Rabu kome manga no sekai ni haitte shimattanode - Chapter 4

 Chapter 4: On the day of the date

…Sunday had come.

No—putting it like it had come makes it sound like I didn’t want it to.

I was practically going on a date with Sei-chan, so of course I was ridiculously happy.

Yūichi and I had slept in my room together, and we were wide awake.

Of course, I slept on the bed and Yūichi slept on a futon laid out on the floor… except I was the one on the bed who couldn’t sleep at all, while this guy on the futon was out cold.

I mean, there was no way I could sleep—normally speaking.

I was going on an amusement-park date with Sei-chan—a character I’d loved ever since I was reading the manga, you know?

If someone could sleep in that situation, they probably didn’t really like that character.

Or they were thick-skinned like Yūichi.

This guy was going to confess to Fujise today, wasn’t he?

So how the hell could he sleep like a rock the night before?

Thick-skinned? More like those nerves of his were just dead.

“Yaawn… Slept great. Alright—today, I’ll do my best!”

“You’re in a good mood even right after waking up.”

“Hm? Oh—you’re up early too.”

“I hadn’t told you yet, but Shimada and I talked about meeting up earlier than you two.”

“Seriously!? Thanks—really. For us!”

“…Yeah. Don’t worry about it.”

I’d been about to gripe at Yūichi for getting a full eight hours while I barely slept… but the moment he flashed that bright, sunny grin, I lost the will.

Seriously—having a handsome face is such cheating.

I’d gotten up before Yūichi, and I was already ready to head out.

“Hey—there’s nothing weird about my outfit, right?”

“Hm? I don’t think so. It looks fine on you.”

“Fine isn’t good enough! My date is that Sei-cha— I mean, Shimada, okay!? Standing next to her, I’m definitely going to look worse… but am I at least barely at the level where I’m allowed to stand beside her!?”

“What’s with you all of a sudden!? You’re fine—Tsukasa, you’re normally handsome.”

“That’s why normally isn’t good enough!”

“You’re such a pain!”

I’d become Hisamura Tsukasa in this world, but my face and body were the me from my old world.

I couldn’t explain how that worked, but compared to the fact that I was in this world at all, there was no point obsessing over it.

My face was… normal. I didn’t think I was ugly, at least.

If I had to rate it, I wanted to believe I was slightly above average… at least above the midpoint.

But the people in this manga world were on a whole different level…

Starting with the protagonist, Shigemoto Yūichi—then the heroines Tōjōin Kaori, Fujise Shiho, and Sei-chan.

Every last one of them was so good-looking it was a mystery why they weren’t idols or models.

And Sei-chan, if you asked me, was just… an angel.

She didn’t fit in some box like “idol” or “model.”

Anyway, there was nothing I could do about faces, so I at least wanted to dress well enough that it wouldn’t be a crime for me to stand next to Sei-chan.

“Also, aren’t you ready kind of early? What time are you meeting?”

Yūichi asked while changing from pajamas into regular clothes.

Tch—this guy… even in a simple outfit, his face and build were so ridiculously good it looked perfect in an annoying way!

“You two are meeting at eleven, so we’re meeting at ten-thirty.”

“It’s nine right now, though?”

“I’m meeting Shimada, you know? Getting there an hour early is common sense.”

“Common sense where, exactly?”

There was no way I could make Sei-chan wait even a second.

Sei-chan was surprisingly scatterbrained, so she might leave early and already be at the meeting spot.

Absolutely—absolutely—I had to get there first.

And if Sei-chan was waiting alone, she might get hit on.

If I saw that happen, I couldn’t say what I’d do to the guy trying to pick her up.

“You can’t make Fujise wait either, right?”

“Sure, it’s normal for a guy to wait first… but, like, fifteen minutes early at most, right?”

“Hopeless. Looks like you’ll never be like me.”

“I don’t particularly want to be.”

If I was going to make Sei-chan happy no matter what, I had to handle something like this without breaking a sweat.

Besides, this wasn’t a hardship at all.

If anything, getting to wait an hour for Sei-chan to arrive was practically a reward.

“What time are you planning to leave, Yūichi?”

“I figured I just needed to get there fifteen minutes before eleven, but… should I learn from you and arrive thirty minutes early?”

“Hmph. Don’t think that’ll be enough to catch up to me.”

“I don’t want to catch up, so I’m good.”

Hmph. What a wimp.

“If you’re leaving first, is it really okay for me to still be in your house?”

“You’ll be fine. It’s you, after all. But if you lay a hand on my little sister Rie, I’ll kill you with everything I’ve got.”

“That’s terrifying! Your pupils are totally dilated!”

It was to protect my cute, adorable little sister. Of course my pupils would dilate.

“Man, haven’t you been kind of scary a lot lately?”

“This is normal. I’ll tell Rie about you, so as long as you behave until you leave, you’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, got it. Thanks.”

But honestly, there wasn’t much point in him heading to the date spot from my place anymore.

Tōjōin-san already knew Yūichi was leaving from here.

And going back to his own house now sounded like a hassle for him, so whatever.

“Alright, I’m heading out.”

“Seriously? You’re really going to the meeting spot a whole hour early.”

“Obviously. Just relax in my room or whatever.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that.”

Leaving Yūichi in my room, I headed downstairs.

In my house, you had to pass through the living room to reach the front door, so I opened the living-room door.

Rie was already there, having made breakfast and eating it.

“Morning, Rie.”

“Mm… morning. Huh—are you going out, Onii-chan? What about breakfast?”

In the seat across from her—the seat I always used—breakfast was already set out.

Crap—I’d forgotten to tell Rie I didn’t need breakfast. That was on me.

“Sorry, I’m in a bit of a rush, so I don’t need it. I won’t need lunch either. Give that breakfast to Yūichi upstairs.”

“Huh? You’re not going out together with Yūichi-san?”

Hearing “Yūichi-san” come out of Rie’s mouth felt strangely fresh—like something I wasn’t used to.

In the original story, Rie called Yūichi “Shigemoto-senpai” or just “senpai.”

Hmm. It felt like the distance between them had shrunk… or maybe grown.

In the original story, I’m pretty sure a lot of fans thought it was cute that she called him senpai.

Whatever. Not important.

“He and I are both meeting different people. He’s leaving after me. He’ll probably head out about an hour from now, but I don’t think he’ll leave my room until then—are you okay with that?”

“Y-yeah, got it… but Onii-chan, where are you going in such a hurry?”

“Just heading to the meeting spot a little early so I don’t keep anyone waiting.”

Yeah. Just a little early—only an hour before the promised time.

“Huh… a-are you going out with a girl?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

And with Sei-chan, who I loved like crazy… Whoa. Now that I was thinking about it again, my nerves were spiking hard.

I passed through the living room and put on my shoes at the entryway.

Rie, who’d been eating breakfast, followed me all the way to the front door.

No way—did she stop eating just to come say “Take care” to her big brother?

What an unbelievably cute little sister…!

“W-wait… Onii-chan, you’re going on a date today?”

“A date… isn’t quite right, but going out with a girl, just the two of us—that part is true.”

“N-no way…”

“It’s not a lie. I’m not so pathetic that I’d tell you a lie that depressing.”

I was sitting and putting on my shoes while facing the door, so I couldn’t see Rie’s face behind me.

But from the way she sounded, she seemed a little down…

Thinking that, I finished putting on my outdoor shoes, stood, and turned toward Rie.

“Alright, I’m heading out. Sorry about making breakfast—if you give it to Yūichi, I’m sure he’ll be happy. If he’s not, you have my permission to smack him.”

“…O-okay. Got it.”

“Hm? What’s wrong? You seem kind of down…”

“No, I’m fine… Take care.”

“Yeah. I’m off.”

Being told “Take care” by my cute little sister really did make me happy.

Still wondering why Rie looked a bit stunned, I opened the front door and stepped outside.

The first thing I did once I was outside was… look around.

I didn’t usually do this, but today I had to.

Why? Because… ah, Could it be that?

A black car was parked not far from my house.

It wasn’t as flashy as a limousine, but if you looked closely, it was clearly a luxury car.

A luxury car like that in a quiet residential neighborhood this early in the morning was unnatural.

If it belonged to someone living nearby, they’d keep it in their driveway or parking spot.

Which meant that was… probably Tōjōin-san’s car.

Pretending not to notice, I walked past it and headed for the meeting spot.

On the way, I typed up a RINE message and sent it to Yūichi and Sei-chan.

That there was a high chance she’d follow you all the way to the date spot.

Yūichi replied right away.

‘Seriously… Sorry, but I’m counting on you to stop Kaori.’

‘Got it.’

Then a RINE message from Sei-chan came in right after.

‘I see. Then we’ll need to keep a close watch on Shiho and Shigemoto’s date—and stop it. By the way, Hisamura, have you already left home? There’s still quite a bit of time until we meet.’

Ah—crap. She was going to find out I was already out at this hour.

‘No, not yet. I just looked out the window and saw a suspicious luxury car.’

‘I see. Then that’s fine.’

That was close. If she found out I was so excited I’d left home an hour early and was already heading to the meeting spot, it’d be way too embarrassing.

And it might make Sei-chan worry unnecessarily.

Hm? Sei-chan sent another message right after…

‘Um… it’s been a while since I’ve gone to an amusement park, so I’m looking forward to it.’

“Ugh… too cute…!”

Sei-chan, apparently, had come to stop my heart before we even met up.

She was so cute it hurt—my chest was aching…

The gap between how cool Sei-chan normally was and the fact that she’d send a message like this—honestly, it was so cute it robbed me of vocabulary.

‘Me too—I’m really looking forward to going to the amusement park with you, Sei-chan.’

After sending my honest feelings, I boarded the train in high spirits and headed for the meeting spot.

 

◇　◇　◇

 

After Hisamura Tsukasa left the house, his younger sister Rie stood frozen in place for a while.

A few dozen seconds later, she snapped out of it and returned to the living room.

She sat down and ate the remaining breakfast, her mind blank as she stared into space.

“…Onii-chan… on a date…”

She ended up murmuring aloud what had been running through her head the whole time.

Rie hadn’t expected her emotions to be shaken this much just by hearing that her big brother Tsukasa had gone out on a date.

(I mean, Onii-chan is a second-year high school student… he’s at the age where going on dates with girls is normal…)

While she was thinking that, she realized her plate was already empty.

Noticing this, she carried her plate to the kitchen and left it soaking in water.

As mentioned earlier, she decided to have her big brother’s breakfast eaten by his friend, Shigemoto Yūichi.

Rie went up to the second floor and knocked on the door to her big brother’s room.

The door opened right away, and Yūichi peeked out with a puzzled look.

“Hm? Rie-chan, what’s up?”

“I made breakfast—would you like some?”

“Huh? For me?”

“I made it for Onii-chan, but he left without eating it.”

“Ah, I see. In that case, I’ll gratefully take you up on it.”

“Then I’ll bring it right now.”

“Ah, then I’ll head to the living room—wait, no. He did say not to leave the room, didn’t he?”

“…It should be fine, shouldn’t it? He was probably just joking.”

“You think so? Then is it okay if I eat in the living room?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

And so, Rie and Yūichi went to the living room together.

Yūichi took a seat and began eating the breakfast Rie had made.

“Mm! It’s delicious, Rie-chan!”

“…Thank you very much.”

Rie replied somewhat absentmindedly as she washed her own plate.

“…Rie-chan, are you feeling okay? You seem kind of down.”

“Huh…?”

Watching Rie, Yūichi asked her as he continued eating.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You look kind of spaced out.”

“No… um. Yūichi-san, do you know who Onii-chan went out with?”

“Yeah, I do. A girl from our class named Shimada Sei.”

“Shimada… Sei…”

It seemed that Onii-chan really was on a date with a girl.

“Is Onii-chan… dating her?”

Rie hesitated and tensed up before asking, but she asked anyway.

“No, I don’t think they’re dating—at least, not yet.”

“I-I see… huh? Not yet?”

She was just about to feel relieved at hearing they weren’t dating… but the word “yet” sent her heart into turmoil.

“Yeah. Apparently, Tsukasa confessed to her.”

“Wha…!?”

Rie’s eyes flew open at that.

“A-A confession…? Is that really true?”

“Yeah. Tsukasa said it himself, so I’m sure of it.”

“I… I see…”

She had never imagined that her own big brother—Tsukasa—would confess to a girl.

“Thanks for the meal. It was really good, Rie-chan. Thank you.”

“Ah… you’re welcome. You can put the dishes over here.”

“I’ll wash them. You’ve been spaced out for a while now—you might end up dropping something.”

“…Thank you very much.”

Yūichi stood in front of the kitchen sink in Rie’s place and began washing her dishes as well.

“I’ll take care of this, so you can go rest in your room, Rie-chan.”

“…You’re right. Then I’ll take you up on that. When you’re done, please wipe them with a towel and leave them over there.”

“Got it.”

Saying that, Rie left the living room and headed up to the second floor.

“…Looks like she got pretty down after hearing that Tsukasa has someone he likes. Seems it’s not just Tsukasa—Rie-chan is a serious brocon too.”

Yūichi muttered that to himself as he continued washing the dishes.

Meanwhile, back in her room, Rie collapsed face-down onto her bed.

Her face was turned to the side, toward the wall… toward the direction of Tsukasa’s room.

“…Onii-chan, you idiot.”

—You said I was cute.

Rie buried her face in her pillow and groaned, “Ugh—!”

 

◇　◇　◇

 

I arrived at the meeting spot.

We were meeting in front of a café near the amusement park.

It was only a little past nine-thirty.

There was still almost an hour until our scheduled time.

I hadn’t arrived too early… if anything, this was normal for me.

“Sigh…”

I took a deep breath to calm myself.

Was I really about to go on an amusement-park date alone with Sei-chan…?

…I was only now starting to wonder if this was actually real.

Was I seriously about to go on a date with Shimada Sei—the heroine of that ‘Ojōjama’ manga, my oshi?

When I thought about it calmly, it was honestly unbelievable.

Still, even if we were calling it a date, the purpose was a bit different.

Strictly speaking, Sei-chan and I were only acting together to prevent Tōjōin-san from interfering, so that Yūichi and Fujise’s date could succeed.

And on top of that, in that RINE message earlier, she’d written, ‘Um, it’s been a while since I’ve gone to an amusement park, so I’m really looking forward to it.’

Sei-chan was actually looking forward to going to the amusement park with me.

Honestly, it was a miracle my heart hadn’t stopped already.

I was genuinely impressed it was still beating.

In a manga world like this, it really could stop.

Still, an amusement-park date… what should I do to make Sei-chan enjoy herself?

I didn’t think I’d been to an amusement park since elementary school.

So I was looking forward to it—but I was worried about whether I could actually escort her properly.

I mean, it’s an amusement park, so normally you’d just ride the attractions.

But was it really okay for Sei-chan and me to be riding attractions?

While we were off enjoying ourselves, Tōjōin-san might interfere with Yūichi and Fujise’s date.

That would completely defeat the purpose.

Well, no matter how hard Sei-chan and I tried, if Tōjōin-san seriously decided to interfere, we probably couldn’t stop her anyway.

Someone like her could probably shut down the entire amusement park if she wanted.

If that happened, there’d be nothing we could do.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind too much if we failed to stop her.

But since Sei-chan would absolutely want to stop her, I’d cooperate and give it my all.

Curious about the time, I checked my watch—it was already around ten.

Thirty minutes until we met… no, given Sei-chan’s personality, she might arrive early—probably in just over twenty minutes.

Oh man, I was seriously starting to get nervous.

Ah—wait, I just realized something. This would be the first time I’d ever see Sei-chan in her casual clothes in person!

Crap… I couldn’t be more excited about seeing her like that.

I’d seen her casual outfits plenty of times while reading the manga.

I’d often seen her hanging out with Fujise, so she’d probably come dressed like that.

She’d definitely be cute. There was no way she wouldn’t be…

“H-Hisamura…”

“…Huh?”

Hearing my name called from behind all of a sudden, I jumped.

That voice just now—was that Sei-chan?

But there were still almost thirty minutes left… still, there was no way I’d mistake Sei-chan’s voice.

Thinking that, I turned around—and the instant Sei-chan came into view—

“…”

I forgot how to breathe.

The first thing that caught my eye was her jacket—a black one, slightly short at the hem, ending around her waist, worn in a relaxed way that looked incredibly cool.

She wore light-colored denim jeans below, showing off the full beauty of her long, graceful legs—they were stunning.

A red shoulder bag hung from her shoulder, adding a stylish accent.

And then… the most eye-catching thing of all was the T-shirt she wore beneath the black jacket.

It was a simple white shirt, but… it was short.

Of course, it wasn’t that it didn’t fit—it was clearly designed that way.

Because of that, her belly button and beautiful slender waist were visible.

“I-It’s still thirty minutes before our meeting time… honestly, how long have you been here?”

Sei-chan was saying something to me, but it barely registered.

I hadn’t expected her to show up dressed like this, and my brain hadn’t caught up yet.

Seriously… give me a moment.

“…H-Hey, don’t stare so much.”

As she said that, Sei-chan brought both hands up to cover the exposed part of her stomach.

That bashful gesture—well, it pierced straight through my heart again.

“S-Sorry… I was completely captivated…”

“…”

When I admitted it honestly, Sei-chan’s cheeks flushed even redder as she looked away.

Saying “was captivated” made it sound like it was in the past—but I was still captivated even now.

“Sei-chan, um… you’re incredibly cute. I was honestly shocked.”

“I-Is that so…? Thank you…”

“I mean, I always thought you were cute, but today’s outfit is seriously insane.”

“T-That’s enough! You don’t have to compliment me anymore!”

Sei-chan said that with her face bright red, but I still hadn’t praised her nearly enough.

I could go on for at least another ten minutes.

I’d probably want to keep praising her forever, but faced with Sei-chan’s beauty, my vocabulary would fail me, and all I’d be able to say was “insane” or “precious.”

“A-Anyway, there’s still time before Shiho and Shigemoto get here! Let’s wait in the café!”

Sei-chan said that as if to hide her embarrassment and started walking toward the café.

“Y-Yeah, got it.”

Still slightly dazed, I followed after Sei-chan.

…Even her back view was too beautiful for words.

I’m so glad I’m alive…

 

We went into the café, I ordered a coffee, and Sei-chan ordered an iced cocoa, then we took our seats.

As we sat down, I couldn’t help but look at Sei-chan’s outfit—especially the part where her stomach was exposed.

I never imagined Sei-chan would show up wearing something like that, so it felt like I’d been knocked out cold right at the start of the date.

Sei-chan sat down across from me, but… she was just too cute—I couldn’t even look at her.

Without thinking, I covered my face with both hands and let out a sigh.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just… Sei-chan is too cute, so I keep staring. I’m physically blocking my line of sight.”

“Wha—!?”

I couldn’t see her face, but it sounded like she cried out in surprise.

“Seriously, this is dangerous… I didn’t expect you to wear something like that, so it really caught me off guard.”

“You’re really going to keep talking like that…? Well, it’s true I don’t wear things like this very often… especially this shirt.”

Maybe she wasn’t used to it after all—Sei-chan grabbed the hem of her T-shirt and tugged it down, trying to hide her stomach even a little.

But doing that only made her full chest stand out even more…

“Y-you’re peeking through your fingers, aren’t you?”

“Ah…”

I’d said she was too cute to look at, but I was definitely looking.

No, really, I think this can’t be helped. Because she’s cute.

“Um… does it not suit me?”

“No, it suits you way too well. You’re too cute—just seeing you dressed like that is enough to make me thank God for letting me be born.”

“T-that’s an exaggeration…!”

Sei-chan said that shyly, but as far as I was concerned, I hadn’t exaggerated at all.

God… thank you for bringing me into this manga world.

“This is the first time I’ve seen your casual clothes too, Hisamura… and, well, I think you look cool. Normally.”

“Seriously? Thanks—even if it’s just flattery, I’m happy.”

My outfit was simpler than Sei-chan’s.

Black skinny pants, a white long-sleeve T-shirt, and a denim jacket on top.

It was like the colors of our pants and outerwear were reversed, though my denim jacket was a slightly darker shade.

I carried a black shoulder bag, keeping my belongings to a minimum so I could move easily.

“It’s not flattery. I don’t say things like that.”

Sei-chan said that with a small smile.

“…I-I see. Thanks.”

This time, it was my turn to be embarrassed by Sei-chan.

Ugh—this is exactly what makes Sei-chan so cool.

Man… I really love that about her too.

“So, Hisamura, what time did you get here?”

“Hm? Ah, I got here right before you arrived, I guess.”

“…And the truth?”

“Ugh… nine thirty.”

“That’s an hour before our meeting time…”

Sei-chan gave me a flat, unimpressed stare, and I ended up telling the truth.

Still, even Sei-chan’s glare was cute, so I’ll call it a win.

“So when you got the RINE message saying Tōjōin’s car was parked in front of your house, you were already on your way out.”

“Yes…”

“Honestly… why so early…”

“Well, I thought I couldn’t show up after you and make you wait.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but there’s a limit to how early is reasonable.”

“And, honestly, I was just too excited about this date with you.”

“—! T-this isn’t a date, you know. The real purpose is to keep an eye on Shiho and Shigemoto’s date and stop Tōjōin from interfering. Don’t forget that.”

“Of course.”

But… she didn’t think of this as a date after all. That was a little disappointing.

“W-well, it’s my first date too, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been to an amusement park, so… I was looking forward to it.”

“…”

“…S-say something. This is embarrassing.”

“No, I’m just really happy… that you’re thinking of it as a date too, Sei-chan…”

“W-well, that’s… the purpose is a bit different, but if you go by appearances, it is an amusement park date…”

And on top of that, Sei-chan had just said… “It’s my first date.”

I never imagined someone like me would get to be part of Sei-chan’s first date…!

“I promise I’ll make your first date fun, Sei-chan…!”

“Y-yeah… I’m counting on you.”

“…That said, it’s my first date too, so please keep your expectations low.”

When I said that and bowed my head while still seated, Sei-chan’s eyes went wide—then she broke into a smile.

“Fufu, I see. Then I hope we can enjoy it together, as fellow first-timers.”

“Hahaha, yeah.”

I said that and laughed as we looked at each other.

Ah… this kind of moment might be what feels the most like being a couple—and the happiest.

After that, we chatted casually while waiting for the time Yūichi and Fujise were supposed to meet up.

I’d come early so I could wait for Sei-chan alone, but she’d arrived thirty minutes early too, thinking I might already be there.

Thanks to that, we were able to talk like this and have a good time—so coming early was definitely a huge success.

 

It was about ten minutes before the eleven o’clock meeting time Yūichi and Fujise had agreed on.

Sei-chan and I were hiding in the shadows near their meeting place, lying in wait.

Yūichi was already standing there alone at the meeting spot.

“As expected of Shigemoto—he got here with plenty of time to spare.”

“Well, that’s because I set a good example for him.”

“You mean by showing up an entire hour early? I’m not sure that’s much of a good example.”

“If the other person arrives early too, it means they get to spend even longer with the person they like. That’s the ideal situation, so yeah—it’s a good example.”

“…R-right.”

It seemed Sei-chan had gotten embarrassed by my words, “spend even longer with the person you like.”

Even though I’ve already confessed and she knows how I feel, she still gets bashful when I actually say it out loud. Sei-chan’s really cute.

“…Were you making fun of me just now?”

“No, nothing like that. If anything, I just thought you were cute.”

“…I feel like you’re trying to distract me, but whatever.”

Talking like that, we kept our eyes on Yūichi.

Not just on him—we kept watch on the area around him too.

Because there was already a chance that Tōjōin-san might come here to interfere.

“What about that car that was near Hisamura’s house? What kind was it?”

“From far away it looked like an ordinary black car, but up close it definitely felt like a luxury car.”

“…Hmm. I checked the amusement park parking lot, and there were lots of black cars.”

“Figures. We can’t identify it from that alone, so we should probably just assume she’s here.”

“Yeah.”

Knowing Tōjōin-san, I’m sure she’s here.

She showed up in the original story too. But in the original story, she didn’t interfere at this point yet.

If I remember right from the original story… she were still inside the car around now, weren’t she?

At this point, Tōjōin-san was probably thinking Yūichi had just come to the amusement park with friends.

So she stayed waiting in the car, but once she saw Yūichi meet up with Fujise and the two of them head in together, she decided to interfere.

If things follow the original story, she shouldn’t show up to interfere just yet.

So I wasn’t exactly on high alert as I looked around.

“Oi, Hisamura. Are you actually watching the surroundings?”

“Hm? Yeah, don’t worry—I’m watching.”

“If Tōjōin suddenly interferes here, it would be awful for Shiho. We’re stopping her no matter what.”

“…Yeah, you’re right.”

Since I’m almost certain she won’t come at this point, I can’t get that worked up about it.

But Sei-chan doesn’t know that, so she’s been seriously keeping watch since even before the meetup.

I can’t exactly tell her, “Tōjōin won’t show up here,” so I just keep watch with Sei-chan.

Still, seeing her take this so seriously for her close friend Fujise really shows just how caring Sei-chan is.

That’s so like Sei-chan.

And just as in the original story, Tōjōin-san didn’t show up here…

“Ah—Shiho’s here!”

“You’re right.”

Fujise arrived about five minutes before the promised time and met up with Shigemoto.

They were far enough away that we couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the moment they met they started chatting with bright smiles, clearly having fun.

“Good. At least they managed to meet up safely.”

“Yeah.”

When I looked at Sei-chan, she was watching the two of them with a gentle smile.

But… what is Sei-chan really feeling, deep down?

Could it be that Sei-chan still likes Yūichi?

In the original story, around this time she only thought of Yūichi as “a boy she was kind of curious about,” but she still felt vaguely restless watching him go on a date.

So how does she feel about him now?

“Sei-chan… when you see Yūichi and Fujise together, you think they suit each other, right?”

“Hm? Yeah. Shiho’s obviously a really good girl, and getting to know Shigemoto, I realized he’s a good enough guy to match her.”

“…This might be awkward to ask, but… Sei-chan used to like Yūichi, right?”

“…Well, he was just a boy I was a little interested in, that’s all.”

“And now? Has that feeling changed?”

“…You really want to make me say it?”

“Huh?”

When I turned toward her in confusion, Sei-chan—shorter than me—was looking up at me from beneath her lashes.

“…I’m not interested in Shigemoto anymore. More than that, I—n-no! Forget it!”

“H-hey, what? You can’t stop there—tell me the rest.”

“I-I’m not telling you yet! L-look, Shigemoto and Shiho are about to go into the amusement park!”

Just like Sei-chan said, the two of them headed into the amusement park.

“Before we lose sight of them, we’re going in too!”

“O-okay!”

Sei-chan hurried ahead, so I followed along after her.

It was obviously just her trying to hide her embarrassment, and honestly I wanted to press her more—but since we were going to be together all day, I really didn’t want to ruin her mood.

Wait—am I really going on an amusement-park date with her…?!

Now that it’s hitting me again, I’m starting to get nervous.

 

◇　◇　◇

 

Shigemoto and Shiho, along with Sei and Hisamura, made it into the amusement park without any trouble.

This amusement park was massive, with a wide variety of attractions. So many that it was impossible to ride them all in a single day.

Sei and Hisamura followed Shigemoto and Shiho from a distance. They kept far enough away that they wouldn't be spotted if the pair turned around, but close enough that they would never lose sight of them.

As they maintained this distance, Sei's heart was in a bit of turmoil.

(Y-Yeah, maybe I shouldn't have worn this outfit after all…!)

What bothered her most was her clothes.

She had thought about it until just before bed last night, agonized over it all morning after waking up, and worried about what to do right up until the moment she left the house. In the end, she had chosen the crop top T-shirt that Shiho had first suggested, which she had immediately rejected at the time.

Sei had been truly hesitant to wear it, but she had mustered her courage and put it on.

(It's embarrassing, but Hisamura seemed really happy about it… N-No, it's not like I wore it just to make Hisamura happy…!)

She tried to make excuses in her head, but then reconsidered.

(N-No, I can't lie to myself. Of course I wore it because I wanted Hisamura to think I was, well, cute, even just a little… but his reaction was so much bigger than I imagined that it just made me even more embarrassed…!)

It was far better than getting no reaction at all, or a lukewarm one. But for him to react so positively… and even now.

"…Hisamura, your staring is a little intense."

"Ugh… Sorry."

While keeping an eye on Shiho and Shigemoto, Hisamura had been constantly glancing over at Sei, who was on his right. In fact, he was probably spending more time looking at Sei.

"I-It's honestly embarrassing to be stared at that much…"

"Sorry, I'm really sorry. But I think it's because you're just too cute, Sei-chan."

Hisamura covered his face with his right hand, perhaps to keep himself from looking at Sei.

"Wh-What kind of nonsensical blame-shifting is that?"

"But it's a fact that I can't help but look, because your outfit is just too cute."

"Kh… A-Aren't you embarrassed to say that so bluntly?"

"A little, but I'm just stating facts."

When he put it so plainly, Sei was the one who ended up feeling embarrassed. Perhaps she should just throw caution to the wind and act more confident like him… but that still seemed too difficult.

"A-Anyway, it's fine if you look at me, but make sure you're keeping an eye on Shiho and Shigemoto, too."

"Roger. So, it is fine for me to look at you, then."

"W-Well, I did wear these clothes fully prepared to be looked at…"

"…Aren't you just the cutest?"

"Sh-Shut up!"

Embarrassed, Sei quickened her pace and walked ahead. Hisamura followed with a smile on his face.

After they had walked for a few more minutes, the first attraction Shiho and Shigemoto chose was…

"A roller coaster… They picked something flashy right off the bat."

"Well, these popular attractions get pretty crowded in the afternoon."

"I see."

The line wasn't that long yet, so they could probably get on in ten or twenty minutes. In the afternoon, waits of an hour or more weren't uncommon, so it was better to ride it early.

"Besides, Shiho surprisingly likes this kind of stuff. What about Shigemoto?"

"I haven't really heard, but Yūichi isn't the type to get scared of things like this."

"That's true."

Watching the two of them in line, they were both smiling and chatting, seemingly excited for the roller coaster. They looked like they were having a good time.

"All right, let's get in line, too."

"Huh? We're riding it? Won't we lose them if we do?"

"…Ah, r-right. You're right."

If Sei and Hisamura also got in line and rode it, it would be after the other two had already finished. The chances of losing them would be high.

Sei, like Shiho and Shigemoto, loved thrill rides and wanted to go on it, but she would have to endure.

"…Well, let's get in line anyway."

"Huh? But if we ride it, we'll lose Shiho and Shigemoto…"

"Even if we lose them, I can just send Yūichi a RINE and ask where he is. It'll be fine."

"…I suppose that's true."

Shigemoto knew that Sei and Hisamura were at the amusement park, and since he was the one who had asked them to keep watch, he would probably tell them his location right away.

"But what if Tōjōin interferes with them while we're on the ride? That would defeat the whole purpose."

"Ah, you're right. But it's still fine. We just got into the park, so she won't come to interfere just yet."

"How can you be so sure?"

"…My gut, maybe?"

"How incredibly vague…"

"Besides, if we just stand around watching, it'll be boring, even though we came all the way to an amusement park. It'll be tough if we're on high alert from the very beginning, so we have to relax a little."

"That's also true…"

They had to watch over Shiho and Shigemoto's date until evening, or possibly even late into the night. If they were on edge from the morning on, they might not be able to step in when it really counted.

"Come on, let's just get in line."

"Ah…"

Sei was still hesitating, but Hisamura took her hand and pulled her into the roller coaster line.

"We came all this way, we have to have some fun."

Seeing Hisamura grin as he said that, Sei couldn't help but let the corners of her own mouth turn up.

"Hah… If Tōjōin interferes with those two because of this, I'm making you deal with it."

"Huh? If she interferes, isn't it already a lost cause?"

"If Tōjōin gets in the way, we'll have to physically pull her off them as a last resort."

"Are we really going that far?"

"Yes. I won't let her get in Shiho's way."

"…Haha, that's our Sei-chan."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you're a good friend, you take action, and you're cool."

"I… I see."

Sei turned her face away, feeling bashful again.

Then, after Shiho's group rode the roller coaster, Sei and Hisamura's turn came right after.

Before getting on, she had been a little worried about someone interfering with the other two, but once the ride started, she found herself having fun. She figured that since she'd come all the way to an amusement park, it would be a waste not to enjoy it like this.

However…

"Hisamura, if you can't handle roller coasters, you should have said so before we got on…"

"S-Sorry… I got caught up in the excitement and kind of forgot."

It seemed Hisamura's sense of balance was surprisingly weak, as he was feeling a little sick.

After the roller coaster, the two of them were sitting on a nearby bench, taking a break. Hisamura was leaning against the backrest, trying to recover.

"Sorry, I'll be fine in a minute…"

"So things like this happen to you, too. That's good to know."

Having been teased by him constantly until now, Sei had finally discovered one of Hisamura's weaknesses.

In reality… in a way, Sei's very existence was Hisamura's weakness.

"I'm glad you had fun… but I'd appreciate it if you didn't play any pranks."

"You're right. Well then, shall we ride the teacups next?"

"You're just trying to make me sick again…"

"Hehe, I'm kidding."

The two of them rested there until Hisamura sent a RINE to Shigemoto and found out where he was.

 

◇　◇　◇

 

Man, I really messed up back there.

I got on the roller coaster with Sei-chan because she looked like she wanted to, but then I remembered I can't handle those things. I showed Sei-chan my uncool side… This is the worst.

But Sei-chan looked like she was having fun, so that was good. She even seemed happy to see my pathetic state, which is complicated, but I guess it's better than her being disappointed.

Anyway, I recovered after a short break, so we headed to the location Yūichi told me about on RINE.

Right now, Yūichi and Fujise seem to have bought lunch from some food stalls and are sitting down to eat.

Sei-chan and I headed that way, stopping at a stall on the way to buy our own lunch.

I just got a hot dog, but Sei-chan, of all things, only got a crepe.

"Sei-chan, is that going to be enough for you?"

"Yeah, I've always been a light eater. Besides, this thing is pretty big."

"I see. Well, if you say so."

There's the question of whether a single crepe is nutritionally sound for lunch, but I'll let it slide. It's a special day—an amusement park date—and I can't really talk with just one hot dog myself. These days, high school kids can get by with just a tapioca milk tea for lunch. Or maybe not.

Sei-chan and I headed to where the other two were and spotted them from afar. We sat down in the same eating area but a good distance away and ate what we'd bought.

Across from me, Sei-chan opened her mouth wide to eat her crepe. She has a surprising sweet tooth, which is a cute contrast to her usual cool-girl persona.

As I was thinking that and watching her, she inevitably noticed my gaze.

"Wh-What is it? Why are you staring?"

"Hm? Oh, it's nothing."

"Don't tell me… you want some of my crepe?"

"Huh?"

She seemed to think I was staring at her because I wanted her crepe.

"I-It's a bit too soon for us to be sharing food…!"

"No, that's…"

"I-It would be an indirect kiss…!"

"Ngh!"

As she said that with a blushing face, I was so overcome by her cuteness that I let out a cough that sounded more like a groan.

"Sei-chan, it's not that I wanted your crepe."

"Huh…? O-Oh, is that so?"

"Yeah. I was just thinking how cute you look, enjoying that crepe so much."

"Kh… E-Either way, I'm the only one who ends up embarrassed, aren't I?"

"Ahaha, sorry about that."

She'd teased me after the roller coaster, so it seemed I'd gotten my revenge.

"…Hmph!"

"Hm? Wh-What's wrong? Why are you holding your crepe out to me?"

"Y-You eat some too! I don't like being the only one who's embarrassed!"

"Huh? Whoa, wait… are you sure?"

"I-It's fine!"

I never thought Sei-chan would actually offer me her crepe, prepared for an indirect kiss. What's more, the fact that she was holding it for me to eat made it even more embarrassing.

Damn… I can't believe she'd resort to a self-destruct tactic like that.

For my part, I'm overjoyed at the prospect of an indirect kiss with the Sei-chan, but I can't shake the feeling of embarrassment. But there's no way I could refuse in a situation like this, where Sei-chan is offering me a bite, "ahhn"-style, and I can get an indirect kiss out of it.

"Th-Then… I'll have some."

"H-Help yourself."

Suppressing my embarrassment, I leaned forward, opened my mouth, and took a bite of the offered crepe. I tried my best to eat a part she hadn't touched, but she'd already eaten a fair bit, so it was impossible.

The crepe was supposed to be loaded with chocolate and whipped cream, but… I was so embarrassed I couldn't really taste it.

"H-How is it? Is it good?"

"Y-Yeah, it's delicious."

"I-I see…"

Then Sei-chan, after a moment's hesitation, took a big bite right where I had eaten.

"Nn… It's sweet."

"Y-Yeah, it was sweet."

I don't really remember how sweet the crepe was, but I feel like the air between us right now is even sweeter…

I've read about situations like this in manga, but I've never experienced it myself… so it's incredibly embarrassing.

Sei-chan was probably thinking the same thing, as her face was red with embarrassment.

Then, at the same time, Sei-chan and I glanced at each other's faces… and the atmosphere somehow became funny, and we both burst out laughing.

"Ahaha, I never thought you'd do something so embarrassing, Sei-chan."

"Hehe, you too, Hisamura. To think you'd get so flustered."

Ah, this is bad. I'm having so much fun with Sei-chan… I'm so happy I could die.

After that, just as we finished eating, we saw Yūichi and Fujise finish up and start moving. They had started eating before us, but it looked like they'd bought and eaten a lot.

"I knew about Yūichi, but Fujise eats a lot, too."

"She does. Shiho is a little self-conscious about it, but Shigemoto is also a big eater, so it seems they're a good match in that respect, too."

There was never a scene in the original story where Fujise ate that much, so this was new to me. To be honest, while this ‘Ojōjama’ manga is popular, it hasn't been running for that long. It doesn't even have ten volumes out, so maybe there's still character information that hasn't been revealed yet.

For a while after that, we continued to watch Yūichi and Fujise make their way through the park, and we'd sometimes go on the same attractions they did. Of course, since our main purpose was to keep watch, we didn't go on every single one.

About two hours had passed since lunch, and so far, just like in the original story, Tōjōin-san hadn't come to interfere.

Now then, the next place those two are heading… is it that one?

An attraction they went to in the original story. That would be… yep, just as I thought.

"The haunted house."

It was the classic haunted house chapter you see in romcom amusement park dates. The kind where the heroine gets scared, screams, and clings to the guy, leading to a bit of a lucky pervy moment.

Yūichi and Fujise were going in together, but this manga deviates from the formula a little… with the shocking twist that Yūichi is the one who's terrified of haunted houses.

That's why, even now, as Sei-chan and I watched, Yūichi was trying to convince Fujise to skip the haunted house.

"F-Fujise, why don't we skip this one? Look, these places are usually just for little kids. It's not really a place for high schoolers like us, is it?"

"Eh, I actually kind of like them. And what's wrong with it being for kids? We're at an amusement park, we're supposed to remember what it was like to be a kid. Oh, wait. Don't tell me you're scared, Shigemoto-kun?"

"O-Of course not! All right, let's go!"

"Hehe, okay."

Yep, it's playing out just like the original story.

From his reaction, Fujise already knows that Yūichi is scared of haunted houses, which is precisely why she wanted to go in with him. Fujise can be a real sadist sometimes. Well, she had a lot of fans who said, ‘That's what's great about her!’ so maybe Yūichi likes that about her, too… though that would make him sound like he's into that sort of thing. Actually, maybe he is? …I'll have to ask him sometime.

"All right, looks like they went in. So, we should, too…"

"N-No, I don't think we need to go, do we?"

"…Huh?"

I couldn't help but voice my confusion at Sei-chan's words.

"L-Look, it's dark in there, so Tōjōin probably won't come to interfere. Yeah, that place is fine. We'll be fine even if we don't go in."

We hadn't gone on every single attraction the other two had, but the way Sei-chan was refusing this time… it was obvious that…

"…Huh? Don't tell me, Sei-chan, you're not a fan of haunted houses?"

"N-Not at all. I just think they're childish tricks and see no point in going in."

Man, she's saying almost the exact same thing as Yūichi.

I can't believe Sei-chan is afraid of scary things… This must be a piece of information that hadn't come up in the original story yet.

Well, I guess most normal girls aren't fans of them.

If anything, Fujise, who went in looking thrilled, is the rare one.

But this… This suddenly makes me want to go in.

"I actually quite like them. Don't you think it'd be fun to go to a place like that and feel like a kid again?"

"Ugh…"

"Come on, why don't we give it a try?"

"…I-I'm not good with them."

"Huh?"

"I'm not good with them! To be honest, places like… like haunted houses…!"

Whoa, a surprise confession.

She's right, though. There's no need to get all stubborn and force yourself like Yūichi.

"Oh, is that so?"

"…Are you disappointed?"

"No, I wouldn't be disappointed over something like not liking haunted houses. If we're talking about that, I'm not good with roller coasters either."

"I-I see. That's a relief."

"However… I'm sorry, but I really, really want to go into the haunted house with you, Sei-chan."

"Wh-Why?! I just told you I'm not good with them!"

"That's exactly why. I think a scared Sei-chan would be absolutely adorable."

"Y-You have a terrible personality!"

"Hey, hey, if you're going to say that, the same goes for Fujise."

I said it out loud, but she's just enjoying the thought in her head.

If you ask me, Sei-chan's best friend has the worse personality.

"I won't force you. But don't you think your dislike of haunted houses might just be from when you were a kid?"

"W-Well, that's true, but…"

"So maybe, now that you're in high school, you've gotten over it without realizing it and might even enjoy it?"

"That's true…"

"Though, to be honest, I'm hoping you haven't gotten over it at all and will show me a super cute side of you."

"Hey, aren't you the worst?"

"Call it being honest with myself."

No, I'm dead serious.

I know I'm repeating myself, but I'm truly, genuinely serious.

I would die to see Sei-chan scared of ghosts.

"The whole point of a haunted house is to get scared, so you'll enjoy it more than someone who isn't scared, you know? Even if you haven't gotten over it, I think it just means you'll be able to enjoy the haunted house that much more."

"…Just how badly do you want to go in this haunted house?"

"So badly that it's now the number one attraction I want to visit in this entire amusement park."

"Y-You want to go in that much?"

I'm not particularly good or bad with scary things, but I desperately want to see Sei-chan's frightened face.

"…F-Fine. If you want to go that badly, let's go."

"Whoa, seriously?"

"Yeah. I've been wanting to overcome this fear, anyway. I haven't been in one since elementary school, so maybe I can handle it now."

Whoa, I can't believe she's actually going.

"Well, if it's too much, they have emergency exits, so we can just use one of those."

"Once I go in, I'm seeing it through to the end."

And with that, Sei-chan and I headed into the same haunted house that Yūichi and Fujise had entered.

 

Apparently, this one had a hospital theme. Inside the dark haunted house, we started off walking side-by-side.

Sei-chan's steps were light… or rather, she was walking very fast, probably because she wanted to get out as quickly as possible.

"Sei-chan, you're going to trip if you rush that much."

"I-I'm not rushing!"

Sei-chan seemed to be trying to keep a brave face, but her voice was trembling more than usual.

So far, no ghosts had appeared, so she was still barely managing to feign composure.

But in the next moment, from the shadows to the right of Sei-chan, who was walking slightly ahead, a nurse zombie jumped out.

"Eek!?"

Sei-chan let out a shriek far higher than her usual voice and scrambled back to me.

So the ghosts in this haunted house are played by actual people, huh?

It's scarier than if they were machines or dolls. Even I was a little startled…

But Sei-chan seemed even more terrified, clinging to my left arm as if to use me as a shield.

…Let me say that again. She clung to my left arm for dear life. The Sei-chan.

"Wh-Whoa…!?"

"Q-Quick, let's go! We have to get away…!"

The nurse zombie was still in front of us, so Sei-chan grabbed my left arm, hugging it to herself as she ran forward.

I was pulled along with her, but that was the last thing on my mind.

I-I never thought she'd actually cling to me.

I mean, I thought it was a possibility, but I didn't expect it to happen so soon. I wasn't mentally prepared.

"D-Did we get away?"

"W-We got away, it's okay…"

Sei-chan glanced back, her eyes slightly teary, and breathed a sigh of relief.

The moment she turned to move forward again, a loud clatter came from the shadows on her side, and another person jumped out.

"Kyaa!?"

"Gh…!?"

This time, since she was already attached to me, she threw her weight against me even more.

Which meant… Sei-chan's ample… ch-chest… was pressed against my left arm…!

Sei-chan seemed completely oblivious, her eyes squeezed shut in terror.

"Q-Quick, we have to get away…"

"R-R-Right…"

We both stammered as we pushed forward.

Even in the sections where no ghosts appeared, Sei-chan wouldn't let go of my left arm.

"S-Sei-chan, maybe you should let go now…"

"N-No way… I'm too scared, I don't want to let go…!"

"Guh…"

Damn it. I could tell even in the dark. I had a nosebleed.

It had been on the verge of happening, but her last words were the final push.

I covered my nose with my free right hand and applied light pressure.

Luckily, it wasn't gushing like yesterday.

Seriously, though, I never thought I'd get a nosebleed like a manga character two days in a row.

No, more importantly, the current situation.

Sei-chan was still hugging my left arm, and if anything, her grip was even tighter than before.

My bicep was now nestled right between her breasts.

I never imagined I'd have this kind of accidental encounter before the protagonist, Yūichi…

What's more, Sei-chan was wearing light clothing, so the sensation and warmth of her chest were being transmitted with startling clarity.

I think the nerves in my left arm, seizing the opportunity, have become excruciatingly sensitive.

And while my bicep was sandwiched between her breasts… the back of my hand was resting against her bare midriff.

Sei-chan probably hadn't noticed, but the feel of her smooth skin was just… a little… insane…!

No, I can't think about it. If I do, the nosebleed will get worse.

"S-Sei-chan, are you okay? We can still take an exit…?"

"N-No, I don't want to give up… We've come pretty far, so the exit must be close, right…?"

She said that, but I think we were probably not even halfway through.

But Sei-chan must hate losing, because she didn't want to quit.

I never thought I'd be the one wanting to give up.

Of course, the reason wasn't because I was scared of the ghosts, but because there was a real possibility my heart might stop because of Sei-chan.

Right now, my heart was pounding so loudly I could hear it in my own ears.

I'd never heard my heart beat so loud and so fast before.

Am I actually going to die? Well, if I die here, I'd die happy.

"Wh-What's wrong, Hisamura…?"

"N-Nothing… I'm fine."

Sei-chan looked up at me and asked.

That upward glance, those teary, glistening eyes, that expression of concern even while she was terrified… it was just insane. All I can say is insane.

This is really bad. If we don't get out of this haunted house soon, Sei-chan is going to kill me.

For her sake, so she doesn't become a murderer, I have to fight to survive and get out of this mansion.

"Let's go, Sei-chan. Let's do our best to get out of here quickly."

"O-Okay… I'll do my best."

Even the way she said it was cute!

Stop it! Hisamura Tsukasa's life is already at zero!

That phrase popped into my head, but there was no way I could say it to Sei-chan.

After that, we proceeded at a brisk walk to conquer the haunted house.

Every time a ghost appeared, Sei-chan would let out an adorable scream, and my own heart would scream and pound in my chest.

By the time we got out of the haunted house, both our life points were in the negative…

No, I'm amazed I survived… You did well, my heart.

After exiting the haunted house, Sei-chan and I sat on a nearby bench to take a break.

This time, it wasn't just me like after the roller coaster; Sei-chan was also taking a proper rest.

"…That was scary."

"Yeah… I bet."

Sei-chan glared at me resentfully, but I wasn't really in a state to deal with that right now.

"I thought I was going to die…"

"Sh-Shouldn't that be my line? Why are you so exhausted? You weren't scared at all, were you?"

"You know, it really felt like I was experiencing heaven and hell at the same time."

"What do you mean by that…?"

Though it was about ninety-nine percent heaven.

If I called that hell, I'd probably get stabbed in the back by a lot of guys, but in its own way, it was a kind of hell.

I seriously feel like I was one step away from death.

I don't think I'd actually die in reality, but this is a manga world, after all.

Just fantasizing about something lewd gives me a nosebleed. If I kept experiencing something like that, it wouldn't be strange if my heart just stopped.

That was seriously dangerous… but it was also the best experience ever.

To the me from a few dozen minutes ago: good job persuading Sei-chan to go into the haunted house with you.

But you're about to experience heaven and hell, so you'd better be prepared, me from a few dozen minutes ago.

"We should hurry and find Shiho and Shigemoto…"

"Yeah… you're right… But let's wait just a few more minutes."

"Okay. Also, why did you have a nosebleed? Did you hit your nose on something?"

"Hmm, it was sort of hit, sort of squished."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

I didn't have the guts to tell Sei-chan the truth.

Since Sei-chan hadn't fully recovered either, we decided to rest a little longer before going after the other two.

 

After the haunted house, we caught up to those two and resumed our surveillance date.

After that, there were no particular interruptions from Tōjōin-san, and Yūichi and Fujise's date continued.

We also enjoyed ourselves by going on some rides here and there, and before we knew it, it was evening.

…It’s almost time.

In the original story, Tōjōin-san comes to interfere at the next place Yūichi and Fujise go.

The next place is the largest gift shop in this amusement park.

It’s not a shop that serves food and drinks, but rather something closer to a souvenir shop.

Tōjōin-san is supposed to show up while the two of them are there choosing souvenirs.

Yūichi had been planning to confess to Fujise at a place with nice illuminations at night, but Tōjōin-san’s arrival was supposed to make that impossible.

She’ll probably come to interfere at that gift shop, so if I’m going to stop her, it’ll be there.

Though I have absolutely no idea how I’d stop her.

Besides… I’m still agonizing over whether I should even stop her at all.

To be blunt, I personally don’t want to.

Because I don’t want the story to end here.

But when I think about Sei-chan’s feelings, I honestly feel that I should.

What should I do…?

While I was still deliberating, Yūichi and Fujise went into the gift shop, just as they did in the original story.

Sei-chan and I followed them, slipping into the shop while staying hidden.

The shop is quite large, so we probably won’t be spotted if we stay far away.

“Hmm, so this is the kind of stuff they have here…”

Sei-chan was looking at the merchandise lined up in the shop.

Since Tōjōin-san hadn’t appeared all day, it seemed Sei-chan had also let her guard down a little, or rather, her tension had eased.

It can’t be helped; we’ve been on watch since before noon, but we’ve also been having fun and playing around ourselves.

At this rate, I don’t think we’ll be able to react if Tōjōin-san suddenly appears… but oh well, that’s better for me.

They sell souvenir snacks and things here, but what stands out are the large stuffed animals and headpieces.

The kind you buy when you enter the park, wear while taking pictures, and have fun.

The kind you buy on a whim, high on amusement park excitement, but then feel like a total weirdo for wearing anywhere else, so it becomes a pain to keep at home and you end up throwing it away.

That’s my prejudice, though.

There are all sorts of headpieces, like ones with bear ears or bunny ears.

Hmm, I think they’re cute, but not enough to buy as a souvenir.

Ah, but at my house, I have my cute, adorable little sister, Rie.

The bunny-ear headpiece has fluffy parts that hang down to about chest level, and when you squeeze the two fluffy ends, the bunny ears pop up.

Rie, wearing this, looking a little embarrassed as she makes the bunny ears twitch…

Yeah, that could work. Should I buy it? No, wait, calm down, me.

Do I really need it? And would Rie even wear this for me?

Rie would probably just say, “Are you an idiot?” and never wear it once.

But maybe she’d do it if I begged her?

…I guess I’ll ask, just in case.

I took out my phone, opened RINE, and sent a message to Rie.

It’d probably be easier to understand if I took a picture of this bunny headpiece and sent it.

With that in mind, I switched to the camera function and picked up the bunny headpiece.

“Eh, Hisamura, are you going to buy that?”

“I’m thinking about it.”

“I-I never knew you had such a hobby…”

“No, it’s not for me. I was wondering how it would look on my little sister.”

“Your sister… How old is she?”

“One year younger than me.”

“You’re giving this to your first-year high school sister?” Sei-chan asked, picking up a bunny headpiece herself.

It seemed she was imagining my sister as the kind of slightly cringey girl who would be delighted to receive this as a souvenir.

“No, I don’t think she’ll be happy, but I’m going to ask if she’ll wear it for me if I bring it home. I’m sure she’d look absolutely adorable in it.”

“Hmph…”

I think if a tsundere-ish girl like Rie wore it, the contrast would be incredibly cute.

If she wears it even once, I want to take a picture and save it. It’s worth a shot.

Just as I was thinking that…

“H-Hisamura.”

“Hm? Wha—?!”

When my name was called, I turned to Sei-chan next to me… and there was a bunny-eared Sei-chan.

I can’t believe Sei-chan is wearing this bunny headpiece…!

 “S-So, how is it? It doesn’t suit me after all, does it…?” 

Sei-chan asked me, blushing with a slightly embarrassed smile.

—Click.

“…Hm?”

“Ah, sorry, it was a reflex.”

Before I knew it, I had taken a picture of her with the camera app I’d opened.

“Wh-What are you doing?!”

“Sorry, it was a spinal reflex. My body moved before my brain could give the order.”

“Stop spouting nonsense! Delete that picture now!” Sei-chan said, her face bright red as she took off the bunny headpiece.

That was definitely rude of me.

Thinking so, I looked at the screen to delete the picture as Sei-chan had said, but…

An angel was captured there.

“…I don’t want to delete it. I want to make it a family heirloom. I want to print it, frame it, and display it.”

“Like hell you will!”

My true feelings just slipped right out.

Deleting a picture of Sei-chan looking this cute would be far too much of a waste.

I want to save it forever.

“Really no? It’s super cute, you know.”

“Gh… N-No.”

“Please, I won’t show it to anyone. I’ll look at it every morning, and it’ll give me the strength to get through the day, no matter how tough it is.”

“E-Every morning?! That makes it even worse! In such an embarrassing outfit!”

“…Really no?”

“…Yeah, no.”

I tried to press my luck, but it seems it’s a no-go.

Aah… I can’t bring myself to delete such an adorable picture of Sei-chan.

“Ghh… You delete it, Sei-chan. I can’t bring myself to do it.”

“You feel that strongly about it…?”

With trembling hands, I passed my phone to Sei-chan.

She took it, fiddled with it… and seemed to have deleted the picture.

“Aah… It was a once-in-a-lifetime shot…”

“…W-Well, in that case, how about we take a picture together?”

“Eh?”

“Y-You know, like Shiho and Shigemoto.”

I followed Sei-chan’s gaze and saw Fujise and Yūichi with their faces quite close together, Fujise holding her phone and taking a selfie.

They were wearing matching bear-ear headbands, looking like a ridiculous lovey-dovey couple.

Those two aren’t even dating yet, are they?

…Hm? Something about that scene feels off.

Like I’ve seen it somewhere before, or something…

“If we take a picture together like those two, I don’t really mind…”

“Eh? So you mean I have to wear the bunny headpiece too?”

“Y-Yes.”

What, so I have to wear that bunny-ear headpiece too.

But if I do, she’s okay with taking a picture together like those two.

“Of course I’ll do it.”

“Y-You answered instantly.”

I can’t find a single reason to refuse.

I get to capture and save another picture of Sei-chan in her bunny ears, and on top of that, it’s a two-shot with me? I’d pay money for that.

“Okay, I’ll put it on too…”

“Pfft… S-Sorry, it just looks so bad on you.”

“Yeah, I didn’t think it would suit me, but I didn’t expect it to look so bad that you’d burst out laughing, Sei-chan.”

Well, I’m happy I got to see you smile like that, though.

Anyway, Sei-chan puts her headpiece back on… Yep, cute, an angel, the best.

Sei-chan has already launched the camera on my phone, so we’ll use that.

“H-Hey, get closer.”

“O-Okay…”

I thought I’d already moved my face pretty close, but Sei-chan said it wasn’t enough.

She saw how Fujise and Yūichi were taking their picture, so it seems she wants to do it like them.

Those two were so close their cheeks were almost touching, though.

I can’t go that far, so I moved just a little closer, and our shoulders touched.

“Th-That’s good…! O-Okay, I’m taking it.”

Sei-chan said that, pressed her finger on the phone screen, and it made a click sound.

Then, we immediately pulled apart.

“L-Looks like it’s taken.”

“Y-Yeah, that’s good.”

My heart wouldn’t be able to take getting that close again.

Well, we were even closer in the haunted house earlier, but this is different.

Sei-chan handed my phone back, and when I looked at the picture, both of our cheeks were red and our expressions were a little awkward.

I don’t really care how I look, but Sei-chan is still cute even like this, so it’s perfect.

“Ah, I’ll send you this picture on RINE later.”

“Ah, yeah, please do.”

It’s super embarrassing, but it’s probably better if we share this.

…Hm? Wait a minute, what I just said also gives me a sense of déjà vu.

What is this feeling of having seen this before…?

—Gah, I get it…!

Eh, but wait, why…?!

Realizing something, I searched for Yūichi and Fujise.

When I found them, they were still just looking for souvenirs in the gift shop.

“Wh-What’s wrong? Suddenly looking over at those two…”

“N-No, I just thought I’d lost sight of them.”

“Hmm, it’s fine. We haven’t seen hide nor hair of Tōjōin so far.”

Right, we still haven’t seen Tōjōin-san.

But that’s strange.

In the original story, Tōjōin-san should have already interfered by now.

That sense of unease from before, when Fujise and Yūichi were taking a picture with the bear-ear headbands.

In the original story, that’s when Tōjōin-san was supposed to cut in from behind them, saying, “My, you two seem to be having fun.”

That’s why the picture is supposed to have Tōjōin-san with a scary smile right between Yūichi and Fujise.

It turns into a bit of a dramatic scene with the three of them, and that’s when Fujise whispers in Yūichi’s ear, “I’ll send you this picture on RINE later.”

But now… as you can see, Tōjōin-san hasn’t come to interfere.

Which means… the original story has already been broken.

Why? Why didn’t Tōjōin-san come to interfere?

At this rate… those two are really going to start dating, aren’t they?

 

After that, Yūichi and Fujise left the gift shop.

Tōjōin-san never came to interfere.

Sei-chan and I followed after them, but the whole time, I was thinking.

Why didn’t Tōjōin Kaori come to interfere?

Maybe I misremembered, and in the original story, she didn’t interfere at that gift shop?

No, but I clearly remember reading about the part where those two took a picture with the bear headbands.

So the place where Tōjōin-san interfered in the original story was definitely that gift shop.

And yet, Tōjōin-san didn’t come.

That means Tōjōin-san’s actions during this amusement park date have already deviated from the original story.

Why…?

The only thing I can think of is that something changed as a result of me becoming the Hisamura Tsukasa of this world, and that influenced Tōjōin-san not to interfere there.

I need to sort out what’s changed from the original story so far.

First, in the original story, Hisamura Tsukasa never confessed to Shimada Sei.

Also, Sei-chan and I tailing them on this date as surveillance didn’t happen in the original story.

But that has nothing to do with Tōjōin-san, so it shouldn’t be that relevant.

Then what else… Right, the timing of when Tōjōin-san found out about this date changed from today to yesterday.

That was a deviation from the original story.

But if that were all, it wouldn’t be strange if it had just made her interfere sooner.

What else… Yūichi coming to my house on Saturday, the day before, to avoid being found out by Tōjōin-san.

But by the time Yūichi came to my house, Tōjōin-san had already found out.

Gah… could it be that?

That line Yūichi said when Tōjōin-san came to my house.

‘If it gets too late, your parents will start worrying!’

After hearing that line, Tōjōin-san’s demeanor changed, and she left right away.

Yūichi had no intention of hurting her at all; in fact, he said it out of concern for her. But for her, it was different.

For Tōjōin-san, who believes her Mother is dead and even her Father has no interest in her.

It’s highly likely that those words became like a knife twisting in her heart.

Is that why… Tōjōin Kaori hasn’t come to interfere?

This is all just my speculation, but it might be possible.

No, even if I’m wrong, the fact remains that Tōjōin-san hasn’t interfered as she did in the original story.

“The sun’s starting to set.”

“Huh? Ah, yeah, you’re right.”

It was already getting quite dark, and the lights inside the amusement park were starting to turn on.

I never thought I’d be thinking about something so different while on a date alone with Sei-chan.

“…Looks like those two are about to head to that place.”

“Eh? That place?”

“You don’t know? When night falls, there’s a place in this amusement park with beautiful illuminations. There’s a superstition that couples who get together there… will be bound together for eternity.”

“Aah… I think I’ve heard something like that.”

I do seem to recall that in the original story, there was something about how if you successfully confess amidst the amusement park’s illuminations, you’ll be bound together forever.

Of course, in the original story, Tōjōin-san interfered, so I think the three of them—Yūichi, Fujise, and Tōjōin-san—went there together, said things like, “It’s so pretty,” and that was the end of it.

It didn’t leave much of an impression, so I’d forgotten.

However… at this rate, those two will confess there and start dating.

In stories like this, those kinds of superstitions probably come true.

So that means… if those two get together here, they’ll be bound together for eternity.

“Ah… those two are heading towards the illuminations.”

Just as Sei-chan said, the two of them were walking in the direction of the beautiful illuminations.

At this rate, Yūichi and Fujise are really going to start dating.

Does Tōjōin-san really have no intention of interfering?

Why… Could it be that in this worldline I’ve come to, she doesn’t like Yūichi?

No, that can’t be. She followed Yūichi to my house last night and even said she was willing to give him her nude photobook.

Then why…!

As I was lost in thought, scanning the area to see if Tōjōin-san would interfere… a certain person caught my eye.

It was an old man in a butler’s uniform.

Even though he was old, his back was straight, he was taller than me, and though he had a white beard, he gave off a very dignified impression.

He didn’t look like an ordinary person in any way; he looked like he could be the owner of this amusement park.

But I know who that person is.

That old man in the butler’s uniform is someone who serves Tōjōin-san.

If I remember correctly, he’s the butler Tōjōin-san calls “Head butler.”

He’s the one who always puts up with Tōjōin-san’s selfish demands, a dashing older man who looks incredibly cool.

If he’s here, that means Tōjōin-san is definitely here too. Absolutely.

But if that’s the case, why isn’t she coming to interfere?

…Could it be that she’s hung up on what Yūichi said?

For Tōjōin-san right now, the topic of her parents must be a very sensitive one.

In the future, it’s a topic that gets brought up and resolved in the original story… but for now, it must be something she absolutely doesn’t want anyone to touch upon.

The fact that Yūichi brought it up might be what’s bothering her the most.

Could it be that… Tōjōin-san won’t interfere after all?

If that’s the case, will she… live her life without being saved from the problems with her Father?

In the original story, there’s a plotline where Yūichi saves her.

If he ends up dating Fujise, won’t that plotline disappear?

If that happens, she’ll…

I look over at Yūichi and Fujise.

The fun atmosphere they had just a moment ago has faded a little, replaced by a tense air.

They’re probably both heading for the spot with the illuminations, planning to confess their feelings.

It might be difficult to stop them now.

Even so…

“Hisamura, should we head to that, uh, illumination spot too? Th-there’s something I want to talk to you about…”

“Sei-chan.”

“Y-yes? What is it?”

“Sorry, something just came up.”

“…Huh?”

Without waiting for Sei-chan’s reply, I started running.

I’m sorry, Sei-chan.

You were thinking of Fujise and wanted to stop Tōjōin-san from interfering.

So much so that you acted in secret so Fujise wouldn’t find out.

But I… I don’t want those two to get together yet.

I think the time will eventually come when Yūichi has to choose between Fujise and Tōjōin-san.

But as things stand now, Yūichi will choose Fujise without giving Tōjōin-san a single glance.

That absolutely can’t happen.

And also… this was a little hard to say to either Fujise or Sei-chan, but…

My second oshi in ‘Ojōjama’ was Tōjōin Kaori.

With that thought, I ran and called out to the old man in the butler uniform.

“Excuse me! Do you have a moment?”

“…May I help you with something?”

The Head butler looked at me and asked quietly.

It was my first time hearing his voice, but it was incredibly deep and cool.

“Please take me to Tōjōin-san.”

“…And what might you be to the Ojōsama?” he asked, looking down at me with a hint of caution.

I’m not exactly friends with Tōjōin-san.

In that case, the thing to say is… this.

“I’m the best friend of the person Tōjōin Kaori is in love with.”

 

◇　◇　◇

 

That day, Kaori had come to the location of a date for the person she loved most, Shigemoto Yūichi.

Though it was a date, it wasn't one she was having with Yūichi.

It was the place where he was on a date with the object of his affection, Fujise Shiho.

Her first thought was to interfere immediately.

But since it seemed Yūichi had been the one to invite her, she decided to watch how their date went first.

Yūichi was handsome. In both elementary and middle school, he had been the object of every girl’s admiration.

The only reason Yūichi thought he wasn’t popular was because Kaori had protected him from all those star-struck girls.

This time, however, it wasn’t a girl who liked Yūichi, but Yūichi who had fallen for a girl.

It was an unprecedented pattern, and Kaori was deeply flustered.

But she had always operated under the belief that ‘the only woman worthy of Yūichi is me.’

To keep other women away, she had spread a rumor that she and Yūichi had been close since elementary school, were already dating, and were even engaged.

It had been so embarrassing she thought she would die, but she saw it through.

And yet, despite all that, Yūichi was on a date with Fujise Shiho.

The old her would have thought, “My love for Yūichi is definitely stronger than hers!” and gone to ruin their date.

But… she remembered what Yūichi had said to her yesterday.

‘If it gets too late, your parents will start worrying!’

Those words. Words Yūichi had said out of concern for her.

But… she didn’t have parents like that.

Because neither her Mother nor her Father was ever in that vast, lonely mansion.

Her Father was always busy and never home, and even when he did return, he stayed in his office working.

She saw him at home maybe once a year, if that.

She, who had received so little love, grew anxious. Did she truly love Shigemoto Yūichi?

What exactly was this love she felt for Yūichi?

Having grown up without knowing love at all, she no longer understood what these feelings she held for Yūichi were.

Yūichi and Fujise Shiho looked like they were having fun the entire time they were on their date.

Could she show Yūichi such a lovely, pure smile right now?

She didn’t know, and that’s why she couldn’t bring herself to interfere.

At this rate, Yūichi and Fujise Shiho would start dating.

But even so…

“Maybe it’s for the best…”

She murmured, her gaze fixed on the distance.

She’d had the head butler drive her here and had been making him wait on her since noon.

Just now, she had sent him to see where the two of them were going last, while Kaori waited in a space where she could eat at a leisurely pace.

It was a little dark since they were outside, but it wasn’t pitch black thanks to the lights and illuminations.

Alone in the dim light, Kaori waited for the head butler to return.

Hearing footsteps from behind, she turned.

“Head butler, you were gone a while… Oh, Hisamura-kun.”

“…Good evening, Tōjōin-san.”

She had expected only the head butler to return… but to think Hisamura Tsukasa would come as well.

Of course, Kaori was already aware that Hisamura Tsukasa and Shimada Sei were at this amusement park.

They had probably been prepared to stop her if she tried to interfere.

But now… the reason they had come to this amusement park was gone.

“Good evening. Now, why did you come here with my head butler? Oh, if you were trying to stop me, you don’t have to worry. I have no intention of interfering anymore.”

“Wha… Why aren’t you interfering? Didn’t you love Yūichi?”

“…Who knows. I’m not so sure anymore.”

She had certainly loved him.

But she didn’t know if it was real love.

Having never even received her own father’s love, had she been capable of directing proper love toward Yūichi?

“…Why are you giving up? Haven’t you loved him since you were kids?”

“Yes, that’s right. I believe I did love him. But after thinking about it, I started to feel that maybe it was something different.”

“…I see. You got scared.”

“…Perhaps I did.”

“What are you scared of? You were always going on about how much you loved Yūichi.”

“…I just lost interest. In a Yūichi who would fall for another girl when he has someone like me.”

“Hmph. So you’re admitting you lost to her in terms of appeal.”

“Wh-… What could you possibly know about it?”

Kaori, who had been looking away the entire time she spoke, looked at Hisamura’s face for the first time.

Hisamura had a very serious expression, his earnest eyes fixed on her.

“How could I possibly know? We were born and raised differently, and on top of that, Tōjōin-san, you’re the daughter of a major corporation. I can’t even begin to understand the feelings of someone like that.”

“…Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

“But you don’t understand my feelings either, do you?”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“That you can’t know how someone feels unless they tell you. That’s why I tell Sei-chan that I love her, and I make sure to say that my little sister Rie is cute.”

“…I really don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“…Hah, I didn’t plan on going this far.”

Hisamura averted his gaze for a moment, looked down, and sighed.

“That’s why you don’t understand your father’s feelings either, do you?”

“Wh-!? What do you know…!”

She had never told anyone about her and her father.

Not even Yūichi.

“That doesn’t matter right now. The point is, Tōjōin-san, you don’t understand your own father’s feelings, do you?”

“…That’s right. I don’t. But you can tell from someone’s actions, even if they don’t say it. My Father… that man, he neither likes nor dislikes me.”

“That’s the reason you got scared, isn’t it? You’ve never received love, so you became unsure if the love you feel for Yūichi is real love. That’s it, right?”

“Wh-… What in the world are you…!”

“That’s enough. In that case, why don’t you confirm that love from your father?”

“Huh…?”

Confirm her father’s love?

After more than a decade, the answer was already clear.

“Call your father on your phone and ask him. Ask him if he loves you.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Just do it. Then you should be able to find out if you’ve truly been loved.”

“…Hah. Even if I called him now, my Father would never answer. It’s not a matter of love; he can’t answer. My Father is an extremely busy man. His schedule is planned out from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to sleep, down to the minute—no, down to ten-second intervals.”

The Tōjōin Group was a world-renowned conglomerate.

Kaori’s father, its president, was truly swamped with work and would never be able to take a sudden phone call.

Just taking an unscheduled call for a few minutes could delay and potentially derail a business deal worth hundreds of millions of yen.

“Just do it. What’s the harm? Even if he doesn’t pick up, you can use the excuse that he’s ‘busy with work.’ It’s perfect for you, Tōjōin-san, who uses the excuse that Yūichi has no taste when you simply lost to Fujise in terms of appeal.”

“F-… Fine. I’ll play along with this farce.”

To refuse after being told all that would be a stain on the Tōjōin Kaori name.

She took out her smartphone and tapped the entry labeled ‘Father’ in her sparse contacts list.

One more tap and it would make the call.

But was this really okay?

If he was in the middle of an important business meeting, even the slight sound of a phone ringing would be a huge nuisance.

Besides, it was so sudden, there was no way he could possibly answer.

“What’s wrong? Is Tōjōin Kaori a coward after all?”

“Hmph… Whether he answers or not, I’ll make you regret this. You’d better be ready.”

With those words, Kaori tapped the screen one more time.

The electronic tone of the call sounded, followed by the ringing.

It rang once, twice—and then she heard the sound of the call connecting.

“Eh…?”

The word escaped her lips. She thought she must have misheard, but…

‘Hello? What is it, Kaori?’

She heard her father’s voice.

She hurriedly pressed the phone to her ear and replied.

“F-Father, I apologize for calling so suddenly.”

‘Ah, you surprised me.’

“A-Are you sure it was all right to answer my call when you’re so busy…?”

‘Hm? What kind of father doesn’t answer his own daughter’s call?’

“—”

His words left her speechless.

His schedule was planned down to ten-second intervals. Even this brief exchange of a few seconds must have thrown his schedule off by a huge margin.

And yet… she never thought her own father cared about her that much.

‘So, did you need something?’

“Ah, well…”

Right, the reason for the call… She glanced at Hisamura for a second.

She never thought he would actually answer, so she hadn’t expected to have to ask something this embarrassing.

But she felt bad for taking up her father’s time, so she mustered her courage and asked.

“I… I wanted to ask if you… l-love me…”

‘…Is that all?’

“……”

This time, she was speechless for the complete opposite reason.

So my Father really didn’t think anything of me—.

‘Of course I love you.’

“…Eh?”

‘Did you not hear me? The reception must be bad. Hey, have the reception in this building changed.’

She could hear her father giving instructions to someone nearby.

“N-No, I heard you, very clearly…”

‘Is that so? Good, then.’

“Y-You… loved me…?”

‘It’s only natural for a father to love his daughter.’

“—!”

At those words, tears began to overflow from her eyes.

She had thought she was never loved.

After all, he had never shown any sign of it, nor had he ever said it out loud.

Was this really her father?

Not an imposter, but the real person… and was that love real?

“F-Father…”

‘Hm? W-What is it, Kaori? Why are you crying?’

“Eh, ah, I’m sorry…”

‘D-Did I do something? Or did you get caught up in some kind of trouble? It’s all right, I’ll head over there right now.’

“Eh?”

‘Hey, cancel all my appointments for the rest of the day. A dinner with the President of the United States? I don’t care, postpone it.’

“W-W-Wait! Father! I’m fine, really!”

‘Are you sure? You’re not pushing yourself?’

“Yes… I’m fine.”

She had never dreamed that her father cared about her this much.

Her only impression was that he had always treated her with indifference.

But was that… all a misunderstanding on her part?

‘…Then that’s fine. By the way, about dinner next Saturday, what would you like to eat?’

“Ah…”

She had forgotten until he mentioned it… no, she had been intentionally pushing it away, but next Saturday was her once-a-month dinner with her father.

They always ate at high-class restaurants, and she was always told by the head butler or someone, “The Master would like to know what you wish to eat.”

Every time, she had replied, “Tell him anything is fine.”

But this was the first time he had asked her directly like this.

“Um… is anything really okay?”

‘Yes, anything you like. There is nothing I cannot prepare.’

He was the president of the great Tōjōin Group; there was likely no ingredient in this world he couldn’t procure.

But… Kaori didn’t want anything special.

Simply, as a daughter…

“Um… I-I’d like to try… your home cooking, Father.”

‘My… home cooking?’

“Y-Yes.”

‘Are you really sure about that? You can choose any high-class restaurant you want.’

“No… I want to eat your home cooking, Father.”

When she was a child… she couldn’t even remember how old.

It was back when the company wasn’t so big, and their house wasn’t so large either.

She remembered eating a meal her father had cooked back then.

She couldn’t recall what kind of dish it was… but she remembered that it was delicious.

No matter how many delicious things she ate at high-end restaurants, she had never forgotten it.

She wanted to eat that meal again.

But things were different now.

As she had just said, her father’s schedule was planned down to ten-second intervals.

In the midst of all that, there was no way he had time to cook a meal just for her.

‘I see… All right. It’s been a while, so I don’t know how well it will turn out, but I’ll cook for you.’

“Eh… Are you sure?”

‘Of course. But, let’s see… I have a favor to ask of you as well, if that’s all right.’

“Y-Yes, what is it?”

She couldn’t remember her father ever asking her for a favor.

What could he possibly ask for, she wondered…

‘I’d like to try your cooking as well, Kaori… would that be all right?’

“Ah… O-Of course! I would love for you to try it, Father!”

‘…I see, thank you. I’m looking forward to it.’

“Y-Yes, me too…”

‘I’m sorry, my secretary is starting to look at me like she’s going to kill me, so I have to hang up.’

“Ah, r-right. I’m sorry for calling so suddenly…”

‘No, it’s fine.’

One last thing… there was something Kaori wanted to say.

“Ah, um, Father…”

‘What is it?’

“…I… I love you too, Father.”

‘I see, thank you.’

“Y-Yes… Well then, I’ll see you at dinner.”

‘Yes, look forward to it.’

And then, he hung up.

Afterward, she remained stunned for a while.

Was the person she had just been talking to really her father?

She had mistakenly thought he was indifferent to her.

But looking at his actions… that’s how it had seemed.

Even during their conversation just now, he was probably on the other end with a blank expression, his face not changing in the slightest.

But… had he really loved her so deeply?

“So, how was it?”

“…”

Hisamura’s voice suddenly broke through her daze.

Right, she had made the call because this man had told her to.

“…Was I… really loved… by my father?”

“Didn’t you just find that out from the call?”

“…Yes, you’re right. My Father… he loved me…!”

Kaori said, crying once more.

She had been a fool to worry about it for so long.

All she had to do was ask her father once.

Then she would have known just how much he loved her.

“From what I heard, it sounds like your father is just as bad at showing his feelings as you are. Right, Tōjōin Kaori, the girl who’s been in love with Yūichi forever but can’t get it across to him at all?”

“Th-That’s just because Yūichi is too dense…”

“Haha, well, there’s that too. But weren’t you the same, Tōjōin-san? Who was it that was loved for sixteen years but misunderstood and thought she wasn’t?”

“Hmph… You have quite the personality.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

And with that, the two of them shared a defiant smile.

"What are you going to do? Yūichi and Fujise are already on their way to the place where lovers are bound together for life."

"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to stop them… No, that's not right. Just you watch. I'll show you that I'm the one who deserves to be Shigemoto Yūichi's girlfriend."

"As of right now, Fujise has a clear advantage, don't you think?"

"There's no way I'd lose to some woman who just popped out of nowhere. I'll overtake her in an instant."

"Hah, that's Tōjōin Kaori for you."

Kaori stood up and started running toward Hisamura Tsukasa.

The amusement park's confession spot was in the same direction he was.

As she passed Hisamura…

"Thank you. I'll repay this debt someday," she said, then dashed off.

"Well, thank you kindly. I look forward to seeing how the ojōsama of the Tōjōin family repays her debts."

She heard his voice from behind after she'd passed him.

After running a little farther, Kaori saw a lone woman.

Seeing her, Kaori let out a soft laugh and, as she passed, said one more thing.

"Your boyfriend is a great guy."

"Wh-!?"

The woman reacted immediately, but Kaori didn't stop, continuing to run.

"He's n-not my boyfriend yet!"

Hearing that from behind her made the corners of her mouth lift even higher.

Not yet… How many minutes, or tens of minutes, did that imply?

With that thought, Kaori ran with all her might toward Yūichi and Fujise.

 

When Kaori arrived at the confession spot, she looked around.

There weren't many people, so she quickly found Yūichi and Fujise.

The two were facing each other, their gazes locked in what looked like a terribly tense exchange.

"F-Fujise…! I… about you… well…"

"Shigemoto-kun…"

The moment she heard their voices, Kaori shouted.

"Yūichi—!"

"Huh… Gh!? K-Kaori!?"

Her shout made Yūichi notice her at once, and he turned to face her.

The expression on his face practically screamed, Why are you here? and Fujise looked just as shocked.

"Wh-what are you doing here…!?"

"Hah, hah… Just a second, let me… catch my breath…"

She came right up to Yūichi, took a few seconds to steady her breathing—then Kaori lifted her head and spoke.

"Shigemoto Yūichi! I have something to tell you!"

"Wh-what is it? And seriously, why are you here…?"

"I love you!"

"…Huh?"

"…Eh?"

At Kaori's sudden declaration, both Yūichi and Fujise's eyes went wide with surprise.

"I've loved you since we were in elementary school! I've always loved you!"

"Eh, huh?"

"When I was all alone because everyone kept their distance, thinking I was just some rich girl, you were kind and treated me like a normal girl, and I love you for it! You were my first love! And it's continued all this time!"

"Wai-K-Kaori, hold on…"

"When we were in upper elementary, I drove away all the girls who started approaching you, saying you'd gotten handsome, because I wanted you all to myself! Because those girls only cared about your looks! I mean, your face is handsome and cute and so amazing that if I slept with you as my body pillow, I'd never wake up, but still!"

"Wait, Kaori, really, I can't process this…!"

Kaori's face was bright red as she continued to shout, but Yūichi's face was just as red, if not more so.

Even Fujise, who was listening right beside them, was blushing.

"I've always loved you! No, it's not just love anymore, I adore you! I love you from the bottom of my heart! I want all of you, Yūichi! And I want to give you all of me! My body and my soul, everything! I want you to ravage this body of mine!"

"W-wait a minute, Kaori! You're saying some pretty crazy stuff!"

It felt like a bit of Kaori's personal kink had slipped out, but she kept on talking.

"I'll never let anyone take you from me! I can't imagine marrying anyone but you! So, Yūichi, marry me."

Kaori finished with a brilliant smile.

Though to varying degrees, all three of them in that spot had red faces.

"Yūichi, choose me. I want to be happy with you. Stay by my side, forever."

"K…Kaori…!"

It was the first time Yūichi had learned that Kaori, his childhood friend, felt so strongly for him.

To anyone else, it would have been obvious, but the super-dense Yūichi hadn't noticed at all.

But after being told so clearly, even an idiot would understand.

That Kaori was truly, seriously in love with him.

That all her actions up until now had been the flip side of her affection, her way of trying to monopolize him.

He'd always thought of her as a close childhood friend, someone he'd be friends with forever.

But hearing how sincerely she felt for him, what man wouldn't be moved?

"W-wait a minute…!"

The one who put a stop to it was Fujise Shiho, the girl he'd been on a date with all day.

"I… I love you too, Shigemoto-kun!"

"Eh, eh!?"

Since she hadn't confessed yet, Yūichi hadn't known Fujise's feelings.

He never imagined that Fujise, the very girl he liked and was about to confess to, would confess to him instead.

"We only just met in high school, so it's not like we've been together for a long time like you and Tōjōin-san… but! You're my first love, and I love you, Shigemoto-kun!"

"Eh, wai-ho…!"

"We were in the same class in our first year of high school… I don't think you remember, Shigemoto-kun, but you saved me when I was getting hit on, right?"

"Huh? When was that…?"

"In middle school. Some older guys were hitting on me and I was scared, and you saved me, Shigemoto-kun."

"I feel like something like that might have happened…"

"I really regretted that we parted ways without me even getting your name, but I was so happy to see you again in high school!"

Apparently, Yūichi had unknowingly saved Fujise Shiho in middle school, raising a flag with her back then.

"After we started talking in high school, I fell for you more and more! It was the first time I ever thought, I want to date someone like him!"

"F-Fujise…"

"I love how kind you are, Shigemoto-kun! I love your childish side! I loved how scared you were in the haunted house! I want to bully you like crazy, Shigemoto-kun!"

"Hold on, isn't Fujise saying some pretty intense stuff too?"

Just like with Kaori, a glimpse of Fujise's personal kink had peeked through.

"So please… go out with me!"

Fujise's face was beet red as she finished her plea.

"Yūichi, marry me! I'm a much better match for you than Fujise-san!"

"I-I won't lose to Tōjōin-san either! Shigemoto-kun, please choose me!"

"W-wait a minute…!"

Could any guy not be bewildered after being confessed to by both his super-close childhood friend and a girl he'd fallen for in high school?

"My breasts are bigger than Fujise-san's! I have a proper waist, and I go to the highest-class beauty salons, so my skin feels amazing to the touch!"

"K-Kaori, what are you saying…!?"

"W-well, I'm a C-cup! I'm more slender than Tōjōin-san, so I'm better to cuddle with… I-I think."

"F-Fujise, you calm down too. You're getting so flustered you're slipping into polite speech."

"Oh, Fujise-san, you just don't get it. Yūichi likes an hourglass figure like mine. His lewd search history on his phone is filled with women like that!"

"Wait a minute!? H-how do you know… N-no, Fujise, that's a misunderstanding…"

Yūichi had all but confessed, but he tried to clear up Fujise's misunderstanding… or rather, not a misunderstanding, but he tried to make an excuse.

"Y-you don't get it either, Tōjōin-san. I figured it out on our date today, but Shigemoto-kun is definitely the type who likes to be bullied. Me, an sadist, and Shigemoto-kun, an masochist, we're a perfect match. I don't think you, Tōjōin-san, who also likes to be bullied, could satisfy him, could you?"

"Wait a minute, Fujise!? What are you saying!?"

Another exposé on Yūichi's kinks came from a shockingly sharp angle.

"Kuh… Judging by the history on Yūichi's phone, I can't deny it…!"

"Hey, deny it, please. If you say that, it'll make me sound like I'm really an masochist."

While Fujise and Kaori had exposed themselves, Yūichi was in a pitiful position, having his secrets blurted out by the two of them.

"S-so, I'm the one who's worthy of being Shigemoto-kun's girlfriend!"

"No, it's me! Tōjōin Kaori is the one worthy of being Shigemoto Yūichi's girlfriend, and his wife! You'd just be the kind of girlfriend he'd break up with after three months anyway! It would be better if I just started dating him from the get-go!"

"Th-that's not true! If I started dating Shigemoto-kun, we'd date for years and years and get married!"

"Seriously, wait, both of you. I'm, uh, not mature enough to be ready for all that yet."

Fujise and Kaori faced each other, arguing, with Yūichi trying to stop them from somewhere in the middle.

Then, Fujise and Kaori simultaneously turned to face Yūichi…

"Yūichi! I love you, marry me!"

"Shigemoto-kun! I-I love you, please go out with me!"

"Uh, um…"

There was no way any man wouldn't be happy to be pressed by two beautiful girls like this.

But there was also no way any man wouldn't be troubled.

One was his close childhood friend, a girl who loved him so much she tried to monopolize him, whose expressions of affection were a bit extreme, but who was very cute.

The other was a girl he'd fallen for in high school, someone who was fun and soothing to talk to, the very picture of Yūichi's ideal girl.

Both were precious girls to Yūichi, and he didn't want to hurt either of them, but he couldn't date them both…

"Which one is it, Yūichi!?"

"Sh-Shigemoto-kun!"

"Umm…!"

He thought so hard that steam was about to come out of his head… no, steam was actually coming out of his head.

"Kuh…"

His brain, overloaded with information from all the sudden events, punked out and short-circuited.

Just like that, Yūichi lost consciousness and collapsed.

"Eh, Yūichi!?"

"Sh-Shigemoto-kun!? Are you okay!?"

The two girls supported the falling Yūichi… but it seemed they wouldn't be getting an answer from him here.

 

◇　◇　◇

 

"To think he'd actually faint… Just what you'd expect from the protagonist of a romcom manga."

I had been watching the exchange between those three, the full-on showdown that had unfolded.

They were practically screaming, so it was easy to hear even from a distance.

Still, I felt a mix of jealousy and pity for Yūichi…

I'm jealous that two beautiful girls confessed their love for him, but as a man, I sympathize with having your kinks exposed at the top of someone's lungs…

W-Well, I don't have any particularly weird kinks, so I'm fine. Yes, that's the truth.

Still, I never thought things would turn out like this.

In the original story, of course, there was absolutely nothing about those two confessing here.

I mean, if they confessed like that, the story would practically be at its final chapter.

Here, Fujise and Yūichi's date was just supposed to end with Tōjōin-san interfering.

After that, the story was meant to continue on and on, but… because of all the things I did, those two have already confessed to Yūichi.

Even though that hadn't happened yet in the original story.

No, wait, in the original story, Yūichi was pretty much aware of Tōjōin-san's feelings, wasn't he?

But neither of them, nor anyone else for that matter, had ever properly confessed to Yūichi.

What's more, Yūichi was actually the one who was supposed to resolve the lingering tension between Tōjōin-san and her Father.

On impulse, I pretty much did it myself.

But if I hadn't, it didn't seem like Tōjōin-san was going to make a move…

"…I'm sorry, Sei-chan."

I spoke to Sei-chan, who was watching the trio's exchange next to me with a wry smile.

"Hm? What for?"

"Well… in the end, I was the one who interfered the most with Fujise and Yūichi."

Sei-chan hadn't wanted Tōjōin-san to ruin Fujise and Yūichi's date.

If I hadn't done what I did, Tōjōin-san wouldn't have interfered, and Fujise and Yūichi would have finished their date and probably started going out like normal.

It's because I took Tōjōin-san's side…

"I'm really sorry."

"…Fufu, so you can make a face like that too."

"Huh?"

As I hung my head slightly and apologized, Sei-chan offered a gentle smile.

"It's fine. But let me ask you this. Who would you rather see Shigemoto go out with, Shiho or Tōjōin?"

"…Of course, the one who decides that isn't me or you, Sei-chan, it's Yūichi."

"That's true. But from the looks of it just now, you want Shigemoto to go out with Tōjōin."

"No, I honestly don't care which one it is, but I want Yūichi to properly look at both of them and then choose."

"…What do you mean?"

"I knew that Tōjōin-san liked Yūichi, but he had no idea. Any normal guy would have definitely noticed."

"Well, it was so obvious, anyone could see it."

"Right? Anyone could see it, but the person himself, Yūichi, didn't notice. I feel bad for Tōjōin-san, you know?"

"I suppose so."

Seriously, how did he not notice?

Just what you'd expect from the dense protagonist of a romcom manga.

"So I thought I'd just help her out with that part. I wanted to be on her side until her feelings reached Yūichi."

"…I see."

"So from now on, I don't plan on taking Tōjōin-san's side. The same probably goes for Fujise, too."

"…Then does that mean you never intended to stop Tōjōin from interfering with their date today?"

"Ugh… I'm really sorry. I was really torn, but to be blunt, yes…"

To be more precise, I didn't think that even if Sei-chan and I tried to interfere, we'd be able to stop the one and only Tōjōin Kaori.

So it's true that I wasn't planning on stopping her with the same level of passion as Sei-chan.

"Hah… Well, I understand you did it for Shigemoto's sake, and for Tōjōin's. But in that case, shouldn't you have just not come to the amusement park with me to stop Tōjōin's interference?"

"That's true, but… I was drawn in by the idea of an amusement park date with you, Sei-chan, so I came."

"Wh-!? I-Is that so…"

If it had just been Yūichi's request, I definitely wouldn't have come all the way to this amusement park.

When I heard Sei-chan was going to the park for Fujise's sake, I came because I couldn't let her do it alone.

…Though I have to admit, when I realized it would turn into a date with Sei-chan, stopping Tōjōin-san's interference really did start to feel like an afterthought.

"I'm really sorry. You were trying so hard for Fujise's sake."

"N-No, it's fine. It's not like I did anything in particular after coming to this park. Besides, after hearing about Tōjōin's issues with her father… I also chose not to interfere. We're even on that front, wouldn't you say?"

"…Thank you."

This part of Sei-chan, so kind and cool, is what I really love about her.

The phone call just now probably resolved most of the tension between Tōjōin-san and her Father.

It's all thanks to my knowledge of the original story.

Tōjōin-san's Father is a man who truly loves his daughter.

He's the president of one of the world's leading companies and an incredibly busy man, yet he absolutely makes time to have a meal with his daughter once a month.

If he were a workaholic who didn't care about his daughter, he wouldn't even make that much time for her.

And that phone call just now—personally, it was a gamble whether he'd even pick up.

But I thought the chances of him answering were high.

That's because Tōjōin Kaori's father has several smartphones, but only one for personal use.

And in that phone, there are only two contacts.

Tōjōin Kaori, his own daughter… and the contact information of his late wife.

He keeps that phone, with only those two contacts, on him at all times.

In other words, if that phone rings, it's absolutely a call from his beloved daughter.

I believed that the father I'd seen in the original story, who loved Tōjōin Kaori from the bottom of his heart, would definitely answer.

The result was, in a word, perfect.

When Tōjōin-san was on the phone with her Father, I could hear his voice from my side, too… and seriously, I was on the verge of tears.

I was so moved. I never thought one of the most prominent, moving scenes from the original story would play out right in front of my eyes.

I had to try so hard not to cry.

"I wonder which one Shigemoto will go out with."

"Hm? Who knows. I doubt we'll get an answer today, and those two will probably keep going after Yūichi… I wonder if he can even choose."

"Hmm, personally, I'd like him to choose my best friend, Shiho… but I suppose we can only wait for Shigemoto to make his choice."

"Yeah. Those two will probably keep trying to win Yūichi over, so maybe it's a contest to see who can make him fall for them first? They were both appealing to him pretty hard during the confession earlier."

"…! Y-Yeah, that's true…"

Hm? Sei-chan's face suddenly turned red as she looked embarrassed.

I wonder why… Ah.

Right, the "appeals" during the confession were all about the three of them exposing their kinks.

They were going on and on about who was the top and who was the bottom.

Well, Yūichi didn't say a word, but I feel bad that he was the one whose kinks were exposed the most.

Sei-chan has almost no tolerance for that kind of lewd talk.

But in the original story, I think there was a part that described her as not having much tolerance, but being pretty curious about it… I should stop. If I think about this any further, I might get another nosebleed.

"W-Which one… are you?"

"Hm? Huh, what do you mean?"

"No, I mean… n-never mind!"

It seemed like she wanted to ask me something, but she gave up.

I'm curious what she wanted to ask, but… it seems like it'd be letting sleeping dogs lie, so I'll drop it.

"By the way, I'm sorry for cutting you off earlier when I was heading over to Tōjōin-san. What were you about to say then?"

"Huh? O-Oh…! Right, that. Well, I was just going to say that we should hurry up and follow those two."

"I see. But I'm sorry for just running off."

"No, it's fine… We made it to this spot, after all."

The fact that we're watching the trio's full-on showdown means that, of course, Sei-chan and I are also in this beautifully illuminated place.

The illuminations look like a field of flowers. It's so beautiful.

"…It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it really is."

For a while… the two of us just stood there, captivated by the beauty of the illuminations.

But I was just watching the face of Sei-chan as she gazed at the lights.

Her profile, illuminated by the light, was so, so beautiful… I could have kept watching it for much longer than any amusement park illumination.

"…Hm? Wh-What is it, Hisamura? Why are you staring at me?"

As expected, she noticed me staring and spoke, embarrassed.

"Fufu, sorry. I was captivated by you, Sei-chan."

"Wh-!? Y-You and your words…"

Sei-chan's face flushed red again, but perhaps she's gotten a little used to it, as she seemed less flustered.

But as she tried to look back at the illuminations, the way she kept glancing over at me is just too cute.

"B-By the way, it looks like there's a Ferris wheel here, too."

"You're right."

There's a large Ferris wheel right near where we are, probably so people can see the illuminations from above.

"Want to ride the Ferris wheel for our last ride, Sei-chan?"

"Yes, let's."

"We don't have to watch over Yūichi and the others anymore, so we can finally enjoy ourselves without holding back."

"Fufu, you're right."

And so, Sei-chan and I headed for our final attraction, the Ferris wheel.

 

The Ferris wheel was surprisingly empty, and we were able to get on pretty quickly.

We sat facing each other, and the Ferris wheel began to move slowly, the gondola climbing upward.

The gondola is smaller than I expected, and our knees are so close to touching it makes my heart pound a little.

And sitting face-to-face this directly is, as you'd expect, embarrassing.

Sei-chan seems to think so too; her cheeks are slightly flushed, and she's averted her eyes to the window, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

That gesture was so beautiful and sexy that my heart couldn't help but race.

I think today, in my entire life, has been the day my heart has worked the hardest.

You've held on well so far, my heart. You're amazing.

"W-We're about to reach the top, Hisamura."

"…Yeah, we are."

The sun has already set outside, but the view from the Ferris wheel is brightly lit by the illuminations, and it's gorgeous.

The multi-colored lights illuminate Sei-chan's profile and her beautiful silver hair as she peers down below.

Seeing her like that makes my heart pound again, but I still want to keep watching her forever.

The gondola we're in is about to reach the top.

…This is probably the perfect chance.

My heart, I'm about to put you through even more, but please, hang in there.

I think this will be the very last time.

"Sei-chan."

"Hm? What is it?"

Sei-chan had taken out her phone and was taking pictures of the scenery outside.

"Can I… say it again… right here?"

"…! Wh-What?"

At my words, Sei-chan seemed to sense something and turned to face me, looking tense.

Her eyes pierce right through mine.

My hands are trembling from nervousness, and my lips are, too.

I confessed to Sei-chan before, in the classroom after school.

But I was only able to do that because I thought it was a dream.

I never imagined I'd entered the world of a manga, so I just assumed it was a dream and simply screamed my love for Sei-chan.

But now… I recognize this as the real world, and I'm face-to-face with the Sei-chan I love.

This is different from that time, when I was just shouting my love for my oshi.

Not Shimada Sei the manga character, but Shimada Sei living as a girl.

This is me, Hisamura Tsukasa… making a serious confession to Shimada Sei.

"I'm in love with you, Sei-chan."

"…"

"I love the kind Sei-chan who can hide her own feelings for her friend Fujise's sake and genuinely cheer her on. But I don't really like the Sei-chan who suppresses her own feelings too much and shoulders everything alone… so I want to be the one to support you and make you happy."

It's incredibly embarrassing, but I say it while looking straight into Sei-chan's eyes.

Sei-chan is looking back into my eyes, her own glistening.

"I love the always cool and collected Sei-chan. I love the shy Sei-chan who blushes so easily. I love the Sei-chan who smiles so happily when she eats or drinks something sweet. I've gotten to know you more since I confessed before, and I've fallen for you more, and more, and more."

"…"

"…Sei-chan, I love you. Please, go out with me."

My heart is pounding so hard it feels like it's going to leap out of my mouth.

Sei-chan listened to my confession, her face bright red, but without ever looking away.

Now… all that's left is to hear her answer.

Sei-chan had been looking me in the eye the whole time, but she averted her gaze for just a second in embarrassment… before our eyes met once more.

"…Thank you. I'm very, very happy. The last confession was so sudden, and I think all that came across was my flustering, but… I was genuinely happy then, too."

Come to think of it, back then, Sei-chan was visibly flustered and left right away.

But that was probably because I confessed so suddenly, and since I thought it was a dream, I was pressing her for an answer right then and there.

Was she worried about how that went?

"I also… had a lot of fun today, and when we went to the cafe before, talking with you about all sorts of things… It was so much fun. Getting to know you, talking with you… Experiencing a d-date for the first time, I never knew it could be this much fun."

Sei-chan says, looking incredibly embarrassed.

She looked away from me many times, but each time, she made sure to look me in the eye again as she spoke.

"No… it's not that dates are fun, it's that hanging out with you is fun. Going on a date with you, Hisamura, was fun."

"…"

My heart leaps even more. It's not just nerves… it's because I'm starting to have hope, and my pulse quickens even further.

"I think there's still a lot we don't know about each other, and my feelings might not be as strong as yours are for me yet… but the fact that I have feelings for you, Hisamura, is the honest truth."

"…!"

"So… from now on, I'll do my best… to catch up…"

Sei-chan looks up at me with her glistening eyes and says.

"If you're okay with someone like me—I'd be happy to…"

—…! For a second, I couldn't breathe.

I didn't mishear that, did I?

"R-Really? Y-You'll go out with me?"

"…Y-Yes. If you're okay… with someone like me…"

"It's because it's you, Sei-chan, that I want to go out with you."

"…I see."

"S-Seriously…? Sei-chan is going to be… my girlfriend…?"

"Ugh… d-don't say it so bluntly…"

Sei-chan fidgeted, looking down shyly.

I'm… going out with someone as cute as Sei-chan…

I'm going out with Shimada Sei, who I loved even before coming to this world, and who I've come to love even more since arriving here…!

"I'm so happy… I could die…!"

"Kuh… Y-You say things like that out loud too much."

"No, seriously… I could honestly die happy, just knowing I get to go out with Sei-chan…"

"…"

 

As I covered my face with both hands and fanned myself, I felt a gentle tug on the hem of my clothes.

I took my hands away and looked down to see Sei-chan leaning forward more than before, pulling at the hem of my jacket with her fingers.

"D-Don't say you're going to die… Y-You're going to make me happy, right?"

"Let's get married."

"Hweh!?"

"Ah, my mistake. Well, no, it wasn't a mistake."

As far as my feelings go, I seriously want to marry her.

If I'm going to boast about making her happy, I absolutely have to be thinking that far ahead.

"W-Well… I can't give you an answer to that yet… but let's see how compatible we are from now on…"

"…U-Understood…"

Sei-chan was so cute, taking my impulsive words so seriously and replying, that I couldn't help but slip into formal speech.

My girlfriend is so cute it hurts…!

…I-Is Sei-chan really my girlfriend now?

I'm so happy, I could seriously die… No, I won't die.

I'll definitely live and make Sei-chan happy.

Speaking of which, Sei-chan is tugging on the hem of my shirt and is incredibly close to me.

If I leaned forward just a little more, our faces would touch.

Sei-chan must have lost her chance to pull away, because she's right beside me, looking up at my face. When our eyes meet, she looks down, then looks back up again… over and over.

…She's so damn cute.

"Um, is it okay if I sit next to you?"

"…Ah, yeah, of course…"

"…E-Excuse me."

I slowly stood up and sat down next to Sei-chan. The gondola was so small that when we sat together, our shoulders naturally pressed against each other.

"Ngh…"

A small sound escaped Sei-chan when I sat beside her and our shoulders touched.

To think my heart could pound this much just from our shoulders touching…!

The Ferris wheel has already passed its peak and is gradually descending.

I genuinely wish this moment could last forever.

When I glanced at Sei-chan, she must have been looking at me too, because our eyes met.

"Ah…"

Sei-chan let out a small, surprised sound. She averted her gaze for a moment, but then immediately met my eyes again.

Since I'm taller, Sei-chan has to look up at me slightly.

Her face is this close, and my heart is hammering like it's going to burst.

"…Can I hold your hand?"

"…Y-Yes."

Sei-chan moved the hand that was resting on her knee a little closer to me.

Our slightly trembling hands met, and I held hers.

It's so warm. And soft.

I don't want to ever let go.

I really wanted to do the lovers’ handhold, where you interlace your fingers, but I'm honestly still way too nervous for that right now.

Just as I was thinking that, Sei-chan rested her head on my shoulder and leaned against me, entrusting her weight to my body.

A moment ago, it was just our shoulders touching, but now the entire right side of my body is pressed against hers.

"S-Sei-chan-san?"

I was so surprised that I called her by a weird name.

"T-This much is fine, isn't it? We're… a couple, after all…"

"…!"

Ah, crap… She's too cute…

Sei-chan worked up her courage, so I have to work up mine, too.

With that thought, I let go of her hand.

"Eh…?"

I heard Sei-chan's disappointed voice for a second, but I immediately wrapped my arm around her back, took hold of her opposite shoulder, and pulled her closer.

"Ah, nngh…!"

After a slightly happy-sounding noise, a sensual moan escaped her lips… and I just couldn't take it anymore.

"Sorry, uh, Sei-chan… I got a nosebleed…"

"What!?"

I immediately stopped hugging her, covering the blood dripping from my nose with my hand so it wouldn't get on her, and moved away.

Sei-chan, flustered, also moved away and pulled a tissue out of her bag.

"W-Why did you suddenly get a nosebleed…!?"

"Because you're too cute, I guess…"

"…Y-You're going to have to get used to this, you know. If we're going to take things further… n-no, it's nothing!"

"…Sei-chan, are you trying to make me pass out like Yūichi?"

"O-Of course not!"

"Anyway, I need more tissues. What you just said made it worse."

"A-Are you sure your body's okay?"

"I think so. I doubt I'll die from this… though, there was that one guy who almost died from a nosebleed. But mine's not that bad, so I think I'm fine."

It was a rather anticlimactic end… but that's how Sei-chan and I started dating.

<Chapter 3 | Index | Epilogue>