Sasaki widened her eyes at my sudden, out-of-nowhere suggestion.
“Um... you want to hold hands?”
She stared at my hand as she spoke.
Yeah, of course she’d be weirded out. I would be too...
“I–I was joking! Like how you always tease me, I just wanted to tease you back a little—”
As I hurried to pull my hand away, Sasaki grabbed it first.
“Makishima.”
“W–What?”
“Holding hands... I’m still too embarrassed. So no.”
“No seriously, it was just a joke!”
“But... I’ll allow this much.”
“This much?”
Sasaki gently wrapped her left hand around my trembling pinky finger.
The warmth of her palm spread through my little finger—wait.
Huh?????
“W–What are you—”
“...Ehehe.”
“Why are you grinning!?”
“No reason at allll. I’m just gonna hold your pinky today so you don’t get lost, okay?”
Sasaki tugged on me, looking ridiculously pleased with herself.
“Come on, let’s go already?”
Sasaki was always carefree—her emotions were loud and childlike. Watching her smile innocently, completely unaware of the situation, made me feel stupid for stressing about acting like a ‘fake couple’.
Thinking about Mizuki-san’s reaction or overplaying the couple act would only make things awkward for Sasaki.
...Alright. I’ll just be myself too.
✳︎✳︎
Saturday, 10 a.m., in front of Takato University Station.
I sat sideways on a bicycle seat in the station’s parking area, squinting into the distance.
“There you are, Makishima-kun...”
His tone had sounded suspicious, like he wasn’t even sure he had a girlfriend. Honestly, I half-expected him to ghost me entirely. But to think he actually did have a girlfriend...
I wasn’t convinced at first, but I’m glad I took the day off and came.
Makishima-kun, waiting at the station, and his bespectacled girlfriend who arrived right on time—began walking hand-in-hand.
I took out my notepad and pencil, following them at a distance.
It’s rare to get a chance to observe a couple’s date up close. If I did this without permission, I’d be nothing but a creep.
They visited a few cafés, ducked into a general-goods shop to look at accessories, and even picked out a headband.
Whether in cafés or walking between stores, the two of them never stopped talking.
They were always chatting, always walking close. And what’s with the pinky thing?
Their atmosphere had this unapproachable sense of closeness around them.
Have they been dating for a long time...?
The girlfriend was the type who naturally closed the gap without him noticing, and Makishima-kun handled it like he was used to it.
If he already had such a clingy girlfriend, why was he at that group date?
...I have a lot of questions, but I should ask him directly later.
From a café across the street, I watched them shop.
After choosing a headband, they bought it, and Makishima-kun gently placed it on her head as they walked out.
What a cute girl.
He said she always wore a mask because of allergies, but I bet she’d be adorable without it.
When the two started walking again, I left the café to follow.
Still... something about the way that girl stood reminded me of someone.
Short hair. Height about the same—maybe a bit taller because of her platform shoes...
“No way... right?”
I heard rumors she’d gone overseas. If she really chased a man abroad, she wouldn’t come back.
No, there’s no way she would come ba—
『—No. I don’t want to become a traitor like Mizuki-san.』
That voice echoed in my head.
I only wanted the two of us to find a way to live together... but she refused.
And so she died.
Despite her fame, her status—she threw everything away for some guy, and in the end she lost everything and died.
I lived. She died.
Which one of us was right...?
✳︎✳︎
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