The Case of Liking the Most Beautiful Girl in the School Even After Being Told Not to Like Her - Chapter 8 - It's Okay to Have Fun, But Don't Lose Sight of What We Came Here to Do

Chapter 8 – It’s Okay to Have Fun, But Don’t Lose Sight of What We Came Here to Do

As soon as we arrived at the mall, Mina-san and I lined up at a pancake shop that had just opened and ate caramel pancakes.

Afterwards, Mina-san said she wanted to read the novel that I had enjoyed while eating pancakes, and we went to the bookshop.

After buying a novel at the bookshop, Mina-san stopped at the general store and we stayed there for about 30 minutes. During that time, Mina-san pulled me by the hand and had me kept her company.

That’s when I finally realized. Wasn’t it Mina-san who broke the rules, not me? And our original purpose for coming here was…

“Mina-san.”

I called her name as she was choosing a scrunchie, but since she was so focused on choosing, she reacted but didn’t look back.

“Hmm? What’s wrong? Yuuto-kun.”

“Do you remember what our original purpose was?”

“Hmm? Our original purpose… Ah, you said you were going to give Koji-san a birthday present, right?”

I knew she had forgotten.

Well, I’d forgotten about it until just now too.

“What should we pick, Yuuto-kun? What does Koji-san like?”

The sun was setting and it was time to go home.

“Hey, Mina-san. Why don’t we choose one thing together? We can each pay half… I think my dad will be happy if the two of us choose it together.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea. Well then, let’s come up with an idea and search for it first.”

“Yeah, let’s choose a good present.”

＊＊＊

“Will he be happy?”

Looking at the bag I was holding in my hand, Mina-san smiled as she thought about the time to hand it over.

“I think it’ll be fine.”

“I hope so.”

It was getting dark and Mina-san and I were walking side by side through as much light as possible on our way home. We passed in front of the station, but there were so many people that we almost lost each other.

“Mina-san, it’s better that we don’t—Eh? Mina-san!?”

I noticed that Mina-san, who was supposed to be next to me, was not there. She was here a minute ago. Where the hell is she…? I looked around, but I couldn’t find Mina-san. She didn’t go home first, did she?

I pulled out my phone and tried to contact Mina-san, but then I realized something. Huh? …Come to think of it, I don’t have Mina-san’s contact information…

Since we lived together and went out like this, I assumed that we had exchanged contact information. What should I do in such a situation…?

At first, I pushed my way through the crowd and sat down on a bench in front of the station. A lot of people were passing in front of me. I wonder if Mina-san is getting anxious now.

If I walk around here in vain, we’ll probably pass each other and never find each other. In that case, it might be better to wait here. But if Mina-san is doing the same thing, then…

I looked up from my phone when I heard someone’s footsteps running towards me. The owner of the footsteps stopped in front of me. I looked up to see Mina-san, who was out of breath.

“F-Found you! Don’t go away without permission!”

Mina-san, who looked like she was about to start crying, was relieved to see me.

“It was Mina-san who suddenly went away, wasn’t it?”

“What!? It was Yuuto-kun! I didn’t go anywhere. I just found an advertisement I was interested in and went to have a look.”

That’s why you were lost!

“Well, I guess that means it’s Mina-san’s fault.”

“…S-Sorry.”

After apologizing, Mina-san then slowly sat down next to me.

“Mina-san, give me your contact details. I don’t want something like today to happen again.”

“Ah, I haven’t told you that yet, have I? Let’s exchange contact information.”

After exchanging contact information, Mina-san and I went home.

“Happy birthday, Dad.”

“Happy birthday, Koji-san.”

Mina-san and I gave my dad a birthday present together. The bag containing the present slipped away from my hand, and my dad was delighted to see the contents of the present. Seeing this, Mina-san and I looked at each other and smiled a little.

“Don’t get lost on your own again.”

“I told you I wasn’t lost. But thank you. Please wait for me where I can easily find you.”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re a mean brother.”

She was angry, but she was smiling.

I felt like I was able to see a new side of her again.