Chapter 29: Question

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Translator: Soafp

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“Sorry, it's Kanon's fault…”

“No, it's fine.”

In the end, I ended up escorting them to Kisaragi-san's house nearby.

“It got later than I thought, so it worked out perfectly, didn't it?”

“…But, I'm sorry for bothering you, Toumachi-kun—”

“It's okay (eagerly).”

“Is it alright if we don't talk about the ant observation?”

“It's fine, I was just checking a bit while I was out shopping.”

That's actually true.

And my heart hasn't calmed down since earlier.

The reason is that the super-beautiful Kisaragi-san is walking beside me. Maybe she's just here to keep an eye on Kanon-chan.

But I can't stop my heart from racing (nervous newbie).

“Don't drop me, okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Haha, why are you using honorifics all of a sudden?”

Hatsune-san, who is walking in front, asks with a smirk.

It's because I'm nervous!

I want to shout that, but I can't.

Because the person on my back is worth five hundred million times more than me.

I focus on my steps, trying not to wake Kanon-chan.

I'm glad there are no crosswalks.

I'll show off my dance-step footwork (one day of dance history).

…

Maybe I should stop getting carried away (desperate).

Mental concentration.

I pour all my nerves into this walk home――!

“Toumachi-kun, do you… like curry? Like before?”

“—Yeah, I'm making Indian curry today with special spices.”

“That's quite authentic. But for that, you have a lot of luggage, don't you?”

“Things like uncommon bottled water, rare coffee, and leftover items that caught my eye… I found a lot of interesting things.”

“…?”

“It's a hobby. Just a little one.”

“Water?”

“Yeah. To eventually be able to identify them without labels—though I can only tell if it's soft or hard water right now.”

“Hmm, that's an interesting hobby.”

“Is it? Thanks, bottled water is quite deep.”

I answer while walking, not paying too much attention to the voices around me.

It's getting a bit casual, but it can't be helped.

Right now, Kanon-chan is the top priority.

“What about the movie from before?”

“Oh, yeah. I didn't know you could scream during kids' movies in the theater. That was a first for me.”

“I was surprised too. We're the odd ones for not screaming.”

“Yeah. But I did end up shouting a bit. It was unexpectedly fun.”

“I might not be able to get used to shouting in a movie theater…”

“True. It'd be tough to get into the habit of shouting even at regular movies—Hmm, wait—”

…

Wait?

Who am I talking to?

“Fufu. Yes.”

I turn my face towards the voice.

She's covering her mouth with her hand, quietly smiling.

Ayano Kisaragi.

The number one beauty in the class… no, probably the number one beauty in the entire grade.

The girl I fell in love with at first sight. The girl who seemed so far away.

Now—she's talking to me in a friendly manner.

I can't look directly at her.

She's still incredibly beautiful.

After experiencing unrequited love, I realize how unaware my past self was of my own place.

“…?”

“S-sorry.”

The moment I lose focus and start becoming self-aware—words fail me.

But fortunately, the destination seems to be right there.

“Finished with the fun conversation? That's Ayanon's house over there!”

“Whoa, wait, Momo!”

“…Home!”

“!?”

When Hatsune-san points to a single house a little ahead, the small girl on my back starts to wriggle.

It looks like she's awake now.

“Rainbow!”

“Whoa!”

“Kanon, stop that!”

Kanon-chan, who had been quiet before, is now reaching out to touch the rainbow-colored thing (me) on my back.

Kisaragi-san hurriedly tries to stop her.

We're so close, close, close!

“Haha, this is so funny~”

Hatsune-san just watches and laughs at the scene.

…My heart can't take much more of this (at its limit).

---

“Well then… Thank you, Toumachi-kun.”

“Bye-bye!”

“B-byebye…”

“See you tomorrow~”

I see the Kisaragi sisters off in front of their house and wave goodbye.

Kanon-chan seemed reluctant to get off my back.

If only I could lend my back to her forever—just kidding.

—Bang.

The door closes with that sound.

The once noisy Kanon-chan is gone, and suddenly it's very quiet.

It's already dark, and there are fewer people around.

“…Is Hatsune-san's place close from here?”

“Sort of. It's within walking distance~”

“I see.”

“Yeah. It's pretty dark outside, so be careful, okay?”

Hatsune-san waves goodbye.

…I think she's the one who should be careful.

“Well then. Toumachi-kun—”

“—I'll walk you home.”

“Eh?”

It's already late, and I think it's not right to let her go home alone like this.

That's what I thought.

“I'm not Ayanon, you know?”

“…Does that matter?”

She seems a bit puzzled.

I mean, I just dropped off the Kisaragi sisters, so it makes sense to walk Hatsune-san home as well, doesn't it?

“Hmmm?”

“What's with that face?”

“If we walk together, everyone will see how short you are~”

“Ugh.”

It's true that she's taller than me (defeated).

“Well then, let's go~”

“…Okay.”

Hatsune-san grins and walks alongside me.

I've thought this from the beginning, but she tends to tease me.

I'll have to stay on my toes (threatened).

---

“So, the original work was quite good.”

“Really? I guess the director was the problem.”

“The battle scenes were almost non-existent.”

“Haha, just as I expected.”

On the way home, I'm walking with Hatsune-san, talking about the movie we saw before.

“I went to the library today, and the books by the same author were really interesting too.”

“…I hope you meet a good director next time.”

“Haha, that's true.”

She's really easy to talk to. Even someone like me, who is more on the reserved side, can have a smooth conversation with her.

“If you want, I can lend you some books.”

“! Oh, yeah. Not just that, though. I'd also like to return the favor.”

“Return the favor?”

“I watch a lot of movies and anime, and I have a lot that I'd love to share with you. How about it?”

“I'd definitely like to see that.”

It'd be great to see those for free.

Renting DVDs isn't cheap either.

Of course, I'll give proper feedback on them.

“Yay!”

“?”

“Since Ayanon doesn't watch much movies or anime, I want to share what I like with you~”

“I understand that.”

Watching a movie with her last time was more enjoyable than watching alone.

That's probably because we could share our thoughts on it.

“Mm~”

“…”

Hatsune-san seems in high spirits.

If we hadn't gone to the movies together, I wouldn't be having this conversation now—

“Hey. Can I ask you something?”

Just as I was thinking that, she suddenly stops.

She has a serious expression.

I can't help but hold my breath.

“—Do you like Ayanon?”

And then, the next thing I heard was that question.