Chapter 1
(Minamino) Wanna go and eat some crepe?
I received such a message from Minamino on my smartphone two days after that, on Monday after school, while I was getting ready to go home. In response, I quickly replied that I wanted to go.
While looking at her smartphone at her desk, Minamino was exchanging cheerful greetings with other girls and boys heading to their club activities.
I found it quite cowardly that I still hadn't asked Minamino what that kiss had meant. Even on Sunday, I repeatedly tried to send messages but ended up closing the app each time. My thumb seemed to have developed a condition where it couldn't press the send button anymore. And, as it turned out, I didn't receive any messages from Minamino other than that.
I didn't understand the nature of the relationship between Minamino and me. When I encountered Minamino in the morning, she greeted me as if nothing had happened and engaged in conversation with her group of girls as usual. Until last week, we would exchange glances that went unnoticed by others and communicate through subtle gestures. But on that particular day, she didn't even cast a glance in my direction.
I didn't think she hated me. If I were to think that way, given that things happened, I was aware that I would be dragged into darkness if my thoughts took that direction. Just from that one Sunday, my Google search history was filled with phrases like "Reasons to kiss?" and "How to converse after a kiss," and looking back at it was embarrassingly unbearable.
(Minamino) Once you change into casual clothes, let's meet at the convenience store in front of Nishihachi's ticket gate.
A notification sounded.
(Satou) Got it.
I immediately replied. It was ironic that I hesitated to initiate but could respond quickly, clearly highlighting my cowardice.
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I had changed at home and arrived at the convenience store near Minamino's house, which was apparently the only store of its kind in the whole country, located just in front of the station. Since Minamino had mentioned that she was on her way, I thought she might already be there. As I looked around the store, I didn't see anyone who seemed like her.
Although it was after school, except for the time with Shiro, this was the first time Minamino and I were going out together for something other than street basketball.
(...This is definitely a date, right?)
The events from Saturday when I met Kanazaki, Minamino's words after that, my internal monologue – all of it was etched into my memory. But my mind was currently dominated by thoughts of Minamino to the extent that it overwrote everything else.
Maybe that was why I suddenly caught a whiff of Minamino's scent. I glanced around, but all I saw were a salaryman, two elementary school boys who had just dismounted their bicycles, and a high school girl with glasses and braided hair slightly looking with her head down.
It was a bit embarrassing to think that I could sense her fragrance just because I was overthinking about her. But my brain seemed reluctant to forget that scent.
(...Hm?)
Feeling something amiss, I looked around again. Minamino wasn't in sight, and the salaryman and elementary school boys from earlier had vanished. The only person standing there was the high school girl with glasses and braids, engrossed in her smartphone.
"Minamino?"
Why was I saying that? My mouth had uttered her name without my intention. In response, the girl's shoulders twitched, and she looked down.
"...Kuku, you caught on, huh?"
A voice that couldn't hold back laughter — unmistakably Minamino's — reached my ears.
"...Eh?"
I stared at the girl who was now looking right at me. Upon closer inspection, I recognized her eyes behind the glasses. The hairstyle and clothing were changed, even her overall atmosphere was different, but it was unmistakably Minamino.
"Sup, been a while since we met this Saturday… or rather I guess we did see each other at school."
"Is it really you, Minamino? That outfit, the glasses and your hairstyle..."
As I said that, Minamino showed a slightly displeased expression.
"Ehh, that's what you want to confirm? Well, see, this disguise is really good. Even though I wandered around the station near the school, no one recognized me, so I was pretty confident about it... Honestly, I thought Satou might notice, and when you did, it made my girly side kinda happy."
Laughing with an "ehehe," in that unfamiliar appearance really made me think it was no doubt Minamino.
I immediately decided that I would take the secret of recognizing her from her scent to my grave.
"Still, I was quite surprised. It made me think, 'Did Minamino have bad eyesight? Or rather, is she going for a complete makeover?' I was honestly a little taken aback."
"Fufu, well, first things first, let's go have some crepes. Come on, this way."
Saying that, Minamino quickly took my hand and started walking. Contrary to my racing heart, Minamino seemed completely at ease, and I was left even more confused about what was actually going on.
But even though her appearance had changed, the feeling of her hand had the same warmth that I had felt when she held my hand on that day. It was a sensation that brought about a complex feeling in me — a heart pounding yet calm sensation that I had never experienced before.
Despite it being early for sunset, the sun was gently casting a reddish hue on my cheeks.
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[T/N: Thank you so much for the very generous tip, RobertJay! (1/7)]
