CH 24

The sun had completely set, and the moonlight was gently shining on the city.

After finishing our shopping at TRIYL’s self-checkout, Toma-kun and I walked side by side on our way home.

“Toma-kun, you can be forceful sometimes… I could have carried the shopping bags myself,” I complained.

“I can be forceful, yes. While Mio-san, you may be dissatisfied, I have my own pride and can’t just let someone else carry my things,” Toma-kun replied firmly.

“Ugh,” I grumbled, looking at the shopping bag Toma-kun was carrying. He had forcefully taken my bag from me and insisted on carrying it himself.

(If he says that, it’s hard not to be spoiled…)

It’s true that it’s not wrong for a man to carry heavy bags since they usually have more muscle strength…

But as an older woman, I didn’t want to be spoiled by a younger man like Toma-kun.

“It’s not fair, Toma-kun. You only show your masculine side in situations like this. When we met at the convenience store, you bought childish things like chocolate and cream puffs,” I teased.

“Please forget about that already…” Toma-kun sighed.

“Oh, I have a good idea. As punishment for taking my bags, I’ll call you ‘230 yen Chocolate Cream Puff Boy’ at the bar from now on,” I joked, combining the prices and names of the chocolate and cream puff Toma-kun bought at the convenience store: a 100 yen chocolate bar from Ghara and a 130 yen cream puff.

“Please, stop that…”

“Well then, hand over the luggage.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Then shall I call you by that nickname?”

“I don’t want that either.”

…

I fell silent, causing Toma-kun to close his mouth as well. Instead, our gazes intertwined.

“…You’re too stubborn, Toma-kun.”

“…And so are you, Mio-san.”

“It’s not a matter of you  giving in…”

“Then you should give in, Mio-san.”

“…Fine, I understand.”

“Okay.”

I couldn’t resist the forcefulness, and I gave in… but feeling the kindness from Toma-kun, my heart felt warm and fuzzy.

“…I’ll tell you one good thing, Toma-kun, since you’re so triumphant about me giving in.”

“I-I’m not being triumphant… but, a good thing?”

Toma-kun would have no idea that his kind actions were a source of anxiety for her.

So she deliberately hedged her words and didn’t directly mention the good things he did. She did this in anticipation of Toma-kun asking for more details…

It was all to make this conversation more memorable, to make sure it stuck in his memory as long as possible.

“…There are some women who don’t like being treated like women,” she said.

“Huh!?”

She spoke, not wanting to hand Toma-kun over to any other women. Absolutely not.

“For example… Some women don’t like it when someone carries their bags for them.”

“Hold on, what…? Is that true? I’ve never heard of that…”

“It’s not easy for women to say when they don’t like something, is it?”

“I… I see. So that’s why…”

Toma-kun nodded, seemingly understanding.

Some people just don’t like being treated like a woman.

(I’m not lying. There really are people who don’t like it. But they are a minority…)

So this is something that doesn’t really need to be said.

But if Toma-kun were to treat other women the way he treats me, they would surely be happy. Maybe they would even start to see him as a romantic interest, thinking things like “I want him to be my boyfriend”.

(Just like me…)

That’s why I want to stop it. I don’t want Toma-kun to treat anyone else like this…

“I learned something today. I didn’t know there were women who didn’t like being treated like women.”

“…”

Innocent Toma-kun believed me easily. No, I said it because I knew he would believe me…

Maybe I’m a coward. Maybe I’m trying to take the easy way out…

But I can’t help it. I don’t want Toma-kun to treat other women like this. I want him to reserve this kind of kindness for me alone…

Those feelings are getting stronger and stronger…

“U-um… Can I ask you something? Mio-san, do you not like being treated like a woman?”

“I-I’m sorry. You must think that after hearing me say all that…”

“Yes…”

“I-I’m happy… R-really…”

Being asked by Toma-kun like this was expected, so I had been thinking about how to respond. However, as soon as I tried to speak, a sense of embarrassment overwhelmed me and I ended up giving a clumsy answer.

“Is that so? You don’t try to accommodate others?”

“I-I make sure to communicate when I don’t like something. Not doing so would imply that I’m okay with it.”

“I see. Well, that’s good then. I wouldn’t want to do something that you dislike.”

gulp

Just when I thought he breathed a sigh of relief, he suddenly flashed me a smile, an innocent, childlike smile that was too cute.

(Ugh, seriously! Don’t say things like that while looking at me like that!)

Toma-kun’s obliviousness was frustrating. It was unfair that he didn’t understand my feelings. So unfair…

(If this keeps up, I won’t be able to execute the plan that Nanami and I came up with… I’m more cowardly than I thought I’m …this is terrible.)

My heart was pounding, resonating through my body and head so much that Toma-kun might have heard it. I tried to calm down this thumping in my chest.

The reason I invited Toma-kun shopping today was to carry out this plan and make him aware of me even a little bit…

The phrase “postponing the plan” doesn’t exist in my head. If I don’t do it today, I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it next time…

Because my feelings for Toma-kun have grown even stronger today…

Just as I was trying to suppress those emotions by tightly holding my chest, I heard Nanami’s voice in my head, as if it were being played back from a tape recorder.

“As a woman, you have to summon up the courage to make contact with him. If Toma falls for some random girl, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life, won’t you?”

Those were the words I heard from Nanami before coming up with this plan…

And I felt like she powerfully tapped my shoulder, saying, “Do you have the courage?”

I understand it’s just an illusion, but thanks to that, I was able to gain a little bit of courage.

“S-So, Toma-kun…”

“What’s up?”

My face is blushing. I can tell it’s burning hot to the point of being sunburned… I think Toma-kun can even notice how red my face is…

But… it’s fine. Even if Toma-kun teases me like that… it’s much less painful than regretting it for the rest of my life…

“The bags…are they heavy?”

I say it as if confirming my suspicions. There’s only one shopping bag, but it’s enough to warrant using another one.

“Well…I can’t say it’s not heavy…but it’s okay. It’s not that bad.”

“I don’t like it. It’s not fair for you to carry something so heavy…even if it’s just for a little while.”

“Huh…?”

“That’s why…I’ll carry it too. It’s my bag too after all.”

Slowly, I reach out my hand towards the shopping bag that Touma is holding.

“This way…it’ll be easier for both of us.”

“What…!?”

And so, I also grab onto the handle of the shopping bag. At that moment, Toma-kun’s left hand touches mine…his warm, rough hand against my right hand.

“Toma-kun, your hand is so warm and big…”

“T-thank you…”

I didn’t say anything after that. No, I couldn’t say anything due to the intense nervousness I felt. Toma didn’t speak either. But the silence wasn’t awkward at all.

If only this moment could last forever…the walk home was so comfortable that I couldn’t help but think that.

***

“Ah, aaaa… aaaaa… There, there! Ai, look!”

“What, what’s wrong, Natsumi?”

“It’s there, over there!”

— It happened just as Ai and Natsumi, and Ume, were on their way to their cram school.

“Ah, that’s Ume-chan’s older brother… Huh, is that…?”

“It’s his girlfriend, right? Definitely…”

Timing is everything, or maybe it’s just bad luck, but Ai and Natsumi witnessed Toma and a woman who seemed to be his girlfriend carrying shopping bags together.

“She’s so beautiful…”

As Ai watched the woman Toma was with, she couldn’t help but let out her unfiltered thoughts.

“Wait, really? I know that woman…”

“You do, Natsumi?”

“Well, she’s a super famous person in our neighborhood…”

Just like Ai, Natsumi was stunned and stood there speechless.

“Nursing’s Angel… She slices through men who confess to her, like a castle made of boron nitride…”

“Bo…ron… nitride…?”

“Boron nitride… The hardest substance on earth… It’s said that she’s the world’s strongest woman in terms of defense… The person that Ume-chan’s older brother is dating…”

“Eh…”

“……..”

Ai and Natsumi witnessed a scene completely different from the rumors they had heard… Silence enveloped them as well…