Chapter 91

While everyone else added milk to their drinks and started sipping, Yuki alone held her colorful glass aside.

Then, after taking a breath and calming down, Maki, who had returned to her usual smile, broke the silence.

"Can I ask for your name as well?"

"Kenta Soga! You can call me Kenta, Keitaro, or anything, just call me whatever you like!"

Keitaro's voice was enthusiastic, but the women's reactions were lukewarm. Maki, as if to say "next," urged with her eyes, so Yuki nonchalantly replied.

"Enoda."

"Eh? That's not right, is it?"

"Eh?"

Immediately, Maki responded, and they both looked at each other suspiciously. Indeed, it was a fake name, but why did it get exposed so quickly?

"Still suspicious... Could it be that your personal information is already..."

"Ah, sorry, this one is called Soga! Soga Yuki!"

"Introducing yourself with your real name to a stranger is dangerous..."

"But, you know, it's not a fake name. I'm not, and this kid isn't either."

Maki said this with a hint of exasperation, but even that could be a bluff. Better to be cautious.

"But Soga Yuki... Oh, I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before?"

Maki tilted her head slightly, as if trying to recall something. Keitaro leaned in slightly.

"Hey, do you know each other?"

"That's funny, really."

"Yeah, you couldn't possibly have any connection with such a beautiful person."

If you didn't want to hear it, you shouldn't have asked in the first place. Haruka, who had been quietly sipping her straw, smiled thinly and spoke.

"Hey, you two, are you high school students? Ah, middle school students?"

"No way, middle school students? That's harsh! Hahaha!"

"Yeah, I get it, I get it."

"Right, I get it, I get it... Oh, I get it, you're not middle school students!"

Keitaro, with high energy, shouted and playfully slapped Keitaro's upper arm. He glanced at the two across from them, but neither of them smiled. A slightly tense silence fell, so Yuki, trying to ease the tension, looked at Keitaro and said,

"That's funny."

"Really?"

This time, Keitaro quickly nudged Yuki's shoulder with a low voice. He wouldn't let Yuki say "That's funny" until he found it genuinely funny. The intensity of his reaction was as if it was Yuki's fault, but Yuki was just following his instructions. Keitaro, trying to liven up the atmosphere, raised his voice again.

"Ah, well, we're second-year students at Higashinari High!"

"Really, Higashinari? That's where Maki's sister goes, right?"

"Really? Maki's sister? She must be beautiful!"

Keitaro emphasized the word "beautiful" with a high-pitched voice. Maki laughed lightly and waved her hands.

"Oh, don't say that, please."

"Yeah, I get it, I get it."

This time, Yuki also tried to raise his voice a bit, but was glared at again. Haruka covered her mouth and lowered her head.

"Pfft... It's funny, you know, from the start."

"It's not funny, what are you laughing at?"

"What's wrong with a little joke? You're younger, you know? Maki, you're unusually immature today."

"No, I'm not angry."

"Yeah, yeah, that's right."

Yuki tried to add a comment, but was glared at again. Sensing the tension, Keitaro quickly intervened.

"So, are you two college students?"

"Yeah, yeah, we have a sister too~"

Maki didn't answer Keitaro's question but glanced at Yuki meaningfully.

"Second-year, so you're classmates. Maybe you know each other?"

"Yeah, I get it, I get it."

"No, you don't."

She replied with a hint of irritation. She made a serious face for a moment, then quickly smiled again, repeating this cycle.

"Here you are."

The waiter brought Yuki's hot dog. Taking advantage of this, Keitaro whispered in his ear.

"You've been giving random answers, you know? This isn't a comedy show."

"I'm just doing what you said."

"I'm sorry, just be quiet."

If being quiet was okay, Yuki took a bite of the hot dog. Keitaro, with a smile, turned back to the two.

"Um, since we're here, can I get your LINE or something?"

"You, isn't that a bit too early? No matter what..."

"Sure, let's exchange."

"Come on, Maki!"

Keitaro happily took out his phone and quickly exchanged contact information with Maki. Yuki, pretending to be oblivious, took a bite of his hot dog. Maki thrust her phone at him.

"Yours too."

"No, I'm fine."

"Come on, take out your phone."

At this point, she was quite forceful, with a determined look. Yuki, intimidated by her intensity, took out his phone and, fumbling a bit, completed the ID exchange.

"Wow, that's intense... carnivorous..."

Haruka sent a teasing glance, but Maki put away her phone with a composed face. Yuki showed the new contact on his screen to Keitaro.

"Look, her name is Makimaki."

"Sure, it's cute."

"Makimaki... Haha, you're in a hurry."

"Hey, you're laughing at the wrong things. The intonation is different."

As Yuki and Keitaro whispered, Haruka, with a smirk, peeked at Maki's serious face, which had suddenly turned into a smile.

"It's getting interesting. I might order something too. What about you, Maki?"

Maki, who was asked this, silently finished her iced coffee and suddenly stood up.

"I just remembered something urgent, so I'll leave here."

"Eh? Maki?"

Saying this, Maki turned and left the table. Haruka, tilting her head, stood up and said,

"Man, she's so short-tempered... Well, I'll be off too."

She left the shop, following Maki. Watching the two leave, Yuki continued to chew his food, and Keitaro narrowed his eyes.

"It's your fault, you know."

"Really?"

His tone was accusatory, but Keitaro quickly smiled and started looking at his phone.

"But, I got Maki's LINE, so it's all good. I value results over process. Good job."

"Thanks."

"Getting a beautiful woman's LINE on your first try, that's amazing, isn't it? This is crazy, my hands are shaking a bit."

"Crazy, indeed."

"Seriously, Maki is a perfect match. I'm definitely going for it, it's crazy."

"Crazy, indeed."

Despite being left behind, Keitaro was unusually cheerful. He thought she might block him immediately, but decided not to dampen the mood. Keitaro, whistling, opened the menu.

"Alright, I'll order something too. I'll treat you as a reward, you can order anything, dessert or whatever."

"Then I'll have a chocolate cake and... two more hot dogs to go."

"No way, taking them to go is cheating!"

He wanted to take some for Sui, but it seemed to be against the rules. In the end, they continued to sit in the café, with Yuki listening to Keitaro's incomprehensible views on love. The button to give Enoda a ★5 rating is below.