Hello! Clannad

Chapter 34

"Don't buy too much, Toya."

"Got it," Toya replied, with an innocent smile.

'He's definitely an angel in a human body.'

Recently, Arata had surprisingly been well-behaved. It didn't mean he had become ordinary, but at least he wasn't causing any unnecessary trouble. Did Arata go to such lengths to impress Ichika?

'Arata sure is full of surprises.'

"Give him a hard time, Lu!"

But as soon as that thought crossed my mind, Arata shouted something to Luca.

'Seems like I was wrong after all. Our dear Arata will always be Arata we know'

I gazed at Luca, who nodded enthusiastically with a faint smile.

'It's a relief that Luca sees me only as a friend... Let's stay that way if we happen to go to the Sakura middle high together in the future.

***

The dessert shop that Toya brought me to was unbelievably spacious. It dwarfed the candy store I had seen while I went with Hana on a walk.

'I don't think there's a shop this large even in this modern world . They must put so much passion into their pastries,' I marveled silently.

As a customer, I couldn't have been happier. It felt like paradise.

"Lili, look at that! It's a cotton candy!" Hayate exclaimed, his face lightening up with excitement. His blue eyes shimmered with enthusiasm.

'The cotton candy we had last time must have been really delicious!'

I nodded slightly as I surveyed the shop.

It was filled with tarts, cakes, muffins, an assortment of candies, and chocolates.

"Oh my, Toya! And Reika is here!"

"Miss Mika," Toya greeted the woman standing in front of him.

'So, it's a shop run by a woman,' I concluded, observing the woman in a chef's uniform. It appeared that she personally crafted the desserts in the shop.

This is my first time meeting you, but may I dare to say that I love you?'

"Long time no see! Did you know that Arata came and bought some cotton candy last time? I thought you would be the first to buy it," Yuki Mika greeted with a melodious, high-pitched voice.

'So, this is the dessert shop Arata mentioned, and most of the desserts Ichika sometimes bought must be from here, I realized.

Toya had referred to her as Miss Mika. It was my first time meeting her, but I had always admired her in secret.

Our eyes finally met as I gazed at her, and I beamed brightly.

"Hello. I'm Kanata Natsuki!" I introduced myself, my smile stretching down, and bowing down eager to make a positive impression.

"Oh, Natsuki, you say..." Miss Mika's eyes widened, and a realization seemed to dawn on her.

"Then this little lady must be our shop's secret regular customer," she deduced, her smile growing gentle as she leaned closer.

I nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

'That's right, and from now on, I'll be a public regular customer. But only if Hana allows it... or assuming this place doesn't disappear, probably around eight years from now'

"Alright then, shall I spoil her for our Toya's sake?" Miss Mika proposed, addressing Toya.

"Miss Mika..."

"If it's for my cute little nephew, this is nothing,"
Miss Mika affirmed, emphasizing her willingness to indulge me.

So, Miss Mika was Toya's relative. It made sense that they knew each other since they were clearly close to each other. I decided not to dwell too deeply on the matter.

Knowing the intricate details of someone else's family tree was ultimately irrelevant.

With a cheerful smile, I disregarded the conversation between Miss Mika and Toya. However, Miss Mika once again directed her gaze towards me and kindly spoke.

"You're little miss Kanata, right? Since you've visited as a special guest today, pick out whatever you want to eat. It's on the house."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Even if I choose one of everything here...?"

'I have no limits when it comes to desserts, sir.'

Hearing me mumble in worry, Miss Mika nodded as if it was obvious.

"You can take everything if you want."

"Thank you!"

'If this is what you meant by flattery, then you've succeeded. Thirty extra points to, mister Toya!'

Toya stayed by my side, carefully selecting snacks that I knew I would enjoy, placing them one by one on another tray.

'He did the same with the ball once. It seems like he perfectly knows my taste,' I thought, amused by his attentiveness.

"Hayate, you should get something you like too, you know!" I encouraged him.

"I know that, I am getting what I want."

'Huh. What a typical tsundere,' I chuckled.

"What are you smirking about?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, tell me!"

I pretended not to hear him and placed a Linzer torte on my tray.

'This should be delicious. I've never eaten apricot jam in real life, but it was definitely tasty when I tried it last time.'

"By the way, Kana..."

While Reika and Luca joyfully ran around with cotton candies in hand, Hayate added a Sacher torte to the tray before continuing.

"You said you'd only play with me next time, not with Reika and Luca."

"Huh?"

"That's what you said last time."

He smiled innocently as his blue eyes curved into crescent shapes. And he was blushing like crazy.

'Don't you think we're already having a good time without those two? Luca did try to make me play with him earlier, but still...'

"I-I want that to be now," Hayate confessed, his voice filled with shyness.

'But Hayate, we all came out together to have fun, I reasoned internally.'

"If we suddenly disappear, everyone will worry about us."

Hayate nodded in understanding.

"Mmhm, I know."

"Then how?" I asked, curious about what he had in mind.

"Hello, Kana."

"Hey, do you need something?"

Suddenly, Reika came towards us and briefly glanced at Toya, who was engrossed in conversation with the Miss Mika, before fixing her gaze on me once again.

Suddenly, a sense of apprehension washed over me.

'You little brat, what daring plan have you come up with?'