Does This Love Suit Your Taste? - Volume 1 Chapter 2.4

The First Kiss Tasted Like Lemon 4

There’s a mountain a little north of the bustling street where our shop is located.

In a secluded spot among the mountains, there’s a small park called ‘Venus Terrace’, from which you can overlook the town.

I’ve always gone there to see the view when I have something on my mind.

Having fled the shop, I climbed up to the terrace and have been gazing at the cityscape for a good hour now.

To the south of this town lies a large port. It’s a town bustling with trade, and the traces of exchange between Japan and foreign countries are prominently marked everywhere. It’s full of unique buildings that incorporate the cultures of all sorts of countries.

Several towering skyscrapers light up the now completely darkened city, and against such glittering city light, the starry sky stands out brightly.

I reflect on the earlier conversation while taking in the night view.

My father, of course, and the Shirahime family as well had faces as if they had just chewed something bitter.

The one who ruined that moment was none other than me. But is my point really wrong?

I’m sure others would choose their paths more freely, so why is it that my life is confined to running on pre-laid tracks, and if I stray, I get scolded by others?

“…I knew it, I have no choice but to fight this battle alone.”

That’s the moment I steeled my resolve.

“Toui-kun…!”

“…?”

Standing where the voice came from was Shirahime Rira, the very person I had glared at in the shop earlier.

She’s followed me again…

“You… How did you know I’d be here…”

“…I asked Toui-kun’s father. He said you were definitely here.”

Shirahime, with a flustered face and heavy breathing seems to be constantly concerned about her bangs, trying to fix her disheveled appearance.

It’s natural, considering the trek here on foot is tough—it starts with the stairs at the shrine at the base of the mountain, followed by a path that winds up a zigzagging slope from the back of the shrine grounds, and then crossing a walkway suspended in the air.

All that and she——

“—Climbed up here in heels…?”

“I couldn’t just take them off… It’s okay. I often wear them for work, so I’m used to it.”

Shirahime smiled again. It was a strained smile born of desperation, but as expected of a model, her well-composed face remained intact even in exhaustion.

If anything, that vulnerability only seemed to amplify her allure.

Moreover, considering how rude I had been to her since the incident at the school gates, it was impressive that she could still keep up a friendly front with me.

I knew it was just politeness, but the extent of her courtesy was remarkable. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that her friendly attitude didn’t quite sit right with me.

“…So you came after me again because you’re the class representative?”

“No, that’s not it. Then and now, Toui-kun is more than just someone else to me. That’s why I couldn’t just leave you alone.”

Saying that, Shirahime walked towards me.

“The view here is beautiful, isn’t it?”

Coming up beside me, Shirahime sought agreement on her impression of the night view.

” ‘Isn’t it’, you say … have you been here before?”

“I was brought here several times by my mom in the past. The last time was when I was in elementary school, though.”

“Oh, a French mother, right?”

“…Yeah, that’s right. I probably would never have come here again if Toui-kun hadn’t known about this place.”

“—Really?”

Illuminated by the dazzling night view, I could see Shirahime’s face clearly right beside me.

Looking at her like this, she’s really beautiful. With heels on, her height is just about the same as mine, who isn’t particularly tall. Her dress is tight, outlining her slender figure.

The Shirahime I always see at school is perfect, a top student and an unattainable flower—not someone a delinquent and problem child like me could ever touch.

But here she is, apparently serious about marrying me. I can’t help but wonder why she would accept such an absurd proposal.

Her short hair flutters in the wind.

I find myself captivated by her somewhat ephemeral profile.

“…Toui-kun, do you know why this observatory is called ‘Venus Terrace’?” (ヴィーナス)

My mind stopped at Shirahime’s question. I shook my head sideways, expressing that I didn’t know why.

“I heard that a French astronomer observed Venus here a long time ago. Venus (金星, kinsei) is called ‘Venus (ヴィーナス, Vīnasu)’ in English, right? That’s why.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that. You know a lot.”

“My mom told me when I was little. And do you know about hanging a padlock on that iron fence over there? They say if couples do that, their love will prosper.”

“…Well, that’s pretty famous.”

The iron fence, shaped like a dome, had strings running through it, and countless padlocks were hooked onto those strings. As Shirahime explained, such a legend exists, and it seems to be known as the ‘Love Locks’ around here.

“Venus is the goddess of love. That’s why everyone comes here to pledge their love. They say couples who lock a padlock here will be bound together forever. Isn’t that romantic?”

A slight breeze blew.

As I silently gazed at the scenery, Shirahime continued the conversation.

“Toui-kun… I thought that maybe it would be okay if it were with you.”

“Why.”

“Because you’re cool, Toui-kun!”

“What are you talking about…”

“And I thought you were a nice person while talking just now.”

“Liar.”

“It’s also amazing how you have a firm sense of self and not losing to your father.”

“Wait-wait-wait… what…?”

Determined to press her point——Shirahime stepped forward and spun words that clung to me.

“You see, I really intend to marry you, Toui-kun. Of course, I’ll never do anything to be a burden to you. If we get married, I’ll live for Toui-kun. Whatever Toui-kun wants… I’ll do anything, okay? That’s why——”

She’s still going on about it.

I was so astonished that I almost laughed.

“I see. You’re saying that you’ll do anything for me ‘for the sake of our parents’ ?”

“…what?”

Shirahime furrowed her brows while maintaining her smile at the words I had blurted out.

How can she so easily accept the absurd idea of suddenly marrying a man who was a stranger until recently and even climbing a mountain in heels to persuade me?

“Anyway, you’re not my type. What’s your desire to get married? Why can you so easily hand over your life to the whims of others? I’ll never just do as that old man says. We have our own paths to walk, and that’s not a script that should be rewritten by someone else. You should stop thinking about marrying me right now and find a suitable man. Being a model, you must have plenty of opportunities to meet other people.”

I glanced briefly at Shirahime’s expression.

——What?

Her hand gripped the railing with such force it formed a fist. She was looking down, grinding her teeth, her eyes narrowed and eyebrows furrowed.

I’ve never seen Shirahime like this.

“——What the hell…”

The aura emanating from S-Hime made me step back. It was far from what you’d expect from the object of everyone’s admiration.

Shirahime seems almost like a different person.

“I don’t want to get married either!!!”

——Wait, she’s totally a different person now.

Her sudden loud voice seemed to reach down to the city below, and I was momentarily overwhelmed.

Before I could even reflect on my own embarrassment, a barrage of words like bullets came firing from the usual honor student.

“All this effort and you’re still being so selfish!? I couldn’t even eat a single bite of the main dish because of you! Plus, I was made to climb up a mountain in these high heels and a dress, and there were all those gross and creepy bugs around!”

“I, I didn’t know that…”

“I mean, if I could get by without getting married, that would obviously be better! And it’s not like it’s with some cool guy or a nice person, but with this brat who’s just trying to act cool with his piercings? Give me a break! What’s with the rebellious phase at this age? It’s so lame! Starting a parent-child argument in public is also really embarrassing! And after doing all of this to you, why do I have to be the one getting rejected? This is unbelievable. How selfish can you get!”

“Look here…”

“Listen to me!”

“You’re not done…?”

Just as I was about to retort, I was instead confronted even more aggressively.

“I’m going to say it clearly since it’s come to this! I absolutely hate selfish people like you! I don’t want to get married either! But I have no choice! This is all I can do! This is my limit! Everything will turn out fine for everyone with that! So just give up and take me already!”

” …. “

After Shirahime finished speaking, the light vanished from her gem-like eyes.

Not just that, all those sweet words causing heartburn, that dazzling smile, were all a facade.

Apparently, she had had enough of me…