Episode 31 – You Can’t Hide it

We walked side by side along the park’s road.

A cool breeze was blowing from the pond on the left. On the right side of the road, trees were planted and their leaves were beginning to turn red.

And next to me, Yua.

–Nice…….

Taking a leisurely stroll isn’t a bad thing. I felt like the time passed slowly.

“It’s a bit windy.”

Yua, who was walking next to me, put her hair over her ears. Her gesture was elegant as well, and the gap between her usual gestures made my heart beat silently.

After a short walk, I heard the sound of children’s voices. There was a small obstacle course at the end of a row of trees, and several children were crossing a rope fishing bridge and sliding down a wire while holding onto pulleys.

If it was the usual Yua, she would’ve said [There’s something interesting !] and would’ve started running.

“Kids are so energetic.”

I said that and looked to the side.

“…….”

But there was no reply from Yua. She was staring at the obstacle course with fixed eyes and breathing heavily.

“……Yua?”

“Y-yes !?”

“Could it be….., you want to play?”

“O-of course not ! I just thought they were cute.”

“I think it’s rather dangerous to say ‘cute’ with eyes like a predator.”

“M-more importantly, are you hungry?　I’ve prepared something for you.”

She lifted up her tote bag.

“Let’s have it on the bench.”

And she quickly walked toward the bench on the side of the road. I felt as if I had been successfully led into a confusion. But it’s nothing to pursue. I was more interested in what kind of bento Yua had prepared for me.

I followed Yua and sat down on the bench.

Yua took a paper lunch box out of her tote bag and opened the lid.

“Ta-da.”

“Oh, sandwiches.”

It was a small sandwich with red, yellow, green, and other colorful ingredients.

“Did you make these sandwiches, Yua?”

“Yes. I’m sorry it’s just a simple thing…….”

“No, I don’t think it’s easy. It would take a lot of time and effort to prepare it if there were many ingredients.”

I wiped my hands with a paper towel and brought the ham sandwich to my mouth. The saltiness of the loin ham was followed by the tangy aroma of the sauce.

“It’s good.”

“I’m glad.”

“The sauce adds a nice touch.”

“Really? I was worried if you didn’t like spicy food.”

“You should’ve asked me.”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

Saying that, she fidgeted.

–Yua, this girl…….

It seems that not only my stomach but also my chest is filled.

Yua smiled.

“And just in case you’re wondering, it’s mustard, not just any kind of sauce.”

“I-I see.”

I don’t think it’s much different, but I guess she’s very particular about it.

“Oh right, I have some drinks.”

And, she poured a yellowish translucent liquid from a plastic bottle into a paper cup and handed it to me.

“What’s this?”

“Lemonade.”

“Lemonade !?”

Lemonade is just the kind of thing you see in Hollywood movies, handmade by a mother from a family with a little money. Perhaps a young lady is a young lady, but is the setting a Western-style young lady? Oddly enough, the word “lemonade” is somewhat similar to the sauce I mentioned earlier.

I put my mouth on the paper cup. It’s a little thick. After the fresh aroma of lemon, there is a thick sweetness, probably honey. After that comes the sourness.

“I’ve never had it before, but it’s pretty good. It goes well with sandwich.”

“Really? I’m glad…..”

She put her hand on her chest and smiled with relief.

“I’ve been wondering for a while, why it’s a sandwich and not a burger.

“Your obsession with Western style is amazing !”

At that moment, a sudden wind blew, lifting Yua’s skirt and exposing her thighs.

“Whoa !?”

That’s my voice. The person in question just held her skirt down with a blank expression on her face.

“Ah. –Kya !:

And, as if realizing, she put her hands on her knees and turned to her inner thighs. Then she glanced at my face.

–It’s too late for that…….

After I’ve been shown a magnificent attitude that doesn’t mind showing of her bare legs, her screams are empty.

“The wind likes to play tricks.”

“….I guess so.”

Then I took a bite of the sandwich.

After lunch, we walked slowly along the road around the pond.

“My relative’s cat had a baby, and she showed me a video of it, and it was so cute–“

A peaceful conversation. Time flowing slowly. It was unimaginable to me back then that I could be with a girl and not be so nervous.

However, it doesn’t  mean that my heart is also calm. There’s something that has been bothering me since a while ago. I’m not talking about the sweetness of the character of the young lady who often comes out of her shell, or her strange obsession with Western style.

I stopped and stared at Yua’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

She smiled back at me.

–I knew something was wrong.

At first glance, it looks like a normal smile. But there’s something strange about it.

I decided to ask Yua to find out what it was.