Watch how Hazekura reels Kano in. *fluff-fluff*
[Part 2]
A few days later.
The interphone of the house rang perfectly at the designated time in the afternoon.
He came!
I, who sat restlessly in the living room, went to open the door of our house in haste. Hazekursan was standing there, smiling.
"G-Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, Kano-san. Shall we go?"
"Yes……"
It was not the hybrid car I've seen before but a locally produced SUV.
"This car is different from the previous one, isn't it?"
"That was the temple's car. This is mine."
Opening the door of the familiar passenger seat, Hazekursan waited for me to get on.
"Thank you……"
"Don't mention it."
It was my first time being treated like a woman like this……
Hazekursan contacted me last night. I just came home from work and I almost unconsciously dropped my smart phone out of shock. When I told him when he asked me about my day off, Hazekursan said he has to work in the evening. When I said that it is fine with me to meet at another time if he is busy, he apologized for being busy with work and pushed to go ahead with today's date.
Hazekursan, who has work by nightfall, is in his monk's clothes even today.
"Even though it is our first date, we could not do it comfortably. I'm sorry."
He suddenly apologized, smiling bitterly.
"No, please do not mind. So, where are going now?"
"My home town is about thirty minutes away from here by car, and there is a long established Japanese-style confectionery shop that my family patronizes. The sweets they serve are delicious."
Hazekursan smoothly set the car in motion, grinning while keeping his eyes on the road.
I can't imagine a man eating sweets, though……
"Hazekursan, do you often eat sweets?"
When I asked, Hazekursan laughed.
"I do. I do not eat so much pastries with a lot of cream, but the agar-agar and kuzu mochi I've been eating since I was a child, I like them."
Hmmm, I see. Since he was a child, huh……
"Hazekursan, have you ever thought of having this current job since you were a child?"
"Let's see. Since I am a child of the temple, it seemed natural for me. I even attended at a Buddhist high school."
"So it was like that."
He was very calm. I guess he made the decision since he was a child. While thinking so, I leaned on the passenger seat.
"You finally listened to me. Did you get a little interested about me?"
Hazekursan who was in the driver's seat shot me a glance.
"……I wonder if it's interest. It's just that I don't know anything about you."
Because he pressed me to accept his marriage proposal, I just compromised with going out with him.
"There's nothing to know. I'm just a Buddhist monk."
Hazekursan smiled as he replied, but I don't think that he is just a monk……! It was my first time to be relentlessly pursued with a marriage proposal by a guy.
"Then, I don't understand anything about you, Hazekursan."
"Is that so? I'm sorry. But I am showing you my real self, Kano-san."
"Really……?"
I somewhat threw a suspicious look at Hazekursan.
"Yes. Whether wanting to hug you or kiss you, I tell you what I thought."
Bu-But that's not what I meant……
I did not know what to say, so I hung my head and stared at my hands on my knees.
"What about you, Kano san?"
"Huh? What is it?"
When I was suddenly spoken to, I briskly turned towards Hazekursan.
"What are your thoughts about marriage?"
"Eh…… 'Marriage'?"
I put myself on guard upon hearing the word "marriage". Hazekursan also noticed and hurriedly said, "Ah, I'm sorry. You got it wrong."
"I have no ulterior motive. I just wanted to know the opinion of women of Kano-san's age."
……he said, but even so.
"It's kind of embarrassing but I haven't thought about marriage until now."
"Really? Never?"
I got a glimpse of Hazekursan's surprise.
"When I was in my previous relationship with someone, I thought about it a little but…… I got tired of him even before marriage. In the end, we broke up even before we could seriously discuss about marriage. After that, marriage did not cross my mind anymore. Rather, I thought I'd be alone for the rest of my life."
Oh right, I already gave up on it……
Reminiscing my past while I look at the scenery, Hazekursan, who was silently listening to me, muttered.
"Did you care so much about your ex-boyfriend?"
"No…… He was a very ordinary office worker. However, he increased his demands for me while we dated, and I got tired of meeting his demands."
"……What kind of demands?"
I somewhat winced at Hazekursan's probing questions.
"Well, err, uhm…… How should I say it? Even if I do not say it clearly, you know what the other person was asking for. When I was with him, it felt better when I act cheerful, but when I became exhausted, I end our date early. Maybe, I thought it can be done naturally with someone you like so much but……"
"Even so, you did not come to like him?"
"……Well, I guess that was the case."
When I tried to clarify the ambiguous part, I nodded while smiling wryly.
"When we were together, we only became more and more dissatisfied, and both he and I were unhappy. That's why if ever we got married, I think it would have been difficult if we were not thoughtful about the other person."
"Is that why you said it is impossible for you to marry me when we just met?"
Hazekursan, who has still his eyes on the road, asked in his usual calm voice.
"……Yeah. I still don't know you quite well, Hazekursan, and until the other day, I was a little troubled when you were quite pushy. But I think you are a nice person. For now, that's all."
Mixing in my real thoughts a bit, I cheerfully told him which I also thought was strange.
"So you do not dislike me?"
"Hmm, well. It's strange. I don't feel any hatred……"
Hearing my reply, Hazekursan smiled in relief.
"Then since you don't hate me, I think there is still hope for me."
"Th-That's……"
"We're going to arrive soon."
As he smoothly diverted the topic, I gazed at his side profile absentmindedly, feeling let down.
―This guy, I guess I can't really let my guard down……
While I silently lamented, we arrived at our destination.
At first I was a little worried how I am going to talk with this person, but it was better than what I thought. Or rather, our conversation was smooth and very comfortable.
"This is the Japanese confectionery shop."
Hazekursan told me that it was a large Japanese-style shop in a corner of a quiet residential area. The old signage that says "Ikehonya" gave a historical feel, and it looked like a well-established store.
"Welcome."
As soon as we entered the store, the shop assistant greeted us. Moreover, that person lowered his/her head and approached us, carrying goods encased in a fine glass case. Fresh Japanese sweets such as youkan and kuzu mochi, and baked goods such as dorayaki are arranged in order. A gasp of admiration unconsciously escaped my lips when I saw the brightly colored high-grade Japanese fresh confections arranged into a flower motif.
"Wow―!"
―So pretty! Looks delicious~! Just looking at it is fun. While I was sticking close to the glass case, Hazekursan watched me tenderly, who can't take my eyes off it.
"Since it is close to our house, I often buy the sweets here as a gift. Will you buy something before you go home?"
"Yes. I will."
My mother is going to be pleased if I buy her favorite sweets as a souvenir. While thinking of such a thing, Hazekursan and I were led inside the store by the shop assistant. It seems that there is an area inside where one can eat sweets and drink tea. However, Hazekursan gave the shop assistant a meaningful look and kept on following the shop assistance further inside the store.
"Huh? Hazekursan?"
"I have arranged it in advance."
Hazekursan said and offered me a reserved seat that was separated from the tea drinking corner with a screen. Although it is a reserved seat, it was an ordinary seat among the four-seat wooden table set. From the seat facing the large window, one can have an unbroken view of a Japanese garden full of greenery. Having the luxury of drinking tea while watching a wonderful scenery, I was in a good mood.
Every item in the menu looked delicious and I was wondering what to order, but I decided to try the white anmitsu that was recommended to me. Hazekursan ordered zenzai and handed back the menu to the shop assistant.
But what is this…… I'm still fine just a while ago, but I got nervous the moment we were left alone. This sort of date . . . No, it is a date but it's been a long time . . .
When I stared blankly as I don't have any clue how to begin the conversation, our eyes met. I darted my eyes somewhere, causing Hazekursan to smile bitterly.
"Please do no get tensed. Although I am reaping what I sow, it still hurts."
"Ah, I'm sorry. I did not intend to……"
"Welcome, Soushun-san."
A beautiful woman, with her long black hair tied together behind her, came to our table, smiling radiantly. Looking at her, it seems like she is around the same age as me.
But more importantly, this person, did she call Hazekursan "Soushun-san"? Is Hazekursan's given name "Soushun"? Although I don't know much about him yet, it is a little shocking to think that I did not know his given name.
"Thank you for always patronizing our store. The other day's sermon was very interesting. Please tell us more stories."
The beautiful shop assistant spoke joyfully while looking at Hazekursan.
"No, it is I who should say thank you. The schedule of the events in the temple is posted on our homepage, please come and visit if you like."
"Yes. I'll certainly do."
The smiling beauty did not totally notice my existence……. But I wonder how she forced her way in. Well, whatever . . . I took a sip of my roasted green tea.
"Kano-san, this is the shop owner's daughter. She is also a parishioner of our temple."
The lady Hazekursan introduced turned towards me for the first time and elegantly smiled.
"Welcome……. Hazekursan, this lady is……"
"She is the one I am dating right now."
Splutter.
I almost blew the roasted green tea out of my mouth.
"Eh…… Is she Soushun-san's girlfriend……?"
The shop owner's complexion paled. But whether he is aware of her situation or not, Hazekursan happily continued.
"She is the one I'd like to share my future with…… which I fervently hope. The woman I love."
Hazekursan clearly told her with a smile.
―Ho-Ho-How embarrassing……-!!
Besides, phrasing it that way, it sounds like we are going to get married. I was rendered speechless, my mouth gaping in surprise. The shop owner's daughter also stiffened and only stared at Hazekursan……!!
"E…… Excuse me……"
The lady who finally was able to speak staggered back into the store.
"Hazekursan…… Aren't you a little harsh? That lady probably likes you, right? You……"
"Yes, I knew." Hazekursan nonchalantly replied.
"To be honest, there have been a few marriage talks involving that lady but I refused it every time. It was a good opportunity, and I hope she gives up from now on."
"……So you used me."
When I cast him a sharp glance, he smiled bitterly, his expression seemed troubled.
"I absolutely did not use you. You are my only fiancee. I only told her the truth."
"I am not your fiancee!"
"Okay."
Hazekursan beamed at me, looking completely unperturbed with my rebuttal. Damn, I really cannot drop my guard when I'm with him……!!
After that, the white anmitsu and zenzai was delivered by a different shop assistant. The moment I saw the anmitsu in front of me, a big smile appeared on my face as expected.
"Itadakimasu……!!"
"Go ahead."
I could not wait and immediately got a spoon and took a bite of agar-agar in brown sugar syrup.
"Mmm~~~!"
It was really delicious. I ate one spoonful after another.
The slick white ball was doughy and has the right firmness. The anko has the refined sweetness of red beans. The richness and sweetness of the brown sugar syrup complemented it very well.
"It's delicious……!!"
"I'm glad. The zenzai is also delicious."
In front of me, who was enjoying the anmitsu, Hazekursan was eating zenzai as gracefully as ever.
"In preparation for my work after this, I am now eating a hearty meal."
"Th-Thanks for the hard work…… By the way, what do you do on your day off, Hazekursan?"
"Day off…… Well, it's either I take a lot of reading or go somewhere by car…… Oh, I randomly go to museums and art galleries. Basically, I go out alone on my own."
"I see―"
……I think, that it is more like him. Hazekursan going to museum looks fitting.
"And you, Kano-san?"
"Hmm, it isn't a hobby but I like electric appliances. So I often go to home electronics retail stores."
I could have lied, but I decided to answer honestly. Then Hazekursan, who seemed surprised, stopped moving his chopsticks for a while.
"That is also surprising."
"Did you think that because my name is 'Kano', all I admire are flowers?"
Fufu, I laughed and Hazekursan had a happy expression that I have never seen before.
"I am happy to know a new side of you, and I am also happy to see your cute smile."
Again―! How can this man say such an embarrassing line with composure……..?
Not wanting for him to see the accumulation of heat on my face, I inadvertently covered my face with my hand.
"Kano-san?"
"……Please do not say embarrassing lines."
"I've told you what I honestly thought."
Hazekursan, who wanted to marry me, said. However, he carefully takes care of me and even made the maximum compromise. But I wonder if we're going to date like this as it is. If there is no possibility of marriage, dating itself will be a waste of time. If that's the case, I think it's really better if I just refused him from the start…..
I stared right back at him, slowly releasing my hands covering my face.
"…..I agreed that we will date, but I could not really think about marriage at all…… Won't you regret dating a stubborn woman who does not like marriage?"
Hazekursan gave me a gentle smile in return.
"You still don't understand. How happy I am being with you right now. Besides, even if you are stubborn and unwilling, the fact that I like you will not change. I don't regret it."
Far from being regretful, I could only gape at him after hearing the depth of his feelings. We were staring at each other in silence when we heard a vibrating sound.
"Excuse me, I will take this call."
Hzaekursan confirmed that it was his phone, and he suddenly lowered his head and stood up. Left alone, I pondered on what Hazekursan told me as I ate the anmitsu.
What an astonishing confession of love. My ex-boyfriend never said such a thing. With the current feelings I have I wonder if I can respond to him in the same way……
"Dear costumer."
I was called out while I was deep in my thoughts. When I raised my face, the shop owner's daughter was standing in front of me.
"I'm sorry for interrupting you meal. I am sorry for not properly greeting you earlier. I am Ikemoto Hatsumi."
Haha, sorry for that “cliffhanger”, but I have to divide the chapter.