3 bar menu

Chapter 143 Part 2

「Now, let’s get on the elevator.」

「Y, yeah.」

Yuu didn’t pay much attention to it, but in fact, since he entered the lobby, he had been attracting the attention of many women, including those who were accompanied by men.

He usually wore his hair down naturally, but for this occasion, he had used a hair styling product – they didn’t sell wax for men, so he used mousse – to hold up his bangs, showing his forehead.

This made him look more mature than usual, as such, he was subjected to feverish gazes by those around him.

And as if to show them that he was 「our precious man」, the two flanked Yuu and took him with them.

When they got into the elevator, still with their arms linked, Riko pressed the button for the top floor (12th floor), where the restaurant was located.

「Err, it’s a French restaurant, right? I’m not familiar with such a place, so I’m kind of nervous.」

「The same goes for me.」

「T, this is also my first time…」

「Then, since we’re all in the same boat, let’s pay it no mind even if we make a mistake.」

As a matter of fact, before his rebirth, he had gone to such a place on such numerous occasions that he couldn’t count it on both hands.

Such as having dinner with his wife on special occasions, or attending his colleague’s wedding reception.

He remembered at least the bare minimum table manners, but that didn’t stop him from being nervous.

However, accompanied by a boy who was none other than Yuu, the two girls on either side of him were showing a look of apparent nervousness.

As such, in an attempt to ease their nervousness, Yuu smiled at them.

「If you say so, then I can be at ease.」

「Yes…」

Completely different from the lobby, the French restaurant, which was called 『Au bord de la rivière』, had subdued lighting and a black and brown-based interior, creating a very chic atmosphere.

Partly because it was a weekday, the restaurant was only about one-third full.

Most of the customers were female groups, but from what they saw as they were shown to their table, there were a number of tables where multiple women were surrounding one man, just like Yuu.

The table Yuu and the others were shown to was one by the window.

At the four-person table, Yuu took a seat by the window, facing the two.

In today’s world, people were considered adults at the age of 18, so they could start drinking and smoking while they were still in high school, but most schools had rules that prohibited it until they graduated.

Even so, it was a fact that there were those who started drinking and smoking while they were still underage, but the two girls in front of him were very serious high school students, so like Yuu, they only had soft drinks.

When the glass of orange juice was first brought to their table, Yuu suddenly realized something.

「Come to think of it, I don’t know your first name, Iida-senpai. Can you tell me?」

「Ah… Err, it’s Aiko, as in love.」

「Aiko… that’s a very nice name. Can I call you Aiko-san?」

「Yes… B, but Hirose-kun, you call Riko without using honorifics…」

「「Ah.」」

Yuu and Riko looked at each other.

When he was with the three girls from the student council, they had made a habit of calling each other by name and without courtesy, but before they knew it, as they got used to it, they had started calling each other by name even when they were in the presence of other students.

This was also the reason why the rumor of them dating was spreading throughout the school.

「C, can you also… call me Aiko?」

She asked shyly, looking back and forth between Yuu and Riko.

「Of course. And since we’re having dinner together like this, please call me by my name, too.」

「Yu… Yuu-kun.」

「Yes, Aiko-sa」

「Just Aiko!」

「A, Aiko…?」

「Also, please forgo courtesy!」

「Err… Sure.」

Somehow, he got the feeling that what she was saying and the way she was speaking were contradicting each other, but after being told so by Aiko with sharp eyes and a strong tone, he had no choice but to nod.

She probably did it unconsciously, but as expected, her impression was quite different from when they first met.

「F… First thing first, let’s have a toast.」

「Y, you’re right. Then, to celebrate Riko and Aiko taking first place in the quiz championship.」

「To celebrate being able to have dinner with Yuu-kun like this.」

「「「Cheers!」」」

「Phew, the night view sure is beautiful.」

「I never thought that I would be able to have dinner with Yuu-kun while looking at the night view in a place like this, not even in my wildest dreams.」

「Fufufu. Really.」

When Aiko, who had taken a sip of orange juice, put her hand on her cheek and said so in an enraptured tone, Riko also nodded her head.

As for Yuu, he was savoring the happiness of being able to have dinner with the two beautiful women at a restaurant.

Perhaps because a river was running there, the area right below the window was shrouded in darkness, but beyond that was a large street, and they could see the headlights of many cars coming and going amidst the glittering lights of the city.

Looking at it from the height of the 12th floor, it was a perfect location.

When he looked ahead, he saw Riko, who gave off a more mature vibe than usual, and Aiko, who exuded an exotic allure, with a smile on their faces.

First of all, the appetizer, hors d’oeuvre, was brought to their table.

Shrimp, scallops, and asparagus were arranged close together in the center of the plate, with white sauce and herbs adding color to it.

If I remember correctly, you’re supposed to use the knife and fork from the outside in, right?

When Yuu reached back into his memory and picked up the outermost knife and fork, the two girls in front of him did the same, and the dinner began.

「Come to think of it, I heard that the prize meal vouchers were for four people.」

「Yes, that’s right.」

「Which means, you were supposed to go in a group consisting of two boys and two girls, no?」

They could have invited Masaya, no? Suddenly, such a thought crossed his mind, as he believed that Masaya was acquainted with Aiko.

However, the one who was invited was Yuu, and him alone.

The plates of hors d’oeuvres that they had finished eating were cleared away, and they were now spooning up potage soup.

At Yuu’s words, Riko and Aiko looked at each other, but instead of Aiko, who clammed up, Riko opened her mouth.

「Um… you see, Yuu-kun. Actually, we have reserved a room. Ah! It, it’s not that I’m suggesting we spend the night together or anything. We have things to do tomorrow, after all… Umm, if you could spare around two hours…」

He was in that kind of relationship with Riko, so there was nothing strange even if they went to spend an adult night together after finishing their dinner.

From the look of it, was Aiko going to join them tonight?

When she got nudged by Riko with her elbow, Aiko jumped.

She was probably telling her: Say the rest yourself.

Yuu had already finished his soup, but Aiko’s hand that was holding the spoon had stopped.

「U, umm, you see. I, I, I have something I would like to ask you, Yuu-kun.」

「That thing… by any chance, is it something that a man and a woman do?」

「Yes.」

「If possible, a hotel room would be the ideal location, so as to not be seen by others?」

「I… I suppose so. A quiet place would be preferable.」

「You’d prefer to have Riko with us?」

「I would be in problem if she wasn’t with us.」

「Got it. I’ll accept your request, Aiko.」

「Huh, you don’t want to ask about the specifics first?」

Riko and Aiko showed a surprised look on their faces.

「That’s because although I’ve never had any contact with you before, after meeting you and talking to you like this, I also started to feel like doing it, Aiko.」

「I, I’m so happy! There’s no other boy I could ask for something like this… And I thought that you, who are able to make Riko, who had shown no interest at all in boys until we became third years, fall head over heels for you, would be perfect, Yuu-kun.」

「O, oh you… geez.」

Having her say it out loud, as expected, even Riko must be embarrassed.

Yuu thought that Riko, who was putting her hands on her cheeks in embarrassment, was cute.

「Well, that’s something to enjoy later, for now, let’s enjoy the dinner.」

「Yes!」

「Fufufu.」

Yuu, Riko, and then Aiko smiled at each other.

In a completely relaxed atmosphere, the three continued to enjoy their conversation while savoring the course meals that were brought to their table afterward.