Chapter 57: Chapter 57
In the afternoon after school, Shuichi Chiba returned to the shopping street alone. As he reached the street corner, he saw the manager of Yoshinoya standing at the door, staring blankly at the sky.
As soon as the manager noticed Shuichi Chiba, he immediately shot him a resentful look.
Shuichi Chiba felt a chill run down his spine. Even if he, a regular customer, stopped coming, there was no need for such a look, right?
However, when he returned to the management office, he suddenly understood why the Yoshinoya manager was looking so resentful.
At the entrance of Mrs. Akiyama's ramen shop, a small line had even formed.
Though it wasn't as exaggerated as stretching from one end of the street to the other, with only three or five people waiting, it was still remarkable for a newly opened small shop, especially when it wasn't even peak hours yet.
Yoshinoya also served ramen, and now many of the local customers had been stolen away by this new shop. It wasn't surprising that the manager had that expression.
Shuichi Chiba wondered if Mrs. Akiyama was too busy to handle it all…
He stood at the door of the ramen shop and peeked inside. The female customers were enjoying their meals heartily, and Mrs. Akiyama was so busy she could barely keep up.
The old lady, Granny Mutsuki, from earlier in the morning, was also helping out beside her. It seemed like things were going well, so he decided not to disturb them further and turned toward the beauty shop across the street.
The long-awaited Mrs. Ogawa had already been eagerly looking forward to this moment. Now, she gazed at him with a warm and inviting expression full of affection.
"And what about Sayuki-san? It's still a bit early for dinner. How about we stroll around for a while?" Shuichi Chiba smiled as he scanned Fumika Ogawa from head to toe.
Mrs. Ogawa had dressed up specially today, looking particularly radiant and captivating. As she moved, flashes of fair skin above her thighs occasionally caught the light.
"Hmm?" Shuichi Chiba immediately noticed this subtle difference. "Fumika-san, is this..."
Standing at the shop entrance, Fumika Ogawa glanced at the crowd on the street, resisting the urge to throw herself into Shuichi Chiba's arms. Blushing, she softly explained:
"I'm wearing gartered black stockings today. Do you like them, Chiba-kun?"
Shuichi Chiba licked his lips as he took in the teasing glimpse of her creamy thighs, made more alluring by the slight indentation from the stocking bands. A stirring temptation began to rise within him, but given the public setting, he could only enjoy the enticing view for now.
"Absolutely fantastic! With gartered stockings, you can touch both the thigh directly and the stockings themselves. Fumika-san, you really do understand me." Shuichi Chiba said with a grin.
Fumika Ogawa's face turned a deep shade of red, her moist, almond-shaped eyes radiating a warmth that could melt anyone. She pressed her lips together in delight and said softly, "As long as Chiba-kun likes it..."
"What are you two doing flirting down here while I'm busy upstairs?" Suddenly, Sayuki Ogawa appeared from behind Fumika, her tone carrying a hint of exasperation.
"Shh, keep your voice down, Sayuki... People might hear us," Fumika gasped, startled. Her blouse's buttons strained against the pressure, looking as if they might pop at any moment.
Shuichi Chiba couldn't help but feel concerned, his eyes fixed on the precarious button, ready to step in and save it if necessary.
Today, Sayuki Ogawa had the air of a Yoshinoya store manager, her demeanor tinged with frustration. "I've been working all day. I don't have the luxury to dress up like my sister. Chiba-kun, I hope you won't think I'm being rude?"
Fumika's face instantly fell with guilt. She knew she couldn't help with the shop's troubles and that her attempts to assist only made things worse. It was her younger sister who had been carrying the burden of running the store.
Shuichi Chiba chuckled and looked Sayuki over. "If anyone's being rude, it's Fumika-san..."
Fumika's heart skipped a beat at his words, an inexplicable sense of unease beginning to take hold.
Chiba-kun said I was being rude... Did I do something wrong? But what exactly was it, and how should I make it right?
Was it because I left everything to my younger sister? That really is terrible of me. It's only natural for Chiba-kun to dislike me for it, isn't it?
He had said before that he liked my scent, liked my legs, and didn't mind my age... But maybe he was just being kind, trying not to embarrass me?
And yet, I had the nerve to feel smug about it, foolishly thinking I wasn't that bad after all…
In an instant, countless self-criticisms sprang to mind. Feeling utterly worthless, Fumika Ogawa's hands and feet turned cold, and it was obvious to anyone that she was losing her glow, her vibrant aura dimming visibly.
"...Already naturally beautiful, and yet you went to such great lengths to dress up. For ordinary women, that's a bit too unfair, don't you think? It could easily make others feel inadequate, leaving a lasting psychological scar. Sayuki-san, on the other hand, is much more understated. While she still unintentionally diminishes others' confidence, at least she leaves them a way out."
Hearing the latter half of Shuichi Chiba's words, Fumika Ogawa soared from the depths of despair to the heights of elation. Her world, which had seemed so bleak moments before, became bright again.
The dramatic emotional rollercoaster left her feeling as though she had narrowly survived a catastrophe. It was as if she had just endured an epic battle, leaving her entire body soft and weak, her limbs tingling slightly.
"No wonder you've got my sister so completely wrapped around your finger. That silver tongue of yours is truly something else," Sayuki Ogawa remarked, her tone playful as she noticed Shuichi Chiba's restless gaze roaming over her. She gave him a knowing, teasing smile.
"Fumika-san?"
Shuichi Chiba quickly shifted his gaze back and noticed something was off about Fumika Ogawa. The vibrant and radiant woman from moments ago now looked pitifully delicate, as if she had just been bullied.
"Sister?" Sayuki was startled and hurriedly stepped forward to steady Fumika, reaching out to support her. "I was just joking earlier. I didn't mean to criticize you."
Fumika shook her head slightly, clutching her chest as she murmured with a look of profound relief, "Thank goodness... Chiba-kun doesn't dislike me..."
"What silly things is Fumika-san saying again? How could I ever dislike you? Especially when you went out of your way to wear gartered stockings for me today. I'm beyond touched," Shuichi Chiba said, stepping forward and gently taking Fumika's hand.
He stroked her fingers tenderly, then leaned down to press a light kiss on the back of her hand. With his back to the street, the affectionate gesture was discreet, unlikely to be noticed by passersby.
"Chiba-kun..." Fumika's eyes quickly filled with mist, her emotions clearly stirred.
Seeing her sister's spirits lift so quickly, Sayuki sighed with a mix of relief and exasperation. "Alright, alright. You'll have plenty of time to dote on each other during your date. What's the rush?"
Though she was relieved, Sayuki couldn't help but silently grumble to herself about Shuichi Chiba's knack for sweet-talking. That rascal's smooth words made it all too easy to lift her sister's mood.
"Shall we head out now?" Shuichi Chiba glanced at the two Ogawa sisters. The long-anticipated date for the three of them was finally beginning.
…..
The stroll through the shopping district was uneventful. The two Ogawa sisters didn't buy much, mainly wandering around and reminiscing about amusing school days, occasionally marveling at how time had flown by.
As the evening crept closer and dinnertime arrived, the three of them went to an izakaya that Shuichi Chiba had reserved in advance.
It wasn't a fancy restaurant, just a unique and cozy establishment. After all, the focus wasn't on the food itself but on the private little booths, which were perfect for couples to enjoy intimate conversations.
"Today, you two are the guests of honor, so feel free to order whatever you like." Shuichi Chiba, seated across from the Ogawa sisters, slid the menu toward them.
"I... I'm fine with anything. What do you like to eat, Chiba-kun?" Fumika Ogawa asked curiously. She genuinely wanted to learn more about Shuichi Chiba's preferences.
"Me? I'd say I like..."
As Shuichi Chiba spoke, he lowered his posture slightly under the table, reaching out with both hands. Without warning, he grabbed a leg from each of the sisters seated opposite him and rested them on the sides of his chair.
"Ch-Chiba-kun?"
Fumika Ogawa gasped, startled and flustered. She anxiously glanced at her younger sister, terrified that the subtle act might be noticed—it would be far too mortifying.
In contrast, Sayuki Ogawa was much calmer. Acting as though nothing had happened, she turned to her sister and asked casually, "What's wrong, Sister?"
"N-nothing..."
Fumika Ogawa quickly shook her head, her face flushed as she struggled to suppress the tingling sensations caused by the firm kneading and rubbing of her calf under the table.
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