Traveling With a Beautiful Girl - Chapter 22: Beautiful.
After the laughter had subsided for a while, Ruka-san suddenly said:
“Alright! Let’s take a selfie since we’re here!”
“Selfie?”
“A photo of ourselves!”
“Oh, a custom from the Land Of The Rising Run.”
(T/N: Land Of The Rising Sun is Japan)
“Eh!? You’ve never done it before?”
“Rather, when would I do it?”
“Eh? Like when you go somewhere with friends?”
“Ah… friends.”
Her voice naturally became softer.
“Ah, sorry! Are you someone without friends?”
“You naturally hit a sore spot, huh?”
It was like she had stabbed with a Japanese sword instead of a knife.
“But it’s okay, don’t worry!”
Ruka-san patted her own chest with a thud.
“Because I’m friends with Ka-kun and Ri-chan!”
“Since when did I become your friend?”
“Okay, okay, let’s not worry about the definition of friends! Ready?”
“Wa-Wait!”
Ruka-san hugged Nanase from behind and rubbed her cheek against hers.
Anyone seeing this would think they were friends.
Such terrifying Gal-nication.
“So, today is the first selfie commemoration day for the two of you!”
Nanase, who had been peeled off, clapped her hands and said.
“I haven’t decided to do it, though.”
“You don’t need to decide to take a selfie! It’s all about the vibe and momentum.”
With a swoosh, Ruka-san took out a selfie-stick-like item.
It came out normally, but where was it hidden?
“Alright, line up! Make sure Mt. Fuji is in the background! Oh, Ri-chan, you should fix your bangs! Ka-kun, give us your best smile!”
Ruka-san gave instructions with practiced ease.
Nanase seemed to be completely swallowed up by Ruka-san’s pace and followed along resignedly.
“I don’t know what kind of face to make.”
“Just smile, I think!”
That exchange seemed familiar, like something I saw in Evangelion.1Reference to this scene:- Evangelion
I lined up behind Ruka-san and Nanase.
With this being my genuine first selfie, I felt strangely nervous.
“Okay, here we go! Say cheese!”
Snap!
“Ri-chan’s expression is stiff! Ka-kun’s eyes are closed! The beginner vibe is hilarious!”
Ruka-san laughed joyously.
I desperately tried to soothe the quietly clenching fists of Nanase.
“But, this is a good memory shot for the three of us.”
Ruka-san nodded with satisfaction.
“Since we’re here, take one of just me too!”
Saying that, Ruka-san handed me her smartphone.
I captured Ruka-san’s lively smile as she pointed at Mt. Fuji.
“Thanks! I’ll take one of you too, Ka-kun!”
“Eh, me too?”
“Of course! Come on, stand there!”
I was made to stand alone as instructed.
What is this? The tension is on a different level than before. I wonder if a single hamburger ordered at McDonald’s feels like this. I could feel my facial muscles tensing up.
“Okay, cheese!”
Snap.
“Is this a ghost?”
It turned out like a ghost photo that came out when I tried to take a psychic photo.
Ruka-san laughed loudly again.
I felt like putting strength into my fist too.
“Lastly, let’s take one of Ri-chan too!”
“I’m fine. The previous one was enough.”
“Eh! But we came all this way, so let’s take one as a souvenir!”
“I don’t need it. I won’t look back at it, and neither will you.”
“But I will! I want to look back and savor the precious memories of today with cute Ricchan!”
“You can say such blatant lies after saying all that?”
“Anyway, let’s take the photo! Right now, come on!”
“Wait, wait a minute!! Your eyes are scary, you know!?”
“Weren’t you going to give it some thought?”
“Uh…”
Ruka-san let out a mischievous grin.
Nanase seemed frustrated and then let out a big sigh.
“…Only one photo then.”
“That’s the spirit! Now, come on, line up over there…”
At that moment, Ruka-san had a lightbulb moment, like she had thought of something devious.
“Ready!”
“Eh?”
Suddenly handed the smartphone, I let out a dumbfounded voice.
“Ka-kun, you take a photo of her.”
“Me?”
When I asked, Ruka-san whispered with a sly smile.
“If you can get closer in these small moments, I think your love will come true!”
“Wha-what!?”
What’s this gal suddenly saying!?
Don’t worry, don’t worry! Onee-san sees everything!
With a face like that, Ruka-san gave a thumbs up, making me want to slap her cheek with the smartphone.
That misunderstanding is really bad…!?
“What are you whispering about?”
“Nothing, nothing! Hurry up, hurry up!”
She pushes me from behind.
Somehow managing to step forward without tripping, I pointed the smartphone at Nanase.
(…Damn, my hands are shaking.)
Ruka-san said something strange, making me oddly conscious.
Even through the smartphone screen, Nanase looked lovely, beautiful, and pretty.
Even her sulky expression seemed like a work of art.
(But still… her smiling face is the cutest.)
“…What is it?”
“Ah, no… How about smiling more?”
“Unfortunately, that expression isn’t registered.”
“AI, huh. Why not just reference your expression when you were watching the sunset earlier? It was cute.”
“Cu-cute… You, seriously…”
Snap
Oh, I managed to capture a pretty good expression.
“H-Hey!?”
Nanase reached out in a panic.
“No, that’s against the rules! Take it again!”
“Didn’t you say one photo was enough?”
“Even so… What’s wrong is wrong!”
Nanase puffed out her cheeks like a child who had lost a game.
(What’s with that reaction…!)
I was caught off guard by the gap shown by the always cool and aloof Nanase.
Trying not to let my agitation show, I cleared my throat and pointed the smartphone at Nanase again.
“Give me your best pose.”
“I won’t do any special pose.”
After saying that indifferently, Nanase turned towards me. She didn’t do a special pose. Instead, Nanase showed me her best expression. Her mouth corners lifting gently, her eyes narrowing softly.
A natural smile. Even the gesture of holding down her windblown hair was breathtakingly beautiful. The sunset, Mount Fuji, and Nanase Suzuho – the three great beauties – were captured on the screen in the best possible condition.
It was beautiful.
Snap
Comments for chapter "Chapter 22: Beautiful."
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
