Vol. 1 Chapter 17 – First Date? (2)

“A gaming cushion…?” (Reiya)

“Yeah, apparently it’s the optimal cushion for gaming, something about ergonomics. Look… if you do this, you can lean back while also having an armrest in front!” (Hikaru)

She demonstrated right in front of me, perhaps having tried it out while I was watching the demo earlier.

She looked like she was having a lot of fun.

“S-Sounds good, doesn’t it? You can use that at home, too.” (Reiya)

‘What kind of bandwagon product is this?’ I thought, but since she seemed to like it, I didn’t say anything.

“Yeah, I thought this would be good since I can use it in Kageyama-kun’s room.” (Hikaru)

“…My room?” (Reiya)

Sensing a subtle discrepancy in our understanding, I asked again.

“Of course, I don’t have games at my place right now. You can’t use a gaming cushion without games, right?” (Hikaru)

She said it with a tone that implied I was asking the obvious.

‘A few months from now, my room won’t actually be filled with her personal belongings, right…?’ A slight worry started to creep in.

“Well, I guess I have space for something that size, so it’s fine, but…” (Reiya)

“Okay, I’ll get this one then!” (Hikaru)

Clutching the cushion as if it were precious, Asahi-san headed towards the register.

‘The fact that she still intends to hang around my room means she still doesn’t see me as a guy, apparently.’

‘I intended to earn more points during this shopping trip, but was it a complete failure…?’

Hanging my head, I followed her, and we paid for our items one after the other.

While waiting in line, I suddenly noticed the gazes of people around us focusing on us.

For a moment, I worried I’d done something wrong, but it was nothing like that.

It was the novelty of a girl overflowing with such a Light Attribute aura being in a space where 90% of the customers were male.

If our positions were reversed, I’m sure I would have stared just the same.

It made me realize once again that she and I lived in different worlds.

After paying, we headed towards the store exit.

“I’m looking forward to playing games using this~!” (Hikaru)

Asahi-san hugged the contents through the bag.

There were probably countless guys in the world who wished they could be that cushion.

“Maybe I’ll get better than usual? Maybe I could even do a SEKIHYO no-death clear!” (Hikaru)

She walked along in such high spirits she looked like she could jump up at any moment.

Watching her like that, I started to feel somewhat happy myself.

That’s why I was a little late in remembering its existence.

“Speaking of which, after this—Whoa!” (Hikaru)

Asahi-san’s right foot caught on the step at the store entrance, and she lost her balance.

“Watch out!!” (Reiya)

I instinctively reached out and grabbed her arm.

Putting what felt like the most strength I’d ever used in my life into it, I supported her body.

I managed to catch her just in the nick of time, preventing a fall.

“A-Are you okay…?” (Reiya)

She hadn’t fallen, but I asked to check on her well-being.

However, before I got a reply, I became aware of an unknown sensation in my hand.

I had grabbed her upper arm with considerable force.

The softness of a girl, experienced for the first time in my life.

Once I became conscious of it, the sensation became increasingly vivid.

Although she was an athlete, she wasn’t particularly muscular; a softness that felt like it would yield with just a little pressure enveloped a core within.

Moreover, looking closely, she had instinctively put her left foot out and supported herself.

‘Impressive, as expected of an athlete,’ I thought, but conversely, it also meant I had touched her unnecessarily.

Instantly, the greatest sense of guilt I’d ever felt washed over me.

Just as I started to think about how to explain myself, I noticed something strange.

Her neck, still not having responded to my question, was beaded with a thin layer of sweat.

“…Asahi-san?” (Reiya)

Letting go of her arm, I called out again while peering at her face.

Her eyes were wide open, and she was staring down at her own feet with a serious expression I had never seen before.

“Hey, Asahi-san… are you really okay?” (Reiya)

At my third inquiry, Asahi-san finally looked at me.

However, her face lacked its usual brightness, instead bearing a gloomy look, as if her heart had been seized.

I intuitively understood that this was no small matter.

“If you hurt yourself somewhere, I’ll lend you my shoulder, let’s go to that bench over—” (Reiya)

“I-I’m fine! Totally fine! I was just a little surprised, that’s all!” (Hikaru)

Cutting me off, she forced a smile and started acting as if nothing had happened.

“…Really? You’re not actually enduring pain or anything?” (Reiya)

“Yeah, really, really. Look, I can walk totally fine. I can even do a turn… see?” (Hikaru)

Saying that, she put on a slightly exaggerated display of her well-being in front of me.

Indeed, she didn’t seem to be hurting anywhere.

“Sorry for making you worry. But really, nothing’s wrong.” (Hikaru)

“Well, if you say so, that’s good, but…” (Reiya)

I felt relieved, but the face I saw earlier was still stuck in my mind.

What was that all about?

Would someone who was truly fine make such a serious face…?

“More importantly! Where should we go next?” (Hikaru)

While I was still pondering my lingering doubts, she suggested this as if nothing had happened.

“Huh? Next?” (Reiya)

Our plan was just the shopping, and I thought we’d part ways after that.

Naturally, I hadn’t thought about any plans beyond that.

“Next is next! Since we came all this way, don’t you want to hang out more? We still have tomorrow off too.” (Hikaru)

“But, don’t you have tennis practice tomorrow too, Asahi-san…?” (Reiya)

“It’s fine, it’s fine! That’s that, this is this! So, is there any good place around here?” (Hikaru)

“There’s an arcade over that way, but…” (Reiya)

“An arcade! That’s a great suggestion! Let’s go, let’s go!” (Hikaru)

Saying that, this time she grabbed my arm and started pulling me along.

It almost seemed like an act to cover up the self she had shown me earlier.

However, since she herself said she was fine, I couldn’t pursue it further.

‘Maybe I was just overthinking it,’ I decided, temporarily putting a lid on my suspicions.