She is Reading My Thoughts Again Today - Chapter 60

120-Yen Farewell Gift

‘Aside from candies, I think it would be a problem if we don’t bring enough drinks.’

‘To think about it, I guess so. What should we do then? Shall I just buy it for us?’

‘What about we each bring our own favourite drinks? So that, we can choose what we want to drink ourselves in plastic bottles, cans, or paper cartons.’

‘That sounds great.’

‘Okay! Then, I’ll bring my most favourite drink!’

I reread the Halloween party group messages from three days ago. From top to bottom was me, Kosaka, Hoshikawa, Kisaragi and Kosaka.

It’s the 31^st of October, Halloween party day. When I look at the time on my smartphone, I see that it’s 30 minutes before the appointed time. All I have to do is buy drinks for the party, but now I am leaning against the bench in front of the vending machine, not having the energy to choose which drink to buy. I’m just staring blankly into the sky not thinking about anything. The sky is light blue. The wind feels cold as the autumn should be. Occasionally, the paper bag containing snacks that I carry in my hand makes a rustling sound. The bag is filled with ordinary chocolates and snacks that you would usually find in any supermarket. I bought a pack of chocolate which is wrapped in special orange package for the price.

‘You should start calling her by her first name when you feel like to.’

Sato’s tilted face flashed through my mind.

“I wonder if…”

I don’t even know if I want to start calling her by her first name. Unable to grasp the exact reason for the coiling feeling I felt, I kept repeating the same loop again and again in my mind. Kisaragi. Nao. What should I call you? Should I call you by your first name? Or should I just stay calling you by your last name? Would you like it if I call you by your first name?

I used to treat her normally, but as soon as we became ‘lovers’, I just can’t grasp the distance between us. What a stupid person I am. I’m just afraid of her response back. But I don’t want her to know about it, and so the time passes by as I’m unable to bring myself to face her in person.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Clank. The eerie sound made my body stiffen. I feel a presence of someone who seems to have just bought something from the vending machine approaching me. I move to the other side of the bench to see if he wants to sit on it, but he doesn’t seem want to.

“It’s you.”

His face seems really familiar, but I just can’t remember his name. However, his unique way of speaking sounds familiar. I’m sure I have talked to him before. Maybe we have been on a committee together?

“What?”

I really wish I can remember, but his name just won’t come up in my mind.

“I’m talking about your crush on that girl.”

My crush on that girl. Under the cold autumn weather, I can feel my face heating up in embarrassment. I finally remember who he is. I denied that it is ever going to happen, and I really thought that it is never going to happen, but the passage of time is a terrible thing. Now, I am completely in love with her.

“You should be a little more aware that you’re easy to understand.”

I laugh embarrassedly at his words. I thought I had no expression on my face, but apparently that is not the case. It seems that my face is blushing to the extent that two people who were passing through us noticed and pointed at me. Perhaps they overheard our conversation. Just thinking about it makes me feel even more embarrassed.

“I’ll be careful from now on…”

Two strong coughs to get rid of the awkwardness.

“What are you doing here?”

“I just want to get a drink.”

“Ahh. Okay then, I’ll get going now.”

“D-Did you just ask me what am I doing and then just leave as fast as you can?”

“I’m busy right now. I don’t have the time to deal with gloomy people. Drink this and wake up.”

With that said, he tossed me a canned coffee. When I catch it, I can feel my hand aching because of the cold.

“Eh, thanks.”

“No problem. I made a mistake and bought black coffee which I can’t drink, but that’s enough to wake you up, right?”

“Why don’t you buy another one?”

“I can buy a drink elsewhere, so no problem. Well, goodbye then.”

“A-Ahh, thank you.”

I wave back at him who is waving me goodbye. Then I look at the canned coffee which he had given me and think about his words. The coldness of the can had already woken me up to some extent. Hesitantly, I open the canned coffee and start to drink it. The bitterness that fills my mouth wakes me up even more. Even though it sounds really bad, but it surely has definite effects. I saw a trash can a few meters beside me and decided to throw the empty can in. A small smile appeared on my face as I successfully threw it in. Then I stood up and check the time on my smartphone. I realize that it’s almost time for the party. There is no point in worrying about it any longer. I’m sure I’ll be able to decide whether to call Kisaragi by her first name or her last name when I meet her in person. With that in mind I go to the vending machine and buy a can of warm green tea.

“…okay.”

Then I start walking to the school gate where we decided to meet.