Chapter 26: A Parfait That Feels Like We're Lovers

We fed each other pizza and salad, cleaned our plates neatly, and sipped iced tea together, now just waiting for the parfait to arrive.

From an outsider’s perspective, we must look exactly like a couple right now.

And to me, it doesn’t even seem like Haru is acting anymore. Even if she is just pretending, I’m planning to keep up the couple act and get her used to being both my best friend and my girlfriend.

Haru looked relaxed now that we’d finished eating.

“Next is the parfait, right? I love sweets, so I’m looking forward to it~”

“Yeah, me too.”

As I answered, I placed my hand over the back of Haru’s hand on the table.

She blinked in surprise for a second, then looked into my eyes and gave a small smile.

“What’s up with you, all of a sudden?”

“No reason. I just… felt like touching you.”

“I see… You know, your hands are really warm, Kiri. Bigger than mine too, and kind of… like they could wrap around me and make me feel safe. —Wait! What am I even saying…”

“That’s not weird at all. I am bigger, so I can wrap you up anytime you want.”

Saying that, I gently cupped Haru’s hand with both of mine.

Her hand fit snugly inside mine—it really showed just how small her hands were.

And yet, even so, Haru didn’t pull away.

Unbelievable. Just a while ago, she used to hate even holding hands, and now we’re like this.

“They’re really huge… I can’t even see my hand.”

“You’ve just got small hands.”

Haru stared at my hands, then hesitantly, as if testing the waters, spoke.

“...Hey. Wanting to touch someone… that’s just normal when you like them, right?”

“I don’t know about others, but for me, yeah. How about you?”

“Me too… I guess…”

With that, Haru placed her other hand over mine.

Doing that at this moment—she must’ve known exactly what it meant.

“Haru! Don’t tell me—”

I blurted out something I shouldn’t have.

I should’ve just accepted it without saying anything.

At my words, Haru snapped back to herself, quickly pulling both hands away in a panic.

“Ah!? N-no!! Look, that was just—! We’re pretending to be a couple, remember!? So don’t get the wrong idea!!”

...Ahh, I blew it.

Things had been going so well.

Maybe it was because they were going too well that I let my guard down.

“...Don’t look so obviously disappointed. This was all just pretend from the start, remember? —Geez, whatever. Here, I’ll hold your hand.”

Was it really showing on my face that much?

Seriously, I’m pathetic.

Still, I won’t say no to a kind offer. …Though I can’t help wondering if it was kindness, or maybe something more.

When I linked our fingers together in a lovers’ hold, Haru looked surprised for a second, then propped her chin on her elbow with her free hand and muttered with a sigh.

“Honestly… you’re such a handful.”

And like that, with only our hands still firmly connected, we waited for the parfait.

“Thank you for waiting. Here’s your couple’s strawberry grande parfait.”

Just as the name suggested, it had some serious volume.

The tall parfait glass was layered with pudding, sponge cake, and whipped cream, all stacked in tiers, with strawberries scattered throughout and a generous drizzle of strawberry sauce. It looked like the kind of sweet-and-sour dessert that perfectly matched a young couple.

For the current Haru, finishing it alone would probably be impossible.

Well, people say there’s always room for dessert, so maybe she could surprise me.

“Haru, think you can handle this on your own?”

“No way.”

Straight answer.

“I mean, I do like sweets, but this much is impossible. Actually, Kiri, you’re the one who could probably finish it by yourself.”

“I don’t dislike sweets… I might manage somehow.”

“Right? Then great. Come on, let’s dig in.”

Haru looked a little bit happy seeing the parfait in front of her.

Her free hand was already gripping a parfait spoon—ready to go.

“Alright, say ‘aah.’”

“Wait, we’re still doing this?”

“Of course we are. Come on, say ‘aah.’”

“Can’t be helped… but I’m starting.”

Saying that, Haru scooped up the large strawberry from the top of the jumbo parfait and popped it into her mouth.

“Ah!! Are you seriously eating that!?”

The strawberry at the very top of the parfait was left whole—unlike the others, which had been sliced. That one stood out, gave off a kind of premium aura. Some people might even save it for last.

But Haru went ahead and ate it first, without a word.

It was like eating the strawberry on top of a shortcake right out of the gate. Absolutely unacceptable.

She munched on the strawberry and swallowed.

“Mmm, that was delicious.”

“No, Haru, come on. That strawberry’s the kind you’re supposed to save for later. And you just went and ate it without asking…”

When I complained, Haru replied with an utterly calm face.

“Ehh~? So Kiri doesn’t even let the one he loves eat a strawberry however she wants~? I wouldn’t want to hold hands with such a stingy boyfriend~”

—Kuh.

She really knows how to hit where it hurts.

And to use hand-holding as a bargaining chip… what a cheat!

…Still, calm down.

It’s just one strawberry. When I really think about it, it’s not that big a deal.

Yeah. I’ll let it go, with a generous heart. If Haru’s happy, then that’s all that matters.

“…When I think about it, if that’s what you wanted, Haru, then it’s fine. It’s not like it’s a huge problem. Sorry for making a fuss.”

At that, Haru puffed herself up in mock pride—one could almost hear a smug “hmph” sound—and said:

“No no, I went too far too. So as an apology, I’ll give you this big strawberry over here.”

Ugh… fine.

She’s cute, so it’s fine. I forgive her.

This kind of thing is just playful teasing anyway.

It’s not like either of us meant it seriously.

Yeah, how to eat the strawberries doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve decided that now.

Haru then stuck her spoon into the upper layer of the parfait to dig out another big strawberry.

But when she did, the tall and narrow parfait glass lost balance and tilted.

“Ah!! Whoa—”

I still had one free hand and managed to catch the cup in time, saving it.

“Looks like this thing needs a stabilizer.”

When I said that, Haru replied with a flat stare.

“Or you could just… let go of my hand?”

She wiggled our still-entwined fingers up and down.

Absolutely not.

At least until we leave the table, I want to stay like this.

“You’re saying I should let go of this hand?”

“…That sounds like some line from somewhere. Where even is that from?”

“No idea. Anyway, there’s no problem if I just hold the cup. Now hurry up and give it to me.”

I opened my mouth as I said it.

“Geez… fine. Here, say ‘aah.’”

“Aah.”

She fed me the strawberry.

Delicious. The whipped cream made it even sweeter, and the strawberry’s tartness added the perfect contrast—it was wonderfully sweet and sour.

“So good.”

“Right!?”

Haru looked delighted as she scooped up more parfait and brought it to her own mouth.

Just seeing that expression of hers made the sweetness hit even harder. It looked so delicious, and seeing her that happy made me happy too.

After that, with one hand still clasped in a lovers’ hold, I kept the parfait glass steady while Haru scooped out bites, ate, and fed me. It was pure bliss.

Haru didn’t seem to care in the slightest that we were basically sharing an indirect kiss.

Even though sharing a spoon ranked pretty high among indirect kisses, she didn’t seem fazed at all. That in itself stung a little.

As we entered the latter half, we reached the layers of sponge cake and pudding.

By then, Haru’s pace had slowed noticeably. She was feeding me three bites for every one she took.

“Getting tough now?”

“Yeah, kinda. I could still go on, but I’d have to pace myself or I won’t make it to the end.”

“You don’t have to force yourself.”

“Well, I do want us to finish it together, you know?”

“…Yeah.”

That made me happy.

But it also left me wondering what kind of feeling that came from—was it just a sense of responsibility, or…?

“Alright. This’ll be the last one.”

We’d made good progress. Just one final spoonful left.

All that remained was a mostly-liquid blend of everything at the bottom.

“I’ll let you have it. I’ll drink the rest.”

“Got it. In that case, I won’t hold back.”

Just as Haru lifted the spoon to her mouth, I picked up the cup and drank the rest in one go.

Once I set the glass back down, Haru placed her spoon inside the empty cup and took a breath.

“Ahh, that was so good. Right?”

“Yeah. Best parfait I’ve ever had.”

“Now that you mention it, maybe me too? I don’t usually order parfaits at cafés or anything—it’s been since elementary school, probably.”

“I’m down to go for parfaits with you anytime.”

“Ehh, but only if we do the whole feeding-each-other thing again, right? …Geez, can’t be helped. …Well, I’ll think about it.”

Oh? That’s unexpected.

But I’ll take it as permission—and I won’t hesitate to invite her again.

“What now? Want to relax here a bit longer?”

“Nah, let’s head out. We’ve been here a while.”

A quick glance at the clock told me over an hour had passed since we arrived. The crowd around us had completely changed too, which really drove home how long we’d stayed.

Can’t be helped. I’d have liked to linger, but I guess it’s time to go.

“Yeah, let’s head out.”

“Mm. —Ah, wait a sec.”

“What is it?”

Haru started to get up, then sat back down.

“I’m letting go now, okay?”

It was a little sad, but I loosened my grip, and she pulled her hand away.

Then, before I could say anything, Haru picked up the receipt, glanced at it, and put it back. She pulled out some cash from her wallet and placed it in my hand.

“My mom told me to do it like this. Something about ‘letting the guy take the lead.’ People don’t really do that anymore, though.”

I was surprised.

I had fully intended to cover the cost today.

I’d expected a little back-and-forth at the register—whether to split or not—but I was ready to be firm about it. That was my plan.

But with this move, I had no comeback.

Classic Haru’s mom.

“You were probably gonna say, ‘I’m paying,’ right, Kiri? C’mon, let’s go.”

“You saw right through me. But I appreciate it. Thanks.”

We got up, paid, and left the shop.

Afterward, we hit up the arcade, browsed a bookstore, then headed home.

Like always, I walked Haru to her house, and we said our goodbyes at the front door.

“I’ll be waiting tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you then.”

The fun part of the day was over.

I wonder how much of an impression I managed to leave on Haru today.

I really hope she’ll come to feel the same way I do—seeing me as not just a best friend, but someone she could like as the opposite sex.

After we left the café, I’d tried to hold her hand again, but she shot me down with, “We’re done pretending to be a couple, remember?”

Ouch. That was harsh.

Still, she did say I could ask her out for parfaits again. So maybe I made a little progress.

For now, one thing’s clear—next time we go out, parfaits are non-negotiable.

…Sigh. It’s gonna be a long road.