On our way home from the gym, we stopped by the supermarket to pick up groceries for dinner.
"Hey, Hayashi, look. Pork is on sale today."
"..."
"Hey, Hayashi, why are you putting potato chips in the basket? You can't be eating a grease-bomb like that while you're on a diet."
"..."
"Hayashi-san. Why have you been ignoring me for the last few minutes?"
It was strange.
I finally realized something was seriously wrong when Hayashi, still ignoring me, began scanning a mountain of groceries at the self-checkout—so much that I doubted it would even fit in our refrigerator.
Amidst the rhythmic, inorganic beeps of the scanner, Hayashi didn't offer a single word in response to anything I said.
At this rate, it really felt like I was being ignored.
However, even when I told her to stop it, no reply came back.
It truly seemed like I was being given the silent treatment, but... wait, did I do something to upset her?
Since nothing came to mind, I couldn't even apologize.
"Hey, Hayashi, come on. Snap out of it already."
"..."
"You're usually so loud and rowdy. This isn't like you."
"..."
Wait, am I actually being systematically ignored right now?
I wondered which of my remarks had managed to strike such a chord with her.
...Wait, was it that?
Did Hayashi actually not want to go on a hot spring trip?
"Hayashi, look, I'm sorry."
"..."
There was no verbal reply, but she gave a small twitch.
"...You actually hated the idea, didn't you? Going on a hot spring trip. I'm sorry for forcing it on you."
"..."
"So, let's just call off the hot spring trip and go somewhere else instead. Let's see... How about mountain climbing?"
"..."
"I'm sure it'll be fun this time of year. You should go. I'll let Kasahara know."
"...That's it."
"Huh?"
"That's exactly it!"
...Hayashi finally snapped.
"...No, which part?"
"..."
"And she's silent again."
"...Aren't you going?"
"What?"
"I'm asking... if you aren't going," she muttered, her head hung low and her cheeks flushed red. Her attitude was unusually meek.
...So, she's asking if I'm not going mountain climbing?
Well, admittedly, mountain climbing might be a bit of a niche hobby for two women to tackle alone.
"Nah, I think I'll pass."
"Why?! We were totally in the flow of going!"
"I'm not interested in mountain climbing. I would have wanted to go if it were a hot spring, though."
"Then the hot spring is fine!?"
Wait, which was it?
Did she want to go to a hot spring? Did she not? Which one was it?
"...Let's go to the hot spring."
"..."
"You come too. Let's go to the hot spring together."
...Ah. So that was it.
I couldn't understand what she’d been so angry about until now, but... I see. This girl.
Good grief.
She has her moments, doesn't she?
"...Hayashi, thanks."
"Whatever..."
"But don't worry."
"Hmm?"
"Even I've been on a hot spring trip before. So it's okay, you don't have to be so considerate of me."
"Huh?"
"You probably invited me because you thought I'd never been to one, and even though you didn't really want me there, you figured you'd ask since it's a special occasion, right? You don't have to force yourself. Just go with Kasahara and enjoy yourselves to the fullest."
"...Tch."
There it was—Hayashi's signature tongue-click.
Having lived with her for a while now, I'd learned that her tongue-clicking only happened when a situation wasn't unfolding according to the scenario she’d envisioned, or when she was feeling extremely irritated.
In other words, I was currently saying something quite contrary to her intentions.
...Honestly, I don't get it.
How is it that I have the insight to identify the exact conditions that trigger her tongue-clicking, yet I can't read her feelings at all? It was almost laughable.
Though, this probably wasn't the time to be laughing.
"...I'm joking."
Having pushed it this far, even I finally understood the answer.
"Is it really okay? If I go along on the hot spring trip too."
"...If I hated the idea..."
"Yeah?"
"If I hated it, I wouldn't be this angry."
...Hayashi.
Liar.
When someone does something you hate, you get pretty overtly pissed off. That's exactly why, back in our high school days, you ended up being called things like arrogant or The Queen by everyone around you.
...But then again, maybe you're right.
If it's the current Hayashi, it might be just as she says.
Truly, the Queen lately has lost her malice... and her bite.
Then again, maybe that goes for both of us.
"...Understood. Then I'll look for a hot spring inn for the three of us."
"...Just two people."
"Huh?"
"Two people is enough."
"...Wait, what?"
"Let's go, just the two of us."
...Just Hayashi and Kasahara?
No, looking at the flow of the conversation so far, that couldn't be it.
"I want to go with just the two of us."
...Just me and Hayashi?
Internally, I hesitated... just for a second.
"Understood."
However, the answer came immediately.
"Understood. ...I get it."
"Is it really okay?"
"Yeah. Think of it as... your reward."
That's why, for once, I'll let you have your way.
Honestly, I couldn't wrap my head around why she would want to go on a trip with just the two of us.
But if that's what she wants... then it can't be helped.
"...Good grief."
Seriously, she's such a troublesome woman.