(Could it be a "stub" after all...!!?)

Yuito, who came to have lunch, had a look of agony on his face.

The store that Yuito and the others came to is "Starbucks." It's a coffee chain with locations all over the country.

However, the glass-walled interior, where the decor is visible, is a stylish and sparkling space.

At the window, he can see a stylish-looking university student with a laptop open.

That place is an absolute domain that repels introverts. To outsiders, it looks like a death trap.

He never thought the day would come when he would enter a place like this.

(It's okay, I'm not alone... It's okay...)

Yuito follows Kirika into the store like a newly hatched chick.

When he entered the store, the aroma of coffee enveloped him.

(Ah, they're getting a seat first...)

As soon as he enters the store, he can see the order counter, but it seems they head to their seat first.

The number of customers in the store is moderate. There are a few empty seats here and there.

When they arrived at the sofa seats in the corner of the shop, Kirika called out to Hakari.

"I'll place the order all at once, so Hakari-chan, you can sit down first."

"Thank you."

Encouraged by Kirika, Hakari moved to the back of the sofa seat.

The morning breeze places the luggage in front.

(Where should I sit... oh...)

As Yuito was unsure where to sit, Hakari met his gaze and patted the seat next to him.

"Please sit next to me."

That's what she's saying, right?

Yuito sits on the sofa according to Hakari.

"...Tch."

When Yuito slid onto the sofa, Arai clicked his tongue.

He's approaching the sofa halfway.

Arai was trying to sit next to Hakari, but it seems he was beaten to it by Yuito.

Arai, having given up, sits next to Asakaze.

"Alright, everyone, tell me your orders!"

Kirika picks up her smartphone and calls out.

Asakaze and Arai ordered with familiar ease. Asakaze was even reciting a long incantation.

The sense of being used to it is incredible. They're serious about it...

"What will Yuito and the others have?"

"I don't know the menu, so I'll leave it up to Kirika-san's recommendation."

"Oh, I'm the same way..."

"Roger that! I'll tell you what my number one favorite is!"

Kirika shows her enthusiasm and determination.

However, Yuito suddenly realizes. It's cruel to impose five people's orders on one person. It would be better to help.

Yuito gets up.

"Oh, I'll help you carry the order."

"Haha, it's okay, just sit down. By the way, why don't you introduce yourself? I know everyone's faces and names, but the others don't, right?"

"Indeed..."

After that, while waiting for the order to arrive, Yuito and the others finished their self-introductions.

The prince-like Asakaze is "Asakaze Tooru." The rough-and-tumble Arai is "Arai Shinya."

While they were confirming each other's names, Kirika came back carrying two trays.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting… Whoa!?"

However, a young child suddenly ran out at Kirika's feet.

Kirika, who couldn't see her feet due to the tray and her chest, was startled and lost her balance.

If she keeps going like this, she will fall.

"Oops, are you okay?"

"Ah, Yuito-kun...?"

However, Yuito, who stood up instinctively, caught the tray and Kirika.

Since both his hands were occupied with the tray, he had to cleverly bend his arms to catch Kirika, and it ended up looking like a ballroom dance pose.

Their faces were so close that their lips almost touched. He could see Kirika's long, slender eyelashes. Behind them, her eyes shone with a feverish glimmer.

"I'm sorry about my child...!!"

"No, we're fine. Please be more careful next time."

"I'm really sorry. I'm sorry!!"

A woman who seemed like a mother came and picked up the child.

He went back to his seat and scolded him, saying, "You can't just move around freely."

"All the products are safe too, right?"

Yuito regained his composure and placed the tray on the table.

At first glance, there are no damaged products. It should be fine since he caught her that way.

Kirika stands next to Yuito and checks the products.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Yuito-kun, thank you."

"Good."

If he had caught it roughly and the product had fallen apart, it would have been a kneeling apology situation.

Products from stylish stores like this can't be messed up until they take a photo and post it on SNS.

It's that thing called "bae."

He doesn't know, though.

From the perspective of a socially awkward person like Yuito, that's just a fantasy.

Yuito let out a sigh of relief and sat down.

In the meantime, each person takes the items they ordered.

"This one is for Yuito-kun, and this one is the one I ordered for Hakari-chan. Hakari-chan's drink is a frappuccino with the same arrangement I had. It's super delicious!"

Kirika presents the product in front of Yuito and the others.

What Kirika ordered for Yuito was a sandwich with filling between long, narrow bread and―.

(Damn it... I didn't tell her I can't drink black coffee...!?)

No way, black coffee.

When he thinks of "stub," he imagines coffee that tastes like sweet desserts.

He never expected someone would order a straight-up black coffee.

Yuito has a child's palate, so he normally dislikes bitter things.

His favorite foods are curry, hamburgers, and sushi.

(Ugh... it's bitter...)

Yuito drinks coffee with his eyes squinting.

It's properly bitter. But it feels wrong to leave it.

As he struggled to drink the bitter coffee, Hakari whispered in his ear.

"Could it be that you don't like black coffee?"

When someone whispers in his ear, it surprises him, so he wants her to stop.

Maybe it's that ASMR thing.

"Yeah. I'm not really good at it..."

"Well then, I'll trade you mine."

"Eh, is that okay?"

"I don't mind black either."

―Oh, she's so mature...

Hakari makes him feel like she's 20% more beautiful. She looks like a capable career woman.

Well, just because she can drink black coffee doesn't mean she can work well.

"Thank you."

"No, thank you."

"?"

When Hakari received the coffee from Yuito, she smiled softly and said, "Hehe."

She was holding the coffee carefully with both hands.

Does she really like black coffee that much?

While Yuito was tilting his head in confusion, Kirika tapped him on the shoulder.

"Yuito-kun, do you want to try my frappuccino too? Let's have a taste test together!"

"Uh, didn't you say you ordered the same arrangement?"

"...Oh no!?"

Kirika clutches her head in frustration. Hakari drinks black coffee with a smile.

Asakaze and Arai furrowed their brows and watched the two.

What is this space?

After that, Yuito enjoyed his first stub while being all flustered.

Chapter 6: Black Is Impossible