CH 3

“……S-study session. Would you like to have one?”

At that time. I couldn’t believe my ears.

“……Study session?”

“Y-yes……. A study session. If Minori kun is free this weekend.”

That means…..meeting with Shinonome at a place other than the train, right?

I’m a little surprised. So I thought about it.

It would also be part of overcoming her fear of men. Maybe it’s also that she enjoys teaching and studying more than I thought she would.

Well, whatever. There’s no reason to say no–

No, wait. I think it’s rude if I said that.

“Yeah, I’m free. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

I’m also glad that she invited me.

As I said so. Shinonome seemed somewhat relieved….she loosened her cheeks.

“I’m glad to hear that…..”

Then she placed her hands on her chest and breathed out a sigh of relief.

◆◆◆

“Hey, you want to have a study session this weekend?”

“…Sorry, I have something to do that day.”

I replied to Eiji’s invitation. Then, Eiji grinned and said, 

“Is it a woman !? Am I right !?”

“….No.”

This is bad, I forgot to think of an excuse. I forgot to think of an excuse.

I looked away from Eiji. Then he responded with [Right?].

“What the hell, just tell me. If there’s a girl you like. I’ll help you, you know? I may look like this, but when I was in middle school, I was called [Ei chan, the Cupid].”

“I told you it’s not like that……and you don’t look like a good candidate for Cupid.”

Oh, that’s right. Even though I had something I wanted to talk to him about…….

Should I tell him about that thing? I’m not sure what to do. I threw away the idea immediately.

At that time. Shinonome was afraid that the fact that she had been molested would be revealed. Of course, I wouldn’t want people to talk about it.

…..Besides that, I feel like there’s a reason she doesn’t want it to be revealed. That’s why she asked me to hide it.

“…….That aside. What do you think I should wear when I go out with a girl?”

I was very bitter when I said it. Eiji’s cheeks turned into a smile as if he was amused.

“Grin, grin.”

“Don’t put words into words. It’s disgusting.”

“Oh, so harsh. Well, it doesn’t matter where you hang out. If you’re going to an amusement park, you might want to wear something a little more comfortable so it’s easier to move around.”

“It’s not that…it’s about the study session.”

“Study session at your house !?”

“No. I haven’t decided the place, but it’s not like that. By the way, we don’t have any romantic feelings ……We’re friends.

I said as I corrected Eiji’s words. Then Eiji let out a sigh.

“You know,……, by the way. Is there only the two of you in the study session?”

“For the moment, yes.”

“So you do have a romantic interest ! ! ! !:

“I’m telling you, I’m not.  …..There’s a lot going on. Also, your voice is loud.”

I’m not talking about romantic interest or something like that.

As I said earlier, I have no romantic feelings for Shinonome, nor she is.

Then Eiji……he looked at me with amusement.

“Well, there are relationships that begin without you realizing it.”

“…..Just say whatever you want. Instead, can you tell me about earlier?”

“Hm? Oh, that’s right. If it’s just for studying, you can dress casually. …Matching the other person’s clothes is also not bad. Do you have an idea what she might wear?”

The kind of clothes she might wear….  Obviously, it’s uniforms. If I had to guess, I’d say ……

“…Kimono?”

“What kind of Yamato Nadeshiko is she?”

Well she did a tea ceremony and such,……,when I swallowed my words. Eiji let out a sigh.

“I don’t have much time this weekend. ….I’m also busy. Oh, that’s right. There’s a new clothing store in front of the station, right?”

“Oh,……,that reminds me.”

“My sister works there. She has the best fashion sense. I’ll tell her about it and you can go there when you’re free.”

It’d be rude if I said I was surprised, but Eiji gave me some good advice.

“I’ll make sure to talk to her.”

“Y-yeah……that’s very helpful. Thank you.”

“Don’t mind it. Good luck with the date, okay?”

“It’s not a date. Well, I’ll do my best.”

Don’t screw up. ……It’s not like I want to be liked, but I don’t want to be hated either.

Then, after Eiji gave me some advice. I decided to go.

◆◆◆

“……I. I don’t have any clothes to hang out with people”.

The next morning. Shinonome was the first one to say so.

“…..You don’t have any? Not even one?”

“Y-yes….um, I do have one, but it’s too exaggerated for me to go out with it.”

My cheeks twitched. While wondering if this is something you would say to another person. But. Come to think of it, I remembered that Shinonome doesn’t have any friends.

“……By the way, do you have any money?　Of course, it doesn’t have to be now.”

“Yes, I have some just in case.”

“……There’s a clothing store near the nearest station to my high school. The staff there is said to have good taste in fashion, so if you ask them to leave it to them, they’ll probably be able to handle it.”

I told her exactly what Eiji told me. …..Well, the staff at the clothing store must be very fashionable. So it won’t be a problem.

“I-I see……by the way, which station is it?”

“The next station after you get off.”

“……”

In response to my words, Shinonome seemed to think a little…….

“……U-um, if you don’t mind.”

“Yeah. I don’t mind.”

I know what she was trying to say. I nodded.

“You’re buying clothes, right? I was going to buy some clothes there as well.”

I feel like there’s a lot of things that will be meaningless, and maybe Eiji will find out about this.

Well, when the time comes. I’ll try to deceive him.

“Well then. On the way home, can we meet at the station where I got off? Or would you prefer tomorrow?”

“Y-yes ! Today is good ! Thank you !”

Shinonome is probably afraid to go alone. If she’s this beautiful, she might get hit on.

…..Come to think of it.

“Hey, Shinono—“

When I tried to call her name. We arrived at the station.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. I’ll ask you later.”

“I understand. I’ll see you after school today…….”

“Yeah. I’ll be waiting.”

It’s nothing urgent. Let’s ask her after school.

I nodded. I raised my hand to Shinonome, who waved slightly at me. I followed her figure with my eyes.

◆◆◆

“…Now then. I wonder when she will come.”

After school. I was waiting in front of the station. ……And at the same time. I’ve been doing some thinking.

It’s obvious. But there are a lot of students from my school. If Shinonome got here. A lot of people would notice her.

If I am seen meeting with Shinonome…..

I broke into a cold sweat unintentionally. …..It’s not like I intend to do something bad.

“…..There you are, Minori kun.”

–At that time. I was called from behind. My heart beats with a thump.

“….S-Shinonome. You surprised me.”

When I turned around……,Shinonome was there.

Then……Shinonome chuckled.

“I’m sorry. I was a little curious. ….So you can be surprised too, Minori kun. It’s the first time I saw it.”

“O-of course. Seriously. I thought my heart would stop.”

While saying that…..I looked at Shinonome again.

Compared to the first time. I felt that her expression became varied. ….No, I don’t think it’s just my imagination.

“….? What’s wrong? You’re staring at me.”

If you’re pointing at people, they might get offended. I shook my head.

“….No, it’s nothing. We’re starting to stand out, so let’s go for now.”

“O-okay. I understand.”

People around me said,

[H-hey. Is that……] [Ice princess?] [Who’s that next to her?].

We left as if to escape from them. Then……From the looks of it, it didn’t look like anyone we knew was there. Well, just worry about that later.

“I think this is the place.”

“…..It’s a place with an atmosphere I haven’t been to very often.”

“I agree.”

The clothing store had a very fashionable atmosphere. …..It seems like it’s still too early for a high school student to go there, though. Maybe because I’m an indoor person.

When I opened the door nervously, the bell rang.

Then a woman came from the counter.

She wore her chestnut colored hair in a ponytail and looked lively……when I looked at the name tag, I recognized that she was Eiji’s sister.

“Welco….me.”

The woman smiled and…..froze for a moment.

“So c-cute……!”

After muttering that, she looked at us and her eyes lit up.

“Wow ! You’re so cute ! A high school couple? Young and innocent !”

“N-no, it’s…”

“Oh, could it be you’re the friend Eiji was talking about? Hee……you get someone who’s really cute.”

“Um, the thing is.”

“Yeah, clothes, right? I never thought that the two of you would come together. Don’t worry. I’ll choose the right one for you.”

No good.  She didn’t listen to me one bit. When I looked at Shinonome, as if troubled a little….she nodded.

Let her do whatever she wants for now.

I’ll explain later.

And then……the staff took me and Shinonome to the back.