Takeshi Kimura:

    I wanted to know about how Sekiguchi knew about Mizuha. But he did not give me a chance. He left without uttering a word.

    Anyway I also didn't force myself to ask him about his personal things.

    However, at that time I didn't know he was going to be a significant character in this manga. 

  

    "Takeshi-san, today Sanae has planned something." (Izumi)

    "Not again! What is she upto now?" (Takeshi)

    It was next day, while I was eating the delicious lunch made by Izumi-san, she informed me about that.

    "Our midterm exams are coming close, and as usual Reiji-san needs help. So she wanted a group study program in my home with four of us." (Izumi)

    "Oh. I see. So four of us?" (Takeshi)

    "Yeah. So we will go directly to my apartment today after school. Four of us together." (Izumi)

   "Oh yeah ok... wait!" (Takeshi)

   "Hm? What?" (Izumi)

   But I have my part time job from 4PM to 6PM! Izumi-san doesn't know about it yet!

   "Um... actually I have some work till 6 PM." (Takeshi)

   "Eh? So you won't come?" (Izumi)

   Her happy tune changed to disappointment.

   "Well... I can come after 6 PM." (Takeshi)

   "Ah...okay. We're going to stay till 8 PM. Actually if Takeshi-san isn't there, I will be bored and tired of seeing them flirting." (Izumi)

   "Oh... so does Izumi-san want me to flirt with her?" (Takeshi)

   "T-That's not it!" (Izumi)

   Her embarrassing face is too cute...

   I giggled but then felt a sharp pain in my cheeks as usual. I guess my joke made her a little bit mad.

   "O-Ouch! O-Okay okay sorry!" (Takeshi)

   "Sorry is not enough! I will wait for you there. You have to arrive sharply at 6PM.", she ordered with a pouty face.

   "Yes ma'am!" (Takeshi)

   The coffee shop is just in front of her apartment after all! So I won't be late even if I leave sharply at 6 PM.

   "Good boy. By the way, what is that work you have to do till 6 PM?" (Izumi)

    "Um..." (Takeshi)

    Should I tell her about my part time job?

    "Well... I have to go somewhere to buy something." (Takeshi)

    I really don't know why... but I didn't tell her at that time. 

   I should have told her though.... because I was probably going to regret it soon.

                                ♤

    After lunch, I was walking towards washroom, that's when someone called me from behind. 

   "Oi!" (Mizuha)

   "Oh. It's you. What now?" (Takeshi)

   "Stop talking. Come here." (Mizuha)

   I was forced to go along with her to a quieter place.

   "Now tell me what is it?" (Takeshi)

   "I'm once again asking for your friendly support." (Mizuha)

   "Sigh... listen as of now, I couldn't find anyone who could flirt with you." (Takeshi)

   "You had one job!" (Mizuha)

   "A pretty tough job." (Takeshi)

   "Anyway... do you know what that girl is planning to do with Miyano right now?" (Mizuha)

   "Oh... as of now, they are going to study--" (Takeshi)

    Oops.... I shouldn't have revealed this to her!

   "Hm? Study? What?" (Mizuha)

   "Um..." (Takeshi)

   "Hey! Please, tell me now! At least help me a little bit!" (Mizuha)

    I thought a little bit and decided to tell her the truth in the end. At worst, what could she do, anyway?

   "I see. So they're ONLY going to STUDY there right?" (Mizuha)

   "Probably." (Takeshi)

   "Jeez... anyway you're not going there?" (Mizuha)

   "I will but after 6 PM. I have some work." (Takeshi)

   "Okay. Thank you." (Mizuha)

   "Wait, what are you going to do?" (Takeshi)

   "You'll see." (Mizuha)

    She did a 'thumps up' gesture to me and left....

                                ♤

    When I arrived at my part time job, Sekiguchi was already there. Mayaka-san instructed me to the work I needed to do.

    Here let me say something about Mayaka-san. She is a beautiful woman, probably in her late 20s. It was her father's canteen. After his sudden death, she decided to take the responsibility of his.

   "Um... Mayaka-san?" (Takeshi)

   "Yeah?" (Mayaka)

   "I know this canteen isn't big but it still needs more than two workers. I don't think Yuuta and I are enough." (Takeshi)

   "Don't worry. There is one more worker. She didn't come yesterday because of illness. She will come today." (Mayaka)

   "Oh really? Who is she?" (Takeshi)

   "She is 1st year university student. Her name is Kurumi. So she's older than you. You can try to capture her heart ♡. Because she's still single." (Mayaka)

   "Nah I'm already taken." (Takeshi)

   "Fufu.. it was just a joke." (Mayaka)

   "I'm so jealous of you, Kimura." (Sekiguchi)

   "I know." (Takeshi)

   "You f*cker even bragging! Damn I too want a girlfriend!" (Sekiguchi)

   "Here she comes!" (Mayaka)

   As Mayaka-san said, Kurumi-san entered our canteen. She was a rather plain looking girl, wearing glasses. However, every one has her own charm, and should not be judged by their looks.

   "Um... is he a new?" (Kurumi)

   "Yeah. His name is Takeshi Kimura." (Mayaka)

   "Nice to meet you, Kimura-kun." (Kurumi)

   She greeted me and went to her work. Sekiguchi tugged my sleeves.

   "Oi. I want to ask you something." (Sekiguchi)

   "Yeah?" (Takeshi)

   "That girl, Mizuha. She too has a boyfriend now, right?" (Sekiguchi)

   He asked with a poker face, but I could feel he was in full pain.

   "Well... I'll tell you but first answer me something." (Takeshi)

   "What?" (Sekiguchi)

   "What is the history between you and Mizuha?" (Takeshi)

   "W-Well.... We studied together in middle school." (Sekiguchi)

   "And....?" (Takeshi)

    "I... confessed to her... on our graduation day." (Sekiguchi)

    "Then got rejected, right?" (Takeshi)

    "No, she told me that she'd think about it." (Sekiguchi)

    "Eh?" (Takeshi)

    That wasn't in the script. I thought she would flat out reject him because of her love to Reiji.

   "So she thought about it?" (Takeshi)

   "Yeah.... for 10 seconds. Then she rejected me." (Sekiguchi)

    "........." (Takeshi)

    Well that was more embarrassing than getting instantly rejected.

    I sympathise with him. I remember getting rejected from Izumi-san before I even confessed¹chapter 4.

   "Well... she doesn't have a boyfriend right now." (Takeshi)

   "Eh? Isn't it in the rules to have a boyfriend?" (Sekiguchi)

   "It's a looooonggggg story. I'll tell you some other day." (Takeshi)

   Meanwhile, people were keep coming here. We needed to keep doing our work.

   At this moment, I saw three people entering.

   "Eh?" (Takeshi)

   "What happened, Kimura?" (Sekiguchi)

   "Ah... no. Nothing." (Takeshi)

    WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE? DIDN'T THEY SAY THEY WILL STUDY AT IZUMI-SAN'S HOME? 

    

Izumi Riko:

   "The coffee here is usually fantastic!" (Reiji)

   "You know we were supposed to study now right?" (Sanae)

   "Come on. We need a refreshment after a day of school." (Reiji)

   "Okay. But now we will go back and study till 9 PM." (Sanae)

   "H-Hey it's harsh!" (Reiji)

   So just like that, we are right now in the coffee shop which is in front of my apartment. Mahiru was fuming first because Reiji-san was trying to skip studying. But in the end, she gave up.

   We took a usual table with four chairs. Mahiru and Reiji-san sat on one side. I sat on the other side.... alone.

   "Okay, what should we order?" (Reiji)

   "First tell me, do you remember the physics we were taught today?" (Sanae)

   "Oh come on. Here right now?" (Reiji)

   "What are elastic and inelastic collisions?" (Sanae)

    "When two bodies collide with each other... um... if we bump with each other, it might be elastic... ouch!" (Reiji)

   "Naughty Miyano-kun! I don't hate it though. Should we try out!?" (Sanae)

   Jeez.... I'm feeling extremely lonely right now seeing them flirting. I expected this but still can't endure it.

   If only Takeshi-san was here.... I would also have fun. Whenever he is with me, my mood brightens. His jokes, his stories, his voice... I love everything of him.

   Where are you, Takeshi-san?

Takeshi Kimura:

   "Oi Kimura! Take the order from the three people there." (Sekiguchi)

   "M-Me? Why not you?" (Takeshi)

   "Eh? Why are you fumbling?" (Sekiguchi)

   I really don't know. Why am I getting tensed? There's no problem at all if they know I'm working here. 

   "Anyway, if you don't want to, then I'm going to take the order. You go to that person then." (Sekiguchi)

   "Thanks." (Takeshi)

    I went to take the order from another person who was sitting alone on a table near them.

    I was wearing a cap. So they wouldn't probably notice me if I keep my head down.

    It was a girl who was sitting alone there. She was also wearing a hat so I couldn't see her face.

   "What's your order miss?" (Takeshi)

   "Just a regular coffee." (??)

   "Okay." (Takeshi)

   Her voice looked a little bit familiar to me. Anyway I was about to leave, then she suddenly grabbed my arm.

   "Eh?" (Takeshi)

   "Shhhhh..." (??)

    She indicated me to shut up and then slowly opened her hat to reveal her face.

   "M-Mizuha????" (Takeshi)

    Are you guys playing hide and seek here?