The Day After I Told My Shut-In Genius Childhood Friend, Who’s Highly Dependent on Me, “I Got Confessed To,” She Showed Me a Hypnosis App - Chapter 25

We somehow managed to finish that insanely huge parfait.

Somehow, I say, but it honestly went smoother than I expected. I guess I was able to help out a bit, too.

After that, we went to the arcade to work off some of the food. The arcade was under the movie theater, so we had to go back up for a moment. With our movie tickets, we got two free plays.

“Honamin, are you good at crane games?”

“…Not really. I haven’t played much.”

Of course, we were aiming for Prikle merchandise. We tried over and over, and we managed to grab two plush toys in the end. Way more than just two plays, though.

“I got one for you, too, Honamin!”

“Whoa!”

“…By the way, which play is this now?”

“…Maybe it’s better not to think about it.”

◇

We still had a little time, so we went to karaoke.

I searched for the theme song from the Prikle movie, and it came up.

We sang the vaguely remembered song together, and we were really getting into it.

“Shining~…? Huh…? I don’t remember the bridge!”

“Wait, it’s coming back… The chorus! Now!”

““Our hearts beat faster with excitement! With you, I can fly anywhere~!””

After that, we sang more Prikle anime songs and other songs we liked until it was time to leave.

When we stepped outside, it was starting to get dark.

“W-We should probably head back soon, or we’ll get in trouble.”

“Yeah. Then let’s head back.”

◇

We sat side by side on the train, heading back to the nearest station.

“My mom said I need to be home by dinner.”

“That’s a nice mom, right? She’s worried about you. Mine’s usually not around.”

“I guess. I still wanted to play more.”

“That’s right.”

I nodded while thinking that today had gone by so fast.

It was fun. The whole day.

(It’s probably all thanks to Momose-san.)

I don’t think I have any real talent for making people happy. But there are always people around Momose-san. Today was fun too, and it was definitely because of her.

So, I want to make the most of the rest of the time.

“Can I tell you my response when we get to the station?”

“…Um.”

Momose-san looked at me, searching my eyes. After a moment, she gently tugged at my sleeve with her fingers.

“…Can we walk together for just a little while?”

◇

We walked together in the direction of Momose-san’s house.

It was already dark outside, and I figured I should walk her home.

“Have you ever been this way, Honamin?”

“No, I don’t usually come here. It’s the other side.”

Our nearest station was the same, but the last time we met around here was when we ran into each other on the platform the other day. Looks like our usual routes don’t really overlap.

As we passed a middle school, Momose-san pointed at the building.

“Oh, this is my middle school. Yours is over there, right? …Come to think of it, I heard there’s someone famous from your school.”

“Famous?”

“Yeah. They were on TV or something, a genius, I think… what was it again?”

I immediately realized she meant Mio.

“…Maybe there was.”

“You don’t sound like you know.”

“No, no, I do know. Of course I do.”

Not only do I know, but I live right next to them.

“Still, Honamin, you don’t seem that interested in people like that.”

“…Really?”

Her words surprised me, and I murmured.

“Yeah. You don’t seem like the kind to fangirl… your attitude doesn’t change much toward anyone.”

Maybe that’s true. I try not to act differently around anyone. People from my middle school might say that’s impossible, but… that’s just how I am.

“By the way, Honamin?”

She looked back at me, and I hesitated for a moment.

“You don’t remember when we made our date plans… Do you?”

“…Ugh. I’m sorry…”

She had called me to the rooftop earlier today and told me we had a date planned. The truth is, I don’t remember the exact moment we made that promise.

“You really don’t remember? The rooftop? Or the nurse’s office?”

“I’m sorry… What exactly did I do?”

“You guessed it. Perfect timing, I’ll tell you.”

“…Alright then, please do.”

I had to know what I’d done, or Mio might twist the story later.

“Then, let’s stop by this park for a bit!”

“Yes… By the way, what’s your curfew?”

“A little while is fine!”

We went into the empty park and sat side by side on a bench. I’d never been in a dark park at night before.

“You probably don’t remember, Honamin, but there were two things you did to me.”

“…I’m sorry, I don’t remember.”

“The first one is this. Open your hands.”

“…My hands? Yes.”

The moment I opened my hands as she said, Momose-san slowly leaned against me, fitting perfectly into my arms. We ended up in a hugging position.

“Eh?”

“…You were the one who did this, Honamin.”

Her voice was right by my ear. It sounded like she was scolding me, but it was soft and almost sweet.

“Here, hug me properly. You might remember now.”

I wrapped my arms around her back as she said. I thought, No way… but somehow, it felt familiar.

“You surprised me, you know? On the rooftop, as soon as everyone left, you just hugged me out of nowhere. I got so confused that I ended up calling you an idiot.”

“…Ah! So that’s why you called me an idiot…!”

Finally, the mystery was solved. No wonder she said that. After confessing, if someone hugs you without even a reply, you’d be completely lost.

“…I’m really sorry.”

“It’s okay. I didn’t mind… Now, this one.”

This time, she let go and leaned back, lying on her back. Her head rested on my lap.

“You gave me a lap pillow in the nurse’s office.”

“…W-Why?”

I had no idea how this happened. It felt better than the hug, maybe, but it wasn’t something to do in the nurse’s office. My hand was floating with nowhere to go and was grabbed by her pinky.

“At that time, I asked you out on a date. We linked pinkies and made a promise. You did something strange, but it gave me courage.”

“…Yeah, that was definitely strange.”

This was insane. Momose-san was kind, so she forgave me, but if it had been anyone else… I shivered just thinking about it.

She lifted herself up.

“So… yeah. I was being messed with by you, Honamin.”

“Um, I’m really sorry.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t mind… Even now, I’m doing this because I want to. I wanted to stretch out our date and be close to someone I like.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“―Honamin. Did your heart race today?”

Did it? That was obvious.

“Yeah, it really did.”

“Thank you. Then… I want to hear your response.”

We looked at each other. I noticed the hope and nervousness in her eyes, and my heart started pounding hard.

I was about to say something huge. Something that would change our relationship no matter what.

I swallowed hard.

I thought carefully about my answer. Because I thought so much, I hesitated to speak. How could I say it the right way? I tried to gather my words. I couldn’t keep her waiting.

Then I glanced away for a moment to steady my breathing. Near the park entrance, a streetlight was glowing faintly. I looked at it, and what I saw made me freeze.

“…Eh?”

The words I had been thinking of just vanished.

Why?

I froze at what I saw where my eyes were drawn.

Why is she here?

Under the streetlight at the park entrance.

There’s no way she should be here.

In the faint light, I could only make out a figure, one that could only be her.

“Mio?”