As I heard the voice, I swivelled my head to locate its source. There stood Kinoshita, dressed in a frilly white dress that hugged her curves and had a matching pink cardigan draped over her shoulders. Her choice of footwear was simple, a pair of white sneakers that matched her cardigan.
Without a word, I rose from the sofa and approached her.
"When did you arrive?" Kinoshita asked, sounding surprised as she fidgeted with her dress.
"About five minutes ago," I fibbed, reluctant to disclose all of my activities and rationale.
"We should go…then?"
"Sure," I responded, taking a step forward.
"Wait, can we grab a drink first? I'm...thirsty," she said, her voice wavering.
I paused, turning around to locate a vending machine nearby.
"Fine," I replied, and began to make my way towards it, with Kinoshita following me.
In no time at all, we had arrived in front of a gleaming vending machine, its colorful buttons and flashing lights reflecting the images of the surrounding area. I stepped aside, gesturing for Kinoshita to take the lead.
"Mizuhara, do you want something too?" she asked, her gaze flickering briefly in my direction.
"No, thank you," I replied, my eyes fixed on the selection of drinks on offer.
With a light touch, Kinoshita's fingers darted across the machine's surface, navigating its digital interface. She pulled out her phone from her pocket and scanned the vending machine, before selecting her drink of choice.
The whirring of the machine echoed through the air as her drink was dispensed, and she then retrieved it with a smile.
As for me, I just watched in silence.
After that, we left the reception area. The aluminum lid of the can popped open with a crisp sound, followed by a fizzing noise as the carbonated beverage was released from the container.
She caught up to me and walked by my side, her pace quickening to match mine.
I could hear the soft swishing sound of her steps as we made our way down the corridor, and the crunching of gravel beneath our feet as we walked outside.
Kinoshita lifted the can to her lips, taking a long, satisfying gulp of the sweet liquid before we continued on our way.
"Ahh…"
She paused, releasing a contented sigh as she continued to quaff the drink. Once finished, she lowered the can, scanning the surroundings with her eyes.
"Um, Mizuhara, can you wait for a moment?" she requested, her eyes momentarily meeting mine before diverting again.
"Sure," I replied, halting my steps.
She then strode past me, turning left toward a trash bin. Upon reaching it, she tossed the can inside. However, it bounced off the lid, landing on the ground and spilling some of its contents.
I could see her expression contort with embarrassment as she tilted her head slightly toward me before returning her gaze to the can. Crouching down, she retrieved the can, and although some liquid had spilled onto the ground, it was only dirt or gravel, so it wasn't a big issue.
After standing up, she walked closer to the trash bin. And this time, instead of throwing it, she used the can to push it onto the lid. Though her hands didn't come into direct contact with the lid, she used the can as a tool to push it.
Nonetheless, the can had fallen on the ground, which was most likely covered in a bit of dirt.
"Um...M-Mizuhara, I-I need to wash my hands!" she exclaimed in a wavering voice, stuttering slightly.
I simply nodded as I watched her hasten to the nearest restroom.
I still couldn't believe that she hadn't stepped on the pedal of the trash bin, which was there for a reason. Well, knowing her, she had probably forgotten or didn't see it. I didn't really care that much.
After a solid five minutes, Kinoshita finally returned, strolling with a towel in hand that she used to wipe something on her face and hands.
"S-Sorry, Mizuhara. Did I keep you waiting for too long…?" she said, her voice trembling slightly.
"Not really," I responded, my tone flat and unimpressed.
It didn't take a full five minutes to just wash your hands, after all.
Kinoshita's eyes dropped to the ground as she fiddled with the towel, her words stumbling out of her mouth in apology.
"Um...I'm really sorry," she stuttered, her gaze fixed on the ground, her towel limp in her hand.
"Let's just go."
"U-Um, yeah, sure..."
Honestly, I was indifferent either way. And so, we pressed on with our stroll. Kinoshita stowed away the small towel in her pocket and kept a slight distance behind me, not walking alongside. We made our way to the crowded center of the schoolyard, where the chatter and footsteps of students filled the air.
However, after a while, I came to a sudden halt while walking. Despite Kinoshita specifying the time and meeting place, she had failed to mention where we were supposed to go.
"Eh?!"
In that very moment, I stumbled and tumbled onto the ground with a loud thud.
Bump.
Before my face could make contact with the hard pavement, I quickly manoeuvred my body to do a push-up and caught myself with my hands. I felt a weight on my back, and as I looked back, I saw that Kinoshita had bumped into me, her arms hanging on either side of my body.
With a grunt and a wiggle of her hands in the air, Kinoshita struggled to reach the ground.
"Ugh..." she muttered in frustration, her voice tinged with embarrassment as she realized she was still on my back. "E-Eeh!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, Mizuhara!"
"It's fine."
She used my shoulder as a holder to help her stand, and I slowly stood up with her, feeling her weight shifting off my back. As we rose, I couldn't help but notice the stares of the other people in the schoolyard, their eyes fixed on us.
Kinoshita's head hung low, her arms crossed over her chest as she avoided making eye contact with anyone. It was clear that the attention was making her uncomfortable.
