Shimizu-san and the Cultural Festival Tour 2
“Hondō, are you there?”
“I’m here.”
“Then, that’s good.”
How many tis have we repeated this conversation?
I’m starting to get a little worried.
“Shimizu-san, are you really okay?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ve seed anxious ever since we entered.”
“I’m not anxious!”
“Really?”
“Co on, let’s keep going.”
Shimizu-san moved ahead in the dark haunted house, relying on the light from the flashlight we received from Ai-san at the reception.
The walls inside the haunted house were made of cardboard, and the path was a straight line.
“If you’re scared, Shimizu-san, I can go in front?”
“I told you, I’m not scared! Just follow with peace of mind.”
The next mont, a sound like a child’s laughter ca from nowhere.
“Ah!”
Suddenly, there was an impact from the front.
It took a few seconds to realize that Shimizu-san had clung to .
“...Shimizu-san, it’s a bit tight.”
“H-Huh? T-this is to protect you...”
That excuse seems a bit far-fetched.
As I was thinking this, sothing flashed violently overhead.
“Ahhh!”
This ti, she clung to my arm with force. There was a soft sensation on my arm.
No, I shouldn’t think too deeply about that sensation right now.
“Calm down. It’s okay, Shimizu-san.”
“But the voice! The light!”
“The voice is probably just a recording played by so machine. The light might be a cara flash or sothing.”
“...I see.”
Shimizu-san seed to calm down a bit and let go of my arm.
“Are you cald down?”
“...Sorry, I got a little panicked.”
It felt like more than just a little, but it’s probably better not to say that.
“Shall we keep going then? Can I lead the way this ti?”
It feels dangerous to let Shimizu-san go ahead.
Or rather, I don’t want to put Shimizu-san in any danger.
“...I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“...Lend your hand.”
“Sure.”
I reached out my hand to Shimizu-san.
I rembered the expression on her face when she pressed my hand against her cheek and smiled during my visit, and my heart skipped a beat.
Shimizu-san hesitantly touched my hand and then intertwined her fingers with mine.
“Shimizu-san!?”
“This place is more dangerous than I thought. So let’s move together.”
“O-okay?”
“...Do you mind?”
“No, I was just surprised because it was so sudden. I feel more reassured holding hands with you too, Shimizu-san.”
“T-that’s right!”
Although it was dark and hard to see, I’m sure Shimizu-san had a proud expression on her face.
“Then let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
Holding the flashlight in one hand and Shimizu-san’s hand in the other, we began to walk again, little by little.
“By the way, you seem fine with the haunted house. That’s different from what you said.”
Shimizu-san, having regained her spirits, started the conversation.
“It’s not that I’m really good with scary things.”
“Then why are you so calm?”
“Because if I panicked too, there would be no one left to protect you, Shimizu-san.”
“Wha?!”
“That’s why I’m just trying hard to keep my fear under control.”
“You...”
Even without seeing, I know.
Right now, I’m definitely being glared at by Shimizu-san.
“Did I say sothing weird?”
“I don’t know if it’s weird, but if you say that to just anyone, you’ll end up in a lot of trouble later.”
“I only say it to you, Shimizu-san, so it should be fine.”
I felt Shimizu-san’s grip on my hand tighten a bit.
“You don’t have to grip so tightly. As long as Shimizu-san doesn’t let go of my hand, I definitely won’t let go either.”
“You, are you always this talkative?”
“Maybe I’m trying to hide how scared I am.”
“...I’ll let that excuse slide.”
I was indeed anxious about what might co next.
“Hey, don’t just tap my shoulder without saying anything at a ti like this.”
“Ah, are you serious?”
“Why would I need to lie... wait...”
It seed Shimizu-san had realized it too.
I was holding a flashlight in one hand, and my other hand was linked with Shimizu-san’s.
There was no way I could have tapped anyone’s shoulder.
We slowly turned around together. There, standing behind us, was a figure wrapped head to toe in bandages.
The faceless figure seed to be laughing for so reason.
“Kyaa!”
Shimizu-san let out a high-pitched scream.
Together, Shimizu-san and I ran the rest of the way.
***
“Good job!”
“...Haa,...haa.”
“Huh, Kei-san seems really tired?”
Ai-san was sporting a grin that could only be described as mischievous.
Shimizu-san didn’t retort imdiately, probably exhausted from all the screaming.
“...rember this later.”
“I’ll just erase it from my mory. And this!”
Ai-san fiddled with her smartphone, and a sound ca from Shimizu-san’s direction.
“What’s that?”
“Kei, check your phone?”
Shimizu-san pulled out her smartphone from her pocket.
“W-what’s this!”
“What’s in the picture?”
“Show him, Kei.”
“Ugh...”
Shimizu-san showed the smartphone screen.
It displayed a photo of Shimizu-san clinging to my arm.
“Is this a picture from inside the haunted house we were in just now?”
“That’s right! Rember when there was a flash inside the haunted house? That was the light from the smartphone’s flash!”
So that intense light was this.
It had caught off guard, so I hadn’t seen the source clearly.
“Can I get a copy of that photo too?”
“Hondō!?”
“Of course!”
Ai-san quickly operated her smartphone, and a sound ca from my phone.
Checking it, I saw that the sa photo Shimizu-san had shown had been sent to .
“Thank you very much.”
“No need to thank ! It’s all part of the service for our group!”
“Don’t you dare show it to anyone else.”
“Of course. It’ll just be a mory for and Shimizu-san.”
“Ah, Ai has it too, right?”
“I’ve already deleted it. Now it’s a mory just for the two of you.”
“You!”
Shimizu-san glared at Ai-san, but it didn’t seem to affect her much.
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