For some reason, the saint of our school drops her façade when she's with me (GL) - Chapter 14

Sunday arrived, bringing with it the mixed emotions of joy and despair over our test results.

That morning, I woke up earlier than usual.

Since we’d be eating out today, there was no need for me to prepare a lunchbox, making this early rising completely unnecessary. But I couldn’t risk oversleeping and being late.

“Guess I’ll start with a shower.”

Slipping out of my sleepwear, I wandered into the bathroom and let the hot water cascade over me.

There’s just something about an early morning shower—it always feels amazing.

I had already bathed the night before, but since I had drained the tub, I couldn’t soak in it again.

Still, this was the best way to wake myself up.

I wouldn’t call myself particularly fastidious or germophobic, but I do enjoy baths.

Though, that wasn’t always the case.

There was a time when I was afraid of them.

I had been forcibly held down with my face submerged in a water-filled basin more than once.

Of course, my kind-hearted uncle would never do such a thing. That had been my mother.

Even now, the memory of being pressed down so hard that I felt like I was suffocating still terrified me.

At the time, though, I was too focused on avoiding my mother’s erratic behavior to even process the fear properly.

“You know, this used to happen to me a lot.”

She had once laughed as she said that.

Now I recognize it for what it was—some kind of twisted play—but as a child, it had left deep-seated terror.

When I stepped out of the bathroom and began drying my hair, I noticed a message on my phone.

One was from Mizuki.

“Good luck on your date~”

It’s not a date… but whatever.

The next message was from the Saint.

She had sent nothing but a cheerful, excited-looking character sticker.

I guess that meant she was looking forward to it.

Smiling, I searched for a similar sticker and sent one back.

A few seconds later, she read the message and responded with another sticker.

Not wanting to lose, I sent another.

And thus began an impromptu sticker war.

It wasn’t until several exchanges in that I realized—she was up this early too.

The sun had barely risen. Even if she were an early riser, waking up an hour later would still count as early.

Could it be that she was like me in this regard?

“No way,” I chuckled to myself.

After lounging around for a bit, I headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

Bread would do.

I poured myself some corn soup.

Brewed some coffee.

Added a little salad on the side and turned on a video while I ate.

Apparently, my favorite content creator had uploaded something while I was asleep.

I’ve always liked those slow-paced commentary videos—especially the ones where characters from the Eastern style of animation talk like relaxed little buns.

Smiling to myself as I watched, I finished my meal, then styled my hair and changed clothes.

I’m not particularly into fashion.

But with a fashion-conscious friend nearby, I’ve picked up a few pointers.

Not that I want to dress up—I just stick to the basics. But on days like this, I’m glad I have some guidance.

“Fashion, huh?”

Normally, I’d stop here.

But for some reason, I felt like doing something extra today.

I glanced at my fingers, then rummaged through my drawer, trying to remember where I had put it.

Checking the time, I saw that I still had enough to spare.

It would be a close call, but once the idea struck me, I couldn’t let it go.

Following the method Mizuki had taught me, I decided to give it a try.

We had decided to meet at a specific location today.

The meeting time: 10 AM.

The place: the plaza next to the escalator outside the train station.

I had planned to leave early, but I ended up taking longer than expected.

Still, I managed to arrive just barely 30 minutes ahead of schedule.

Relieved, I waited.

And soon enough, my companion arrived.

Even amidst the moderately busy Sunday morning crowd, her presence was impossible to overlook.

Her silver hair—strikingly beautiful and uncharacteristic of a typical Japanese person—shimmered in the sunlight as she moved. Her heterochromatic eyes locked onto me, and she hurried over.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“I just got here myself.”

At my words, the Saint broke into a bright smile.

“A classic line for meetups, isn’t it?”

“Pretty much. Wait, does that mean you got here earlier?”

“Yes. I took a slight detour just so I could hear you say it.”

Ah, that was so like her.

“Still, I’m surprised.”

“About what?”

“Your nails. Is that nail polish?”

“Ah… yeah, sort of.”

I hadn’t done anything extravagant—just something simple to avoid damaging my nails. But I didn’t expect her to notice so quickly.

“I didn’t think you’d be into that. Did you put in extra effort for today?”

“It was just a whim.”

“Fufu, if you say so. Your outfit suits you as well.”

“You’ve got me beat, Aizome-san.”

I had seen her in her school uniform and casual home clothes many times, but this was my first time seeing her dressed up for an outing.

Her elegant attire only enhanced her already captivating beauty.

“Do I look beautiful?”

“Yeah, you do.”

“Do I look cute?”

“Yeah, cute too.”

“You don’t sound sincere.”

What does she want from me?

“Uh… You really look amazing. Truly beautiful.”

I couldn’t come up with any fancy words, so I just said it plainly.

That seemed to satisfy her, as she nodded with a pleased smile.

“I like the honest side of you, Suzuki-san.”

“…Thanks.”

“Now then, shall we head out a little early? May I leave the escorting to you?”

“Of course.”

“Then, let’s go.”

Matching my pace to hers, we started walking together.

I had recently noticed that my stride was longer and faster than hers.

“Did you come by car?”

“I was dropped off partway. There was some resistance, though.”

Following her gaze, I spotted the usual chauffeur-driven car idling at a red light near the busy station entrance.

“I told them I’d be fine because Suzuki-san would be with me.”

“That just means they care about you.”

“I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Though she said that, the pleased expression she directed at me didn’t go unnoticed.

“What?”

“Nothing. I was just thinking… Suzuki-san is quite tall.”

“All my nutrients must’ve gone into my height.”

It was a sad reality.

Even among girls, I was considered tall, yet my chest had refused to grow.

I’d trade some of my height for a fuller figure any day.

Don’t tell me it’s a lost cause.

“It’s refreshing to walk side by side like this.”

“Now that you mention it, we don’t do this often.”

Even though we were in the same class, we usually met in the clubroom, and at her residence, we rarely walked together like this.

“Do I seem small to you?”

“Looking at you like this… yeah, you do.”

Of course, excluding the chest.

The Saint had a well-proportioned figure, but her height was fairly average for a girl.

It was just that I was unusually tall.

“Are you frustrated about it?”

“Not at all. I enjoy looking up at you, Suzuki-san.”

Normally, I was the one looking up—position-wise, at least.

The Saint watched my profile with an amused smile.

I wondered what she found so entertaining.

Then again, I was stealing glances at her too, so maybe we were the same.

Checking the time, I saw that it wasn’t quite 10 AM yet.

Most of the places we wanted to visit wouldn’t open until 10 or 11.

There were karaoke spots open, but if we were going to go, I’d rather book a free-time session and stay for a while. A full day of karaoke was best saved for another time.

“There’s a café nearby. Want to kill some time there?”

“Sounds good.”

I hoped the place hadn’t lost too many customers to the newer café that had recently opened.

When we arrived, there were only a few regulars inside, making it relatively quiet.

“Master.”

“Hm? Oh, it’s you.”

As usual, the gruff café owner gestured for us to sit wherever we liked.

Would it kill him to guide us to a seat properly? But I was used to it, so I picked a spot by the window.

“Is this a place you frequent, Suzuki-san?”

“My uncle has connections here, so I’ve been a few times.”

“I see.”

Uncle has an extensive network, after all.

I ordered a simple coffee, while the Saint opted for a cream soda.

“That’s quite a choice for the morning.”

“It’s delicious.”

I’m sure it was, but while melon soda on its own was manageable, adding ice cream on top felt a bit much.

Definitely a ‘dessert stomach’ situation.

Ah, youth is amazing.

“How’s the coffee?”

“It’s the same as always.”

The café owner shot me a glare, but when I quickly added, “The same delicious as always~,” he nodded in satisfaction.

So easy.

“Can I have a sip?”

“Go ahead.”

“You can try mine too.”

She offered, so I took a small sip of her cream soda.

Cold and sweet—definitely good.

As I enjoyed the taste, the Saint watched me with a smile of pure delight before taking a sip of my coffee and nodding.

“Not bad.”

“Yours too.”

As I went to take another sip of my coffee, I suddenly realized—

The Saint had just sipped from the same spot on the cup where my lips had touched.

I turned to look at her.

She met my gaze with a playful smile that practically screamed, Go on, drink.

Ah, I see. She did that on purpose.

She definitely realized and chose to share a ‘secondhand kiss.’

And then it hit me—I had just used the same straw she had for her cream soda.

As if confirming my realization, she took another sip from the same straw, looking utterly pleased.

There was something strangely sensual about the way she did it.

“Aren’t you going to drink?”

“…I am.”

“Are you flustered?”

“Not at all.”

“If you say so.”

She wore an expression of pure amusement, radiating confidence.

I could only put up a weak front while she took the upper hand.

Then, just for a second, she turned her head slightly and touched her lips, revealing a momentary expression—one that was genuinely soft and maidenly.

And that, more than anything, was what completely threw me off.

Don’t show me that look, damn it…

Avoiding her gaze, I took a sip of my coffee.

“Is it good?”

“…Yeah, it is.”

“I’m glad.”

Cunning yet bold.

If there’s a textbook definition of how a maiden should act, she was embodying it perfectly.

It was dazzling. And embarrassing.

I tried my best to act normal, but I knew the Saint was perceptive enough to see right through me.

“Today is going to be a great day.”

She said it with a genuine, heartfelt smile.

Despite the situation, I found myself agreeing.

And at the same time, I had a feeling—this wasn’t going to be the only time something like this happened.

At least, it was fortunate that no one was paying attention to us.

The regulars at this café were an unusual bunch.

There was an older gentleman frantically scanning his newspaper for lottery results, a couple that seemed to break up every time they came here, an elderly man talking at the café owner—who was deliberately ignoring him—and a student stubbornly occupying a seat with a single cup of coffee.

In this place, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

So we continued chatting, waiting for the right time to leave.

And throughout that conversation, I lost count of how many times I was nearly made to blush.

But there was one thing I couldn’t deny.

The Saint was more animated than usual today.

She seemed genuinely happy.

And more than anything, she was unusually forward.

Was it because she saw this as a date?

…Yeah, probably.

And at last, I had to admit it too.

Yes, fine.

I admit it.

This is a date.

Cheers to my newfound honesty.