Traveling With a Beautiful Girl

“Wow…”

At the edge of the observation tower.

From a spot protruding like a bungee jumping platform, we gaze at Mt. Fuji.

For the first time in my life, I experienced being moved by a mountain. An overwhelming presence, a well-proportioned conical silhouette.

There was a pure, undeniable “beauty” before our eyes that convinced me the word “beautiful” must exist for the sake of Mt. Fuji.

Beautiful, amazing, huge, unbelievable, what is this…

Countless vocabulary and emotions overflow and won’t stop.

Bathed in the orange sunset and set against the clear sky, the scene seemed like a fantastical fantasy world.

Usually, at this time, I would be attending after-school supplementary classes.

Desperately copying the bland notes written on the lifeless blackboard while fighting off sleep.

Such suffocating times are now in the past.

Taking a deep breath, the cold, fresh air filled my chest.

Exhaling forcefully, as if to peel away the dirt stuck in my lungs, a tingling sense of liberation welled up from the bottom of my body.

…Serotonin is gushing out.

So as not to be ridiculed by Nanase, I mumbled only in my mind.

As I forgot about the time and stared at Mt. Fuji for a while.

“Today is such a lucky day!”

Ruka-san said in a voice as if she had won the grand prize in a lottery.

“Is there such a thing as hits and misses?”

“Of course, the view can vary greatly depending on the weather. Today is an incredibly lucky day! You two are as lucky as winning the third prize in the lottery!”

“I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not!”

But in reality, it must have been perfect timing.

With the sky so clear and the contrast between the sunset and the mountain at its best, could we ask for anything more?

No, we couldn’t.

“…Ah, I see.”

As I chant the irony in my head, Nanase softly murmurs beside me.

Her voice was no longer cold as before but warm and comforting.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just realized.”

“What did you realize?”

Nanase turns to face me.

Lifting her rarely upturned corners of her mouth even higher, Nanase said:

“I think I like sunsets.”

A faint, soft, never-before-seen smile shone brilliantly as it was illuminated by the setting sun.

A sudden gust of wind gently blew her long black hair.

Nanase Riho, who always seemed to glare at someone and had a displeased look with her mouth turned downward, was nowhere to be found.

There was just an ordinary girl moved by the beautiful scenery.

My gaze was drawn more strongly to Nanase beside me than to Mt. Fuji in front of us.

“…Why is your face red?”

“Wha-? It’s not! It’s just the reflection of the sunset!”

I reacted like a grade schooler.

“…Really?”

Nanase, with eyes like a child who had found a new toy, looked at me.

“The orange of the sunset and the red of your face don’t seem to match in color, do they?”

“Don’t give me a serious answer, just understand!”

“In other words, Takahashi-kun was smitten with me, right?”

“Don’t make up stuff on your own!”

“Hmmmmm?”

Nanase grinned triumphantly.

This girl, she knows exactly what she’s doing.

It seems that Nanase has a habit of trying to be superior to others, or maybe she’s used to competing since childhood, and as a result, that mindset has naturally grown in her.

“I see, so Takahashi-kun, you’re saying that you feel a romantic attraction to me?”

Grinning, grinning, grinning.

Nanase’s onslaught won’t stop.

…It’s annoying being on the receiving end all the time.

My pride as a man, or something like that, feels like it’s being trampled on.

“Yeah, that’s right! Is that a problem?”

“Huh?”

Nanase looks surprised, as if she didn’t expect me to admit it.

“You’re aware that you’re called the most beautiful girl in our grade, right? I think so too, and you are indeed cute. That’s why… I couldn’t help but look at you.”

“…Is, is that… so?”

Oh? Something’s off about Nanase.

“In that case… I suppose… there’s no helping it, huh?”

Fidgeting with her hair, she doesn’t seem to be entirely displeased. She’s like an innocent maiden.

Could it be that Nanase isn’t used to being praised?

I put on a deliberately smug grin and ask Nanase.

“Why is your face turning red?”

“I-it’s not! It’s just the reflection of the setting sun!”

“Isn’t that a familiar response?”

“It’s a daydream.”

“Hmmm?”

“…What?”