Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 3: Searching For Such Future

Act 4

Afterwards, at Hasumi-senpai’s request, we had ice cream at the same store as the other day―the time was a little past 4:00 pm.

Suddenly, Hasumi-senpai said something.

“I’m sorry Takinami-san, but can you take care of Shizuru for me? I suddenly have to go home right now.”

“Eh?”

It was Takinami-senpai who raised her voice.

I was also surprised. I wonder if Uncle contacted her without me knowing.

“Really? Thank you, then take care of the rest.”

For some reason, even though Takinami-senpai didn’t respond, Hasumi-senpai just continued.

That’s when I finally realized. No wonder this situation looked familiar, it was when I had a date with Takinami-senpai. At that time, she also forcefully pushed me toward Hasumi-senpai. She’s doing the same thing.

In other words, Hasumi-senpai returned everything that was done to her at that time.

“What do you want to do?”

Takinami-senpai asked me.

“Even if we go after her now, she’ll just shove us away.”

“I suppose.”

She giggled.

“Shall we have a short date, then?”

~~~

That said, it was already evening. There are only a few things we can do at this hour, so we decided to ride the Ferris Wheel at Harborland.

We took a train from Sannomiya to Harborland.

Arriving at our destination, we didn’t wait that long for our turn to ride, maybe because of the time. The sun had already set and there was no point in seeing a night view.

We boarded the gondola and sat facing each other. We will be in the air for the next ten minutes. As the altitude escalated, we were gradually able to see the whole city of Kobe. At the mountain range is Mt. Rokko, and at the seaside is the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.

“Is Hasumi-san being considerate of us?”

The gondola had just begun to ascend. Takinami-senpai seemed uninterested in the scenery, so she asked me a question. Perhaps she didn’t care about the scenery at all and chose the Ferris wheel simply as a place where she could talk with me at ease.

“Probably.”

She agitated her, and in the end, she left the two of us alone. In the case of Hasumi-senpai, she knows that Takinami-senpai usually tries to get my attention, and she also knows that I have feelings for her. That’s why she was being considerate of us.

“So she has a positive trait, huh?”

Takinami-senpai giggles.

“Hey, what should we do after this?”

“Go to a cafe and have a cup of tea and head home is the safe bet.”

If you want to get home at a sensible time, that’s all we have time for.

“What about the option of not going home?”

“No.”

I clearly stated.

“Whether or not we have that option, Hasumi-senpai will be there when I get home. How can I face her in case of that?”

Before all that, the hurdle is too high to inform her that I won’t be going home today.

The gondola slowly gains altitude. The view is quite nice. I’ve ridden this Ferris wheel a few times before. When I was a child, it was with my mother. In middle school and high school, I rode it with friends. But riding alone with a girl is a first. What’s more, this first is with a beauty who’s a celebrity at school. I wonder if the past me could even imagine this?

“Hey, am I beside you, Shizuru?”

Takinami Ruika suddenly looked straight at me and asked a question.

“I think you’re sitting across from me though.”

“That’s not it.”

“……”

Of course, I knew. It’s about what I said when we were looking up at the bamboo.

Takinami-senpai didn’t rephrase her words to ask me again. She silently waits for my answer.

“…I think so.”

“Is that so? I’m glad. After all, my self is also beside you, Shizuru.”

Takinami-senpai happily smiles.

“Even if it’s a bit too much to not go back home. Can I expect a future where we would be kissing, going on dates, and cuddling?”

“Who knows? It’s probably out there somewhere.”