Chapter 29: Lunch at the Izakaya

After meeting up with Jun, the four of us were walking toward the station.

“Is there anything in particular you want to eat?”

I asked everyone.

“I want something that’ll really fill me up,”

said Jun, with a request that sounded very much like someone in an athletic club.

“I’m fine with anything,”

“And I... don’t have any particular preference, either,”

answered Yuna and Fumika.

“Then, is it okay if we go to a place I want to visit?”

“...Alice, could you at least tell us what kind of food they serve first?”

“It’s a place that recommends a dish called torikawa-don—it’s grilled chicken skin in sauce with a sunny-side-up egg on rice. Sound good?”

It was a lunch spot run by the izakaya owner during the day, and ever since Sota and I found it back when I was still a guy, I’d been going there from time to time.

『Alice, seriously… don’t just suggest things like you used to when you were a guy.』

Yuna shot back at me through telepathy.

Hmm… now that she mentions it, it might not be the most fitting place for a group of high school girls to go.

“...Maybe we should just stick with a family restaurant?”

I offered the safest alternative I could think of.

“Torikawa-don sounds tasty... I want that!”

Jun responded. She definitely gives off the kind of vibe that suits donburi bowls.

“I’m interested too. I’d like to try Alice’s recommendation.”

Even Fumika gave an unexpected answer.

“...Fine, I guess. Let’s go there.”

Yuna sighed, giving in with a look of resignation.

Just three minutes on foot from the station, the place was tucked away in a back alley off the main road.

It was a classic izakaya, slightly messy-looking, with a sign that read “Teppan Yakitori,” a poster advertising the famous torikawa-don, and a sandwich board saying “Lunch Available.” A navy blue noren curtain fluttered in the breeze.

“This is the place you recommended, Alice...?”

Two of them looked visibly taken aback—maybe it was just my imagination. The last one had sparkling eyes, clearly full of anticipation.

『Alice, you idiot! What were you thinking!? This is clearly not the kind of place high school girls go!』

Yuna yelled at me through telepathy with everything she had.

“H-how about we go with the family restaurant after all... yeah?”

Yuna said, watching Fumika’s expression carefully.

Fumika glanced at my face, clenched her fist, and declared,

“I-I’m fine with it... Let’s go here!”

“I want to eat here!”

With two of them on board, Yuna had no real grounds to object, and so, by majority vote, it was decided.

...Sorry about that.

I took the lead, sliding open the rattling glass door and stepping through the noren curtain.

“Welcome!”

The owner’s voice hadn’t changed at all, even after more than a year.

“Excuse me, we’re a group of four—is that okay?”

“Head on back to the tatami room!”

We entered together, heading to the back of the shop. There was one other customer at the counter and another at a table, both giving us curious looks, but if we acted confidently, there was nothing to worry about.

We took off our shoes and stepped up onto the small raised tatami seating area at the back. The others followed my lead and did the same.

The owner brought us moist towels.

“Girls like you coming to a place like this? That’s a rare sight. So, what’ll it be?”

“I’ll have the torikawa-don! Large, please!”

Jun, who had thoroughly checked the lunch menu, answered right away.

Well, since I’d already explained the menu, we should be fine.

“I’ll have the small chicken skin bowl.”

I used to order the large portion, but now that I’ve gotten used to this body, I know better than to overeat.

“Chicken skin bowl, regular size for me, please.”

“I’ll have regular too!”

With the orders in, the chef started cooking behind the counter.

“They’re using a griddle for yakitori... I’ve never seen that before.”

Yuna watched the cooking with interest, murmuring her thoughts.

“It’s the style from the chef’s hometown, apparently. It’s different from charcoal grilling, but I really like the flavor. I’ve had the daily special yakitori set before too—it was amazing.”

“By the way, Alice, how did you find this place? …Don’t tell me you came here alone?”

Fumika’s question caught me off guard, and I stumbled over my words.

Yuna shot me a look that clearly said, “Don’t look at me—I’m not helping you out of this one.”

“W-Well… I came here once with a friend.”

I answered awkwardly, tripping over my own words.

“Would that friend happen to be... a guy?”

Both of them stared at me like predators who had just found fresh prey.

“Y-Yeah, but he’s just a friend, really…”

“I see, I see~”

…Oh no. They’ve totally misunderstood.

『What do I do, Yuna?』

『Just let them think what they want. You came here with Souta, right? It’s not like they’ve met him. It won’t cause any harm. Besides, anything you say now will just sound like a weak cover-up.』

『You’re… not wrong.』

“So? What do you really think about this friend of yours, Alice?”

“Well… I mean, we’ve barely even talked, so…”

Before they could start prying any deeper, I made it clear we weren’t close. It wasn’t a lie either—Alice had only ever spoken to Souta once, and that was at a funeral.

“Oho… so it’s still early days, huh?”

“What a fascinating little story we’ve stumbled upon.”

Jun and Fumika were clearly enjoying this way too much. Ugh!

“Alright, that’s enough! Look, the food’s here—end of story!”

I cut the conversation short just as the chef brought the chicken skin bowls to our table.

The sweet and savory aroma of yakitori sauce filled the air, making my stomach growl.

We all said “Itadakimasu” and started eating.

The simple sauce-only flavoring was surprisingly satisfying. This dish really hit the spot.

“…It’s delicious.”

“It goes so well with the rice—love it!”

“Tho gooth! (So good!)”

『As expected of Ikuto-san’s recommendation! This is so good I could die!』

Everyone seemed to love it, and the only sound was the steady scooping of wooden spoons.

Once we’d all finished and were sipping water to settle our stomachs, the door opened with a jingle.

“Welcome!”

The chef called out as a new customer stepped in—he looked like a male student from our school, Hirayama High, wearing the same uniform.

He sat down at the counter, ordered a large chicken skin bowl, then casually glanced around the room—only to freeze mid-motion.

“…Oh crap.”

At the same time, I realized who he was—and froze too.

“The white one and... Yuna? What the hell are you two doing here...?”

The one who had just walked in was my childhood friend and best buddy, Souta. Talk about speaking of the devil.

As Alice, this was technically our first time meeting—our only previous encounter was at the funeral, and we’d parted on bad terms. So, my impression of him wasn’t great.

…Still, “the white one”? Seriously?

“It’s Alice.”

“...Huh?”

“My name. Use it properly, Souta.”

“O-Oh. Uh, right… Alice, huh...”

“That’s right. And us being here is just a coincidence. We were already finished and about to leave, so don’t worry.”

“R-Right...”

“Oh, and starting today, I’m your junior. So—nice to meet you, senpai.”

“…Wait, you’re a high school student?”

“You were probably thinking I don’t look like one, right?”

“If I offended you, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’m still growing, you know. I plan on getting taller than you eventually.”

“Yeah, uh... good luck with that.”

Souta gave me a wry smile.

Back in the day, I was actually taller than him...

“Well then, we’ll be going now. Everyone ready?”

I turned around and saw the other three nod.

“Alright, boss! Check, please!”

“You got it.”

We paid and left the restaurant.

Next stop: dessert tour.