The Snow Tops closest to the high school—popularly known as "Snoto"—was a perennial favorite, especially among the girls.
The shop had a sophisticated atmosphere, filled with glamorous high school students. There wasn’t a single loner like me in sight, nor were there any gloomy otaku girls like Tanaka, who only ever ventured out for collaboration cafes.
(Is it really okay for a gloomy otaku like me to be in a place like this?)
I was blatantly out of place.
"Airi wants the matcha and peach one. What about you, Ryouta?"
"E-Eh?"
"Is matcha and melon okay?"
"E-Eh, ah, o-oh, y-yeah!"
"Honestly, why are you so nervous?"
I’d been acting suspiciously since the moment we walked in, and I was stiff as a board standing next to Miyama while we ordered.
"One Matcha and Peach Frappe and one Matcha and Melon Frappe. Will that be all?"
"Yes, please!"
I remained rigid, but thanks to Miyama, we managed to get through the order. I handled the payment.
(As expected, Snoto is strictly "away" territory for a loner. This is an enemy base.)
"Geez, Ryouta. Are you really that nervous just being at Snoto?"
"M-Miyama, you don't understand loners at all! This is a completely hostile environment filled with nothing but extroverts!"
"Huh? Airi doesn't really get that whole 'loner' and 'extrovert' thing."
Sigh... this was why the young ladies of the Beautiful Girl Trio were so difficult.
"If Airi is an extrovert, then Ryouta must be one too! Since Ryouta is so close with Airi!"
"No, I’m a loner."
"Why?!"
While we bickered, our frappes were placed on a tray at the pickup counter. I carried the tray as I followed Miyama to find a seat.
As we looked around, the eyes of the other girls from our school naturally drifted toward us.
"Wait, isn't that Airi-chan?"
"You're right. Is that a date? Her boyfriend isn't nearly as handsome as I expected."
"Uugh, my precious Airi-tan... huff, huff."
I was already used to this level of whispering, but I still wished they wouldn't assume I was her boyfriend.
"Let's sit here, Ryouta."
"E-Eh, sure."
Miyama picked a two-person table by the window. I set the tray down and sat across from her.
"Time to eat!"
Miyama gripped the frappe cup with both hands and began slurping happily. Was it really that good?
(The whipped cream is practically overflowing, and the combination of melon pulp and matcha makes the whole thing an aggressive shade of green... It looks dangerous just looking at it.)
"Hey, it seems like everyone thinks Ryouta is Airi’s boyfriend."
"Yeah, sounds like it."
"I’ve never had a boyfriend, so I wouldn't know, but do we really look like we're dating? Even with this much space between us?"
Normally, we wouldn't... or so I wanted to say, but onlookers were always looking for a spectacle. In the end, they just wanted something to gossip about, so they’d cast even a loner like me as the "boyfriend" just to keep the rumor mill turning.
Even if I were an even more plain-looking guy who clearly didn't belong with Miyama, they’d still insist I was her boyfriend.
"By the way, Miyama... you really didn't have a boyfriend after all."
"Of course not! The boyfriend story was just a cover to hide my part-time job!"
Given Miyama’s looks, it wouldn't have been weird if she actually had one, so I’d had no way of knowing if she was lying until now. Was she really that desperate to keep her job a secret that she’d spin such a bold lie...?
"My heart nearly stopped when you said 'Youta' in front of Kuroki this morning."
"Oh, that? Rui-chan asked me for my boyfriend's name and I totally panicked. The first name that popped into my head was 'Youta' for some reason."
"W-What kind of logic is that?"
"Airi doesn't know either! Anyway! Speaking of Rui-chan, we have to talk about that!"
"That?"
"Let's talk about the 'good thing'."
Right. I’d almost forgotten because of the stress of being at Snoto, but she’d mentioned some kind of plan. Miyama set her frappe down and pulled her smartphone out of her school bag.
"Airi wants Rui-chan to become close with Ryouta too!"
"H-Huh?"
"And if Rui-chan feels the same way, then the first step is for her to have comunication with Ryouta!"
"It's communication."
"Yeah, that!"
I was starting to get a strong sense of her airheadedness. Communication? What was she getting at?
"So! The 'good thing' Airi came up with is—ta-da! 'Operation: LIME Comunication!'"
"I told you, it's not 'comunication,' it's 'communi—' What!?"
Miyama made her announcement while pulling up the LIME app.
(D-Did she just say "Operation: LIME Communication"!?!?)
"If it's LIME, I think both Ryouta and Rui-chan will find it easier to talk. You can get close on LIME first, and then slowly get closer in person. It'll be perfect!"
"O... Oh."
That was absolutely impossible. But more importantly, the real problem was...
"So, let's start by exchanging LIME accounts!"
The fact that I’d already swapped info with Kuroki was one thing... but the bigger issue was the state of my chat logs with her.
(Never mind the fact that we've already exchanged info... my chat with Kuroki is full of—Kuroki's lewd selfies!!)
"Come on, Ryouta, get your phone out too—"
If Miyama saw those pictures... it would be all over. I’d be finished!