"So that's how it is," Nijika patted her chest, 'As long as they aren't a couple, then it's fine.'
But, a strong sense of urgency still arose in her heart.
Although Soyo said with her mouth "just out of a feeling of gratitude," girls' polite phrases should only be listened to, taking them seriously would be the most foolish thing.
She had clearly put on makeup intentionally, even her hair showed signs of careful grooming. If it were just out of gratitude, there'd really be no need for such trouble.
A woman dresses up for the one she likes. No matter what world, this principle holds true.
Having a charming boy one likes is also a kind of trouble.
Even though she had long known, with Kaito's appearance, she would never lack rivals, but when the day truly arrived, her mood was still complicated.
Nijika wasn't someone with a self-deprecating personality, but Soyo-san did bring her some pressure.
Such a gentle and friendly pretty girl, with a touch of maturity, she couldn't help but feel a sense of crisis.
Inheriting Kita's sociability and Bocchi's figure at the same time, what a terrifying big rival.
"Why did Nijika-san and Ryou-san come to Akihabara?", Soyo showed just the right hint of curiosity, "Moreover, you bought so many things."
Nijika hesitated a bit before saying, "Because… I wanted to buy some presents."
After returning from Hoori Town, she hadn't seen Kaito again.
Although they'd been chatting via phone these days, just sending messages clearly wasn't enough to satisfy Nijika.
She wanted to meet face-to-face more.
But suddenly showing up at his door would be rude and abrupt.
Thinking back and forth, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration, she could start from little Kumiko.
To win over a handsome single dad, the best way is to win over his daughter first.
Just in time, Nijika had also heard from Kaito that Kumiko recently got hooked on playing games.
She wasn't too familiar with the realm of games, so she went to discuss it with slacker Ryou, who was squatting at home reading manga.
Finally, they got the suggestion to come to Akihabara.
This place isn't just Japan's most famous subculture hub, but also a very comprehensive electronics street, with many shops selling game consoles and the latest game discs, perfect for picking out gifts for a child.
"You said shopping, but I've been the one carrying all the stuff, haven't I?", Slacker Ryou couldn't help but complain from the side.
Originally she didn't want to come, but she'd recently taken a liking to a newly released bass guitar, and having spent all her pocket money, she had no choice but to borrow from Nijika.
Facing her creditor, Slacker Ryou had no choice but to bow and scrape to Nijika, doing hard labor as her bag carrier.
"So that's how it is…", Soyo nodded with understanding, but didn't ask who the present was for, still maintaining a gentle smile.
Perhaps they were hungry, the girls didn't chat much afterward, and quietly began eating lunch.
Soyo picked up a piece of crispy fried potato. The surface golden, covered in chili and cumin, the smell alone made one's mouth water.
"Kaito-kun, try this."
She used her own chopsticks. Kaito didn't think much at first and took a bite casually, only realizing the issue after.
'To friends, such an intimate feeding behavior is a bit too much, isn't it?'
But looking at Soyo's lovely face, still gentle and friendly, showing no sign of shyness, he began to feel unsure himself.
'Maybe I am overthinking it?'
Besides, even Soyo herself didn't mind, and technically his mouth didn't touch the chopsticks, they bit directly into the potato, not even close to an indirect kiss.
So Kaito didn't overreact and kept his calm demeanor.
'Wait… is this that "feeding play" that often appears in shoujo manga?', Nijika never expected that Soyo-san, who looked like a graceful and demure lady, would be so bold.
'Moreover, Kaito-kun actually just naturally ate it too?'
'Could it be that they do this kind of thing often?'
She imitated them, picking up a piece of tempura, holding it with her small hands, bringing it to Kaito's lips, "This tempura is also delicious. Kaito-kun should try it!"
Since he had just accepted Soyo's feeding, if he rejected Nijika now, it would surely make her overthink.
Kaito simply opened his mouth and ate the tempura from the girl's chopsticks.
Soyo, not to be outdone, followed up, "There's also this shop's calamari rings, you should try it~"
Nijika: "Shrimp tail, please eat!"
Soyo: "Onion rings, very tasty~"
Nijika: "Chicken nugget, dipped in ketchup, not greasy at all!"
Soyo: "Egg tart, paired with chocolate chips, it's the shop's signature~"
Neither was willing to give in.
You pick one, I pick one, like a contest.
Kaito finally experienced the joy of a feudal lord. He didn't even need to use his hands, just opened his mouth and he was fed.
As for Slacker Ryou, although usually unreliable, she surprisingly didn't join in the fun this time.
Finally—
"Shrimp sticks!"
"Taro pie!"
Two pairs of red and blue eyes stared at him with the intensity of predators eyeing prey.
Kaito looked at the two pairs of chopsticks hovering in front of his mouth, remained silent for a moment, then snatched a crispy chicken nugget from Ryou's plate.
A formless battlefield was thus dissipated.
Nijika and Soyo didn't dare push too far. After all, Kaito's favorability hadn't been raised yet. If they acted rashly and scared him off, it'd be a loss.
The two smiled nonchalantly and returned to their harmonious appearance.
Although the snack platter filled the entire table, it wasn't a proper meal, so Nijika and Ryou also ordered two portions of omurice.
During the meal, Soyo went to the restroom briefly, but came back quickly.
When everyone finished lunch and went to the counter to pay, they learned that she had already paid in advance.
"That's too generous of Soyo-san~"
Nijika didn't expect that, after all that had just happened, the other party would still take the initiative to pay the bill.
"It's no problem~", Soyo put her hands together, smiling sweetly, "If Nijika-san really feels bad about it, then next time we eat out, how about you treat instead?"
'There's such a thing?'
Having her chicken nugget stolen, Slacker Ryou had been sulking since earlier, her pale earlobe twitched as she said seriously, "Nijika, better not turn down Soyo-son's kind offer."
'You… just want a free meal again, don't you?'
Nijika gave her a helpless glance, but didn't insist, "Then it's settled. Next meal, I'll pay."
From beginning to end, Kaito didn't speak up, nor did he offer to pay.
It's not that he was shamelessly mooching, he simply felt this was Soyo's decision.
Before they went out today, the rich young lady had repeatedly emphasized that she would cover all the expenses today to show her sincere gratitude.
To her, this amount of money truly meant nothing.
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