Chapter 14 (1/2)

Chapter 14

Yumi – Our Time

「The ones we bought yesterday, let’s wear the matching ones」

When I said that, Risa went,

「Eh…? It’s e-embarra.s.sing you know」

Her face turned red like a tomato and I reflexively smiled at how cute it was. Risa was the one who wanted it to be matching in the first place.

I was slowly getting to know more about Risa. Every time it happened, it felt like our hearts got closer and closer.

Inside the moving bus, my hand was nonchalantly held in Risa’s left hand. Peek. Peeking at Risa, I could see her wearing the same light blue s.h.i.+rt as me.

Her hand was a bit moist so I adorably thought that “Risa also gets nervous sometimes.” Our first 「date」. My bewitched head was sweetly imagining things like a ball of cotton candy.

Our bus guide’s “we will soon be arriving at Churaumi Aquarium” brought me back to reality. Shortly, the large building was right in front of our view.

I held out my hands that were temporarily separated from Risa’s as we got off the bus. I saw her sakura-colored face for an instant as she purposefully looked away. It seemed that she was still a bit hesitant as she clumsily grasped back. It was soft and warm; Risa’s temperature was clearly transmitted to me. Even though I was calm, continuing to touch her made my chest receive a p.r.i.c.kling pain.

The dark building that was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with people made the warmth from Risa’s right hand feel rea.s.suring. For some reason, a belief that we wouldn’t ever be separated welled up from inside of my body.

「Whoa… so pretty…」

Risa’s eyes sparkled as she laid her gaze on the large crowd of sardines. True to what Risa had said, looking at it, it was like a giant kaleidoscope, a mythical existence that cast a silver light. Unintentionally, I leaked out a deep breath full of awe.