Episode- 24

　June is over.

　Before I knew it, it was already July according to the calendar.

"When July comes around, it suddenly feels like summer."

"I know. It's true that it's been hot recently, but it's also been raining. It didn't feel like summer at all."

　Usami nodded at Reo's words.

　Next to him, Souma's eyes sparkled.

"July means summer! Summer means summer vacation! Just seeing the number seven makes me think of all sorts of things and makes me feel hot!"

"That's because you're excited..."

　Souma pats his shirt.

　Maybe because the five of us were gathered together and talking, I also felt a gradual heat on the outside of my body.

"But it's summer vacation... it must be really hot."

"Hmm, it's rare to hear you say something so positive, Fujita-kun. Is there anything you're looking forward to during the summer vacation?"

"It's not that kind of 'hot'. It's the temperature."

"I liked the heat of this one better..."

"That seems complicated!"

　Usami retorts.

　Then Souma cried out "Ah!" as if he had remembered something.

"That reminded me of 'hot'."

"How hot is that?"

"Both!"

""""both……?""""

　The other four all tilt their heads.

　Both is even more confusing.

"I saw it at the convenience store yesterday, and they've released a new curry flavored version of BuyoBuyo-kun!"

"...Curry flavor?"

"…………Fujita-kun, why did you look at me?"

"No, it's nothing."

　I glanced to the side and was met with a sharp glare, so I quickly looked back.

　This is what it means to control with your eyes.

"That looked really delicious! I tried it and it was amazing! Apparently it was like turning something hot into something cold!"

"Is it not about taste or something?"

"You should have realized it when you had the ice cream."

　Even after receiving some harsh criticism from Reo and me, Souma was in a good mood and said, "Ahaha!"

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"...By the way, I think there are many different types of curry, but what kind of curry was it?"

　You must be very interested, Tohsaka-san.

"I think it was probably pork!"

"Pork... I see."

　Tohsaka nods thoughtfully.

　She's the kind of girl who only likes to drink curry roux.

　I'm sure you're very curious.

"Seriously, try it!!! It's fun!"

"Food is interesting..."

"Hmm."

　Usami rested her chin in her hand, looking disinterested.

　Reo seems to be the same, and Souma becomes flustered, asking, "Eh?! It seems you're not interested?"

　As the other three were chattering away, I suddenly looked over at Tohsaka and saw her muttering something under her breath.

"Pork curry, huh? I wonder how they managed to turn it into ice cream. But it's ice cream, so the sweetness is important..."

　You really love food, Tohsaka-san!

　　　　　♦ ♦ ♦

　The sun, which has been unusually sticky lately, has set.

　As I gaze blankly out the window at the now completely dark surroundings, a thought suddenly occurs to me.

"...I kinda want to eat ice cream."

　It may have been because I had just eaten, but more than anything, it was the seasonal feeling that made my stomach feel that way.

"No wonder the ice cream industry is profitable."

　Muttering to myself like that, I decided to follow my heart and go to the convenience store.

　I leave the sea in charge and put on my shoes.

　Just as I was about to leave the house.

　The door slid open, and came in my father, dressed in a suit.

"Oh, Rintaro. Where are you going?"

"Convenience store"

"I, I see. Be careful."

　Dad said, giving me a clumsy, faint smile.

　It's the same as always, I thought, as I swapped positions and put my hand on the doorknob.

"Ah, Rintaro!"

"what?"

"Well... you see. Umm..."

　Dad was about to say something, then his eyes widened.

　He's always been like this, but right now I feel strangely flustered.

　Thinking that it must be something serious, I turned around and heard him exclaim, "No!"

"No problem. I'll do it next time."

"...I see. Well then, I'm off."

"Have fun."

　A voice called out to me from behind, and I ran out of the house with that momentum.

　The humid early summer breeze greeted me, caressing my cheeks.

　Enter the convenience store.

　Perhaps because it was a little late, there were only a few people in the store, and I felt a little excited.

　So, when I headed to the ice cream section wondering what kind of ice cream to buy, she looked at the ice creams with a troubled look on her face, exuding an aura like that of a celebrity.

"I want to eat this too... but that's good too. Maybe I should just have two... no, if I do that I'll get fat..."

"How about two?"

"Eh, really? But――Uwaaaah!!!"

　Tohsaka leaps backwards with a swift movement.

　When she saw my face, she sighed in relief.

"Oh, it's Fujita-kun. Stop talking to me out of nowhere. I'm quite a scaredy-cat."

"Because you were really seriously considering it, and I didn't want to disturb you, so I decided to just let you talk to yourself..."

"I can't do that! My heart almost stopped."

　Tohsaka clutches her chest and relaxes once again.

　Suddenly, I notice her casual outfit.

"...Tohsaka can make even a regular T-shirt and long tracksuit look stylish. But it also feels like loungewear. It's really cute."

"!!! Ah, please don't look at me too much!"

　Looking around as if searching for someone to focus her gaze on, Tohsaka shyly tugs at the hem of her T-shirt.

　Her cheeks were slightly flushed red, and her obvious embarrassment hit me even harder.

"...C-cute."

"! Don't look!!!"

"That's impossible..."

　That's really an impossible request.

　Because I unconsciously look at it, trying to burn it into my memory.

"Did Tohsaka come to buy ice cream too?"

"Eh, ah, ... yeah. Around this time of year, I feel like I'm being told to buy it."

"I totally get it."

"Plus... I was a bit worried about that chubby guy Nishihara-kun was talking about."

　That's probably the main thing.

"This, huh..."

　I found the product Souma was talking about and looked at the packaging.

"It really does taste like curry. And the fact that it's clearly stated to be pork means that if this sells, they'll probably develop it into beef hayashi rice."

"Beef, Hayashi rice... I see."

　The corners of Tohsaka's mouth seemed to turn up.

　She really seems to like this kind of thing.

"...Okay, I guess I'll try it."

　Perhaps she was worried about me, but Tohsaka was trying to hold back the smile from spreading.

　However, a slight grin could be seen on her face, which was also indescribably cute.

"Well, I guess I'll try this one too."

"Eh, Fujita-kun too?"

"Yeah. Souma was really passionate about it, and I guess it was fate that I bumped into Tohsaka. I value experience."

"Fujita-kun... hehe, I don't like the idea of it being unpleasant from the start."

　Tohsaka smiles cheerfully.

　When you look at her like this, her beautiful features make her look really cool.

　However, I still felt that her expression was softer and more adorable in some ways than before.

"While we're here, how about we decide the bill by rock-paper-scissors?"

"Huh? So you're challenging me to a fight?"

"Here it comes, gambler. How about you? I'm good at rock-paper-scissors after all."

"I'm on board. Shall we go then?"

"Come on."

"Rock, paper, scissors--"

　Leave the convenience store.

　I felt the sticky humidity clinging to me and involuntarily grimaced.

　She walks briskly in front of me.

"Thanks, Fujita-kun. For treating me."

"...I lost the match. It can't be helped."

　When I said that, she laughed innocently this time.

"Well then, I guess I'll eat this..."

　I look again at the packaging, which smells like curry.

　I was feeling excited because I normally don't buy such challenging products, when Tohsaka, who was walking in front of me, stopped.

"Umm, you know. It's about later..."

　She started to say something but then seemed to hesitate, before continuing.

　I waited a little while and then started walking, lining up next to Tohsaka and eventually passing her.

"I'll take you there. It's getting dark, and I want to do this challenge with someone."

　I turned around and saw Tohsaka suddenly raise her head at my words.

　Then her face gradually brightened, and before long her smile blossomed into a flower as she ran towards me.

"Yup, that's right!"

　She catches up to me and our shoulders touch.

　It was as if all the emotions that had arisen inside Tohsaka were overflowing and spilling out, and my cheeks involuntarily relaxed at the sight of her big smile.

"Tohsaka is too cute."

　The words we quietly spoke were swept away by the thick air and flowed behind us.

　Standing beside Tohsaka, whose smile shone brightly like a star, I stepped into the city as night deepened.

　Thus began a little adventure on an early summer night.