Chapter 338: Like A Couple
Chapter 338: Like A Couple
After walking for about ten minutes, the two arrived smoothly at the hall entrance.
It was only then that Himekoji realized the so-called hall was really just two streets away from the alley where Yukinoshita had gotten lost…
It was really hard on her to get lost while being that close.
“Still, I really didn’t expect you to want to come here. What did you come to see?”
During their free time queuing to enter, Himekoji casually tried to strike up a conversation with Yukinoshita.
“Hmm, there are quite a few things I want to see, I guess.”
Yukinoshita didn’t directly state the goal of her visit to this exhibition. No, it was more like the girl was actively trying to hide it.
However, even so, Himekoji could more or less guess—
Probably cats, right?
Because Yukinoshita had drawn a huge, super eye-catching red circle around the cat exhibition area on the poster…
…
While they chatted, the line in front of them slowly got shorter.
It was worth noting that this time the line was divided based on couples entering and non-couples entering.
Supposedly, it was to make it easier to distribute numbered tags for couples; these tags would be used for the raffle to win plushies.
At this, Himekoji inwardly complained for ages—
What kind of animal expo was this anyway?
Shouldn’t an animal expo be friendlier towards animals?
But he hadn’t even gone in yet, and he could already feel this thick atmosphere full of couples showing off; hey!
Although formally, Himekoji was lined up with Yukinoshita in the couples’ line, they knew their own real situation. Both he and Yukinoshita were proudly single folks smelling of solitude; they were the ones getting hurt.
Especially now in their line, both in front and behind them, were couple after couple, showing their affection in all kinds of fancy ways…
…
Yukinoshita watched the other couples for a long time, then looked back at herself and Himekoji. She frowned uncontrollably.
“Don’t we… seem a bit unlike?”
“Unlike what?”
Himekoji didn’t understand.
“A couple.”
“Huh?”
Himekoji was slightly stunned. He hadn’t expected Yukinoshita to worry about such a thing.
“Well then, how should we act to seem like one?”
“Hmm… At least like that couple, or maybe, that one over there.”
Yukinoshita pointed her finger one after another at several very ordinary examples in the line.
Example one: A girl hugged her boyfriend’s arm, leaning on him like a small bird.
Example two: A boy had his arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder, sweet and affectionate.
“Huh? We have to do it to that extent?”
Himekoji was startled.
Wasn’t that super Normie?
Well, since it was really just an act…
It wasn’t unacceptable!
With an awkward expression, Himekoji turned his head to look elsewhere. At the same time, his hand slowly moved backwards, lifting until it was level with his shoulder.
His fingers unconsciously curled and uncurled nervously; a faint sweat appeared on his palm.
Probably because, right now, Himekoji felt a tiny bit out of his depth.
Yukinoshita’s shoulder was only a few centimeters away from his descending hand…
…
“I just think, since we are queuing over here in this line, it’s better not to stand out as too different.”
Yukinoshita said this, almost like laying the groundwork for what she planned to do next.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she lifted both hands, moving them toward the same target – Himekoji.
T-This could… could serve as reference experience for Nanami later too.
Though she had a full and complete reason, Yukinoshita still seemed a bit stiff doing this. Her clear eyes fixed rigidly straight ahead – a rare expression only seen when she was genuinely nervous. She didn’t look to the side, only straight forward.
Of course, if someone were to ask Yukinoshita right then what exactly lay directly in front of her, she wouldn’t be able to answer at all…
…
Yukinoshita prepared to hug Himekoji’s arm, like couples do.
Himekoji prepared to drape his arm over Yukinoshita’s shoulder, like couples do.
However, the result of them both doing this at the same time was—
The arm Yukinoshita wanted to hug was now positioned above her shoulder. Her attack, fueled by immense psychological pressure, completely missed its mark.
In that moment of surprise, and because the line happened to shift forward right then, Yukinoshita stumbled slightly as she took a step forward. Her body leaned forward, her shoulders naturally shifting place.
Thus, through pure accident, Himekoji also failed to properly place his hand on Yukinoshita’s shoulder…
…
“Ahem.”
Himekoji, thinking Yukinoshita had dodged him, coughed lightly to hide his awkwardness. The hand he had raised he lifted even higher, all the way over his head, seemingly to scratch the back of his head.
Yukinoshita, thinking Himekoji had dodged her, flushed red and quickly lowered her face so he wouldn’t see.
“Ah… right. We really don’t need to go to such lengths.”
Blushing intensely, Yukinoshita tried hard to find a way out.
Hearing this, Himekoji thought Yukinoshita was reminding him—
That playing couple was fake, just for the chance at the panda plush raffle, and that he shouldn’t cross the line.
He quickly caught on, going along smoothly.
“Yeah, r-right, who says you have to anyway?”
Himekoji’s face showed agreement, but inwardly he complained relentantly—
Was there something wrong with Yukinoshita?!
If that was what she meant, then why did she say something so misleading earlier?
He’d genuinely reached out…
Damn it! How embarrassing!
…
“Here is your couple’s number tag. Please keep it safe; you’ll need it to claim prizes later.”
Fortunately, they finally reached the front of the line, preventing Himekoji’s awkwardness from lingering too long.
After Yukinoshita took the number badge, the two walked into the exhibition hall.
Yukinoshita’s face was still bright red.
After all, it was her first time ever doing something like that… and she’d been shamefully dodged with clear disgust.
That embarrassment was probably going to stick with her a while longer.
Not wanting Himekoji to see her like this, Yukinoshita strode ahead, determined to lead the way.
Then—
“Hmm…”
Taking only a few steps, the girl froze upon spotting multiple branching paths.
“This is where the organizers offer different routes to suit visitors’ interests,” explained Himekoji, catching up from behind her.
“If you want to see cats, Entrance C will be quickest.”
“Entrance C?”
At the word “cats,” Yukinoshita grew instantly captivated, so much that her flushed face slipped completely from her thoughts.
“Here, let me lead…”
Himekoji certainly hadn’t forgotten Yukinoshita was a terrible direction-challenged person.
“R-right, okay…”
So Yukinoshita obediently moved from in front of Himekoji to behind him.
…Huh?
She went behind?!
Well, maybe not the strangest thing ever.
…
On the way to the cat exhibit, they passed several animal zones.
They did go through each one, but Yukinoshita clearly wasn’t focused on those creatures. The only reason she didn’t skip them entirely was probably out of respect for the animals…
That thought made him wonder—maybe Yukinoshita actually had a soft side…
The scale of the event was much larger than expected. Even after quite some time, they’d only seen the first few sections.
Running low on energy, they paused to rest.
Himekoji handed Yukinoshita some bottled water while flipping through the event pamphlet with his other hand.
“Just one more exhibit, and then we reach the cat zone.”
“Eh? Really? Then let’s go!”
The moment she heard his words, Yukinoshita shot to her feet—even though they’d just sat down!
The girl marched forward purposefully.
Just how badly did she want to see those cats?
Himekoji instantly regretted speaking up.
People always said escorting women around shopping was exhausting, but this? An exhibition wasn’t much easier.
The only relief compared to shopping was less arm strain and no drained wallet…
Himekoji stood and hurried after her.
But after a few steps, he realized Yukinoshita—who’d been right ahead moments ago—had vanished.
“Yukinoshita?” he called out, thinking That girl couldn’t have gotten lost again in three paces? Could she?
“Hmm?”
Her voice came from behind him.
Startled, Himekoji turned to discover Yukinoshita had silently circled behind him again.
Danger! Guard your back!
Making that mistake once could spell death, and this was twice!
Panic flashed through Himekoji’s mind, but no attack came.
Yukinoshita’s focus wasn’t on him; it was fixed on a large sign reading “Dog Exhibit” ahead.
Himekoji suddenly remembered—Yukinoshita loved cats… but feared dogs.
“These displayed here are all puppies. Just the cute, harmless kind,” he assured her.
It worked somewhat. Yukinoshita finally looked away from the sign.
“O-only puppies? Well, that’s okay then.”
She patted her chest in relief.
Seeing this, Himekoji felt another flicker of unease—worried she might flatten her already tragically underdeveloped plane even further…
That really would be beyond saving.
“A-and, for the record! I’m not afraid of dogs! It’s more like… I just don’t handle them well,” Yukinoshita clarified abruptly, adding unnecessary details like an afterthought.
“People usually just call that ‘afraid,’ you know…”
“No, it’s different.”
Yukinoshita insisted seriously.
“…Okay.”
Since she claimed so, Himekoji decided to let it go.
“By the way, Pervert-kun… you prefer dogs over cats, right?”
“Not really. No strong preference. I’m neutral.”
That’s what he said, but Nanami had recently dubbed him “Team Cat.”
She kept muttering how Hikari and Himekoji were clearly birds of a feather…
…
Assuming that topic was finished, Himekoji took a step, ready to guide Yukinoshita onward.
But as his foot touched the floor, Yukinoshita’s whisper floated from behind:
“I’d always thought you preferred dogs…”
“Eh? Why?” he turned back asking.
“…Because you fought so desperately back then.”
…
…