Chapter 22 – It seems that JK Idol-san is interested in zoo (part 8)
I parted ways with Nanamizawa and quickly returned to my room after entering the house.
"Oh, Kou-kun. You're home early."
"Michiko-san, you told Nanamizawa about my plans, right?"
"Well, not exactly... Shino-chan keeps asking about you."
My aunt, Michiko-san, entered the room with determination.
"But still... You know about my relationship with Nanamizawa, right?"
"...Never mind. Kou-kun? Also consider Shino-chan's feelings. You two used to be so close."
"We still are!... We're friends and we talk a lot at school."
"...Oh, really? Then what's this?"
Michiko-san brought a video player into my room and connected it to the television. She started playing a videotape recorded in the past.
"Today, I was cleaning the house because of the long holiday. And this..."
From the tape, loud noises could be heard, and gradually, human voices became audible.
And the video began to play.
It was me and Nanamizawa as children, playing right in this room.
"Kou-kun and Shino-chan are so close."
Young Michiko-san's voice could be heard.
"Yeah, I like Shino-chan!"
"I-I like you too... Kou-kun..."
"Oh, is that so? That's great."
I grabbed the TV remote and turned it off.
"Michiko-san, I don't know what you're getting at, but please stop."
"Why don't you call her by her first name anymore? Shino-chan."
"...Michiko-san, I..."
"Ah, I saved this video for when you two get married in the future..."
"...I'm sorry, can you leave for a moment?"
Michiko-san left the room, taking all the equipment with her.
"People who can't fall in love will only grow colder."
She left those words behind.
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"That, uh... did you hear that, Kanbara-kun?"
"...Hmm, ah, yes, I heard, I heard."
I couldn't fully focus on the phone call with Sakurazaki.
"Himahara-kun, you look a little tired."
"I'm sorry, just a bit."
"I should be the one apologizing. I didn't consider you."
"No need to apologize, Sakurazaki... You should remain as you are. I'm happy with how things are now."
"...So, can you listen to me for a bit longer?"
As I listened to Sakurazaki's voice, my heart felt more energized on its own.
"Thank you for going to the zoo with me today."
"I should be the one thanking you. I had a really great time."
"Next, let's go to a place you want to visit, Himahara-kun."
"A place I want to visit? There's no specific place I want to go, so we can go wherever you want, Sakurazaki."
"Huh, but I'm curious about the place you want to visit... Yeah, any place will do."
"A place I want to visit... Well, maybe a hot spring area."
"Huh, a naughty one...?"
"Why do you think that? I'm just interested in hot spring areas!"
What does she think of me?
Besides, hot springs are normal.
"A hot spring area?"
"There's a lot of delicious food there, so I'm interested in it."
"But, let's postpone the hot spring for now! You know, I can't disguise myself in a hot spring, and I don't want people to know about my existence!"
"Although you usually aren't so worried... Well then, how about we go somewhere else? How about a more relaxed place, like a food trip?"
"I want to go!"
"When it comes to food, your enthusiasm is completely different, huh?"
"I've been on a food trip for a show before, but I couldn't act freely at that time..."
Of course, because there were scripts and things that were set up.
"I have a few places we can visit after school, let's go there another time."
"Yes!"
+×+×+×+
(Preview for the next chapter)
"Himahara-kun, what does 'Ginza' mean?"
"It refers to the place where silver coins were minted and issued during the Edo period."
"If the explanation is too long, maybe it's fine to skip it."
Next chapter: "It seems that JK Idol-san is interested in food trips."
