"Ayaka is a wonderful girl."
"I really like you, Ayaka. Of course I truly think of you as a friend."
Lost in her own heart, Ellin spoke those simple words with a blank expression.
Yet those candid, heartfelt words coursed through Kamisato Ayaka like an electric current, striking straight at her heart.
Her body trembled slightly, as though she had been shocked.
"Ah! L-like me..."
She fidgeted, shifting a little in her chair.
She was a refined, well-mannered young lady, and talk of liking her was perhaps a little overwhelming.
This was the first time anyone had said they liked her, the first time anyone had been willing to treat her as an equal and a friend.
She felt embarrassed, her face flushed as she bowed her head low.
She said nothing, seemingly trying to take in Ellin's words.
Ellin, however, was not in a good state. After saying those two sentences, she sat silently at the counter, her eyes vacant and bewildered as she stared into space.
After a while, Kamisato Ayaka seemed to have collected herself.
She cautiously glanced at Ellin, looked away, then turned back to her again.
She gave Ellin a sweet smile.
"Thank you, Ellin."
"No one has ever said anything like that to me before."
"I'm... so happy..."
"I'll treasure this bond between us."
Before long, the food was ready.
Ellin and Ayaka sat by the street and enjoyed their meal together.
"What do you think, Ellin? The food here is good, isn't it?" Ayaka turned to look at Ellin beside her.
"Yes, it's very good." Ellin nodded.
"I'm glad."
Kamisato Ayaka was delighted to see that Ellin enjoyed this restaurant's food just as much as she did.
Perhaps it was that inexplicable joy of discovering that someone she admired shared her tastes.
"We