Walking out of the hotel, the temperature outside was a little low, but for the two people who came from the northeast, such a temperature was not cold.

Naruse looked back, and at the end of Shijo-dori, the west gate of Yasaka Shrine was still conspicuous in the dark night.

The starfish in his field of vision also turned his head, not knowing what he was looking at.

"It's fine. Let's go. ”

She followed.

Along Shijo-dori, the two walked in the direction of Shijo Bridge.

Near the south block, there is a north-south path, and the skewer shop where the two of them are going is located.

It was late at night, there were no people on the road, and the occasional taxi drove by.

Walking to the intersection of Hanamikoji, a taxi turned a corner and slowed down in front of the two people who stopped.

The window of the back seat was open, and the geisha in the car noticed the eyes from the outside and smiled at the two of them.

“……”

Looking at each other and leaving, it was just a matter of blink of an eye, and Naruse didn't look much and continued to move forward through the intersection.

Following the taxi into the Hanami trail, Starfish was a little slower, but soon followed, keeping a distance of three or two paces from him.

The two met in front of the elevator at the hotel.

He said that he was going to eat skewers, and then invited her to join him.

And she actually agreed.

- When I realized that it was only the two of them, and when Hikari didn't follow, I didn't know how to say anything if I refused.

Eat more skewers and communicate less, starfish secretly told herself.

After walking a little further, and when he reached the next intersection, Naruse glanced back, "This way." ”

She followed.

A two- or three-minute walk inside, across from a small parking lot, is the destination of the two.

【Skewer Taro】

A red lantern with a text on it is hidden among the dark green foliage, guiding the entrance to the skewer shop.

"This is it."

"Hmmm......"

Lifting the warm curtain and entering, through a narrow but not long aisle, several lines of sight looked at each other, and Naruse and Starfish were stunned for a moment.

There were several people sitting inside, of different ages and genders, and the only thing they had in common was that they were all holding mobile phones. His gaze rolled over the faces of the two who had just arrived, and soon drooped again.

When the young man dressed as a clerk greeted him, Naruse understood the current situation.

"Looks like we're still going to have to queue...... Business is so good. ”

The two of them could only find a place to sit and wait for a vacant seat.

After a few minutes, five or six people walked out, speaking loudly in a language they didn't understand, and left the skewer shop.

It sounds like Korean, Naruse thought to himself, and it should be a tourist.

The clerk also came out quickly and beckoned the first few customers to come in.

Outside, only Naruse and Starfish were left.

While waiting, Naruse opened the map on his phone and looked at it, in addition to this skewer Taro, the nearest skewer shop was across the Kamogawa River.

It took time to walk through, and he didn't know if he needed to stand in line, so he endured hunger and gave up on the plan to change stores.

Putting away his thoughts, Naruse looked at the starfish sitting next to him again.

When they met in the elevator and saw that she was also hungry, he invited her, but he didn't expect her to agree so happily - although on the way over, he showed a hesitant look.

Yesterday, when I was rowing on the Arashiyama side, because of some opportunities, the two had a lot of exchanges. Although the front part is a bit intense, overall, the atmosphere is not bad.

It's just that at night, an unintentional gaze at the drugstore in Kawaramachi reminded the two of them of some things in the past at the same time, and the atmosphere between them fell into an indescribable embarrassment.

deliberately ignoring the past, pretending that each other is just stepbrothers and sisters who used to have a bad relationship, no matter how much is piled up on top of this, it is all false.

But it is even more difficult to mention it now.

He had to admit the mistakes he had made at the time.

And she always avoided it, and probably didn't want to listen to it.

“……”

The starfish, who had been waiting for a long time, suddenly looked this way.

After one glance at each other, she quickly looked away.

Naruse pursed her lips, becoming more and more sure of her judgment.

"The clerk just said that there are a few tables that are almost finished, so there shouldn't be too long to wait."

“…… Well. ”

"Where did Starfish and Light have dinner?"

Starfish was silent for a moment, tilting her head to his side, "There's a tonkatsu shop over there. ”

"Yes. How does it taste? ”

"It's delicious! …… No, that's okay. She paused, "I only ate a little." ”

Naruse nodded, didn't say much, and only after a while did she realize that she was trying to hide something.

"After all, it's too late."

"Huh? …… Well. ”

After waiting for more than ten minutes, a few middle-aged diners finally came out of the store. Soon, the clerk beckoned the two to come in.

Relative to the seats, the clerk brought the menu and said that the consumption requirement in the store is to order at least one drink per person.

Before coming, Naruse had already learned about this through the information on the map, so he asked for a cup of peach-flavored Calpis sparkling water.

The same goes for starfish.

Looking at the menu, Naruse ordered the store's signature skewer platter and asked for a fried chicken crispy bone and bibimbap. Seeing that the starfish ordered tama-yaki, he also added one.

He was really hungry.

"Whatever you want. Since I brought you here, let me treat you. ”

"Oh."

Starfish looked at the menu again, and didn't add anything more than a portion of roast beef with green onions.

After ordering, the two began to wait.

Enduring hunger, the aroma of food kept wafting from all around, and Naruse looked left and right.

The interior of the skewer shop is not large, and in addition to the few people who were waiting in line with them just now, there are also a few customers who look dressed like office workers who have come here to drink.

“…… The section manager came to me this afternoon and said that he was going to send me to the office in Kyushu. He also said that the minister and the head minister both meant the same thing, so they had to let me go...... Ay. ”

"Kyushu...... Isn't it pretty good, you're the boss over there. ”

"I went to the rural office over there to be the boss, there are few people under my command, and the salary has only increased a little, so it is better to stay in Kyoto."

"That's not what I said...... Come, have a drink. Anyway, you're not married, so let's agree to come down, don't embarrass the minister. ”

"Why did the seniors say that......"

"Otherwise, why do you think I'm pulling you over for a drink today? If you don't go, I'll have to go. I just got married this year! ”

"How-"

The office workers were just chatting, and Naruse looked anxious about the skewers on their plates.

Fortunately, he didn't wait too long, and the skewer platter was quickly delivered.

The freshly grilled meat skewers are steaming hot, and Naruse first picks up a skewer of roasted beef with green onions and takes a bite.

The teriyaki beef is extremely tender, with a hint of miso-sweetness in the gravy, and the chopped shallots sprinkled on top are fried crispy and fragrant.

“……”

The starfish on the opposite side looked stunned, and then glanced to the side. Her share hasn't been delivered yet.

Taking a bite of a piece of beef, Naruse pushed the plate towards her, "Let's eat it first." ”

She picked up a bunch of bacon rolls and ate them.

Then came the fried chicken crispy bones, fried golden brown in pieces, on a bamboo plate, along with two sliced lemons.

"Do you want to squeeze lemon juice?" Naruse asked.

Starfish was stunned and subconsciously shook his head.

"Then don't add it."

Setting the lemon aside, he picked up a piece of fried chicken crispy bone and put it in his mouth, it tasted good and was also very chewy.

"Eat, it tastes good."

Starfish also picked up a piece of fried chicken crispy bones and tasted it, then picked up another piece.

Seeing that she was eating, while constantly glancing at the lemon that was put aside, Naruse was a little helpless.

"Let's squeeze some lemon juice, it's a little greasy."

"Huh...... Good. ”

Starfish picked up a few pieces of fried chicken crispy bones and put them in his bowl, before squeezing some lemon juice on top.

"Since you're out for supper, let's feel free."

She looked up, and Naruse buried her head in tearing the skewers in her mouth, not looking at her.

Two skewers of meat were skewered, and after eating a few pieces of fried chicken crispy bones, Naruse just felt a little greasy, and the two of them sent Calpis sparkling water.

Starfish's eyes widened a little, and they were expecting it.

And as soon as she picked it up, Naruse also picked up her cup, and the two looked at each other, and she stared at her cup again and sent some forward.

“……”

Naruse was stunned for a moment, then sent it forward as well, clinking glasses with her.

There is no "Cheers", the glasses on both sides just collide lightly and make a low sound.

Goo-Du –

Drink a big mouthful of peach-flavored Calpis sparkling water, and the greasy solution will be exhausted.

Starfish licked her lips and smiled unconsciously.

"Calpis and sparkling water go well together, and the texture and taste are pretty good."

"Hmm!"

After another sip of sparkling water, Naruse was no longer polite, picked up the skewers and feasted on them.

He hadn't eaten for more than ten hours, and now he just wanted to fill his stomach.

Thank you to the leader of the book friend [SHIRRO].

(End of chapter)