I'll Take Nanase-san, Who Is Small And Adorable, Away From Her Cheating And Clueless Ex And Make Her Happy. - Chapter 283: After The Afterparty Ended, I Was Left With A Feeling Of Nostalgia.

After The Afterparty Ended, I Was Left With A Feeling Of Nostalgia.

They enjoyed cosplaying, enjoyed singing, enjoyed eating, and enjoyed chatting.

Though there had been a slight issue in the first half, the culture festival afterparty progressed in such a way that everyone who participated could genuinely say they had a wonderful time, and before we knew it, the event was coming to an end.

After paying the bill and stepping outside, we looked up at the sky, which was starting to grow darker, and began to talk.

“So, what should we do now? Wanna hit up a second place?”

“We ate quite a bit at karaoke, but should we go get dinner too? Though it might be a little early for that.”

“Maybe we could go hang out somewhere else and then have dinner before calling it a night?”

“Some people might need to head home, so let’s check who’s up for hanging out longer!”

It seemed like everyone was discussing what to do for the afterparty. As I listened to their lively conversation, Gakuto called out to me.

“Yuusuke, what about you? Can you come along?”

“Sorry. I’m on dinner duty tonight, so I have to head home.”

“I see. In that case, Nanase-san too…?”

“Yeah, sorry, I’ll be heading back as well! You guys have fun without us!”

“Right… well, can’t be helped.”

When we said we couldn’t join, Gakuto looked a little disappointed. Kumagawa-san spoke to him apologetically.

“Ah… sorry, Yusa-kun. My parents get strict if I’m out too late, so I need to head home too.”

“Ah, I-I see… that’s a shame.”

“What about you, Yusa-kun? You’re going to join them, right?”

“I…”

Gakuto glanced over at our classmates, who were still excitedly chatting, before turning back to Kumagawa-san with a wry smile.

“I’m worried they’ll get too rowdy and cause trouble, so I’ll go with them. Think of it as my last duty as part of the culture festival committee – keeping an eye on everyone.”

“I see… you’re so responsible, Yusa-kun.”

“Well, I am a basketball player, after all!”

As the two of them talked in that gentle atmosphere, Hiyori-san and I watched silently. Seeing these two, who had been awkward with each other for a while, now speaking normally again made us genuinely happy.

Then, they exchanged their farewells.

“Alright, see you at school. Bye-bye, Yusa-kun!”

“Yeah, see you at school…!”

And with that, everyone started to part ways. Those who were continuing on moved to another location.

After watching Kumagawa-san leave with the other girls, Gakuto joined up with the afterparty group and headed off.

“That really brings back memories… doesn’t it?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“Do you remember the first time we went to see a movie together? When you walked me home, we said goodbye just like that, saying ‘see you at school.’”

“Ah… yeah, we did…!!”

Now that she mentioned it, I recalled that moment – the day after she’d ended up staying over at my house by coincidence, when we parted ways after our date. It had already been half a year since then, I realized, as Hiyori-san and I began walking slowly together.

“It feels nostalgic, doesn’t it? Even though half a year isn’t really that long.”

“It’s not about how long it is, but how full it’s been. These six months… so much has happened.”

“You’re right. So many things have happened, and so much has changed…”

I smiled as I said that, thinking of how we had started dating. Hiyori-san laughed softly and nodded.

Yes, if it’s about how full it’s been rather than how long, this past half year really has been incredible. As I thought that, she spoke up.

“But you know, some things haven’t changed. Ever since we met, you’ve always been kind. You always match my walking pace, too.”

“That’s just because we’ve been walking together so much. I’ve gotten used to it.”

“Ah! You said something like that on our first date too! Ahaha! See, you haven’t changed at all!”

She giggled softly, filled with nostalgia and amusement, then reached out her hand to me.

Immediately understanding what she wanted, I gently took her small hand in mine.

“Fufu… Back then, just holding hands made us so nervous. I guess we’ve gotten used to it, huh?”

“Don’t tease me. I’m still nervous, you know.”

It wasn’t that I had become so used to holding her hand that I felt nothing.

If anything, the nervousness, the flutter in my chest, and the happiness of having this precious girl by my side had only grown stronger since the first day we held hands.

I was sure Hiyori-san felt the same way.

Seeing her smile so happily as she tightened her grip around my hand made me feel that even more strongly.

“…Should we stop by the supermarket for a bit? Is there anything you want for dinner?”

“Hmm… I already ate quite a lot at karaoke…”

As we exchanged such trivial conversation, we walked through the town under the setting sun.

Looking at our elongated shadows, it felt like there was more happiness than loneliness reflected within them.