The Holy Grail (Yanami Anna) [Side Story]

"—Yanami, do you have any recommendations for a good ice cream shop?"

"Heh," I grinned. "finally starting to believe in my unparalleled expertise? Like I said, my talents are legit, but you just don't believe me! Go on, Ayanokouji-kun, praise me more."

Though his expression remained as bland as plain tofu, I could guess that he was reluctant to ask this after I dragged him to that dessert shop yesterday. We'd sampled some overpriced parfaits, and I could tell—because I'm just very observant—that he enjoyed them very much. Ayanokouji-kun had practically inhaled the parfait.

We strolled through Shinkou District, a part of town filled with narrow streets, warm yellow lanterns hanging above us like miniature suns, and the faint hum of cicadas in the air.

It was peak summer, so ice cream was practically a survival necessity. Ayanokouji-kun really understands his assignment.

Ayanokouji-kun had his hands shoved in his pockets, his gaze drifting between shop signs, vending machines, and the occasional stray cat.

—indeed, I couldn't let him just shuffle through life ignoring the finer things—like ice cream. Besides, watching him eat something delicious was a rare treat. His usual poker face cracked just enough to reveal that, yes, this stone-faced guy was human after all.

People said I was quick to move on from Sousuke. One moment I was sobbing into my pillow, the next I was out with Ayanokouji-kun, laughing and snapping photos of parfaits. "Wow, Yanami, didn't even wait a week?" they'd say. Ugh, jerks.

No one got it! Just because I was smiling didn't mean I wasn't hurting, okay?! 

Besides, Ayanokouji wasn't a rebound or anything. He was... a friend. A very uncooperative, sarcastic friend.

He sometimes creeped me out with his never changing look on his face, but he's still a friend anyway. He's quite sensitive, despite everything his aura gave—'oh, and a good place to vent out your emotions.'

We reached Cream Sanctuary before long. The place had the atmosphere of a dessert lover's paradise: pastel décor, soft jazz playing in the background, and glass cases filled with ice cream so vibrant it was like staring into a rainbow. 

As a certified sweet-tooth extraordinaire, this is a legitimate heaven...!

"So, what'll it be?" I asked, bouncing as we approached the counter.

"Vanilla."

"...Vanilla?"

He blinked.

"Is that a problem?"

"Ayanokouji-kun, do you have any idea how basic that is? You're like the guy who orders plain toast at a gourmet bakery."

"Toast is fine if it's well-made," he defended.

"That's your point?!" I pressed my hands to my temples. "Fine. Get your vanilla. But I'm ordering...this, this, aaaand this."

I ended up with three 'massive' scoops of strawberry cheesecake, salted caramel, and lavender honey. It's just not complete if not more than one. Ayanokouji stared at my tray like it personally offended him.

"Isn't that a bit excessive?"

"Excessive? My metabolism is a literal furnace, Ayanokouji-kun. Besides, I skipped breakfast, so technically, this balances out."

"Skipping breakfast doesn't erase the calories in three massive scoops of ice cream."

"Are you a dietician now?"

"I just pay attention in biology class," he said, already taking a bite of his vanilla ice cream.

'Oh, there it is.'

His expression softened—not much, but enough for me to notice the tiniest flicker of contentment in his eyes. I had to capture it. Subtly, of course.

'Click.'

I checked my phone. Perfect. A candid shot of Ayanokouji enjoying his vanilla ice cream, looking almost like a normal human being. Almost.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his tone as neutral as usual.

"Just updating my feed," I said, feigning nonchalance.

He raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. The post was up within seconds:

"Hanging out with a total ice cream snob 🍦😒 #VanillaLife #CreamSanctuary #Blessed"

I grinned. I'll let them have a treat as well— especially my classmates.

I couldn't care less about them assuming something outrageous about our 'relationships' by this point. As a mater of fact, I'll make them jealous by seemingly getting him first before anyone else! Get that!

"Another scoop, please!"

I called the staff after finishing my tray.

"You're ordering more?" Ayanokouji's tone didn't rise, but I could feel the judgment radiating off him.

"Oh, relax, Ayanokouji-kun. I have this super-secret trick to burn calories."

"...Which is?"

"I'll just drink a gallon of green tea when I get home. It speeds up your metabolism."

"You're more likely to end up running to the bathroom every five minutes by doing that."

"That sounds so nasty...!"

"But accurate."

"Green tea has antioxidants, though—that counts for something, right? Health benefits!"

"If your plan is to offset three 'massive' scoops of ice cream with green tea, you're better off just running laps around the block—but you don't seem like you can even do that much."

"That's irrelevant...!" I snapped, grabbing my phone to avoid his gaze. "B-Besides, I have other methods."

"Like?"

"Uh..." I scrambled for an answer. "Like... stretching exercises! Yoga! That kind of thing."

"Stretching won't burn the hundreds of calories you just inhaled."

"Why do you even know this stuff?! Are you even a fitness trainer?!"

"I just read."

"Ugh. You're like a walking encyclopedia of disappointment," I muttered under my breath.

"You're the disappointment," he shot back.

We left the ice cream shop after I ordered one more scoop (which Ayanokouji reluctantly paid for, grumbling something about bankruptcy). The night air was cool and refreshing, a pleasant contrast to the sweetness lingering on my tongue.

"—still," I said, trying to reclaim some ground, "you have to admit that eating ice cream with me is at least a little fun. Right?"

He glanced at me, his face unreadable. 

"...Define fun."

"Come on, you're clearly enjoying yourself. I even caught you smiling earlier, Ayanokouji-kun."

"I wasn't smiling."

"You totally were."

He sighed, his patience thinning. 

"If you mean that brief moment when I tasted the ice cream, that wasn't a smile. It was a natural reaction to the flavor."

"So you admit you liked it!"

"That's a strange thing to celebrate."

"Not at all," I said, walking a little ahead of him and turning back dramatically. "It's proof that even you have a soul, Ayanokouji-kun!"

He didn't respond, though I noticed his pace quicken as if to leave me behind. "Wait!" I screamed.

He really is rude!

***

While walking through Sumisora Ward's quiet streets, I pulled out my phone to review the photo I'd taken earlier—it really was perfect...

If not for his personality, Ayanokouji-kun will be quite popular among girls with the help of his looks—though, honestly, when I actually talk with him, it's not even that bad. He's frank, and I liked it. He is a considerate guy, seemed rich, appreciate nice foods, and—

"Yanami." 

"Huh?" 

"You're walking into a pole."

"—ugh?!" 

I didn't manage to stop myself in time and slammed the lamppost head-on.

I touched my forehead while cringing. It hurts.

He sighed.

"Maybe focus on where you're going instead of obsessing over your phone."

"I-I wasn't obsessing! I was just, uh, strategizing something, okay?!"

"Strategizing your next calorie-burning secret trick?"

"You'll never let that go, will you?"

"No."

By the time we reached the train station, I was feeling lighthearted—and yes, despite his endless sarcasm. Maybe it was the ice cream, or maybe it was just him. I can't really tell.

"Thanks for the treat, Ayanokouji-kun," I said as we waited for the train. "You're really not as bad as people think."

"Was that supposed to be a praise?"

I nudged him playfully. "Just admit it. You had fun."

He didn't answer, but the smallest twitch of his lips gave him away. I smiled to myself—'mission accomplished... I guess?'