After finishing the sports festival and regular exams, the representative events of the first term, I realize how quickly time passes.
In elementary school, every day felt incredibly long, but now it’s just a moment.
Every day, I wake up in the morning, go to school, and after school, depending on the day, it’s either the Home Economics Club or housekeeping work.
Before I knew it, while living a seemingly unchanging daily life, it was already late July.
「H-Hey… Takumi.」
「What’s up…? You sound serious.」
Today was a housekeeping day, so I was at Hoshino’s house as usual when she suddenly called my name with a somewhat tense expression.
She’s been acting a bit awkward since the sports festival, but I don’t know why.
The only thing I’m sure of is that small acts of physical contact, like grabbing the hem of my clothes, have increased.
「Um… well…」
「Ou…」
Hoshino looks up at me with puppy eyes, making me feel nervous for some reason.
「Um… well… is it true that you went out with Eri-san??」
「Eh?」
Her warm tone suddenly shifts to a gaze and voice as cold as a blizzard.
Eh, how does she know that?
I mean, it’s not like I was hiding it or anything, but it was quite a while ago, so why bring it up now??
As I’m puzzled, Hoshino presses further.
「Yesterday, I happened to meet Eri-san, and she showed me photos of some seashells? She said she found with you…」
「Ahh, that did happen…」
「…Don’t I get anything??」
「Eh?」
「I mean, for me?」
「Why would you? I went with her because I lost a bet, you know? Have I ever made a bet with you?」
「…W-We did, the test score competition.」
「We didn’t.」
「Even if you didn’t, I did. And I won. So you’re the pathetic loser.」
「That’s outrageous, oi!」
「Losers don’t get a second chance. It’s disgraceful.」
「I don’t deserve to be called that much, do I!?」
It’s true that we shared our scores from the regular exams, but I didn’t think we were competing.
However, it seems Hoshino thought we were, and now she’s puffing out her chest in triumph.
Judging from the conversation so far, it seems Hoshino wants to boss me around too.
Honestly, I’m not really up for it, but it’s true that I’ve been somewhat indebted to Hoshino, including the sports festival and school life.
So, I guess it can’t be helped.
「So? What do you want?? Something material? Or do you want to drag me somewhere?」
「Um… well, I want to go to the amusement park…」
「Ha?」
「I said, the amusement park…」
「You?」
「W-What…? Got a problem with that…?」
「No, not really a problem, just unexpected…」
「W-Well… it’s true I don’t usually like going…」
「Then why do you want to go?」
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「Well… I’m not good with thrill rides… so I want to practice…」
The words that came out of Hoshino’s mouth were unexpected.
Eh? She’s not good with thrill rides?
I kind of imagined her riding them with a cool face.
But why does she need to practice?
I don’t think people normally practice for thrill rides in everyday life.
Could it be…
「You… did you promise to go on a date with someone??」
「A d-d-d-d-date!?? W-Why would you think that!?」
「I mean, when you say you need to practice for thrill rides, I can only think of an amusement park date.」
「That’s not it… I’m going with some female friend next time!!」
「Ahh… I see. I thought it was for a date.」
「As if I’d go on a date? I don’t have anyone like that… for now.」
「Nn? Did you say something at the end?」
「N-Nothing!? I didn’t say anything!!」
「I-I see, if you say so…」
Thrill rides are fun because you don’t overcome your fear, so it’s rare to see someone going to practice for them.
Obviously, I’ve never experienced it either.
But on the contrary, it was refreshing.
「So, help me out this Saturday.」
「S-Saturday!? T-That’s pretty sudden, isn’t it?」
「Eh? D-Do you have plans?」
「Nope, totally free.」
「Then stop making it sound like you have plans! You surprised me!」
「But wouldn’t someone else be better than me? I think Aina-san would be better if you are going with your female friend…」
If she’s going with a female friend, I thought Aina-san, being the same gender, would be better for practice than me, a guy.
「It’s not that I don’t want Onee-chan… you see, um, there’s a high possibility she’s busy with things… you get it, right?」
「See, you’re already letting your true feelings slip…」
When you start guessing in your excuses, it’s over.
If her sister found out she was rejected, she’d probably be bedridden for days, so I’ll keep this to myself.
「A-Anyway. We’re going to the amusement park next Saturday! Okay?」
「Yeah, yeah, got it. But you know.」
「What?」
「You don’t have to make up reasons to force me to help you practice. I won’t turn you down if you ask.」
「I-I’m not making up any reasons…」
「Really?」
「Really…」
「Yeah, yeah, got it~」
「Ah! You laughed just now, didn’t you!! And don’t look at me with those warm eyes!」
I smile at Hoshino as she turns away, as if I hit the nail on the head.
Whether she was too embarrassed to ask directly or not, I don’t know the truth.
But what remained in my heart was a definite warmth.
What should I call this? I still don’t know the answer.
And so, it was haphazardly decided that we would go to the amusement park for a sudden practice to overcome her fear of thrill rides.
I was surprised that Hoshino would go to an amusement park with her female friend, something unimaginable considering her previous self, but I was also happy to see her trying to improve her relationships at school.