"Our Strong Ties" - Tae x Female Reader

Chapter Three - "On the Hunt"

*(Y/N)'s POV*

As I walked home that night after visiting Tae's house...

Tae's funny to me. We're searching for a legendary hamburg steak all the sudden? That's one of the reasons why I love her. You never know what'll happen.
I promise to find that hamburg steak before Tsugu and Hagumi!

"Ha ha," someone laughed near me.

I turned to see a strange girl that I've never seen before at school.
She had long brightly-colored hair in light-pink and light-blue streaks.
She was tall, but seemed younger than me.

"You think you'll find that hamburg steak? She asked. "Not if I do!"

"It'll be for my girlfriend-- well, my sorta girlfriend. Why do you want it?" I replied.

"It'll be for myself… so I can finally impress my favorite band, Pastel*Palettes!"

"Huh? I know a girl from PasuPare! She goes to my school!" I told the girl.

"Really?!" The girl shrieked. "Eek! I'm soo jealous! Hmph! I'd better work harder than usual!"

"Wait!" I shouted before she dashed off. "What's your name?"

"Just call me Pareo," she said, before walking off. "I'll see you later!"

Can't say I've ever seen her before.
Now I have a new rival to add to the others.

Tomorrow is Saturday, which means I have all day to search with Tae and Rinko.
Where would we start? Where would a legendary food item be held in the first place?

I sat down on a nearby bench and began to think. As I was thinking, I heard two girls' voices.

"Hey, Mii-kun," one girl said. "Guess what?"

"What?" The girl, probably Mii-kun, replied.

"I have a lead on the legendary hamburg steak that so many people are looking for!"

The girl talking sounded like Hagumi, now that I think about it.

"Oh?" Mii-kun responded. "What is it?"

"It's a riddle I found earlier. It said, "the steak lies within the heart of a heart."

"Is that the truth?" I wondered. "Sounds too cryptic to be the truth, but too cryptic to be a lie…"

This might be a huge lead.
They passed by me, and luckily, they didn't notice me.

...What place lies within the heart?

Aaagh, what does that even mean?! I need someone who's good at riddles! Let me text Tae…

*Tae's POV*

(Y/N) texted me. Looks like she has a lead on the steak's whereabouts! "Lies within the heart"? No clue.

I hope the treasure isn't some far-off place, outside of the country…

If all else fails, this'll be a great time to get closer to (Y/N).

I told (Y/N) I loved her earlier, but that wasn't really a romantic moment, I'd say.
That was a weird moment, in reality.

No one's ever asked anyone out over a hamburg steak, I'd imagine. That'd also be pretty weird.

Rinko called, and told me she had to help Lisa with her own things… so she can't help us. I just texted (Y/N) about that.

I racked my brain trying to think of the hamburg steak, but all I could think of is (Y/N)...
My heart starts racing. I might even love her more than I love hamburg steaks…