Chapter 90: Coffee

When Masashi received the phone call, he was a bit surprised.

Arriving at the location mentioned in the call, he scanned the room. He saw Naoko-sensei, who had invited him out, sitting at a coffee table with a rather handsome young man, talking.

Masashi had seen that young man before. He was Aiko’s classmate, Yusuke’s cousin, Junichirou Nishinaka.

Although Naoko was talking with Junichirou Nishinaka, her eyes occasionally glanced toward the entrance of the café. So, when Masashi walked in, she quickly spotted him.

“Sorry, Mr. Nishinaka, the person I was waiting for has arrived, so I must leave now,” she said, grabbing her purse and rushing over to Masashi.

Seeing Hasegawa Naoko walking out with a boy who seemed somewhat familiar, Nishinaka felt a bit frustrated. This was yet another time he’d been rejected by this woman.

Junichirou Nishinaka was young, handsome, and wealthy—a man who was considered excellent by most women. Even he could not deny that.

Unlike other flashy second-generation heirs, Nishinaka always gave off an air of politeness and composure, which made a very positive impression on many women.

About a year ago, by chance, he met this woman named Hasegawa Naoko.

The moment he saw her, he was immediately captivated by her stunning appearance and the body that could make any man’s desires surge.

Like any wealthy young man, he was fond of beautiful women. With his status, he had probably been with countless women.

However, he had never met anyone like her, a woman who made him feel such intense desire.

After learning that she had gone to Nagoya, he often drove over to visit her. Despite his ardent pursuit, this woman remained completely unaffected.

At first, he thought she was just playing hard to get, but after being rejected several times, he realized that this woman had absolutely no interest in him.

For a man like him, a heartthrob in the dating world, this was a great humiliation.

He had initially thought she must have a boyfriend, so he even had someone investigate her. But the results left him confused.

Was she a lesbian? But he quickly dismissed that idea. The investigation didn’t reveal any close relationships with men or women.

As for the young man he had just seen, that seemed impossible.

On the other hand, the more difficult she was to win over, the more intrigued he became. This was why he had pursued her for over a year. It was unprecedented for him.

Watching Naoko’s beautiful figure sway in her white dress as she walked away, Nishinaka couldn’t help but swallow. He looked around and noticed that many men in the café were also watching Naoko leave.

No matter what, he had to win this woman. Nishinaka clenched his fists.

“Finally rid of that guy,” Naoko said playfully, sticking out her tongue after walking out the door.

“You didn’t ask me out just to escape your pursuer, did you?” Masashi said with a slight headache.

“I have nothing to do with him! We just happened to bump into each other. Please don’t misunderstand,” she said, looking anxious.

“Looks pretty obvious. Now that my job is done, what do we do next, go home?” Masashi checked his phone, seeing that it was still before 3 PM.

“Of course not! It’s a rare Sunday, and the weather is so nice. Let’s go shopping.”

Seeing the hopeful look on her face, Masashi nodded.

“Then let’s go. I saw a skirt I liked at the department store in Harajuku. Let’s go there now,” Naoko said, excitedly grabbing his hand and leading him forward.

“Hey, are you planning to walk there?” Masashi almost felt like a pet being dragged along.

“Of course not, silly.” Naoko’s face turned red, perhaps from the warmth of the weather.

In the women’s clothing section of the VIVRE department store in Shibuya, Masashi sat on a chair provided for customers, yawning continuously.

Wasn’t she the one who said she had already picked something out? Why was it taking so long? She had only chosen two items after all this time. At first, he had kept her company, but after half an hour, he could no longer stand it and quickly sat down somewhere.

“Masashi, I’m done changing. Come help me take a look,” Naoko called out to him as she emerged from the fitting room, wearing a light purple chiffon dress.

Masashi looked up, and immediately, he was taken aback by her stunning appearance. He had never expected the simple dress to make her look so mesmerizing.

He couldn’t help but marvel at the potential women had. Sometimes, a simple change of clothes or a new hairstyle could make them seem like a completely different person.

Unlike her usual elegant yet somewhat reserved office look, now Hasegawa Naoko could make most men who saw her think all sorts of things.

The silk chiffon dress clung to her curvaceous body, and under the light, it gave an almost translucent but dreamy effect. Her long, smooth legs were clearly visible under the short hem. Below that were her delicate, fair feet, which made Masashi want to reach out and gently touch them.

This woman was truly a gem. With his current state of mind, Masashi realized his own heart rate had sped up.

He had rarely seen a woman who was perfect from head to toe. If she dressed like this regularly, it was hard to imagine how many men would be driven crazy.

“Masashi, does this dress look good?” Naoko asked shyly, her face flushed.

Masashi stood still for a moment, then walked over and let her hair down. Her long, silky hair cascaded down her back and shoulders, adding to her charm.

As he came closer, Naoko suddenly stiffened, as if subconsciously waiting for something to happen. But when she realized he was simply loosening the ribbon in her hair, a sense of disappointment washed over her.

“It looks even better now,” Masashi smiled and said.

“Thank you!” Naoko said softly, her voice barely audible.

Unknowingly, an ambiguous, almost romantic atmosphere seemed to hang between them.

Watching this beautiful woman and the strange boy, a few young female employees nearby couldn’t help but blush.

After leaving the department store, Naoko suggested they sit in a café. Masashi readily agreed.

Not far away, they arrived at a café with a western-style decor.

Since it was still the afternoon, there weren’t many customers inside. Masashi initially wanted a window seat, but Naoko pulled him to a quiet corner.

“Masashi, what would you like to drink? Don’t tell me you want a cola,” Naoko joked.

“A cappuccino.”

“Oh, it seems you know quite a bit,” Naoko said, a bit surprised.

“Is that so? Remember I told you about my friend who likes the song ‘Love Me Tender’? She loves cappuccinos, and that’s how I started drinking them. Before I met her, I only drank tea,” Masashi said casually.

Naoko noticed he referred to “her” instead of “him,” but didn’t press the matter.

“Two cappuccinos, please,” Naoko ordered from the waiter who had approached them.

“Yes, please wait a moment.” The waiter, blushing, quickly lowered his head.

Masashi noticed that after the waiter had walked away, he kept glancing back at Naoko. He smiled slightly.

Soon, their coffee arrived. Naoko didn’t add any sugar but gently stirred her cup.

“Masashi, what do you think about women older than you?” Naoko suddenly asked, leaving Masashi puzzled.

“I’m sorry, I don’t really understand what you mean,” Masashi said, looking at her.

“I mean, would you… accept a woman older than you?” Naoko said, keeping her head down the whole time.

“Actually, it doesn’t really matter. If the person is as beautiful as you, I believe any man would be happy to accept,” Masashi said, starting to get a headache. He hated giving advice on matters of the heart.

“Really?” Naoko suddenly lifted her head.

“Of course, with your looks, no one would reject you. Don’t worry about it,” Masashi said, giving his best reassurance.

“Then… would you… accept me?” Naoko’s face turned pale as she nervously looked at him.

The sound of a coffee cup clattering onto the table filled the silence…