E.1
With no hesitation, I got on the elevator, stepped out of the dormitory, and immediately opened my cell phone.
Hiyori would likely be contacting me soon.
It would have been better to check before leaving the room, but I wanted to avoid causing Kei any more worry.
As expected, since I couldn’t pick up my phone, I had a missed call and a message.
It seemed that she went out for a walk earlier than I’d planned.
Impressed by her typical punctuality, I decided to catch up.
I found her wandering aimlessly, her back facing me, in a location close to the main gate, away from Keyaki Mall.
“Did you find anything?”
“Good morning. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything special. But, the weather’s lovely, isn't it?”
Though the temperature was still quite low, it was a clear day, and most of the accumulated snow had melted.
“Thank you for inviting me today.”
“You'll waste the precious winter break if you're cooped up in the library every day.”
I’d heard from the librarian that Hiyori, who rarely hung out with friends, spent her time in the library until curfew whenever it was open.
She stayed there, alone, all day until the library closed.
Believing it would be lonesome for her to enter the third term alone, I invited her out.
Of course, I understood that this was a routine that sufficiently satisfied Hiyori. I might be scolded for my unnecessary concern.
Inviting her out like this might make her feel pressured... in other words, it might’ve felt like I was forcing her to act as a friend.
“Why did you call out to me?”
That was why I had to be honest.
“I just felt like inviting you.”
As another person, I simply wanted to invite her out, that was all.
Hiyori, of course, had the right to refuse if she thought I wasn’t enough for her.
“I wanted to thank you for the book, and that was where it all started. But just giving a gift or thanking you in words wasn't enough. I wanted to spend a day together where you could enjoy yourself.”
Though my words might have sounded a bit cheesy, I hoped she understood what I was trying to convey.
“I'm happy to hear that.”
I could feel the gratitude and apologetic reaction from her gentle words.
The clever Hiyori might’ve interpreted that I invited her out of pity for her situation.
No matter how much I denied it with my words, her prejudice wouldn’t be easily wiped away.
But, she accepted the invitation and came out with me. That was why she was here.
From now on, I just need to show her using my actions.
Normally, when the two of us were together, we didn't take the initiative.
Most of the time, we let the other students with us take the lead and experienced various things with them.
But today was different.
I decided to be the one to escort Hiyori.
However, there was only so much we could do and places we could go within the school grounds.
“Um, was Karuizawa-san okay with this? I mean, is she okay with you going out alone with another girl?”
People usually considered this when they spoke to the opposite gender, regardless of the situation.
It wasn’t just me, but a common question that people with partners hear.
‘Would you be okay with Kei going out alone with another boy?’ That was the question.
Of course, it wasn’t something I always had to think about.
Only those who feared the influence of spending time with others would bring this up.
I had already anticipated that Hiyori was this kind of person.
“At first, she insisted on coming along. But I thought it wouldn't be fun if she was just there to monitor me, and it would be rude to you.”
“How did you persuade her?”
“I told her to read a book to have a common topic of conversation.”
When I told her that, Hiyori's eyes widened and she showed a welcoming smile.
“You can guess how that went from her absence.”
“Ah... I see. That makes sense.”
Yesterday, she gave up on reading the first page of the book and fell down on the spot.
“That's how I properly got permission. Of course, she complained until the last minute.”
Knowing that I hadn't kept silent, Hiyori smiled with relief.
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