After I Picked up a Notebook Filled With Intense Emotions, the Girls Started Acting Strange - Chapter 43

We passed the first checkpoint and headed toward the next one.

After that, Kuroe-san properly warned Shindou.

But, how should I say it…? It was almost like she was controlling him…

That was the feeling I got.

＊＊＊

“Shindou-kun. You must not bother these girls.”

“R-Rei. That’s not it. I just, I wanted to make some memories…”

“Even so, did you really listen to what they said? If you force yourself into their fun like that, they’ll end up disliking you.”

“T-That’s…”

“It’s okay. I think your feelings are wonderful. It’s a good side of you that others don’t have.”

“T-that’s right! That’s Rei for you. You really understand me!”

“But the truth is, they didn’t want it. So you should apologize. I would be embarrassed if my boyfriend couldn’t even say sorry.”

“…A-Alright. I-I’m sorry for getting in your way, both of you…”

““…””

Mizuki and Yukina watched him with doubtful eyes.

“Well then. Since you apologized, you should also show some sincerity.”

“S-Sincerity!?”

“Yeah. Even little kids can say sorry. Look, if you truly feel bad, go to the vending machine nearby and buy drinks for everyone. I’ll pay.”

“A-Alright…”

“And when you come back, I’ll give you a reward.”

“Alright!!!!”

“I’ll go on ahead. Make sure you catch up to me.”

“─Gasp. Of course. I’ll definitely catch up!!”

＊＊＊

It went about like that.

Right now, Shindou is out buying drinks for all of us.

He’s starting to look like a dog to me? More like a pet than a boyfriend.

We told Kuroe-san it wasn’t right to have him buy ours too, but she refused to back down and told us not to worry.

And so the four of us continued to the next checkpoint.

In the end, Shindou finally caught up to us just after we finished the second checkpoint, “The Whispering Path,” and were about to leave for the next one.

I feel bad saying this, but while he wasn’t here, it was actually pretty peaceful.

But when I saw him running back to us, out of breath, I felt a bit sorry for him.

Apparently, he got lost for quite a while. Even though Kuroe-san had explained the route very clearly.

He couldn’t enjoy any of the photo spots, so he looked a little depressed, and he stayed quiet until we reached the next checkpoint.

And the third one and the last place we visited was a huge flower field called “The Four-Season Garden,” which changes its scenery depending on the season.

Right now, the whole field was covered in softly glowing blue nemophila. Even though it was a weekday, lots of young couples were here to see the flowers before the season ended.

“Wow, Mizuki-chan, let’s take a picture together!”

“They’re so pretty…”

The two of them took pictures nonstop, so excited that it made me smile.

Sometimes they pointed their cameras at us, but they mainly enjoyed the endless blue flower field.

“By the way, where did Shindou go?”

Call it a form of love if you want, but I can’t help feeling he’s being dragged around too much by Kuroe-san.

Maybe Shindou was actually looking forward to walking around with her today. Thinking about that made me feel a tiny bit sorry for him.

“Hey, Shiomi. Don’t stand there like that, you’re ruining the picture!! I’m about to take a photo with Rei, so move!!”

There goes my sympathy.

He looked so down earlier, and now he’s already back to this. What happened while we weren’t looking?

And right after that, Kuroe-san appeared behind him. Being together must have brought his energy back.

“Hehe. Shindou-kun, you know better than that. If you get too cheeky, I’ll make it like what happened earlier never happened.”

“I-I know! I’ll hold back for your sake. Hmph, Shiomi, you should thank Rei.”

“Now, Shindou-kun, since we’re here, could you find the most beautiful flower in this field and take a picture of it for me? I really want to see it.”

“Leave it to me! I’ll find a flower so beautiful even Shiomi couldn’t pick it!!”

“Thank you.”

Shindou hurried off again.

“…Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I wondered what she meant earlier. What had she whispered to him? It felt a little unsettling.

“Hehe. Do you know the meaning of nemophila flowers?”

“Out of the blue. I’m sorry, I don’t.”

“The meaning of a flower changes depending on its color.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

“For example, nemophila. White ones mean ‘success’ or ‘achievement.’ Black or deep purple ones mean ‘majesty’ or ‘patriotism.’”

I nodded.

Looking around, I could see areas filled with white flowers, others with purple and different colors in different spots.

“Then, what about the blue ones?”

But most of the field was bright blue. A clear and calming blue, like the sky today. Just looking at it made my heart feel calm.

“Blue means ‘pure heart’ and also ‘delicate.’ Don’t you think it suits me perfectly?”

“…That’s hard to answer.”

“Hehe. There’s still one more.”

“One more?”

“That… you’ll have to find out for yourself.”

…What’s that supposed to mean?

Now I was curious. It can’t be something bad, right?

Flowers don’t always have happy meanings. Some carry scary or dark ones.

Poisonous flowers sometimes have cruel meanings, and even familiar flowers can mean something negative.

For example, the black lilies. They mean hatred, if I remember right. Luckily, nothing like that grows here.

Nemophila, from what I’d heard so far, didn’t seem to have any bad meaning… It probably didn’t, right?

Nowadays, I can check it instantly online.

But somehow, I didn’t feel like looking it up right away.

◆

After passing through the flower field and climbing a gentle slope, we finally reached our destination, the observation deck.

Many students had already arrived.

It looked like not just our class, but another class had come too, so there were quite a lot of people.

We told the teacher how everyone in our group was doing, and then it was time for lunch.

We didn’t have to eat with our group, so that made things a little easier.

“Yuu-kun. I made your lunch. A special field trip version. Let’s all eat together!”

“Hey, Yuu-kun. I saved a spot for you over here!”

Both of them were quick to act.

Yukina had already spread a sheet in a nice spot with a good view and claimed the place.

And Mizuki was carrying a multi-tiered lunch box. A full lunch box with multiple layers.

Huh? Did she really fit that in her backpack? That can’t fit, right?

“Come on, eat lots!”

“…Yes.”

This was definitely going to give me a stomachache.

◇◇◇

Afterword

Thank you all so much for your kind messages!

Your support really cheers me up!

I’m not completely recovered yet, but I’ll still post today as planned.

It feels like Shindou’s intelligence keeps dropping… but that’s something for later.

If you like, I’d love to hear your thoughts!