novellhall Chapter 22 Following
Chapter 22 Following
When Tsukimi Sakura saw Miyazawa Itsuki, a slight smile appeared on her originally serene face.
Despite the distance between them, the smile still reached Miyazawa Itsuki.
It was so beautiful that it gave one a sense of disorientation, as if the surrounding air had dimmed for a moment.
Miyazawa Itsuki clicked his tongue softly.
Although I had seen Tsukimi Sakura in her uniform this morning, I have to admit that the uniform looked tailor-made on her, almost too beautiful.
It not only outlines the owner's slender figure, but also exudes a unique sense of purity and gentleness.
Because Tsukimi Sakuna smiled at Miyazawa Itsuki, the boys on Miyazawa Itsuki's side became restless.
"I saw Her Highness smile at me!"
"Yeah, right, he was smiling at me."
"Stop arguing. Of everyone here, I'm the only one who spoke to Her Highness the Holy Maiden, isn't the answer obvious?"
"It's disgusting that the saintess only asked about the prices of the goods at your class's stall during last year's school festival, and she still remembers it now..."
A single smile could elicit such a strong reaction from them. Is it that Tsukimi Sakuna's charm is simply that exaggerated, or are teenage boys just too naive?
Perhaps it has both.
Miyazawa Itsuki nodded slightly in response.
Their first meeting at school thus came to an end. Miyazawa Itsuki bought lunch at the school store.
……
"Why are you even trying to steal my fried bread?"
Miyazawa Itsuki took a bite of the creamy bread and sipped the energy jelly along the way.
When he arrived at the store, the fried bread he had been looking for was sold out, so he had to buy butter bread instead.
He was strolling around the campus, looking for a quiet place to have lunch.
The courtyard is a romantic spot for couples, filled with silly couples feeding each other, exuding an atmosphere of love.
In the classroom, Asahina was surrounded by girls as always, including her small group. They shared a table, ate their bento boxes, and chatted about girls' topics.
Miyazawa Itsuki believes that these places are not places for marginalized people to stay.
As they walked, Miyazawa Itsuki arrived at the green garden below the club building.
Aside from members of clubs and the student council, this place is rarely visited. Now, with no one around, it's a perfect quiet spot to spend a lunch break.
As soon as Miyazawa Itsuki sat down and took a couple of bites of bread, he heard a faint meow coming from the bushes in front of him.
A snow-white cat emerged from the bushes, jumped onto the stone table, and looked up at Miyazawa Itsuki.
Miyazawa Itsuki held the bread and tilted his head.
"What a beautiful kitten! It's a pity I have nothing to feed you."
Miyazawa Itsuki took a bite of bread.
The white cat stared at him with its tortoiseshell eyes for a moment, then let out a soft meow.
"Even if you ask me, I can't give you anything to eat. I'm already scrimping and saving for myself."
The white cat's eyes sharpened.
It seemed somewhat displeased, and then barked twice.
Miyazawa Itsuki was somewhat exasperated. "You're so cute. Just wander around in front of the girls at school, and you'll have everything you need. Why bother with his bread?"
"Alright, alright, I'll share some with you."
Miyazawa Itsuki tore off a small piece of bread from the bite mark and placed it in front of the white cat.
"Meow!"
The white cat was very unhappy and didn't even glance at the bread, instead continuing to stare at Miyazawa Itsuki.
"A picky eater? Or is he a germaphobe?" Miyazawa Itsuki couldn't understand, so he tore off a small piece that hadn't been bitten and placed it in front of the white cat.
Meow~
The white cat looked completely deflated, as if it had given up on something.
He glanced at Miyazawa Itsuki with a complicated expression, then listlessly picked up the remaining bread and disappeared into the bushes.
Miyazawa Itsuki put the bitten part of the bread back into his mouth; his family was poor, and he couldn't afford to waste it.
After while away some time in the shade, Miyazawa Itsuki returned to the classroom when the lunch break ended.
He didn't see that the white cat had been crouching in the bushes, watching him intently with its intelligent cat eyes.
……
After school, Miyazawa Itsuki went to work at Morizumi Cafe.
After the peak travel period, it was already late at night.
Mr. Morizumi was enjoying waffles made by Miyazawa Itsuki at the bar, while Miyazawa Itsuki was drinking coffee brewed by the manager.
"Speaking of which, work at the café is getting busier and busier," Mr. Morizumi remarked with a satisfied smile after taking a bite of his waffle.
"Thanks to Ashu's dessert-making skills and promotional strategies, we've gradually gained more and more customers."
"This way, the business in the store will be more prosperous, and the store manager can share the deliciousness of coffee with more people," said Miyazawa Itsuki.
"Yes, but it feels like there's so much work that I'm a little overwhelmed."
During the time Mrs. Mori was away on a trip, the café was maintained by Miyazawa Itsuki and the manager.
When there weren't many customers, things were manageable, but now that the café has gained some popularity on social media due to its excellent desserts and coffee, Miyazawa Itsuki's work has gradually become busier.
Sometimes they even have to handle the work of both receptionist and pastry chef at the same time.
"I'm thinking, maybe we should hire another employee, so that Ashu can have an easier time."
"I can manage for now."
Mr. Morizumi joked, "Don't push yourself. I don't want to be sued for subjecting underage employees to excessive labor."
Miyazawa Itsuki smiled and said, "Then I'm in trouble. You won't find a better place in Tokyo to work than this."
"Well, anyway, it's time to put hiring new employees on the agenda. If Ashu can recommend someone, that would be a huge help."
"Unfortunately, I don't have many friends at school."
"It's not good to be so young and not have any friends. You come to work right after school. If you don't enjoy your youth, you'll regret it when you're old."
Miyazawa Itsuki smiled.
If psychological age can be added together, he is even older than Mr. Morizumi, both in his past and present lives, and is no longer young.
Enjoy your youth?
Perhaps I feel even more youthful when I'm working.
Accompanying different young and beautiful girls on a tour of Tokyo was the most youthful activity he had ever undertaken.
……
At 9:30 p.m., Miyazawa Itsuki said goodbye to the manager and left the cafe.
Strolling through Tokyo at night, Miyazawa Itsuki passed a convenience store and, after a moment's thought, went in and bought a discounted instant-heating bento.
Prepare it for tonight's dinner.
After enjoying a proper meal at the Tsukimi family's house for the first time in a long time, Miyazawa Itsuki also missed the days of eating dinner.
It's true that people still need to eat proper meals.
Carrying a plastic bag containing a lunchbox, I walked calmly on my way home.
As he turned the corner of the street, Miyazawa caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye.
Long, light chestnut-colored hair, a fitted uniform, and shapely legs.
That seemed to be Tsukimi Sakuna's back view.
She walked briskly down the street at night.
Not far behind Tsukimi Sakura, two men reeking of alcohol were following her.
"Um?"
Miyazawa Itsuki's eyes were somewhat sharp.