Determination and Sprouting Canelé 8
“What’s wrong? Were you nervous?”
“Well, it’s just that this is the first time I’ve shared my feelings like this with someone.”
Perhaps feeling relieved from the nervousness, she started eating the pound cake again, seeming to crave something sweet.
“You always listen to other people’s problems, but never the other way around.”
Just this morning, there was a girl who was grateful and happy to have consulted with Chika.
However, Chika responded with a smile tinged with complexity.
“That too, I’m just listening to them; I never give any helpful advice, because I don’t have enough life experience to do that, and Everyone just pours out their feelings and figures things out on their own. I mean, it’s not much different from a confessional at a church.”
“Even so, I think it’s pretty amazing.”
Listening to others is a noble skill that requires the capacity of the listener.
However, for Chika, who is on the receiving end, it might lead to a lack of self-esteem.
It’s unexpectedly challenging for her as well…
I always thought she was just a girl who is constantly adored and happily laughs, saying ‘hehe’ every day.
I never expected this.
“We’ll cooperate for each other’s goals. Don’t be shy with me because I won’t hold back either.”
“Yes, of course. Let’s do our best together.”
As she nodded and said that, she seemed excited.
It must be because she took the first step towards becoming the person she wants to be.
A reliable adult, huh?
In the classroom, she’s always adored, like everyone’s little sister or daughter.
Maybe because of that, she seemed younger than her age.
I could never have imagined her as an adult.
——By the time the two of them left the café, it was nearly 6 o’clock.
“Thanks for the cake.”
Walking through the brightly orange-tinted, unpopular back alley, Chika bowed her head slightly.
“Of course I’m paying for it. I forcibly brought you here and made you eat cake without any questions asked. It would be wicked if I then asked you to pay for it.”
“That might be true, isn’t it?”
When Sōma shook his thin wallet, Chika chuckled happily.
“But still, it was my first time in such a relaxed and mature atmosphere café, so it was very refreshing and enjoyable. Normally, I only go to chain cafés with my friends. Cafés like this are also nice.”
“Well, high school students usually don’t go to cafés like that.”
Sōma understood her excitement, as he also felt elated when he discovered that hidden hideaway of that café.
“By the way, what are some things you want to try?”
Since he had taken on the role of watching over her, he was really curious about what challenges’ Angel of Peace’ would want to take on.
“About that… Hmm…”
Asked about it, Chika pondered and then demonstrated a flipping gesture of a spatula with her hand.
“If we talk about food, I want to try going to an okonomiyaki restaurant. You know, the ones where you cook it yourself.”
“Have you never been to an okonomiyaki restaurant?”
“I have been. I have, but… It’s just that when I go to such a place, my family or friends end up cooking it for me. Especially my dad, he makes it so perfectly round, and I find it hard to say that I want to do it myself. Of course, I’ve never gone alone.”
“Well, he is a patissier.”
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Being a professional in making delicate Western sweets, shaping okonomiyaki into a perfect circle should be a piece of cake for him.
“Well, I understand the reason now. If you fail at cooking it, I’ll gladly eat as much as you want, so don’t worry.”
“I’ll do my best not to fail!”
Seeing her take a small fighting pose, Sōma felt relieved inside.
He had worried that he might have agreed too easily because he wanted her to be the one to taste test his cooking.
Now, going to an okonomiyaki restaurant would be no problem at all.
“Also, I’d like to try fishing. I’m not allowed to do it because I can’t swim, and it’s dangerous if I fall.”
“I’m not an expert at fishing, but I’m not completely inexperienced either, so that’s also fine.”
As Sōma made a circle with his finger, Chika began listing more things she wanted to do while counting on her fingers.
“Besides that, I want to go to an amusement park. But not just going there; I want to plan the entire trip perfectly. Usually, I just follow someone else’s plan.”
“An amusement park, huh. Yeah, well…”
He felt embarrassed because he had never been to an amusement park with a girl, but it wasn’t something he couldn’t do.
“I also want to buy my own clothes and try different outfits. I’m always the one being dressed up like a dress-up doll. Can I ask for your help?”
“I’m going to be your dress-up doll? Make sure no one we know finds out, okay?”
“I said I’ve never bought movie tickets before, but since we’re at it, I want to try watching in a couple’s seat. With family, there are three of us, and with Miki-chan, she takes care of me so much that I hardly get to watch the movie.”
“Wait, wait, wait, hold on!”
Seeing Chika listing the things she wanted to do with excitement, Sōma decisively stopped her.
“What’s wrong?”
She looked puzzled, completely unaware of how ridiculous her words were, showing an innocent expression.
“I was just wondering if you hate going to the movies. If you do, then I won’t force you.”
“I don’t hate the movies. It’s not about that. It’s just that using a couple’s seat would be a bit awkward, okay?”
A couple’s seat is designed for couples.
It would be weird for two classmates who have no romantic relationship to use it.