Harpy's Adorable Cafe Outing
"Waaah..."
Harpy sat with her mouth open wide, staring at the drink in front of her with sparkling eyes. Watching her like that made me feel like my own expression was mirroring hers. Not that I could ever match her impossible cuteness, of course... just the look on her face.
"This place is nice. Not many people around."
"Yeah... you're right."
The Response Team Leader had skipped breakfast while getting ready, and now she was hungry. Harpy nodded along, so we started looking for a restaurant. We got scolded for treating people like pigs just because it was almost lunchtime, and ended up stepping into a cafe that looked decent from the outside.
Luckily, the interior matched the pleasant vibe we'd seen from the street. The team leader took a window seat first, saying it wasn't bad. Harpy's eyes lit up at the unfamiliar interior design. Even after sitting down, she kept craning her neck like a meerkat, curiously scanning her surroundings.
Soon, one slice of cake and three drinks were placed in front of us. I wasn't particularly hungry and had said it was fine since lunch was coming up, but I got scolded again and ended up ordering just a coffee. I was grateful Harpy couldn't hear the team leader's inner voice scolding me one-sidedly.
Clink, clink.
"...There's something like frog eggs in here..."
Frog eggs. That was Harpy's adorable first impression of bubble tea.
"It's called bubble tea. Those aren't actually eggs... but they're safe to eat."
"I see... Counselor, you're amazing. You know everything."
Being praised like that made the corners of my mouth twitch. I had been holding it in pretty well until now. Honestly, it wasn't anything impressive, but seeing Harpy get surprised and fascinated by every little thing made me think I could watch her all day without getting bored.
"Mmm~"
She kept praising how delicious the drink was, barely managing to hold the cup with both sleeves as she sipped through the straw. Her lips moved cutely around it. Then she showed interest in the sweet-smelling slice of cake, but the dessert fork that came with it was too small. Just as I'd worried while watching her drink, she eventually dropped it.
Clatter...!
The fork hit the smooth floor with a loud noise. Harpy flinched in surprise. Even the way she dropped the fork looked cute. I guess pretty girls really do look pretty no matter what they do.
"Ah...?"
Those big eyes turned toward me, unsure if she'd done something terribly wrong. I gently nodded several times to reassure her it was okay. Her hands looked like they would struggle to pick it up again, so I started to lean down to get it for her.
The cafe wasn't very noisy to begin with, so a server who had been clearing tables approached first and picked up the fork.
"Ah, thank yo—"
"It's fine. Please stay seated. I'll bring you a new one right away."
What an immediate and sincere display of service spirit. But...
"..."
I couldn't bring myself to look at him too kindly despite the polite response. It wasn't because I was jealous that he'd taken away something I wanted to do for Harpy. It was more along the same lines as why I didn't particularly want to go outside in the first place.
There's always someone like this.
'Whoa... those are some serious milkers. Not even a dairy cow has a rack like that. And a double date? Where'd the other guy go? This bastard's no ordinary player either.'
"..."
This wasn't the first time I'd ended up in an uncomfortable situation like this. It happened fairly often, actually. But until now, it had only been other people's dirty thoughts about strangers. Hearing someone direct such blatant lust at someone I knew—especially Harpy—felt completely different.
It was deeply unpleasant. I even felt the urge to chase the server away right then and there. But lust was just lust; it wasn't actual rude behavior. And I was the only one who could hear his thoughts.
'If I grabbed those tits from behind and pounded her hard... damn, seriously... whoa...'
I couldn't deny he was crossing a line by constantly glancing at Harpy's chest. Still, no matter what fantasies he had in his head, there was nothing I could actually do about it from my side.
"I'll bring you a clean one right away."
"Y-yes, thank you..."
I wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. Even so, no matter how disgusted I felt, this was something I had to endure alone. But after the server disappeared into the back with the fork, I heard something that didn't sound right.
'Sluuurp... slurp...'
This didn't feel good at all. What was he doing in there?
"...It's still a little scary, but there seem to be a lot of kind people..."
Harpy was still turned slightly outward, waiting for the server to return with the fork, completely unaware of my inner turmoil. I fell into deep thought and finally spoke.
"Harpy, why don't you use mine for now? You said you were hungry, right?"
"Ah... is that okay...?"
"Of course. I haven't used it yet."
Just then, the server returned holding a fork that somehow looked shinier than the others. After hearing his inner voice again, I became certain about what had happened in the back.
'Why the hell did this bastard suddenly... no, ha... this is disgusting. Ptui, ptui.'
"...Here's a new fork."
"...Yes, thank you."
I stared at the fork now placed neatly in front of me and had to use every ounce of willpower to keep my negative feelings from showing on my face. What should I do...? How was I supposed to handle this?
Right. I just wouldn't eat it. That way I wouldn't have to use the fork at all.
"Counselor."
"Yes?"
"This cake... it's really, really delicious, hehe. You should try some too, Counselor."
I felt bad rejecting Harpy after she'd so earnestly offered it, but I had to refuse. I nodded firmly.
Refuse... I needed to refuse. So why was I nodding instead?
Maybe it was because of the pure, happy voice in her heart that wanted me to feel the same happiness she was feeling right now. Even though I knew I should have logically refused first, I couldn't bring myself to shake my head.
"...Mm."
"Counselor?"
I had nodded so eagerly, saying I'd eat it, but now I was just sitting there frozen with the fork in my hand like it was broken. Naturally, Harpy tilted her head and stared at me curiously.
This... this was bad, wasn't it?
Could I really use this fork that some random muscular guy might have licked all over? No, forget whether I could or couldn't. I didn't want to. There was no way I wanted to.
"No... it's nothing."
Should I just drop it on the floor? But she was watching... it would look unnatural. Maybe if I scooped up a huge bite so my mouth didn't actually touch the fork? But then the fork would still touch the cake anyway.
While my thoughts tangled chaotically, I couldn't make a decision. The tip of the fork was already approaching the cake, as if telling me there was no more time to hesitate.
Even now, I could say I had a cake allergy or—
"..."
...I was screwed.
If I just pretended not to know, everyone could stay happy. I told myself to endure the nausea and raised the fork. Just as it was about to touch the cake—
'You're really going to put that in your mouth?'
I flinched!
"??"
Hearing the Response Team Leader's inner voice, I managed to stop my hand just before the fork touched the cake. Then—
"Harpy, when a man and woman come to a place like this, it's normal for them to feed each other."
"...Huh?"
"What?"
Harpy and I answered almost simultaneously at this piece of common sense that even actual couples our age would find difficult. I quickly shut my mouth at the team leader's sharp look.
Whatever it was, it seemed to have worked out. I nodded earnestly.
Then her voice came again, softer this time.
'You were really about to touch it to the cake again... I already told you the field team is on standby. Of course they're monitoring the inside of the store in real time with no blind spots. Why today of all days... haa, I don't know if we're the unlucky ones or that guy is... Can you see this?'
When the team leader subtly turned her head, I noticed the earpiece hidden behind her hair that I hadn't seen before. I was familiar with it now, so I recognized it immediately. She must have been receiving reports from the field team through it.
'It's a guide's duty to receive real-time updates on any unusual activity nearby and respond carefully. Right now, Counselor, you've brought out a being with intelligence who isn't human. You do realize that, don't you?'
Nod...
'Well, I did say that, but since this is your first outing, I wanted you to enjoy it without worrying. That's why I took the earpiece instead.'
Thank you... Response Team Leader.
I looked at her with respect and gratitude, thinking how well she used both the carrot and the stick. She frowned, looking burdened.
'I'm uncomfortable too, but I know how hard it would be for Harpy to stand in public as a victim or witness. All the security camera footage of Harpy and me today is scheduled to be deleted anyway.'
Nod nod.
'Don't worry. They're reviewing all the in-store camera footage right now. If today wasn't the first time...'
She nodded slightly again, as if receiving another transmission, her eyes saying "just as I thought." Then she gave me a subtle signal with her eyes... beside me?
"Ah?"
While I had been exchanging glances with the team leader, Harpy had been struggling alone. She finally managed to pick up the dessert fork with both hands, placed a small piece of cake on it, and shyly extended her arms toward my mouth.
Ah... right. Given the situation... it should be fine, right?
"Aah... mm."
Slide.
It touched... I think the fork just touched my lips.
For some reason, hearing Harpy's inner voice saying she felt embarrassed made me emotional. This was the first time since my mother had fed me rice porridge when I was sick with a cold that someone else had fed me. A wave of emotion washed over me.
"It's sweet..."
It felt like I'd become a total hypocrite, but Harpy smiled brightly at my dazed voice, looking relieved.
Haha...
'Haa.'
The team leader's cold, empty laugh snapped me back to reality. If she hadn't been here, I didn't know how this outing would have turned out. I was truly grateful, but... it wasn't over yet.
'Then... it's my turn now... right?'
Harpy had opened her small mouth and was looking at me with expectant eyes. If I fed her now, all my effort to switch the fork would have been for nothing. What should I do?
The only person I could ask for help right now was—
When I desperately sent a pleading look, the team leader also saw Harpy's expectant face and furrowed her brows in thought.
'Wait a moment. I'm thinking too.'
Please... I never thought I'd be this grateful for her presence. If the actual team leader had been here instead... a chill ran down my spine.
"Counselor...?"
"Ah... Harpy, I just remembered the cosmetics store we were going to is right nearby. It'll get crowded after lunch, so why don't we go there first?"
"Huh...? Yes, that sounds good..."
Fortunately, she answered obediently, completely unaware of everything that had just happened and was still happening.
"Then we'd better hurry. Let's just take our drinks and go."
"Yes, that sounds good. Let's do that!"
"Ah... ugh..."
She left a slightly disappointed look in my direction, but her face was still filled with pure happiness at the thought of going to the place she'd wanted to visit. Seeing that made me happy too.