128: Japanese-Style Inequality?

'From now on, whenever I attend a pet exhibition or anything similar, I'll just be the dog!' That was Takashi's only thought after leaving the "Tokyo Cat and Dog Expo."

After the mess caused by Yukino, Adagaki Aki, and Yumiko, even someone as thick-skinned as Takashi felt too embarrassed to stay.

Thankfully, he hadn't debuted yet. Otherwise, by now, his reputation would have been ruined, and he would've been forced to retire from the industry.

But then again, given how handsome he was, even if he were some notorious playboy, there'd probably still be fans defending him.

After all, good looks justify everything.

In the end, it was Hayato who dragged Yumiko away, Takashi sent Yukino over to the "Cat" zone, and then treated Adagaki Aki to a meal — only barely escaping this fake battlefield.

And yet, even a fake battlefield was this terrifying. Takashi couldn't imagine how many pieces he'd be torn into if his true identity were ever exposed.

Takashi decided to set a more long-term goal — not just aiming for the University of Tokyo. He was going to study abroad.

He hadn't decided which country yet. In any case, he was about done with life here.

"Excuse me, have all the dishes you ordered been served?" Only when the server spoke did Takashi snap out of his daze.

Then he noticed that the plates in front of him were already empty.

All of them were pushed in front of him.

The plates had been licked clean — not a single scrap of food remained. Even the server couldn't tell whether everything had been served.

Takashi: "?"

Wait a minute, where's my eel rice, okonomiyaki, curry rice, fried chicken, and ginger pork?

How did everything disappear while I was spacing out?

He hadn't even taken a bite!

Takashi immediately thought of a possibility. 

He instinctively raised his head and stared at Adagaki Aki, who was elegantly wiping her mouth with a lace handkerchief: "You—"

"Hmm?"

Adagaki Aki smiled sweetly, tilting her head as she looked at him.

She didn't say a word, but Takashi completely understood the look in her eyes.

'If you dare say it out loud, you're dead!'

What a little glutton!

Instead of getting angry, Takashi actually felt a little happy to have found a kindred spirit.

Plus, foodies were the easiest to deal with.

Out of ten brain cells, nine would be empty, and the last one would be occupied entirely by food.

What's with that expression?

Adagaki Aki had been watching Takashi's expression closely.

Seeing that he didn't show the slightest trace of disgust — even seeming a little happy — Adagaki Aki's little head filled with big confusion.

"Everything's been served. Also, could you please bring another set of what I just ordered?" Takashi said.

The server gave him a surprised glance, apparently not expecting someone to eat this much.

Muttering a quiet, "Alright, please wait a moment," she quickly left.

After the server left, Takashi smiled at her. "Still hungry?"

Probably embarrassed that he had seen through her, Adagaki Aki clenched her fists, slammed the table, and stood up: "Don't make it sound like I eat a lot!"

Gurgle gurgle...

Before she even finished her sentence, her stomach made a loud noise, like the call of a starving cat.

Adagaki Aki: "..."

The refined expression on her face turned red bit by bit. She shyly averted her gaze and sat back down.

Takashi looked at her, smiling without saying a word.

When the server brought over the ramen, Takashi kindly pushed it over. "Eat."

Adagaki Aki wanted to refuse proudly, but...

Gurgle gurgle gurgle...

Her rebellious stomach, sounding like a full choir, left her no choice.

"Food is innocent."

Adagaki Aki muttered this like an excuse to herself, or maybe for Takashi to hear, and then miserably started eating the ramen.

Honestly, she was quite elegant when she ate.

Before the next dish was even served, Adagaki Aki had already polished off a whole plate of fried noodles — and promptly shoved the empty plate in front of Takashi again.

So fast.

Takashi admired her a little.

From the moment she started eating to finishing, it took less than two minutes. At that speed, Takashi was willing to call her the strongest.

"Miss Adagaki, can we exchange contact info?"

Takashi shook his phone lightly.

"I refuse."

Adagaki Aki turned him down without hesitation.

She did feel a little fondness for Takashi, but not enough to exchange contacts yet.

Takashi chuckled. "So blunt, even after I treated you to a meal."

Honestly, he had already expected to be refused.

After all, not every girl was as easy going as Kato Megumi.

Back then, it had taken him a long time to win over Utaha and Eriri.

When it came to chasing girls, losing face was part of the game.

"Just because I agreed to eat with you doesn't mean I agreed to be friends!" Adagaki Aki said matter-of-factly while nibbling on the new plate of fried chicken.

"Japanese-style tsundere, huh?"

At home, receiving a gift didn't mean accepting the person. In Japan, agreeing to eat didn't mean you were friends.

"What did you say?"

Adagaki Aki didn't quite catch what Takashi muttered, but instinct told her it wasn't anything good.

"Nothing. Just... how should I send you the pictures?"

"You can't even develop photos in one afternoon?"

"I could, but I have plans this afternoon."

Adagaki Aki paused, then gave him a look of disdain. "Pretty busy, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

First impressions mattered a lot.

And thanks to the mess caused by Yukino and Yumiko, Takashi figured his impression on Adagaki Aki must be terrible — she probably thought he was a shameless playboy.

Takashi didn't bother trying to fix it — too much effort. Instead, he admitted it straightforwardly.

"And you still dare ask for my contact info?"

Adagaki Aki devoured the fried chicken, pushed the plate toward him again, crossed her arms, and stared at him arrogantly.

"Yeah, because you're good-looking."

Takashi looked at her honestly and sincerely.

This completely threw Adagaki Aki off.

Sincerity — the ultimate weapon against tsundere types.

"And once you get my contact info? What then?"

"I'm still looking for someone to eat with. We could eat together."

"Isn't that just dating?"

Adagaki Aki thought Takashi was just playing word games.

"Eating together doesn't mean dating, right? Just like how sitting together doesn't mean we're friends."

Takashi leisurely sipped his barley tea. Adagaki Aki's pink lips parted and closed again, her fingers drumming lightly on her arm as she seemed deep in thought.

After a long pause, Adagaki Aki smiled. "Alright."

If he was asking for it, she would just eat him broke.

Adagaki Aki made up her mind — she'd show up, eat, and leave.

The two exchanged Line contacts. Just then, Takashi noticed that Utaha had messaged him, and immediately stood up. "Alright, I'm heading out. Take your time eating—Wah!"

Before he could walk a few steps, Adagaki Aki grabbed his tie and yanked it tight around his neck.

"Wait until I finish eating before you leave," Adagaki Aki pointed across the table, meaning for him to sit back down.

Takashi thought she was worried he would skip out on the bill, so he explained, "I'll pay for it."

"Is this about the bill?" Adagaki Aki looked upset. 

"If you leave now, I'll have to eat everything that's brought out after this. What will people think of me? Won't it look like I was the one who ate all the food earlier too?"

"Wasn't it you who ate it?"

Takashi hadn't taken a single bite of the meal.

"Shut up!"

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