Chapter 24

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Translator: Soafp

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After visiting a total of four shops, our date finally came to an end.

And now, having returned to the meeting spot from this morning, we exchanged our parting words.

“Thanks for going on a date with me today, Reita-kun.”

“Did you have fun?”

“Yeah. It was the most fun day of my life.”

“That's a bit much…”

I appreciated her saying that, but honestly, I wanted to believe it was just flattery.

If she really meant it, I'd be more worried about her life than anything.

“It's not an exaggeration. I really… had fun.”

“I see…”

But it seemed like she was being sincere.

Well, I did have fun too—enough to lose track of time for once—so maybe it wasn't a lie after all.

It seems she treasured our past more than I realized…

…Anyway.

Before we part, there's still one thing I have to do.

I need to apologize to Maaya. I ended up putting it off all this time.

If I miss this chance, I might never get another one.

“Maaya.”

I steeled myself and faced her.

“Hm? What is it?”

“About back then… I'm sorry. For saying I hated you.”

“……!”

At my words, Maaya's eyes widened in surprise.

But soon after, her lips curled into a small, happy smile.

Instead of getting angry, she was happy…

She really is too kind.

That's exactly why I need to apologize properly.

“It might not be something that can be forgiven just with an apology… but I really am sorry.”

I bowed my head sincerely.

I don't even remember the last time I apologized to someone. My body felt uneasy, almost like it was rejecting the act.

But I couldn't back down here.

“…It's okay, Reita-kun. I understand everything.”

I was a little scared to lift my head, but Maaya spoke gently, as if wrapping me in warmth.

“You said it so I wouldn't get dragged into things, right?”

“No… I didn't have to go that far. That part was my fault.”

“It's fine. I was annoying, after all. I kept acting all familiar without thinking about how you didn't have your memories…”

“Even so… I didn't need to say I hated you.”

No matter the reason, I made her cry.

That fact wouldn't change.

“Okay then… let's make up, alright?”

Maaya said that and held out her hand.

Honestly, part of me wondered if it was really okay to be forgiven so easily.

But there was no point in being stubborn.

I should just accept it.

“…Thank you, Maaya.”

I took her hand, grateful for her kindness.

In that moment, it felt like the huge wall that had stood between us for so long finally came crashing down.

At last… the regret that had been tangled deep inside me loosened, even if only a little.

After soaking in that feeling for a while—

“Well then… I'll head home first.”

I said my goodbye.

But I couldn't forget—things weren't fully back to normal yet.

We had to leave separately.

This was only the first step toward making up. If anything, this was just the beginning.

In the end, none of it would matter if I didn't change.

It was too soon to celebrate.

“Wait, Reita-kun.”

But Maaya stopped me again, like always.

“What is it? We can't go home together.”

“No, I'll hold back on that. But… you still have to fulfill your promise.”

“Hm? A promise…?”

What is she talking about…?

For a moment, I wondered if it was something from our childhood, but I hadn't told her my memories had returned, so that couldn't be it.

And I couldn't recall making any important promises recently either.

Then what…?

This is bad. I have no idea.

We just made up, and now forgetting a promise could mess everything up again.

As panic started to set in—

Maaya's next words blew everything away.

“Y-you promised… I'd let you touch my b00bs if you went on the date…”

“…?”

For a moment, I doubted my ears. Then I doubted my sanity.

But that doubt quickly disappeared.

“You remember, right? I said if you went on a date with me, I'd let you touch them…?”

“W-wait, that wasn't the reason I agreed or anything—”

A ridiculous misunderstanding had occurred.

I didn't accept the date just for that.

Sure, the timing made it look that way, but still…

“It's fine! You don't have to hold back! It's not like they'll disappear!”

“That's not the point…”

“I actually want you to touch them!”

“Just calm down for a second…”

I tried to stop her as she started spiraling out of control—

“Come on, here—!”

She suddenly grabbed my hand and forcefully—

“H-hey, wait—”

—squish.

“Ah…///”

…She made me touch them.

As my fingers sank into her chest, Maaya let out a soft, flustered sound.

Seeing that expression and hearing that voice for the first time stirred something strange inside me—an indescribable feeling I'd never had toward my childhood friends before.

And in my hand was a completely unfamiliar sensation.

W-what is this…?

It didn't even feel real—soft and yielding, like my fingers might melt into it.

And more than that, the size… I could tell even through her clothes before, but actually touching it was overwhelming. Way too big to fit in one hand.

Maaya… are you really a high schooler…?

Faced with that overwhelming sensation, I ended up giving it a slight squeeze almost unconsciously.

“Ah… ahh…///”

She flushed bright red and squirmed again.

That snapped me back to reality.

I quickly realized how bad this looked and tried to pull my hand away—

That's when—

“THAT'S FAR ENOUGH, YOU PERVERT!!!”

A furious shout came from behind us as a girl rushed forward.

“Whoa—Rin!? Where did you—!?”

“Take this!”

“Guh—!”

It was Rin.

Before I could even process it, she kicked me, sending me stumbling to the ground.

It didn't hurt much, but I still fell over.

“…Good thing I followed you after all… Reita, you absolute idiot…!!”

Rin trembled with anger, looking like she might kick me again.

…Fair enough.

I was already under suspicion, and now I'd literally grabbed Maaya's chest.

Of course this looked terrible.

As I tried to figure out what to do, another girl appeared, looking exasperated.

“Reita… so you've finally turned to crime. How disappointing.”

It was Shizuno.

So she was here too…

Wait—does that mean they were watching us the whole time…?

The thought crossed my mind.

Their timing was way too perfect for it to be anything else.

I glanced at Maaya for a moment, wondering if this had been some kind of setup, but she looked just as shocked, so it must have been their own decision.

“Reita. How do you plan to take responsibility for this?”

“No, there's actually a very complicated reason for—”

“No excuses. Turn yourself in immediately.”

I tried to explain, but having actually touched her chest left my argument with no weight at all.

“U-uh… um…”

Maaya stood there flustered, overwhelmed by both their sudden appearance and the embarrassment of what had just happened.

…Yeah.

I'm done for.

Since I did, in fact, squeeze one extra time unnecessarily, I decided to quietly accept whatever punishment Shizuno and Rin were about to deliver.