Chira, chira.
Chira, chira.
「Satou?」
「Ah… I-I’m not looking at anything!」
「No, no… I’ve been feeling your gaze a lot.」
A little while after Satou regained her soul.
Perhaps because holding her hand earlier was such a mistake, even now, Satou keeps glancing at my hand.
「Uuu… b-because…」
「Sorry, sorry, I won’t do it again.」
「T-That’s not it… actually, I want more… ahh, no, um…」
「First, calm down. Take a deep breath.」
「Y-Yes.」
She places her hand on her chest and takes a deep breath in and out.
Even that gesture is endearing and heartwarming.
「U-Um, you see…」
「I’ll go along with anything. Just tell me what you want to do without holding back.」
「Eh, without holding back…」
「That’s right. Without holding back.」
「W-Wawa…!」
Whatever she imagined, Satou blushed and looked away.
But soon she looked back at me…
「T-Then… um… c-can I touch Hinata-kun’s pinky finger?」
「My pinky? Sure. Not just one, you can touch all five.」
「T-That’s too stimulating, so just one for today, please.」
Saying that, Satou timidly reaches out her hand, slowly curling all but her pinky finger.
Can’t look at me, can’t touch my hand… but one finger is okay. Honestly, I didn’t quite understand Satou’s rules, but since I said I’d help, I’ll just do what Satou wants.
「I’m going to touch it, okay?」
「Y-Y-Yes.」
Learning from my previous mistake, I make sure to announce it this time.
Then, I gently touch the pad of my pinky finger to Satou’s pinky.
「……!」
Just that makes Satou’s hand twitch, so I decide to keep it in that state for a while.
「W-Wawawa…」
「It’s okay. I won’t do anything Satou doesn’t like.」
「Y-Yes, but I’m totally… so happy, so it’s okay.」
「Happy, you say. Well, if that’s the case, good.」
Satou’s hand… finger, was soft.
If I press, a springy resilience pushes back, and if I stroke, a smooth silkiness climbs up my nerves.
Springy, silky.
As I continue this for a while, gradually she starts to press back against my pinky.
「…Fufu.」
Perhaps getting used to it a little, Satou let out a small laugh.
「Hinata-kun’s pinky… fufu.」
「Feel free to touch it as you like.」
「T-Thank you very much.」
I won’t overdo it from my side.
Keeping that in mind, the goal is to “get Satou used to me”.
That should be the “first step in getting used to people”.
「…ku.」
「H-Hinata-kun?」
「N-No, sorry. It’s nothing.」
We’re touching, but I’m not moving.
That means while Satou is freely touching my pinky, I’m just enduring it…
…What’s this discomfort I’m feeling?
「I-It kind of feels like a pinky promise.」
Satou, intertwining her pinky with mine, said that with an awkward smile.
Then she narrowed her eyes a bit shyly, moved our linked pinkies up and down…
「H-Hinata-kun and I will always be together from now on. …Just kidding. Ehehe.」
Whether she intended it or not.
With the cutest embarrassed smile I could only describe as adorable, Satou said such an endearing thing to me.
「Then, from tomorrow on, shall we link pinkies on the train and bus?」
「Y-Yes!」
「Um… some people might not like it, so let’s try to keep it out of sight as much as possible.」
「R-Right…」
Sitting close together in a two-seater.
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
We can’t just expose our linked pinkies to everyone around, so for now, Satou and I are discreetly linking fingers between our thighs.
Somehow… it feels very much like we’re lovers.
Even though we’re not in that kind of relationship at all.
But still, I don’t mind it at all.
If there’s even a chance that this could help Satou become less shy around people, I’ll gladly accept any misunderstanding glances from those around us.
I’m a guy who cares about his friends.
「…Hinata-kun.」
「Oh, just now…」
「I-I said it. …Hinata-kun.」
「Ohh…!」
An astonishing speed of growth.
Though every time she calls my name, my pinky is squeezed tightly.
Even so, it’s more than enough progress.
「It’s all thanks to H-Hinata-kun…! Ah, um… if I let my guard down, it’s still no good.」
「Just get used to it little by little. You’re doing great.」
「E-Ehehe…」
I held back from patting her head… and instead gently stroked the back of her hand with my thumb.
As I watch Satou laugh as if she’s being tickled, I feel that discomfort creeping back in.
「Ah, I’m getting off at the next station…」
Then, hearing the conductor’s announcement suddenly, Satou muttered with a slightly lonely look.
「Got it. Then, shall we unlink our fingers?」
「N-No… um, let’s do it… until last minute…」
「I see. Roger that.」
As I nodded, our intertwined pinkies tightened even more.
It seems she really liked it.
「U-Um, Hinata-kun.」
「What’s up?」
「P-Please let me do something to thank you for everything… including today.」
「…No, that’s okay. It’s not like I was reluctantly spending time with Satou.」
「B-But… I won’t feel right unless I do.」
「…Well, if you say so.」
I really don’t need any thanks since I enjoyed it too, but I thought it would be rude to refuse too much, so I quickly gave in.
However, even when she says thanks, nothing particular comes to mind that I want… well, maybe there is.
「S-So, I was thinking… how about a b-bento?」
「…That surprised me.」
「…Um?」
「I was just about to say I want to eat Satou’s bento tomorrow.」
「R-Really…!?」
「Yeah, really. Today’s was super delicious.」
「I-If you say that… fu… fufu, my mouth is…」
「Will you make one for tomorrow?」
「Y-Yes, of course! Fufu.」
As flowers bloomed on Satou’s face, the train brakes screeched.
After a lingering tight squeeze of our pinkies, Satou relaxes her grip.
「…Hinata-kun.」
「Hmm?」
「If it’s okay, could I make one for you every day? Um… a bento.」
「Eh… are you sure?」
「Y-Yes, leave it to me!」
Satou’s smile was so full of joy that my intention of it being “just for tomorrow” instantly deflated.
「Then… I’ll take you up on that. But you must tell me if it becomes a burden. We’ll also need to discuss the cost of ingredients.」
「B-But…」
「Absolutely.」
「…U-Understood.」
I can’t compromise on this, so I have to insist a bit strongly.
With a whoosh, the train doors open and Satou stands up.
「T-Then… see you tomorrow. …Hinata-kun.」
「See you tomorrow. …Ayane.」
「…!? G-Geez, Hinata-kun.」
「Sorry, sorry, it just slipped out.」
「…Geez. You’re a mean person, Hinata-kun.」
Although she complained a little, Satou waved her hand happily as she stepped onto the platform.
──And just before the doors closed.
「See you tomorrow, …kun.」
I felt like Satou’s small voice faintly reached my ears.