bookbashuk Page 158
Page 158
But for some reason, after being pulled back by Qingye, she might...
I really don't want to leave.
"Aoba-kun..."
"Try it first."
Aoba didn't say anything to comfort her; she just raised her coffee cup and gestured towards her.
"..."
The girl sat down again and stared at the coffee in front of her for a long time before finally picking up the seemingly ordinary coffee and taking a sip.
All of a sudden——
The girl's face scrunched up.
“It’s so bitter~”
"Haha, add some milk or sugar."
Aoba pushed the sugar jar over.
Since it's a café in Akihabara, the usual sugar bowls are still there.
"Well--"
With a bitter taste in her mouth, the girl added a lot of sugar to her coffee cup.
Only then did I cautiously give it a try.
Only after finding that the taste was about right did I finally take a big gulp.
How's the coffee?
"It doesn't taste very good...it's similar to Chinese medicine."
"It's bitter and astringent, with a slightly sour taste. Most people wouldn't like this flavor."
Aoba looked towards the front desk.
There were quite a few coffee machines there.
It is one of the more well-regarded coffee shops in Akihabara.
Using freshly ground coffee beans is the standard practice.
"But as you can see, people are still coming into the store in a steady stream."
Hisako crossed her arms, her expression somber, and looked up at the welcoming lights emanating from the shop entrance.
I didn't feel anything was wrong.
Isn't that why coffee is so popular? (Read super exciting novels at Feilu Novel Network!)
"Even if it tastes bitter, it's still very popular."
Aoba held her coffee, her eyelashes slightly curved, and looked at the girl opposite her.
"It's like Chinese herbal medicine dishes; although the taste may not be great, they will ultimately have a better effect than other dishes."
"But Chinese medicine is still Chinese medicine. Its bitter taste can't compare to other dishes. It... is at most an accompaniment."
The girl looked at Aoba with a very serious expression.
This is something she has been learning since she was a child.
Even though the family pursues a balance between pharmacology and dietary supplements, the addition of medicinal herbs means that the taste of the dish will eventually be bitter.
"even..."
"Sometimes it's not even as good as a supporting role."
Hisako Shinto is well aware of this.
That's why she willingly became Erina's foil when she was chosen by her.
Hoping...
One day, I hope that my own Chinese herbal dishes, served as a accompaniment, will make the culinary world understand that pharmacology is not worthless.
But now, Lady Erina is becoming more and more dazzling.
Sometimes she even doubted whether she was qualified to be a supporting character.
Perhaps... it's time to just leave.
The girl lowered her head, watching the faint ripples appearing in the coffee cup.
I feel very complicated.
She wanted to ask Aoba for help, as his cooking skills would definitely help her improve significantly.
but. . .
it's useless.
Snapped!
The girl's voice was as low as that of an abandoned puppy.
A sudden, slight pain in her forehead jolted her awake, and she looked up at Qingye with a somewhat aggrieved expression.
"Hey--"
Aoba sighed helplessly.
The girl in front of me was clearly stuck in an emotional dead end.
Coupled with Erina Nakiri's dazzling aura, she became increasingly insecure.
This is completely different from the secretary who dared to touch him inappropriately in the car back then.
"What's the accompaniment?"
"A hundred dishes, a hundred flavors..."
"The scope of cuisine is already broad, so why limit ourselves to just a few flavors?"
Aoba has a knack for dealing with these confused kids who get stuck in a rut.
They paid the bill quickly and efficiently, then headed straight out with their slightly dazed secretary.
"Eh?!"
Hisako was clearly still in the dark, and was pulled away by Aoba without understanding what was going on.
"Where...are we going?"
"Go to Aonosuke Street."
"Is Aoba-kun going back?"
"Ah."
"Okay then, I'll take you there."
The secretary was clearly still confused and thought that Aoba was impatient and wanted to go home directly, so she nodded with an even more downcast expression.
And once again, he sat in a luxury car.
Aoba sat in the passenger seat, leaning back and looking at his secretary next to him.
"Why didn't you use a driver this time?"
His question made Hisako's sullen face flush instantly, and she even paused in fastening her seatbelt.
Seeing Hisako's expression, Aoba nodded with amusement.
"I understand."
Hisako, looking at Aoba's smile, felt even more conflicted and complicated.
you understood?
What do you know?!
The accelerator pedal he pressed seemed to transform into Aoba's still-smiling face.
"Cough cough~"
When he got out of the car, Aoba finally caught his breath and looked at his secretary, who had grunted at him twice:
"Driving that fast?"
"That's almost it? I haven't even put in the effort yet!"
The girl seemed to have put her earlier unpleasantness behind her. After watching Qingye get off the car, she bit her lip and prepared to turn around and leave.
"Hey!"
"Aoba-kun, is there anything else?"
"Of course I have. To thank Miss Shinto for going to all the trouble of bringing me back, I naturally want to repay her properly."
Aoba chuckled and knocked on the car window:
"Wait a moment, I'll be right back."
After saying that, he walked directly towards the entrance of Aonosuke Street.
Hisako was left completely bewildered, having no idea what Aoba was trying to do.
"Sanae-san!"
"Hey!? Aoba, what are you doing here today?!"
"Uncle Furukawa, where's Sanae-nee?"
"I'm right here, what can't you tell me about 460?!"
"I want to buy a special bread made by Sanae-nee."
"...Never mind, Sanae, Aoba's here to buy bread!"
Hisako, who had been waiting in the car for less than ten minutes, was about to open the manga pocket slightly to take a look.
As a result, the car window was knocked on.