บท 40: Izumi Kotomi, Both Pure and Alluring
"Izumi, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
After saying goodbye to the girls from the art club at the school gate, Izumi Kotomi started walking home alone.
It was 5 PM, and walking alone on the street made her feel a bit lonely.
"Has Kato already gotten home by now?" she wondered aloud halfway through her walk.
"Not yet~"
Almost as if in response to her thoughts, Megumi Kato's voice suddenly sounded from behind, startling Izumi Kotomi.
Izumi Kotomi jumped in surprise, like a startled little penguin, before turning around with wide eyes to see the short-haired girl who had suddenly appeared behind her.
It was none other than Megumi Kato, who had left school with Yui Yuigahama an hour ago.
"Kato?" Izumi Kotomi asked, puzzled. She couldn't understand why Megumi Kato, who had left school an hour earlier, was now appearing at the school gate.
Megumi Kato smiled slightly, indicating the cake shop bag in her hand. She then pulled out a bottle of ramune soda and handed it to Izumi Kotomi.
"Thirsty? Here, have some soda to quench your thirst. Those cute lips shouldn't go dry, you know."
Izumi Kotomi, feeling a bit thirsty, accepted the ramune soda from Megumi Kato without questioning why she had come back.
She eagerly drank more than half of the bottle in one go.
The refreshing taste of the original ramune soda was incredibly satisfying!
Whether in her previous life or now, her love for the taste of original ramune soda had never changed. It was one of those small, simple joys.
As they walked, Megumi Kato casually mentioned, "Yuigahama and I went to a cake shop she mentioned. Do you know what the shop is called?"
"What's it called?"
"The cake shop has a cute name—Dango Cake Shop."
"Oh," Izumi Kotomi nodded, responding simply.
For some reason, she still felt a bit of a sour emotion in her heart.
Megumi Kato had noticed Izumi Kotomi's expression from the start; her gaze never left Kotomi's face as she observed her closely.
"Did something at the art club make you unhappy?"
Megumi Kato's words were indirect, but Izumi Kotomi understood that she was being asked if she was feeling upset.
Izumi Kotomi bit her soft, pink lips and softly admitted, "Just a little. I don't know why, but… I just feel a bit uncomfortable…"
Seeing Izumi Kotomi's cute response, Megumi Kato's smile deepened, and she reached out as if she had been planning this all along.
"Does it hurt around your chest? Want me to massage it for you?"
Izumi Kotomi, about to nod and agree out of instinct, suddenly realized what Megumi Kato was suggesting and quickly shook her head, her face turning red.
"N-No, that's okay!"
"Haha." Megumi Kato couldn't help but laugh at the cute, flustered expression on the little "penguin" in front of her. "Do you know who owns Dango Cake Shop?"
"Who?"
"Yuigahama's mother."
"What? Yuigahama's mother owns it?"
"Yeah, that's why she invited us so eagerly after school. I noticed that and decided to go with her. I also bought you a delicious cake. I had just enough time to get to the shop, come back, and wait for you at the school gate."
Megumi Kato said this while showing off the cake shop bag she was holding.
After hearing this, the sour feeling in Izumi Kotomi's heart disappeared.
But wait, was that feeling… jealousy?
No way, was I really jealous just now?
"Did you enjoy the art club today?" Megumi Kato asked again.
This time, Izumi Kotomi finally smiled and answered, "Yes!"
Megumi Kato wasn't really asking about the art club, and Izumi Kotomi wasn't really answering about the art club either.
"Kato, your way of asking if someone is happy is pretty unique…" Izumi Kotomi couldn't help but comment.
"Is it? I don't know what you're talking about~" Megumi Kato replied, dragging out her words and pretending not to understand.
As they neared her home, Megumi Kato suddenly remembered, "Oh, I just realized we haven't eaten the cake I bought. But I won't be able to finish this mille-feuille alone. If I put it in the fridge, it won't taste as good later. Kotomi, do you have time? Would you like to come to my place to share the cake?"
"Go to your house? Is it okay to bother you now?"
"It's fine. My parents are at a reunion and won't be home until at least nine o'clock. It's only five now, so we still have four hours."
Megumi Kato said this while casually reminding Izumi of the time, though her true intentions were unclear.
Izumi Kotomi didn't think much of it. She knew she needed to be home by six-thirty, but there was still more than an hour left. That should be enough time to eat the cake.
If it got late, she could always call her mom and let her know she'd be home a little later.
With that thought, Izumi Kotomi nodded and said, "Sure, that sounds nice."
"I'm glad you're coming."
The two of them headed to Megumi Kato's house. Like the Izumi residence, Megumi Kato's home was a detached house with its own yard.
While the Izumi house had two floors, the Kato house had three, with a small attic on the third floor.
Megumi Kato unlocked the door and stepped inside, changing into indoor shoes at the entrance.
"Your garden is lovely," Izumi Kotomi said as she removed her brown leather shoes. Her petite feet, wrapped in delicate white pantyhose, peeked out like playful little rabbits.
She had noticed the beautiful flowers in the front yard as they walked in.
"My mom doesn't have many hobbies, but she loves gardening," Megumi Kato replied as she neatly placed her shoes by the door.
"My mom tried gardening once too, but she didn't have the patience for it. After a few days, she handed the responsibility over to my sister."
Izumi Akina wasn't generally an impatient person, but when it came to gardening, she had no patience at all.
She'd be all excited about planting flowers, but after a few days, she'd lose interest and leave the work to Aimi.
"Maybe gardening just isn't for your mom," Megumi Kato said softly as she led Izumi Kotomi upstairs to the second floor.
Her bedroom was on the second floor, and as soon as they entered, the soft scent of cherry blossoms filled the air.
The fragrance was delicate, much like the petals of the cherry blossom themselves. It was light and airy, and when noticed, it brought a refreshing and serene feeling.
Megumi Kato's room was just like that of any other girl.
The walls were adorned with pink and white wallpaper, and a study desk was placed near the balcony. A single bed was set against the wall, not too big, not too small, with a cute hamster plushie sitting on top.
The round little hamster clutched a seed, looking adorably silly and cute.
In the middle of the room was a large mat with a low square table on top of it. According to Megumi Kato, once autumn arrived, she would put a quilt over the table to turn it into a kotatsu. That way, she could snuggle under it for warmth.
In the kotatsu, with an orange in hand and watching something on a tablet, that was the epitome of comfort during autumn and winter.
But since it was still technically summer, they'd have to wait a bit longer to enjoy the kotatsu.
Megumi Kato placed the cake on the table, and it was only then that Izumi Kotomi noticed the shop's logo.
Two round dango, one big and one small.
The baumkuchen she had eaten yesterday had the same logo on its box.
"So, the baumkuchen my sister bought yesterday was from Dango Cake Shop," Izumi Kotomi remarked.
"Oh? You've already tried their baumkuchen?"
"Yes, my sister bought it for me yesterday. It was really delicious. If you go there again, I recommend trying it."
"I'll definitely try it next time," Megumi Kato said with a smile as she stood up. "I'll go downstairs and prepare a drink to go with the cake. Would you like some tea, lemon tea, or hot cocoa?"
"I'd like some tea."
"Got it. I'll be right back." With that, Megumi Kato left the room.
Izumi Kotomi sat on the mat, her smooth, fair legs wrapped in sheer white pantyhose that shimmered enticingly. Her dainty feet, elegantly arched, peeked out from under her skirt as she adjusted her seating position, revealing the delicate curves of her legs.
She casually shifted her legs under her, only her toes peeking out, curling slightly with the movement. The pale soles of her feet, adorned with soft little wrinkles, looked impossibly tender.
She continued to play her mobile game, "Azur Lane," while waiting for Megumi Kato to return.
"Sorry to keep you waiting! I made some lemon tea. I noticed we were out of lemons, so I took a bit longer."
Soon, Megumi Kato returned with two cups of freshly brewed tea.
Megumi Kato had also removed her black knee socks, revealing her bare feet, which looked like delicate flowers with each toe perfectly shaped.
"Lemon tea? Yay, I love lemon tea!"
"The sugar cubes are right here. Add as much as you like to suit your taste," Megumi Kato said as she opened the packaging of the mille-feuille cake.
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