The days pass into the next as the dawn of the Culture Festival's right around the corner. With tomorrow being the weekend, I double check everything to ensure things would run smoothly as planned.
In the end. Himeko-san really did ask me to the dance just as Tsuchida-san mentioned. I was shocked that she predicted such a thing, I was glad that she asked. And perhaps, if I never met Tsuchida-san, I would've accepted merely on the thought of enjoying the dance together. To celebrate our efforts.
But. My heart was at a different place. So I respectfully declined as she replied with a small smile. Our relationship isn't anything special, but she's one of the few people I feel comfortable around. If it weren't for her, my job would've been more difficult.
"Thanks for your hard work, and, sorry again for declining."
"It's okay."
Standing by the door to the SRC room, Himeko-san looked back at me as she flips her long hair.
"I kind of expected it anyway. Naoko-kun's kind of a dunce, so much as to decline to dance with me."
"Haha, I'll make it up to you sometime. I'll treat you to something."
"You sure will. I won't accept anything less than three beef bowls."
Accompanied by a casual laugh, we wave our goodbyes. But just as I rise from my seat, Himeko-san peeks back in.
"Oh, and I almost forgot. One of your cute juniors wanted me to give something to you."
Rummaging through her bag, she reveals a clear bag of cookies with an envelope attached to the side.
"Aren't you the lucky one, having a cute junior make you cookies. And it's not even valentines."
"Ah, thanks for holding on to them."
I meet her by the door as she places them in my hands.
"She's the one you have your eyes on, isn't it?~ Come on, out with it you playboy. Your targets are always our cute little juniors.~"
Nudging my arm with her elbow; in truth, when we're alone she enjoys teasing and pulling pranks.
"You know it's not like that."
"Hehe, I feel bad for them. Falling for such a lummox like you. In the end I always have to comfort them when you break their heart."
"Idiot. As if it's anything like that seve-"
About to shrug away from her, in the corner of my eye, a small head peeks pass the middle of the hallway where the staircase is located. Just as our eyes meet, they duck back as their footsteps quickly descend.
"That was her, you should go after her, Nao-kun."
"Yeah, thanks."
Stuffing the cookies into my bag, I race up to catch her.
...
"Tsuchida-san!"
Just before she could leave the school building, she stops just by the door before looking back after a brief pause.
"Senpai. H-Hello, how are you?"
"Not too bad. Just finished with SRC work, how about you? Clubs just finished?"
"N-No... we didn't have clubs today..."
Despite revealing so much of ourselves, a certain awkwardness drifts through the air.
"I see. And? How's home feel like now?"
"It's... not too bad... We're going to watch a movie, after dinner..."
Since that day. We didn't speak to each other, perhaps it was for the best. Now that she knows someone in her life legitimately loves her, there's no need for me.
"And, umm... Mama said, Senpai can come too... If he's free. She said, she wanted to thank him."
"It's all right, I didn't do it to be thanked. In fact, I don't deserve a thanks. I just did it because I wanted to."
"Mm.. I thought you'd say that, but," waddling towards me, the shyness of her still remains as I find it rather comedic compared to how hysterical she can get, "Here..."
Taking hold of my hand, she firmly clutches it with both of hers as she presents a rather soft fabric before taking a few steps back.
"This is... eh."
Panties. She just gifted me panties like one would hand out discount coupons.
"Are you insane!?"
Fumbling around, I stuff it in my pocket out of pure reflex. It's not because I want her panties or anything.
Giggling to herself, she raises the side of her skirt just a bit before placing her finger against her lip.
"Senpai, just what are you doing?~ Now I'm not wearing anything under at all."
"You know just how much trouble you'd be in if someone were to see?"
"Hehe, don't mind that, Senpai. The only one who's allowed to look is you."
While it is hard to change a persons behavior. A part of my believed this side of her would change in time. But I guess not.
"Hahh... It's not like that was the pair you were wearing right? If so the surface wouldn't be cool to the touch."
"That's true, and would you like to know why? It's because this morning I-"
"I'd rather not hear the details, if this persists I'd really file a report to my superiors."
"Blehh... Senpai's no fun at all when he's not flustered over panties."
I feel like she has a deranged image of me. She's not going to let me live down having a certain person's picture in my smartphone. But after that incident, several risque images of her found its way into my gallery. What a pain.
"..."
As our chatter returns to silence, not one of us utters a word. In truth, I'd like to know more about her situation, however, I'm not so sure where I stand with her now.
"Senpai. I know you don't want to hear this, but... I still love you. I thought, Senpai would hate to see me again, which is why... I couldn't come to see you, no matter how much I wanted to. But I watched over you... And, Senpai seemed to be getting along just fine."
"I can't afford to dawdle too long. It's almost the Culture Festival after all. I want it to be perfect, for myself and everyone."
"Mm, but.. Senpai, do you hate me? Do you hate girls like me?"
"I don't hate you. If I did then, I wouldn't have gotten involved."
"Mm, hehe... That's enough for me."
"And, Tsuchida-san. I'm sorry, about what happened."
Referring to the fact I forced myself on her for a moment, perhaps a different method would've worked as effectively. But at the time, that was the only idea present.
"About what hap-... Oh, no no... It's okay, I-umm, it made me realise something important. It really hurt... but after giving it some thought, I'm glad that happened. But, say, Senpai..."
Placing the tip of her finger against her lower lip, she slowly traces it towards the side.
"Would you like to continue from then?~"
"Idiot."
She casually laughs it off before hopping back a few steps.
"Hehe. It was worth a try, but... Thank you, Senpai. For everything you've done for me. I'm glad it was you who chose to speak to me. I'm glad you were the one I fell in love with. From now, I'll be sure to keep a distance from you."
"We can still chat about things if you'd like."
"No no, it's okay," shaking her head, she reveals a small smile before placing her hand against her heart, "I'm okay now, Senpai. Thanks to you, I know my parents really do care for me; and not because they feel obligated to."
"Is that so. But, don't you think you need to make it up to me somehow?"
"S-Senpai wants something? ...But, I don't have anything you want..."
"The dance. After that we can become strangers again if you'd like. I declined Himeko-san's offer so it'd be strange if it weren't because I already had plans."
Her eyes widen in shock as she quickly darts her eyes before gazing at the ground.
"E-Ehh? B-But... Senpai, are you sure? ...I'll get the wrong idea... because I'm a dummy. You know that don't you?"
"You're right about that, but even so, I realised something by being with you," cautiously taking steps towards her, I think back to our encounter earlier in the year, "I thought all I needed from school, was good grades and making an impact to solidify my future. At least, that was until I met you. From it, I realised I was missing a certain aspect in my life. I never experienced love. I thought I didn't need it, but... I guess I don't hate it, this feeling."
"S-Senpai... I- b-but... I can't... You can't..."
She takes on step back out of reflex as I approach her before stopping a few feet away.
"If you say such things Senpai... I-I don't know what to do. Is it okay..? I love you, I want to be with you... But at the same time, I'm scared... I'm scared, that you'll come to hate me... Because, Senpai knows who I really am... Don't you remember what I did to you? Don't you hate what I did?"
"At that time, I was shocked to see you act the way you did. I didn't think you were that sort of person. But, it's not like I hate you for it. Water under the bridge, you know? Although, if that sort of thing happens again. I'd like you to hold back."
"But what if I can't? Even now... I still, I still want to do things to you."
Tears stream down her face as she attempts to wipe them clean.
"If you're holding back, then that's fine. I'll figure something out in the end. So," taking out the tickets for the bonfire dance, I hold it out to her, "Will you dance with me, Tsuchida-san?"
Looking to me in shock, perhaps my message came across well as she smiles brightly, despite the tears continuing to fall.
"Yes... Yes, I will!"
Disregarding my offering hand, she leaps at me before wrapping her arms around me.
"Thank you, Senpai. Thank you, Uehara-senpai!"
...
....
As the nightly winds bring a chill breeze, the heat of the bonfire makes it so the students aren't so cold that they won't be able to enjoy the folk dance. Surrounded by an abundant of students paired off with each other, I stand by Tsuchida-san as we slowly dance, step by step. I attempt to not step on her if I can help it, however, I'm unable to determine just where she'd be; unable, to properly match her movement.
"This isn't how you'd imagine it, is it?"
"Hehe, no no, it's better.~ I'm able to hold Senpai right here, at the dance."
Dancing to the crackling of the fire, it's at times drowned out by the nervous laughter of others. Being in the middle of it all, I never thought I'd enjoy it. Back then, all I believed that waited for me during the Culture Festival was watching over others enjoying themselves and feel a sense of satisfaction from it. I'm sure I would have still felt that way, but, If I never met Tsuchida-san, I'd probably still be making my runs around campus.
"Senpai?"
Almost at the end of the dance; from one pair to another, we stop as our hands are still intertwined. Watching the bonfire that continues to burn brighter, she calls out to me.
"I wanted to ask... Senpai, why did you call out to me that day? When you invited me to the dance... is it because..." her grip against my hand grows firmer as I'm sure her head is still filled with doubts, "Is it because Senpai-"
"---Those who dance together are then bounded by fate; a red string as bright as the bonfire which they dance around. After graduating from school they'll eventually end up married. Or so they say, it's a popular rumor among your year. You've heard of it, haven't you?"
"O-Of course... If you dance with them, you'll end up married right after graduation..."
"Straight after? Sounds a little far-fetched, right? And I'd still have to wait for you to graduate as well then."
"Mm... I st-"
Her face flushes before hand as she then looks to me in shock before returning to the bonfire.
"S-Senpai... then you- Doesn't that mean... you want to be with me?"
"You figured that out just now?"
I figured it was obvious enough to tell by reading between the lines. For someone like her, I thought she'd picked it up prior to this day. We did things that even normal couples haven't and seen each other for what we really are.
"I-It's because Senpai's always beating around the bush.. You still haven't told me yet. But even so... I still couldn't really figure out the reasons behind your intentions... Whether or not you truly loved me, or if... You felt like it'd be nice to experience, love."
"Hahh... is it that complex?"
"It is! To me..."
"I love you, Tsuchida-san. I want to marry you. Is that enough for you to believe me?"
Her cheeks fluster even more as the heat radiating from her is enough to rival the bonfire. Even her hands were getting a bit clammy as her grip trembled more.
"Mm... it, it is..."
Suddenly pulling away from me, she rises up onto her toes while bringing her hands against my cheeks before pulling me into her. And soon, we exchange a kiss. Unlike the last time, it's enough to pump adrenaline through my body as a tugging feeling surfaced from within my stomach. Being so close to her, it's as though I could feel our hearts beating in sync.
Our act lasted for a brief moment, however, the feeling only continued to linger and grow stronger with each passing second. Attracting the gaze of the surrounding students, silence fills the air.
"Uehara-senpai, I love you!!"
With a bright smile that seals our future together, it's enough to pull against my heart as I almost let it get the better of me. However, it wasn't enough to stop the stray tear that dropped.
"Yeah. Thank you, Tsuchida-san."
A future that devotes itself to the loving warmth of another.
A future that devotes itself to work and the satisfaction of building a company from the ground up.
There's no reason to choose between the two. With the support of her, I'm sure my future has become brighter.
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