Chapter 71: A Beautiful Girl Spends Her Birthday with Her Best Friend (Part 2)

The door intercom rang, and I went to greet Ryoji.

"Hey."

When I opened the front door, Ryoji casually raised a hand in greeting.

"Huh? Ayumi, did you always wear a necklace?"

He looked straight at me as he asked. The fact that he noticed made me a little happy.

"Hehehe, it was a present!"

Feeling giddy, I couldn’t help bragging a bit. My desire to try wearing a necklace—and my wish for someone to notice something different about me—were both being satisfied, leaving me thoroughly pleased with myself.

But in contrast to my cheerful mood, Ryoji’s expression tightened.

"A present… from that Aoi guy?"

"Huh? No, no! It’s from Moeka-chan and the others."

"I—I see."

Ryoji let out a long sigh. Being sighed at the moment we met made me feel a little lonely.

He’s always worried about Aoi-kun. I mean, sure, going to cheer for a guy I met on a trip and watching a movie with him might make it look like I have zero sense of danger—so maybe it’s not strange that Ryoji is suspicious.

I’m happy he worries, but… hmm. I don’t think Aoi-kun is a bad person at all. If Ryoji met him even once, his impression might change.

"Sorry, that was a weird question. It suits you, though."

Ryoji grinned as he said that.

"O-Oh… thanks."

I thanked him—but honestly, I wanted him to compliment me first.

A faintly awkward atmosphere drifted between us. That’s strange. For some reason I just can’t get a sense of distance with Ryoji today… The vague anxiety I felt yesterday has settled, but now I’m getting all stiff again.

This won’t do. We’re supposed to be going out to have fun—so I need to be more energetic. Otherwise I’ll just make him worry for no reason.

"Anyway, we should get going."

Maybe he had pulled himself together too, because Ryoji pointed at the bicycle he’d come on.

The usual silent suggestion: get on the back seat.

But today, I’m different.

"I bought a new bike, so I’m good! Thanks so much for everything until now!"

I pushed my shiny new bicycle out from the back of the yard.

I bought it recently using money I borrowed from Mom. I really wanted to wait until my part-time job paid me, but then it wouldn’t be ready in time for second semester. So we agreed I’d pay her back later and bought it early. Today would be my first time riding it, and honestly, I was a little excited.

But Ryoji, staring at my bike, froze with a… complicated expression.

"W-What’s wrong?"

"Whyyyyyyyy!? Why would you do thaaaaat!?"

Suddenly Ryoji roared—a full-on primal yell. It had been a while since I’d seen him shout like that! But seriously, what happened!?

"S-Sorry! I know just saying thank you isn’t enough… I’ll treat you to something, so please don’t be mad…"

I nervously tried to read his mood.

It made sense. He’d given me rides throughout the entire first semester—just saying thank you probably wasn’t enough. I needed to make it up to him somehow.

"No, that’s not it. I just… liked having a girl riding on the back…"

"Oh… I see."

I couldn’t help chuckling. Ryoji being Ryoji, absolutely unwavering—it was kind of funny. Things were a bit awkward, but he was still the same old Ryoji.

But come on, no need to be that shocked. I finally bought a brand-new bike!

"Hey, why not ride on the back today too?"

And then he even said that. Sure, it would be easier to ride with him, but still… I just bought this!

"Why!? I can’t keep riding on the back forever!"

"I don’t think it’s bad. Actually, I think it’s great. So don’t worry about it."

Ugh… Ryoji suddenly turned stubborn, refusing to budge even an inch.

This shouldn’t even be something to debate: two people on one bike, or each riding separately? The correct choice is obvious! Why would he insist on loading someone on the back like cargo?

"And besides… are you sure you want to?"

He looked at me seriously.

What’s that supposed to mean? I tilted my head. Ryoji averted his eyes a little before continuing.

"Ayumi, you’re wearing a miniskirt today, right? Your panties will show."

"Ugh—! You idiot!"

I quickly grabbed the hem of my skirt.

Seriously! Just when I thought he hadn’t been saying weird stuff lately! His core personality never changes!

"That reaction is insanely cute. You’ve gotten even cuter lately."

"Stop! You don’t have to say stuff like that!"

He was definitely teasing me! Being told I’m cute when I’m embarrassed isn’t flattering—it’s humiliating!

"So? What’s it gonna be? You riding on the back?"

"Ugh…"

I hesitated.

Yeah… riding a bike in a skirt is hard…
Wait, but I bike to school in a skirt all the time—and plenty of girls do too. Do they wear something underneath that’s fine to show? Or do they just not care if someone sees…? No way, a proper girl wouldn’t do something that shameless—

After agonizing over it, the answer I came to was:

"…Okay. I’ll ride on the back."

I ended up losing to Ryoji. I mean, come on—there are things I definitely don’t want people to see. It can’t be helped!

I’ll practice riding before school starts… even though there’s barely any time left.

"All right! You can keep riding with me during second semester too!"

"Then what was the point of buying a bike…?"

Aah… so this is how things end up. The brand-new bike I bought ended up being left in a corner of the yard again.

Once I straddled the back of Ryoji’s bike and he checked that I was holding on, he started pedaling.

Wanting to ride double on a hot day like this… he’s weird.

After a short ride, he parked the bike in front of the arcade near the station.

We hadn’t been here in a while, but at a glance nothing had changed. Not since spring break. Oh yeah—back then I had just become a girl and barely understood anything. And then when I got on the bike, I ended up clinging to him… Thinking about it now makes me cringe.

"So, what should we do today? Want to play a racing game?"

Ryoji looked around the noisy arcade.

"Hmm… maybe not a racing game. The way you look at me during those is suspicious."

"What!? How dare you insult the gentleman of all gentlemen!"

A true gentleman probably wouldn’t talk about someone’s panties being visible, though. But honestly, it had been a while since he acted like this. Ever since summer break started, a lot happened, and it felt like he hadn’t been acting like his usual Ryoji-self.

"Let’s check the crane games. Maybe there’s a cute plushie."

When I pointed toward the crane games, Ryoji scratched his head.

"You really did start liking cute stuff. Well, it suits you, and it makes you even cuter, so whatever."

"R-Really…?"

"Yeah. I think it fits you."

Hmm… Am I really that cute? Hearing it directly from Ryoji—even that makes me a little happy.

But liking plushies does feel childish, and I don’t really want people knowing… Except almost all my friends already know. They even give me plushies as presents. I must’ve played with them way too much in the clubroom.

The only one who doesn’t know is Aoi-kun, I think. Okay! I’ll aim to be an elegant adult woman in front of Aoi-kun…!

While Ryoji browsed the crane games, I quietly clenched my fist in determination. But then, after glancing at my own small frame, I despaired. Even if I hid my love for plushies, I still looked like a child. Ugh, maybe I should drink more milk…

"Hey, what about this one?"

Ryoji beckoned me over to a particular crane machine.

Inside were a bunch of big calico cat plushies. Their faces were a little mischievous-looking, but that just added to their charm. They were the perfect size and looked so huggable.

"So cute…"

I pressed my face closer to the glass.

"I still think you’re cuter, though."

"Eh!? Come on, you’re teasing me again!"

"No… I didn’t mean it that way."

Ugh, Ryoji never learns. After being teased so many times, even I’ve built up some resistance. He probably intended to push even harder once I got embarrassed, but I wasn’t falling for it this time.

And also—don’t assume calling a girl cute over and over will automatically make her happy! Sure, it feels nice, but if you say it too casually every time, she’ll start tuning it out!

While Ryoji stood there thinking hard about something, wearing a vaguely dissatisfied expression, I turned my attention to the coin slot of the crane machine.

"Two hundred yen per play, huh… This might be tough."

Two hundred yen per play, or three tries for five hundred. It seems like a deal, but even five hundred probably wouldn’t be enough. Big plushie machines are expensive.

"I’ll get it for you."

"No, it’s okay! This kind is pretty hard to win anyway."

It was the type of crane game where the large plushie gets stuck at the drop slot. At first glance it looked easy to grab, but thanks to hidden anti-slip features and a weak arm, it was actually pretty tricky.

"Just watch me."

Even though Ryoji was already in short sleeves, he rolled up his arms like he was getting serious.

Clang! The coin dropped in with a satisfying sound. The whir of the crane echoed through the machine. Instead of grabbing the plushie, he pushed it downward with the crane arm—no, not just pushing. He skillfully slipped one end of the arm under the plushie.

Then, as the crane rose, it lifted the calico cat plushie… but with just a small wobble, it couldn’t be taken. The cat’s bottom was still hooked on the drop slot.

Without missing a beat, Ryoji fed in another two hundred yen. The crane returned to its starting position, and he immediately started the second play.

Again, he slid the arm under the cat’s bottom, precisely where it was hooked.

Then, with one lift, the cat’s bottom rose higher—but of course, the crane couldn’t carry it all the way. The plushie slipped again.

Ah… too bad! I thought—but Ryoji threw up a fist in triumph.

Looking back into the machine, the plushie—now unbalanced from its lifted bottom—tumbled over once and slid right into the drop slot.

Clunk! Ryoji retrieved it from the collection tray.

"Amazing! You’re seriously good at crane games!"

Winning a plushie for just four hundred yen might even be a loss for the arcade.

Ryoji handed the plushie straight to me.

"Is it… okay?"

"Of course. I got it for you, Ayumi."

I hugged the plushie tight. Its soft fur felt wonderful. I brought my face close to the calico cat plushie—so cute.

Ryoji had given me lots of plushies before, but this one made me the happiest. The others were nice, but they always felt more like, "I got this while I was at it, so here you go." This time, he really did it for me—and that made all the difference.

"Thank you. I’ll take good care of it."

I smiled warmly at Ryoji.

"Ah… yeah. Well, it’s just a prize, so you don’t have to thank me that much."

He scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed.

We put the plushie into one of the arcade’s plastic bags and continued exploring the store.

None of the other plushies were really that good. Ryoji’s choice had been the best in the store today.

"Hey, want to take some purikura photos?"

"Nooo way!"

After wandering around, Ryoji kept suggesting taking purikura every few minutes.

And my answer was always a firm NO.

"Why not…?"

"Because it’s embarrassing. And aren’t those for couples anyway?"

"Friends take them toooo!"

"But nooo! It’s embarrassing, and you’d probably pose me somewhere weird… And if it ended up as a wallpaper, I’d get teased…"

Ryoji’s eyes widened as he stared at me. He’d hit the nail on the head.

I felt relieved in my heart that I hadn’t taken the photos.