Chapter 53: Poster

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Translator: Soafp

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Looking up at the night sky, a pale yellow moon floated lazily above.

It should have been no different from the moon you see in the city, yet for some reason it looked more beautiful than usual.

The handle of the plastic bag holding the ice cream dug slightly into the fingers of my right hand.

From my left hand, which was holding Shinonome's, her warmth seeped gently into mine.

She blushed shyly, then pressed her lips together as if trying to hold back a grin.

“Hehe.”

“What is it?”

“Nothing, nothing at all.”

I matched my pace to hers.

The walk to the convenience store had felt faster, but on the way back everything seemed more relaxed, and her short steps were even shorter than usual.

It was summer, so if we didn't hurry, the ice cream would probably melt, but pointing that out would likely be tactless.

“Hey, Hatsukade, I know it's not really my place to say this, but I think it's kind of questionable to hold hands with girls this easily. You look like a player.”

“Is that so? I only did it because you seemed to want to. Should I stop?”

“N-No, it's fine for now. I mean, it's bad with lots of people, but if you limit it to just one person, there's no problem, right? Right?”

She glanced up at me with slightly pressuring eyes.

Was this… a message that I shouldn't hold hands with anyone but her?

As far as I was concerned, I wasn't dating anyone in particular, and I didn't mind holding hands.

I had only offered my hand because Shinonome seemed troubled, and honestly, it felt closer to leading a lost child by the hand.

“Why are you being quiet?”

“Sorry, I just got lost in thought…”

“Hmm?”

If I said that to her while her cheeks were relaxed in anticipation, she'd probably get angry. Better to stay quiet.

“Hatsukade, what kind of person do you like?”

“That's a difficult question all of a sudden.”

“Everyone has a type, right? I was just a little curious what kind of girl you like.”

The first person who came to mind was my childhood friend, Miko, but that didn't feel quite right either.

She was someone I had simply spent a long time with, an extension of a long-standing connection, nothing more.

So when asked what kind of person I liked, nothing really fit.

“I quite like you, Shinonome.”

“…! Y-You can't trick me with that line anymore! You're probably saying the same thing to those two as well!”

“Am I? But I really do mean it.”

Shinonome, Nakina, and Sakura each had their own different charms. The more I got to know them as people, the more I felt that way.

On the other hand, the kinds of people I disliked were very clear.

People who badmouthed others behind their backs, people who acted as if they were in the right while casually throwing malice at others, and so on.

Yet, for some reason, I couldn't express what I liked so easily, which was strange.

I didn't have things like “this one thing is non-negotiable” or “I want my partner to be like this.”

Shinonome pouted slightly and murmured dejectedly.

“Even if you say that, I can't really believe it. I don't have much confidence in myself.”

“Why not?”

“Because the ones I'm being compared to are Sakura and Nakina. They're both cute, and they have great style. They aren't two-faced, and they're liked for just being themselves… I have to put on a front before I'm even seen properly as a girl. So every time I look at them, I think, ‘Ah, there's no way I can win against them,' and sometimes it makes me sad.”

“I think you're overthinking it.”

She slowly shook her head.

“No, it's definitely like that. You get along better with those two than with me. You've been acting like friends with Nakina from the start, and you even ran away from home with Sakura. You've built trust with them. It feels like I'm the only one left out, like I'm behind…”

She stopped there and suddenly lifted her head.

“S-Sorry. This turned into a pretty dark conversation. I didn't mean to say all that… Ugh, now I'm starting to hate myself again.”

“Hehe.”

I couldn't help laughing at how she alternated between embarrassment and gloom.

“Ugh, why are you laughing!”

“No, it's just that your difficult side is very like you, Shinonome. No matter how much you dislike yourself, I can't bring myself to dislike you.”

“～～～!”

She squeezed my hand tightly.

“…Even if the person you like is short, you wouldn't mind, Hatsukade?”

“I'd actually find it cute.”

“Even if her family runs a ramen shop and she's super plain?”

“I've always believed that having a family ramen shop is something to be proud of.”

“You might be forced to take it over if we get married.”

“That's quite a leap, but well, that could be fun in its own way.”

She looped her arm through mine and leaned gently against me.

“…I can't trust you with just words. So, um, I want you to show me through your actions that you're not lying.”

“Even if you say that, what am I supposed to do?”

“Then… at least while I'm staying here, I want you to only hold hands with me. Otherwise, I'll decide that Hatsukade is a liar.”

When I looked at her, the depressed expression from earlier had completely vanished, replaced by a mischievous grin.

“And, this stays between the two of us, okay? I won't tell them either. We girls have a promise to report anything that happens, so if I hold hands with you, they'll find out right away.”

It seemed I had been completely led along.

“Alright, I promise.”

“Hehe, I'll reveal everything to those two and apologize after summer vacation ends, so it's fine… Actually, I was planning to make this proposal from the very beginning, even before we went to the convenience store.”

Shinonome smiled brightly.

…So that was why she had been so eager to hold hands.

Well, I already knew she could be quite scheming.

I could let this one slide.

We were almost home.

On the way, Shinonome spotted a poster pasted on a house and pointed at it.

“It's the summer festival fireworks display… Right around the time we're heading back.”

As she gazed at the poster, which prominently featured photos of fireworks and food stalls, she murmured softly.

“It would be nice if we could all go together at the end… Even if just the two of us slip away partway through, you know, joking.”

I pretended not to take that too seriously as I headed back to my relative's house to deliver the ice cream.