When an Oblivious Handsome Older Man Went Back in Time and Was Building Harlem - Chapter 35

With just one week left until the cultural festival, the school was completely immersed in the preparations. Of course, my class was no exception. We were steadily making progress with the preparations for classroom decorations, costume fittings, and character creation.

However, since there were still club activities before the cultural festival, I was heading towards the shoe locker after club activities. Thus, the reason Midori isn’t here is that he has various tasks as a member of the cultural festival executive committee and is going home with Miku-san.

When I reached the shoe rack, I saw Miwano-san putting on her shoes. It was 7 o’clock now. The rush hour would start soon, and I didn’t want to see Miwano-san being molested again. Ever since I realized I liked her, I’ve felt even more strongly about this.

“Are you heading home now too, Miwano-san?”

“Oh! Takai-kun! Yeah! I got delayed while making some pop stuff for the preparations…”

Preparing is fun, and I understand the feeling of wanting to stay longer. But is it because I’m getting old that I wish she would come home a bit earlier?

“I see. Since it’s Miwano-san, I’m worried. Can I walk home with you?”

Yeah, I feel like I was able to invite her to go home in a natural way.

“Huh? Thank you.”

Miwano-san smiled softly and agreed, making me think again about how cute she was. Besides, since Miwano-san takes the same train as me, we should be able to go part of the way home together.

We left the school together and walked down the dimly lit path. Just the two of us, with no one else around. Moreover, I started to feel the same signs as before I returned to this world. Could it be that this is a sign to confess here? My brain went into a panic at the unprecedented situation of walking home side by side with the girl I liked, and I reached that conclusion.

“Miwano-san.”

When I called out, she looked up and asked, “What?” While thinking how cute she was, I steeled myself to confess.

“Miwano-san, I like you. Will you… go out with me?”

Surprised by the sudden confession, Miwano-san’s eyes widened, and she froze.

“Takai-kun… you… like me?”

“Yeah.”

Looking back, Miwano-san always looked down when I talked to her. Maybe it wasn’t just shyness, but she simply didn’t like me. If that’s the case, then I might be an incredibly conceited guy, I think.

I didn’t have any real chance of winning, but I didn’t think I was disliked. Even if I got rejected, I felt like I could relive my youth. But still, I want to succeed in confessing. I waited for a few seconds, watching Miwano-san freeze with her mouth and eyes wide open.

Miwano-san’s face kept getting redder and redder. It was almost as if a sound effect would accompany it.

“R-really?”

“It’s true. I really like Miwano-san.”

When I put it into words, the realization that I like Miwano-san seeps into me. Yes, I really do like Miwano-san. There is no falsehood in this feeling.

“…Takai-kun… I also… like you.”

This time, it was my turn to be surprised. While I thought she might like me, hearing it in words was completely different. I never expected it would make me this happy to be told by Miwano-san that she likes me.

“…I may be lacking, but I look forward to your guidance.”

“Likewise, I may not be much, but I look forward to working with you.”

The two of us were bowing to each other in the middle of the road, I somehow found the situation amusing.

“Pfft, ahaha.”

“Hehe, Takai-kun can smile like that too.”

“Umm… I’m happy because I got to date the girl I like.”

Someone you like… murmured Miwano-san, looking down again, but I think she’s just shy. If that’s the case, her looking down until now seems cute. Every time I said something, she reacted, and I found that very cute.

“Since we finally started dating, can we hold hands?”

“…I’m sorry if my hands are really sweaty.”

“Huh? Don’t worry about that, it’s fine.”

I think it’s typical of high school students to worry about little things. Now that I’ve confessed my feelings and become a couple, every little thing Miwano-san does seems even cuter.

“Your hands are so small.”

“T-Takai-kun is as tall as a vending machine, but I’m only 153 cm! Of course, I’m small!!”

“Hahaha, so cute!”

When I said that, Miwano-san’s already red face turned even redder, and her eyes welled up with tears. Now that I think about it, it might have been the first time I actually said she was cute. It seems Miwano-san reached her limit.

“Don’t say things like that all of a sudden! It’s embarrassing!”

“You should say what you think. You never know when you won’t be able to anymore.”

“Ugh. That’s true, but! I don’t have that kind of immunity yet, so don’t say it!”

Immunity? I wonder when Miwano-san will develop that immunity. As I ponder this, we arrive at the station.

“I’m worried, so let me walk Miwano-san to the ticket gate.”

“Eh, it’s fine. I can go home by myself.”

Pushing through with that, I ended up escorting Miwano-san to the ticket gate of the nearest station.

“Thank you for going out of your way. Bye-bye! Takai-kun.”

“Then, see you tomorrow, Sakura-chan.”

“Yeah.”

Waving goodbye to Miwano-san, I climbed the stairs. I thought her reaction when I called her name was cute, and I looked forward to seeing her tomorrow.