Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051597934651646/episodes/2912051602278600855
It happened in an instant.
Seika, who had been feeling giddy, tripped over a nearby chair.
She lost her balance and dropped the tray she was holding onto the floor.
Clang!
“Ah…!”
(I dropped it…)
Broken dishes, spilled contents.
No matter how she looked at it, it was clearly her own carelessness.
Her earlier elation vanished without a trace, and the blood drained from Seika’s face.
(Even though Achi-kun warned me, look at the mess I’ve made… Ugh… I’m really… such a failure… He’s going to hate me…)
She knew she had to do something.
But the fear of being disliked by him dominated her thoughts, and Seika froze in place.
Even though she knew that was a bad move.
Meanwhile, Houtarou was moving quickly.
“Hirugami-san, are you hurt? Any burns?”
“Huh…? Oh, no. I’m fine…”
“Good. Then could you take my tray? I’ll take care of cleaning up over here.”
“Eh…? But…”
Even though she was the one who’d messed up, she felt too guilty to just leave it all to Houtarou.
“It’s fine. If the two of us block the aisle, we’ll be in the way of everyone else.”
“Oh, you’re right…”
“Yeah. So just eat that first. It’d be a waste if it goes stale.”
Following Houtarou’s instructions, Seika nodded reflexively.
The thought that she mustn’t get in his way cleared the fog from her mind.
He went back to the shop where they’d bought the ramen and explained what had happened.
A clerk came over right away, and the two of them began cleaning up.
…Seika did as she was told, took Houtarou’s tray, and sat back down at her seat.
“Haa… Seriously, I’m such… such a clumsy girl… Haa…”
Though she was feeling down, she didn’t want to waste this ramen, so she decided to quietly eat it.
Before long, Houtarou returned.
“I’m done.”
“Done…”
“Done with what?”
“The date… I ruined it…”
Houtarou smiled and gently ruffled Seika’s hair.
“What are you talking about? It’s still lunchtime, isn’t it? It’s not over yet.”
“But… I ruined it.”
“Just because you dropped the tray doesn’t mean it’s all over. Everyone makes mistakes.”
“Uuuuuu…”
Houtarou accepts her just the way she is.
He affirms everything about her.
Overcome with emotion, Seika blurted out, “I love you~…”
“Okay, okay, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“I love you~…”
“Let’s do that somewhere with the right mood…”
“I love you~…”
As Seika repeated “I love you” over and over, Houtarou just smiled and pretended not to hear her.
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