After I Picked up a Notebook Filled With Intense Emotions, the Girls Started Acting Strange - Chapter 19

I was invited out as a rehearsal partner for a date, to help someone ask out the person they like.

Even though I knew it was for her, it still felt empty.

…Seriously, is this really okay?

Sena-san’s rival, Orihara-san, had already been invited out.

Everyone in the classroom must have heard about it, too. She says it’s to make the perfect date plan, but is it really fine to take it so slow with this rehearsal with me?

And honestly, who should I be rooting for? If the notebook belonged to Orihara-san, I should cheer for her. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want Sena-san’s feelings to be returned.

I was completely stuck in the middle.

Getting involved in someone else’s love life and ending up with a stomachache… What a foolish thing to do.

…Especially when I can’t even handle my own love life.

Suddenly, memories of the past came back.

The girl I loved so much. I don’t even know where she is or what she’s doing now.

I don’t think she betrayed me. We were never a couple anyway.

“Haa… I should stop thinking about the past. Right now―”

“Shiomi-kun!”

“──!”

Just as I sighed and was about to slump my shoulders, I heard someone call my name.

When I turned, Sena-san appeared from the crowd, looking softer and more mature than when she wore her school uniform.

She wore a clean, white three-quarter sleeve blouse and a light blue, mid-length skirt. Simple beige shoes and a small shoulder bag completed her look.

Even with little decoration, her well-kept hair and light makeup made her look much more grown-up.

“Shiomi-kun? I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”

“O-Oh.”

“What’s with that reaction?”

“N-no… I think this is the first time I’ve seen you in normal clothes.”

I honestly thought she was cute. I didn’t even know how to put it into words.

“Hehe, right? Cute?”

“C-cute.”

“Good!”

She smiled softly, and when she looked away, I felt my face heat up. I don’t usually compliment girls so directly, so my embarrassment shot through the roof.

C-Calm down! She probably doesn’t mean anything by it…!

She’s only here to practice for her date with Shindou.

This outfit is just to look cute for him. Not for me. Right? But somehow it still feels a bit empty.

It was past noon. Since it was Golden Week, the streets were packed with people.

Even though Sena-san had already booked the movie, it seemed smart to move quickly if we wanted to buy anything at the snack stands.

I went over our plan and finally managed to calm myself down. My ears were still a little warm, but that had to be just from the crowd.

“Ah, you’re still embarrassed. Shiomi-kun has cute moments!”

“Don’t tease me. I’m sure Shindou would compliment you, too.”

“Ah, yeah, I guess so.”

H-Huh? That reaction…

Did I say something wrong?

“Shall we go then?”

“…Wait!?”

Before I could think further, Sena-san wrapped her arm around mine like I was her real boyfriend.

It took me a few seconds to process the soft touch, and in that time, my brain completely froze.

“See, what’s wrong?”

“Th-This…?”

“It’s a rehearsal.”

“Huh?”

“A rehearsal.”

Too much! Way too much! You don’t have to make the rehearsal this realistic by hugging me!!

In the end, without giving me a chance to protest, Sena-san held my arm as we headed toward the movie theater.

And just like that, my calm heart was thrown into chaos.

◆

“There are so many people.”

“Yeah.”

As expected, the movie theater was packed.

Looks like Orihara-san and her group were planning to go to the movies too. They’re probably going to run into the same crowd. Come to think of it, I never asked when they were going.

We squeezed through the crowd and got in line at the snack stand.

And yeah… she was still holding onto my arm. I gave up.

…Even if it’s for Shindou… I feel kind of guilty. I’m sorry, Shindou.

Though I guess I could call this a perk. A perk, if I look at it that way.

“Hey, we’re next! Caramel popcorn is okay, right?”

“Uh? Oh, yeah. Did you say I could only have caramel?”

“Huh? Ah, yeah, I heard it before!”

…Did I say that? I feel like I might have mentioned it the first time I heard the plan.

“What about Sena-san?”

“Well, since we’re here, I thought we could get a share set.”

“T-that’s a couple set―”

“Next, please!”

Before I could finish, the staff nudged us forward.

“We’ll take this couple set. Caramel popcorn, please. I’ll have orange juice. What about Shiomi-kun?”

“…Cola.”

“Okay, got it!”

Before I realized it, Sena-san had smoothly placed the order.

A couple sets… Is this part of the rehearsal, too?

Looking at the menu picture, it even had a cute shared straw.

…Isn’t this kind of embarrassing?

“That’ll be 1,200 yen.”

When it came time to pay, I reached for my wallet, but she stopped me with her hand.

“Today, you’re coming along with my plans. Let me pay, okay?”

“N-no, that would be too much…”

“It’s fine. Look behind us! The line’s really long.”

I turned and saw a long line stretching behind us. Yeah, it would be rude to argue here.

“Thank you! Next, please!”

“See. Let’s go.”

W-When did she…

In the blink of an eye, while I turned, Sena-san had paid and was already at the tray window to pick up our order.

She moved so smoothly. So smart. It’s like watching a guy look cool while paying.

But I’m a guy too. I can’t just let her treat me the whole time.

As if reading my thoughts, she spoke up.

“If you really want to, maybe you can pay next time?”

“…Understood.”

I couldn’t shake the feeling that she had guided me into that.

…Next time? Will there even be a next rehearsal?

With that thought, we picked up the trays and headed toward the theater screen.

Sena-san handed over the reserved tickets to the staff, and when I offered to split the ticket cost, she refused.

She had everything prepared so well that it almost made me feel guilty.

“So, today’s the new superhero movie, right?”

“Ah, yeah. I was going to watch that, but I changed it to another one.”

So she didn’t match it to what Shindou would want to see. Well, maybe it’s better than watching the same movie twice. I guess she might want to practice her reactions for the real date.

I didn’t mind either way; I’ll watch anything.

“What kind of movie is it?”

“Romance.”

“R-Romance?”

“Yes, romance!”

…Well, I guess this really is a rehearsal (I give up).

◆

The two of them walked through the movie theater just like a real couple.

Watching them, a guy couldn’t hide his shock.

“…Mi-Mizuki? W-Why are you with him…!?”