Satoko Kakihara

Interlude: Her Feelings

Chapter 2: A Little Courage and Just the Right Words

pensive. As a gift, a necklace seemed far less loaded with meaning than a ring did.

That was why I was taking advantage of my time alone, to come to the mall and gather the materials. However...

“Isn’t this cute, Nanami-san?” I called when I wasn’t thinking. Damn it—I’m here alone! Now I’ve made myself look like a weirdo. That was a perfect ten for creepiness.

From that point on, I did my best not to say anything out loud, but no matter what I saw or touched, my thoughts trailed back to Nanami-san. Is this because I’m thinking of a gift for her?

After that, I managed to buy the materials that spoke to me, making sure to get some extra, just in case. I walked around the mall while Nanami-san texted me from time to time, but...I don’t know, I just couldn’t seem to calm down. Something didn’t feel right.

“I feel lonely,” I said out loud. It was my own muttering that made me realize my predicament. Oh, I get it. I’m lonely. I was lonely because Nanami-san wasn’t with me.

I mean, the whole time from Saturday until that morning, I’d been together with Nanami-san. With her suddenly gone, of course I’d feel a sense of loss. The feeling was unfamiliar, so it had taken me a while to realize what it was. Given just how much I’d changed, I was in no position to say anything about Shibetsu-senpai.

Was this a good change, though?

With my purchases stashed away in my bag, I sat down on a mall bench and looked up at the ceiling. Nanami-san had messaged me, saying she’d finished her meeting with the girls and that she was heading over to meet me.

Seeing that message, I muttered to myself again, this time consciously. “Nanami-san... I can’t wait to see her.”

In response came the voice I’d been waiting to hear—the voice I hadn’t been expecting to hear yet at all.

“Me too! I couldn’t wait to see you, so I rushed over.”

When I looked in surprise toward the direction of the voice, I saw Nanami-san standing there together with Otofuke-san and Kamoenai-san

“Oh, please—you can use mine too,” Nanami added.

der, amused, when someone behind us spoke up.

“People stand there together to take photos in the middle of the flowers. You enter through there, and you take a photo as you stand in the opening. It’s really popular.”

When Nanami and I whipped around in surprise, we found one of the park employees standing there. At least, I assumed she was staff, because she was wearing what appeared to be an employee ID around her neck.

“If you’d like, I can take a picture of the two of you. It’d make for a fantastic memory for any couple.”

Glancing down at our clasped hands, the staff member smiled brightly, as though she’d seen something adorable. We blushed slightly just from hearing ourselves described as a couple. Even so, we didn’t let go of each other’s hand. Instead, we handed our phones to the staff member.

“Thank you. That’d be really nice,” I said to her.

“Thank you so much!” Nanami added.

I was sure that just a little while ago we would have immediately let go