Perspective: Fuji
"My, you really saved me there, Hachiman-san. Having a man's help truly makes a world of difference. The work is going so much faster."
"Rich coming from you. You Horse Girls are way stronger than us humans, you know. Is that sarcasm?"
"Not at all. It's the thought that counts. At the very least, I'm happy about it, you know?"
"...Is that so."
Hachiman-san and I were currently on our way back to Tracen Academy after a shopping trip. To explain how we ended up here: I had gone into town to buy some necessities when I experienced a random encounter with Hachiman-san. We decided to stick together, and when he asked, "Do you need anything else?" I thought, well, since we're here, I might as well buy a little more!
And so, he ended up carrying my bags. I know I ended up taking advantage of his kindness, but he was the one who offered, so it's fine, right?
"Still, I didn't expect to run into you in town. Is the dorm okay without you?"
"There aren't any naughty little ponies there, so it's fine. Besides, I doubt there's a single pony who'd be thrown into confusion just because I stepped out for a bit."
"Hah, I bet. It'd be rarer to find someone shouting 'Yahoo!' just because you were gone."
"Are you implying that I'm scary?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Is this intended as payback?"
"Beats me. Payback for what?"
"Hmph..."
If that's how he wants to play it, perhaps I need to pull a little prank of my own? Fufufu… ♪
Oh? There's a cafe over there... That gives me an idea!
"Hachiman-san, why don't we stop by for a bit? I'll treat you, as thanks for keeping me company."
"Get treated by a woman? A student, no less? Not happening. I'll pay for yours, too. So, are we going?"
"Then let's go! ♪"
— At the Cafe —
"So... why the glasses again..."
"Why not? It's practically the market standard: if Hachiman-san is at a cafe, he must wear glasses. ♪"
"Leaving that aside, I have my own glasses, so why do you have a spare? And wait, do you always carry these?"
"I keep them on me at all times, just so I can hand them to you whenever the need arises."
"If you're going to carry glasses around, you might as well wear that top hat you love so much."
"Ahahaha! But if people found out Hachiman-san was having tea at a cafe looking like this, we might go viral on 'UmaSta' again, no? What shall we do?"
"It's too late to do anything about that. Do whatever you want. I know nothing. I'll feign total ignorance."
Was that a little mean of me? Well, Hachiman-san started it, so he'll just have to accept this much, won't he?
"Thank you for waiting. Here are your two blend coffees with milk. And these… are on the house."
Placed before us were a tiramisu and a matcha parfait. But why? On the house?
"Um, what is this for?" Hachiman asked.
"I watched the Tenno Sho the other day—on television, of course," the clerk explained warmly. "It was a truly magnificent run. This isn't exactly a reward, but it's a token of appreciation from the manager and myself. Please, enjoy. Take your time."
Before we could refuse or even properly thank them, the clerk walked away... I suppose we have no choice but to accept?
"Hachiman-san, what should we do?"
"It's a rare act of kindness; let's accept it gratefully. Besides, I don't know if they realized, but both look like they aren't too sweet. They probably guessed our preferences from the coffee order."
"Then let's dig in. I'll take the tiramisu, is that alright?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
Mmm~ The bitterness of the coffee and the moderately restrained sweetness of the tiramisu go so well together~ ♪
"...Fuji, you've got cream on your face."
"Eh? Whereabouts?"
"I'm joking."
"Wha— If you're going to tell jokes like that, I might just smudge some cream on you, Hachiman-san."
"I'd really rather you didn't, so I'll apologize honestly. My bad."
"It's fine. I'm not actually angry." Smile!
"...Is that so? Good, then."
"Now, let's enjoy our tea. ♪"
After that, we enjoyed chatting about all sorts of things—the other members, the ponies back at the dorm, things happening at the Academy. There was no serious talk at all; it truly became a time to just enjoy the tea and the company.
But, we didn't know.
We didn't know that in that moment, we were being watched like that...
— The Next Day —
"Alright, time to give it my all again today!"
Clack.
"Oh? What's the matter, everyone gathered in front of my room like this? Did something happen?"
"Fuji-senpai! This picture on UmaSta... it's you and your Trainer, isn't it!?"
"Is it true?! Were you really on a coffee shop date, just like the caption says!?"
"Eh?"
I looked at the pony-chan's smartphone. There, displayed on the screen, was a photo of Hachiman-san and me chatting at the cafe yesterday. Even worse, it captured a moment where Hachiman-san wore a faint smile and I was laughing happily.
And the caption read...
[A fun tea party for a Trainer and his assigned Horse Girl! A coffee shop date that looks just like they're a couple!!]
"...I-I never imagined I was being photographed too."
"S-So it's true?! Is it really a date!?"
"N-No! We just happened to stop by for tea, that's all! It's not like that, okay?"
"But for 'just tea,' you look awfully happy, Fuji-senpai. Your tail is moving way more than usual, you know?"
"T-That is not true!!"
...Hachiman-san, I feel like I understand your feelings a little better now. I thought I was used to the attention, but being seen with you makes me… somehow embarrassed. ///
But, perhaps… being seen like this isn't so bad. ///
(Author's Note)
This time, they got snapped in a two-shot, didn't they?
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