The Fourth Class Is Modern Chinese (Continued)

You should obediently accept other people's kindness. But you can't obediently accept other people's goodwill! Absolutely not!

Besides, even if she hadn't meant any harm, Orioto probably felt guilty about making things awkward just now. Since it was her heartfelt offer, accepting it would make things easier for both of us.

"Then I won't hold back... I'll have a blended coffee. These two will have..."

I looked at Yuihama and Yukino.

"Th-thank you──!... Ma'am?"

Yuihama thanked her in a strange mix of polite and casual speech. Yukino silently lowered her head.

"Um... then──I'll have a Mont Blanc, a canelé, and..."

"Can you pick the tea according to your taste?"

"Yeah! Leave it to me!"

The two leaned close together over the menu, and Orioto, standing beside the table, chimed in.

"Our Sachertorte is delicious too."

"Oh, is that so? Then one Sachertorte as well... please."

"Okay~"

I absentmindedly watched the exchange, then suddenly realized something.

Yukino's attitude was her usual self. Nothing strange about it. I mean, this girl really never changed...

Orioto was the same as she had been in middle school. The way she treated me, whom she hadn't seen in a long time; Hayama, whom she was meeting for the first time; Yukino, who was openly wary of her; and that Ms. Whatever-town who was probably her friend—there wasn't much difference.

But Yuihama's attitude caught me off guard.

Yuihama had always been used to reading people's expressions, but she seemed to be overreacting a little to Orioto.

Of course, they could count the number of times they'd met on one hand, so I understood that they still hadn't figured out the right distance between them. Even I still couldn't grasp the right distance with her... Wait, I'd been with her the longest—no, we weren't together! Because she