After I Picked up a Notebook Filled With Intense Emotions, the Girls Started Acting Strange - Chapter 41

The bus left the school, and about an hour passed as we rode along.

Let’s just say the air around my seat felt like pure hell the whole time. Of course, I’m only talking about the seats near me.

Everyone else seemed to be having fun. Yes, good for them.

After surviving that terrible atmosphere, the bus finally reached our destination. The door opened in the parking lot, and the moment I stepped out, a cool breeze touched my cheek.

The air still smelled of rain, and it felt a little cold.

It had rained until early this morning, so I was honestly worried about how today would go. But now the air was clear, and the smell of nature helped calm the heart that had been worn out on the bus.

I was really, truly glad the weather cleared up.

National Sasayama Nature Park. That’s the name of the park we came to today.

Located on the western edge of the prefecture, right by the border, the park is known for the wide forest spread across the hills surrounding a lake.

There are viewpoints, hiking trails, and bird-watching huts scattered around, and we can enjoy different flowers and scents depending on the season.

That alone makes the place worthwhile, but this park also has a certain rumor attached to it.

Because of that rumor, the park has another nickname.

─The Lovers’ Sanctuary.

They say the park has a mysterious tale.

On rainy days, at sunset, a “Ring of Light” appears by the lake.

And if a boy and a girl see that ring together, they will be bound forever.

Why is it called a “Ring of Light”?

Because the chances of seeing the “Ring of Light” are extremely low.

The temperature, the humidity, the strength of the light, everything has to line up perfectly, or it won’t appear.

It’s a classic kind of love legend, but because it’s rare and famous, couples from outside the prefecture also come looking for it.

Well, even without hunting for a ring, the park has plenty of things to enjoy, so many families visit too.

But there’s another rumor.

Instead of the “Ring of Light,” some people see the “Edge of a Shadow.”

Couples who see it slowly disappear from each other’s memories… A reverse effect, they basically never end up together.

Don’t places usually promote positive rumors only?

Anyway, I don’t even have someone like that in the first place, so it doesn’t matter to me.

The reason I know all this is because Kuroe-san told me on the bus.

Sena-san and Yukina added extra details on top of that.

The two of them were fired up about searching for the “Ring of Light” together, but they went quiet as soon as Kuroe-san mentioned the “Edge of a Shadow.”

However, Shindou only heard the positive part. He leaned over me to brag that he and Kuroe-san would definitely find the “Ring of Light” and be together forever.

It was exhausting to ignore him. Kuroe-san shut him up every time, though.

“…Mnn.”

After sitting for so long, my body had gotten stiff, so I stretched to loosen it.

I heard a pleasant crack from my joints, took a deep breath, felt the air of the park, and prepared myself for the day ahead.

The bus had been hell, but what was coming next would also be hell.

For the morning schedule, each group had to walk to the observation deck.

From the deck, we could see the whole stretch of beautiful nature.

The weather was perfect today, so it was the best spot to have lunch.

If we went in a straight line, it wouldn’t take long, but we had to stop at several stamp rally points on the way.

All groups would end up at the same place, but the routes were different.

The reason I already felt hell coming was simple. We had to move as a group.

Heavy. My chest felt heavy. Even the bus had been heavy.

“Wow, the air tastes amazing. Nature really is the best.”

Breaking that gloomy mood in an instant, Yukina was the first to shout.

Her golden hair bounced slightly from the humidity, but she didn’t care at all as she held up her phone.

“Come on, Mizuki-chan! Let’s take a picture!”

“Ah, wait for me!”

Yukina pulled Sena-san in, and the two of them took a picture together.

That sharp and tense atmosphere from earlier? Gone completely.

Nature really does fix everything. Praise be to nature.

I know I shouldn’t say it myself, but as long as I’m not involved, those two actually get along really well.

And the sight of two beautiful girls being friendly with each other. Yeah. It’s a blessing for the eyes.

“Come on, Yuu-kun! Alright, peace!”

“U-um…!”

I let myself be dragged in, and soon I was also inside Yukina’s camera frame.

There was a click, and she checked the photo.

“Hehe. Yuu-kun. You made a weird face!?”

She flashed a mischievous smile.

In the photo, I was making a very strange expression.

If someone presses something soft against me right before the shot, anyone would look like that.

“Alright, Yuki-chan. Switch! I want a photo with Yuu-sama too!”

“Fine, fine…”

Yukina looked a little unhappy, but she didn’t get aggressive. She simply gave up her spot to Sena-san.

Whatever happened on the bus, they weren’t acting hostile, at least for now.

“Here, Yuu-sama. With me, too, okay?”

“Ah, yeah.”

Click. Click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click.

Too many, too many.

Stop using burst mode.

But Sena-san looked satisfied as she checked the huge number of almost identical photos she had taken.

“Hehe, thank you. Yuu-sama!”

“…Um, Sena-san. Can you please go back to calling me normally?”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“…Yuu-sama is a bit much.”

At some point, she had changed the way she called me. I used to be just Shiomi-kun.

Now I suddenly had an honorific stuck onto me. Pretty late to bring it up, but still.

“Aww… I really liked it though… Fine. Then I’ll call you Yuu-kun, okay?”

“Yeah. Please do.”

“Then, can you call me Mizuki too?”

Her unexpected counterattack made me hesitate.

I mean, I called Yukina normally, but… being told directly like that felt a little embarrassing.

“Um… M-Mizuki.”

“Yeah!”

What came back was the brightest smile. I was nervous, but that smile alone made it worth saying her name.

At this rate, maybe we could actually make it to the observation deck peacefully.

“Ugh, she made him call her by her first name so naturally!”

“Yuki-chan, he’s always called me that. It’s fine.”

Please don’t start fighting already.

◆

“Damn it… Why does someone like Shiomi get all that…”

Watching his childhood friend and the girl who used to like him happily taking pictures with a guy he hated, Arata couldn’t help whispering to himself.

“Cheer up, Shindou-kun. You still have me.”

“─Gasp. Ah, y-yeah. You’re right!! I have Rei!”

Yes. That alone made everything feel okay.

No matter what happened, Rei would always be on his side.

Lately his heart had been sinking. Everything had been going wrong.

He kept failing, and even he had started losing his confidence. Something rare for him.

But with just that one line from Rei, Arata felt his energy return.

“Shindou-kun. I’ll approve everything you do. Even if you show the world the most pathetic side of yourself.”

“R-Rei…!”

“So just act the way you always do. I think that version of you suits you much better than the sad one.”

“…!!”

(Hahaha, as expected of Rei. That’s my girlfriend. She understands me more than anyone, and she loves me more than anyone.)

“Yeah, I got it! If Rei says so, then alright!”

(This trip. I’ll make Shiomi look like a fool again!!!)

“Also, Shindou-kun. Try not to bother Shiomi-kun and the others too much. You haven’t forgotten our promise from last time, right?”

“─Gasp. Y-yes…”