Epilogue
The morning after the discussion with Shiori-san.
"Hah-oh..."
Daikatsu, walking beside me, gave me a suspicious look as I yawned on the way to school.
"What's up? Are you sleep-deprived again?"
"...Yeah, just a little."
I managed to stifle another yawn and replied to Daikatsu.
The reason for my lack of sleep? I was thinking about where to hang out with Char next.
Arcades, billiards, bowling, darts—
Those were the first things that came to mind.
But since I'd confessed my feelings to Char, should the next place be more like a date?
...Thinking about things like that made me completely unable to sleep.
"Atsuto being sleep-deprived... Hmm, I'm guessing too much gaming! Or maybe playing outside too much."
Daikatsu looked at me with a knowing look that seemed to say, Right?
Well, usually it would be something like that...
"Nah, this is something I can't really talk about..."
"What! You're no fun!"
"Well, I'll tell you when the day comes that I can."
"Now I'm curious about what you can't say, I won't be able to sleep at night!"
"...You'll be fine if you can sleep at night."
While chatting about such trivial things, we arrived at school.
When we entered the classroom, most of the class was already there; only the kids in clubs with morning practice were missing.
I let out another yawn and sat down at my desk. Just then.
"—Atsuto!"
"Whoa!"
My heart nearly stopped as my name was called out loudly from behind.
I turned around, and there was Benika.
"O-oh, morning..."
The moment I greeted her, Benika put her hands on her hips and leaned her perfectly formed face close to mine.
The pressure was intense.
"I need to talk to you for a second, okay?"
"S-sure."
She definitely sounds a little angry...
After all, I'd left her mid-way the day before yesterday when I chased after Char alone.
"You cleared up the misunderstanding with Sensei, right?"
"A-ah, of course! Somehow..."
The truth was a lot more complicated, but there was no way I could tell Benika.
Benika's scrutinizing eyes bored into me. I braced myself for a further attack.
"Oh? Well, if you did, that's fine."
Benika's intensity suddenly cooled, and she smiled softly.
Huh? She's backing off awfully fast.
As I wondered about this, Benika pulled a magazine out of her bag.
...Hm? A travel magazine?
"—Anyway, check this out! Doesn't this look awesome? Wanna go, just the two of us?"
Benika opened the magazine wide to a page featuring a 'Day Trip Hot Springs Special' and showed it to me.
"H-hot springs?!"
And did she just say, just the two of us?
"Yeah! It's close by, and eating our way through the hot spring town looks fun, right?"
"O-oh..."
I was overwhelmed by her enthusiasm. Benika then hesitated, her face flushing.
"I-I mean, the aquarium was fun when I went with you..."
"Tch...!"
The memory of her hand's warmth suddenly came back, and my body flushed hot.
This is a problem... We're not officially dating yet, but I have a feeling Char would freak out if she found out I went to a hot spring with Benika, just the two of us.
"H-how about we invite Daikatsu, too?"
I suggested, glancing at Benika, who was watching my reaction.
Hearing my voice, Daikatsu called out from his distant seat, "Oh, what's up?" and started walking over.
"Benika was asking if we want to go to a hot spring together..."
When I suggested a slightly modified version of Benika's invitation, Daikatsu eagerly took the bait.
"Oh! That sounds fun!"
"Ugh... Daikatsu too..."
Benika pouted, clearly disappointed, and Daikatsu immediately retorted, "Hey! Why do you sound so bummed out?!"
"...Well, three people is fine, too!"
Benika said airily, as if the 'just the two of us' part had been a joke.
"Y-yeah, you're right! Three people is definitely more fun!"
The real reason was that it would be bad for me to go out alone with Benika.
"Anyway, I'm making a group chat, so make sure you join! See ya!"
As Benika headed back to her seat, my and Daikatsu's phones immediately chimed with a Line notification.
I checked it: I'd been invited to a group chat named 'Childhood Friends Hot Spring' by Benika.
...She's fast, isn't she?
＊＊＊＊＊
That day, after school.
After killing time in the classroom as usual, I was sitting on the edge of the fountain at the South Exit of In'ōji Station.
“Wanna hang out after school today? Let's meet around the fountain at the station at 7 PM.”
“Of course! Let's have lots of fun!”
I looked back at the Line messages I'd exchanged with Char during lunch break and sighed.
Now that I thought about it, this was the first time I'd invited her, so I was pretty nervous.
Especially since it was today, right after yesterday.
And because today's plan was a little different from usual.
I waited for Char, my heart pounding, for about ten minutes.
"A—tsu—to—!"
I heard a familiar voice and looked up to see Char running toward me, waving her hands wildly.
And with that momentum, she hugged me tightly.
"Whoa, Char?!"
When I patted her shoulder, Char gently released the hug and gave me a full smile that didn't look like she'd just finished work.
"Good job today! Wow, I'm tired today, right?"
"Good job! But you seem especially energetic today?"
I asked Char, who was all smiles despite her words.
Char replied brightly, "I am!" and placed both hands on her chest.
"Because it's my first class since Atsuto confessed his feelings! I'm going to study lots of fun things today!"
"I'll do my best to make sure you're satisfied!"
I replied with a bright voice, but now that I thought about it, if I hadn't managed to convince Shiori-san, we might never have hung out together again.
Thinking about that made Char's smile right now feel incredibly, incredibly precious—
"Hm? A-Atsuto, are you okay...?"
Char leaned in, looking worriedly at my face, which had been frozen for a moment.
"...Ah, oh! Sorry!"
"Muu, are you thinking about something difficult?"
Her probing gaze was directed at me.
It's a little embarrassing to say, but—
"Ah, no... I just realized how much I need to cherish you, Char..."
"Hya, hyau!?"
When I whispered that, Char was visibly flustered, her eyes darting around.
"U-ugh... that's a little embarrassing, isn't it...?"
Char was so obviously shy, wiggling around, that I started to feel embarrassed, too.
"H-haha... Y-you're right..."
"But... I'm happy. Thank you, Atsuto!"
Char fanned her flushed cheeks with her hand and smiled sweetly.
That pure smile made my heart skip a beat again.
...Wait, I'm running out of time. We need to go.
"Shall we go then?"
"Yes, let's! What are we going to do today?"
Char asked with great curiosity.
In response, I showed her my phone, a little nervous.
"A-actually, I made a reservation here today..."
"Oh! A r-restaurant?! Wow, the night view is so beautiful!"
Char's eyes sparkled as she looked at the photos posted on the restaurant's official website.
I chose this place because I thought it should feel a little more like a date since I'd properly confessed my feelings to Char.
It hurt my wallet a bit, though...
"Is it bad?"
"What?! No, it's not bad! It looks delicious! Ah, but—"
"But what?"
"Doesn't this feel less like a lesson and more like... a date?"
"Bwah...!"
Ugh, she saw right through me!
"L-let's just go!"
Just as I couldn't bear the embarrassment anymore and took Char's hand.
—Chu.
I felt something soft touch my cheek.
That sensation was—
I turned around. Char's face was bright red, but she didn't look away from mine.
"Hehe! That was a thank-you kiss for getting us such a nice restaurant!"
She gave me a mischievous grin.
"Okay, Atsuto! Let's go!"
"...Ah, y-yes!"
Char squeezed my hand, which was still in a daze, and started walking.
She's a little older than me.
A little selfish and childish at times.
Even though she drags me along, my heart is completely moved by her.
"You can kiss me casually, too, you know, Atsuto."
"Huh?!"
"Ahaha, you're blushing!"
Satisfied with my reaction, Char nudged me with her elbow, giggling.
...Now that I think about it, all the kisses have been initiated by Char or suggested by her.
I don't have the courage right now, but someday I want to surprise Char by initiating one myself.
It might sound like an excuse, but until then, I'll stick to this:
"Kissing is still outside the scope of the lesson."
Post a Comment