When the shop owner saw the situation, he let out an "Eh?!" and then slapped his thigh hard.
How could there be so few people entering the competition? Did something go wrong?
Well, whatever. What's done is done—might as well start.
The owner quickly went over the rules again for the four of them:
There were 30 donuts total, a 10-minute time limit, and whoever ate the most within the time would win.
First, second, and third place would receive 100,000 yen, 50,000 yen, and 30,000 yen respectively.
With that explained, the owner gave the signal, and the competition officially began.
Asai Yu glanced to his left.
The middle-aged woman was clutching two donuts, desperately stuffing them into her mouth, occasionally shooting him a look.
Clearly, she was here to win.
Then he looked to his right.
Sumita Mana was eating her donuts at an unhurried pace, savoring each bite, looking completely content. She was obviously here for the free donuts.
Further to the right, Misumi Uika was also eating slowly, but her eyes kept flicking toward him in small, subtle glances.
…Why was she staring at him?
Asai Yu felt confused.
Don't tell him she'd set her sights on him?!
Their gazes met. Uika suddenly remembered that she'd casually taken off her sunglasses earlier while eating and hurriedly put them back on.
She shouldn't have exposed herself… right?
Asai Yu felt puzzled, but he withdrew his gaze and focused on eating normally.
Mm. Second place shouldn't be a problem.
However, when the competition ended, something shocking happened.
With one minute left, Sumita Mana finished all thirty donuts.
First place.
Because of that, Asai Yu was pushed down to third place, earning only 30,000 yen.
All one could say was—as expected of a woman known as Donut Lady.
With donuts in their stomachs and money in their hands, the three of them left the shop, leaving behind only the most miserable person there: the owner.
—
"I'm so full~ This is the first time I've eaten this many donuts in one go," Mana said on the way, stretching lazily.
The next second, her expression changed slightly.
"Ah—sorry, wait a moment! I need to go to the restroom. I'll be right back!"
With that, Sumita Mana disappeared, leaving only Asai Yu and Misumi Uika behind.
"So, Misumi-san," Asai Yu started a conversation, "are you in Osaka because of an event?"
"Yeah. sumimi has an event here over the next couple of days," Uika nodded.
Then she continued, "By the way… how did you and Mana meet?"
"By chance," Asai Yu replied.
"I heard you're Mana's fan," Uika followed up. "Which song do you think she sings best?"
Asai Yu: "..."
"All of them," he answered on instinct. "I don't have a favorite."
Hearing that, Uika's eyes sharpened. She smelled something off.
"Then which song do you think best represents sumimi as a unit?"
Asai Yu: "..."
"I think they're all representative works," he replied.
"I think the most representative one is 'That, this world!' What do you think of that song?" Uika asked.
"It's really good," Asai Yu said.
Half a minute passed without another word.
Asai Yu realized—he'd probably been exposed.
Turning his head, he saw the blonde girl slowly remove her sunglasses. Her pale face was tense, and deep violet eyes stared at him with clear scrutiny.
"As I thought," Uika said coolly, "Asai-san, you're not actually Mana's fan at all, are you?"
"Does being a looks-only fan not count as being a fan?" Asai Yu shot back.
Uika rubbed her chin. "That… should count—"
The next second, she reacted.
"Wait. Don't tell me you're only interested in Mana's appearance?"
Asai Yu didn't answer.
Uika just kept staring at him.
Asai Yu: "..."
After more than ten seconds of his completely detached, couldn't-care-less attitude, Uika finally lost her patience.
"If you're getting close to Mana with bad intentions," she said firmly, "I will stop you."
Asai Yu felt a bit speechless.
Who exactly was getting close to whom here?
Still, he had no intention of arguing.
"Do whatever you want. If you can keep an eye on Sumita-san, that'd actually be for the best."
Uika replied decisively, "I'll be watching you."
Having exposed his fake-fan status, her guard toward Asai Yu was now extremely high—there was even a hint of hostility.
"Just don't stalk me," Asai Yu reminded her.
At that moment, Sumita Mana came trotting back, looking refreshed. Seeing the oddly quiet atmosphere, she tilted her head in confusion.
"Did something happen?"
"Nothing, Mana-chan," Uika said with a smile, shaking her head.
Asai Yu, however, said the complete opposite.
"Something did happen. Your partner here seems to have some objections toward me—she thinks I'm approaching you with ulterior motives."
Asai Yu always believed in saying things clearly.
And he was particularly good at reporting people to their face.
Both Uika and Mana looked surprised.
They exchanged a glance, unmistakable awkwardness in their eyes.
Suddenly, a phone ringtone broke the silence.
"Sorry, I need to take this," Mana said, answering her phone and speaking quietly for a moment.
After hanging up, she turned to Asai Yu with an apologetic expression.
"I'm really sorry, Asai-kun. Something urgent came up with sumimi's work. I'll have to leave with Uika first."
"It's fine. I just remembered I have something to do as well," Asai Yu replied.
"Then let's part ways here. See you next time, Asai-kun," Mana said.
"Yeah. See you," Asai Yu nodded.
The two groups went their separate ways.
—
Back at the hotel, Uika asked curiously, "Did sumimi's event get moved up?"
Mana crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks, not answering right away.
Seeing that, Uika felt a little awkward.
About half a minute later, Mana finally spoke.
"The call wasn't about work."
At that point, Uika already understood Mana's intentions and didn't quite dare to say anything.
The call had been convenient.
Leaving had been deliberate.
After the things Asai Yu said earlier, it definitely wouldn't have been appropriate to keep walking around together.
Another half-minute passed before Mana sighed.
"Uika… Asai-kun is a really, really good person. He doesn't have any bad intentions."
On that point, Uika couldn't agree.
"But he really is a fake fan, Mana-chan. He doesn't even know a single sumimi song."