62 62. A Nice Guy

When Izumi was about to pay, it just so happened that the recipient was Jouichirou so he couldn't help but say.

"As expected of the Asura. Your dishes are truly phenomenal."

"Oh. Haha. That's the past. But, to think that a kid like you knew my old nickname." The long-haired middle-aged man who was none other than Jouichirou was quite surprised by Izumi knowing his old nickname.

Izumi replied.

"Well, it seems my mother knows you. Too bad, when my mother entered the ranks of the Elite Ten Council, you were gone, leaving Doujima Gin who was at the top at the time."

Hearing what Izumi said, Jouichirou didn't immediately respond. He was quite taken aback by Izumi's statement.

"Ah, so your mother graduated from Tootsuki Academy? No wonder you know who I am. If I may ask, what is your mother's name?"

"You may not know my mother, because she's never met you in person. But if I may ask for a favor, stop by the Miyamura cake shop once!"

"Why though? Is this your marketing strategy?"

"Hehe, you can say so. But if I'm being honest, my mom seems to idolize you. She'll be excited if you show up in front of her."

"Hahaha. Sure. If I have time, I'll stop by there."

Because Jouichirou and Izumi's conversation was a bit long, Souma suddenly came angrily.

"Oi, old man! What are you doing!? There are still customers waiting!"

"Ahahaha. Sorry, sorry!" With a relaxed face, Jouichirou waved his hand at Souma as if he didn't feel guilty.

Izumi himself felt their conversation was disturbing the other customers, so he said goodbye to Jouichirou.

— — — —

Izumi and Kyouko continued their date. They went to the game center for a while then went to the photo box to take pictures together.

"Which frame do you want to choose?" Izumi asked.

Kyouko chose a viola flower frame decorated with a heart on the far left. Then she pressed the button to take a photo.

As the countdown was almost zero, Izumi quietly kissed her cheek. Kyouko's eyes opened wide.

"W-what are you doing all of sudden!!??" She blushed while glaring at Izumi.

"It's a surprise attack. Hehe." Izumi chuckled after seeing her reaction. Then, he continued.

"Do you also want to quietly kiss my cheek?" Izumi teased Kyouko.

"No!" Despite saying so, her heart said otherwise. She refused to admit it because she was embarrassed.

After the photo box, they went to the cinema, and relaxed in the park, until finally, their date ended when dusk arrived.

— — — —

The next day at school.

Izumi decided to change his appearance that day. He tied up his hair into a small ponytail with a few bangs framing his face and shoulder-length black hair. He didn't wear his piercing, but his piercing mark was visible on both of his ears.

Izumi astonished his classmates with his new appearance when he walked into the class. They wondered because of Izumi's unfamiliar appearance.

Suddenly, they saw Izumi standing in front of Kyouko. Kyouko didn't notice that Izumi had arrived in class before she heard…

"Morning!!"

"Good Morning!" Kyouko answered without noticing Izumi's appearance. Kyouko was just surprised because it was Izumi's first time greeting her at school, so she turned to him.

"Miyamura??" Kyouko widened her eyes. She was taken aback by Izumi's appearance, which was the same as on yesterday's date.

Everyone in the class was dumbfounded when they heard that he was Miyamura Izumi. Even more surprising, it seemed that only Kyouko recognized him as if she had known him for a long time.

"Kyouko-chan, what did I say yesterday?"

"Shhh! Don't call my given name in front of everyone!" Kyouko slightly tugged at his uniform with a blush.

Yuki who sat at the same table with Kyouko heard clearly what the two were saying which made her unable to help but ask.

"Hori, don't tell me you two are dating?"

Yuki knew that Kyouko seemed to be close to Izumi in the previous few days. To think that Izumi had called Kyouko by her given name. That meant the two of them were closer than before and Yuki guessed that they were already dating.

"You're kidding, right? That's Miyamura?"

"He's like a different person now."

"More importantly, doesn't he look cool?"

"Come to think of it, don't you think that he's a handsome guy?"

"True."

"He always looks so casual, so I never noticed."

"Me too."

The girls in the class started to gossip about Izumi who looked different from usual. In exchange, this made all the guys in the class glare at Izumi with the thirst to beat him up. Though, it would be impossible.

Meanwhile, Kyouko muttered.

"This is why I don't like it when he changes his appearance at school."

Yuki's previous question had not been answered by Kyouko. And Kyouko actually looked annoyed that Izumi had attracted the attention of the girls. Yuki who saw Kyouko talking to herself made her hand pat Kyouko's shoulder.

"Hori?"

"Ah, what is it?"

"Are you two dating?"

Kyouko certainly couldn't lie to Yuki, so she nodded.

That's when everyone in the class knew about Izumi and Kyouko's relationship. However, there was someone who seemed so disappointed with their relationship.

— — — —

During lunch break…

"Miyamura, why did you change your appearance?"

"Are those piercing marks the real deal?"

"Since when did you get your piercing?"

"Miyamura, I heard your family owns a cake shop, is that true?"

The girls in the class surrounded him and asked a lot of questions. It couldn't be helped, because Izumi's appearance had changed 360 degrees. Both outward appearance, and attitude.

Well, Izumi's character hasn't really changed. It's just that they don't know Izumi's true nature.

Izumi answered them one by one. But over time, their questions were endless. This irritated Izumi. Izumi stood up and said to them with a smile.

"Can you girls get out of the way!? I'm going to the cafeteria." Izumi asked them in a gentle tone.

"Eh, how about we're going together?"

"Miyamura, you can eat my lunch! I'm on a diet today."

They couldn't read the atmosphere just because Izumi was too subtle with them.

Izumi snapped and said with a cold voice.

"You don't know how annoying you girls are, do you?"

The girls immediately took a step back as they were horrified by the instant change in Izumi's demeanor. But then, Izumi smiled again.

"That's more like it."

After that, Izumi walked out of the classroom while putting both hands in his pockets.

The girls whom Izumi had considered a nuisance felt that they should not approach Izumi again after giving them such a terrible impression.

While the boys felt that Izumi wasted the opportunity to gather Harem members. Well, though they were grateful that Izumi wasn't interested in that.

For Tooru himself, he felt dejected after hearing that Kyouko and Izumi had a relationship. He liked Kyouko, but so far he didn't dare to talk to her. Tooru regrets that he didn't make a confession soon and now the girl he likes has been taken by someone.

Syu, who was beside him, asked.

"Ishikawa, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Tooru shook his head. He'd better keep his feelings in his heart. He must have been jealous, but there was nothing he could do about it. If the girl he likes is happy, he is willing to give up on his love.

— — — —

Izumi happened to run into Tooru after returning from the cafeteria. Izumi was a bit surprised after seeing Tooru looking uninspired.

"Has he liked Kyouko since the first year?" He murmured. Then, he called Tooru.

"Ishikawa."

Tooru turned to Izumi whose hand was waving in a gesture to come closer.

"What is it, Miyamura?"

Tooru drew closer to Miyamura.

"You look lethargic today. Is there a problem?"

Of course, the problem for Tooru is Izumi. But, there was no way Tooru would say it openly.

Since Tooru didn't answer right away, Izumi sighed.

"I see. You like Kyouko, don't you?"

"W-what do you mean?" Tooru responded with a slight stutter.

"Your face can't lie, you know!" Izumi shook his head.

Tooru didn't know what to say and could only sigh. He realized that Izumi was the one who dared to confess to Kyouko whereas he wasn't. He felt that he had lost badly to Izumi.

"Sorry, I shouldn't say that." Izumi suddenly apologized. But Tooru grabbed his shoulder and said.

"You don't have to apologize! You're braver than me so you can get her."

Izumi smiled bitterly while looking at Tooru. Tooru put his arm around Izumi's neck while laughing.

"Hahaha, don't worry! We're still friends."

"As expected, you're such a "nice guy", Ishikawa."

Tooru didn't understand what Izumi meant by "nice guy". Tooru only thought that Izumi was praising him.