"When will you arrive? I'll pick you up at the station." Akina Nakamori said.
As a result, Okada Yukiko told her, "Thank you...but Iwahashi-san promised to pick me up."
"Ah." Nakamori Akina reacted when she heard Iwahashi Shinichi's name.
Just as she was about to say something, she heard Okada Yukiko discussing with her, "Akina-san, can Iwahashi-san also come to dinner today?"
Having learned the lesson of being almost killed by Shinichi Iwahashi, Okada Yukiko went straight to the topic this time, "Iwahashi-san will go to Osaka on the 5th. When work starts, I probably won't have a chance to see him for a long time..."
Okada Yukiko had a suspicion in her mind that Nakamori Akina and Iwahashi Shinichi had known each other in private, so she wanted to confirm her suspicion.
She couldn't figure out why they didn't tell her if they knew each other personally. The best way was of course to ask her directly - Okada Yukiko had originally planned to find an opportunity to ask them both.
However, on New Year's Eve, when she was keeping the secret about the giraffe man's identity in front of her family for Shinichi Iwahashi, she suddenly changed her mind.
No one in the family knows the identity of the giraffe man, only she knows.
Keeping this secret, when my mother was curious about what the person under the giraffe hood looked like, she had the idea of "only I know". This process of keeping the secret was full of fun beyond imagination.
Okada Yukiko couldn't help but wonder if the nonchalant attitude of Shinichi Iwahashi and Akina Nakamori in front of her was like the way she kept the secret of Shinichi Iwahashi's identity in front of her family.
A naughty idea came to her mind. Instead of asking them, she would look for "evidence" that they were really familiar with each other.
If you guess wrong, don't worry about making a joke.
If you guess correctly...then treat the other person the same way he did.
Okada Yukiko imagined herself pretending to be unaware in front of Iwahashi Shinichi and Nakamori Akina, who thought she was unaware, secretly holding back her laughter, and quickly asked: "Is that okay? Akina-san."
…
After receiving a call from Iwahashi Shinichi on the first day of the year, Nakamori Akina was in a state of confusion, and she still hasn't figured it out to this day. A sudden yet unprecedented freedom left her at a loss as to what to do.
Whether you approach him or push him away, when you make a decision, you also take the first step.
The first step is always the hardest.
Nakamori Akina didn't want to think about distancing herself from Iwahashi Shinichi later. However, if she wanted to get closer to him, such a choice would bring with it the possibility of cutting off contact with him.
I was running around in circles, but in the end, Okada Yukiko sent me such an invitation.
Akina Nakamori thought about her performance when she gave her concert tickets and invited her to have dinner together, and she didn't believe that her current invitation was unintentional.
Yukiko seemed to have always wanted to introduce the two of them to each other.
Okada Yukiko would not know Nakamori Akina's current hesitation, but after receiving the invitation, Nakamori Akina seemed to have no reason to refuse.
Or rather, Nakamori Akina was quietly relieved after receiving this invitation.
She didn't think Okada Yukiko made the choice for her, but she couldn't help but think in her heart that it was because of Yukiko that they met this time... and it wasn't her own decision.
This idea subtly gave her room for buffering. It was a bit cunning, but useful escape.
"Okay." Akina Nakamori replied.
Okada Yukiko achieved her goal, agreed on the time and place to meet with Akina Nakamori, hung up the phone, and was satisfied. Everything was ready, and now it was time to collect "evidence."
…
In the afternoon, Shinichi Iwahashi went to pick up Yukiko Okada as agreed.
After the Chinese New Year, the upbound line to Tokyo was packed with people. As she walked off the platform, Okada Yukiko looked around and couldn't help but raise her arms and wave.
Iwahashi Shinichi came to greet her, "Happy New Year, Yukiko."
The platform was crowded with people, and no one of the passengers passing by looked at this side.
No one would have thought that Yukiko, who cheerfully waved her arms and said to the people who came to pick her up with a smile, "Happy New Year, Iwahashi-san!" was a popular idol in the past.
Iwahashi Shinichi took the suitcase for her, "Thank you for your hard work."
Yukiko was a small step behind him, but followed him closely, "Thank you for coming to pick me up... By the way, mom asked me to say hello to you on her behalf."
"Then, Kiko, I want you to say hello to my mother on my behalf," Iwahashi Shinichi replied.
Shinichi Iwahashi first sent Okada Yukiko back to her rented apartment.
On the way, he remembered what he had said on the phone before and was about to ask her about her agreement with Akina Nakamori. Okada Yukiko spoke first and told him that she and Akina Nakamori had made an appointment to meet at Meguro's coffee shop at 5:30.
"We will decide on today's menu after we meet." Yukiko Okada had an idea.
Shinichi Iwahashi casually asked her, "But the restaurant where we ate last time is over at Meguro, right?" In this way, there was no need to worry about finding the way.
"There are many coffee shops with delicious cakes over there." Yukiko Okada answered the question.
She is very familiar with Meguro, and apart from that, she would choose this place because it would somewhat cooperate with her search for evidence - after eating here last time, Shinichi Iwahashi sent him off first as he was on his way.
She goes back.
In order to find evidence, various preparations must be made in advance. Okada Yukiko's idea is also very good.
To such an extent, when she thought about it, she even felt that she was playing a prank. She hoped it would be a perfect prank... Okada Yukiko was all smiles.
Iwahashi Shinichi noticed her smiling face and thought, will he meet Nakamori Akina later? Does this make her so happy?
…
Akina Nakamori arrived for her appointment on time at 5:30. When she entered the coffee shop, Shinichi Iwahashi and Yukiko Okada had already arrived.
Iwahashi Shinichi saw her first, met her eyes, and gave her a gentle smile.
In the past few days, I have been thinking about Iwahashi Shinichi over and over again. Now, seeing his friendly smile, Nakamori Akina felt relieved, but she felt uncomfortable.
After a brief exchange of glances, Okada Yukiko also noticed her and waved to her, "This way~"
As if something was loosened, Akina Nakamori walked over and said, "I've been waiting for a long time, Yukiko." Her eyes fell on Shinichi Iwahashi and she greeted him, "Happy New Year, Iwahashi-san."
"Happy New Year." Iwahashi Shinichi replied and watched her sit next to Okada Yukiko.
Okada Yukiko had always been a little dependent on Nakamori Akina for her sister's coquettishness. They hadn't seen her for a long time, so she held her hand and asked her questions, forgetting about Iwahashi Shinichi and the search for evidence.
After chatting for a while, Okada Yukiko remembered the business and asked the two of them, "What should we eat later?"
Iwahashi Shinichi was the first to express his stance, "I'm not familiar with this area, so I'll just follow your advice."
