Chapter 27 – The Determined One

“Oooh, it’s beautiful~~~~…!”

“They’re in full bloom. Just looking at them makes my heart dance.”

Yukimori and Toudou were laughing joyfully as they admired the flowers.

Kazuki and I sat on a bench nearby, each with a gelato in hand, watching over them.

“Hey, Inori. Mind if I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“My girlfriend’s the best, right?”

“Who knows… Maybe?”

“Whoa, what’s with you? Normally you’d be throwing a jab at me.”

“Now I know exactly how you see me.”

Even I have enough tact to keep quiet sometimes.

I sighed softly and took a lick of my gelato.

Still, I couldn’t quite shake off the feeling of unease. The words from earlier—Kazuki and Toudou egging me on despite knowing about me and Yukimori. They told me to go for it, full speed ahead… but come on. With how complicated things are between me and her, it’s not that simple.

“Hey Kazuki. About what you said earlier—telling me to go all in—what exactly did you mean by that?”

“Huh? Nothing really.”

“Hah?”

“Asuka was hyping you up, so I just went with it.”

I seriously considered punching him right there.

As I clenched my fist and trembled slightly, Kazuki raised his hands with a sheepish grin.

“Okay, okay, calm down. I did just go along with her, but I meant what I said too.”

“…You mean about me making the move?”

“Yeah, exactly. You like Yukimori-san, right?”

“I don’t.”

“Come on now. It’s painfully obvious. Even if you deny it now, it’s way too late.”

Quit nudging me with your elbow. So annoying.

“Well… I don’t dislike her.”

“See? If you did, you wouldn’t have come on this trip.”

“Shut up.”

“Also, the way you look at Yukimori-san is totally different from how you look at us. You’ve got that classic high school boy in love gaze.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“Oh? So you admit it.”

“…It’s just a figure of speech.”

Honestly, if I didn’t have a physical relationship with Yukimori, I could proudly say I liked her.

I heard that overseas, it’s common to start dating after getting physical… but I’m Japanese through and through. Starting from that just feels wrong to me.

Or maybe it’s more that I feel like it’s insincere.

Yukimori probably feels the same. She wouldn’t want to be with someone that dishonest.

“I don’t know what you’re stuck on, but you should really talk to her. I bet things will go smoother than you think.”

“Talk, huh…”

“Can’t guarantee anything though.”

“You jackass.”

“That’s me. You know that, don’t you?”

“…Thanks.”

“You got it.”

Once Kazuki finished his gelato, he walked off toward Yukimori and Toudou, leaving me behind.

Talk, huh… Come to think of it, Kazuki and Toudou had that talk in the back room.

Now that I think about it, I’ve never really had a proper conversation with Yukimori. About stress, about blowing off steam, about our relationship…

…Maybe I should try talking to her tonight.

“Hatsuse-kun?”

“Uwah!?”

Y-Yukimori—her face is so close…!

“Ah, sorry for startling you.”

“N-No, it’s fine. What’s up?”

“It’s about time for the tea ceremony experience, so I thought we should head over. Are you okay? You look a little tired.”

“…I’m fine. Just lost in thought.”

“Lost in thought…?”

“Yeah. Nothing you need to worry about.”

I looked away from Yukimori and stood up from the bench.

Thanks to those two planting ideas in my head, it suddenly became awkward to look her in the eye.

I kept a bit of distance from Yukimori as I walked toward Kazuki and the others.

◆

We walked through the park and entered a traditionally styled building.

Surrounded by greenery, the old-fashioned interior was serene. The four of us sat side by side in front of a beautifully prepared tea and wagashi.

A gentle breeze brushed through, the rustling leaves soothing to the heart.

Glancing to the side, I noticed Yukimori’s movements were refined as always. She sat in perfect seiza, calmly enjoying the tea.

Toudou too—she looked like she was fully soaking in the traditional Japanese culture.

Kazuki, on the other hand, had finished both his tea and sweets in an instant and was now nodding off, half asleep.

As for me… I couldn’t focus at all.

Even though I decided to talk to Yukimori, I had no idea what to say.

Should I talk about my daily stress? My desires? Our relationship…?

Whatever it is, I don’t even know how to start.

As I stared at Yukimori, she suddenly blushed and pouted.

“Hatsuse-kun, it’s embarrassing when you stare at me like that…”

“Ah, sorry. I just got caught up admiring you.”

“D-Don’t say things like that so casually…!”

She scolded me. I think? Was that even scolding?

Yukimori turned her face away in a huff. Toudou, watching us, looked exasperated.

Sorry, okay? Don’t give me that look.

I know. I’m just being a chicken.

Swallowing down my cowardice, I steeled myself.

If Yukimori and I are going to move forward, that’s the only way.

“…Wait, what time is it now?”

“Let’s see… It’s exactly four o’clock. We’ve done quite a bit of exploring, haven’t we?”

“Eh, it’s that late already? I wanted to play more~~~~ …Oh wait, never mind. Sorry. It’s totally our fault for taking up so much time, huh? Sorry, please don’t give me that look.”

As long as you know, we’re good.

“Let’s head back to the inn for today.”

“Yeah, let’s. Kazu-kun, wake up. Time to go.”

“Munya… Asuka’s chest is all boing-boing…”

“What kind of dream are you having!?”

“Owgh!?”

Whoa, that was a perfect lariat. I’ve never seen one that clean in real life.

“Fufu, you two get along well.”

“Well, we did go to the same middle school.”

“But we’re just as close too, right?”

“…”

“…Hatsuse-kun?”