Does This Love Suit Your Taste? - Volume 1 Chapter 3.3

Life Isn’t Sweet 3

 

“We’re safe now that we’re here.”

 

Behind the rather old wooden door was a classroom about half the size of ours. It was dark due to being overshadowed by the current main school building and thus receiving no sunlight. A few rows of desks were lined up near the windows, forming a single table, and at the back, spare desks and chairs were stacked up like a barricade, with nothing else in sight.

As expected of the old school building, it felt like a lonely space that had been left behind by time.

 

“You know this place well…”

“I come here alone sometimes to be by myself. It’s nice that this place has an atmosphere similar to Toui-kun’s.”

“No… it’s not similar at all! My shop isn’t musty and old like this. It’s that, uh, my shop is antique!” (Antīku)

“Antique in French pretty much means ‘old’, you know?” (TN: Probably saying ‘in French’ because the word ‘Antique’ originally comes from French.)

“Don’t make fun of me… and what was that earlier? Don’t mess around like that. What do you mean ‘last night’ ?”

“I’m talking about what happened last night.”

“No! It’s the way you say it! People might think we’re dating!”

“I mean, they’re not wrong. It’s pretty much the same thing. Besides—”

 

Shirahime pulls my ear towards her.

 

“…what are you doing?”

“A servant has no right to complain to their master.”

“You’re still going on with that nonsense…”

 

Shirahime whispers as if blowing breath into my ear with a cool voice.

 

“Of course~♡”

“What are you trying to achieve, seriously…”

“Stay still. We don’t have much time left, so let’s get this over with quickly.”

“Yes? What do you mean by ‘get this over with’—Mmffhw…!?”

 

Mwwhh——

 

While my ear was being held, soft lips were pressed against mine.

As I froze, Shirahime’s hand touching my ear softened and eventually stroked my cheek.

My dry lips were faintly moistened.

 

It seems true that the sense of smell and taste are intricately related. The sweet scent of vanilla that Shirahime exuded not only smelled but also felt like a ‘taste’.

The slightly tense upward gaze that moved away from my face looked up at me.

 

“…you’re accepting it. You don’t seem to mind it too much, do you?”

 

Another kiss—She kissed me again.

Despite feeling dizzy from the heat, I somehow managed to stay sane.

 

“What are you doing…”

“It’s for preserving evidence.”

 

Shirahime playfully touched her own lips with her index finger.

 

“Yesterday’s kiss wasn’t enough because the evidence would disappear eventually. That’s why I’ll kiss you every day from now on. The effect of the evidence will last forever that way. Toui-kun who can’t escape from my kisses will be under my control forever.”

“You… do you even understand what you’re saying…?”

“The one who first suggested trying a kiss was you. We’re both saying strange things.”

 

My heart raced with the lingering touch on my lips.

As irritating as the other person is, a kiss is still a kiss. To think this would become a daily routine, I have no idea how many years it might shave off my life.

 

“Are you okay with this…? Even if it’s for a weakness, to be with me forever…”

“What are you being so sentimental about now…? It’s not like I’m losing anything, so it’s fine, right?”

 

With those words, I came to understand what lay beyond Shirahime’s excessively cold facade.

For Shirahime, this engagement shouldn’t be something she wanted.

Yet, she would not hesitate to carry through with even a kiss with a man she has no connection to if it must be done for someone else’s sake.

 

That’s the level of determination and courage she has for the sake of others.

And that somehow resonated with the fact that Shirahime had always managed to keep up a good-looking smile without showing any weakness to someone like me.

 

“Well, you’re going to listen to everything I say from now on, okay?”

“Listen to everything? What more are you planning to do?”

 

Shirahime wore an expression of joy as if she was imagining all sorts of fun things. But behind that cute face, she must certainly be thinking of something horrific, devoid of any fairy tale charm.

 

With Shirahime having removed her mask and let loose, I too braced myself for her schemes.

Then, Shirahime raised her index finger——

 

“First, let’s have you water the flower beds at the rotary. A member of the beautification committee asked me to do it.”

“…what?”

 

I’m taken aback, that’s nothing compared to a kiss.

But that was just me underestimating this girl.

 

“Also, carry some teaching materials to the science room. A teacher who likes you asked for a favor.”

 

Shirahime walks around in circles, raising one, two, three fingers one after another.

 

“Then there’s organizing the returned books in the library, I guess? And please prepare the court for the PE period. Oh right, can you take notes for me in the third-period math class? I have to compile the minutes for a committee meeting. And then, you see——”

“Wait, wait! Just because I’m being a little cooperative doesn’t mean you can take advantage of me! Do the menial tasks yourself!”

 

This woman… all she had in mind was menial tasks!

However, Shirahime twirled around gracefully and playfully, fluttering her skirt and tilting her head.

 

“Would you rather do as you’re told or get arrested on suspicion of being a pervert? Which do you prefer?”

” ….. “

I didn’t hesitate with my answer.

 

◇

 

Heave-ho, heave-ho, woosh- woosh-

 

“Thank you, Kiminami-kun!”

 

Hustle- hustle- hustle- swoosh- swoosh-

 

“Man, you really saved me, Kiminami!”

 

Of course, I worked hard.

Before I knew it, the third period was over, and half of the day had passed.

It’s ironic, really—school feels unbearably long on days when I’m just zoning out, but it flies by in an instant when I’m seriously engrossed in something.

But still, what a woman she Shirahime Rira is.

 

A cunning woman with a devious mind, far from her public persona… If this marriage goes through, not only will Maison become an unknown café, but I’ll also spend my life under her thumb. My life is practically over…

And then, there’s another, bigger problem.

 

With a heavy sigh and a look of annoyance, I glared around, and the surrounding gazes that seemed to be fixed on me scattered.

I was already known as a problem child at school, but now that suspicions about my relationship with S-Hime have started, I’ve been attracting even more attention than before.

It’s so uncomfortable…