Volume 1
Chapter 4: My Feelings Are Accelerating (Not Necessarily in the Right Direction) (Part 2)
●○●A Childhood Friend College Girl Wants to Hold Hands●○●
I’m going on a date with Masato. It’s the perfect, wonderful day, and the weather is clear and sunny.
The sun must be blessing my date with Masato, right? That’s what I tell myself.
We’re meeting in the bustling downtown area by the station. It’s easy to find.
I check my reflection in the glass window of the designated shopping mall.
“Hair’s good… clothes aren’t weird, are they?”
I’ve prepared meticulously to be the cutest version of myself today.
Everything should be perfect… it has to be.
Finally, my dream of going on a date with Masato is coming true.
I need to make sure I make an impression today.
“Oh, Koumi, you’re early.”
“Huh?!”
A voice from behind startles me.
It’s still fifteen minutes before our meeting time!
“Sorry, did I scare you?”
“Just a little!”
“But aren’t you early, Masato? There’s still fifteen minutes…”
“I woke up early, so I just came over.”
Masato says this with a shy smile.
His grin is as dazzling as ever…
And that cap looks so refreshing on him.
I’m so caught up staring that I don’t notice him leaning in to look at me.
“Koumi, I always think this, but you have so many cute outfits,” he says, sounding genuinely impressed.
“R-Really?”
I can’t help but grin.
The fact that he’s always noticing me makes my heart race.
Masato’s just so perfect in every way…
“So, movie today, right?”
“Yup! Should we grab a quick lunch first?”
Today’s date is a movie.
I picked a romantic film a friend recommended.
Maybe if Masato watches a love story, he’ll start thinking about me a little…
Trying to keep my excitement in check, I start walking beside him.
After a light lunch at a café, we arrive at the movie theater.
It’s not too crowded for this time of day, and the theater itself has more empty seats than occupied ones.
I reserved spots in the center, slightly toward the back—perfect for viewing, even if it had been packed.
“Wow, it’s pretty empty!”
Masato whispers as we settle into our seats, leaning toward me.
His closeness makes my heart skip a beat.
“Maybe because it’s still early afternoon?”
I avert my eyes, sipping tea from a plastic bottle to hide my nerves.
It’s fine, right?
I checked my appearance after lunch…
Used breath mints…
There aren’t many people around.
Not completely empty, but there’s definitely no one behind us.
Being in this dim, quiet theater, almost alone with him…
It’s just a movie, but I’m so nervous.
While glancing at the pre-movie ads playing on the screen, I sneak peeks at Masato’s profile.
The movie is fairly classic.
As the story reaches its climax, the hero and heroine walk down a sunset-lit path, holding hands.
The scene is so heart-pounding, it feels like their emotions are reaching me.
I glance at Masato.
He’s watching the screen with a serious expression.
He’s right beside me.
If I lower my gaze, I see his hand resting on the armrest.
If I put my hand there, it could overlap with his…
We could hold hands.
Would he be okay with it right now?
If I placed my hand next to his, maybe even let them touch…
In the heat of this romantic movie, would he let it slide?
I start to move my hand…
Then pull it back.
What if he doesn’t like it?
What if he brushes my hand away?
I might be too shocked to even stand up.
I’m scared…
But I want to hold his hand.
I want to feel his warmth.
…Carefully, I move my pinky to just barely touch his hand.
My pinky grazes the back of his hand, ever so slightly.
My heart’s pounding so loud I can’t even focus on the movie.
My face feels like it’s burning.
His hand doesn’t move.
For the rest of the movie, I feel just a tiny bit of Masato’s warmth.
After the movie, we walk together down a street bathed in the glow of the setting sun.
“That was so good!”
“I thought it’d be a light, poppy romance, but the story was so well-crafted.”
“I teared up at the end,” Masato says, eyes sparkling.
“Y-Yeah!”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Masato!”
I was too distracted in the second half to follow the plot…
But seeing him so excited makes me happy.
That’s another thing that’s so wonderful about him.
“It felt like a whole new world opened up.”
“If you know any other good movies, let me know!” he says with a bright smile.
I chose a romance movie hoping he’d think of me, even a little…
But when he says things like that, how could I refuse?
“Of course!”
“I’d love to share more.”
“Let’s watch all kinds of movies together!”
I flash my best smile, then turn to face forward.
The sunset scene from the movie—walking down a tree-lined path, just like this moment.
The hero and heroine were holding hands.
I glance at Masato’s hand beside me.
I don’t have the courage to hold his hand yet.
But someday, I want to walk proudly by your side, holding your hand.
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