On the grill, greased beef is sizzling. Although the color has not yet darkened, the enticing fragrance has already spread with the steaming mist.

I put a piece of the next piece of temperature in my mouth, and the signal from the taste buds on the tip of my tongue gradually coincides with the memory.

I didn't forget to look at Nanami. Sure enough, she squinted her eyebrows and puffed out her cheeks to chew seriously.

"It's a nice store, isn't it?" Toru Shimizu asked.

She didn't have time to answer, so she could only widen her eyes and nod vigorously in agreement.

Hooking the corners of his mouth, Toru Shimizu remembered something again, "I heard that Hokkaido eats more mutton." ”

She swallowed the food in her mouth and filled half a glass of water before she could answer the question.

"Well, but if you really want to talk about special food, it's..."

"Horse sashimi?"

"That's right!" She clasped her hands together in front of her, and her eyes shone brightly, "Have you eaten Shimizu Sang too?" ”

Toru Shimizu shook his head, "I haven't even heard of it in Kyoto. ”

"Huh~ That's a shame".

She picked up a piece of beef and put it in her mouth, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, and her cheeks bulged high, as if she was recalling the taste of horse meat in her hometown through barbecue.

Toru Shimizu tilted his head and smiled. The rest of the restaurant is a noisy and cheerful scene, and there is nothing more satisfying than food.

Looking back, Nanami Nanami was happily stretching her chopsticks towards the grill, and when she saw him coming, she tilted her head in confusion.

Maybe now is a good opportunity.

Thinking like this, Qing Shui Toru touched the envelope prepared in his pocket and said, "The previous painting... Speaking of which, I haven't paid you for it yet. ”

She blinked, as if she hadn't expected this at all, and after a moment hurriedly waved her hand: "No, that painting... It's good that Shimizu-san can like it, and there is no need to give money. ”

"I've already said that it's better to buy it and give it to you."

Toru Shimizu repeated, with a bit of firmness in his tone.

As if a little surprised by his attitude, Nanami Nanami slowly put down her chopsticks, the light in her pupils flashed, and she turned her head to look at the bustling streets of Shibuya.

Outside, large and small billboards are clustered together, reflecting a bright image in the midday sun, which makes people dazzle and can't help but indulge in it at the same time.

After a long time, Nanami Nanami looked back at him with a blank face.

"Then how much is Shimizu-san going to give?"

"Uh..."

Qing Shui Toru clutched the envelope in his pocket and couldn't speak for a while.

Generally speaking, this kind of student-level sketch work, even with the aura of Togei, is only a problem that can be solved for 500 or 1,000 yen. But for some reason, he prepared a lot more than the usual price.

However, on the premise that her embarrassment has been seen through by herself, it is tantamount to an insult to say that number again.

The scene was deadlocked, but Nanami Nanami laughed first.

"So I don't need to. However, if Shimizu-san feels that he really can't go, he can use something else instead. ”

"Something else?"

"Hmm... Like what... Shimizu-san's new book? Is it okay to give me a copy on the day of release? ”

"That? You may have to wait a long time to do it. ”

"Oh? How so? ”

Releasing her fingers and letting the slightly wrinkled envelope fall back into her pocket, Toru Shimizu explained to her, "It usually takes a long time to publish a novel. The average novelist must first conceive for a long time, and then form an outline and editorial discussion before he can get a chance to be serialized..."

"Serialized first? Isn't it just after writing it and publishing it? Nanami suddenly asked, looking very interested.

Toru Shimizu shook his head slightly, "Not necessarily." Usually the serialization is chosen first, and the publisher needs to determine whether to publish it or not based on the popularity of the serialization period, and how many copies to print if it is published. Writers can also get a stable manuscript fee through serialization, so as not to be directly published and not be able to sell, and they will not get much income themselves. All in all, it's the least risky option. ”

"If the response is good during the series..."

"That will be published. But in between... It takes at least half a year from the conception to the serialization, and the final release. This is still a single book.,If it's a library book, I don't know how long I'll have to wait.。 ”

After a pause, Toru Shimizu continued: "So, Nanami-san, do you still want to choose this?" ”

Without hesitation, Nanami Nanami nodded decisively, "This is good." ”

"The new book is still in the conceptual stage, so I still owe you a long time."

"Then I owe it first."

Looking at her unshakable and determined gaze, Qing Shui Toru smiled, looked away, and picked up a slice of raw beef and put it on the grill, which was regarded as a "debt" to her by default.

The charcoal fire in the oven was getting hotter, and the pieces of meat soaked in spices were crackling, forcing them to dodge left and right to avoid the splashes of oil. However, the problem has been solved, and the conversation between the two has really become easier.

Toru Shimizu swallowed a piece of delicious beef tongue, and listened to Nanami Nanami ask casually.

"What books has Shimizu-san been reading lately?"

"The Cicada of the Eighth Day, by Mitsuyo-san Kadokawa."

"Ah, the movie based on it just came out yesterday, right?"

"That's right. Nanami-san: Is there a favorite writer? ”

"If you really want to talk about it... Miura Shion-san, right? This one is the most recommended. ”

As she spoke, Nanami took out the book from her satchel and handed it over.

"This is it."

The book had apparently been bought for a while, leaving traces of multiple flips between the pages. But thanks to her careful preservation, the overall look is still neat.

Flipping through a few pages, Toru Shimizu returned the book she cherished.

"'Strong Wind Blowing'."

After carefully putting it away, Nanami Nanami nodded lightly: "Well, it's a masterpiece of Miura Shion-san, have you seen it?" ”

"Nope."

"Huh?"

"Writers don't read all books, either."

"That's a pity," Nanami sighed rather regretfully, but immediately raised her head again and said with a serious face, "But it's really highly recommended." ”

Speaking of what she was interested in, her pupils flickered, like starlight in a clear night sky. Qing Shui Toru couldn't help but look at it a few more times before agreeing.

After settling the little food left, she paid for the meal before she could react. In front of the clerk, she just cast a subtle look, and then hesitated to slowly put back the wallet she had taken out.

This made Qing Shui Toru secretly breathe a sigh of relief, thinking that it would be good if it could be used as compensation for exposing her predicament before.

After leaving the store, the joy brought by the food had not yet dissipated, and the two returned to the station with a smile. It's just that at the moment of seeing the statue of the loyal dog Hachiko, Toru Shimizu felt that the distance back seemed to be much shorter than when he came.

It's a pity that Nanami Nanami didn't understand his mood and turned around straight at Shibuya.

"Then I'll go back first. Shimizu-san, I'm really bothering you today. ”

"That's what I should say."

"That's... Good bye. ”

"Okay."

Toru Shimizu waved his hand and saw her take two steps back, about to merge into the crowd of pit stops, but stopped at the edge and walked back.

"What, forgot something?"

"Hmm", she nodded slightly, took out the copy of "Strong Wind Blowing" from her bag, and held it in both hands and put it in Qing Shui Toru's hand, "After thinking about it, let's lend it to Qing Shui Sang, so that you don't have to buy another copy." ”

"That's it, thank you for that."

seemed to let go of a concern, and her smile was also relaxed, and she said in a brisk tone: "Now I'm really leaving." ”

"Okay, be careful on the road."

She answered softly, heard the train whistling, trotted a few steps, and finally disappeared into the crowd.

Packing up his mood, Toru Shimizu was also about to leave, but found that the book was a little strange when it was pinched, as if it was holding something.

When I spread it out in my hand, the pages of the book unfolded naturally, and I saw some change lying there, which added up to exactly half of the cost of the meal.

Suddenly looked back. The train had slowly moved out of the station, trying to speed up, and was about to speed along the mid-air tracks.

Putting the change in his hand, Qing Shui Toru sighed helplessly.

I still owe her something.