After Reaching the Happy Ending, I Was Locked up by the Extremely Possessive Heroines I Had Conquered

Chapter 54.2: Apparently We Have to Hold Hands So We Don’t Get Lost In the Big City

We got off the train and passed through the ticket gate.

The moment we stepped out of the station building, a building wind brushed my cheek.

In the center of the rotary, there was a fountain, and buses and taxis were coming and going one after another.

The sound of horns blaring and traffic signals beeping echoed, and beyond the bus terminal, high-rise buildings and department stores lined up.

The volume of traffic and the number of people were on a whole different level from Kochi Station, and it felt just like a big city.

“Senpai, there are so many people.”

Toa muttered with her mouth hanging open in surprise.

“Yeah. It’s enough to make you feel a bit carsick from the crowd.”

“Yes. I feel like I’ll get lost.”

As she said that, she casually took my hand. When I turned to look because of the firm grip, she was gazing up at the high-rise buildings and said,

“If we don’t hold hands, I’ll get lost right away. So you absolutely can’t let go, okay?”

Her words were sly, but she was so absorbed in the scenery that her attitude didn’t match her speech.

“That’s right! Big brother shouldn’t let go of my hand!”

Riding on Toa’s comment, Mahiru grabbed my other free hand. She seemed fully revived, her breathing heavy through her nose.

“Man, it’s embarrassing to be seen by people like this……”

In a place with so much foot traffic, holding hands with two girls stood out in all sorts of ways.

But their grip was so strong that it looked like we’d be like this for a while.

※

When we went one street back from in front of the station to a narrow alley, there was a large park in a block lined with houses and offices.

Most of the grounds were covered in vast grass, and on top of that, there were playground equipment like slides and swings.

And in the back, there were restrooms and benches lined up, and since it was afternoon, it was bustling with children.

To think there was this much nature just across one street.

I had thought it was the city, but I really felt how far the destination still was as we sat on a bench and spread out our bentos.

What I bought was grilled mackerel sushi. Pressed sushi with mackerel on top of vinegared rice. When I opened the lid, a savory aroma wafted out.

Drawn by the smell, my stomach growled loudly, and I realized how hungry I was. It was almost 1 p.m., so it was no wonder my stomach was empty.

“Let’s eat!”

“Feeding big brother ‘ahh’ is my job!”

“That’s definitely the junior’s role, though.”

As I quietly enjoyed the mackerel sushi, the two of them were arguing about something on both sides of me.

“There’s no such thing as a junior’s role. Being the little sister is the role in everything!”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You two are arguing too much. Look, the kids on the slide are staring at you.”

When I warned them because they were being so noisy, Mahiru glanced toward the slide.

The children’s gazes were all focused on us at once.

“I don’t care. I’m not interested in anyone but big brother. It’s all trivial. Anyway, Toa-san, please know your place.”

“You were so timid just a bit ago, but you’re back already? Senpai, do something about her.”

“No, even if you tell me……”

There was no one who could stop Mahiru once she had opened her eyes.

“Come on, don’t leave taking care of Mahiru-chan to me!”

“Sorry, sorry.”

With a wry smile, I continued eating my bento. As I rolled the savory mackerel on my tongue, I thought.

In a place where no one knows us, having this kind of trivial exchange while leisurely eating lunch.

It was a scene I couldn’t have imagined a week ago.

It was an experience I absolutely couldn’t have on the island, and I felt like the world had expanded.

“It’s really different from the island, huh.”

Toa must have felt something similar. After muttering that, she gazed at the towering buildings.

“Everything feels so fresh!”

“Yeah……”

It really was fresh.

The scenery, the number of people, the smells, the air. Everything was new and dazzling.

Each and every one of those things was a precious experience for us, a precious memory.

“……………………”

At that moment, a sudden wind blew.

Carried by the wind, my gaze naturally turned that way.

In the back of the park. A swing swaying in a regular rhythm.

There was one girl riding on it.

A gray parka, with the hood pulled deep over her head.

“The person in the hat⁉︎”

I involuntarily held my breath.

Why is the person in the hat riding the swing?

More than that, why is she in this park?

Did she follow us?

Even if so, that doesn’t explain why she’s on the swing. Sure, there were no swings on the island. Maybe she encountered an unknown piece of playground equipment and ended up riding it on impulse.

No matter how I interpreted it, it was incomprehensible.

She followed us, or so I thought, then she sat boldly in the seat next to us, disappeared when I least expected it, and now she’s riding a swing in the park.

Everything was a mess, and there was no way I could make sense of it.

“Senpai?”

Toa tilted her head curiously.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing.”

I hurriedly finished my bento and said while stuffing the trash into the plastic bag.

“We should get going soon. If we take it too easy, it’ll be night before we know it.”

“Big brother⁉︎ Isn’t that too rushed?”

“It’s not. Anyway, come on, let’s go.”

I stood up and urged the two of them toward the park exit.

On the way out of the park, I turned back just for a brief moment at the end.

The swing was still swaying.