CH 11

11 – Dinner with a beautiful PR lady!

[Pear compote and pear pound cake…… pretty.]

Mamiya-san and I were having a casual chat while enjoying our after-dinner dessert. Mamiya-san is as bright and chatty as she always is.

I hardly ever spoke to girls while I was at university, and even after I joined my current company, the engineers are mostly boys, and the only ones who get involved are the sisters in the general affairs department.

Most of the ladies in the general affairs department are wives. They are probably closer in age to my mother.

I often get involved with the general affairs department in relation to setting up computers and downloading applications, so they are relatively affectionate towards me.

[Come to think of it, do you like coffee, Fujishiro-san?.]

[Well, yes. When I’m stuck at work, I often go to a coffee shop near the office.]

Mamiya-san swallows her pound cake and then fiddles with her phone while muttering, ‘Maybe it’s ……

[Is it here?]

She showed her a picture.

[Yeah, I thought it was pretty hard to find.]

[I love coffee…]

Are you a little drunk?　Mamiya-san’s cheeks were a little red. Ah, what should I do on my way home? Where does Mamiya-san live?

＊＊＊

Finally, it’s time for the bill to arrive. I decided on the restaurant, so I’ll pay. I tried to be cool and say “I’ll pay”, but Mamiya-san was staring at me with an amazing expression on her face. I’m like a cat that’s been discovered by an enemy.

I feel like I’m about to be scratched.

[I’m a year older than you!]

[No, but Mamiya-san is a woman.]

[Before. I’m a woman, I’m her senior!　And we’re having dessert!]

Oh …… What should I say back? The most important thing to remember is that the best way to get the most out of your car is to make sure that it is a good one.

The most important thing to remember is that the best way to get the most out of your car is to make sure it’s a good one.

[*kusu*kusu* Split it with *Kusu*…….]

[Then, Mamiya-san, it’s 4,000 yen.]

Mamiya-san took out some notes from her branded wallet and put them on the counter. The first thing that comes to my mind is the fact that I am a man and I am attacked by my own pettiness.

[Thank you for the food. May I come again?]

[Sure. Next time, make a reservation and come back.]

After thanking Mariko and my brother, Mamiya and I were to return together to the nearest station. In terms of direction, we split up at the station as we were on different lines.

Of course, we don’t invite each other out as it’s a working relationship. Mamiya-san seems a bit drunk and I’m worried about her.

[Um. It’s not that I don’t see Fujishiro-san up as a man.]

Mamiya-san stopped on a quiet street just before the main road from the residential area and turned back to me and said.

[If  Fujishiro-san bought me a drink today, I thought it would burden you. and…]

[Burden, that’s not true, though, you know?]

[–It’s different.  I want to go out to dinner with Fujishiro-san more in the future. So if I ask you to pay for it all, and if it becomes the norm for you to pay for it, I’m afraid you won’t go out to dinner with me anymore.]

–An angel!

How humble Mamiya-san is, while there are a lot of guys who want to go out to dinner with Mamiya-san even if they have to pay a lot of extra money.

No, this is not a relationship based on the premise of a girlfriend, so is it any wonder?

[Then, will you continue to go on dinner with me?.]

[Of course!]

I don’t understand, but I can’t deny it, so I nodded. Mamiya-san smiles and scuttles over to stand next to me.

[Where shall we go for lunch tomorrow? !　Fujishiro san’s all free for lunch time this week, right?　Ah, but at least one day. A picture of your lunch would be more favourable, wouldn’t it?　And, yes. Or maybe even the basement of a department store would be nice. and….]

Mamiya-san started talking like a machine gun.