Vol. 2 Chapter 76 – The Irregular Double Date (10)

“We are truly, deeply sorry…!” (Reiya and Hikaru)

Having finished our second trip around, we got off the gondola, and the first thing we did was bow our heads to the other two and offer our sincerest apologies.

“Seriously… you guys are just… Have a little restraint, would ya…?” (Taiju)

“Yes, you are absolutely, completely right…” (Reiya)

To a thoroughly exasperated Taiju-san, I could only apologize profusely.

I was supposed to have come along because I was worried he might do something, but this was the complete opposite.

“W-Well, now… it’s a good thing that you two are getting along so well, and all…” (Ichiru)

“There’s a limit to ‘getting along well,’ you know. Even if we paid for two rounds, we still troubled the attendant…” (Taiju)

“That’s true, but they said they’ve reflected on it, and… for today, at least, how about it?” (Ichiru)

“Well, if Mizumori-san says so…” (Taiju)

Taiju-san had been quite angry, but at Ichiru-san’s single word, he immediately backed down.

“Exactly, exactly! It was such a fun day, so let’s end it on a fun note, okay?” (Ichiru)

“…So, for Mizumori-san’s sake, I’ll let it slide for today, but you two better be careful from now on.” (Taiju)

“Okaaaay… We’re sooorry…” (Hikaru)

“Our bad…” (Reiya)

Bowing our heads again, we apologized to them.

And with that, today’s irregular amusement park date was over… or so I wanted to say—

“By the way, Mizumori-san… a-are you really okay from, uh, from before?” (Hikaru)

“Eh? Ah, yeah. I’m really fine, so don’t worry.” (Ichiru)

“I’m so sorry… It was my carelessness…” (Taiju)

“It’s fine, it’s fine. If anything, we’re the ones who should be thanking you.” (Ichiru)

…Huh? Haven’t those two gotten a little closer?

I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, but I just get that feeling somehow.

Hikaru seemed to be thinking the same thing, giving me a look that said, ‘I wonder if something happened?’

“Ah… um… did something happen while you guys were waiting for us?” (Reiya)

Taking the lead, I asked Ichiru-san—

“…Hm? N-No, nothing happened at all… right?” (Ichiru)

“R-Right… Nothing worth reporting to you guys…” (Taiju)

The two of them exchanged a quick glance and then said so, as if they’d planned it.

…Suspicious.

They’re definitely hiding something, and there’s even an atmosphere about them, like they’re communicating without words.

Hikaru kept shooting me excited glances that clearly screamed, ‘Something definitely happened! This is it!’

“Well then, what was that about an injury?” (Reiya)

“Th-That was just me almost tripping when I was about to get off the Ferris wheel.” (Ichiru)

“Is that really all?” (Reiya)

I asked, putting pressure on them with a fixed, skeptical gaze.

“O-Of course, it is… What else could there be…?” (Taiju)

“Y-Yeah… Nothing really happened, did it?” (Ichiru)

Again, an exchange in a language only understood between the two of them took place.

Yep, suspicious… They’re absolutely hiding something…

Are they hiding the fact that one confessed and they started dating?

Or did they skip all that and actually kiss?

Various suspicions crossed my mind, but the two of them stubbornly refused to talk about it.

After that, Hikaru and I tried our best to get them to spill the beans, but we couldn’t manage it in the short time we had on the way home.

＊＊＊＊＊

I returned home, and the moment I entered my room, I threw myself onto the bed.

“Haaah… I’m beat, seriously…” (Reiya)

I let out a long sigh, as if to rest my exhausted body even a little.

The time was past eight o’clock; nearly twelve hours had passed since I left the house in the morning.

It might honestly be the first time since elementary school that I’ve played under the midsummer sun for this long.

For someone like me, a shut-in at heart, it was a pretty grueling day.

“But… a lot happened, but I guess it was fun, huh…” (Reiya)

The haunted house, and the Ferris wheel at the end.

I went through a few tough spots, but looking back, I think it was incredibly fun.

I hope I can go again someday, maybe just with Hikaru next time…

As I was lost in such thoughts, soaking in today’s memories—

“…Hm? A notification?” (Reiya)

I noticed the Thiscord icon glowing on my computer screen, which had woken from sleep mode.

Is it an invitation to a game from Hikaru, who went home earlier…?

I somehow managed to drag my exhausted body upright, sat in my chair, and picked up the mouse.

“Nuruya, you there?” (B.F. Itsuki)

The sender of the message wasn’t Hikaru, but my internet friend, ‘B.F. Itsuki’-san.

“I'm here, but I'm dead tired today, so gaming right now's a bit much for me.” (Reiya)

“Nah, it's not that... There's something I wanted to talk to you about today...” (B.F. Itsuki)

“Talk? About what?” (Reiya)

This might be the first time he’s started a conversation with such a solemn tone.

I settled back deeper into my chair, preparing myself to listen.

“Actually, today... I went and did... *that*... you know... *that*...” (B.F. Itsuki)

“*That*?” (Reiya)

He’s usually a very direct person, but today, he was strangely hesitant.

“Well... it's that thing where, you know, a guy and a girl... like, hang out together...” (B.F. Itsuki)

“A guy and a girl together, you mean like a date?” (Reiya)

“Mm... Well, it's something that's commonly called that, yeah...” (B.F. Itsuki)

“Heeh... Not bad. Could it be with that person you were talking about before, the one you said was fate or something?” (Reiya)

I recalled the conversation we had in a similar situation before and asked.

“Yeah, well... I guess... It was the person from back then.” (B.F. Itsuki)

“That's amazing, isn't it?” (Reiya)

Last time, it seemed like there was absolutely no chance, so I was surprised things had progressed so unexpectedly.

“I-It's not amazing or anything... It's normal, just normal...” (B.F. Itsuki)

“So, how far did you get on your date today?” (Reiya)

“It's not about how far I got... I wanted to hear your opinion on something related to that...” (B.F. Itsuki)

“What is it?” (Reiya)

“Well... the place was an amusement park, and at the end, we rode the Ferris wheel together...” (B.F. Itsuki)

“Uh-huh, uh-huh... And then?” (Reiya)

While thinking it was a huge coincidence, I also figured it was a pretty standard date spot and let it slide.

“When we were getting off, she caught her foot on a step and almost fell...” (B.F. Itsuki)

“I see, I see... And then?” (Reiya)

So there are other clumsy people out there like Ichiru-san, huh…

“And, at that moment... I instinctively reached out my hand...” (B.F. Itsuki)

“Not bad. But so far, I don't see anything that would require my opinion.” (Reiya)

So far, it was just a simple brag about going on a date with his crush and showing his good side.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but for such a solemn lead-up, the content was rather anticlimactic.

“No, the important part starts now... So, I stopped her from falling, but...” (B.F. Itsuki)

“But...?” (Reiya)

“It was so sudden... so... I went and did something outrageous...” (B.F. Itsuki)

The tragic feeling, as if he were confessing a mortal sin, came through even in his text.

What on earth did he do…?

I held my breath, wondering if he’d caused some kind of fanservice-y manga-like incident—

“I held her hand...” (B.F. Itsuki)

The words that followed were far too underwhelming.

“...And?” (Reiya)

“Not 'and,' her hand! Her hand!” (B.F. Itsuki)

“R-Right...” (Reiya)

“It was just for a moment, but man, it was so warm and soft... But, she just laughed and forgave me... Still, even if it was an accident, as a man, I have to take responsibility, right...?” (B.F. Itsuki)

Are you an elementary schooler?

His view on romance was so shallow, unbecoming of someone older, that I couldn’t help but retort in my mind.

After that, just as I was about to try and sleep again after casually brushing off Itsuki-san, a message arrived, this time from Ichiru-san.

“Reiya-kun, how did you feel when you first held hands with Hikaru-chan?” (Ichiru)

What in the world is going on…?