37 – The prettiest girl in Tokyo
I saw myself reflected through the glass.
As expected.
Touch your bangs, adjust your clothes, and turn around.
Should I tell you that I’m pretty?
It suits you well… Falling in love all over again… Can I hear you say that?
I smiled imagining it.
My makeup went well, and I heard compliments saying that the new clothes I bought looked good on me. Of course, this is the opinion of the clothing store clerk and dad.
At this level, I was aware that I had decorated it pretty well.
…… But… Actually, it was tense.
My first boyfriend. First date.
Will it be a fun time? Will he like me
I couldn’t sleep well at night because I was constantly worrying.
I left an hour earlier than the scheduled time. I’d rather wait. If you oversleep and be late and make him wait, you’ll be in trouble.
I was worried about the position of the brooch attached to my chest, so while I was adjusting it, I felt someone’s presence behind me.
I was going to look back and say hello….
“My lady, are you alone? Won’t you play with us?”
“Who are you waiting for? Friend?”
Uh…… ….
Situation like this again?
“Ah…… Excuse me… ….”
“It’s okay~ We’ll pay for it.”
“Because we know a good place.”
Men I’ve never seen before start talking to me.
“Uh… me, i….”
“High school students? Is there a school near here?”
“It’s the first time I’ve seen a pretty girl like you~”
The men step closer and assert their opinions more and more strongly.
That’s the compliment I’ve been longing to hear.
The words that came out of their mouths did not resonate in my heart at all.
“Me, me… man’s…….”
“Huh? What?”
“Don’t be too scared~ We’re not bad people.”
When the men approaching right in front of me reached out their hands….
“Haruna. Sorry. Did you wait long?”
He appeared.
Tightening my wrist. To get out of them.
“Huh?”
“What… did you have a boyfriend sh*t.”
They kicked their tongues and backed away, and Minsu, who pulled me in, turned around and asked.
“Haruna. How long have you been waiting here?”
“Huh? Not too long ago… One… 15 minutes.”
Actually, it’s about four times that amount.
I don’t want to bore him on the first date, so I recite the right time.
“Really?”
“Yes… ….”
“Hmm… ….”
Minsu was looking at the men’s backs with a curious expression.
“You know, Haruna.”
“Uh, yes… why?”
“Have you ever gone out alone? In a downtown or crowded place like this.”
“That… that… Why are you asking?”
Minsu, who scratched his chin for a while, spoke to me.
“No, like before. I wonder if Haruna gets caught by men like this every time.”
“Ah…… That, that…….”
I felt impatient at that absurd tone.
“Mi-sorry… Because I couldn’t refuse properly… Actually, I was going to tell you that I was just waiting for my boyfriend… !”
“Huh? Oh, that’s not it….”
Minsu smiled as he stopped me from panicking.
But my heart was impatience at the same time.
“It’s okay. Isn’t it Haruna’s fault? I’m afraid of men who appeal so strongly to me.”
“………… Huh.”
It’s our first date. There was impatience from the start.
I think I’ve let him down.
I couldn’t properly push away the approaching men, and I wonder if the father’s street was dumbfounded by me.
Minsu said no.
I couldn’t shake off the anxiety.
“By the way, Haruna.”
“……… Huh.”
“Those clothes. It’s really pretty.”
“Ah……….”
Minsu said with a grin.
At the same time, the anxiety that had accumulated in my heart melted away little by little.
“Ugh, yes… ! Minsu… That… cool.”
“No… I’m just plain plain clothes Haruna’s outfit is so full of spirit that you can tell even from a distance. I was honestly surprised.”
“Yeah, but… Because it’s a date….”
“So there is no choice.”
“What?”
“The same men just got entangled.”
Saying that, Minsu moved on.
Following him with quick steps.
Are you angry?
A while ago, I couldn’t properly express my opinion to those men and acted frustrated.
As it was then, Minsu appeared and protected me this time too.
You accepted my confession, but you might slowly get tired of me as you think about those things.
When I thought about that, my head went down little by little.
You only see the ground.
Block of sidewalks. Passing shoes and high heels. Billboard.
And hands.
…… Hand?
“Haruna.”
“Oh, yes.”
When I looked up, Minsu stopped and looked back at me.
The hand that came into view was his outstretched hand.
“There are so many people today. I will get lost.”
“Yes….”
“Are there any events today? Anyway… If you keep walking like this, you might fall.”
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He waved his outstretched hand.
“Here is your hand. Catch.”
“Ah…… Huh!”
Holding hands right on the first date.
Is this going fast? Or is it in the right order?
It doesn’t matter which way. Quickly join hands with him.
“You look good. Haruna.”
“Yes… ! Yeah… Isn’t today a good day?”
He smiled and held out his hand. I stood next to him and started walking towards him. I no longer look at the ground. Because he held his hand so he wouldn’t fall.
I can’t just look at the floor and get lost like he said.
“By the way… Are you really okay? It’s our first date… There’s nothing I really want to do.”
“Yeah, I… I like to walk.”
Minsu made an expression that seemed a bit incomprehensible. I did as I said. Watching a movie or going somewhere to play. Minsu suggested several things, but I shook my head.
The first thing I wanted to do with him was
“…… Wow. It’s also the weekend, so there are a lot of people here.”
It was a walk in the park.
The large park was full of people walking their dogs, jogging, and outings just like us. I pressed the handle of the small bag in my hand.
As we walked together, I glanced at him.
Minsu looked blankly at the lake and somehow looked bored.
Ah, I asked to come to a place like this… Maybe I’m bored
“Minsu… if… Is it bad here?”
“Huh?”
“That… In case you’re bored….”
When I asked carefully, Minsu opened his eyes wide and stared at me.
“… It’s not particularly fun.”
“Heeuk… !”
A hiccup comes out at the same time as the surprise. He almost dropped his lunch bag, but he managed to fix it.
“Well then, somewhere else… Because the cinema is okay… !”
“No, just listen to what people say.”
Minsu put his hand on my flustered head and said.
“It’s not boring either.”
“Ah…… Then….”
“I like this quiet and leisurely atmosphere. It’s been a while since I’ve been spending time like this.”
“……… ….”
“Because I’ve been busy lately. School and club activities.”
Minsu smiled as he leisurely stroked his hair.
“That’s why it’s good. A place like this.”
“……… ….”
“Thank you. Haruna.”
“……… Huh.”
My heart beats with joy.
Looking at him stroking his hair and affirming me, my sullen heart rose to the surface again.
I couldn’t hide my joy… Does he really feel that way?
I’m just being considerate of myself so I’m not bored… Maybe he said thank you.
There seemed to be no pretense in the way he smiled and waved at a passing dog.
I couldn’t get rid of my uneasiness.
It was a feeling that could not completely disappear.
There was also a reason for rejecting a place that was active or experienced on a first date.
Because the only thing I know how to do is cook.
Average in both study and exercise.
No, the latter is below average.
My appeal to him was a lunch box.
A lunch box made diligently after waking up before the sun rises in the morning.
He ate it and accepted my confession.
When I was with him, he was the most happy when he received the lunch box he had prepared for me.
When my only strength worked for him, he thanked my mom for putting me in the kitchen since I was little.
If you think about it, that was all.
If it is a movie theater or an amusement park, you can take care of meals separately. In such a place, the lunch box I brought will never see the light of day. Why did you come all the way here? And it can be annoying.
But if it’s a park… I went on an outing here and laid out a mat… Because I can appeal to my strengths that he liked.
Yeah, I wasn’t confident.
I lack confidence in everything, and my friends often say that I feel frustrated.
I was struggling with the words I wanted to say and the emotions I felt.
***
“Haru-chan. How long are you going to hesitate like that?”
“But… ….”
“But it’s not like this. I’m tired of listening to your grumbles.”
“……… ….”
I can see Yuu-kun’s room through the window of my room.
There were times when we opened each other’s windows like this and had a conversation.
“If there are so many complaints, go to the person concerned and pour them out.”
“But… I thought we’d pretend we didn’t know each other for a while….”
“I don’t know. Is it my part-time job?”
The window is closed mercilessly.
As I waited in silence, the closed window opened slightly.
“Yes, then I will bring them to lunch tomorrow. After that, you take care of yourself.”
“Yuu-kun… ….”
“Haa… Haru-chan is really frustrating.”
This time, the thick, rough-closed window did not open again.
“Thank you… Yuu-kun.”
***
As a result of that courage… Even though he told me that even if it was difficult, he would not take it alone and depend on me.
Can I be that trustworthy to Minsu?
I was able to gather courage because Yuu-kun barely pushed me on the back.
Can I, who only gets swept away when I am alone, be his reliance?
I wasn’t confident.
“Haruna. Is that bag really that important?”
When I came to my senses, I was walking again looking at the ground.
“Huh?”
“The bag you hold tight as if you’re enshrining that shrine.”
“Ah, you can’t drop this… !”
“I know it’s a lunch box… You don’t have to carry it around like that all the time.”
Chuckling, he extended his finger and pointed.
“Even when I was at the rendezvous earlier, I clasped my hands tightly and hid them behind my back as if some hunting men were looking for lunch.”
“Ugh… ugh…….”
“If you’re that worried, let’s eat now.”
“Huh?”
“Actually, I didn’t even eat breakfast.”
Can’t I?
He held out his hands that were touching and asked me as if pleading.
“Ugh, yes… ! Then let’s eat. Excuse me… Because it’s empty!”
Yes, no need to hesitate.
No matter what anyone says, we’re dating lovers right now. There is no better between them.
“Haruna, go with me… !”
I jumped up and laid a mat on the field.
He looked at me dumbfounded, but in fact I was still concerned. Because I put as much energy into my lunchbox as I did in my outfit today. I hoped that Minsu would like it.
“But… Anything to drink?”
“Huh?”
As you say. There was no thermos bottle in my lunch bag.
“Ah…… Mi sorry I must have left it at home.”
“Wah ha ha… !”
He laughed out loud and then stood up scratching the back of his neck.
“Then I’ll buy it for you. I’ll be back for a while, so stay here.”
“Yes……….”
I could tell myself that my face was getting red.
I care so much about the lunch box. Are you missing something else?
“Do you have the right tableware?”
“Everything, of course… !”
Do you have it?
Open the bag to check.
Yes. Fortunately, I brought it.
“Then I’ll be back.”
“Yes!”
I came out of the mat and waved at him as he went to buy something to drink.
Left alone for a moment, I looked around, wiggling my clasped hands.
Will you like it… Shall I tell you it’s just as delicious as back then? .
The sound of stepping on the mat is heard from behind.
Are you here already? And turn your head
“I… Excuse me, but I’ve been watching you for a while now.”
He was another unknown man.
The man who bent down on his knees and invaded Minsu’s space spoke up.
“This phone number….”
Ah, I have to refuse this time.
If I showed him hesitating again….
“Oh, no.”
“Yes?”
“Well, I have a boyfriend.”
“That’s not it. Here….”
A man pulls something out of his suit pocket and holds it out. It was obvious without looking. He’ll hold out his phone and ask for a number… He turned his head and tried to ignore it.
“Don’t do that, take this once….”
“Ah, no… me, i… !”
He takes a step closer and holds out what he is holding in his hand.
All I could do was turn my head and say no. Still, he didn’t back down and started telling me something.
“Ah…… Me, i… !”
I can’t listen to this anymore. If you get swept away by the atmosphere again… !
“What is this?”
I opened my eyes to Minsu’s voice.
I picked up what he held out and looked at it.
“Hmm… ….”
“Yes, if you are interested, contact us here… It’s the first time I’ve seen a person who’s been plugged in like this… ! Please… !”
“Okay. But we’re dating right now.”
“Ah… sorry!”
Minsu said coldly, and the man withdrew and went back.
Minsu put down the plastic bottle and sat next to me.
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“Oops… If you leave me alone for a little while, this will happen.”
“……… ….”
“I can’t be relieved.”
I couldn’t raise my head.
I feel like I’m really disappointed in myself this time.
After pushing the unknown man away, Minsu looked at me.
“Haruna. What’s the matter?”
“………… Sorry.”
Ah… No.
If you even cry here.
You keep showing a frustrated look. If you come to the end and shed tears to suit the young monk.
This time you’ll really get tired of me.
“Sorry…… Minsu…….”
“Wow, what is it… What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
As expected, Minsu was flustered and looked around him as if he didn’t know what to do.
“Why? Could it be because of me? Didn’t you like the date today?”
“……… ….”
Shake your head. He rubbed his eyes and closed his lips. So that the crying does not leak out.
“Then what? For what?”
“……… ….”
He raised his finger and pointed at himself.
“You? Because of you?”
Nodded.
“……… I… What is it Dress up nicely and come out.”
“……… ….”
“Huh? Are you good now?”
I’m sure you’ll find it annoying.
Like this, I was down on my own, then I liked it, and then I looked up to hear compliments.
“……… What. Talk. I will listen.”
“………… Huh.”
After barely swallowing my tears, I looked up at him.
Even though it was embarrassing, he didn’t avoid it and kept his eyes on me, and he patted me on the back. Being stroked like that gave me courage little by little, and I slowly spoke out.
He nodded his head when he finally finished speaking, trying to somehow express his clumsy, unorganized emotions.
“…… So, in case I was disappointed in you. You said you cried because you were worried about that?”
“……… ….”
Nodded.
Then Minsu let out a deep sigh.
I was quite shocked by that, but without hesitation, Minsu reached out and fed chestnuts on my forehead.
“…… Aww.”
“Haruna. Listen carefully.”
“……… Huh.”
Minsu took a deep breath and looked me in the eye seriously.
“Do you know why men keep coming up against you?”
“……… I…… I’m just… Because you look weak?”
Shaking his head, Minsu said firmly.
“No. Because you are the prettiest.”
“……… Uh?”
To that unexpected compliment.
I was hardened by excessive flattery.
“Because you are the main character. Do you understand that it’s because she’s the most beautiful girl in the world?”
“What…… What… ….”
I don’t know if he’s talking.
Minsu looked at me very seriously and was talking.