「You know, aren’t I’m well-known for being a forest girl?」
「I’ll listen at least.」
「But I also want to aim to be a modern girl.」
「Why don’t you go back about a hundred years?」
「So, let’s go to Print Club.」
「Listen to me.」
Yuna suddenly starts saying incomprehensible things, completely ignoring my words, and seems to be looking for the location of a game center, presumably our destination. We’ve gone out together quite a few times, and we’ve been to a game center before, so I don’t think she needs to search for it.
「Print Club… commonly known as Purikura.」
「……」
「When you think of high school girls, you think of Purikura, right?」
「……」
「Finally, I’m joining the ranks of urban-type beautiful girls.」
「……」
「By the way, what are you doing since a while ago?」
「Getting ready to go home.」
「Even though I’m talking to you this much!?」
I mean, you don’t listen to me.
I thought I was being ignored.
When I gave her a look full of such emotions, Yuna pouted her lips in boredom.
「I’m inviting you, you know.」
「Yeah.」
「Then come with me.」
「No way.」
Why do I have to go out with a zombie?
It feels like this is already becoming meaningless, but I want a romantic comedy. I definitely don’t want to spend my school life with a monster.
When I frowned deeply, Yuna forcefully grabs my arm.
Reflexively, I looked to the seat next to me for help.
But reality is cruel. Nanaka wasn’t there.
Dona dona dooona…
「It’s not good to be extravagant.」
「That’s not the right way to describe this situation.」
「Having me, a beautiful girl, by your side isn’t extravagant?」
Well, you’re a zombie.
I’ve gotten used to the clearly decaying skin, but it’s not a look I want to approach willingly. If I’m not careful, I might end up being taken underground myself.
As we passed through the automatic doors of the game center, the explosive sound shaked my body.
Yuna grabs onto my arm, seemingly a bit surprised.
It feels like being caught by a demon.
I wonder if I’ll get probation.
「It’s embarrassing to say it directly, so read between the lines.」
「Sorry, I’m the dense type.」
「I’ll knock you out.」
I mean, I can’t interact normally with monsters unless I’m dense. I didn’t say that though. I humbly accept the chop that came flying with a hint of jest. A squishy sensation on my forehead. It’s clearly not a normal sensation, but it’s amazing even to myself that I don’t change my expression at all.
In this space where various sounds mix, the back of my skull itches.
Yuna let go of my arm, but after a moment of hesitation, she gently held my hand.
Could you not?
「…What?」
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
「Nothing.」
However, I didn’t say, “Your hand feels gross, so could you let go?” like a dandelion fluff floating in a meadow. I might die if I respond incorrectly. I’m a considerate gentleman.
Instead, I said, “Did you know that Purikura’s official name is Print Club?”, making a statement that highlights my lack of knowledge, and spoke to her as she pondered in front of machines that all looked the same to me.
「Anything is fine, right?」
「It’s not.」
「It doesn’t change, does it?」
「It does.」
Should we go for a heavily edited look, or maybe, on the contrary, a natural Korean style with no edits… Yuna ponders.
Maybe I can go home like this.
I tried, but my hand was tightly held, so it was impossible.
Sad.
「Let’s go with this one.」
Eventually, she enters a Purikura machine, exuding an air of having made a big decision. It’s a space I would never enter alone or with just male friends. In a white-themed space, dazzling photos of women dance. There’s no way I’d want to invade this alone. Even though I’m with Yuna, who can barely be described as a “female friend”, I feel this uncomfortable, so if I were alone…
We pass through the curtain hanging at the entrance of the machine.
Inside the booth, light reflects off the pure white walls.
I involuntarily close my eyes.
「It’s life’s four cuts, so we’ll take four shots for now.」
「What?」
「It’s life’s four cuts, so we’ll take four shots for now.」
「I see.」
I understood that I didn’t understand.
I don’t know about types of Purikura.
Don’t underestimate a male high school student.
After that, I followed Yuna’s instructions and took photos. I made poses I didn’t understand and watched her “edit”──apparently just changing the frame and background. I don’t see what’s fun about it, but she seems to be enjoying herself a lot.
「Here you go.」
「Thanks.」
Apparently, the process is over.
Looking at what Yuna handed me, a rectangle is divided into four parts, each containing the photos we just took. I see, so this is life’s four cuts, just as I thought──?
Slender, flowing golden hair.
Strong will can be felt from her slightly upturned eyes.
The slightly raised corners of her mouth indicate she’s relaxed.
My school’s girls’ uniform, and from the color of the ribbon, the same grade.
It’s unmistakably the image of a beautiful girl. However, I don’t recognize this girl.
「Who’s this?」
「Who?」
「No, the person next to me.」
「It’s obviously me, right?」
Obviously me…?
I compare the printed photo with the monster next to me again.
Beautiful girl. Zombie.
Beautiful girl. Zombie.
Beautiful girl. Zombie.
Unn.
「No, this is too edited.」
「I told you it’s Korean Purikura, so it’s not edited!」
But it’s completely different.
As I considered saying that, I thought that maybe this is exactly how Kusakabe Yuna looks to others, and I might have finally seen the beautiful girl I couldn’t recognize until now.