The Case of My Unknown Childhood Friend Who Became My Girlfriend Without Me Even Knowing It - Chapter 20 - Picked Up

Chapter 20 – Picked Up

I had imagined and hoped from watching adult books and videos that when I was no longer a virgin, I would probably be surprised and thrilled.

That for the first time, I would be holding a girl with these hands.

It was impossible not to look forward to the day when the feeling would eventually become intoxicating.

But apparently the moment crumbled away unknowingly and emotionlessly.

“Come on, Kanata-kun.”

“……”

After finishing breakfast, we had to leave the inn.

I kept asking Sakatoki questions about what she had said earlier, but she just kept saying, “What are you talking about?” and cut me off.

I thought I might have misheard it, but I knew I hadn’t.

Ever since I started thinking about it, I’ve been mute.

But if I’m too silent, it puts her in a bad mood, so I at least use the minimum amount of dialogue.

“It’s about an hour by bus from the station near the foot of the mountain to Kanata-kun’s family home.”

“……”

“It’s exciting. Besides, it was a nice spa here, too, so it was fun.”

“……”

“Kanata-kun, I’ll get angry, you know?”

“Ah, sorry.”

“Just kidding.. You also look so cool when you’re troubled.”

“……”

Apparently, she’s not in a bad mood.

But my mental state is not much better.

Did I really lose my virginity in my sleep?

It was all I could think about, all I cared about, I couldn’t think about anything else.

Eventually, the bus arrived and we boarded with a few couples before descending the mountain road.

The slow-moving bus took us to our next destination, only this time I hope we get there sooner.

I want to hurry and see my mom.

Finally ending Sakatoki’s lies.

“Hey, Kanata-kun, do you remember last night?”

Gently, she said as she held my hand and looked out the window.

“Last night… You mean last night when we held hands?”

“That too. Yes, I was very happy.”

“Hey, Sakatoki.”

“It’s Aya.”

“…Aya. You, what did you do after I went to bed?”

Right now, we’re on the bus.

There are other passengers, and she shouldn’t do anything strange, I dare to ask her a question.

I asked abruptly, thinking that if she had done something, she would have reacted in a certain way, but as it turned out, Sakatoki was giggling.

“What’s wrong, Kanata-kun, did you have some weird dream?”

“N-No. I woke up and I was naked, and…”

“I always strip naked when I go to bed. It relaxes me. And Kanata-kun was sweating a lot, so I undressed him, okay? Did I do something wrong?”

“I-It’s not like that, but…”

“Weird Kanata-kun. Hey, do you want to kiss~?”

“W-Why are you suggesting that? We’re on a bus.”

“Kiss me?”

“……”

Luckily, there are no passengers in the back seat.

With that thought in mind, I was about to kiss her when she bit me on the nose.

“Huh?”

“Ehehe, surprised?”

“…Yeah.”

“Hey, Kanata-kun.”

“What?”

“You don’t think you can fool me by giving me a kiss, do you?”

“Huh?”

The grip on my hand gets tighter.

She pulled her mouth away from my nose and jumped up to kiss me.

“!!! Nnn.”

“Nnn… Chuu~… Nn…”

The sound of an unusually intense kiss echoed through the quiet bus.

I felt some stares, but I couldn’t shake her off.

Eventually, after parting her lips as if satisfied, Sakatoki laughed.

“Ehehe, that was intense.”

“……”

“I won’t be fooled, okay? I love kissing Kanata-kun, but that’s it.”

“I’m not trying to fool you…”

“Is that so? Then that’s good.”

After saying this, she sat back in her seat and looked out the window again.

She remained still, her face turned towards the other side, as if thinking about something.

I exhaled and leaned back against the backrest, thinking that she had understood what I had just said.

Staring up at the ceiling, I fell asleep again.

◇

“We’re here, Kanata-kun.”

“…O-Ouch.”

My body creaked from sleeping on the bus.

The other passengers seem to have already disembarked, and those of us left behind are the last to get off the bus and stand tall in the open air.

“Hmm, my shoulders are stiff.”

“Buses are small and bumpy. But there’s a train station from here. Let’s go and get a drink.”

When we entered the convenience store in the station, Sakatoki bought me a cup of coffee, telling me that it would help me wake up from sleepiness.

For some reason, the lady at the cash register was talking to Sakatoki.

I asked them about the conversation, thinking they knew each other, but they didn’t seem to.

Is she an affable shopkeeper, or is Sakatoki just apt to talk with?

…It might be something like that.

“Here, coffee.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“The lady just now told me how nice it would be to travel as a couple. I wonder if we look good together.”

“…Perhaps so.”

Sakatoki is fundamentally cute.

In terms of looks alone, she has a well-developed, rather too well-developed appearance to the level that she would be immediately scouted if she were walking around in the city.

Well, inside, she’s a complete psychopath.

She’s so insane that even the term ‘yandere’ feels sweet.

Lies, excessive jealousy, violence, and even stalking.

She does them as a matter of course and doesn’t even feel guilty about it. So scary.

…But as long as she’s connected to my parents, she still has the advantage.

If I can somehow break the link, I can find hope.

Rattling trains take you from countryside to countryside.

Sakatoki was quiet.

Staring out the window, she sighed from time to time with her hand on her cheek.

But she was holding my hand the whole time.

◇

“…H-Hmm?”

“Wake up, Kanata-kun, we’re almost there.”

“O-Oh…”

Again, I must have fallen asleep.

I’ve been sleepy all day. I must be very tired.

“Come on, let’s get going, we’re almost there. Come on, come on.”

I arrived at the station where I used to come with my parents.

The nearest station to my maternal grandparents’ home, in a rural area not much different from where I live now…

It’s a lonely place with few tourist attractions and the only hotspot for local people is a recently built large shopping mall.

“Do we have to walk from here? It’s quite a distance.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll be picked up soon.”

“Picked up?”

Why is there such a thing here in the boonies?

Even cabs are hard to find, but this girl is very handy.

“Are you rich by any chance?”

“Why?”

“Because it seems that it’s normal for you to be picked up.”

“Ahaha, what are you talking about, Kanata-kun. Ah, it’s here.”

“Hmm? …Hmm?”

Sakatoki pointed to a familiar passenger car.

The car was a black, five-seater, nothing fancy, and its license plate numbers were not lucky at all.

…No way…

“Oh my, Aya-chan, it’s been a long time. How have you been?”

“Long time no see, Mother. Here, for you.”

A middle-aged, familiar woman pulled up in front of us and got out of the driver’s seat.

Ah… I don’t want to accept the current situation, but…

It’s my mom.

Looks like my mom came to get us, probably called by Sakatoki.

“Ah, Kanata. I hope you’re not bothering Aya-chan.”

“…Haha.”

“Mother, Kanata-kun is always kind to me and I also have fun every day.”

“Really? That’s good then. Kanata, you’re a lot cooler than I thought you’d be.”

“…What do you mean?”

“You have such a pretty and cute girlfriend.”

“……”

Girlfriend.

That’s what my mother said.

After all, everyone around me is equally aware that Aya Sakatoki is Enjou Kanata’s girlfriend.

Moreover, it seems that Sakatoki is on good terms with mom.

I think it’s going to be extremely difficult, almost impossible, to cut her off.

“We’re having sukiyaki today. Let’s get home quick, get in, get in.”

“Yes. Kanata-kun, get in?”

“…Yeah.”

As soon as the passenger seat was vacated and we sat side by side in the back seat, the car started commuting.

By car, it takes ten minutes to reach my grandparents’ house from here.

While I was thinking about how to confront Sakatoki there, she murmured in a voice that only I could hear while gently holding my hand in the car…

“Let’s do lots today as well, Kanata-kun.”