Shibuya PARCO stood just a little northwest of Shibuya Station. After Harutaki and Shihou Chouko made the first left turn outside the north exit, they walked for about five minutes before the white building ca into view, its facade inlaid with the bright silver PARCO logo.
The mall’s structure was an irregular mix of polygons, at once geotric yet carefree, a perfect match for its collection of trendy brands beloved by the youth.
“Mm… So my first ti going to a mall with a boy, on a date, got stolen away by Hoshikawa-kun.”
Chouko lowered her gaze, eyeing the Nichiya High School uniform she was still wearing, feeling far too conspicuous amid the fashionable crowd.
A school uniform was just a uniform… but tis had changed. Ever since uniforms began doubling as “role-play outfits” for certain romantic activities, most high school girls avoided wearing them outside of school unless they had no choice.
“A lot of people keep looking this way… It’s really embarrassing…”
“Don’t be full of yourself. They’re obviously staring at the handso normie standing next to you.”
At that, she glanced up at Harutaki, casual clothes, Martin boots, stylish from head to toe, then pursed her lips.
“…Pretty sure they’re worried a cute high school girl is being dragged around by a scumbag.”
Making her show up in uniform at a trendy mall while he dressed up like this was downright cruel.
This was supposed to be their first ti going on a “proper date” in a “proper dating spot,” and her uniform had completely destroyed the atmosphere.
Should she feel relieved?
Or disappointed?
Relieved that this “date” wasn’t a real one…
Or disappointed that their “first holiday outing” wouldn’t beco a beautiful mory at all?
Well, not that it mattered. Even if it was only a “friend date,” who would be happy showing up in a school uniform?
“…Because I wanted today to beco a nice date mory for you.”
As if sensing her silent frustration, Harutaki flashed her a deliberately playful smile.
“And so what if you’re in uniform? You are the one wearing it. A one-in-ten-thousand beautiful girl— ”
“‘That stupidly handso normie actually gets to date such a gorgeous JK… He should go die~’ I bet a bunch of people are thinking that right now.”
He cleared his throat and imitated a gruff middle-aged uncle’s voice, clearly trying to cheer her up.
“So jerk’s probably even cursing : ‘When that bastard goes to a hotel with his JK girlfriend later, let him instantly go soft.’”
“Pfft… I’m not your JK girlfriend. We’re friends. Fri~ends~.”
Chouko covered her mouth, unable to suppress her laughter.
Her shoulders trembled lightly as she rembered their first “date” at the Starbucks near school, Hoshikawa had teased her back then using jokes from the school’s anonymous forum.
“Got soft while doing it with his ex.”
Even now, nearly a month later, she could still rember the shock she felt when he nodded and claid it was true.
And the mortifying fury she felt later, when she realized she’d been played.
That emotion remained vivid.
It was also the first ti she had tasted the kind of prank she used to love playing on others.
Her airheaded Onii could keep her company but never tease a girl like that, not even once.
“Careful, Shihou-san. Too many people.”
It was May 1st, a Saturday, during Golden Week. A fashion-and-shopping hub like Shibuya was overflowing with people. Police officers stood at nearly every major crossing, keeping the crowds from overflowing or trampling.
In a place where everyone was too busy to notice anyone else, brushing shoulders or stepping on soone’s foot was commonplace.
But to Harutaki, this was a perfect chance to close the distance between them.
He was not the stiff, passive type.
“Um… Can I hold your hand?”
“Eh!? H-Hold… hands…?”
She didn’t refuse him outright, only froze and panicked. That was all he needed.
He pressed the advantage with a gentle backward step.
“It’s just to keep you from getting hurt. And I’ll walk in front, none of that fingers-interlocked couple style.”
“B-But still… ”
Harutaki simply reached out and took her left hand.
Unlike her soft, plush figure, Shihou’s hand wasn’t particularly plump, just warm, smooth, child-soft. Long and slender, almost delicate compared to the rest of her.
“H-Hoshikawa-kun, you, ”
“Let’s go. I’ll pretend I’m walking a pet cat.”
Feeling the light pull at her arm, Chouko stopped resisting, allowing him to guide her through the sea of people, one leading, one following.
“I’m not a pet cat! And people walk dogs, not cats!”
She puffed her lips, unable to overco his physical assertiveness, but she refused to lose verbally.
“I’m a cat person. No way I’d walk a dog. Besides— ”
He added, “Cats suit beautiful girls way better than dogs.”
“Hmph. I won’t fall for it this ti. Anything a scumbag says is automatically suspicious.”
Following behind him step by step, she found her gaze drifting to his broad shoulders.
The tiny pocket of space he opened for her amid the crowd made her recall sothing,
Running wild through the mountains with Onii, exploring everything, with one person pushing branches aside and clearing the way.
Playing in the river, running against the current, with one person parting the water ahead and kicking away sharp stones.
Only…
The one in front had always been her, Shihou Chouko.
Even now that Onii had grown a little stronger, the shy, gentle boy used to be bullied all the ti. She had always been the one pulling him around, pranking others, dragging him into mischief.
“A self-centered scumbag…”
Even though she loved being free and taking the lead…
Being led by soone else, just once in a while, felt kind of nice.
Not worrying about branches scratching her.
Not worrying about slipping on a rock.
Soone walking in front, blocking trouble for her.
All she had to do was follow.
…
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