61 - I can't trust words like “absolutely” (Patreon)

RAW

We leave the shopping mall and walk through the city together.
To be honest, I don't really know what's in the city, so we’re just walking around randomly. I have a final destination in mind, but everything before then is unclear.

I did consult Hiuri in the dream, but she said if neither of us knew where to go, that’s fine in its own way, so I didn't do any research either.

“Now that I think about it, I heard there's a delicious ice cream shop around here.”
“Ice cream in this season?”
“Eating sweets is good at any time.”

That may be true, but... although it's not a clear cold season, people walking around the city are completely dressed in fall style.

However, Hiuri truly wants to eat it and walks down the street relying on her memory.

“I heard it’s around here, but...”
“There’s nothing that looks like an ice cream shop.”

It's true that there are many stores selling sweets here, but there are no ice cream shops among them.
There are stores that sell cream puffs and fruit juices here, so if there's an ice cream shop, I think it would be on this street...

While I was looking over the surroundings, Hiuri went to ask a passerby. Rather than looking for the store, it's faster to look for someone who knows it.
After asking a few people, Hiuri came back looking disappointed.

“It seems like they’re only open during the summer...”
“Well, it's ice cream after all...”
“What, can’t I eat it whenever I want?!”

Even though you can eat it whenever you want, it makes sense that its sales would drop during this season. It can't be helped that the ice cream shop is gone.
Since we couldn't eat ice cream, we decided to buy fruit juice instead.

“Ice float”
“I’ll have a banana mix.”

Not wanting to give up on ice cream, Hiuri ordered an ice cream float with ice cream on top. Did you want ice cream that badly?...
I guess I'll serve you some ice cream tonight.

“Hiuri, there’s nothing we can do.”
“Muu...”

After receiving the juices, we resume our walk around the city. But, Hiuri is in a bit of a bad mood.
I don't see Childish Hiuri very often, so it's refreshing. Cute.

“What are you looking at?”
“Nothing.”
“That's a lie. You were watching me, weren’t you!”

......

As we were walking around the city, we came across an arcade. This is the game center that I went to with Hiuri before.

“It’s kind of nostalgic.”
“It's only been a few months, though.”
“...Since that day, I've clearly been able to spend more time with Kazuki-kun.”

That day when I met Hiuri by chance, Hiuri and I started calling each other by our names even in real life.
After going through the sports festival and the cultural festival, the amount of time I spend with Hiuri in real life has dramatically increased. Like now, when we go out together like this.

“Since we’re here anyway, let’s play.”
“Sounds good.”

Hiuri and I go inside together.

We played UFO catcher and caught a small amount of sweets with 100 yen, and we played shooting games just like we did back then.
I feel like she’s better at shooting games than before.

“Actually, after that, I was so frustrated that I played this when I came here alone.”
“So that’s how it is.”
“It’s frustrating to keep losing.”

Hiuri practiced that much, but unfortunately, we got the game over just before we reached the final stage.
After the shooting game, we played hockey to clear up our resentment. It's a battle between me and Hiuri.

“How about the winner gets the right to order whatever they want to the other party?” (Hiuri)
“You mean a punishment game? All right, come at me.”

I lost.
In the first place, Hiuri has good athletic skills, whereas I have average athletic skills. If Hiuri and I fought one on one, it was only natural that I would lose, and it's not like I'm frustrated or making excuses just because I lost, but this is something that can’t be helped (the rest is omitted).

“Ara, are you that frustrated about losing at hockey?”
“Not really. It's only natural that I would lose in an athletic contest against Hiuri.”
“You worked really hard considering that though─”

Hiuri looks at me with a grin.
Shut up. If it’s Hiuri's orders I’m willing to do almost anything, so it doesn't hurt and I’m not frustrated.

“Order, huh─”
“Anything is fine.”
“I can’t think of anything right now, so can I call it stock?”

There's a concept called stock in this kind of thing... it sounds like something you’d forget if you don't write it down though...

“That's fine.”
“I won't forget, you know. I wonder what I should order you─”

Hiuri has a good memory, so she won't forget something until a considerable number of days have passed. Besides, it's rare for her to go out like this, so she might remember it even after a year.

“Then, let’s go.”

We leave the arcade and walk while eating the small number of sweets we acquired.
Huh? She’s eating sweets again. My determination to stop her hasn’t been accomplished at all.

“So there's a park in a place like this.”
“How about we take a break.”
“...Ok.”

We sat near a large tree planted here.

“It's been a while since I played for a whole day like this.”
“Don’t you play with Hayashi-san and the others?”
“Rinrin keeps inviting me out, but she has a lot of friends, so I end up restraining myself.”

Hiuri doesn't have a wide circle of friends. She has friends other than Hayashi-san and Kannazuki-san, but as expected, it’s hard to have fun when you’re with people you don't know.
When Tadashi invites me to hang out, it is always just the two of us, probably because Tadashi is conscious of my personality and doesn't invite other people. Because I know that Tadashi hangs out with multiple people.

“What about Kannazuki-san?”
“Kono doesn't play outside much.”

I thought so. Judging by her image, Kannazuki-san is not the type to play outside. She is the type of person who spends her days off studying or reading at home.

“...”
“...Isn’t there something you want to say?”

When I fell silent, I ended up fidgeting. I'm not that type of person, so her sharp eyes noticed it.
What to do...Hmm...

“Umm, Hiuri.”
“What?”

I've practiced many times with Hiuri in the dream, but... somehow, I feel like it doesn't match the current situation.
I was actually planning to do it after we got back to our town, but...

“I love you. Please go out with me”

Even though I was sitting, I turned my body so that I could meet Hiuri's eyes and declared that.

“!...... I’m sorry.”

...Eh?

Even though Hiuri in the dream told me it’ll be okay and gave me the stamp of approval, I still ended up being rejected by Hiuri in real life...
Somehow, everything in front of my eyes is plunged into darkness...

[Kyuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!]

I come back to my senses with the loudest cries I've ever heard from Muu.
In front of me was Hiuri, whose eyes were a little teary.

“Me too... I love you too. Kazuki-kun...”
“Then, why...”
“I can't... because I love you, I can't go out with you... I'm sorry...”

Hiuri apologizes to me with tears in her eyes. But I can't quite understand it.

“Hiuri, can you explain...”
“No! Kazuki-kun, don't ask... please...”

Hiuri begged me, and I was a little at a loss for words. Could it be, it has something to do with her home circumstances? Because I already know that...
When I was about to open my mouth, Hiuri opened her mouth first.

“My order, don’t ask about it anymore!”
“!!”
“You'll listen to what I say, right?”

When she said that with tears in her eyes, I can't say anything else.
What to do...

“Kazuki-kun, don't make that face.”
“Even if you say that...”
“I love you too, Kazuki-kun. So why don't you invite me again like this?”

Towards Hiuri who said that still with tears in her eyes, I couldn't say anything.

“Hey, won’t you hug me?”
“...Ok.”

All I could do was hug Hiuri until she returned to her normal state.

────

Previous | Next