Episode 29 – Calm Before the Storm

It is now Sunday, the weekend when I was supposed to go out with Riho.

I’m at the ticket gate of a certain station in Tokyo, close to the aquarium.

Yes, the aquarium is where Riho invited me to go out.　

If we go out together from home, it will be a hassle if someone from school sees us.

Riho had not arrived yet.

Well…….even so.

It was really unexpected that Riho invited me to hang out with her.

We seem to be getting along well these days, but our relationship is exquisitely delicate. It’s not that we don’t get along, by any means, but aside from the flirtations we have when using the hypnosis app, it’s not that bad. At least, it is no longer a relationship where we hang out on holidays like this.

Since we both entered a difficult period in our lives, I was only invited to club competitions. Such a relationship had continued for the past few years.

That’s why I’m quite happy that Riho asked me out like this. Especially since it showed that she doesn’t have to rely on hypnosis apps all the time. Somehow, I could feel that Riho was thinking about a lot of things, and I was intrigued.

If there’s any problem with this day, it’s whether or not Rina chan will interfere. Because she sensed that we were going out and was staring at my room this morning with a blank stare in her eyes…..

……Probably nine times out of ten, she’s going to do something.

I have to keep my guard up.

“–I’m sorry I kept you waiting.”

“You came.”

Eventually, Riho came, so I slowly let go of my back, which was resting against the wall.

Riho was dressed somewhat enthusiastically.

She was wearing a simple black short-sleeved blouse, a see-through navy cardigan, and high-waisted beige pants. Her feet were in heeled sandals and her hair was in a ponytail, unlike usual.

Rather than looking like a high school girl, she looked more like an office worker on her day off, and more like an adult.

I was so embarrassed that I had come here in short-sleeved shirts and short pants, which I was wearing as my loungwear.

“For some reason, I feel like I’m having a hard time walking next to you.”

“W-what’s with that first impression?”

“I’m just kidding. Thank you for dressing up for me.”

I think she shouldn’t wear heels because she’s tall, but it’s cute when I think about how she dressed up for me.

“Hmph. It’s not like I dressed up for Ryuto. I just wanted to dress up properly. I’m not at all happy to be praised.”

But what is that happy grin on your face?

“Well, let’s get going. There are so many shows, let’s go and see them all !”

Riho starts walking away as if to change the topic.

Oh my…I wonder if Riho will be able to show me her honest side a little bit today……

–I’m here too…..

(!?)

At such a time when I started walking with Riho, I was startled to hear a voice that sounded irresistibly familiar from somewhere.

I turned around and looked over—two tufts of black hair swooped down and seemed to be hidden behind a pillar…….

“What’s wrong?”

Riho asks with a sharp tone.

“No……I feel like someone similar to Rina was just over there……”

“Rina? I don’t think she could have come because I tied her to the bed.”

It’s not even a punishment anymore……

……But if that’s the case, is it just my imagination? Or did I see it wrong?　

If so, that’s good, but….

◇ 

……Now.

We entered a certain aquarium.

The surrounding customers are all couples and families with an aura of sunshine, an aura of happiness that I can’t see straight.

As a child, I had always been fascinated by the Dark Lord of the Sith in Star Wars, and I really didn’t want to be in a place so full of Jedi. It would be almost impossible to gain any ground.

“–Oh, my, how cute.”

Anyway, the first thing Riho took me to see was the penguins’ breakfast time, which had just taken place. They were drinking a whole bowl of small fish given to them by the staff. Fish is a drink. They seemed to be mocking the humans who were treating curry as a drink.

“They’re more wild than cute.”

“It’s cute because they’re wild and peaceful looking, which is cute.”

……Cute? I can understand that there is a gap between the two.

Well, [cute] is just an exclamation, so don’t take it seriously.

“If Ryuto were a fish, he’d probably live in the deep sea.”

“Sad that I can’t deny it, but I wish I could.”

After watching the penguins’ breakfast time, we decided to take a look around in order. We are having such an exchange as we just reached the deep-sea corner.

“I’d love to live a life of gracefully playing with coelacanths and being amazed by the occasional submarine.”

“It’s romantic in vain. Fufu.”

Riho’s expression is lively.

It is rare that she laughs at my jokes.

In the first place, it’s rare for me to make jokes like that.

I’m not aware of it, but maybe I’m pretty excited too……

“By the way, Ryuto…it’s only the weekend, so there’s a lot of people there, aren’t there? So…”

After saying that, Riho’s hand crawled into my hand. Immediately after, she gripped my entire hand tightly, intertwining our fingers, and I was unexpectedly shocked.

“–Can I hold your hand…..so that we don’t get separated?”

Riho, who is usually so shy, makes a peaceful offer that has nothing to do with the hypnosis application.

I wonder if it’s because of the atmosphere…..If you’re talking about a gap, this is it.

“Well, do what you want……”

I looked away and responded like an awkward father who wasn’t very good at dealing with children.

“Fufu,……oh, well, I’ll take your word for it.”

Riho responded with some leeway.

…She always acts like an older sister at times like this.

…Well, I don’t hate Riho like that.

The girl next door I’ve been playing with since before I could remember.

That’s what I’m looking for in Riho.

So, instead of trying to rebel against the hand that was holding mine, I decided to continue to enjoy the aquarium while savoring its warmth.

For the time being, we were at peace.

But I’m somehow aware that there is a shadow lurking……

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