Infinite Possibilities of Ice Cream 14
“Anyway, what are we going to do now? If you’re tired, we can disperse here.”
“No. Let’s go eat some sweets.”
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t tired. Chika had teased him mercilessly, leaving him exhausted.
But if he went home now, he’d end up just being dragged along to do whatever Chika wanted, and that felt somehow frustrating.
“That sounds good. Actually, I was thinking of having something sweet.”
This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.
Whether she knew Sōma’s feelings or not, Chika laughed in a carefree manner.
“So, which shop are we going to?”
“I feel like having ice cream. There’s an ice cream parlor where we can sit nearby, so let’s go there.”
“Ice cream, huh? It’s starting to get cooler now, so it might be just about the end of the season for it.”
There were reasons like not feeling in the mood for ice cream once October arrived or the summer limited flavors being discontinued, of course.
However, right now, more than anything, he wanted to cool down his flushed face.
“Well then, let’s get going.”
Chika energetically headed towards the ice cream parlor, and Sōma followed her.
But soon, Miki pulled his arm, making him stop.
“Hey, wait a minute.”
“What is it? If you want ice cream, just come along. You’ll have to pay for yourself, though.”
He intended to cover Chika’s share since she was the one who tried the samples, but if he had to take care of Miki’s share too, he’d quickly end up bankrupt.
“I’m coming. I’ll come, but…”
She hesitated for a moment and asked with a slight uneasiness.
“Do you guys always have that kind of distance?”
“That kind of distance?”
“Like in the billiards game earlier.”
“Ah…”
Miki understood what she wanted to ask and involuntarily made a stern face.
“If you have a problem with the sexual harassment from earlier, tell Chika, not me. I’m always the victim here. The thing is, because you guys are always all over her, she misunderstands it as something normal. If you trace it back to its roots, you guys are the ones to blame.”
” ‘Always’? So, that means it’s not the first time?”
She asked to confirm.
“She occasionally shows some weird S vibes, and she seems to think he can easily mess with me like some kind of toy.”
“Chika…?”
Miki gazed at Chika’s receding figure, finding it hard to believe.
“But, that girl has never done anything like that to us before.”
“That’s why she probably thinks of me as an easy-to-handle toy.”
“Is that so…?”
That was the only explanation that Sōma could think of, but Miki seemed unsatisfied and kept shaking her head.
“Sōma-san, come on-come on.”
Chika, who had already arrived at the ice cream shop, waved them over eagerly.
“Is this the place? Let’s go in, let’s go in!”
“Don’t drag my clothes like that!”
Noisily, the two of them entered the shop together, and Miki followed a little behind.
Across the order counter, Chika told the staff that they would be eating inside, and Sōma ordered without even looking at the menu.
“Give us a Mocha and Espresso flavour.”
However, Chika pouted and protested.
“Wait, Sōma-san! Both of them are coffee flavors! I don’t want that.”
“Well, I want you to compare the flavors.”
Sōma replied.
“I want to eat a double with Mixed Sherbet and Triple Berry flavors.”
She pointed to the yellow and pink ice creams in the ice cream case, throwing a tantrum.
Sōma wanted Chika to judge the difference between Mocha and Espresso flavors, but forcing sweets on someone unwilling was not acceptable for someone aspiring to become a confectionery professional.
“Well, I see…”
Sōma pondered for a moment and then offered a compromise.
“How about this? I’ll buy the Mixed Sherbet and Triple Berry double, and I’ll give you half of it. How does that sound?”
“So, I’ll get to try all four flavors? Sounds great!”
She seemed to like Sōma’s suggestion.
“I already saved a table!”
Chika quickly headed towards the back of the shop with a spring in her step.
“Um, I’ll have the double I mentioned earlier, please.”
He placed the order again with the staff dressed in pink caps and uniforms and received two cups of ice cream.
“I’m going ahead!”
He called out to Miki, who was waiting in line and headed to the table where she was waiting.
“Sōma-san, please sit here.”
She indicated the seat next to her, and without much thought, he sat down there.
She handed him a cup filled with Coffee Brown ice cream.
“Now, can I have a taste?”
“Sure.”
While being watched by Sōma, Chika scooped the ice cream with a spoon and put it in her mouth.
First, the Mocha flavor and then the Espresso flavor.
“I knew it… The Espresso flavor is more bitter.” Chika said.
“I noticed that too.”
In fact, Sōma himself had compared these two flavors during summer vacation.
He also found that the Espresso flavor was more bitter.
However, he couldn’t quite put his finger on what else was different, so he wanted to hear Chika’s opinion.
“From the color, I think Mocha has more dairy content. Also, the amount of sugar is slightly different; Mocha has more.”
“Dairy content, huh? I see.”
“And the coffee beans used are different too. The smell is completely different.”
“Really?”
He hadn’t noticed that at all, but Chika seemed quite confident.