All I can rember about Nikaido was that she's a fairly silent, modest and pure girl who sotis steals a glance at during my last year in middle school. Apart from that, everything was blank.
When she visited along with Aoi and Ria, she helped to sohow understand that what I was planning to do wasn't taking responsibility and the girls fell for because of sothing I did for them at one point in our twisted relationship.
And during that ti, she also expressed her like towards and with only being mysterious for her as the foundation. I called her out for that, saying it's just her curiosity towards when we last t each other but in the end, nothing really changed, she's now aiming for to like her as well.
I couldn't get it before but upon rembering how I seem to easily like soone I am interested in, just like with Shizu-senpai or Arisa-senpai, I guess it's in line with what Nikaido is feeling for .
"Here try this. This will be good for you." Nikaido picked up a product and put it on my cart with a bright smile on her face.
It's already 15 minutes and we're still circling different sections of this supermarket, at tis she will suggest sothing to and if I find nothing wrong with it, I will take it. And in this way, we looked like a couple shopping for when we will start living together.
Also, during this ti I am with her, she neither told how she likes anymore nor asked to like her as well. In exchange, she's just silently accompanying while staying close by my side.
Even if I didn't have any reaction, for this girl, spending this ti with was already enough for her.
After another 10 minutes, we went out of the supermarket with two large bags in both of my hands.
"Thank you, Nikaido."
"You're welco, I enjoyed my ti with you, Onoda… Next week, can we shop together again?"
All this ti inside the supermarket her smile never let up, especially when the clerk once again thought of us as a couple. And this ti, there's only one cart so… I never bothered correcting her. Due to that, her already bright smile blood even brighter as she unconsciously held onto my arm.
However, that changed when her last question left her mouth. Perhaps she's afraid that I will say no.
Our three etings happened in this part of our neighborhood and the supermarket was the common place for us. She possibly thought that only during this ti will she have a chance to spend ti with .
Because of my sowhat busy schedule, she couldn't do anything for her plan to make like her. However, unbeknownst to her, what I think about her is already bordering on her goal.
Perhaps, I'm only restricting myself to completely cross that border in consideration for the girls chasing after . Now that I already t them, that restriction is starting to loosen up.
"Sure. I appreciate your suggestions as well. We're already talking in ssenger so just tell when will you co, I will restock at the sa ti as you." I nodded and smiled at her which made her face brighten once more, her slumped shoulders raised as she unknowingly ran up and hugged .
When she realized what she did, her enchanting face instantly beca tinted red as she slowly backed away from .
This girl is trying to be careful with , huh? Let's see…
"Un. I will. Well then…" Nikaido turned around, maybe to escape from being embarrassed further.
"Wait. Do you want to stop by sowhere? My treat." Before she could even take the first step, I called out to her which froze her in her spot.
A simple thank you is not enough, in my vocabulary at least. Or I'm just trying to make an excuse to extend this ti with her.
"Won't I be taking up more of your ti?"
Although her question was filled with consideration, the way she turned around exaggeratingly along with that expecting and brightly lit eyes tells how she loves my suggestion.
"Not really, I'm free until later in the afternoon. You helped so I will feel bad if I let you go like this when you especially went to accompany . But can you wait for a while? I will bring this ho first." I lifted the two large bags and wryly smiled. With these, it will be weird to stop by sowhere with her.
"Un. I'll wait at the café, like last ti." Nikaido nodded excitedly.
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Around 20 minutes later, after telling Akane and Miwa-nee that I'm going out for a while, I reached the sa café where we t a week ago.
Like last ti, she was sitting on one of the chairs at their outdoor table.
Upon seeing , Nikaido smiled and waved at excitedly.
Déjà vu, eh?
I approached her table and to her surprise, I took her hand and clasped it on mine.
Of course, I accounted for anyone who would possibly know us before deciding on doing it.
However, because Nikaido didn't expect it, she almost tripped when she stood up.
"Careful, let's go in." I caught her on her waist and waited for her to stabilize herself before leading her inside.
After spending around 20 minutes of a coffee break there, we went out and started strolling around our neighborhood.
As always, even on weekends, our neighborhood is silent. There are no kids running around to play, and even if there's a park, it's mostly unused.
Because Nikaido couldn't collect her thoughts throughout our stay in the cafe, we spent it in silence. Apart from her continuous sneaky glances at as well as lightly slapping her cheeks as if she's checking if she was dreaming, nothing else happened.
On my part, aside from watching her sowhat silly antics, I started to think about our situation. Although I kept telling her last ti to think her situation through and that I'm the worst person to be involved with, I have no right to control her decision.
And now, after a week, her decision to like was still the sa. This was evident with our conversation in ssenger as well as the way she acted around . Nothing changed except for the fact that she's not exactly working on her parting words from before.
Back then, Nikaido told that she will make admit that I like her as well.
Ah!
Wait… Now that I think about it, although she's not doing anything else, the fact that I'm already thinking about her and even asked her on my own initiative to spend more ti together… isn't this more effective than her doing sothing to make like her?
Do I like her already?
When I reached this thought process, I sneaked a glance at the girl walking timidly at my side. Will I stay here with her if I don't like her? There's the option to reject her but I'm not inclined to do that…
Haa… This is not just repaying her goodwill anymore.
I'm trying to convince my in-denial self that I already like her.
"I'm really happy today, Onoda. Last week, I once again contemplated every word you said to . I was na?ve, true. But the more I spend ti with you, the more I want to prolong it… I'm actually content with the few minutes with you at the supermarket but you called out to … And that raised my hopes up." As her chestnut-colored hair swayed from the cool breeze which passed by us, Nikaido decided to break the silence between us.
It's already almost noon and the sun is almost on top of our head. That's why before replying to her, I pulled us towards the unused park and took shade on a tall and lush tree in the middle of it.
"Onoda, is it fine for to assu that you're starting to like ? Or maybe this is just you repaying gratitude?" Nikaido carefully asked while staring at our still-locked hands once we reached the tree.
In return, I tightened my hold on her and recollected my thoughts before opening my mouth to respond to her, "The truth is… I'm also contemplating whether I already like you or not. You see, back then, I'm considering the position of the girls chasing after so I couldn't really explore the thought of soone liking normally. I might've told you this countless tis already but I will repeat it again. I'm not normal, especially in my relationship with girls. I love all of them to the point that I already decided to build a future with them." Slowly, I turned towards her and she did the sa, I lifted my free hand and placed it on her face. It's warm and it's because of the blush on it that might be mistaken as permanent since it never disappeared ever since our ti at the supermarket.
"Perhaps I already like you but it's not to the point of wanting to make you mine. I still want you to truly think it through. Because you see, if I seriously consider taking you in, I will be including you in that future."
Just like with Shizu-senpai, I like her enough that I am actively trying to court her or Arisa-senpai, I like her enough that I want to know more about her. But Nikaido is… she's the one who expressed her feelings towards . Am I now the sa as the other guys who will think 'why not try it?'?
"Although you still have the choice to leave if you decide to at so point in the future, my like will surely evolve to love. You'll be restricted to only being mine while you will continuously see with other girls."
In the first place, I never really planned to court or even steal her. However, now that we reached this point, it's ti to make it clear. I guess.
If she still stood by what she's currently feeling for , I will stop restricting myself and make her mine.
"I now understand. You're truly trying to think what's best for and that you truly care for … Thank you. I will certainly think it over again, Onoda. Next week I will tell you my decision." Nikaido nodded and took a step forward before wrapping her free arm to my back.
With her soft and lean body this close, my free arm naturally did the sa and pulled her closer.
The decision is in her hands now.
Being in a normal relationship, that's what everyone wants, but with , that will never happen…
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