C04

Chapter 4: The After-School Date

Walking down the hallway, Suzumura was right beside me.

Until yesterday, our relationship was nothing more than being famous people in the same class—that was all.

But today is different.

From an outside perspective, we might look like a couple whose distance has narrowed.

Maybe because of that, I felt like passing students' gazes were more frequent than usual.

Suzumura seemed to notice this too, walking while slightly minding her surroundings.

"Are we just heading straight back today?"

"Yeah."

When I answered, Suzumura raised her gaze as if thinking for a moment.

Then, she smiled faintly.

"Since we're already out, do you want to stop by the arcade in front of the station?"

"An arcade?"

I instinctively asked back.

(It cuts into the time I can log into Asuon.)

Given that the 5th-anniversary event is running, there's still plenty I want to do.

But.

If I refuse here, it'll seem unnatural—a lover who wants to go straight home the day after they start dating.

Showing behavior like that might make people think I wasn't genuinely in love.

(Should I just go along with it?)

My login time will be cut, but it can't be helped.

"S-Sure. Let's go."

I answered, making it look like I was hesitating a bit.

Suzumura relaxed her expression in relief.

"I'm glad."

That smile looked a little more natural than the one from yesterday's confession.

We walked side by side toward the station front.

A short distance behind us, a few figures walked while maintaining a constant gap.

It was Kujo and his group.

(...Kujo)

Seeing them enter the edge of my field of vision, I felt a slight question mark pop up.

The ace of the soccer club.

After school, it's normally club practice time.

Even so, they're purposely following us.

(Are they really that invested?)

I know the reason.

How Kujo and the others perceive Suzumura and me.

What waits at the end of this.

To them, it's probably just an entertaining event.

To me, it's different.

A process to forge a reason to skip school.

Honestly, having my Asuon time reduced hurts.

Even so, dealing with it awkwardly and ruining the plan would be more troublesome.

Write it off as necessary time—that was all.

◇

The arcade in front of the station was bustling with after-school students.

The sound of crane games.

The sound of medals dropping.

Music flowing from gaming cabinets.

An atmosphere slightly different from school filled the place.

"What do you want to play?"

Suzumura asked, scanning the interior.

"I don't really come here much."

In reality, opportunities to visit arcades are rare.

Normally, I'd head straight home at this time and play Asuon.

"Then I'll show you around."

Suzumura started walking with a slightly joyful air.

As we walked around looking at the store, she suddenly stopped her feet.

"Ah."

A small voice.

At the end of her gaze was a crane game prize case.

"Potemaru!"

Suzumura peered into the case, her expression softening.

"So cute..."

Sitting proudly inside the case was a plush toy modeled after a round, mysterious creature.

It seemed to be called Potemaru.

Frankly, I couldn't understand what was cute about it.

However, judging from Suzumura's reaction, I knew it was a prize she wanted.

I instantly verified the prize's position and the claw's movement.

(I can grab this.)

I took a 100-yen coin from my wallet.

"Eh?"

Suzumura looked over at me.

I slipped the 100-yen coin right in and lined up my aim.

The claw moves.

The prize gets pushed little by little.

And then,

Potemaru dropped straight down into the retrieval chute.

"Got it."

When I picked it up and handed it over, Suzumura widened her eyes in astonishment.

"Eh, in one try?"

I extended the plush toy toward her.

"Here."

"...Is this okay?"

"You wanted it, right."

Suzumura reached out with a look of hesitation.

Then, she held it tightly and dearly against her chest.

"...Thank you."

That smile was a little different from the one she showed in the classroom.

Not meant for showing off to others.

Just an ordinary smile that naturally appears when you're genuinely happy.

◇

After that, we spent some time walking around the interior.

We played racing games and looked at medal games.

When we got tired, we sat on chairs and talked.

We weren't talking about anything special.

Hobbies, classes, small events that happened recently.

Such trivial conversations.

If you asked me if it was conversation typical of a couple, it might feel a little different.

But if you've just started dating, maybe this is how it goes.

(Not bad.)

I thought.

Of course, those words didn't stem from romantic feelings.

Until the reveal a few days later, I need to forge a natural-looking relationship from an outside perspective.

It was the time necessary for that—nothing more.

Spending time outside of school, different from recess or lunch breaks.

The Suzumura I saw there was a bit different from when she was in the classroom.

At school, she always seemed conscious of surrounding gazes.

But right now, the tension in her shoulders was slightly gone.

When she laughed, rather than matching those around her, she seemed genuinely amused.

That was convenient information for playing the role of a lover.

◇

"I'll go buy a drink real quick."

Suzumura headed toward the vending machine.

I decided to wait by a nearby wall.

That was when it happened.

"Hey."

An unfamiliar voice rang out where Suzumura had headed.

When I turned around, two flashy-looking male high school students with dyed brown hair were talking to Suzumura.

"Wanna hang out with us for a bit?"

Suzumura smiled troubledly.

"No, thank you."

She gently refused.

Normally, that would be the end of it.

But the guys didn't back down; the distance between them closed step by step.

(How annoying.)

I checked the situation.

There are two opponents, and Suzumura is troubled.

There was no reason to leave her alone.

I started walking.

"Um..."

When I called out, both of their gazes turned toward me.

There's no need to react the way I normally would here.

Rather, the persona I need to project is entirely different.

Tachibana Reo, whom Kujo and the others know.

Inconspicuous.

Not the type to step out in front of people.

But I just need to give off the impression that such a gloomy guy is scraping together his courage.

I just need to look like that kind of person.

I swallowed a breath once.

I dropped my gaze as if hesitating slightly.

Then, I let my voice tremble a little bit.

"She's... my girlfriend."

For a split second, the guys' expressions changed.

"Your girlfriend?"

"What's wrong with that? We're just talking for a bit."

I made a troubled expression.

There's no need to talk back forcefully.

What's needed right now isn't overwhelming the opponent.

It's making it look like I squeezed out all my courage.

"...Excuse me."

"We're heading home for today."

And then, I took Suzumura's hand.

"Let's go."

"Ah... yeah."

Suzumura widened her eyes in mild shock, then gave a small nod.

The guys exchanged glances.

After wearing slightly dissatisfied expressions, they backed off as if giving up.

Once we had walked for a bit, Suzumura let out a small breath.

"Thanks. You've got guts, Tachibana-kun."

I averted my gaze as if feeling shy.

"I'm her boyfriend, so that much is—"

Suzumura widened her eyes for a split second.

Then, she smiled slightly.

"...Yeah."

I noticed our joined hands.

I don't know the timing to let go.

I create that kind of clumsy atmosphere.

Suzumura must have felt the same, as she said nothing.

That slightly awkward sense of distance.

There were people watching that scene from a short distance away.

Renya Kujo and his crew.

Kujo watched our backs for a while.

Then, he noticed our joined hands.

"...Amazing."

He chuckled softly.

"Never thought he could put on that much of a boyfriend act."

Rinko Takamiya laughed amusedly right beside him, pressing a hand to her mouth.

"No way, did you see that just now? He was totally shaking while protecting Kokona!"

At those words, a small laugh leaked from the surroundings.

"He's normally like that, but seeing him actually try his best for his girlfriend... I kinda got a little fluttery!"

Takamiya laughed happily, perhaps finding her own words funny.

"Well, true, I didn't think Tachibana-kun would go that far."

Kujo didn't remove his gaze from the two walking ahead.

"That's why it's funny."

He twisted the corners of his mouth slightly.

"Since he genuinely thinks he's protecting Suzumura, it's hilarious."

A light chuckle leaked from the group at those words.

"What kind of face is he gonna make when he finds out everything in a few days?"

Not a single person had any doubts.

Just a game.

A little prank.

They thought it was no more than that.

Only Kaho Kitayama couldn't join that circle, keeping her gaze cast downward.

She wanted to stop it.

But she lacked the courage to speak up now.

◇

By the time we left the arcade, the sky had dyed into the colors of the sunset.

I walked side by side with Suzumura along the road heading toward the station.

Today as a whole.

It went according to plan.

Not just inside the classroom, but acting like lovers outside of school too.

That impression should be spreading step by step.

(I just need to keep this up without breaking character until the very end.)

I thought quietly to myself.

My role as a lover had only just begun.