Chapter 12 – The Real You

In the classroom after school, I dropped my gaze to my smartphone.

“Phew…”

Stretching, I let out a slow breath.
Away from the hustle and bustle, I could only faintly hear the sounds of students’ activities.
I actually kind of like this quiet time of day.

Since all the girls have club activities or errands, I’m alone for the first time in a while.

Ping.

As I was relaxing in the classroom like that, my smartphone signaled a notification.

“It’s Shino…”

LINE messages from her, who has a habit of delusions, are usually about things I have no memory of. That’s why this message stood out in particular.

I want to go out with you tomorrow, Ren-kun… please.

Unlike usual, there were no emojis; it was simple, a sentence that made me feel reality rather than delusion.

Surely she is carrying some burden too. That’s exactly why she ends up having delusions about me.
Even though how we got to know each other wasn’t exactly good, as I got involved with her, I started wanting to be a strength for her.

And now, she who usually only laughed inside her delusions is inviting me out in reality.

That single step just made me happy.

—————————

At the meeting place the next day, Shino stood wearing a dress in subdued colors.
Her hair swayed in the wind, and her outline seemed to melt into the pale sunlight.

“…Did I make you wait?”
“No, I… came a little early.”

When I raised my gaze, she was wearing a smile, though awkwardly.
Just a little bit… but the “real Shino” was certainly there.

“Well then, was there somewhere you wanted to go?”

In our exchange beforehand, she told me I didn’t need to think about anything because there was a place she wanted to go together.

“Yeah, there’s a place I want to go with you.”
“…Can I ask where?”

She showed a gesture of hesitation.

“…I want it to be a surprise, so it’s a secret…”

Blushing, she pouted her lips shyly.

—————————

After riding the train and bus for several tens of minutes, we arrived at a nature park where seasonal flowers were blooming.

I was surprised because I had arbitrarily imagined an amusement facility.

“…It’s peaceful and nice.”

Although surprised, my heart felt fluffy and warm because it was quiet and beautiful.

“…I love flowers, so I definitely wanted to come see them. Do you think you can enjoy it, Ren-kun?”
“Yeah, I think I’ll enjoy it a lot.”

I really feel like my heart is being washed. The power of nature shouldn’t be underestimated.

We walked slowly through the vast grounds while looking at the flowers.

“…This flower smells very sweet. It’s kind of mysterious.”
“It’s true.”

When we smelled the flower together, I felt a sweetness peculiar to nature.
Not overpowering, but a fresh feeling of spring.

“…Do you know the names of flowers or anything, Ren-kun?”

She noticed my face close to hers to smell the flower and spoke slowly.

“Maybe just a little. I’m not that knowledgeable. What about you, Shino? You seem pretty knowledgeable.”

“No… I like flowers, but it’s not like I’m super knowledgeable. But, every time I learn a name or a meaning, I come to like them even more.”

In that gesture of gently stroking the petals with her fingertips, her personality seeped through.

Glancing at her like that, I suddenly looked at the clock tower.

“It’s already past 12, so shall we go buy lunch?”

Thinking that, I tried to walk toward the shops, but my sleeve was pulled from behind.

“…I made bento, so let’s eat together?”

What she took out as she said that was a bento for two.
Rice balls, rolled omelets, colorful vegetables, and simmered dishes. Each one was made with care.

“…Amazing. Did you make all this, Shino?”
“Yeah. I… like cooking. Though I’ve never had anyone eat it before…”

She laughed softly and looked down just a little.

“Thank you for the bento. …Then let’s go over to that lawn and eat.”

We sat on the lawn where a refreshing breeze blew, at a distance where our shoulders almost touched.

“Itadakimasu.”
“Go ahead.”

I picked up the bento and moved my chopsticks.

“It’s delicious! …You’re amazing, Shino.”

When I praised her, she opened her eyes wide as if surprised.
Then she smiled a small, truly small smile. It was the most innocent smile I had seen from her so far.

“…I’m glad. I worked hard so you would eat it, Ren-kun.”
“Is that so… thank you.”

Everything was truly delicious, and I finished it all in the blink of an eye.

“Thanks for the meal. It was really delicious.”

When I stated my impressions again, she laughed shyly.

“…Can I make it for you again?”
“I’d want to ask you to myself!”

I can eat this delicious bento again. Thinking that, I replied with enthusiasm.

“Hehe. I cook normally, but… when I make it thinking of the person I like, I can make it more delicious than usual.”

Saying that, she stared at me.

“…!”

Faced with a direct and unexpected expression of affection, I unintentionally became embarrassed and looked away.

—————————

The afternoon air was a mix of flower scents and the smell of soil, and it somehow invited drowsiness.

We lay down side by side on the lawn and looked up at the sky.

“……Ren-kun, can I get closer?”
“Yeah. Go ahead.”

That voice was gentle, like music mixed into the wind.
I felt her body heat closer.

“…Where do you plan to go next?”

We finished looking at this park and ate lunch too. Therefore, thinking to ask about the next plan, I called out to her.

“…Zzz.”

However, there was no reply, and when I happened to look next to me, she had quietly closed her eyes and was breathing in her sleep.

“I guess you got tired from cooking and stuff… thank you, and good night.”

I gently stroked her hair.
Her cheeks were faintly red, and her eyelashes were long.

Sleeping, she looked like nothing but an “ordinary girl” you could find anywhere.

…She must have been nervous.
Meeting me in reality, not in a delusion.
And, she made plans early in the morning, made a bento, and faced me with all her might.

“……Cute.”

The voice muttered quietly surely didn’t reach her.

But, I couldn’t help but say it.

—————————

On the way home, walking along the sidewalk dyed orange, Shino muttered abruptly.

“……I really am… weird, aren’t I.”

In those words, self-mockery and the fear of being abandoned were mixed.

“Yeah, you might have a part of you that goes a little out of control.”

When I replied jokingly, Shino knitted her brows tightly.

“But you know, I realized today.”

She looked at me.
I looked back on what I felt today.

She likes flowers and is good at cooking, but has a habit of delusion and goes out of control.
Everyone carries different burdens, but…

“That you’re an ordinary girl too.”

She made a surprised face, tears welled up… but she smiled.

“…Ren-kun, you’re mean… but, I’m happy. Also, I think I’ll cause you trouble from now on too, so… I’m sorry…”
“You don’t need to apologize. So, once again, nice to meet you… Shino.”

I was able to know her deeply. For that fact, now I just offer gratitude.

“……Yes. Nice to meet you.”

She gently layered her outstretched hand on mine.

The warmth I touched in reality.

The feelings she put into words.

Today was the day I found the Shino who “isn’t a delusion.”

I felt like I was able to know the girl who is here… properly.