Chapter 64 – Let’s take a break with a spin-off (part 2)
To be honest, I could have ignored the date, but I couldn't pretend to be stupid because I was being threatened.
I skipped my lessons and headed to the park where we were supposed to meet.
It was the first time in my life that I skipped a lesson.
When I arrived, she was under the clock tower in the park.
She was wearing a light blue dress, sunglasses and a straw hat, as if she was going to the beach.
"Senpai, let's go to the sea"
I had a strange feeling.
Then, we took a train from the station near the park and arrived at the sea in about an hour.
We felt the sea breeze and shaded our eyes from the sun as we watched the seagulls flying over the sea.
"Do you like the sea?"
"Yes, I love it. It's wide, blue and beautiful."
"......I agree. I love this sea too."
We walked along the breakwater and looked out over the sea.
I wondered if my mother had found out that I skipped my piano lesson.
But those thoughts were purified as I looked at the sea.
"Senpai, what do you hate about me?"
It was the first time I heard such a line.
Who would ask someone what they hate about themselves?
"Is it because I’m an idol?"
"......That's part of it."
"Is there anything else?"
"I hate the fact that you threaten me. Threatening people is just taking advantage of their weaknesses, and no one will be happy. Do you really enjoy playing with me, who was forced to move by your threats?"
"......I'm sorry."
"You're really rude. If you say you like me, I want you to think about me a little. How do you feel when the person you like is being threatened? You......don't care."
The words "don't you care?" that followed disappeared from my head.
She was quietly crying next to me.
She cried so quietly that I couldn't tell if her tears came from sadness or not.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm not used to being scolded. I'm sorry."
She took out a handkerchief with her right hand and wiped her tears.
"You're not used to being scolded?"
"Yes."
"......Do you have parents?"
"No, only my father is in heaven. But"
"？"
"My mother has been sick since I was a child......"
"......I see."
Every time she expressed her complex feelings in words, the lines that flowed from her eyes became thicker.
"So now, I'm supporting myself by being an idol. I got into the school because the principal liked me as an entertainer, and I got a scholarship."
"I see......I didn't know that, and I said rude things to you."
"No, it's my fault for threatening you in the first place......I'm the bad one."
She put her small hand on her chest and looked at the horizon where the sky and the sea met.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
I stroked her glossy hair.
It was silky and smooth, like the sand right there.
"Um......this is not a threat. Please refuse if you don't like it."
"Okay. I understand."
She held her hair that swayed in the sea breeze and started talking after a breath.
"I want you to hold my hand."
"......What's the point of holding hands?"
"It will be a memory."
"That's nonsense."
I pushed away the hand that was offered to me.
"Why do you bother me? If you're an idol, you can find better men in the entertainment industry. I'll tell you, you can't get any money from me. I don't get any allowance."
"I'm not interested in money. I'm interested in you."
"I sympathize with your situation, but I don't understand your idea. It's not fun to be next to me. It's my first date, and I don't know any fun places."
"I like you."
"Why? ......I'm a coward who can only watch the girl I like from afar."
"I like you."
"I have few friends, and I'm always told that I can't read the atmosphere."
"I like you."
"I......um, that"
"I like you, please go out with me."
She insisted on liking me, and I was troubled.
I couldn't think of any more bad things about myself.
"Senpai, you can stay in love with someone else. Just stay that way and go out with me."
"W-what are you saying?"
"I'm confident that I can make you turn around. So, please go out with me as a joke."
"......No."
"Why not!"
"It's obvious that it's not good to go out as a joke! You have to be serious if you want to go out! If you're serious, I'll go out with you."
What am I saying?
"Then, please go out with me seriously."
"No, I"
"Thank you for your cooperation."
"Wh, I"
She took my right arm and pressed it against her chest.
I was dominated by a softness that I had never felt before, and a strange feeling.
"Kazunari-san, please call me by my name."
"Name? ......Mi, Mitsu"
"More casually."
"Mitsu! ......I'm a boring person, no joke. And I don't like you."
"Then, I'll take the liberty of teaching you something fun. And it's okay if you don't like me now. You'll definitely like me."
Mitsu smiled for the first time today, from her cool face.
I was gradually attracted to her confidence.
Translator: Janaka