I'm in Love with the Gorilla Sitting Next to Me - Volume 1 Chapter 6.8

Secrets are meant to be revealed 8

Speaking of which, chocolate banana.

It’s a classic, but…

“Gossan, do you like bananas? I’ve seen you eating them before.”

“I don’t dislike them. They’re nutritious, filling, and don’t spoil at room temperature, so they’re good for the summer.”

“That sounds like an endorsement from a fan. Should I treat you to a grilled banana from that stall over there?”

“Uh, I wasn’t endorsing them. But… I missed it completely…!”

Her reaction is unmistakably that of someone who loves the item in question. Maybe she doesn’t want to admit she likes bananas too much, considering her past of being teased with the nickname ‘gorilla’.

“…Alright. Then, I’ll accept your treat of a grilled banana and beef skewer. And for the beef skewer, please give me the best of both tongue and skirt special’.”

“Wow, they have that.. wait, two thousand yen per skewer! That’s expensive! But it sounds super delicious just from the name!”

The beef skewer stall was close by, and what a bold price tag. Is this festival for the wealthy?

“I’ve seen it at a festival before, not here though. I really wanted to try it, but as a grade-schooler, it was an impossible amount to pay on my own, so I had to give up.”

“That revenge… doesn’t have to be right now…!”

“Now is exactly the time. It’s still not easy on the wallet, so I would have refrained if it wasn’t a treat.”

“Damn… I’d give up too if it were my own money… but it smells so good…!”

Focusing my attention, the violent scent of meat and fat being grilled, mixed with the smells of soy sauce, sauce, and cotton candy, is aggressively appealing. The option of not buying the beef skewer has disappeared from my mind.

“…By any chance, could I have a bite…?”

“No. I wouldn’t do something so unladylike. If it were divided separately, then maybe.”

“Wait, it’s skewered, so if you pull off a piece, that should work!”

“From what I’ve seen before, there are four pieces per skewer, two of each. Removing a quarter is too much. It would also upset the balance between the two types.”

“Then let’s just split it half and half! Gossan eats two pieces first, and then gives me the rest, problem solved!”

“I’m in the mood to eat a lot right now, so no. I’d even want another plate of takoyaki.”

“Damn it… I totally get the feeling, so it’s hard to argue…!”

I could sense a strong will that wouldn’t budge, reflected in her straightforward gaze. Well, she looks like a gorilla, so it seems like a murderous glare.

“…Well, it’s definitely expensive. So if Saiki-kun is reluctant, a regular beef skewer is fine. I’ll just remember this for life.”

“I don’t remember becoming such a pathetic man who backs down from such a challenge! Alright, I’ll treat you to the two thousand yen special skewer or whatever!”

“…If you’re that enthusiastic, it makes me want to back down… but I’ll gratefully accept the treat.”

I got played, but since I’ve already promised to treat her, I guess I’ll have to give up either my shaved ice or apricot candy… Oh, right.

“Gossan, the takoyaki was four hundred yen, right? I’ll pay you back now.”

“No, let me treat you to this. It’s bad to let you pay too much, and I’m scared of what comes after.”

“Really? I appreciate the offer, but am I being judged that harshly?”

“I think it’s reasonable. You should reflect on your own behavior with your hand on your heart.”

With that, Gossan popped the last piece of takoyaki into her mouth. Despite its decent size, she ate it in one bite, not even flinching from the heat. Her strong stance towards food was evident.

After munching on the takoyaki for nearly a minute, Gossan let out a satisfied sigh, stood up with the empty container in hand, and said,

“Let’s go then. Those kinds of skewers are grilled and reheated upon order, so it’s better to go early.”

“Such strong initiative… So, what about drinks? Should I go buy them while you order?”

“No, if you order something else at that store, you can get ramune for a hundred yen, so let’s buy it together. It’s the same as the lowest price, and I rarely get the chance to drink ramune otherwise.”

“Okay okay. Then, let’s go with that plan.”

I felt a surge of excitement at Gossan’s suggestion. I don’t usually see her so eager to express her opinions, so maybe it’s the sense of something special.

With our stomachs in good condition from sharing the takoyaki, our hunger seemed to intensify as we headed to the beef skewer stall.

Just as the customer in front of us received their grilled beef skewer and left, the tantalizing aroma hit me, and my mouth watered as I looked at the various skewers lined up on the grill and the menu signs hanging above.

“Hey, they have pork belly! Mister, one of those special skewers and a pork belly, please! And two bottles of ramune!”

I raised my voice so as not to be drowned out by the surrounding bustle and the sound of food grilling, and the tank-top-wearing stall owner responded with a hearty “Alright, that’ll be two thousand five hundred yen in total!”

“…Saiki-kun, you’re going with pork? If your financial situation is that tight——”

“No no, it’s not like that. I mean, I’m out of money, but that’s not the point, I just really like pork belly. Maybe even more than beef short ribs.”

“Is that so? It’s not because you were scrimping on the 200 yen difference?”

“If they were the same price, I might have gone for the beef short ribs… but actually, if I saw that, I might have ended up buying it anyway.”

The owner was already lining up the ordered skewers on the grill. The dripping fat from the pork belly sizzling on the fire, the sound, and the aroma were simply irresistible.

As I was nearly seduced by the captivating sight, Gossan next to me was also staring intently, her eyes glittering with hunger. Despite being a gorilla, she had the eyes of a starving wolf.

But the special skewer being grilled next to the pork belly also looked delicious. I haven’t had tongue or skirt much before.