CH 38

Chapter 38 Practice Date with Touko-senpai (Part 5)

We headed further north to “Sparrow Rock” near Taito Station.

This place is located a little south of the southern end of Kujukuri Beach, and is also known as “Married Couple Rock”.

A rock shaped like a cut cake juts out of the sea on a small sandy beach.

“This will be our last spot.”

I said as I got out of the car.

It was already four o’clock in the evening.

“We’ve been to a lot of places. We’ve almost circled the Boso Peninsula.”

Touko-senpai also got out of the car, saying so.

I looked around, but there was no one else besides us.

In front of us was a sandy beach in the shape of a small cove.

A cake-shaped sparrow rock loomed to the left of it.

The tide was low, so it would be easy to climb the rock.

“Would you like to climb it?”

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

“It’s not too steep, you’ll be fine.”

When I got to the bottom of the rock, I held out my hand to Touko senpai.

She grabbed my hand fearfully.

The land side of Sparrow Rock is covered with soil and grass, so it’s not too difficult to climb.

We were soon at the top.

The part of Sparrow Rock that faces the ocean is cut vertically.

When we looked down, we could see that it was getting deeper and deeper, and the dark blue water was washing the rocks like a whirlpool.

“Don’t go too close to the edge.”

Touko-senpai said, so I went back to the front.

The eastern sky was already starting to darken.

I could see a few stars near the horizon.

The brightest one was probably Venus.

Looking at the other side, the sun was about to set over the peaks of the Boso mountains.

Touko-senpai and I sat down side by side on the top of Sparrow Rock, watching the sun set.

“Thank you for spending the day with me today.”

When I said that, Touko-senpai lowered her small head with a smile.

“You’re welcome, thank you too.”

Then she looks up with a bright expression on her face.

“I had fun today. It was more fun than my date with Tetsuya. I felt like I was able to show my true self!”

I laughed bitterly.

“But if he was your real lover, wouldn’t it be a negative thing to mention your ex-boyfriend’s name?”

“Maybe so.”

Then Touko-senpai held her knees with both hands.

“But to tell you the truth, I was a little jealous of you today, Karen. I thought, ‘She’s always on dates like this with you.”

For a moment, I didn’t know what to say.

But I didn’t want Touko-senpai to think that way.

“I don’t come to places like this with Karen. She likes places where she can shop and places that are popular.”

“Is that so? But that’s usually the case.”

When I heard those words, I wondered what kind of date Touko-senpai had with Kamokura.

But I can’t ask that.

I decided to ask her something else.

“You said before that ‘the time comes for couples to think about breaking up in the third month’, didn’t you? Didn’t that come to you, Touko-senpai?”

She put her chin on her knees as if thinking for a moment.

I had been thinking about it for a while, but I thought maybe I was being selfish. Tetsuya also said to me, “Touko is extravagant. I can’t believe you’re not happy with me.” I’ve been told that.”

That’s what I’m talking about, sunny and handsome.

“It was also the time of year when I had some time off for tests. The next one is summer vacation, and there will be club events. If we break up now, it will be awkward after that. so I’ll just wait and see.”

“So how did it go?”

Touko-senpai was silent for a while.

“I saw Tetsuya’s lonely side, and how he always put up a front even though he was lonely. When I saw that part of him, I thought, ‘I wish I could be there for him. ……”

I regretted asking the question.

“Isshiki-kun has a friend called Ishida-kun who he can talk to about anything and who will help him when he’s in trouble. But Tetsuya doesn’t have anyone like that. He can be the center of any group, but he doesn’t have anyone who really cares about him. ……”

The voice of the Touko senpai seemed to fade away.

“Maybe that’s why you want to surround yourself with all kinds of things, like friends who can make the same kind of noise as you, or girls who can make you feel good about yourself. ……”

I was silently looking at Touko-senpai’s profile.

Then she muttered to herself mockingly.

“Maybe I was one of those accessories. An accessory that is a little better looking and can be proud of to others. ……”

Then she buried her face in her lap.

“The truth is, I also had a faint feeling that Tetsuya was having an affair. But Tetsuya is usually very kind to me, and he always puts me first. I guess I was subconsciously trying not to see that. If you hadn’t been with me this time, I would have probably pretended not to see it.”

What should I say to her?

‘I guess it’s only natural for Tetsuya to wear other accessories. I’m sure I wasn’t all that attractive myself.”

“That’s not true!”

I strongly denied it.

“You’re attractive enough, Touko-senpai.”

But she looked at me with sad eyes.

“You’re just talking about your looks. It’s not just about looks, it’s about being a girl …….”

“I find you attractive as a woman. That’s what I’m here to tell you, and that’s why I asked you to go out with me today.”

I then took out my phone and copied out the pictures I had taken of Touko-senpai throughout the day.

“I took a picture of what I thought was wonderful about Touko-senpai for the day. Please take a look at it.”

Then I pulled her shoulder close to mine and we looked at the screen of the phone together.

Touko-senpai looking up at the stone Buddha as if in admiration at Sawayama, Toko-senpai walking hesitantly at Jigoku Peep, Touko-senpai being blown by the sea breeze on the beach, Touko-senpai peering at the fish on the shore, the coincidental scene where they unexpectedly fell into a tide pool and ended up hugging each other, Touko-senpai looking out at the horizon, Touko-senpai fondling the boy with a smile, Touko-senpai licking the soft ice cream with a delicious look.

All of this captures her natural charm.

“I thought that Touko-senpai’s natural appearance, her natural smile, and the way she treats people naturally is the cutest thing. That’s why Toko-senpai is the cutest when she’s acting normally. I find Touko-senpai attractive because she expresses her emotions honestly as she thinks.”

“Thank you for ……. ……”

The profile of Touko-senpai, who was staring at the photo, was glowing orange in the setting sun.

Then she said in a small but clear voice.

“It’s better than any picture I’ve ever had taken.”

After leaving Jakkuiwa, Toko-senpai and I returned to our hometown of Chiba City via the Togane Road from the Sotobo Toll Road.

Just like when we came, Touko-senpai got off at Kemigawahama Station on the JR Keiyo Line.

“I’ll see you at school.”

She said that and got out of the car.

“Yes. Thank you very much for today.”

“No, it was me who should thanking you. It was really fun.”

I’m glad to hear you say so.”

However, although Touko-senpai got out of the car, she did not close the door and remained in the same position.

…… Is there anything more? ……

With that thought in mind, I looked at Touko-senpai.

Touko-senpai also looked at me.

“Isshiki-kun, today’s date: ……”

“Yes?”

After a short pause, she says as if he has made up her mind.

“Yes, I’ll give you ‘Yu’! It’s Yuu from Isshiki Yu.”

she then smiles at me.

“Well then, good night!”

She didn’t wait for me to say anything and slammed the door behind her.

…… “Today’s date” or ……

I thought about this in the car, where the scent of Touko-senpai still lingered.