Lonely Rock for the Blind.

Nekoyashiki Haru sat down at the table and then faced the door.

"Come here."

"Ah! Okay."

Goto Ichiri lowered his head and sat down next to Nekoyashiki Haru.

Are there any dietary restrictions?

"No...no..."

"What would you like to eat? The menu is here."

"I...I don't know...that...is..."

"Ah, I understand. I'll order for you."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded and said, and Goto Ichiri breathed a sigh of relief.

"Just keep my usual style."

She raised her hand to the boss and, after receiving a response, Nekoyashiki Haru smiled and lowered her hand.

"How are you feeling? It's quite warm here, isn't it?"

"Um…"

Goto Ichiri nodded slightly.

"There are hardly any people here. Most of the people who come are regular customers. If you avoid certain times, it's like having the whole place to yourself. It seems like it would suit you perfectly?"

"And...and the old...boss..."

Goto Ichiri raised his eyes and said

"Your social anxiety is really troublesome."

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head helplessly, and then continued.

"Me? I actually find most things to taste pretty bland."

"Ugh?"

"It's not the kind of thing that can be solved by adding salt. Rather than saying it's bland, it's more like it's tasteless?"

"... "

Goto Ichiri remained silent.

"When I first came to Japan, I rarely went out to eat. It was only when I was out and had no other choice that I found this restaurant. How should I put it... I always felt that I really liked the food here."

Nekoyashiki Haru took out a tissue and folded it gently.

"I'm not sure if you'll like it, but I'd really like to recommend this place to you. It would be great if you could like it."

"Th-thank you..."

Goto Ichiri thanked him softly, while Nekoyashiki Haru, standing beside him, smiled but said nothing.

Goto Ichiri didn't speak again until a steaming bowl of tonkotsu ramen was placed in front of him.

"I'm starting..."

Chapter Fifty-Two: Dinner Party

"...It's so salty..."

"Ichiri Goto couldn't help but say as he walked along the road with Haru Nekoyashiki," he said.

"I'm sorry... I always thought that what I usually ate was actually salt-free."

Nekoyashiki Haru scratched her head sheepishly, then seemed to waver a little, doubting herself.

"So it really was because I added too much salt that it tasted good...?"

"I...I don't think they're exactly the same."

Goto Ichiri took a sip of mineral water and said.

"Mr. Nekoyashiki is just a little bit of both, right? And although it's salty, it's delicious... um!"

Goto Ichiri nodded vigorously.

We must encourage our disappointed friends!

Goto Ichiri, who had privately studied how to get along with friends, was so certain of this, although in reality, she had never used those techniques until just now.

Because there is no object to practice on…

Goto Ichiri has never had any friends... not even from kindergarten until she formed a band!

I've always said I'm lonely...

"So...so...don't worry about it...gurgle...waaaah..."

"...How come you ended up crying while trying to comfort me?"

Haru Nekoyashiki sighed helplessly, then patted Ichiri Goto on the shoulder.

"Anyway, thank you for your comfort, Ichiri."

"Ah! No, no, no need to thank me!"

Goto Ichiri quickly waved his hand and said.

"Don't reject him like that, it will make people think you dislike him."

"I...I...I don't hate you!"

"I know."

Nekoyashiki Haru stopped in her tracks.

"Yili is a very good friend; he even comforts me."

"Heh...hehe..."

Goto Ichiri couldn't help but lower his head and laugh.

Nekoyashiki Haru paused for a moment, then spoke.

"We're almost at the station, hurry up, Yili."

"Okay!"

Goto Ichiri was startled, then bowed deeply to Nekoyashiki Haru.

"See you tomorrow!"

"Okay, see you under the stars tomorrow."

Goodnight!

"Should I tell you in advance? Okay, goodnight."

"Good morning!"

"It's already in the morning?!"

Goto Ichiri suddenly raised his head and took a deep breath.

Goodbye...!

"...Say goodbye several times...Goodbye."

Goto Ichiri turned and ran towards the station, while Nekoyashiki Haru stood there facing Goto Ichiri's back.

"They must run very fast."

Nekoyashiki Haru said with a smile, then listened attentively.

Ignoring the surrounding noises, they found Goto Ichiri's footsteps.

He listened until the girl's voice completely disappeared.

"It's starting to have some color."

Nekoyashiki Haru muttered to herself, then turned around and tapped her cane on the ground.

Let's go back to Folt; we're having a victory celebration party.

...

……

.........

"cheers!"

Eliza raised her drink and clinked it against Shima Iwashita's drink and Haru Nekoyashiki's beverage.

Snapped!

"This is a newly found restaurant, the food must be pretty good, right?"

Shima Iwashita said with a smile.

"good."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded.

"Oh, I'll add a little salt for you."

Eliza moved closer to Nekoyashiki Haru and then picked up the salt shaker and shook it on the yakitori in front of Nekoyashiki Haru.

"…Ugh…"

Nekoyashiki Haru's expression was complicated.

He always thought that he was actually eating something deeper than just tasting the flavor...

For example, emotions or something?

But now I realize it was just my own childish fantasy...

Pick up the skewer and put it in your mouth.