Hmmm.
Pink might work.
Or maybe this light blue one.
Hey, Shido.
Which one do you think is good?
Hmm? Either one is-
-fine. That's what you're trying to say...Do you even know what's going on?
With the pink and light blue scrunchies in her hand, Kotori smiles sweetly.
Right. Saying that either one is fine is practically taboo on a date. Kotori was the one who drilled that into me.
I clear my throat and make a different move.
How about going orthodox and taking the pink one?
Pink, huh?...Pink. Hehe.
You don't have a lot of things in that color, right? I think it'd be nice to try once in a while.
You've got a point. In that case I'll take your word for it.
Kotori puts on the pink scrunchie and strikes a pose.
Ehehe.
How's this, does it look good on me?
Yeah. Don't you think so?
Come on, you can't do that Shido.
If it looks good on me than say it right.
It suits you, I'm telling you it suits you...
...You're telling me?
...
What do you mean when you say it suits me, Shido?
...That you look cute.
Ahaha.
Kotori seems to be getting a kick out of drawing out the words that she wanted to hear from me. I scratch my cheek, feeling embarrassed.
She won't give me a break until she gets me to say it, will she? Well, she looks happy enough, so it's fine with me.
Huh?
Kotori-chan?
Ah, it really is. Yoohoo~
Ah.
We look over to where people were calling to us. Two girls who looked closer to Kotori's age showed up.
Huh?
Haven't you been coming here with your brother on your way to school recently?
Ahh, I remember, I remember~
The brother she even went home with~
Aah, from earlier.
Her friends must have seen me when I went to pick her up. I'm guessing that's what it is. If they go to the same school as Kotori then they probably live in Tenguu City too.
It wouldn't be weird to come here and do your shopping either.
Eh? Wait a second.
You two are shopping together...
...Is this a date!?
Ehh, ehh, is this true, Kotori-chan?
Is it a date?
Fweh!? Ah, um, well...
Kotori blushes as they ask her straight.
Th-That's right.
This guy's name is Shido.
He's my bro-
I mean, um...
H-He's my boyfriend...
Eh?
What was that just now?
M-my boyfriend! He's my boyfriend!
Kyaaaaaa!
The shrill voices rattled my eardrums. And Kotori's friends wave their arms frantically while causing a commotion.
Boyfriend!
She said boyfriend!
No way, the real deal!?
You got yourself an actual boyfriend!?
E-Excuse me, can I touch you?
Eh? Sure, I don't mind.
The girls reach out their hands the moment I answered instinctively. They touch me all over.
No wayyyyyyyyyy!
He's real! He's real!
I actually got to touch him!
This isn't all in my head!
What are you trying to say!?
Kotori tries to but in, but the girls carry on with touching me. And each time they did, their shrill voices got louder.
Th-This is pretty hectic. That's female middle schoolers for you. I can't keep up with this tension.
Having a little more awareness, I see Kotori puffing her cheeks.
What is it, Kotori?
Nothing.
Must be nice to get attention from all of the cute girls.
It feels more like I'm being treated as a rare animal or space alien though.
Hmph.
Uh-oh, looks like her mood's going down. At this rate she's going to be nothing but angry.
Um, girls?
Hmm.
Isn't this kind of weird though?
Hm?
Just as I was about to stop them, the point of the conversation started changing.
I know what you mean.
They look good together, but something's kind of off.
I guess if I had to be honest, they don't seem to act like a couple?
Hmm.
They seem to get along like a brother and sister would, don't they?
Wha...!?
Th-That's not true!
Kotori responded to her friends strongly.
We're not siblings!
We're serious!
Shido and I are, uh, a r-real couple!
Come on Shido, you say something too!
I got, I got it. Stop tugging at my arm.
I clear my throat with an "ahem". My line of sight meets with her friends'.
We are a real couple, you know. Right, Kotori?
Th-That's right, Shido.
Hey, don't you start acting awkward too!
I-I can't help it!
It's hard to do this in front of my friends!
You're the one who should be showing off.
This is hard for me too!
The moment I thought that they were Kotori's friends I started getting nervous. And right now the looks they're giving us are getting more and more skeptical.
Th-This might be bad...
In that case, in that case,
prove it to us.
Prove it?
Prove to us that you're a couple.
Let's see.
How about...
...you two kiss?
K-Kiss!?
Aah, that could work.
W-Wait a second!
The conversation just went into a completely different direction!
A light kiss on the cheek would be good enough.
Or can you not do it?
Then I guess you two really aren't...
W-We can do at least that much!
Hey, Kotori!
She's getting worked up over something her friends just said. Before I could stop her, she decided to show off.
Y-Y-Y-Y-You be quiet, Shido!
You're not going to back out now, are you!?
J-Just leave everything to me!
Your eyes are moving in circles you know!
She's a mess right now! There's no way she can keep her cool like she thinks she can.
I-I'm fine.
It's just, uh, a kiss on the cheek, right...?
And right there she pauses.
W-What's the matter?
Th-They'll see us...
Eh?
Kotori lowers her shoulders and glances left and right.
It's daytime at the shopping district. The number of people here is never small. It's probably because they're surprised, but they're watching us.
Of course when I say "they" I don't mean just Kotori's friends, we're getting a lot more attention than that.
H-Hey. You're shaking, Kotori.
W-Well...
...when I think about it, it's still bright here...
A-And there are a lot of people...
No...
...They're going to see me do something embarrassing...
...Sheesh, there she goes with her face turning red. She even looks like she's about to cry, but she's still trying to act tough. What a handful.
Top: Kindly give her advice. Bottom: Get her worked up.
This isn't good. I have to do something.
Take it easy, Kotori. I'll lead you.
R-Really?
Yeah, leave it to me. Okay? Do exactly as I tell you.
O-Okay. I'll do just what you say.
Alright, she's nodding obediently.
Okay then, hold my head with your hands. That'll keep it in place and stop it from moving.
L-Like this?
Gyeh!?
F-First keep the face in place so it doesn't move...!
No, uh, Kotori-san? You don't need to put that much force into it! And I don't mean my face, I mean my head!
What's next?
What do we do next?
Come on, Shido.
Hurry up.
You're not listening!
My face is screaming in pain. This is really bad! Where is this girl getting all of her strength from!?
Th-then stand on your tip toes! Stand on your tip toes so we can be at the same height!
O-Okay.
Now, bring your face closer just like that!
Her wild breathing tickles my cheek.
Little by little, she brings her warm face closer-
...*kiss*
Kyaaaaaa!
Following this soft sensation, the voices around us get louder.
...I did it.
Even while everyone was watching.
Y-Yeah.
While Kotori let out her voice as if it were steam, I ended up getting surprised. But only in that short moment. After she came back to her senses she broke away from me, taking the heat with her.
H-How was that?
Good enough for you?
Yeah yeah!
I saw the whole thing!
The two friends get excited for Kotori and shake their hands in excitement. While the girls kept getting worked up, I bring one of my hands to my cheek.
...
I can still feel how soft her lips were when she kissed me.
Alright, shopping's done. Let's go home.
...
Heeey, Kotori~ How long are you going to stay mad for?
...
We convinced Kotori's friends that we were a couple. And that's good and all, but ever since they left she's been pouting the whole time.
What's up with you? That face you're making isn't cute, you know?
The other face that you made when you kissed me was a lot cuter too.
!
Just now, I saw her face redden before she looked away.
Idiot!
Idiot!
Shido you idiot!
I'm never doing something that embarrassing ever again!
Ow, ow! Quit hitting me, come on!
She continues hitting me with her small fists. She's still as embarrassed as when she kissed me in front of all those people. Her face is so red I could feel the heat coming from it.
...I-I'm supposed to do that stuff when you get home...
Eh...ah, really...?
Yeah...
This time it was my turn to have my face turn red.
L-Let's hurry up and go home, okay?
Y-Yeah.
We lock arms and awkwardly go home.
I think to myself that this Kotori is cute too, but for some reason instead of telling her that, I keep it to myself.
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