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I’m not sure if it’s good or bad, but Osanai-san and I have encountered strange mysteries quite often. Most of these mysteries were presented to us as “problems to be solved,” but there were also times when we were the first to notice something strange that no one else had caught on to. For example, in March, Osanai-san noticed something odd in a shopping mall: the depth at which chocolate spray sank into gelato inside a well-heated store.
To be honest, March isn’t exactly the right time for gelato. Especially in a year when spring is late and winter winds keep blowing. Yet, there was definitely a reason why Osanai-san and I set out to taste gelato. It was because I owed Osanai-san a debt from last month. To be precise, I owed Osanai-san a favor, and while trying to pay it back, I got caught up in something unexpected and ended up receiving too much. When I asked what I could do to make it up to her, Osanai-san thought for a moment and said this.
“Then, buy me gelato.”
It was during our walk home, in the middle of the street. Osanai-san was dressed in a fluffy padded coat, furry gloves, a thick scarf, and even a plush earmuff on her neatly cut bob. I couldn’t take my eyes off her perfect winter outfit. Osanai-san gets cold easily.
“Are you really okay with gelato?”
“Do you have any other ideas?”
That made me realize I didn’t have any other recommendations. The days were getting longer, and the sky was quickly darkening even at sunset, but Osanai-san let out a small sigh.
“I wanted to go to my favorite gelato shop, which opened its second branch in a more convenient location than the first. I was planning to go on the last day of the final exams next week, but since Kobato-kun is buying me gelato, it’s perfect.”
It’s naturally a good thing if one has something in mind.
“So, where’s the store?”
“It’s in <Lemora>.”
What Osanai-san refers to as <Lemora> is a massive shopping mall with parking for thousands of cars. The name is derived from a legendary fish that stops ships, and the mascot character <Lemoran>, resembling a piranha, has gained popularity for being both cute and scary. I’ve been there once, and in addition to grocery and clothing stores, there were pharmacies, art supply stores, bookstores, and even movie theaters and furniture and car dealerships. It was located quite far on the outskirts, which was probably why it was so spacious, making it quite a distance from both my house and Osanai-san’s.
I thought for a moment. Just because it’s far doesn’t mean I don’t want to, but do I really need to go with Osanai-san just for her to eat gelato?
“Okay, then I’ll just give you as money.”
Osanai-san raised her eyebrows sharply.
“That’s the worst suggestion, Kobato-kun.”
“Why?”
“It’s not that I want to go to the gelato shop with Kobato-kun just because it’s you. I thought it would be a good opportunity since you wanted to make it up to me. But if you’re trying to solve it with money, then it looks like I’m doing you a favor for the money.”
It sounded reasonable, but I still felt a bit uneasy, so I spoke my mind.
“Is it a sentimental thing?”
Osanai-san lightly shook her hand, covered in furry gloves.
“I’m going to be angry.”
“That’s a problem.”
“It’s not a sentimental issue. It’s just common sense. It’s just common sense, like a Petit Bourgeois.”
Hearing her say that made me feel like I had done something wrong. In fact, I had never thought of wanting to receive cash as a reward for helping Osanai-san.
I never expected to learn what it meant to be a Petit Bourgeois from Osanai-san, though.
“Ah, I see. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
Osanai-san nodded generously. We decided to go to the gelato shop on the last day of the final exams.
Which means, the priority is to do well on the exam first. My first year of high school is almost over with this exam.
I wonder what has changed for us. If I had voiced that question, Osanai-san would have surely replied like this.
“At least, it doesn’t seem like Kobato-kun has learned about people’s feelings in the past year.”
Of course, in that case, I would have retorted, “It’s the same for both of us.”
There were three subjects on the last day of the final exams, and the last Japanese exam ended at 11:40. As for the results, well, they were okay. It wasn’t a complete disaster, but it wasn’t exceptional either, just like always. Osanai-san and I went home separately to change clothes or have lunch, and we agreed to meet at 2 o’clock on-site. To get to <Lemora>, I had to either ride a bicycle or take a bus, but considering that I was repaying my debt to Osanai-san, I naturally chose to ride my bike.
I thought it would take about 30 minutes to get there, but since it was my first time going that way, I left home at 1:15 PM, considering the possibility of getting lost. The weather was clear. Although spring was late, it was March, so when the sun shone, I hardly felt cold even while pedaling my bike against the wind. After pedaling for 5 or 10 minutes, I warmed up, and I was even starting to sweat a little.
I noticed some empty cans and cigarette butts scattered around, possibly left behind by people or cars passing by. I stopped my bike a few times to check my direction. Paying attention, I saw that there were signs indicating the way to <Lemora> posted here and there, and as long as I followed those arrows, I wouldn’t get lost.
Soon, beyond the open land mixed with houses and farmland, a massive shopping mall appeared. I remembered going to the prefectural stadium for a track and field competition in middle school – it was a voluntary participation, but I remember being told to participate anyway.
The 400-meter track was a proper stadium with a soccer field inside, and I remember the stands could hold about 25,000 people. It was quite a large facility, but the area of <Lemora> seemed to be at least double that of the stadium. Once I entered the premises, a vast parking lot lay before me. However, perhaps because it was a weekday afternoon, it was so empty that I worried if they were really doing business. At most, it was only about 10% full… But thinking about it, if 10% of a parking lot that can hold thousands of cars is full, that means hundreds of cars are parked.
My sense of scale was numbed by the size. On the other hand, the bicycle parking area was cramped. It seemed that not many people came by bike. When I checked my phone for the time, I still had a little time before our appointment at 2 o’clock. Just as I was wondering what to do, a message from Osanai-san arrived on my phone.
“I’m going to be late because of an accident. I’m sorry.”
It’s not good. I immediately replied.
“Are you okay?”
A little later, another message arrived.
“I’m on a bus caught in a traffic jam due to an accident. They said a crepe got caught on the power line.”
It’s a pretty peaceful accident.
As I was thinking so, another message arrived.
“It’s not a crepe, it’s a crane. It’s because of auto correction.”
It’s a pretty big accident.
There was no indication in Osanai-san’s message about how late she would be. It seemed unpredictable. I had no choice but to enter <Lemora> first. The automatic door was wide open. It seemed well-ventilated and open, but I was slightly worried about bugs getting in. The store was a two-story building, and the ceiling was open from the first floor to the top. As soon as I entered, a sports car was on display right in front of me.
I thought it was quite a flashy display, but in a building of this size, there would be multiple entrances, so I probably just entered right in front of the car dealership. I had agreed to meet Osanai-san at the bookstore. Looking at the guide map, it was on the second floor, so I headed to the nearest escalator. Then I saw a large clock installed on a golden pillar. For no particular reason, I looked at the clock face, and the hands had passed 12 o’clock. Of course, it’s not even 2 o’clock yet.
A clock this fancy shouldn’t be wrong. If the management of <Lemora> isn’t being done properly, there are probably many things to worry about in the future. The bookstore was quite bustling even at this hour. There were a few high school students in different uniforms than ours among the customers. Even if the schools are different, the exam period probably isn’t much different, so they must have come here after their exams like I did. Thinking that way, I felt a strange sense of camaraderie.
While browsing the bookstore shelves, it suddenly occurred to me that my house and Osanai-san’s house aren’t that far apart. It would have been fine to come together instead of meeting on-site. I would have been stuck in traffic too, but at least I wouldn’t be wasting time like this. I hadn’t thought of that at all. We don’t assign any meaning to just acting together.
Even after browsing through the paperback books and magazines, Osanai-san still hadn’t arrived. It seemed like there was a severe traffic jam. I walked around the store once, bought a paperback book, and checked my phone, but there were no special messages, so I walked around again. Feeling a bit restless, I picked up an art magazine and flipped through the pages to see if there was an article about a contemporary artist I only knew by name, but there wasn’t any. I put the magazine back on the shelf and looked around for something to pass the time when my hand bumped into someone else’s. Startled, I spoke.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
It was Osanai-san.
“Don’t stand behind someone without saying anything.”
Osanai-san obediently lowered her head.
“I’m sorry.”
“It took quite a while.”
“Right. I was thinking of running since the bus wasn’t moving.”
I checked the time on my phone, and it was almost 2:30. I thought I had waited longer, but it hadn’t taken that long.
“Then, shall we go?”
Osanai-san nodded her head.
Since Osanai-san wanted to go, I expected that the gelato shop would be very popular and would have an independent store in a good location within <Lemora>. However, unexpectedly, Osanai-san took me to the food court. In the large showcase next to the entrance, there were samples of pudding à la mode piled high with fruits and whipped cream, a parfait that was so tall it was hard to believe, and ramen with chopsticks floating in the air as if eating noodles. There weren’t many customers, probably because it was past mealtime.
A family that looked like they had preschool children, two people in sailor uniforms occupying a two-seater, and a woman in a suit were inside the store. There was also a man in a shirt and tie who had spread out papers on the table and was talking to a boy who looked like a high school student.
“It’s empty.”
I spoke instinctively. Osanai-san looked satisfied.
“That’s right. I’m glad.”
“I thought there would be more middle or high school students. There were a few in uniforms who looked like they came after the exam at the bookstore.”
Osanai-san, glancing around, replied with an attitude that seemed to be elsewhere.
“There was a McDonald’s in another place, and it was really crowded.”
Then she spotted the store she was aiming for and added while looking straight at it.
“This place is empty only now. Once it becomes more known that this store, <Abernetty’s>, is here, it will be really crowded. The main store is always popular.”
Osanai-san approached <Abernetty’s>, raising her thumb. The store was between <Sugake> and <Tacotaco Festa>, and the store sign read <Abernetty’s Gelato of Rome> in a stylish font. If Osanai-san hadn’t told me the name of the store, would I have been able to read it as Abernetty’s?
The first thing that caught my eye in front of the store was a glass case serving as a freezer. Colorful gelato was lined up in metal containers, perfectly arranged – I guessed it was gelato since it was a gelato shop, but its appearance was indistinguishable from ice cream. At the bottom of the case, there was a purple panel with the letters “S.P.Q.R.” written in bold, heavy font.
“What does SPQR mean?”
As I muttered, Osanai-san replied without taking her eyes off the gelato.
“Senātus Populusque Rōmānus. In other words, it means the Roman Empire.”
“… Why do you know that?”
Osanai-san tilted her head without taking her eyes off the gelato.
“Why do you think?”
The wall behind the case had a large photo of wide stairs. The stairs were wide, and a building resembling a church with two towers was visible on top. It was definitely not a Japanese photo. It was probably Rome. It looked like a scene I had seen somewhere. Between the case and the wall, there was an employee in an orange and white striped uniform standing there looking bored.
This isn’t particularly Roman.
Behind the employee, there was a sink, a refrigerator, and a narrow cooking area.
“Then, let’s order quickly.”
Osanai-san grabbed me as I walked toward the store. In her hand was a plastic plate indicating that the seat was in use.
“Kobato-kun. Securing a seat comes first.”
“It’s so empty here…….”
“Securing a seat comes first.”
“Alright.”
Osanai-san looked around the food court. Following her gaze, I realized that there was a second floor here. To be precise, should I call it a loft? Osanai-san pointed to that loft and said, “Let’s go there.”
Of course, we had to go up the stairs. I wasn’t reluctant to put in that much effort, but I asked anyway.
“Why?”
The answer came immediately.
“Warm air rises.”
Understood. As we climbed the stairs, we passed by a seat occupied by a man in a tie and a high school student.
I heard the voice asking, “Do you have takoyaki experiences?” It seemed like a part-time job interview. A spring break part-time job……. Should I think about something too?
We chose a suitable table on the loft, and Osanai-san placed the plastic plate on the table. It was indeed quite warm up here. I was impressed that it was as Osanai-san predicted, but she herself frowned slightly and started to take off her padding and loosen her scarf. It seemed that this temperature exceeded her expectations. I asked her what I was curious about while she was trying to huddle up.
“So, is this <Abernetty’s> a famous place?”
I might have asked an unexpected question, but Osanai-san likes talking about sweet things as much as eating them. She properly informed me.
“It’s famous locally. One day, the store manager started selling gelato in a corner of the grocery store in front of the station in the next town. He entrusted the grocery business to his family and focused on gelato, and it gradually became a hot topic.”
Osanai-san pulled out a chair and sat down. She gestured for me to sit as well. I didn’t expect such a long story.
“According to the town magazine <Wakayu>,” she clearly stated the source of information and continued her story.
“The store manager sometimes goes to Europe for product purchases, and when he first went to Rome, he had another personal goal. He loved the movie <Roman Holiday> he saw in his youth, and he wanted to experience something like that as a youthful memory. In other words….”
“Batting a person with a guitar?”
Osanai-san ignored my words without even glancing at me.
“Eating gelato on the Spanish Steps.”
Oh, the stairs in the photo on the wall are those.
“But there were so many tourists that it might have been a nuisance to the locals, and food was prohibited in the Spanish Square, so the store manager’s dream couldn’t be realized. So he was disappointed, but he thought he had to eat gelato anyway, so he went into any gelato shop…… and the gelato he ate there changed his fate forever.”
I guess it’s an exaggerated story……. No, if he found his lifelong profession, it wouldn’t be that exaggerated.
“The store manager returned to Japan and researched gelato… He said in an interview that he wanted to convey the taste that moves people’s hearts to many people, so he started the store. I went to the first store once, and there was a huge line of kids my age.”
Which means <Abernetty’s> is not a chain store backed by large capital.
“It’s a bit harsh to say, but it’s surprising that such a privately-owned store would come into a food court. I thought stubborn stores would avoid places like food courts.”
As I muttered, Osanai-san looked at me sharply with cold eyes.
“Kobato-kun. They say that a bad workman blames his tools.”
“I see. I was too complacent.”
“And self-employment is about choosing a location.”
Which one is right? Osanai-san is very serious.
“I thought the first store was really crowded and far away, so I couldn’t easily go there, but when I heard that the second branch opened in <Lemora>, I was really happy.”
“Then it would have been perfect for celebrating after the exam.”
“Indeed. I didn’t expect to be treated by Kobato-kun though.”
Maybe I was a hindrance? If it wasn’t for my compensation, wouldn’t Osanai-san want to come alone? While I was thinking that, Osanai-san added, “It worked out well. If I had been alone, I might have been mistaken for a middle school student and warned by the security guard.”
I’m not that dull to not notice that she was asking me to follow her. We came down from the loft and faced the colorful gelato lined up in the case in front of the <Abernetty’s> store.
- Milk
- Pistachio
- Hazelnut
- Mixed Berry
- Dark Chocolate
- Milk Chocolate
- Coffee
- Rice
…… Rice?
“Rice?”
I asked Osanai-san, but she didn’t answer as she was focused on the showcase. Maybe she avoided explaining the product in front of the staff.
No, maybe she was just too focused on choosing. Among the eight flavors, only the coffee gelato showed no signs of being scooped. Maybe no one ordered coffee gelato until this time? I felt sorry for it, so I ordered coffee. Osanai-san, as if she had a grudge against the gelato, continued to stare at it, but after a while, her expression softened, and she spoke in a calm voice.
“Please give me milk. I’d like chocolate spray topping.”
Was there a topping? I didn’t check the menu properly. The staff wasn’t very friendly. Nodding silently, they scooped the ordered gelato into a purple paper cup printed with the store name using a metal scoop. They sprinkled chocolate spray on the milk-flavored gelato, sticked a wooden spoon, and placed it on a plastic tray. Even though it’s called a spoon, it doesn’t have a concave part, so it might be more accurate to call it a wooden chopstick in the shape of a spoon.
“Coffee, and milk with chocolate spray topping.”
While I was paying, Osanai-san grabbed two self-service paper cups and a few paper napkins.
There was something I realized while paying. Compared to the desserts Osanai-san usually pursues, gelato was cheap. Osanai-san carried the tray with the gelato. As we climbed the stairs to the loft, I asked her.
“Osanai-san, did you choose gelato to lighten the burden on me?”
Osanai-san seemed taken aback, as if I had suddenly spoken in a dialect.
“I don’t understand the intent of your question.”
I guess it was an excessive thought.
Returning to the secured table, Osanai-san placed the gelato in front of each of us. I wiped my hands with a paper napkin and picked up the wooden spoon. Since Osanai-san had placed a paper cup under the cup, I did the same. The coffee gelato was, as the name suggested, coffee-colored. It was generously filled and pressed into a triangular pyramid shape with a scoop, so the tip was sharp. I don’t know as much about sweets as Osanai-san, but I’ve eaten gelato before. So I had an image of what this kind of food would be like.
However, that image wavered the moment I stuck the spoon into each part.
I could feel the weight in my hands.
The weight in my hand suddenly piqued my interest, and I lifted the spoon up. The gelato stretched.
Not as much as the Turkish ice cream I saw on TV, but the gelato was definitely interesting. I thought something was different, and the coffee gelato I put in my mouth was… incredibly bitter and incredibly sweet. The rich flavor was truly beyond imagination.
I had the impression that gelato was a low-fat version of ice cream. To be more precise, I thought it was a diet version of ice cream, something that people who want to eat ice cream but are concerned about calories would choose as a second option.
It was definitely not. This is not a substitute for something or a taste that seems to have been restrained. The bold flavor spread out, and I couldn’t help but feel ashamed of my prejudice. Yes, if it’s this, Osanai-san would like it.
“This is amazing.”
Osanai-san didn’t answer. Holding the spoon in her right hand, she was frozen like a statue. She was staring intently at the gelato with chocolate spray on it. Did she turn to stone from being so moved? Unable to withstand the heat of Osanai-san’s gaze, the tip of the triangular pyramid-shaped gelato was about to collapse.
I cautiously spoke up.
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
Osanai-san smiled as if she had come to her senses and silently stuck the spoon into the gelato. After taking a bite and nodding seriously, I wondered if this was also a courtesy, so I asked.
“Is it good?”
“It’s easy to eat.”
Then I’m glad.
However, from the loft we secured, we could naturally see the floor below. At a table where takoyaki and pancakes were placed, parents were trying to stop a child who was jumping around on the sofa. Two people in sailor uniforms were sitting in front of empty glasses, seemingly discussing something seriously. And I noticed that the behavior of a certain customer – more precisely, the absence of action – was strange. I put a spoonful of gelato in my mouth and said.
“Over there, there’s a person in a suit.”
Osanai-san glanced slightly. There was a woman in suit sitting in an inner seat on the first floor. Her upper garment was a dark gray jacket, and her lower garment was a skirt of the same color. She was leaning on the table, staring at her phone screen. Right in front of her was a gelato. Osanai-san silently put the gelato in her mouth. It was a “So what?” expression. I moved my spoon and continued the conversation.
“That person was already here when we arrived. She hasn’t gotten up from their seat.”
“…… Yes.”
“So she must have ordered gelato before us…… but why isn’t she eating?”
Osanai-san said expressionlessly.
“That’s right, that’s a very big question. You might not know, Kobato-kun, but gelato melts.”
As she said that, Osanai-san pointed at my gelato. It probably meant to stop talking nonsense and eat quickly.
Following her advice, I take a spoonful and put it in my mouth. The coffee aroma stings my nose. It doesn’t have a scent when it’s cold, but the moment I put it in my mouth and the gelato melts, a subtle fragrance wafts up. Seeing Osanai-san put a spoonful of her chocolate spray gelato in her mouth, I said,
“The coffee aroma is amazing. Yours must be incredibly milky too.”
“It’s strange Japanese, but yes, incredibly milky. And it doesn’t have that icy feeling.”
What matters most is that.
The woman in suit still doesn’t seem to want to eat the gelato. I glanced at her with my side eye.
I can see the side of her face in my field of vision. She looks to be in her mid-20s. The suit doesn’t seem to fit her properly. Is she not used to wearing it? Her hair is semi-long, and the shirt she wears under the jacket is probably white, but it’s hard to see due to the angle. Her legs are hidden by the table. On the table, there is only a white gelato in a purple paper cup, filled high and shaped like a triangular pyramid, just like ours. The paper cup has the store name printed on it, so it’s definitely <Abernetty’s>’s gelato.
As I turned around, I noticed that Osanai-san was staring intently at my coffee gelato. Even Osanai-san wouldn’t covet someone else’s, so I asked her.
“Do you want to eat it?”
“Nope.”
Alright.
Osanai-san’s milk gelato is like an isolated island floating in the sea of gelato. In that sea, chocolate spray snowflakes are slowly sinking.
“Is the chocolate spray good?”
Osanai-san answered while poking the gelato island with her spoon.
“Is it delicious or not isn’t really important, it makes my heart race.”
“I kind of understand.”
“If it’s on the menu, I end up topping it for no reason…”
She muttered as if it were a weakness she had to overcome.
I glance at the woman in the suit again. She’s engrossed in her phone and still hasn’t touched the gelato. I noticed another awkwardness. She is sitting on a chair. And across the table, there is an empty sofa facing her. The first floor of the food court has sofas installed along the outer edge. In other words, the mysterious customer who isn’t eating gelato is sitting alone facing the wall.
I scoop up the coffee gelato. The wooden spoon scrapes the bottom of the paper cup. Osanai-san tilts her paper cup and tries to scoop up the melted gelato with her spoon. The spoon, which doesn’t have a concave part, is not suitable for scooping liquids at all, so Osanai-san is struggling.
“How about drinking from the cup?”
As I suggested that, Osanai-san frowned slightly.
“I feel like that would be losing.”
Who is she challenging?
“How was it?”
“It was smooth.”
I put the last spoonful of gelato in my mouth. It was my first experience intentionally coming to a specialty store to eat gelato. With an empty paper cup in front of me, I reflected on how rich it was, and then I realized. The rich flavor doesn’t linger on my tongue. With soft serve ice cream or regular ice cream, no matter how deliciously you eat it, you might end up wanting a sip of water or something after one bite. That’s because the sweetness or richness lingers on your tongue. But gelato, at least this <Abernetty’s>’s gelato, didn’t have that.
The gelato itself had a very deep flavor and intense aroma, but my mouth now feels refreshing as if I had just drunk water. There are so many surprises about this place. If this is gelato, what on earth have I been eating until now?
“It was delicious. Thanks for telling me about this place.”
My heartfelt compliment was brushed off nonchalantly. Osanai-san was still struggling with the chocolate spray.
I looked over at the customer who wasn’t eating gelato. It wasn’t exactly a storm of inhalation, but we tasted the gelato relatively quickly.
Like Osanai-san pointed out, if she doesn’t hurry, the gelato will melt. But that woman in suit doesn’t seem to want to eat gelato at all. Looking that way, I casually said.
“That person is sitting in a four-person seat.”
The two seats along the outer edge are sofas, and the two seats facing them are chairs. The customer who isn’t eating gelato is sitting in a chair, with a bag on the chair next to her. It’s a black bag that looks quite wide. Osanai-san put down her spoon and let out a small sigh. She looked up and glared at me.
“Why are you so curious, Kobato-kun?”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“So, this gelato is delicious. Plus, I can’t believe she’s just letting it melt without even touching it. I think it’s natural to wonder if there’s some reason behind it.”
Osanai-san’s voice was cold.
“Is that so? So what is the truth?”
“It’s just what it is.”
I know exactly what Osanai-san means by that. I have the worst tendencies. I want to expose secrets that someone is hiding, or lies they don’t want to reveal, and show off my thoughts in front of others. Because of this bad personality, I’ve hurt people or hurt myself. At the end of my embarrassing middle school days, Osanai-san and I made a promise. If I try to show off my clumsy wisdom to others, Osanai-san will stop me, and I will swear to correct Osanai-san’s bad habits. This is our reciprocal relationship.
Right now, Osanai-san is restraining me according to that promise. I’m grateful that she’s trying to keep that promise. However, I have something to say too.
“There’s no one else here. No matter what I think or say, no one gets hurt. I think it’s only natural to be forgiven for wondering about something strange, even in light of our promise.”
Then Osanai-san stared at me.
“I thought so too. So I didn’t say anything during the Paris Macaron incident. I thought that if we were just enjoying a modest intellectual game together, it wouldn’t be a crime. But Kobato-kun, do you remember how many things you’ve exposed since last year? If you had decided never to expose anything again during the San Francisco Cookie mystery, I wouldn’t have gotten involved at all.”
As she brought that up, I had nothing to say.
However, even considering that, Osanai-san’s words are a bit one-sided.
“I admit I was careless. If you say I was showing off, there’s a part of me that feels guilty. But Osanai-san also anticipated that and used me quite conveniently.”
Last autumn, Osanai-san made a friend. She’s a middle school student living in Nagoya, and her father is a famous patissier. Because of this girl, Osanai-san has taken me out several times. On a few of those occasions, Osanai-san probably factored in my personality, which wants to reveal something.
“It’s not very admirable to stay silent when it’s convenient and then lecture me when it’s over.”
In that moment, a gleam of joy passed through Osanai-san’s eyes. She doesn’t want to admit it, but Osanai-san has a slightly happy expression when faced with sweets or when an enemy appears.
…… But the gleam in Osanai-san’s eyes quickly faded.
“That…… can’t be a separate issue, can it?”
“I don’t intend to unilaterally blame Osanai-san since I jumped in excitedly too.”
Nodding, Osanai-san looked at the customer in suit who wasn’t eating gelato.
“I didn’t say it in front of Kobato-kun, but to be honest, I was curious about that person too. Ordering gelato and leaving it untouched is a serious insult. If there’s a reason to justify that kind of behavior, I want to know it.”
That statement was either a reconciliation or at least a temporary ceasefire request. Osanai-san’s advice is precious, and I might need to be a bit more cautious. The desire to become a Petit Bourgeois wasn’t just a passing thought, after all.
I can’t deny that the rules have loosened lately. At this rate, my bad habits will resurface and hurt me and others again.
I’ll have to be careful starting tomorrow.
Now then, where should I start thinking from?
We are above the line of sight of the customer who isn’t eating gelato. What we can see is her side face and the table in front of her. The gelato is filled high in a purple paper cup, shaped into a triangle with a spatula. I can also see the wooden spoon stuck in it. The color of the gelato is white.
“What kind of gelato do you think that is?”
Osanai-san stared at the gelato on the table for a moment and said, “Right now, <Abernetty’s> is selling two flavors that are white: milk and rice.” Then she continued speaking as if lost in thought.
“It certainly looks like she hasn’t touched the gelato at all. But for us, we can only see one side of the gelato. The woman in the suit might be eating from a side that we can’t see.”
Can you really deny that someone would play with food like that? I’ve also tried to see how much I can eat without toppling a shortcake. If that’s the case, is there really a possibility that the person is eating the gelato acrobatically, and it just looks like it hasn’t decreased at all from our side?
“It’s interesting, but I don’t think so. I’ve been quite concerned about that person, but she really hasn’t touched it even once.”
“Alright.”
“Don’t you have any objections?”
Osanai-san nodded.
“I don’t. I didn’t think that was true either.”
“Then why did you say that?”
“…… Imagining a half-eaten gelato was kind of fun.”
It’s a relief if it was fun.
To clarify the premise of the story, I asked.
“It’s not about that person, but in general, do you have any reasons for not eating gelato in front of you?”
Osanai-san thought for a moment and answered.
“Yes.”
“Really? Tell me.”
As I nodded, Osanai-san took a breath and started speaking quickly.
“I realized after buying it that it contained allergens. I’m expressing my intention to complain about the quality. It was actually ordered by someone else. There were bugs on it, so I lost my appetite. I received an urgent call and mentally couldn’t handle it. I prefer to eat gelato when it’s melted. I lost my desire to eat after ordering incorrectly. The morning information program said today’s lucky item is melted gelato. I’m waiting for the drink I ordered to arrive. I was going to take a picture and post it online, but since I just changed my phone, I’m struggling with the operation. Harassment against the store. Actually, I only ordered gelato as a cooling agent for a burn. I’ve been suffering from sudden abdominal pain or toothache and can’t eat it. As a devout believer of the melted gelato cult, I believe melting gelato is a service to God. Having gelato in front of me is a signal to people watching from somewhere else. I thought sweets go into a separate stomach, but now that I have gelato in front of me, I’m so full that I don’t think I can eat it. And…….”
“Okay, that’s enough, thank you.”
Amazing. While listing so many possibilities, Osanai-san never stuttered once.
“Is the truth within those possibilities?”
“How do you think, Kobato-kun?”
I tilted my head.
“None of them are 0% likely. However, I don’t think there was a choice that gained enough plausibility to convince me that this is definitely right. There were plausible possibilities like harassment or complaints against the store, or allergens being present, but even so, I don’t understand why the person in the suit is still sitting there.”
Osanai-san nodded.
“Yes. The strange thing is not that she doesn’t eat gelato, but that she doesn’t leave without eating it.”
It’s really true. The problem is gradually narrowing down.
“I was about to mention it earlier, but that person is sitting in a four-person seat.”
Osanai-san tilted her head.
“I think three people can sit on the sofa without being forced to squeeze in. So the store probably thinks that seat is for five people. …… By the way, I think I know what you want to say, Kobato-kun.”
There are no counter seats in this food court, but there are two-person seats. For example, the two people in sailor uniforms are using a two-person seat. Even if you use a four-person or five-person seat alone, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Especially since it’s empty.
However, using such a large space alone and sitting facing the wall seems to indicate something. If one can choose between a chair and a sofa, wouldn’t they choose the sofa more often? Moreover, if they place their bag next to them, it becomes even more so. If they’re sitting against the wall, wouldn’t it be more common to sit with their back against the wall rather than facing it? All of these strange points are not necessarily decisive. But if they overlap like this, I think there is something to say.
Unexpectedly, both Osanai-san and I spoke it out loud at the same time.
“There must be someone with her.”
“I think there was someone else.”
If there was someone else on the sofa along the outer edge, the way the suited woman is sitting wouldn’t seem strange. The other person could be a friend, or if you think they intentionally gave up the sofa seat, you could think of them as a superior. And this person is waiting for their companion to return.
So, she doesn’t eat and doesn’t leave.
It still leaves two problems.
“Where did the person who came with her go?”
“…… Are you asking me to list the possibilities like before?”
It was fun to listen to Osanai-san constantly saying this and that. I wanted to ask her once more, but…… well, let’s stop.
“I think she went to make a phone call, but it’s hard to be specific. Besides, no matter what, even if I know that the person in suit came with someone else…….”
“More than two people came together.”
I got interrupted. That’s right, I can’t limit it to just one person who left the seat.
“Even if we know that more than two people came together, that doesn’t mean it explains why that woman isn’t eating her gelato. If the other person is a superior or someone they feel hesitant around, they might hesitate to start eating. But could that really be the reason they’re not eating gelato?”
Osanai-san asserted strongly.
“No.”
…… Saying it so definitively makes me rather suspicious.
The woman in the suit came to the food court with a superior, and for some reason, that superior left the seat, so she can’t eat alone and have no choice but to wait with gelato in front of her…… It doesn’t seem like a big contradiction to think that way. Although there’s a bit of a disappointing feeling, I think it’s not a bad conclusion that can be drawn from observation alone.
As I was thinking that way, Osanai-san continued speaking.
“Because there’s only one gelato on the table.”
For a moment, my logic got tangled. There’s only one gelato on the table…… Right. But what does that mean? Osanai-san spoke sharply, as if annoyed by my dull senses.
“I think it’s quite possible that the woman came with a superior and that they left the seat. But in that situation, I can’t imagine that she would order gelato alone. She would either order together with her superior or not order at all.”
…… That’s right. No, but it’s still hard to accept.
“The woman and her superior ordered gelato together, but the superior ate it first and then left the seat.”
Osanai-san immediately countered without hesitation. “If that were the case, the suited woman wouldn’t need to feel hesitant. She would have already started eating.”
“The superior might not have had an appetite and told the suited woman that they were fine and to order what she liked.”
“Still, whether it’s tea, coffee, or water, there should be something on the table. I can’t imagine a situation where the superior didn’t order anything, the suited woman ordered gelato alone, and then left the seat without touching the spoon until they returned…”
I couldn’t come up with a counterargument. In front of the suited woman is white gelato. There must have been someone else at the table she is using. She isn’t trying to touch the gelato…… What could be the truth that integrates these three things?
The case happening in front of us was much more bizarre than I had thought, but I still didn’t think it was an unreasonable situation that couldn’t be explained. There must be a skewer that pierces through the three situations like a three-colored dango. I muttered.
“Maybe the premise was wrong.”
“The premise?”
“What I thought was obvious might be wrong. If not, I can’t understand the situation of not touching the gelato while waiting for someone.”
The only thing that comes to mind is the interpretation that the gelato was ordered by the companion and not her.
Like Osanai-san listed earlier, the thought that “it was actually ordered by someone else” might actually be correct. But in the spacious four-person or five-person seat, the white gelato is clearly in the hands of the woman in the suit. Saying that it’s not ordered by her is too far-fetched.
“The premise is wrong…… If it’s wrong, what could be wrong?”
Osanai-san had a very serious expression.
“Actually, this reality is not real, but just your life flashing before Kobato-kun’s eyes.”
“I sincerely hope that’s not the case.”
“Actually, I’m not me, but just an imaginary being created by the lonely Kobato-kun.”
“An imaginary being doesn’t eat gelato with someone else’s money.”
“Actually, I’m not satisfied with the gelato from <Abernetty’s>.”
“I won’t stop you if you’re going to order another one.”
It’s not that. I stare intently at the woman again. She seems to be wearing the suit uncomfortably. Late twenties, probably a woman. She keeps fiddling with her phone. It doesn’t look like she’s writing. She’s just blankly staring at the screen.
“…… That person is probably someone who works for a company.”
Osanai-san doesn’t say anything.
“Today is the exam day, and we have no classes in the afternoon, so we’re here. Then why is that person in the shopping mall food court on a weekday afternoon?”
“It varies from person to person. It could be a day off from her work. She might be a student in the first place, or she might not be working right now. You can’t tell just by looking.”
Right. After a moment, Osanai-san added.
“…… But generally speaking, that suit definitely looks like work attire.”
So it is work. Looking at the phone, it was 2:45 PM. I don’t know the general working system of the world in detail, but it’s usually too early to leave work.
“I thought that the person in suit came to the food court to eat gelato. But that assumption was a bit clumsy. Maybe that’s where it went wrong.”
Osanai-san probably reached the same conclusion as I did. She doesn’t say anything, but quietly nods.
“She came to work.”
She came to work, and since her business partner is absent, she can’t go back and is fiddling with her phone.
“If it’s work, shouldn’t they be talking in the office?” Osanai-san counters.
It’s the most obvious question, but we are witnessing that counterargument.
“Earlier, there was a part-time job interview in the corner of the floor. Since they were asking about takoyaki experience, I think it’s a part-time job interview for the takoyaki shop in this food court. If they’re interviewing on the floor instead of in an office, it means that either there is no office available for the food court tenants, or if there is, it’s extremely small, or it’s shared among the tenants, making it difficult to use for their own store’s work. That’s what I think.”
Osanai-san tilted her head slightly but soon nodded.
“I’ve seen other stores conducting interviews on the floor.”
“Me too. So, let’s assume this woman came here to work, and what could it mean to have gelato in front of her without even touching the spoon?”
I think about it. Could not touching the spoon mean that the gelato shape shouldn’t be ruined? If so, there are indeed some things that come to mind.
“Maybe a magazine shoot.”
Osanai-san immediately countered.
“Didn’t take.”
“Maybe a health inspection.”
“Didn’t conduct.”
“Maybe a mystery shopper.”
“Didn’t disguise.”
A mystery shopper doesn’t necessarily mean she’s in disguise, I think. Probably.
I look at the white gelato. If the woman in the suit came to work, I can’t think that the only gelato on the table is unrelated to her work. But if that’s the case, she is too indifferent to the gelato. If there is no business partner in front of her, that gelato probably has no meaning.
What kind of situation can be established by placing gelato in front of her in that four-person or five-person seat?
I have a feeling that I saw something. In this food court, or even before that, I was seeing something. Why isn’t the suited woman eating gelato? Isn’t that the answer I’m looking for?
Now, at last, I succeeded in doubting the premise.
“…… Osanai-san.”
“Why?”
“You might think it’s too late to ask…… but is that really gelato?”
Osanai-san looks at what is placed in front of the person in suit. Intently, carefully.
“…… It looks like gelato.”
“Right, it looks like gelato.”
Could bringing something that looks like gelato and showing it to someone lead to something?
It does.
Indeed, I was watching. Pudding à la mode piled high with fruits and whipped cream, a parfait that was so tall it was hard to believe, and ramen with chopsticks floating in the air as if eating noodles.
I said, “That’s a food sample.”
“…… Ah.”
Osanai-san’s eyes widened for a moment. It would be a lie to say that I wasn’t proud of reaching the conclusion a step ahead of her.
“<Abernetty’s> recently opened here, and they didn’t display samples at the entrance. The person in suit is from a food sample production company that brought a prototype. It’s natural that the person in suit isn’t eating gelato because that’s not gelato.”
“Then.”
While looking at the gelato, the gelato sample, Osanai-san mutters to herself.
“Her business partner was the manager of <Abernetty’s>.”
“Probably. I think there isn’t a dedicated sales… or marketing person for food samples at <Abernetty’s>. It’s likely the manager.”
“Now I see. So the woman in the suit was waiting.”
I was about to say that, but I swallowed my words. Osanai-san’s story seemed understandable, yet it didn’t. The person in suit came here with <Abernetty’s>’s manager for a food sample contract, but since the manager left the seat, she’s waiting like that. Up to that point, I can think of it as reasonable. However, Osanai-san is saying that if the business partner of the woman is <Abernetty’s>’s manager, then it makes sense for her to be waiting. It doesn’t seem to make sense.
The only thing I can think of is that Osanai-san has a hunch about why <Abernetty’s>’s manager left the seat. Without even a clue for speculation, I reflexively asked.
“Why does she have to wait just because her business partner is the manager?”
Osanai-san said it as if it were obvious.
“There will be complaint calls, and countermeasures need to be devised. The manager is definitely hectic right now.”
In my mind, I imagine Osanai-san dancing and singing busily. It might be the first time I’ve heard someone say they’re hectic in a real conversation. By the way.
“What do you mean? Osanai-san, did you know something about why Abernetty’s would receive complaints?”
“Rather than knowing….”
As if she were told to explain the obvious again, Osanai-san’s expression became awkward.
“I feel like I’ve been talking about that.”
“That?”
“The reason for the complaints to <Abernetty’s>. Kobato-kun, do you remember what I said about this gelato?”
Hmm…… Osanai-san is pushing.
“One word is fine, do you remember?”
Yes, Osanai-san definitely said,
“Delicious.”
With a wry smile and a somewhat resigned expression, Osanai-san shook her head.
“That was what Kobato-kun said. You thought it might be, but I knew it… Kobato-kun, you weren’t listening to what I was saying.”
No way. I think I’m usually quite attentive to what people say. If it were like usual, I wouldn’t have missed Osanai-san’s words.
However, for today…… I might have been a bit distracted.
I couldn’t think there was a background I didn’t know about in the way Osanai-san calmly ate gelato. I just thought she was eating it deliciously as she always did. With a sigh, Osanai-san said.
“Chocolate spray was the start. When I came back to this seat, I doubted my eyes. The chocolate spray was settled in the gelato.”
That reminds me. Osanai-san also didn’t try to put the spoon in her gelato for a moment. I definitely saw that the chocolate spray was settled in the gelato. Then, what did Osanai-san say?
“I said something like this. This gelato is easy to eat. It doesn’t feel cold on my teeth. It’s smooth. …… I’m not satisfied with <Abernetty’s>’s gelato.”
I see.
“…… Osanai-san, you said that.”
“Yes. I kept saying that.”
Looking back at what Osanai-san said, I finally understand what she wanted to say. It’s too bad.
“Osanai-san’s gelato started to melt.”
A nod returns. Osanai-san said.
“In general, gelato is often stored at a higher temperature than ice cream. While ice cream is stored at -18 or -20 degrees Celsius, gelato can be stored at around -10 or -8 degrees Celsius. So when you put it in your mouth, it melts right away, giving a smooth texture. But my milk gelato was definitely not properly temperature-controlled…….”
It started melting as soon as it was brought to the table. Indeed, compared to mine, which I enjoyed until the last bite, Osanai-san’s gelato had almost turned into a liquid state.
“I wish you had told me.”
As I said that, Osanai-san opened her eyes wide in surprise and then smiled weakly.
“Right. I should have said it.”
…… I realized again that I had made a mistake from that weak voice.
What could be the reason Osanai-san didn’t verbally express that Abernetty’s gelato was not in an ideal state?
I don’t have to think of it. I could say it’s compensation, but it’s because I paid it. She couldn’t say it was bad in front of the person who paid for it.
As if trying to change the subject, Osanai-san turned her head. At the end of her gaze is the suited woman, stretching her body as if tired of waiting.
“If they sold gelato at that temperature, they could expect complaints. If it’s eaten in the store, that’s one thing, but if it was takeout, they might hear that the gelato was almost melted when the customer opened the box at home. In the first place, it probably melted once and then was re-cooled, causing the air to escape and the flavor to deteriorate. It wouldn’t have tasted good. If it’s revealed that they sold gelato like that, the manager would be busy cleaning up… I knew <Abernetty’s> was in turmoil. So when Kobato-kun deduced that the suited woman’s business partner was from <Abernetty’s>, I understood why she was left unattended.”
It will be true that it started melting, as that’s what Osanai-san said after actually eating it. However, there’s something I don’t quite understand.
“I don’t think the coffee gelato I ate started melting. I might not have noticed the abnormality because I’m not used to gelato, but…….”
“I was confused about that too,” Osanai-san said.
“My gelato was melting. But Kobato-kun’s gelato didn’t have that issue, and the one in front of the person in suit was completely unmelted even when left unattended. I didn’t know what was going on. I thought maybe my milk gelato had some problem. But I couldn’t imagine a situation where only the milk gelato had an issue after being cooled in the same case. However, if the gelato in front of the person in suit is a sample, it would explain it.”
Osanai-san gazes into the air as if searching her memory.
“…… Kobato-kun’s gelato didn’t melt at all. It probably wasn’t because no one ordered it since the morning, but because it just arrived.”
“…… Arrived?”
“<Abernetty’s> doesn’t make gelato here. You saw it earlier, but there’s not enough cooking space in <Abernetty’s>’s booth.”
“…… Sorry. I didn’t see that at all.”
“There wasn’t. There was only a sink and a refrigerator. Gelato doesn’t need a lot of cooking space, but that is too small.”
She really sees it…….
“Then, the gelato sold at this second branch should be transported from the first store in front of the station. The coffee gelato just arrived. There are various reasons, such as whether it’s to replenish the sold-out stock or if the first store doesn’t have the capacity to make all kinds at once.”
If that explanation is correct, I was lucky. It would have been better if Osanai-san was the lucky one. I’m not particularly obsessed with sweets, but Osanai-san is. Since it was a rare occasion, I wanted her to eat something delicious.
I took out a notebook and a pen from my bag.
“Based on my sense that there was no problem with the quality of the coffee gelato, the order of events would be like this.”
- Abernetty’s fails to manage the gelato temperature. At least the milk flavor, and probably other gelatos, melt due to the temperature rise.
- Perhaps someone took out gelato.
- The woman in the suit comes and starts negotiations with the manager about food samples.
- The coffee gelato arrives from the main store.
- Perhaps there was a complaint about the quality of the takeout gelato.
- The temperature management failure is discovered, and the manager becomes busy dealing with it. The person in suit is left unattended.
- I and Osanai-san visit Abernetty’s second branch.
Osanai-san solemnly read my notes several times before giving her approval.
“I think it happened like this.”
Then she rests her chin on her hands and stares at the paper cup with the ugly leftover chocolate choux cream.
“I was unlucky. Temperature management for gelato isn’t that difficult. To make delicious gelato, you need the skills of a gelatiere, but to store the made gelato, just setting the freezing temperature should be enough. But if the gelato melted, it might be…… a machine malfunction.”
Osanai-san rests her chin on her hands and lowers her head.
“I’m sorry, Kobato-kun. You came all this way, and I couldn’t say it was delicious. I know no one is to blame, but it’s frustrating.”
Yes, Osanai-san. You were really unlucky. A machine malfunction, what a bad timing. Surely, there will be good things someday.
I might have needed to say that. But I couldn’t. The reason Osanai-san’s gelato didn’t taste good wasn’t just a machine malfunction.
I mean, in a broad sense, it could be called a machine malfunction, but there’s a bigger cause. I hesitated a bit about whether to say that reason.
As Osanai-san pointed out, I had been careless lately. There was certainly a time when I boasted my tiny wisdom and revealed hidden truths faster than anyone else to show off my intelligence. If I were told I should be more humble, I wouldn’t have much to say. But my hesitation now isn’t because it goes against that kind of a Petit Bourgeois’ mindset.
I can give a logical reason for Osanai-san’s “bad luck.” And…… even if I keep my mouth shut here, Osanai-san will eventually find out the reason, whether it’s late or early. But does that mean I should say it now? And Osanai-san is not so dull that she wouldn’t notice my attitude of hiding something.
Osanai-san glanced at me and asked honestly.
“What are you spacing out for?”
“What? Why?”
“Why are you spacing out for?”
“Why? What?”
Osanai-san narrowed her eyes slightly without saying anything. In other words, it means “tell me.” I scratched my head without any particular meaning.
“…… Why the gelato temperature rose.”
For a moment, silence flowed. Osanai-san muttered.
“We can’t know that. It was probably an unavoidable malfunction. It’s disappointing that the gelato I expected didn’t taste good, but since it’s a human job, I don’t think it should always be perfect.”
This time, I was silent. Of course, Osanai-san noticed.
“It wasn’t just a malfunction?”
“Maybe. Osanai-san, not me, saw the reason very closely.”
“I…….”
Osanai-san tilted her head.
“Are you saying I was watching the reason the gelato temperature rose? You don’t know what I was looking at, Kobato-kun.”
Right. I don’t know most of what Osanai-san saw. But I don’t know nothing at all. As expected, Osanai-san didn’t just let it go with “You don’t know.”
“That means the problem is what you know, Kobato-kun.”
I closed my eyes. If she knew that much, I didn’t need to say anything. Osanai-san would soon reach the answer. What is it that only Osanai-san saw? Why do I know what Osanai-san saw? When restructuring the question like that, the answer becomes very clear. Of course, Osanai-san checked her phone.
To check what she informed me. While looking at the phone screen, Osanai-san muttered.
“…… Crepe.”
It’s that. Osanai-san put her phone in her bag.
“Yes. That makes sense.”
I also told Osanai-san what I saw.
“I looked at the large clock when I came in earlier, and the time was wrong. It was two o’clock, but it was pointing to just after twelve. At first, I thought it wasn’t maintained well enough, but that wasn’t the case. Combining what we both thought up to here, I understand why the clock was almost two hours late.”
Osanai-san lowered her eyes. It was a very quietly angry Osanai-san that she would never show at school.
The reason Osanai-san was late for the two o’clock appointment was because the bus was stuck in traffic. Why was the road congested? Osanai-san sent a message saying it was because a crepe(crane) got caught on the power line.
Why was the time on the large clock wrong? Why did the gelato temperature rise? It’s because a crepe, or rather, a crane got caught on the power line. Due to the accident, the transmission network was damaged, and the area including <Lemora> was blacked out. Our house and school are far from Abernetty’s, which is a suburban facility, so we weren’t affected by the blackout. Since the exam ended in the morning and we moved under the March sunlight, we couldn’t know about the blackout from the presence or absence of city lights.
Come to think of it, the automatic door at the entrance of <Lemora> was probably wide open for the same reason. When the power goes out, the automatic door doesn’t move. If the door is closed, people can’t come and go, so it has to be fixed in an open state. I only had a naive thought that bugs might come in. Judging by the time indicated on the large clock, the blackout probably occurred around twelve o’clock and was restored just before two o’clock.
We entered <Lemora> about 30 minutes after the area was restored from a large-scale blackout. I didn’t want to tell Osanai-san this fact. I didn’t want to let her, who was thinking the gelato didn’t taste good because of an unfortunate machine malfunction and that it wasn’t anyone’s fault, know this fact. But even if I kept my mouth shut, Osanai-san would soon find out the truth when she went home and saw the news.
Osanai-san’s voice even carries a slight smile.
“That means, <Abernetty’s>’s manager knew that there was a time when the case power was cut off…… and that the gelato was melting, that it was losing its flavor, and yet…… sold them to us.”
To be more precise, it was the employee who sold the melted gelato. But it’s also true that the manager didn’t give instructions to not sell gelato once the power went out.
I was only trying to solve the mystery of the woman in the suit who wasn’t eating gelato, but an unexpected result popped out. I didn’t think this would happen. Now I had only one more thing I wanted to say.
“Osanai-san, I think…… the person who was thrilled by the movie and met a gelato that could change their life in Rome and the manager of this second store are definitely different people. My coffee gelato was really delicious. Osanai-san, you said <Abernetty’s>’s started the store wanting to convey a taste that touches the heart. It really felt like that. If it were a shop owner who makes such delicious gelato, they wouldn’t sell gelato knowing the flavor had deteriorated.”
Osanai-san replied briefly.
“Do you think so?”
Then, a frivolous voice was heard. A man approached the suited woman who had been staring at her phone in front of the gelato.
“Sorry to keep you waiting! I mean, I was stumped because of all that!”
On the loft, Osanai-san was looking at the man approaching the woman in suit with her emotionless eyes. Was he the shop owner who was featured in the town magazine, or someone else?
I didn’t want to know that.