One afternoon, after school. While I was getting ready to head home, Mikiri came over and said,
「hey, Mamoru. Could you be my boyfriend for a day?」
「…..huh?」
I had to double take when I heard Mikiri say that. Mikiri grinned and laughed, she came running over with her phone in hand, brimming with excitement.
「There’s this hugely popular cake buffet shop offering half price for couples only outside the station. We have to go!!」
「You surprised me. I was like “Woah, the main heroine and protagonist are suddenly closer?” as if I skipped a volume」
「You probably at least figured it out, don’t you?」
「Barely noticed it since it’s a slow-paced every day romance comedy」
「Ahaha」
Mikiri giggled.
Ugh, that’s bad for the heart. Well, let’s be reasonable, Mikiri won’t be coming to confess. I don’t recall planting any flags for that.
「Sure thing. I just happened to be craving for something sweet」
「That’s a date then! Let’s get ready and devour the sweets」
「We’re going to the cake buffet right? Why do you sound like you’re heading to a battlefield」
「We’re heading to a battlefield. For women that is」
Mikiri gives a sharp and resolute experssion. Women sure have sweet tooth.
And so, we ventured to the station entrance. The sweets shop’s name is whip hop. Apparently, it’s incredibly popular, even to young girls, and they’ve even done a feature article in a magazine.
「The cake buffet here is incredibly popular. It’s a little rough on my wallet however」
「Is it that pricey?」
「It can blow off a month’s worth of part-time job」
「Ooh. That’s really tough for a student」
For high school students, having some spendable money is valuable. That’s not something you’d use for a cake.
Mikiri raised her thumb with a serious gaze.
「I don’t get chances like this very often. Let’s get into it」
「Sure」
We entered the shop boldly. The interior of the shop was incredibly fancy, and the ratio of couples makes me realize that I can’t go in by myself as a man.
「Welcome!」
A young employee smiled and greeted us. I told her「Two people for the cake buffet」and the employee turns to us.
「Are the two of you a couple?」
「Yes!」
「Yes」
Mikiri cheerfully replied, meanwhile I just replied flatly. The employee smiled and guided us inside. I was sure we’d be shown to a table, but instead we were led to a space partitioned off by a pale pink divider
While we were confused, the employee speaks to us;
「Excuse us, we just need to test if you two are actually couples」
『A test?』
Mikiri and I looked at each other. Ever heard about this? Nope, I didn’t. Our eye contact had said.
But you know, thinking about it calmly, people could just say that they’re a couple to get a discount. They definitely had impromptu couples coming in just like us. This store has a countermeasure against that.
「This is a test for you two. That is, to kiss」
『K-Kiss?』
「Yes! If you two are a couple, you surely can kiss, right?」
That depends on the person. Well, there are couples who goes for a French kiss in public. Most couples don’t get embarrassed kissing in public, right?
「If you two don’t kiss, you don’t get your couple’s discount, you know?」
The employee gives us a look as if she’s seen through us. Damn, what do I do?
Someone’s tugging my sleeve. I turn around and I see my female friend blushing.
「Mamoru. Let’s do it」
「Mikiri, Are you sure?」
「I mean, it’s for the cake! The cake’s calling me」
To think that she’d go that far for the cake buffet. I don’t get women’s hearts.
「Hmm. Hmm」
Mikiri closed her eyes and pushes her lips forward. I grabbed her shoulder gently and slowly bring my face closer–stop
「Dear Customer?」
The employee’s confused, and I stopped Mikiri.
「Sorry. She doesn’t want it. So, sorry」
「M-Mamoru…」
Mikiri grasps my hand. She’s trembling. I knew it, she’s embarrassed to kiss in front of others. That’s normal.
「Gufu…」
The employee made a weird noise. She covers her mouth, yet she’s trembling.
「That’s lovely. Your lover’s gentle. That’s exactly the ideal boyfriend! Bravo!」
「Huh?」
「Splendid! You two get your couple’s discount」
「T-Thanks, I guess?」
What the hell? What an unexpected charade.
「Another person will be guiding you, That way please」
「O-Okay?」
We left the partition looking like we just got pranked. I hear the employees talk from behind.
「Senpai, are you sure about them?」
「Fufu. They did show us the innocence of a couple」
What are they talking about?
I just gave up and held Mikiri’s hand.
「Thanks. You saved me there」
「Yeah, no problem. Well, you looked like in trouble back there」
「I don’t want to kiss in front of other people. I’m glad you protected me there」
Mikiri looked up and she gave me a smile.
「But, it’s not I hate kissing Mamoru」
「Hmm? Yeah. Sure」
I wonder. I feel like she’s said something more embarrassing than just kissing.
Well, she probably didn’t think too much about that. I’m sure of it.
――And so, we indulged in all kinds of sweets thanks to the couples’ discount――.