After My First Love Who is My Classmate Became My Family, My Childhood Friend Became Really Sweet to Me - Chapter 2

Neko Koneko/Tsukino’s Favourite Place/ Shall We do It?

Tsukino and I decided to visit a certain café.

There were cats meowing all over the place.

When I looked around, all I could see was all different kinds of cats everywhere, a white-coloured cat scratching itself impatiently on the floor, cats playing on the cat tower, cats wagging their tail on the table. Everywhere I looked, all I could see were cats.

The ‘Neko Koneko’ cat café was really busy that day.

Tsukino sipped on the café au lait that she had ordered.

“All of the cats look the same as they did when I came here last time. It’s been a long time since I went here and I was worried that some of them might gone missing.”

“I’m amazed that Tsukino could tell the difference between each cat just by looking at them. They all look the same for me.”

“…I think it’s because you aren’t that interested in cats.”

I had visited that cat café several times before with Tsukino.

But that was the first time I go there as a date with Tsukino.

It’s our first date and I had thought a lot of possible places to go, but Tsukino and I have been together since childhood, so we had gone to many places before.

As I recall, the place where Tsukino seemed to have the most fun was this cat café.

“I’m the one who suggested to go to this cat café, but is it a good idea to go on a date near our house like this? If Tsukino prefers to go to the aquarium, the zoo, or anywhere else, we can go there now.”

“I’m really happy Yuto brought me to ‘Neko Koneno’ café. I’m sure it’s fun to go somewhere far with Yuto, but I prefer to relax at my favourite café like this.”

Tsukino smiled gently.

“I hope I can go to many different places with Yuto in the future. I hope this won’t be my first and last date with Yuto.”

Indeed, what Tsukino said is true. It won’t be our first and last date.

We are no longer just childhood friends like we used to be.

As we were talking about it, a yellow-coloured cat suddenly strode around and looked up at Tsukino intently.

Apparently, it was seeking Tsukino’s attention.

“Ah, do you want my attention? …okay, come here.”

The cat jumped into Tsukino’s lap as if it understands what Tsukino said.

The cat purred pleasantly as Tsukino stroked the bottom of its neck gently.

By the way, this café allows their customer to touch the cats, but they aren’t allowed to pick up the cats. So, our luck to hold the cats depends on the mood of the cats whether they want to go up our lap or not.

In fact, it’s not that often for a cat to jump to a customer’s lap. Even some of the customers were surprised to see that cat jumped on Tsukino’s lap.

“Woah, did he just jump on your lap? You’re not even his owner but he is so spoiled with you.”

“He’s a good cat, right? Thanks for letting me pet you.”

“But you know what? If Tsukino plays with other cats like this, Mia might get jealous.”

Mia is a cat that Tsukino saved when she was in elementary school, and Tsukino has been really close with Mia since then.

That’s why I talked about Mia light-heartedly…

“…I’ll have to spoil Mia a lot when I go home. I’m sure she feels really lonely now.”

“…no, no, you don’t have to look so heartbroken, I’m just kidding okay? I’m sure Mia will forgive you even if you play with other cats. Yeah, I’m sure she will.”

Why did she feel so guilty about it? I didn’t think what I said would make her feel guilty for Mia…

While Tsukino felt somewhat guilty, I changed the topic to a subject that had been bothering me for a while.

“Now I’m here with Tsukino on a date… but I don’t feel much different than when we came here as childhood friends.”

“If you ask me, maybe…”

After all, it’s only natural for the two of us to be together since we were little.

“Hey Yuto, what kind of things do you want to do on a date?”

“Eh!? You’re asking me that…?”

“I’ve never been on a date before, but Yuto have, right? You went on a date with Hinata-san to the amusement park the other day.”

Yeah, sure I went on a date with Hinata to the amusement park the other day, but I was too embarrassed to talk about it with Tsukino.

But Tsukino was staring at me as if she was waiting for my respond… It couldn’t be helped then.

“We just rode attractions together and had dinner together, that’s just about it.”

“…really? That’s it?”

“N-No, I mean… We also held hands and stuff…”

“I see, that certainly sounds like a date. Did you feel nervous when you held hands with Hinata-san?”

“W-Well, it’s the first time I’ve done something like that.”

“I see. Shall we do it then?”

Eh…

When I blinked my eyes, Tsukino said it with her usual expressionless face.

“You and Hinata-san held hands, didn’t you? Then I want to do it, too. I want your heart to throb more when you are holding hands with me.”

Tsukino is my childhood friend, I think that’s why I was so nervous when she said those words.

She wanted my heart to throb when we are holding hands. Tsukino never said anything like that to me before.

“Maybe, Yuto is embarrassed?”

“N-No, not at all! But…”

Tsukino was looking at me with her innocent and pampered expression.

At that time, we see each other as potential partners rather than childhood friends.

Tsukino is—really cute. She is also really mysterious and beautiful, as if she doesn’t belong to this world. No wonder everyone in the student council calls her the ‘Moon Angel’.

So, I wondered.

The girl who was in front of me is definitely the girl I’ve spent the most time with—but why did my heart throb harder and harder?

“Yuto, can you come over here? I can’t go there because there is a cat on my lap.”

“Ahh, yeah…”

I moved my chair and sat next to Tsukino. I was really close to her that I could even brush her beautiful white hair.

I’ve never held hands with a girl in a café before, but I was sure it’s natural to do it discreetly under the table.

I could tell that my body temperature was slowly rising.

I’m sure it was because I realized it’s something special.

We could’ve relaxed in the café and play with those cats as childhood friends, but we were going to hold hands, it’s an act that goes beyond childhood friends.

Tsukino’s face when she looked at me remained expressionless, but she her eyes seemed to be expecting something. I was ready… Then I looked into Tsukino’s eyes.

Then slowly, Tsukino’s hand—

“Ehh, really? What a coincidence to meet here on a holiday.”

Suddenly, I heard a familiar girl’s voice.