Casting away the other thoughts in my head, I held Shizu’s hand tightly as we started our journey outside the school grounds. We had no set destination but for now, just the company of each other seed to make us tremble with excitent on how this day would end.
The night had yet to fall but given that it was already past five o’clock in the afternoon, the sky was already tinted orange. The busy street outside the school also seed like a different place than before. No uniford students walked around or stayed at so corner to pass so ti.
A few steps out and the silence engulfed us. I looked at Shizu walking quietly by my side and caught her staring at .
With her clear, round eyes filled with her deep thoughts, a small smile blood from her lips.
“What? Can I not stare at my man?”
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
The way she said that would surely make anyone’s heart skip a beat and then her following giggle would spell their death sentence.
Sohow, I felt like we were back to where we started. I was carefully treading the line to understand this girl behind her mask. And likewise, her aningful gaze seed to see past my mask of confidence.
“That’s how I interpreted it, numbskull. I trust you won't just let trip over. And even if I do, your strong arms will prevent from being hurt. Hence, I can whimsically decide to just admire your side fra.”
“Alright. You can do that but isn’t that unfair to ?”
“Numbskull, how is it unfair when you’re always staring at when I’m working? I’m not busy this ti so it is only right that it will be my turn.”
Uh. She’s not wrong. That’s what I always do whenever we’re in her office.
“Co on. Accept your fate. I’ll keep admiring you like this. Besides, if I let my eyes only have you as my focus, no one will dare attempt to provoke you and flaunt their ugly desire to gain my attention.”
“I see. I guess that’s fair. I might take down more idiots if that happens. Your eyes are only for .”
I found myself agreeing to her words. But then again, the way she said that was filled with confidence. She’s more than aware of her beauty. For sure, he had been hit on many tis over by those ignorant during her first year in our school. Walking along these streets alone, she would be thought to be a target they could impress.
Alas, she had neither the ti nor the interest to get to know them. Maybe if I didn’t get involved with Nami, I also wouldn’t be noticed by her.
That’s in the past now though. At this mont, this girl will never shy away from declaring her love for .
“A jealous numbskull will probably be a sight to see... However, I won’t intentionally do that. That’s a vain thought.”
“You don’t like the fun of seeing act childish when I’m jealous.”
“Yes.”
Shizu’s short answer was then followed by a squeeze on my hand. Then as though she was asking for my full attention, she tugged at my sleeve.
Taking this chance to look at her again, I found her desire written on her face.
Stopping in our steps, I then moved in front of her. With my hand on her chin, I lifted her head and caught her lips with mine.
We’re in the middle of the street. But who cares, right?
My Shizu felt like asking for my kiss and I’ll always deliver that.
“Simple-minded, numbskull.”
“I’m always an idiot when it cos to you, no?”
“Indeed. You can’t help but make fall for you when all I did initially was to accuse and provoke you.”
“That’s already in the past. You know why I fell for you, right?”
“What? Because you admire my hard-working personality?”
“That’s a part of it. But because my Shizu is so beautiful beneath that mask. My desire for you blood right away, not wanting to see you get taken by soone else.”
“Greedy idiot.”
“You love this greedy idiot anyway.”
“Yeah. I also love how shaless you are.”
Another smile blood from our lips and a mont later, we once again got taken in by our desire to convey our affection through action.
With this kind of conversation becoming like a sprinkle of sugar that made this mont sweeter for us, every second that passed was already sothing morable.
Before long we reached the usual shopping district near the station. But instead of going to that crowded street right away, Shizu and I walked into the bookstore. The one that Aya, Rae, and I often visit.
Inside was also quiet and the sll of brand-new books perated in the air.
We walked around and reached the Education Book aisle, browsing through them.
When I asked her why she picked this place, her reason was simple, “I searched it up and found that going to the bookstore is one of the top picks when people are asked what they want to do on a date. We can talk about our interests and share them with one another.”
That’s a cute reason but even more so was the fact that she looked it up on the internet. She also spared no effort to make this date aningful for us.
“That’s not wrong.”
“You didn’t finish that sentence.”
“Hmm? But I did.”
“No, numbskull. If it’s you, you’ll ntion the girls who you often went to the bookstore with. I don’t mind. We’re all in this together. You don’t have to hold back or tread carefully. I also like hearing things about them. You see, aren’t I kind of an outcast?”
Ah. She’s not wrong. It’s already in my head. How Rae and Aya loved it whenever we were here. Although it hasn't happened a lot of tis yet, those monts are really sothing I truly cherish. Their genuine enjoynt from discussing things with and at the sa ti the glint in their eyes as they listened to try to describe my interest in books.
Like she said, we were able to understand each other better during those tis.
In any case, her last sentence made stop.
“An outcast, how so?”
“Co on, numbskull. Aren’t I hard to talk to? I’m also the one who kept on declaring that in the future, they’ll leave you and I will be the last one standing next to you.”
Hard to talk to? Her?
Hardly.
She’s frugal with using words, true. But she’s already getting along with the others. Hell, even Komoe found it fascinating to be in her presence. And then there’s Marika who imdiately admired her even from just that short ti they sat next to each other a few days ago.
“I guess that’s one thing I’ll disagree with, Shizu. You’re not an outcast. You never are and never will be.”
“Alright. Explain.”
“It’s simple. Because you’re one of my girls. Including Nami, everyone already sees you as their sister.”
I picked up a book that caught my eye, it’s an educational one but it’s probably written to not be filled with boring terminology. It’s an introduction to psychology. It’s sothing I read once before. I even have a copy of it on my bookshelf. However, I have yet to continue delving deeper into that subject. I an, I feel like I might not be able to fully understand them considering I deem myself broken.
I handed the book to Shizu. Her eyes alternated between the book and before shaking her head and flipping the book open.
A few seconds in, Shizu still tried to respond to what I said last. Or maybe refute it. But slowly but surely, she beca engrossed even with just the first page.
Before flipping it to the next one, she looked up at , placed the book close to her chest, and tiptoed to deliver a kiss on my lips.
“They see as their sister? Okay. I’ll believe you, numbskull. Let’s go, it’s my turn to share with you my interest in books.”
While still holding the book, she grabbed my hand and dragged further into the aisle.
We’re just starting our date but there’s no doubt that we’re already enjoying it to the fullest.
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