When I woke up, it was already dark outside.
“Crap… I overslept.”
I’d completely forgotten to contact Kanae-san about our meeting tonight. Grabbing my phone, I quickly called to see if it was still okay.
“Hello, it’s Ryouta.”
[Hellooo, it’s Kanae.]
“Kanae-san, I’m sorry for not getting in touch sooner. Is it still alright to meet now?”
[Yeah, it’s fine. I don’t have work or club tonight.]
“Haha… if it’s okay, would you like to meet at a café called Comfortable?”
[Ah, Comfortable? I’ve been there before, so no problem. I’m surprised you know that place, Ryouta-kun. You’re still in high school, after all.]
“Yeah, I sometimes stop by after school when I’m not working.”
[I see. Alright then, I’ll get ready and head over.]
“Okay, I’ll be waiting, Kanae-san.”
[Alright~]
After ending the call, I changed clothes, passed through the empty living room with no sign of Natsuki, and left the house, walking toward the café where we were supposed to meet.
When I opened the wooden door and heard the bell chime, a few elderly customers and the gray-haired master behind the counter greeted me with a gentle smile.
“Welcome. You’re here pretty late tonight, huh?”
“Yeah. I’m meeting someone from my part-time job.”
I secretly admired the master’s deep yet clear voice, though I knew I could never pull it off.
“I see. Want your usual?”
“I’ll have it iced today, please.”
“If it’s iced, I’ll use a different blend for you. Sit wherever you like.”
“Thank you very much.”
Since I couldn’t drink black coffee, I always ordered a hot café au lait no matter the season, so the master seemed to remember me.
I glanced at my usual after-school seat, but since an unfamiliar woman was sitting there, I chose my second favorite spot by the wall in the back and waited for Kanae-san. Soon, a message arrived.
[I just got here! Are you already inside, Ryouta-kun?]
[Yeah, I’m here. I’m sitting in the back.]
[Okay~]
Clink-clink.
At the convenience store where we both worked, Kanae-san usually wore jeans with a shirt or sweatshirt. Tonight, though, she was dressed like a mature woman, full of alluring charm, and I couldn’t bring myself to look directly at her.
“Ryouta-kun? Why won’t you look at me?”
“Well, um…”
I could feel my face heating up, completely aware of how flustered I was. To avoid her gaze, I found myself staring at a small stain on the wall instead.
“You’re making this Onee-san sad. Look at me properly, Ryouta-kun.”
“…Okay.”
I slowly turned my eyes toward Kanae-san, unable to look away. Sitting upright, her chest was clearly visible, and I froze in place.
“Pervert.”
“S-sorry.”
Forcing my gaze upward to meet her face, I saw her cheeks flushed and her eyes slightly moist. When our eyes met, she looked away first, and an awkward silence fell between us.
“…”
“Welcome. Are you ready to order?”
The sudden voice of the master startled both of us, and we turned toward him in surprise.
“Ah, sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”
“N-no, it’s fine. I’ll have an iced blend coffee, please.”
“Got it.”
Smiling, the master returned to the counter without another word, leaving us alone again.
“Um… Kanae-san.”
“Yes?”
“You look really good in that outfit.”
“Thank you…”
“…”
“Anyway, I came here to listen to your story tonight, Ryouta-kun.”
“Right… it’s not exactly a pleasant one. I have a childhood friend I’ve always been close with. That childhood friend… well…”
Watching Kanae-san’s calm expression, I confessed to her about the incident I had learned about that day.