I Chose the Plain Girl Instead of the Class’s Top Three Beauties, and Somehow She Became the Heroine - 81

Chapter 81: Date 2

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《Sora Mukei’s POV》

The last day of October. The wind wasn’t too cold, carrying only the sounds that announced the beginning of night. Amid the city’s bustle, I slowly let out a breath.

In my pocket was the message I had received yesterday. It was short—just, “I’m looking forward to it.” Every time I recalled that single line, something deep in my chest felt ticklish.

I stood at the edge of the fountain. The decorated city held more light than it did during the day. Orange lanterns, purple lights, and Halloween-only signs were everywhere. Each time costumed children ran past, my heart raced. And then, amid that wave of light, she arrived.

“Sora-kun.”

She wasn’t a witch. The cosplay we’d worn at the party with our classmates wasn’t there on either of us. She wasn’t wearing her usual glasses, and with her black hair tucked behind her ears, she looked a little more grown-up. No. Rather than any fancy words like that, I was simply captivated.

Because standing there was a main heroine more perfect than any woman I’d ever seen. But the way she smiled was still unmistakably Hiroko Anno-san.

“Hiroko-san. You’re a different kind of witch from yesterday. You look beautiful.”

Had the words come out naturally? My heart was being so loud. Even with so many people around, her voice and the pounding of my own chest sounded strangely amplified. The traffic light turned green, and we started walking side by side. It took three steps for our strides to match. Just that alone was enough for me to feel the air settle into place, even without saying anything.

The restaurant I had reserved was a small Italian place on the corner of the shopping street. Wine bottles lined the windows, and the bell on the door rang softly. The scent of minestrone drifted through the air, and the interior glowed with gentle colors. It was a place even high school students could easily go to, something I’d found after reading through Halloween date magazines with Akira and searching online.

“It’s really crowded during Halloween.”

“Yeah. This place is bound to get crowded during Halloween. I’d never come here alone, but… I want to come here if it’s with you, Hiroko-san.”

“Hehe.”

Every time she smiled, sparkling like that, my face grew hot. Why had she become this cute? She didn’t seem to realize it herself, but the men around us were clearly casting glances her way. I was doing my best too, after getting advice from Sōma-kun, but I was nowhere near worthy of standing beside her.

Even so…

The way she held her spoon looked more careful than usual. The steam from the cup lit her cheeks. Even without many words, the quiet felt comfortable.

“This soup is delicious.”

“Yeah. It’s warm. I kind of like moments like this.”

Hiroko-san lowered her gaze slightly and smiled. I didn’t think the redness in her cheeks was just from the soup. When I split the bread in half and handed it to her, our fingers brushed lightly. The instant they touched, time froze and the world held its breath. Within that silence, I swallowed my words.

When we stepped outside, the sky was sinking toward a deep indigo. Pumpkin lanterns were starting to glow, and the wind swayed the hem of my coat. We avoided the crowd and headed down a tree-lined path. Each step on the fallen leaves made a dry crunching sound.

“Are your hands cold?”

“…Just a little.”

“Here.”

I opened my pocket and took her hand. It was cold. She must have been chilly. Her hand was small, and her fingertips trembled slightly. My heart had been beating fast this whole time, and my body felt hot.

“From tomorrow, we will go back to our ordinary days.”

“Yes. But I’ll be fine, because I can take today home with me.”

“Today?”

“Here.”

She pressed her hand against the top of the pocket. The motion was so natural, so dear to me, that my words caught in my throat. A little farther on, there was a park. The light from the fountain slipped through gaps between the trees, and the night breeze brushed across the water’s surface. We sat down on a bench, leaving just a bit of space between us. Even so, the wind filled that gap for us.

“Hiroko-san.”

When I called her name, she lifted her face. The light wavered roundly within her eyes. Not yesterday’s witch, but today’s her. A single girl sitting right in front of me. There was something I had decided ever since the day I asked her out.

Halloween was a day for wearing masks, but I had already thought that I didn’t need one anymore. In front of Hiroko-san, I wanted to stay honest. I wanted to give this feeling an answer. I moved closer to her and brought my mouth near her ear.

“I like you, Hiroko-san.”

As I said it, I realized my voice was trembling just a little. Her cheeks slowly flushed red. Ever since the day we decided on this date, I had resolved to confess to her.

I like her atmosphere. I like her cooking. I like the way she works hard.

By now, I was probably in love with everything about her. That was why my chest hurt. I was afraid she would keep getting more beautiful and end up dating someone else. Maybe she didn’t even have feelings for me beyond friendship.

But I loved her. I couldn’t stop these feelings. So even if I got rejected, I wanted to tell her how I felt.

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