164 - Sunday at the Land of Dreams

RAW

Lately, Haruto had been spending most of his lunchtimes with Ayaka, Tomoya, Saki, and now Shizuku, making it a group of five.

Today as well, under the clear blue sky during lunch break, they all sat at a table-bench in the courtyard, enjoying their packed lunches.

"Now then, everyone, let’s hold a meeting about our trip to the amusement park this Sunday."

Shizuku made this bold announcement after stuffing a dumpling from her lunch into her mouth.

Haruto glanced at her lunch and commented.

“Gyoza for lunch, huh... That’s a bold move.”

“Bento should always be bold, Haru-senpai. A proper high school girl can’t fear the smell of garlic.”

With her usual expressionless face, Shizuku gave her typical cryptic statement. She then turned her eyes to Ayaka.

“Don’t you agree, Aya-senpai?”

“Eh? W-Well, I guess so...?”

“Exactly. Would you like to try the Dojima family’s traditional ultra-garlicky, ultra-delicious gyoza? It'll blow your mind.”

As she said this, Shizuku picked up one of her gyoza with her chopsticks and offered it to Ayaka.

“U-Um... is it really ultra-garlicky?”

“It’s extra ultra. The more garlic, the better it tastes.”

“R-Right... But I don’t want to take your side dish, so I’ll pass...”

“No worries. I’ll trade it for your rolled omelet.”

“Eh? Ah, uh, this is...”

The rolled omelet in Ayaka’s bento had been made by Kiyoko and was one of her absolute favorites, ranking in her top three favorite side dishes.

Seeing Ayaka’s hesitation to trade it for the ultra-garlicky gyoza, Shizuku narrowed her eyes slightly.

“What are you afraid of, Aya-senpai? Join me and become a Garlic Girl. Let’s revel in our youth together.”

“Garlic Girls...?”

“That’s right. We’ll fill the air around us with the scent of garlic, stirring up cravings in everyone who walks by.”

“I—I think I’ll pass on that.”

“No need to be shy, Aya-senpai. Now, take my gyoza and hand over that delicious-looking rolled omelet.”

With that, Shizuku forcefully dropped a garlic bomb into Ayaka’s bento and swiftly snatched up her omelet.

“Ah! My omelet!”

Ayaka instinctively watched her precious omelet being taken away. But it was too late—it had already disappeared into Shizuku’s mouth in a single bite.

“Mmm. As expected, Grandma Kiyoko’s omelet is divine.”

Having stolen Ayaka’s side dish, Shizuku slowly savored the omelet, the corners of her usually impassive mouth subtly lifting in pleasure.

“Truly, friends with delicious bentos are the best kind to have.”

“Ugh... my omelet...”

“What’s with the tragic face? I gave you a gyoza, didn’t I?”

“W-Well, yeah, but still...”

“Can’t eat the gyoza I gave you? Aren’t we besties forever?”

“U-Ugh... o-okay... I’ll eat it.”

Unable to withstand Shizuku’s accusing stare, Ayaka steeled herself and popped the ultra-garlicky gyoza into her mouth.

“Well? Is it good?”

“...It’s really tasty. But... it’s the kind of taste I’d prefer for dinner...”

Bitter at having succumbed to the lure of garlic, Ayaka slowly chewed the gyoza with a pained expression.

Seeing this, Shizuku spoke with satisfaction.

“And thus, the ultimate unit—Garlic Girls—is born. From now on, we shall energetically spread the scent of garlic throughout the school.”

As Shizuku made this cheerful declaration, Saki, who had been watching the two with amusement, steered the conversation back on track.

“By the way, Shizuku-chan.”

“Yes, Saki-senpai? Are you hoping to join the Garlic Girls?”

“No thanks, I’ll be the one cheering from the sidelines. Anyway, do you have a place in mind for Sunday’s amusement park trip?”

As she smoothly dodged the recruitment, Saki posed her question. Shizuku looked around at the others.

“Any of you senpais have a preference? If not, I’ll choose based on my personal taste and bias.”

Receiving her gaze, Tomoya tilted his head slightly.

“I haven’t been to an amusement park in years... Honestly, anywhere is fine.”

“Hmph. Tomo-senpai, if you keep saying such indifferent things, you’ll upset Saki-senpai—your top girlfriend candidate.”

“Wait, hold up! Shizuku-chan! What do you mean ‘top girlfriend candidate’!? That’s news to me!”

“Huh? Isn’t that the case?”

“It’s not! Friends can go to amusement parks too, okay!?”

At Saki’s desperate denial, Shizuku—whether intentionally or not—looked mildly blank, her expressionless face faintly puzzled.

“Even though it’s a date?”

“Even though it’s a date! Right, Akagi-kun!? Sunday’s outing is a friendship date, right!? Right!?”

“Y-Yes! We’re going as comrades in friendship to the amusement park! No other feelings involved whatsoever!”

“Excellent!”

Pushed by Saki’s pressure, Tomoya straightened his back and responded crisply. Saki nodded repeatedly in agreement.

“Hmm. Then Saki-senpai, for this friendship date, which park would you prefer?”

“Well... it’s kind of a two-way tie, right? Either somewhere with tons of thrill rides or... the dreamland kind.”

“Right, those are the big two.”

Shizuku nodded in agreement.

“What about you, Haru-senpai and Aya-senpai?”

When Shizuku turned to them, Haruto brought up Ryota.

“Speaking of the amusement park... would it be okay if Ryota came too?”

As soon as he said it, Saki answered.

“Sure! If he comes along, it’ll be even more fun and lively.”

Tomoya also agreed.

“Yeah, and if Ryota’s there, Kaz-senpai would probably be happy too.”

Remembering the previous sweets-making event, Tomoya added with a smile. Shizuku put her hand to her chin thoughtfully.

“In that case, rather than thrill rides, it might be better to visit the land of dreams—Ryota would enjoy that more.”

Then she added:

“Though that would mean the great demon lord Kaz-senpai will be invading the land of dreams.”

Everyone agreed to Ryota joining, and Ayaka gave them a small bow.

“Thanks, everyone. For adjusting to Ryota.”

“No problemo. Ryota-kun is an angel.”

With that, Shizuku gave Ayaka a firm thumbs-up.

“By the way, Aya-senpai. When are you giving Ryota-kun to me as my little brother?”

“No, wait! We’ve never talked about that!”

“You’re always dodging the question, Aya-senpai. Tsk tsk.”

Shizuku shook her head dramatically, making Ayaka protest even more.

“I’m not dodging it! There’s no way I’m giving my precious brother to someone else!”

“Gasp! Just now, Aya-senpai called me a stranger! Even though we’re besties! The Garlic Girls are officially disbanded!”

Pouting with her expressionless face, Shizuku pulled out a small container from her chest pocket.

“I hereby resign from the Garlic Girls.”

With that, she popped a few breath-freshening tablets into her mouth.

Seeing this, Ayaka’s eyes widened.

“Hey! That’s not fair! Give me some too!”

“Nope.”

Turning her head away, Shizuku tossed two or three more tablets into her mouth.

“Shizuku-chan!”

“I won’t give you any! You called me a stranger, remember? I have not a single tablet to spare for strangers.”

Hearing Shizuku’s sulky tone, Ayaka gave her an apologetic look.

“S-Sorry! I didn’t mean it like that!”

“Then do you love me, Aya-senpai?”

As Shizuku turned her head back, Ayaka quickly nodded in desperation.

“Yeah, yeah! I love you, Shizuku-chan!”

“Very well. Then please declare: ‘I LOVE SHIZUKU-CHAN!’”

“Eh? Uh... o-okay... I LOVE SHIZUKU-CHAN!”

Ayaka froze for a moment, but quickly decided that worrying about garlic breath during class was worse than a little embarrassment. Blushing slightly, she declared it loudly.

The moment she did, Shizuku calmly turned her gaze to Haruto.

“Haru-senpai, your girlfriend is cheating right in front of you. And it’s even yuri.”

“Shizuku-chan, that’s so mean!!”

Ayaka was left speechless by the unexpected betrayal.

As she flailed under Shizuku’s teasing, Haruto gave a wry smile and gently intervened.

“Shizuku, cut her some slack, okay?”

“I can’t help it. Talking with Aya-senpai is just too fun.”

“I’m not having fun!”

“Oh, don’t be shy.”

Shizuku brushed off Ayaka’s protest.

“Please, Shizuku. Just give her one of those mints.”

“Fiiine.”

Persuaded by Haruto, Shizuku finally handed one tablet over to Ayaka.

“You called me a stranger, remember?”

“I said I’m sorry.”

“I’ll forgive you if you let me have Ryota-kun as my brother.”

“No way, I already told you that’s not happening!”

Once again, Ayaka and Shizuku launched into their friendly bickering.

Tomoya and Saki, having finished their lunches, watched them with smiles.

“Shizuku-chan and Tojo-san really are a perfect match in a way.”

“Yeah. It’s only been a few weeks, and they already look like total best friends.”

Agreeing with Tomoya’s words, Saki nodded.

And so, the “friends” continued to enjoy watching the ongoing comedy routine between Ayaka and Shizuku.