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Episode 19

“Ah, you see, Yuugao-kun.”

“What is it?”

“Is it okay if we stay like this for a while more?”

“U–unn”

While still gently holding my hand, she asked me that.

Sakuragi-san’s face was so red that it wouldn’t be any surprise if she were to run away right this instant. And, maybe because of that fact, I realized that even my face grew bright red in retrospect.

We stared straight at each other’s faces for a little while and instantly turned the other way.

It was as if we were really dating.

“W – well, then. Shall we go?”

“Un”

The two of us leave the movie theater and walk for a while.

“Ah, you see. Yuugao-kun.”

“What is it?”

“Since we are at it, would you come and look at the winter clothes with me after this? I want Yuugao-kun to help me choose some.”

“So that is how it is.”

“…Unn”

She nods up-down, embarrassedly, but happily.

The two of us walked into a specific brand store that was popular among high school girls. We walked, maintaining a distance just enough so that our shoulders didn’t touch each other while still holding our hands.

Since I don’t come here often, I start to get nervous. Occasionally, I would only come with Karen because of her pestering.

“Ah, Yuugao-kun. Let’s go to the section over there for a while.”

“Ah, sure.”

While being led by her, the two of us go around the store.

“Yugao-kun, which one-piece do you prefer, this dress or this one?”

“Um, I think I like this one better.”

“Okay, then I’ll go with this.”

“Eh, ah, is that really okay? With just that?”

I was readily surprised that she readily accepted what I liked and went on to buy it.”

Isn’t this what girls worry about? I thought a man’s opinion didn’t matter much in these matters.

Come to think of it, even Karen does something like this.

Karen, she always buys the clothes I choose.

Even if I were to ask why she would reply with…—–

“Nii-san thought that this one would look better, didn’t you? You thought it while thinking it would look good on me, didn’t you? Then buying that clothes would be the normal course of action, wouldn’t it?”

—– something like this.

And in the case of Sakuragi-san…

“What, are you asking questions about obvious things? I’m sure you said this would look better. Since you chose this for me, I’m going to buy this.”

“I — I see.”

I wonder if this was actually what was normal.

After that, she picks up every item I would choose and goes to the cashier to pay for it asap.

“I got some good deals today.”

“I’d be glad if that was so.”

“Then, onto our next location, There is a type of pancake I want Yuugao-kun to try eating.”

“Is that really like that?”

“Un, the cafe has a really nice atmosphere in it. A~h obviously, I would be the one to pay for everything since it’s a way to show my gratitude towards you.”

“Nope, that would be really asking for too much. Even now, I’m having so much fun already, as thanks.”

“T–to have Yugao-kun have fun in all of this, I feel really glad.”

Before there would start appearing a bittersweet tension around us again, I took hold of her hand and moved forward.

She was indeed surprised at first, but without letting go of it, she instead gripped my hand ever more tightly.

I felt embarrassed while at the same time even having a happy feeli—…

DoguDoguDoguDogu (*sfx cold water pouring)

I felt a tingling sensation of cold water being poured down my back.

“Wha—what the heck?”

I turned around, but there was no one there.

Was I perhaps imagining things?

End Of Chapter