After walking out of the hotel, the temperature outside was a bit low, but for the two people who came from the northeast, this temperature could not be said to be cold.
Naruse looked back and saw that at the end of Shijo Street, the west tower gate of Yasaka Shrine was still conspicuous in the dark night.
The starfish in the field of vision also turned around, wondering what he was looking at.
"It's okay. Let's go."
She followed.
Along Shijo Street, the two of them walked in the direction of Shijo Bridge.
Near the South Tower, there is a small road running north and south, and the skewers shop they want to go to is there.
It's late at night, there are no people on the road, and occasionally taxis will drive by.
When they reached the intersection of Hanamikoji, a taxi turned a corner and slowed down to pass in front of the two people who stopped.
The back seat window was open, and the geisha in the car noticed the eyes outside and smiled at the two of them.
"..."
Looking at each other and leaving, it just happened in the blink of an eye. Naruse didn't look too much and crossed the intersection and continued forward.
His eyes followed the taxi and looked into the Hanami path. Haixing's steps were a little slower, but he quickly followed him, keeping a few steps away from him.
The two met in front of the hotel elevator.
He said he was going to eat skewers, and then he actually invited her to read a book with him
And she actually agreed.
——When I later realized that there were only two of them and Guang didn’t follow me, I didn’t know how to say the rejection.
Eat more skewers and communicate less, Haixing secretly told himself.
After walking forward for a while, Naruse looked back at the next intersection and said, "This way."
She follows.
After walking for two or three minutes, they found their destination opposite a small parking lot.
【Kushiyaki Taro】
A red lantern with text printed on it is hidden among the dark green branches and leaves, guiding the entrance of the skewers shop.
"This is it."
"Well..."
After opening the warm curtain and going in, they walked through a narrow but not long passage. When several people looked at them at the same time, both Naruse and Haixing were stunned for a moment.
There were several people sitting inside, with different ages and genders. The only thing they had in common was that they were all holding mobile phones. Their eyes turned on the faces of the two people who had just arrived, and then lowered their eyes soon.
When a young man dressed as a store clerk came up to him, Naruse understood the current situation.
"Looks like we still have to queue up...Business is so good."
The two of them could only find a place to sit down and wait for a vacant seat.
After a few minutes, five or six people walked out, loudly speaking in an unintelligible language, and left the skewers shop.
It sounded like Korean, Naruse thought, they must be tourists.
The clerk came out quickly and greeted the first few customers to come in.
Only Naruse and Haisei were left outside again.
While waiting, Naruse opened the map on his mobile phone and looked at it. Apart from the Kushiyaki Taro, the nearest Kushiyaki restaurant is across the Kamogawa River.
It would take time to walk there, and he didn't know if he would have to queue up. He endured his hunger and gave up his plan to change stores.
Putting away his thoughts, Naruse looked at the starfish sitting next to him.
They met in the elevator and saw that she was also hungry, so he invited her casually. He didn't expect that she would agree so happily - although she showed hesitation on the way over.
Yesterday while boating in Arashiyama, the two of them had a lot of exchanges due to some opportunities. Although the first part was a bit intense, overall the atmosphere was pretty good.
But at night, an unintentional stare at a Kawaramachi drugstore reminded the two of them of some past events, and the atmosphere between them fell into an unspeakable embarrassment.
Deliberately ignoring that past and pretending that they are just step-siblings who once had a bad relationship, no matter how much more is piled on top of it, it is still false.
But it is even more difficult to bring it up now.
He has to admit the mistakes he made confidently at the time.
And she always avoids it, probably not willing to listen.
"..."
Starfish, who was bored waiting, suddenly looked here.
After looking at each other, she quickly looked away.
Naruse pursed his lips, becoming more certain about his judgment.
"The clerk just said that some tables are almost finished, so you shouldn't have to wait too long."
"...Hmm."
"Where did Starfish and Hikaru have dinner?"
Haixing was silent for a moment and tilted his head towards him, "There is a fried pork cutlet restaurant over there at the hotel."
"Really? How does it taste?"
"It's delicious! ...No, that's okay." She paused, "I only ate a little."
Naruse nodded and didn't say much. It took him a while to realize what she was trying to hide by explaining.
"After all, it's already very late now."
"Ah?...Hmm."
After waiting for another ten minutes, a few middle-aged diners finally came out of the store. Soon, the clerk called them in.
After we were seated, the clerk brought us a menu and said that the consumption requirement in the store is that each person orders at least one drink.
Before coming here, Naruse had already understood this through the information on the map, and ordered a cup of peach-flavored Calpis sparkling water.
The same goes for starfish.
Looking at the menu, Naruse ordered the store's signature skewers platter, and ordered a portion of fried chicken crispy bones and bibimbap. Seeing that Haixing ordered Tamagoyaki, he also ordered an additional portion.
He is really hungry.
"Just do whatever you want. Since I'm the one who brought you here, let me treat you."
"Oh."
Haixing looked at the menu again, and there was nothing extra besides a dish of braised beef with green onions.
After placing the order, the two began to wait.
Enduring hunger, the aroma of food kept coming from all around, and Naruse looked around.
The interior of the skewers shop is not large. In addition to the few people waiting in line with them just now, there are also a few customers who look like office workers who come here to drink.
"...The section chief came to see me this afternoon and said that he planned to send me to the office in Kyushu. He also said that the director and the director had the same intention, so he had no choice but to let me go... Sigh."<
/p>
"Kyushu... isn't it pretty good? If you go there, you'll be the boss there."
"I want to be the boss of a rural office over there. I don't have many people under my command, and my salary only gets a little increase. I might as well stay in Kyoto."
"That's not what you said... Come, have a drink. You're not married anyway, so you might as well agree and don't embarrass the minister."
"Why did senior say that..."
"Otherwise, why do you think I want to bring you over for a drink today? If you don't go, I will have to go. I just got married this year!"
"Why is this-"
The office workers were just chatting, and Naruse was worried about the skewers on their plates.
Fortunately, he didn't wait too long, and the skewers platter was served quickly.
The freshly grilled meat skewers were steaming hot. Naruse first picked up a skewer of roasted beef with green onions and took a bite.
The teriyaki beef is extremely tender, with a hint of sweetness from miso in the gravy, and the chopped green onions sprinkled on top are crispy and fragrant.
"..."
Starfish opposite looked at it blankly, then glanced aside. Her portion hadn't been delivered yet.
After biting off a piece of beef, Naruse pushed the plate toward her, "Eat first."
Then she picked up a bunch of bacon rolls and ate them.
Next came the crispy bones of fried chicken, each piece fried to golden brown and served on a bamboo plate, along with two sliced lemons.
"Would you like a squeeze of lemon juice?" Naruse asked.
Haixing was startled and shook his head subconsciously.
"Then I won't add it."
Putting the lemon aside, he picked up a piece of fried chicken crispy bone and put it into his mouth. It tasted good and was very chewy.
"Eat it, it tastes pretty good."
Starfish also picked up a piece of fried chicken crispy bone and tasted it, and then picked up another piece.
Seeing her constantly glancing at the lemon put aside while eating, Naruse felt helpless.
"It's better to squeeze some lemon juice, it's a bit greasy."
"Eh... ok."
Starfish picked up a few pieces of fried chicken crispy bones and put them in his bowl, then squeezed some lemon juice on them.
"Since you're out for a late-night snack, just be casual."
She raised her head, and Naruse was immersed in tearing the skewers in his mouth without looking at her.
After eating two skewers of meat and a few pieces of crispy fried chicken, Naruse felt a little tired of the taste, so the two of them were served Calpis sparkling water.
Starfish's eyes opened wider and she was also looking forward to it.
As soon as she picked it up, Naruse also picked up her cup. The two looked at each other, and she stared at her cup again and moved forward.
"..."
Naruse was startled for a moment, then moved forward to clink glasses with her.
There was no "cheers", the glasses on both sides just collided lightly and made a low sound.
Gudu——
Take a big sip of peach-flavored Calpis sparkling water to get rid of the greasiness.
Starfish licked her lips and smiled unconsciously.
"Calpis and sparkling water are paired together, and the texture and taste are pretty good."
"Hmm!"
After taking another sip to soak in water, Naruse stopped being polite and picked up the skewers to eat.
He hasn't eaten for more than ten hours, and now he just wants to fill his stomach.