Chapter 134: Nagase Aya's Outing
On White Day, after finishing morning club activities, I take a shower, change in the locker room, and head to the terminal station.
I'm already in casual clothes under my coat, but I changed out of my uniform pants in the restroom, and now I finally feel settled.
Even during spring break, we're required to co to school in uniform, just in case.
I wait in front of the monunt at the terminal station.
It's 12:30 now. Exactly the eting ti.
"Sorry to keep you waiting—♪"
Just hearing her voice, Nagase-san is in a great mood.
Nagase-san is dressed so cute I can't believe she was just at club.
A light orange beret, a pale brown sweater, and a whitish flared skirt.
She's wearing a fluffy beige coat—so cute that passersby turn to look.
...It's scary.
My bad habit is acting up...
When I see an attractive girl, I get flashes, chills, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and nausea... The more attractive and the closer they are, the worse the symptoms get.
...In other words, Nagase-san is incredibly attractive today.
Nagase: "Ta-da!"
She spreads her arms wide and looks a little playful.
It even looks like she's asking for a hug...
"...It really suits you, but... what's up?"
"Well, it's an outing, right? I have to get pumped as a girl! Today is relaxing shopping and lunch at the station building, right? You're going to buy sothing as a return for Valentine's, aren't you?"
Nagase Aya's bright smile dazzles and I avert my eyes.
...I can't help but look away...!
Since it's White Day, is this what a shopping outing feels like today?
Well, since it's just the station building, it doesn't sound as much like a big trip as 'outing' implies.
anwhile, Nagase-san's face clouds over at my reaction.
...Crap, not good. Did she think I was being rude?
"You don't really... like this kind of look? ...Sorry."
Nagase-san looks apologetic—No! It's my problem.
"...I, I'm just... not good with attractive girls... Like I told you before... that thing."
"...Ah, I knew that. But, it's our first outing, right? Just the two of us, you know? Not since prepping for the culture festival event."
When I went to get hamburger supplies for my boyfriend.
See Chapter 42: At My Best Friend's Part-Ti Job 2.
"...A-attractive girls... not good."
Nagase-san looks half happy, half frustrated.
She even mutters, "So you do think I'm cute?" and blushes...
That just makes her even more attractive, so please stop?
"So... what should I do?"
"..."
I can't exactly say sothing like, "Why don't you wear a la outfit or make yourself look bad?"
If I had to say, maybe the school uniform... because I'm used to seeing it...?
No good! Nagase-san wears her skirt a little short and her legs are so long they're dangerous.
Clothes are just clothes... Wait, what if she hides her face?
...Can I even say that? Sothing like that?
I think for a mont and mutter.
"...How about wearing glasses? The kind that really cover your face."
"What? Kousuke-kun, do you like girls with glasses?"
(...I don't dislike them... Actually, I might like them.)
"Let's not."
"Well, maybe if I change the impression, it'll be different? Let's go!"
Nagase-san tugs on my sleeve, pulling to a cheap glasses store in the station building.
Nagase-san pulls along looking happy, looking amused.
She pulls too hard! She just laughs at my protest and doesn't listen.
"Welco." I hear the cashier's voice.
"Could you show so fake glasses, please♪"
Nagase-san asks the cashier and browses the store.
Nagase-san starts trying on a few thick-rimd plastic fras called cell fras.
How about this? Or this one? Hehe! What about this?
She looks good in everything, so I can only say she's cute no matter what...
And then I realize—glasses usually look big on her.
...Nagase Aya has a really small face. First ti I knew that.
"Maybe I'll go with this? How about this one?"
The one she picked was a roundish black-rimd cell fra.
Lightweight, shape-mory resin, so it doesn't lose its shape easily.
One of the candidates hit her lashes, so she picked a type with nose pads.
She gets the cashier to adjust them to her face and receives them.
Nagase-san strikes a bit of a model pose,
"Ta-dah! Nagase Aya ver. Glasses Girl!"
Bam.
...Still terrible at winking...
Even with slightly big black-rimd glasses on, Nagase-san's cuteness just leaks out.
"...Want to pull the beret lower?"
"Like this?"
"...And a mask? Gotta be careful about infections."
"Like this?"
"And button up your coat, all the way."
"...Eh? Is this really okay?"
Nagase-san looks in the mirror and gets angry.
"Where did my charm go?!"
"...Unless I hide this much, I..."
"...Ugh... We're both a pain...!"
There's no way to completely hide Nagase-san's charm, right?
High school girl: "That girl is super cute! Is she a model?"
High school girl: "Isn't she a celebrity in disguise? Her face is tiny!"
Guy: "...She's so cute! You can't even hide it!"
"...Nagase-san, you're amazing."
"Don't be impressed!"
Still, with the glasses, hat, and buttoned-up coat, the chills are way less.
So, this is how we're going.
"This was supposed to be my reward for passing finals! Why am I struggling like this...!"
"...Sorry."
I take Nagase-san to the brand new Italian café in the station building.
The vintage-style interior is lively, and the place is so new it's really popular.
"Wow! This is nice! I love bread, you know!"
"...That's what I thought."
"You knew...?"
"...We've been sitting next to each other for a long ti, right?"
I get the panini set. Nagase-san gets a baguette with fish fry and iced tea. We share French fries, sitting side by side and picking at them together.
"It's delicious!"
"...Right?"
The conversation gets lively.
Things like the final exams, the student council, what will it be like in second year? I wonder what the special advanced class is like?
There's never a shortage of topics. I finish eating and think I'm just a little unsatisfied, but it seems Nagase-san has had enough. Girls really don't eat much, huh...
I tell her, "I'll pay, so could you head out first?" and then I take my ti leaving the restaurant.
When I step outside, I don't see Nagase-san anywhere.
Girls take ti getting themselves ready, so I figure I'll just wait patiently. I stand sowhere in front of the restaurant where I can easily see the bathroom and keep an eye on my surroundings.
...
...
...!
Nagase-san cos back.
She gives a little wave and heads quickly in my direction.
She's taken off the mask from before, but with the black-rimd glasses and beret, she looks totally different—still, she's a really charming girl.
...In fact, people around us can't help but notice Nagase-san too.
As Nagase-san approaches with a smile and is just about to call out to from a distance,
? "Huh? Haven't we t before?"
"...Huh?"
? "A girl as pretty as you... once I see you, I never forget."
The guy flashes a handso smile at Nagase-san.
Nagase-san gives a wry smile, looking a little exasperated.
"Forget rembering —maybe you should stop hitting on girls in uniform, Kuzu-kun?"
Taking off her beret and glasses, Nagase-san glares at Kuzu-kun with a deadpan stare.
Kuzu-kun gets flustered, trying to say it's because he managed to move up or sothing.
Ugh, this guy again...! I sigh and step in between the two of them.
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