Chapter 8: Interrupted "date"
We entered the cafe and first welcomed us was a crowd of people, however, thankfully there were a few tables still open. Inogashira went to sit down at the empty table while I went to the counter to order for us.
When I saw the prices I immediately rolled my eyes but I still ordered what I wanted even if it was expensive.
"Thank you for your patronage, I hope everything will be to your liking~!" A female employee expressed her thanks with a bright smile.
I returned to Inogashira and settled down on the table what I have ordered before sitting on the chair across from her. As I was about to inwardly complicate Inogashira for her calmness despite the way we might look in the eyes of others, I noticed that she was avoiding eye contact with me.
If she is that nervous why would she accept my invitation? I thought that she accepted because she didn't think much of it.
"So...what did you order?" She finally broke the silence when she started examining the things I bought.
"For you, strawberry cheesecake and latte. As for myself, I got myself a cup of the strongest coffee they have here." I slid the plate with a slice of cheesecake on it along with a cup of latte to her side with a faint smile.
"What?! Isn't that really expensive?! I just paid for your sports drink that most likely didn't even cost one-tenth of what you have ordered for me!" As if she wasn't expecting the dessert to be actually hers, she exclaimed in a much stronger tone than what I was already used to.
"You didn't just pay for my sports drink. You mainly helped me during my hour of need without expecting anything in return. I like to think that kind deeds should be rewarded with a high-interest rate" The same applies to grudges but the payback should come with much higher interest. I explained with a kind smile but when I recalled something from my past, I felt my body turning cold from controlled rage, thankfully I quickly recovered before Inogashira could notice anything strange in my eyes that must have turned colder for a split second.
---Kokoro Inogashira---
Affection: 4 -> 5
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"Even then..."
"Just eat, enjoy it to your heart's content! I hope you will like the flavor since I didn't know which one you would like, I ordered my favorite."
"?! Strawberry is my favorite too! In that case, how about we share it?" Inogashira turned a bit more talkative after discovering that we have something in common but she still tried to return the cheesecake to me even if only half of it.
She really is kind, huh? I wouldn't mind accepting her offer since I am curious about the taste of such a pricy product but I knew better not to.
"Uh, considering where we are, I doubt it would be a wise thing to do unless we want to create a misunderstanding." I tried to tacitly warn her. There was only 1 plate after all.
"Huh? ...Oh! Y-Yeah, then I will gratefully accept" As expected, she instantly blushed when she understood what I was implying before quickly taking a few looks around us, most likely to see if there aren't any students from Class D around.
Once she finally confirmed no one from our class was around us, she started stuffing herself with the cheesecake, every time a small piece entered her mouth, she closed her eyes and her cheeks turned rosy pink making me genuinely regret my decision to refuse her offer.
.
.
I didn't initiate any conversation while she was eating since I wanted her to fully enjoy it and I would be lying if I didn't appreciate a moment of peace with a coffee in my hand. When she finished her cheesecake, she looked at the empty with a slightly disappointed expression which made me laugh aloud.
"W-What?" She asked with a pouting expression.
"Nothing, just one thing I remember from the past" I didn't want to poke her too much.
"Anyway, thank you very much. I didn't expect it to be...so good. It probably deserves its price tag, tsk"
---Kokoro Inogashira---
Affection: 5 -> 7
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[Quest: Raise affection of a single person by 5 points (5/5)]
[Congratulations on successfully completing your quest]
[Reward: Contribution system]
[Additional reward: You will gain an affection boost with the target you completed this quest with. You will also gain higher authority over them to influence their behavior and actions to a certain point. With the higher affection score, your natural influence will increase along with its additional authority, at the highest affection, it might be possible to completely order the target around even if the order isn't to the target's liking.]
I will check the Contribution system later.
As I wanted to return my attention to Inogashira, my body turned stiff when I noticed a person who just entered the cafe.
"Quickly hide your face" I told Inogashira while looking down and fiddling with my cell phone to look less suspicious.
"Eh? Why?" Despite her confusion, she still followed me and imitated my actions.
Is this also thanks to my increased influence? If I knew about that additional reward, I would have chosen to somehow finish with Chabashira as my target.
[The influence greatly weakens with a wider age gap]
As she was waiting for my answer, I could see a shadow towering over us but I didn't dare to raise my head.
"What are you doing?" A cold voice resounded right next to us which prompted Inogashira to look up.
"H-Horikita-san?!" She stuttered when calling the person's name.
That's right, that devil...what was she doing here?
No way Ayanokoji somehow convinced her to ask me to join her study group...no, that's certainly possible with his abilities but...how did she know where to find me?!)
"...Hey, Horikita-san" I finally raised my head and forced a weak smile out to greet her.
"Greetings to you too" She said and looked at Inogashira who was visibly panicking then at me then at Inogashira once again who looked like she was ready to hide under the table at any moment.
"T-This isn't what it looks like, Horikita-san!" Inogashira raised her hands and started shaking them from right to left in defense as her blushing only continued deepening.
"I don't care what it looks like or what immoral things you do after school" Horikita narrowed her eyes at me.
"I am saying it's not like that!" Inogashira shouted at her in embarrassment when she heard the word immoral. Naturally, we attracted the attention of several students by now so I was thinking it was the best moment to leave.
"*sigh*...For now, let's just leave, we can discuss our plans for midterms the other day, Inogashira-san" I got up from my seat.
"Ah, y-yes! It seems like Horikita-san has something to discuss with you so I will go ahead!" Seemingly relieved when she heard my blatant lie, Inogashira quickly took her chance to leave, knowing that she won't be able to hold on under the pressure of Horikita's glare.
"Plans for midterms, huh? Whatever" Horikita muttered while watching Inogashira leave ahead of us.
Well, I had plans to do that but we never got to that point because of you so it's not a complete lie either, or is it?
"Ike-kun" Horikita suddenly called my name making me shudder in anticipation.
She took a really deep breath before continuing.
"Phew, are you...going to...join my study group?" She asked with difficulty, though I must say her question sounded more like a threat. Did I just make enemies with Horikita?
"Um...you see-" I started thinking of any excuses but she shut me off before I could even say anything.
"Ayanokoji-kun said that you will join if I ask you personally. Apparently, you also confirmed it even after he asked you for the second time. If you will refuse now, I am certainly not going to FORCE you." Her tone turned more hostile and I could see her hand clench into a fist while trembling. She must have felt a lot of humiliation asking me to join in person since she wasn't the one who wanted anything from me in the first place, aside from maybe passing the midterms.
"I see, well, I think I might join for a few sessions, haha" I weakly smiled while scratching the back of my neck.
"Good, and while you are at it, make sure to convince Sudo-kun and Yamauchi-kun to join too" Horikita said and stormed off before even waiting for my answer which left me standing in surprise.
That was Ayanokoji's task! And I have never even agreed to it either! She is annoying to deal with, no wonder she has no friends, well, at least she is easy to manipulate with her predictable personality but that's only useful to Ayanokoji, ugh!
'I guess it's Ayanokoji-1 Ike-0. I will make sure to repay this "grudge" with interest.' I clenched my right hand into a fist and swore to myself to make Ayanokoji's life even just a bit worse in this school.
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