We rattled along on the train for a while before finally reaching our destination. Even for a weekday, the terminal station was packed with people.
I might look like... well, no matter how you look at me, I despise crowds. I especially hate these human tides. I wouldn't mind if everyone marched in neat, orderly lines, but crowds like this are pure chaos; everyone shoves their way toward their own destination. This forces me to constantly adjust my pace and navigate around obstacles, which is incredibly stressful. God, it’s irritating!
"...You’ve got a look on your face right now."
"What kind of look?"
"A stupid one."
Apparently, my "pissed-off face" looked like a "stupid face" to Hayashi. I took a breath and let my expression return to normal.
We kept walking for a while.
"Hayashi, where are we going first?"
"Let’s get lunch."
"Isn't it a bit early?"
It was barely eleven o'clock.
"Early is perfect. Once the lunch rush hits, the lines get long and it’s a mess."
"I see. You’re pretty smart."
"Yes, yes. Let's go."
Even though I’d praised her from the bottom of my heart, Hayashi gracefully brushed the comment aside. I followed behind her as we navigated the station building, cut through another building, and entered a third a short walk away. Apparently, the Beef Tongue Restaurant was on the restaurant floor here.
Just as Hayashi had predicted, the place wasn't that crowded yet. We only waited a moment before being ushered inside.
A server led us to a booth in the tidy interior, and the two of us looked over the menu together.
"I think I'll go with this one," I said.
"That? This set over here has a better variety. You can even sample the different styles."
"Okan."
"Stop calling me 'Okan.' Anyway, what are you going to do?"
"Fine, I'll go with that one."
"Hmm... Oh, look, large portions of rice are free. You're at a growing age, so you should definitely get that, right?"
"Sure thing, Okan."
"Excuse me!" Hayashi called out, signaling the waiter.
She had finally accepted the nickname. Or she was just ignoring it.
In my defense, I wasn't calling her "Okan" just to tease her. Her motherly fussing—recommending variety to ensure I was satisfied and suggesting the free large portion—really did remind me of a parent.
Actually, my own parents were never that over-interfering. In a sense, Hayashi was acting more like a mother than my actual mother. That was the impression I was getting.
Hayashi gave our orders to the waiter she’d called over.
Come to think of it, as the man, should I have been the one to order?
...Well, the waiter was already gone, so it didn't matter.
We chatted while we waited. In about ten minutes, our long-awaited Beef Tongue arrived.
"Let’s eat."
"Let’s eat."
"...It's good."
"It really is."
Since Hayashi had once complained that talking during a meal was bad manners, we only exchanged a few words. My family was the same way back home. It wasn't that talking was forbidden; we were all just so absorbed in the TV that no one made an effort to converse. It might look like a cold, detached household to an outsider, but from my perspective, it was comfortable enough.
"...Hehe."
"What?"
"Nothing."
A little later, Hayashi looked at me and started giggling. She wouldn't tell me why. Was it payback for the teasing? I checked to see if I had a piece of seaweed stuck to my teeth, but I couldn't find anything.
Why on earth was she laughing at me?
I couldn't figure it out, so I decided to focus on the food. It would be a waste to get distracted while eating such delicious beef tongue.
"...So good."
Once we finished the beef tongue and tororo rice, we left the restaurant. Our next stop was the station basement. It was lined with shops, and our destination was a variety shop.
"...Huh. This looks handy."
As planned, I started looking at cleaning supplies. I could feel Hayashi standing right behind me.
"...Hey."
As I admired the cleaning gear, she spoke up.
"Ah, sorry. I forgot. Did you decide where you want to go next?"
"No. Not yet."
"I see..."
"...You know, your feelings show on your face surprisingly easily."
"What feelings?"
"Your emotions."
My feelings showed on my face? Did that mean I was failing at maintaining a poker face?
"It's a little surprising. Since you're always acting so cynical, it’s weird that your face is such a giveaway."
Hayashi started to giggle again, and it finally clicked.
Calling my face stupid at the station, laughing at me in the restaurant, and now this... Apparently, she just thought the way my face moved was funny.
...Depending on the person, that's practically bullying, you know? Don't do that to anyone but me.
"If you find it that entertaining, then I'm glad to be of service."
"Oh, come on, don't pout."
"I'm not pouting."
"You are. Honestly, you're just like a child."
...Sorry for being a child. I kept the retort to myself. Voicing the complaint felt like it would only prove her point.
"...Well, I'm just as childish myself."
"Are you?"
"Yeah."
Hayashi nodded, her expression turning slightly fragile.
"The truth is, I don't want to leave your place. That’s what I’m really thinking."
"...Wait, what?"
"I sound like a kid throwing a tantrum, right? Thinking something like that."
That wasn't true at all.
The thought flashed through my mind, but I couldn't say it. What would happen if I did? My head was spinning so fast I couldn't even form the words.
"It's okay. Don't worry. I won't trouble you any more than I already have."
...What would happen?
"So, thank you. You really saved me this time."
If I told her right now that she could stay... what would happen then?
"...Well, that got a bit gloomy. Sorry. Shall we go? Are you buying anything?"
"No, it’s fine."
We left the variety shop after about twenty minutes of browsing. In the end, neither of us bought a single thing.