I Want a Girlfriend who Won’t Betray Me - Chapter 29

A Walk with Kaori Asai-san

In the end, I end up spending a full two hours with Asai-san, looking at shops and drinking tea.

When we get back to the hotel lobby.

“Shinonome-kun, do you have any plans for tomorrow?”

“Not really. I came here without scheduling anything in particular.”

“Really? Actually, it’s the same for us. We come here every year and have already been to a lot of different places, so this year we decided everyone can do whatever they want. Hey, I’ll show you around the area, so let’s hang out!”

“But I need to ask my parents first.”

“Then contact me on your phone after you asked your parents.”

“I don’t have Asai-san’s contact info, though.”

“Then give me your phone.”

For some reason, I obediently hand over my phone to Asai-san and we quickly exchange contact information.

“Fufu, now I can contact you anytime, Shinonome-kun. I’ll be waiting for your message.”

When I return to our room, my parents aren’t back yet, they must’ve gone somewhere. As I sit by the window and open the paperback I bought, they come back.

I tell them about Asai-san.

“In that case, your mother and I will be playing golf tomorrow, so you’re free to go out for the day.”

Ah, that works out nicely.

“Got it. I’ll contact her right away.”

I call her on the phone number she just gave me earlier.

‘Really!? Then, what about we meet at 9AM in the hotel lobby tomorrow?’

‘Sure, see you at the lobby.’

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Asai’s POV

I’m so happy. How lucky am I. I get to spend the whole day with Shinonome-kun tomorrow. First, we’ll rent a bicycle…no, a tandem bike would be better! I can’t wait for tomorrow.

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Kazuki’s POV

The next day, my parents leave our room to play golf at around 8.30AM. Unlike Tokyo, it only takes ten minutes by shuttle bus to get to the golf course here. Tourist spots really are different.

As for me…for some reason, I end up riding a tandem bike with Asai-san to a nearby sightseeing spot. Then later, we have a lunch together at a lakeside restaurant by Lake Omoizawa.

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Asai’s POV

Fufu, Shinonome-kun is pedalling in front of me. At first, I didn’t feel anything in particular, but as we continue riding, I start to smell his scent. His sweat, or maybe that same scent from when I rest my head on his shoulder on the water slide at the pool.

This scent, I don’t want anyone else to smell it. I want it to be mine and mine alone. Keep pedalling, Shinonome-kun…no, Kazuki. Do your best.

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Kazuki’s POV

Is it just me, or does it feel like Asai-san isn’t pedalling at all?

We get off our bike at a rest stop along the way. Then, we rest while looking at the beautiful scenery.

“Hey, Shinonome-kun. Is it okay if I think of us as friends now?”

“Yeah, of course. That’s totally fine.”

“Then, can we meet up, just the two of us, when we go back to Tokyo?”

“That might be a different matter entirely.”

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Asai’s POV

He’s still not emotionally recovered from what happened with Kisaragi-san and Yatsugashira-san. There’s no need to rush things right now.

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Kazuki’s POV

“I understand. Then, little by little…I’ll wait until your heart gets used to me, Shinonome-kun. I won’t rush.”

“I don’t really get it, but hearing you say that makes me happy.”

Even though we’re spending time together like this now, it’s really just thanks to coincidence. Once we’re back in Tokyo, everything will be different. There’s no way we can meet and feel the same as way we do here.

“But I’m really happy we can be together here.”

“Yeah, me too. This is my first time coming here, so it’s a great help. If you hadn’t been around, I’d probably still be in the lounge reading a paperback by myself.”

“Paperback?”

“Yeah, it’s like a softcover book, what we’d call a tanko-bon in Japan.”

“I see. You spent three years overseas, didn’t you? That’s so cool, being fluent in English.”

“Well, it was because of my parents’ work.”

We go back to the hotel at around 4 PM. My parents have already returned to our room.

The next day, we go to the highlands as a family by car. Spending time with my family is fun in its own way too.

The next day, at around 11AM, we are in the lobby for a late check-out.

Suddenly, Asai-san and her family show up too.

“Shinonome-kun, see you at school.”

“Yeah, see you.”

With that, she gets into a car parked in front of the hotel entrance. That car…the hood ornament looks like a goddess bowing. Is she actually from a pretty wealthy family?

As we get on the highway and the scenery gradually shifts back to the city, my mind is pulled back into reality. Only five more days until school. It feels long, yet somehow short too.

While I’m relaxing at home, my phone buzzes. Who is it?

I look at the screen and see it’s Asai-san. What could it be about?

‘Hello, this is Shinonome.’

‘This is Asai. Shinonome-kun, I know I said that in Omoizawa, but…’

‘That?’

‘Yeah, that once we’re back in Tokyo, it might be a while before we meet again.’

‘Ah, that.’

‘But…please. There’s this movie I really want to see tomorrow, but all my friends are busy with homework. Could you come with me?’

That line sounds familiar. What should I do? I plan to just chill until the new semester begins, not meeting up with anyone.

Besides, honestly, I’m a bit reluctant to meet up with Asai-san alone. With Kamijo-san, I didn’t have much of a choice, I was kind of forced to fulfil my promise. But with Asai-san, we’re not even that close.

‘You’re not saying anything, so that means it’s a no, right?’

Her voice sounds really sad. But still, if I just go along with this…

‘Okay then. Sorry for asking too much. I’ll hang up now.’

‘Wait.’

‘Eh?’

‘It’s just the movie, right?’

‘Well, the movie goes past noon, so I’d be happy if we could have lunch together too.’

I knew it. But I do owe her for showing me around Omoizawa.

‘Alright. I owe you for showing me around Omoizawa, so just the movie and lunch. That’s it. And just this once, okay?’

‘Yeah♡’

In the end, I said yes. But I made sure to mention it’s just this once. So, it should be fine.