Volume 1 - CH 1.4

After that, I entrusted Misono and Shiho to the second-year girls in the same department, and I joined the group where Sane was. I looked at Misono from time to time and was relieved to see that she did not have the troubled expression on her face that she had when she was surrounded by the boys.

Almost every time I looked at her, my eyes met Misono’s, and the way she sometimes smiled and sometimes giggled made me look at her even more.

Perhaps it was because of this circumstance that the party came to an end in no time, and everyone left the venue. However, those who were going to the after-party and those who were going home did not show any sign of leaving the venue. I was one of them, but I was still in the afterglow of the party.

“Makimura-senpai.”

In the midst of all this, I was called and when I looked back, Misono was there. Further back, Shiho was talking with a group of second-year girls, and it seemed that Misono had found me and slipped out of the group.

“What’s wrong?”

“Are you going to the after-party, Makimura-senpai?”

“I have a part-time job tomorrow, so I’m going home.”

“I see. Oh! I’m going home too, so may I join you until halfway?”

Misono’s smile glowed with happiness. I had thought that “Can I talk to you again?” was just lip service, but when she smiled at me like this, it made me happy.

“I’m fine, but you don’t want to go to the after-party over there?”

“Yes. I’m not sure if Shii-chan will be able to attend the after-party because she has a bus to catch, so I thought I’d go home too.”

“After all, it’s Saturday.”

The last bus on Saturday is at 10 p.m because this area is relatively rural. It is now past 8.30 p.m., so there is not enough time to go and enjoy the after-party.

“How about you, Misono? Which direction is your house?”

“It’s about five minutes from the front gate.”

“Then it’s the same direction as mine. I’ll drop Shiho off at the bus stop and then take you home until halfway.”

“Is that okay? Thank you.”

There are fewer streetlights when you walk a little further away from the university, so if it were a five-minute walk, I would actually want to take her to her home. However, no matter how happy Misono was, I don’t think she would want a man she had just talked to for the first time today to accompany her home.

“Oh, I’ll go get Shii-chan then.”

“Yeah, okay. I’m not in a hurry, so take your time and greet the others.”

“Yes, thank you. Makimura-senpai.”

Misono, with gently narrowed eyes, gave a polite bow and left, as I expected. As I watched her figure from behind, I thought to myself, she really has beautiful manners.

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

As a part of the group heading for the after-party started to move and the whole group started to leave the venue, Misono and Shiho came up to me after greeting the others.

“No, not at all. Shall we go then?”

“Yes. Thank you very much.”

We just walk the same way home, but for some reason, Misono smiled happily and bowed her head.

“If Shiho commutes to campus by bus, does that mean you live at your parents’ house?”

As the three of us, Misono, Shiho, and I walked side by side, I thought I should offer a topic of conversation as a senior, so I chose a safe topic.

“Yes. I have to take the bus to the station and then take the train. If the timing is good, it’s about 45 minutes for one way.”

“It’s hard.”

“When you say it’s hard, it’s hard, but living alone is harder, isn’t it? Right, Misono.”

“Hmm. I don’t know. I, on the other hand, don’t know how hard it is to commute to campus from home.”

“That may be true, but it’s hard to do housework and so on, isn’t it?”

“I wonder if it’s hard. I like cooking and other things are not too much trouble. Yeah. I think it is harder to commute to campus from home because of the commuting time and the morning and evening rush hours.”

When I think back to my first half month of college, I feel like I still enjoyed housework, or perhaps I should say the almightiness of living alone. Now that it has become a habit, it is not a troublesome task, but it is not enjoyable either.

“Did you hear that? She’s trying to make herself look like a proper housewife.”

“No, it’s not like that! It’s not like that!”

Misono hurriedly denies Shiho’s teasing, but for some reason, her direction is toward me.

“It’s really not like that,” she said. The way she looked at me with her upturned eyes, combined with her vermilion-tinted cheeks, was really not good for my heart.

“Don’t worry, I know. Misono is not the type that would do something like that.”

“Makimura-senpai…..thank you very much.”

Misono let out a small breath as if she were relieved and squinted her eyes happily. I also think that she has a lot of emotional expressions like this, but I have the strong impression that she is a nice girl, even though I have only been in contact with her for a short time. I don’t think she would lie, and I don’t think she has the personality to go out of her way to make an appeal. Especially since I was the only man here.

“So, in the end, Misono is a natural housewife, is that correct?”

“I think so. She seems to be good at housework.”

“No, it is nothing at all.”

Although she was being modest, her expression was happy, and I could tell she was good at that.

After that, we walked around talking about the welcome party and arrived at the bus stop just outside the main gate. During the daytime on weekdays, there are always students waiting for the bus, but on Saturday night, no one seems to be heading for the station.

“What time are you taking the bus?”

“I think it’s —— at 9:02 p.m.”

“We still have to wait about ten minutes then?”

“Ah. You don’t have to wait with me and all. You can use that time to take Misono home.”

If it had been just Misono and Shiho, I think Misono would have waited at the bus stop with her. And even though it was bright near the bus stop, I felt a little uncomfortable leaving a girl alone. So I thought about waiting together here, but Shiho took the initiative.

“It’s not good, Shii-chan. Makimura-senpai, as for me, I’ll be fine up to here.”

“Just have him take you home. It’s fine for you, isn’t it, Makki-san? I think ten minutes is enough, you can make it to Misono’s house and back here.”

I was perfectly fine with that, and I would rather not let her walk along the street at night by herself. However, as I thought about earlier, I was hesitant to accompany her to her house.

So I ask Shiho in a way that Misono can’t hear me, “Wouldn’t Misono hate it if I accompanied her home?” Then Shiho looked at me with astonished eyes, sighed, and called Misono over to her and whispered in her ear.

“No way I would hate it! Ah……”

“That is, so please take her home.”

Misono, who denied it in a loud voice, turned her face down slightly, her cheeks tinted with embarrassment, while Shiho looked at me and smiled triumphantly.

“Okay. I’ll take Misono home. Is that okay?”

“T-Thank you very much.”

“No problem.”

“But only after we’ve seen the bus off. Is that okay with you, Misono?”

“Yes. Of course.”

Now it’s my turn to smile triumphantly. Shiho smiles bitterly, as if she’s giving up.

The ten minutes until the bus arrived passed quickly as we continued to talk about the welcome party.

“Thank you very much. Makki-san. Please take care of Misono for me. See you later, Misono.”

“Yeah, good night. Shii-chan.”

“Be careful.”

The 9:02 pm bus departed from the bus stop in front of the university one minute late. Shiho waved to her from inside the bus and Misono waved to her from outside, and I was a little embarrassed, so I only raised my hand slightly.

“Well, let’s go then. Are you okay this way?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

After nodding to me as I pointed in the direction of the bus, Misono bowed politely again. I could tell she must have been raised in a good family.

“Did you have fun today?”

In truth, I probably shouldn’t be asking these things as a senior. Because you wouldn’t be able to say so even if you weren’t having fun. But from the time we left the boarding house until now, Misono has always had a smile on her face. She was troubled at the beginning, but overall, I’m sure she had a good time.

“Yes. It was fun, and I’m still happy now.”

“Then good,” To be honest, I don’t know what the “I’m still happy now,” means, but it seems that the welcome party itself was a good memory for her. When Misono replied with a big smile on her face, I was happy as well.

“Which way do you take at that traffic light?”

I pointed to a junction a little further down the street.

“It’s to the left, and then right at the next intersection.”

“Got it.”

I had a vague idea of where Misono lived. It was a five-minute walk from the main gate, the direction, and her good upbringing. It was probably the most expensive place around the university.

“Um, Makimura-senpai.”

“Yeah?”

Just before the junction of the street, when I looked at Misono, who called out to me after a short silence, my eyes met with hers as she looked up at me. Her nervous expression and upturned eyes are irregularly cute. I desperately try to hold back the urge to look away.

“Umm, you know. I was……umm wondering if you could tell me your contact information.”

Misono, with even her ears, flushed red, looked away from me, then looked at me again, repeatedly, until she finished.

“Let’s see…….”

I stopped before the traffic light because I couldn’t answer right away, and with my fingers on the edge of my pocket, I couldn’t look straight at Misono’s face. However, I saw a sidelong glance at Misono, who looked like she was about to be crushed by nervousness, and she looked clearly relieved when I guiltily reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone.

But can we exchange contact information here? That would be an act of tying her up. If I exchanged contact information with Misono, it would make it harder for her to quit Cultural Committee if she wanted to quit in the future. Even if I was hesitant to tell her because of that, it would be hard for her to say that she would stop asking me for my contact information then. That said, I don’t want to say no without saying something.

“Makimura-senpai.”

While I was wondering what should I do, Misono smiled gently and called out to me.

“Are you thinking that maybe I’ll quit? I’m not going to quit.”

“Why would you—”

Did you know what I was thinking?

My reaction must have revealed that her prediction was correct. Misono continues her words with a gentle smile on her face.

“I heard from my friend. Oh, it’s not Shii-chan. She said that if you join a circle and immediately exchange contact information with a senior member, it will be difficult to quit. So I was wondering if Makimura-senpai might have been considerate of me, since he is a kind person.”

“Actually, I think it does make it more or less harder to quit.”

I enjoy the activities of the Cultural Committee, but I know that it is not always about fun.

The Cultural Festival Executive Committee is elected from each department and major, and the total number of students on the committee exceeds 100. However, the number of first-year students is decreasing as the festival activities are getting more and more serious after the new students’ welcome party is over.

With meetings twice a week and signboard-making work on weekends, less than half of the freshmen will be left by the time of the festival in November. It was the same last year, and it will definitely be the same this year.

“I’m not going to quit.”

“Not now, but—”

“No, I won’t quit. I came here last year to see the festival at this university.”

Misono interrupts my words and continues with a smile. Her voice was quiet, yet firm.

“I also saw that the committee members were very tired. Even so, they all looked very happy and contented. So I decided to study hard for the exams and definitely join the executive committee. So I will not quit, even if it is not easy.”

Misono stated it clearly, then added shyly, “Though not only that.”

“Misono……”

I thought she was a nice girl. But time is finite. Since Cultural Committee’s activities are not obligatory, she would naturally quit if she could do other things she wanted to do. Studying, circles, part-time jobs, and many other things.

College students have a wide range of activities, which is why I unconsciously thought that Misono was a freshman who might eventually quit. I was embarrassed by that, but at the same time, I felt very dazzled by her looking straight at me.

“I thought it was for the sake of the first-year students, but I wasn’t thinking about Misono at all.”

“Then, please think about me properly from now on.”

After saying that with a slightly mischievous smile, Misono added, “Besides,”

“You’re taking me home, so what’s the problem with at least giving me your contact information?”

“Ah……you’re right.”

That makes it much harder to quit. Misono giggles, clamping her mouth shut, and her dark brown hair shakes slightly.

“Then, since that is the case,”

“Okay.”

After exchanging contact information with face-blushing Misono, she uttered in a whispery voice, “I’m so glad,” as she held her phone close to her chest.

It was clear from the way Misono looked at the phone that she did not mean for me to hear those words, and that is why I was so surprised by her joyful expression.

“From now on, we’ll be getting into the real work, so if there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask me.”

“Yes. Thank you very much. Please teach me well.”

Misono tilted her head slightly, and smiled happily and cutely at me as I lightly waved my phone.

Unlike me, this girl is sociable, so she will probably get along with the female seniors soon and I will have no role to play. But until then, I would like to return this smile.

After that, I took Misono to her place, which was just as I had expected. I had heard that the rent was 70,000 yen, and it was a type of apartment for female students with an automatic lock, which is not common for students near universities. By the way, the rent of my apartment is 45,000 yen.

“Please come visit me sometime.”

“Whenever I have a chance.”

“Yeay. Promise?”

In Cultural Committee, the distance between boys and girls is very close. It is not that unusual for a boy and a girl who are not lovers to play together, but the place is basically at the boy’s house, and if it is a girls-only place with an automatic lock, the hurdle is quite high for me to visit here. Misono seemed strangely happy about it, but I don’t think it would be possible with my mental state.

“Well, then,”

“Yes.”

In front of the automatic door at the entrance, Misono’s expression clouded for a moment, but she immediately smiled brightly and looked up at me.

“Thank you for taking me home.”

“You don’t have to worry about it at all. My house is also relatively close in this direction.”

“Still, I’m very glad you took me home. I was also grateful for your help at the welcome party, and……no. Anyway, the reason I came home feeling so happy today is because of you, Makimura-senpai.”

“……I didn’t do anything special, but I’m glad Misono enjoyed it.”

Her straightforward words made me a little embarrassed, so I looked away.

“Yes. I really enjoyed it……Oh, I’m sorry. I held you here.”

“No, not at all. I’m not in a hurry.”

There is really no need to be in a hurry, and I don’t think I am being held back, but on the other hand, it is a situation where I am holding Misono back.

“Well, however, I’m going to go home. See you later.”

“Yes. Good night. Makimura-senpai. Be careful.”

“……Yeah, good night, Misono.”

When was the last time I said goodnight to someone? At least I never have since I started college, and I think this is the first time I’ve said it to anyone other than my family. I just wanted to return the words to Misono, who bowed her head in a beautiful way.

After that, I went home and took my phone out of my pocket, and was about to throw it on my bed when I saw a single notification on my Messages app.

《Thank you very much for today. Thanks to Makimura-senpai, I had a good time. Please take care of me from now on. Kimioka Misono.》

“That’s very typical of her.”

The thank you message was simple but polite, and it naturally made me smile.

《Same here. Makimura Tomoki.》

I spent some time worrying about the text to send back, but in the end, I sent it with just a simple line and my name in it, copying Misono. I felt that it would be counterproductive for me to be so pretentious here.

“From now on, huh?”

When I looked back at the message from Misono, that word, which would have had no deep meaning, remained strangely in my mind.

***