Chapter 376: Looks Sweet
Chapter 376: Looks Sweet
Three days had passed since that day.
A huge transformation like she’d imagined didn’t come.
So, what was an experimental love life like?
When the three were together, the atmosphere always felt weirdly special. That uncomfortable silence full of tension was so noticeable Himekoji couldn’t ignore it.
Each dinner time left him nervous and anxious.
This kind of life would last another half month… no, last until they found the answer.
Of course, before that, there was another answer they needed to know first—
“Are the selection results coming out tonight?”
“Hmm… the email notification comes tomorrow. But we can go check at the venue tonight.”
Nanami spoke calmly, though inside she was far less peaceful than she looked.
It was just that over these days, the girl had learned how to hold her feelings back as much as possible.
“So, are we going tonight?”
“Yes.”
Obviously.
If she didn’t check the result right away, her thoughts would wander all over the place.
The past three days were perfect proof.
“Then I’ll go with you.”
The words slipped out before he thought. Right after saying it, he suddenly remembered something and shot a quick glance towards Mashiro.
It was worth noting that Nanami reacted almost the same way as Himekoji.
Both pairs of eyes landed on Mashiro at exactly the same moment.
Luckily, Mashiro didn’t show any special reaction. She just quietly kept nibbling her rice.
At the table, only Akiko felt left out. Puffed out her cheeks and suspiciously stared at the other three.
Did her Onii-chan and those foxy freeloaders do something?
Akiko, always thinking she was Onii-chan’s official wife, felt a huge wave of danger suddenly rise in her heart and didn’t go away.
A woman’s sixth sense is usually spot-on.
“Okay, sure.”
Nanami nodded in agreement.
…
“Eek…”
She’d been in a hurry and distracted when leaving, so Nanami forgot to bring her coat.
Wearing only a plain white blouse, she rubbed her hands together now and then, as if feeling cold.
Honestly, these days the weather was really weird.
Even in daytime it was hot enough to make you sweat in a long-sleeved T-shirt.
But when the sun set and night fell, the temperature dropped instantly.
“Take my jacket?”
“Huh? No, I’m fine… Achoo!”
Before she could finish, a sneeze popped out.
Nanami’s face went bright red.
But maybe because of this little incident, the mood between them relaxed a little.
Before, stuck thinking about “the trial period” and all that—for two noobs with zero love experience, it really was too much pressure. And on top of that, they had to think about each other and how a third person felt.
When they made that suggestion, they didn’t expect it would be this stressful.
“Take my jacket?”
So Himekoji repeated the words like an NPC from an RPG game.
“Th-Thank you.”
Before the second sneeze escaped, Nanami finally spoke up honestly.
But as she took the jacket Himekoji handed to her, she hesitated for just a second.
“I changed it fresh for going out today. It’s clean. Washed properly.”
Himekoji thought she was worried about that.
“No… won’t you be cold, Himekoji?”
Underneath the jacket, Himekoji just wore a thin short-sleeve shirt.
Already felt chilly just looking at him.
“I’m a man, after all. Not cold.”
Himekoji puffed out his chest to act tough—though truth be told, he definitely was cold…
“Thanks… but actually, inside I’m tough too.”
“Huh?”
“Ah, s-sorry! What am I saying…”
This awkward small talk was painfully real.
Flustered to hide her embarrassment, Nanami quickly jumped into Himekoji’s jacket.
But maybe because she went too fast, her arm got stuck in the sleeve’s opening.
“Pfff.”
Himekoji couldn’t help chuckling. Shook his head and walked over to help.
Just that split-second touch made Nanami’s already crimson cheeks even redder, as if steaming “woo woo.”
…
Because they were held back like that, they ended up missing the bus by a minute.
The bus drove off right as they arrived.
The next one might not come for another half hour.
“Hail a taxi?”
Pausing just a second, Himekoji threw out another suggestion,
“Or… want to walk over?”
“Maybe let’s just walk?”
They spoke almost at the same time—different words, same idea.
As their words hit the air, both seemed startled… Then they turned to meet each other’s eyes and snorted with laughter.
A kind of wordless understanding.
That feeling was really great.
“Look at that, Himekoji.”
As they walked down the street, Nanami suddenly pointed at something while tugging Himekoji’s sleeve.
Her voice sounded light and cheerful, as if all the stress from recent days had vanished in an instant.
Himekoji followed her finger’s direction and saw an ice cream shop.
He understood right away what Nanami wanted.
Was she asking to eat some together?
“Um, Aoyama, can I ask something…?”
“Hm? What?”
“Don’t you think… it’s cold?”
Just a moment ago she was shivering and rubbing her hands together, yet now she wanted ice cream?
“Thanks to Himekoji, I’m not cold at all now!”
“But I’m cold…”
A short-sleeved shirt outside on a night like this really wasn’t enough.
Himekoji forced himself not to shiver.
“Didn’t you say you’re a man and not scared of the cold?”
“So this is how you make fun of the person who gave you his jacket?”
“Heh!”
Though the conversation was pointless, every time their eyes met, they still shared smiles.
He’d lost track of how many times it had happened today.
But no matter how often, it never got old—each moment felt perfectly sweet.
Maybe this is what love felt like—slowly building drop by drop?
“If you’re cold, come closer?”
“Huh?”
“Still cold?”
Suddenly, Nanami slid right next to him, almost sneaking up to hook her arm through his.
Body warmth passed through their clothes.
He wasn’t cold anymore…
No—now he felt downright hot.
Within a single breath, the heat spread from his arm to his whole body.
“Ao- Aoyama…”
His whole body stiffened instantly, and he fumbled his words badly. He couldn’t even figure out what he really wanted to say right now.
But wasn’t this… not allowed during their “trial period”?
“This isn’t going too far! A little like this isn’t going too far!”
Still clinging to his arm, Nanami tilted her head playfully and stuck out her tiny tongue.
“I’m not breaking the rules at all, hehe~~”
No, this was definitely against the rules!
In that moment, Himekoji thought Nanami was incredibly cute.
Where did she learn to be this cute?
This sweet, flirty style was nothing like her usual self.
……
They ended up eating ice cream anyway.
It was freezing but incredibly sweet. Despite his teeth nearly chattering, Himekoji ate his ice cream fast.
One little thing happened—the ice cream shop owner gave them a discount coupon.
After she finished, Nanami couldn’t stop staring at that half-priced coupon clutched in her hand.
“Aoyama… are you maybe planning to come back and eat again later?”
Himekoji had a feeling he guessed what she was thinking.
“Th-That kind of thing…”
“That kind of thing?”
“…I have thought about it.”
She actually admitted it outright?!
“I-I mean! Wouldn’t it be a waste not to use the coupon? It’s not that I really wanted to… eh?”
“Eh?! Why did you say that last part like a question?”
“Aah, I just don’t want it wasted, okay?!”
A reason that totally suited Nanami.
“I… I’d want to come eat with Himekoji again too.”
“Eh? Oh… Oh. Then, next time… let’s come together again.”
Walking further ahead, they unexpectedly passed by an amusement park.
Among the clustered rides, one stood out clearly –
The Ferris Wheel.
While smaller than the one they’d ridden before, its slowly spinning, rising gondolas still towered over the nearby buildings.
“Ah…”
Seemed Nanami noticed it too—a small gasp escaped her lips.
Obviously, if their eyes met now, things would get incredibly awkward.
Even while knowing this, Himekoji felt pulled in, his gaze drifting toward Nanami.
Suddenly, he remembered their kiss on that Ferris Wheel.
His focus snapped entirely to her lips—the lips that had once touched his.
Still cold from the ice cream, a tiny smear of milky-white cream accidentally clung to the corner of her pale-red mouth.
It looked sweet.
Delicious, almost.
……
……