Chapter 12: Shopping with Friends (Part 2)

Shopping with Friends (Part 2)

As we were chatting, we met up with Yamaguchi-san and Saeki-san, so the four of us decided to go shopping together.

We, or just me, bought some recommended cosmetics at the 100 yen shop and then went to the accessories section, where I was looking at all the cute and interesting things, but my sensibilities still weren't quite up to speed, which was sad.

For lunch we went to a fast food hamburger restaurant, which was fairly busy but not so busy that we had to wait, so we secured a seat and split into groups of two to order.

I wanted to see the menu, so I lined up with Yamaguchi Tomoko.

"What are you going to ask for, Tomoko-chan?"

"Actually, like Rui-chan, I was thinking of looking at the menu first before deciding."

"New menu items come out so quickly these days that I don't keep up with them."

"Ah, me too. I don't remember the menu at all. I know they've always had teriyaki burgers, though."

We sat at a table for four like this and started eating.

"By the way, I wanted to ask you, what is your relationship with Ueno-kun now? You're not just best friends, right?"

"Well, to be honest it's suspicious, but it wouldn't be surprising if you were actually dating."

I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"No no, I was just normal guys until last week, right? We're still best friends, but nothing more!"

"Well, when I saw what happened this morning, it's hard to believe. It seems more natural that you are dating."

"Huh? Did something happen this morning? Tell me!"

"...I want to hear it too."

"Actually, before I arrived, Rui-chan was being hit on and was almost taken away by force."

"What?! She almost got taken away, that must be dangerous, but she was saved, right?"

"...that's just a crime."

"Ahhh! Ru-chani's legs tremble with fear! She's no match for a man in strength! At that moment of despair!"

"At that time?"

"Ueno-kun suddenly appeared and rescued her from the pick-up line artist, telling them not to lay a hand on his girlfriend, and then he beat them up."

"Wow, that's how Rui-chan fall in love with him. She's definitely his girlfriend after all."

"Wait a second! That story is exaggerated! It's true that he saved me from a pick-up artist, but he didn't beat them up and I'm not his girlfriend!"

"Well, even though he didn't beat them up, I heard him call you 'my girlfriend'?"

"...Rui was his girlfriend after all."

"No, that was just a way to help me."

"I really wanted to see it. The cool Ueno-kun and Rui-chan being saved, the beautiful girl trembling in fear and the handsome guy saving her - it was just too dramatic."

"Here's the proof photo of when he helped her."

Sayaka-chan shows the evidence image.

"Wow, no matter how you look at it, they definitely have the aura of a couple."

"...They're staring at each other."

"That's right, if someone who doesn't know them saw this, they'd look like a perfect couple."

"Wow... so this is what we look like from the sidelines..."

"But Ueno-kun, he looked so cool back then. If Rui-chan doesn't want him, maybe I'll go for him."

I knew Sayaka-chan was joking, but when I heard her say she was after Ryo, my heart skipped a beat because, even for a moment, I imagined Ryo leaving me.

So I couldn't think or say that it was okay to accept it even as a joke, so I just kept quiet.

"Ah, sorry sorry, Rui-chan, I was just joking, Ueno-kun, don't worry, I won't steal him.

And now way I would dare to do that, so I'm sorry I said something like that, even as a joke."

"That's right, you shouldn't hurt a beautiful girl, Sayaka-kun."

"Oh, it's okay, it's fine, don't worry..."

"I know you're really worried, I'm so sorry."

This is bad, this is bad, the atmosphere is getting heavy because of me, I need to change the topic somehow.

"Oh, by the way, Ryo and I are going out together tomorrow--"

Damn it! I brought up this topic of all things!

I saw the eyes of three of them's light up, I've done it! I brought this on by myself!

"Well, could you tell me a bit more about it? It's about tomorrow's date."

"So, are you sure that the two of you are just going out together?"

"... it's a date"

"No! No! Tomorrow, Ryo and I are just going out to have fun! It's just like going out to have fun when we were boys!"

"Well, Rui-chan, do you know what it's generally called when a man and a woman go out together? Answer me right?"

I answered in a small voice while looking down.

"---Da...."

"Da?"

"It's a date..."

"That's right, so what are you planning on going out with Ueno-kun just the two of you tomorrow?"

"It's a, a date."

I was forced to say it. And then I realized that I had a date with Ryo tomorrow.

Until now, I had a vague idea in the back of my mind that this might be the case, but I had suppressed it, thinking that it was just like the other games we had played up until then.

But the three of them reminded me that this was a date.

At this point, it was no good. Of all people, I had been hit on by a man, and miraculously been saved by Ryo in a cool way, and on top of that, I had sensed Ryo's masculinity and reliability, and something even more. In my current mental state, having just realized that tomorrow was our date, my heart was overwhelmed with a sense of happiness that I couldn't contain, and my cheeks were relaxing involuntarily! I couldn't stop grinning, and if I didn't keep looking down, they would easily notice!

"Oh, ladies, that's not good, this girl keeps looking down and grinning."

"Oh no~ This pure maiden just now realizing that this is a date?!"

"...too late, too late"

It didn't work! It was obvious!

"Even if you're not dating, there's no doubt you like him, right?"

"Haa, no way--"

"Yeah, yeah, it's not convincing when you say it with your cheeks relaxed."

"Rui-chan, even when you look happy, you're such a beautiful girl. It's amazing you can maintain your cuteness with your cheeks relaxed."

No! There is no way it is true!

"Ah, fine. How about you girls give me some dating advice."

"I mean, we've never had a boyfriend either."

"We promised not to say that!"

"Tomoko-chan's popular, so if she wanted to, she could easily find one."

The conversation went off track, but it didn't quite flow.

"First of all, you have to change your first impression, and the easiest and most impactful thing to do is start with your hairstyle."

"Also, when it comes to clothes, you have to choose something that will appeal to men---"

In this way, we spent a considerable amount of time giving advice on "definitely make a date plan!"

After that, we went around looking at some clothes for my date.

It's almost time to leave, so I'll leave a message for Ryo, but with everything that's happened today, I'm so nervous that even typing the message is taking me a long time.

"Oho~, what is this, texting Ueno-kun?"

Yes, Sayaka-chan found out.

The eyes of the three of them are shining brightly again and it's scary, all I'm asking is what time he will come to pick me up.

"Well, I was planning on asking Ryo to come pick me up..."

"Oh, that's right, you did say something like that? Right?"

"What do you mean?"

"You see, Ueno-kun and his family are supporting Rui-chan, and she got hit on today, so I think he's coming to pick her up."

"That's what I mean. In that case, it would be better to call him directly instead of messaging him, so that your feelings can be conveyed!"

You don't have to tell me how I feel right now! This is just my feeling for today!

---There's no point in sulking here, so I give up and call Ryo.

The Tosaka Trio are looking at it with excited eyes, but... nothing in particular is happening.

Saeki-san, who is usually a quiet person, suddenly took my smartphone and put it on speaker mode. Wait a minute!

["Rui, what's wrong with you calling me? Did something happen?!"]

All three members of the Tosaka Trio are grinning, please Ryo don't say anything weird.

"Oh, no, I'm going home soon so I thought I'd let you know what time you'd come pick me up. Also, a lot has happened today so I thought I'd talk to you directly."

["Oh, don't worry about it. I promised I'm going to protect Rui. Anyway, I appreciate the sentiment."]

The Tosaka Trio were busy whispering "Kyaa, 'protect Rui' he said, kyaa~"

"By the way, I just realized, could you please contact me when you get to this station? I'm scared to wait here."

["That's true, I didn't notice that. Well, I'll contact you when I arrive, so please wait in a safe place."]

"Well then, thank you."

["Ah, Rui, I lov--"]

 'Beep!'

That was close! He was definitely about to say "I love you"! I'm glad I cut it off in time.

"Hey, why are cutting Ueno-kun off, wasn't it like he was saying 'I love you'?"

"Yeah, I thought the same thing."

"…Love."

"No, that's not it! It means 'I'll be right there, so wait here'."

Yeah, that's definitely true.

My face is already bright red, but that must be it. My heart is pounding because I cut him up before he could say anything weird! It doesn't matter that I'm feeling a little better!

"Well, even just hearing "I" from him was a good thing."

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow, let me know how it goes."

"No, the things you expect won't happen! There's no point in getting your hopes up!"

"Well, don't say that."

"Is everyone not going home yet?"

"Eh? We're waiting for Ueno-kun, but you know, it's dangerous if we leave Rui-chan alone, right? Ueno-kun will get mad at us."

"Yeah, it's dangerous."

Damn---it's certainly reassuring to know I'm not alone, but!

The Tosaka Trio are definitely just there because they want to see something interesting!

I received a message from Ryo saying he had arrived at the station, so I specified a meeting place and headed there.

The Tosaka Trio was also there.

"Yo Rui, ah the three of you also here? Sorry for making you girls accompany her."

"That's fine, it would have been dangerous to leave this cute girl alone, so I'm sorry Ueno-kun for inviting Rui-chan today."

"Well, I think Rui would have liked to hang out with her friends too, so I think it's fine."

I want to get out of here quickly because I'm worried about when Ryo will step on a landmine that the Tosaka Trio will love.

"Well, today was fun, thank you, see you at school the day after tomorrow, bye."

"Eh, is it okay now, Rui? Hey! -- All three of you, see you at school the day after tomorrow."

I grabbed Ryo's arm, linked my arms with his, and pulled him away, separating him from the Tosaka trio.

There was some commotion at the end, but I just felt like it was enough and I had to get out of there quickly.

Then, after I passed through the ticket gate and sat down in my seat, I realized that I was linking my arm with his.

Ah, it's not going to work today! Even if I want to let go of Ryo's arms, I can't; my body won't listen to me; it's as if it doesn't want to let go of him.

"Rui, is your arm okay?"

"..."

"Hey, can I hold your hand instead of just your arm?"

"!"

Ah, it's no good, I don't feel like I can resist even if he grabs my hand, oh well, do whatever you want!

"O...Okay."

Ryo looks so happy and is holding my hand like a lover!

Well, if you link your arms and then just let your hands down, that's the situation you'll get.

A more natural way to hold hands is to intertwine your fingers and hold hands more closely, with your arms half-intertwined.

Ah, Ryo's hands are big, but they're warm and soothing, it feels like I'm being wrapped up in them.

The early bells that had been ringing from before suddenly calmed down, but my heart felt warm and I was almost enveloped in a sense of happiness. But my face was probably bright red, and I couldn't look at Ryo.

"Today! It's only for today! You helped me, so it's only for today."

That was the best I could say.

"Oh, I'm still happy."

If he asked for more now, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to refuse, we'd probably end up kissing, and maybe even going further.

So please, leave it at that for now, not yet, I'm not yet that feminine. Just today, today is just special.

Today I learned firsthand that I am a girl, so I have a feeling that maybe, someday, although I don't know when, I will accept it to the depths of my heart.