Chapter 172 After school, I met a married woman

I feel sleepy, very sleepy, extremely sleepy... Time passes quickly during class in this state.

The setting sun outside the classroom gradually fell towards the horizon, the boundless sky was painted with gorgeous sunset glow, and in the blink of an eye it was time to go home from school.

Shimizu Mi and Amamiya Iori had made an appointment during lunch break, so he took her to a coffee shop near the school as soon as school was over.

I don’t know if it’s because it’s after school, but most of the seats around are occupied by couples or high school girls wearing various uniforms.

"Welcome~~! Are you two?"

"Yes."

"There's still room on that seat over there. Please let me know when you've decided what you want to order."

Under the careful guidance of a female clerk who looked like a part-time college student, Shimizu Mi and Amamiya Iori walked towards the table inside.

"Thank you."

Shimizu picked up the menu on the table and ordered two cups of black tea and a cake. While waiting, he chatted casually with Amemiya Iori.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting for your meal~~!”

The ordered food arrived and the conversation naturally stopped.

At the strong recommendation of Amemiya Iori, Shimizu tried the meal.

The lightly sweet black tea tasted great, not to mention the cake. Amamiya Iori, who was sitting opposite, was also eating it with gusto.

"Honey, can I have some of your chocolate cake, too?"

Shimizu nodded and moved the tray of cake towards Amamiya Iori.

She used her fork to pick up a bite-sized piece of food and put it into her mouth contentedly, the aroma of sweet cream and chocolate wafting over her.

The look on his face as he savored the moment and used his whole body to express his happiness would scare even a professional mime.

She was in a very good mood today as she was actively invited by Shimizu Mita, and she always had a happy smile on her face.

Shimizu looked straight at Amamiya Iori, and even though his brain hadn't organized the words yet, he couldn't help but speak:
"I said Iori..."

"Well, what's the matter?"

Amemiya Iori looked towards Shimizu Ken and tilted his head.

Because any expression suits her, even if it's not a smile or other expression, a simple expression full of questions looks very beautiful.

"Iori, you...always smile at me."

Because of Shimizumi's words, Amemiya Iori paused for a moment, then revealed an even gentler and more moving smile.

"Because my dear is by my side, I am very happy every day. I am very happy... In this situation, I will not show any expression other than a smile. But I am also a human being, and it would be too exaggerated to say that I can only smile."

"..."

Amamiya Iori shook his shoulders and smiled.

Her smile was just like that of a primary school student whose parents had bought their favorite toy.

As long as you look at the smiling Amamiya Iori, you will feel not only your heart is cleansed, but also peace and comfort, and you will want to keep looking at that smile.

"Honey? What's wrong with you today? Although a serious expression like this is great, I still don't want you to show such a serious expression in a place like this."

Perhaps it was because Shimizu Ken's attitude today was too serious that Amemiya Iori looked a little worried.

"Because it's rare for you and your sweetheart to come to a coffee shop together today, we have to enjoy it, right?"

“…That’s true. Sorry.”

What Amemiya Iori said made sense, so Shimizu Mi's expression eased a little.

Seeing this, Amemiya Iori picked up a piece of her own cake with a fork and put it to Shimizumi's mouth.

"Honey, would you like to try my strawberry cake too?"

"Ah."

Qing Shuijian did not reject her kindness.

In this way, after the two finished eating the cake, they drank black tea and stopped appropriately to avoid not being able to eat dinner in the evening.

"Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom."

"Okay. Take care."

Shimizu left his seat and walked towards the bathroom in the store.

After finishing his work, he washed his hands while looking at the mirror. His slightly dissatisfied face was reflected in the mirror.

[Once you say it, there is no turning back. 】

Something seemed to be whispering in Qing Shuijian's ear.

In fact, he himself knows it very well.

If he expresses his feelings to a yandere like Amamiya Iori, the result will inevitably develop in an uncontrollable direction.

But if he continued to suppress this emotion like this, Shimizu would not be able to accept it.

"At a time like this...what on earth am I thinking?"

Even though Qing Shuijian asked this, the man in the mirror certainly didn't answer anything.

Even if he kept staring, nothing changed... Shimizu smiled bitterly and wondered what he was doing, then went back to find Amamiya Iori.

"I'm back. How's it going? Are you leaving?"

"Okay, after all, we've finished the cake and tea."

So, after Shimizu went to the front desk to pay the bill, he took Amamiya Iori and left the store.

During this period, Shimizu Miyabi secretly observed Amemiya Iori. Her emotional state seemed to be very happy and stable all the time, which made him feel like a fool for caring so much about it.

“…Alas~~”

Don't sigh, happiness will slip away with your sigh. Who said this?
But if she did so, the observant Amamiya Iori would find out and make her worried.

"Ah, dear, would you like to go to that store next time you are free? I have some small things I want to buy, and I also want to give Auntie Akiko a little gift."

Amemiya Iori excitedly pointed to an exquisite little shop on the side of the road, which sold all kinds of exquisite gadgets that girls loved very much.

"Got it. I'll make time for it."

While responding to Amamiya Iori's words, Shimizu Mi was thinking about what had just happened in his mind in order to change his mood, but his eyes were unconsciously attracted to Amamiya Iori again.

"And... Hey, honey? Why did you keep staring at me today? Oh, no, is it because the cake just now is stuck on your face?"

Amamiya Iori frantically searched for a small mirror in her schoolbag to check, and Shimizu grabbed her hand: "That's not the case."

Amamiya Iori looked over, somewhat confused by this move.

"Honey...I feel like you seem a little weird today. Is there something I did wrong?"

"It's not like that, Iori. You did a great job. It's just..."

Qing Shuijian said softly, and even though he said he wouldn't be shy, his cheeks became hot without his permission, making him want to fan himself with a fan.

In this situation, there is absolutely no way to convey what you want to say.

In order to temporarily calm his inner throbbing, Shimizu took a step forward.

Amamiya Iori followed immediately, and there was no conversation between the two of them during that time, but it was definitely not an uncomfortable or awkward atmosphere... Rather, this period of silence made people feel very comfortable.

The heat in the body dissipated a little, but the waves in the heart could not be calmed down.

Shimizu knew that if he didn't take advantage of the current momentum to confess his feelings, it would become more difficult later.

The two continued walking forward, and then Shimizu suddenly stopped. Amamiya Iori, who was walking in line with Shimizu's pace, naturally stopped and looked up at him, waiting for his next move.

"...Iori, what I asked you in the store just now, in a sense, represents my determination."

"Determination?"

"Correct."

Shimizu nodded affirmatively, then looked straight at Amamiya Iori again.

Amemiya Iori, who was always very sensitive to Shimizumi's emotional fluctuations, quickly realized something and met his gaze with a slightly flushed face.

Just as Shimizu was about to tell him everything, Amamiya Iori's slender index finger touched his lips, interrupting him.

"My dear, please wait a moment..."

"hold on?"

Shimizu was completely confused by what Amemiya Iori suddenly said.

"Well, I know. I understand what you are thinking and what you want to say, dear..."

At this time, Amemiya Iori hugged Shimizu tightly.

There were a lot of people walking on the street in the evening, but despite this, the close contact between their bodies still made Shimizu's heart beat faster.

"…So, wait a little longer, okay?"

Amemiya Iori slowly raised her head, and her clear eyes full of tenderness looked over, conveying her strong emotions, causing Shimizu Ken to nod involuntarily.

Just when an ambiguous atmosphere was filling the air between him and Amamiya Iori, that guy appeared as if to sweep away the sweetness.

"Hey~~! It's Miwa Amamiya-san as expected!"

The person raising his hand a little distance away is Shinichi Ishikawa.

He was wearing sportswear and seemed to be going home after club activities. Ishikawa Shinichi approached Shimizu and Mitsuko with a sly smile.

"What's wrong? What's the matter? Why do you look like you want to kill me?"

Ishikawa Shinichi teased Shimizu by gently bumping his shoulder against him, which made him feel a little impatient.

"It's not unusual to see you with Amamiya-san, but are you guys going home after your date?"

Shinichi Ishikawa, who originally just wanted to make a joke, seemed to quickly realize that if Shimizu and the other two really had an appointment, he would be disturbing them, and immediately apologized in panic.

"Instead of apologizing, why not just stop bothering me in the first place?"

"I'm really sorry... You see, I've been practicing baseball lately. I haven't had much to do with my friends, and when I suddenly saw you two, I couldn't help but call you out."

"Is that all?"

"That's all...ah."

In response to Amemiya Iori's question, Ishikawa Shinichi scratched his head.

Although Amamiya Iori was his classmate, the two of them did not have the kind of relationship where they would talk often. He was a sunny and sporty boy before they met Shimizu, and now he was a little overwhelmed.

"Shinichi, you're the rare one, right? Even if you're going home after club activities, I remember your house is in the completely opposite direction, right?"

"Actually, my mom asked me to buy some things. Although baseball practice is tiring, I'll be killed if I complain."

Shinichi Ishikawa's expression didn't look like he was joking at all.

"What kind of mother is that..."

"Ashura, the one from my family."

Although Shimizu Miki has a good relationship with Ishikawa Shinichi, he has never visited Ishikawa's family and doesn't know what his family feels like.

"Let's not talk about whether or not I'm Ashura, it's really hard to refuse my mother's request."

Amemiya Iori nodded and agreed.

"Yes, yes. Normally, she would help me make lunch boxes. I take care of her in various ways, but it always causes her trouble."

"I see."

It seems that the situation of contemporary Japanese high school students who cannot hold their heads up in front of their mothers is the same.

Because I have never had the opportunity to talk about my family with Shinichi Ishikawa like this. Although I am still a student, it is interesting to talk about my family.

"So, Ishikawa-san loves his mother the most, right?"

"It's embarrassing to say that I like it the most, but generally speaking, I can't hate it."

"That's true. My dear, I like Auntie Akiko too... Of course, I do too."

"After all, it feels like you really cherish your family."

"What kind of face is that..."

Shimizu gave Ishikawa Shinichi a cold look, but he continued speaking without caring:
"By the way, are you two going home?"

"Yeah, we're just about to go home."

Amamiya Iori stood beside Shimizumi with her usual smile on her face. Ishikawa Shinichi looked at her and asked, as if something had suddenly occurred to him:
"Although I heard that Amemiya-san and Kondo-san from the same class are childhood sweethearts, but it seems more suitable to be with Jian... Let's talk about it."

"Oh, thank you, Ishikawa-san."

Amemiya Iori did not experience any emotional fluctuations when the words Kondo Yuichi and childhood sweetheart were mentioned.

Shimizu couldn't help but think back to when she was bound by the childhood sweetheart persona, but now it seems that Amamiya Iori should have truly let it go from the bottom of her heart.

However, Ishikawa Shinichi became shy when looking at the smiling Amamiya Iori, which made Shimizu couldn't help but sigh.

Although it is understandable, as she would have such a reaction when a beautiful girl like Amamiya Iori smiled at her, but Shimizu remembered that Shinichi Ishikawa liked a schoolgirl who was younger than him, right?

"Shinichi, you and that Ono—"

Just when Shimizu was about to ask about what was happening with Shinichi Ishikawa and the schoolgirl named Rin Onodera recently.

"Let go of your hands!"

A powerful voice that was enough to attract the attention of Shimizu Miki, Amamiya Iori and Ishikawa Shinichi sounded at the door of a club behind them.

Among them, the reactions of Shimizu Mi and Amamiya Iori were particularly obvious. They both looked over there almost at the same time... and then showed shocked expressions.

"What's the matter, big sister? Do something fun with me?"

"...I told you to let go, don't you understand?"

It was a man who looked to be around twenty years old, chatting up a woman.

The woman showed obvious disgust and refused to give in, intimidating the other party with a firm look and voice.

However, the man didn't care at all and continued to smile maliciously.

It was obvious that he was not simply trying to talk to her, but was after her body, and the lewd expression on his face made his intentions very obvious.

"..."

"So you're trying to flirt with me... Hey, you and Amamiya-san? What's going on with you two?"

Shinichi Ishikawa noticed that there was something wrong with the expressions of Shimizu Mi and Amamiya Iori.

It's not uncommon to be approached on the street...

Although it was not uncommon, for Shimizu Mi and Amamiya Iori, that woman was someone they could not take lightly.

“…It’s Aunt Kondo.”

Kondo Aika is Kondo Yuichi's mother.

(End of this chapter)