My Girlfriend is a Death Row Inmate - Chapter 20 - Death Row Inmate: Going Outside
Chapter 20 – Death Row Inmate: Going Outside
“Date!”
For the first time in my life, I became aware of the weekend. Those who are conscious of it always have plans, but unfortunately, I had none. Joining the club was mandatory, but I managed to get away with it by being evasive. And while I have friends, we’re not close enough to hang out in our free time, so I still had no plans. None at all.
Or so I thought. But this weekend was an exception.
It’s a date with Shizuku Nanagi.
There’s no set meeting place or destination. We’ll go wherever the wind takes us, wherever our hearts desire. We’ll spend the whole day together. Some might say there’s no need to set a meeting time since we live together. I thought so too, but Shizuku Nanagi was nowhere to be seen from the moment she got up. She said she’d change her clothes and went out to get them… I don’t want to think about how she’ll acquire them. I have a bad feeling about it for some reason.
“Hmm?”
There was a note on the study desk, which has been hardly used since its installation (I’m the type who does homework on the bed). It said, “When you’re ready, come outside. I’ll be waiting.” I looked out the window in terror, but there was no sign of her anywhere.
Surely, even in the morning, a death row convict wouldn’t be foolish enough to stroll around outside so blatantly. But seeing her specifically mention “getting ready,” does that mean I should prepare? I’ve never been on a date before, so even if someone told me to dress nicely, I wouldn’t have the slightest idea what to do. I don’t have any perfume, and I’m not interested in expensive clothes, so I don’t own any.
Well, I guess it would be fine.
There’s nothing I can do about what I don’t have. I’ll make a little effort by wearing a jacket over my casual clothes, but that’s about it. I’m completely clueless. I wanted to check myself in the mirror just in case, but I’ve gotten a little ahead of myself thinking that someone like me, who has lived a life devoid of fashion, could confirm my appearance. Without even a superficial knowledge, and ultimately settling for casual clothes, a man like me won’t be reflected in the mirror.
Initially, a date is a place where lovers show each other a different side of themselves from usual. That’s why misunderstandings can arise between people who were nice to each other when they first started dating, but who are now… and from there, troubles can also arise. Yet I can’t save myself because I’m going in casual clothes. Shizuku must’ve seen it so much that she’s tired of it.
But there’s no other way but to do this. I should act before thinking. Excuses can be made later, as many as needed. For now, let’s go. I have to go. I should go.
But my feet won’t move.
It’s not nervousness. I feel pathetic that I can’t dress up as much as I want to. But I’ll go. Because I want to go on a date.
It’s nine in the morning. It’s still early, considering it’s a holiday, and my parents and sister are probably still asleep. Will they worry if I go out without telling them where I’m going? Maybe Ruri would, but it should be obvious from their usual behavior that they’re not the type of parents who worry about me.
I opened the door and looked left and right like checking for safety. I don’t see Shizuku anywhere.
“Hey, I’ve been waiting for you.”
The voice came from the direction I had checked two or three times— the right. For me, who was already acting suspiciously about going on a date with a death row inmate, her voice was too stimulating. But the moment I saw her figure in my sight, my heart stopped. Standing there wasn’t the death row inmate, Shizuku Nanagi, but the goddess, Shizuku Nanagi.
She wore a knee-length black skirt with a sleeveless white blouse. Abandoning her usual restraints somewhere, she had undergone an incredible transformation from a death row inmate to an unbelievably beautiful woman. Who would think that such a beautiful woman could be that heinous murderer? I could only think of her as the type of beauty who would be scouted on the street.
“……Um, who are you?”
“Hehehe. What do you think? Surprised? With this, no one but her will be able to see through us. Your presence will also serve as camouflage.”
“My presence?”
“You wouldn’t think that there’s an accomplice to that death row convict, right? Walking alongside you, it’ll just look like a stranger’s resemblance, and thinking that an ordinary person resembles a death row convict would be quite rude, don’t you think?”
The conversation is going well, but about eighty percent of my thoughts were not focused on the conversation. I’m still fully indulging in admiring her appearance. Even with the straitjacket on, her figure was apparent, but wearing regular clothes, she truly stands out. Perhaps it’s also a tailwind that it’s a time of year when light clothing is acceptable. She has much bigger breasts than I imagined when I look closely.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been outside, hasn’t it? Well then, shall we go, my dear master? Where to? It’s up to you.”
Holding a brown houndstooth hat she had hidden behind her back, Shizuku put it on and reached out her hand. Timidly extending my hand, Shizuku drew closer.
Even though we haven’t done anything yet, it feels terribly sinful. A date with just the two of us while hiding someone who should be facing justice… It sounded like a dream. Especially if the person is a beautiful woman you’ll never see again. I boldly interlocked my fingers with hers and attempted to hold hands like lovers. Shizuku happily reciprocated.
“This is a bit embarrassing, isn’t it? I’m not someone who can walk under the sun, yet I’m walking as your lover. It’s incredibly strange and… delightful.”
“Yeah, I feel the same way. Being like this with you… it’s really exciting.”
It’s different from teasing Kusune. That’s just embarrassing because I have no intention of it going anywhere, but Shizuku is someone I’m interested in. And this situation, where it feels like we’re both in love, is not just exciting but also moving. I’m glad to be alive. I’m glad I didn’t give in to the bullying. I even feel like all the unhappiness in my life has been rewarded here.
“Forget for today that I’m a criminal. Oh, and even though I’ll leave the destination up to you, no going to lewd places, okay? You’ll end up becoming a criminal, too.”
“I-I won’t go there!”
“Hehehe. Alright then. But seriously, where should we go? To be honest, I don’t know much about the world outside. So, I’d like you to take me to various places, as a form of guidance.”
…When you’re told that anything is fine, sometimes it’s hard to come up with an answer. There are plenty of people who can’t narrow down their choices from a vast array of options. I’m grateful to Shizuku for providing the rails. If it’s under the pretext of showing her around the town, I can narrow down the options sufficiently.
“…Then let’s start with the nearest place.”
While it might be a bit cramped for a date, the game center is quite an excellent entertainment facility.
Crane games, air hockey, arcade games, darts, whack-a-mole, pinball, rhythm games – a variety of games that would never let the visitors get bored. Shizuku’s eyes sparkled as she entered the store.
“So this is the game center. They have so many different games!”
“Do you like it?”
“Ah— of course. It’s my first time here, after all. Well, I did know about it beforehand, of course, but only as information.”
Even though it was only nine in the morning, it was still the weekend. While there were quite a few children around, adults were in the minority, and there wasn’t a single beautiful woman comparable to Shizuku in sight. The gazes of boys around middle school age were strangely interesting to me. It might just be my imagination, as Shizuku herself was completely absorbed in every game she saw, paying no attention to any gazes.
“Oh, air hockey!”
“I want to try it.”
“Then let’s play.”
Putting money in to activate the air hockey table. Although it was her first time coming to the game center, her hand, holding the paddle-like thing (I don’t know what it’s called), was filled with confidence. She’s confident in games that rely on reflexes like this. While she might not be at a level to compete in tournaments, she should hardly ever lose against amateurs.
While I did think that, the other party was Shizuku Nanagi. You can’t really let your guard down.
“Do you need an explanation of the rules?”
“No need.”
“Then, let the match begin!”