My extroverted girlfriend has zero sense of boundaries — Is It really wrong to take her home right after we meet? - Episode 8

♠

The time was one o’clock in the afternoon.

The town I got off at, four stations away from the nearest one, was bustling with people coming and going, especially since it was Sunday. The meeting place with Sayo-san was near the entrance of the biggest department store around here. I already felt like I was about to get sick from the crowd, but I somehow endured it and walked through the throng.

【Sayo: Have you arrived?】

Bzzzt. The smartphone I had stuffed into my pocket vibrated, and when I looked, I saw a notification from Sayo-san.

She had told me it would be troublesome to meet up on the day itself, and once again, another name had been added to my friends list.

I never thought the first and second entries would both be girls, but once today is over, those contacts will obviously end up just being names on a list. They probably would not start casual chats like Ayano does.

【Kyou: I’m here, but where are you now?】

Even if you say『entrance』, with a facility of this scale there are more than ten of them.

As I followed Sayo-san’s directions and continued walking, a new message arrived with a piron sound.

【Ayano: Do your best today!】

At the unexpected message, Kyousuke let out a low 『Ugh』.

Today’s outing was for choosing a present for Ayano. Since it was meant to be a surprise, she had not been told anything.

So then, what on earth did she mean by『do your best』?

Letting out a sigh tinged with guilt, he recalled what had happened the other day.

It was past one o’clock on Saturday morning.

He had just set aside the novel he was halfway through, thinking it was about time to sleep, dimmed the light, and lay down on the bed. At that moment, almost as if timed, his phone vibrated.

【Ayano: Did you watch that late-night drama that was on just now?】

A message from Ayano.

They had become close enough to exchange texts even when there was no particular reason, but Kyousuke still could not get rid of his nervousness. The haze of drowsiness over his brain vanished, and his eyes were wide open.

【Kyou: I didn’t watch it】

【Ayano: Eh! Why not!】

【Kyou: Why, you say…】

【Ayano: Because I was in it!】

【Kyou: Eh】

Piron—an angry dog sticker was sent.

【Kyou: Sorry, I didn’t know】

【Ayano: I won’t forgive you】

“Ehh…”

The words slipped out of his mouth.

He did not usually watch TV dramas in the first place, and she had not told him she would be appearing. Even if she said she would not forgive him, he had no idea how to respond.

【Ayano: I recorded it, so if you watch it with me next time, then I’ll forgive you】

A dog sticker with its arms crossed proudly, as if saying 『hmph』.

Apparently, there was a way to be forgiven, and Kyousuke breathed a sigh of relief.

【Kyou: Why didn’t you just tell me from the start?】

【Ayano: Because I wanted to watch it with you, Fujimura. We can’t be together at night】

At that message, heat spread across Kyousuke’s cheeks.

Unable to figure out how to reply, he sent a cat sticker that said,『Got it』.

‘What the heck,『got it』…?’

It was a completely inappropriate sticker for the situation, but he did not have the composure to write out a proper sentence.

He took a few small deep breaths to calm his pounding heart.

【Ayano: How about Sunday? I’ll make something tasty too!】

Sunday, huh. He checked his schedule in his head.

That was exactly the day he planned to go buy Ayano’s present.

However, since it was a surprise, he could not explain the real reason.

【Kyou: I already have plans that day】

【Ayano: What kind of plans?】

【Kyou: Really important plans. Something that will affect my life】

Since he had little experience refusing other people’s invitations, he was not sure if that was the right way to decline.

At least she seemed to accept it, sending a dog sticker nodding with a thoughtful『hm, hm』.

【Ayano: Sorry for texting so late! Good night!】

In Ayano’s mind, she must have already decided that they would spend Sunday together. Feeling sorry about it, Kyousuke also sent back a simple 【Good night】.

He had no idea what she had misunderstood his 『important plans』to mean, but she replied with 【Yeah】.

It was, admittedly, a dull response on his part, but there was no better way to put it. Time to move on.

***

After walking for a few minutes, he found her standing, almost shrinking into the shade of a building out of the sun.

She wore a pale pink casquette, a loose oversized white hoodie on top, and a navy mini-skirt from which her delicate legs extended, ending in black sneakers. It was an outfit that seemed to perfectly embody Sayo-san’s reserved personality, light and quietly cute.

They exchanged a brief『Hey』of greeting. Immediately after, Kyousuke looked around restlessly. Somehow, that guy was nowhere to be seen.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, Toujou isn’t here…”

“If it’s Kotarou-kun you’re talking about, I didn’t call him. For choosing Ayano-chan’s birthday present, that guy is unnecessary.”

Sayo-san spoke sharply, her gaze hardening through the lenses of her glasses. Something must have happened between them in the past. With that man, it would not be strange if he caused trouble.

“Then, shall we go?”

She turned lightly and entered the building.

Because he had expected Kotarou to be there, Kyousuke was all the more nervous. Even if the guy looked like a delinquent, having another male around or not made a huge difference.

‘Sa… Sayo-san is surprisingly composed about this…’

It must be because she had known Kotarou for so long. From her back as she walked ahead, he even felt a kind of coolness.

He had thought she was on his side, but now, feeling slightly ashamed of that thought, he jogged up beside her—only to notice something strange about her gait.

“Sayo-san.”

“What is it?”

“You’re moving your right hand and right foot at the same time.”

Her eyes widened, and she quickly corrected herself, her cheeks flushing red as she cleared her throat.

“Ah, um… It’s just, it’s been a while since I went out with anyone other than Kotarou-kun.”

Her awkwardly strung-together words made Kyousuke smile inwardly with relief. He had found someone like himself.

“For now, something that Ayano-chan would be happy with, right! This way, this way!”

Trying to cover it up, she sped up her steps, looking exactly like a small pet animal. It was easy to see why Kotarou was so attached to her.

“First of all, the things Ayano-chan likes: chocolate sweets, thick steak, parfaits with lots of fruit, simple accessories, clothes with subdued colors, winter, countryside irrigation ditches, and movies.”

“W-what? Countryside irrigation ditches?”

“In an old magazine, it was written that during childhood trips back to the countryside, she was obsessed with playing in the irrigation ditches. Apparently the water was clear and there were fish swimming in it.”

“…Huh…”

It was not a problem that Ayano had played like that, but Kyousuke was unsettled by how Sayo-san remembered such a detail. She had once screamed about how『precious』Ayano was, but he never imagined it went this far.

No, no. He punched down the prejudice rising in his gut. After all, this time, he would be relying on her love and obsession. He could not afford to belittle her.

“In the end, which one is the best?”

“Let’s go with chocolate. There’s a famous shop here, and I think dark chocolate, which is also good for beauty, would be ideal. It also keeps well. And besides, chocolate is something that, as a fan like me, I could never give her. So I’d like you, Fujimura-san, to hand it to Ayano-chan along with my feelings.”

“Don’t make it sound so heavy. Just give it to her yourself…”

“That’s impossible. I have to send it to the agency first, and then have it forwarded to Ayano-chan. Would you eat food that came directly from a complete stranger, Fujimura-san?”

She shot him a sharp look, as if telling him to think it through, but Kyousuke twisted his neck with a dissatisfied expression.

“Even if you don’t give it directly, you could put it in a paper bag or in a desk drawer. There are plenty of ways. Do you really have to draw such strict lines?”

“This is self-defense. If the boundaries become vague and I get too close to Ayano-chan, I will surely be killed by her preciousness.”

Her serious voice carried a weight like that of a battle-hardened soldier.

♥

After finishing lunch at a shop near the station and wandering around wondering where to go next, she caught sight of a familiar face in the distance. That slender figure was unmistakable.

Ayano widened her stride a little, her steps light, as she quickly closed the distance between them.

She had thought his『important plans』must have been something like a cram school test or a part-time job, but apparently it was shopping. He seemed to be alone, so there should be no problem speaking to him. If he agreed, it might even be fun to tag along.

“Fuji—”

Just as she was about to put her hand on his shoulder, she instinctively slipped into the crowd and held her breath.

“Hey,” Kyousuke gave a small bow to a girl she didn’t know. Because she was wearing a hat, her face wasn’t clearly visible, but she was small and cute.

“Shall we go then?”

With those words, the two of them entered the department store.

For a moment Ayano wondered if it was his younger sister, but immediately denied it. That awkward formality would have been strange if it were family.

If not that—

Ayano’s gray cells reached one hypothesis about what those『important plans』referred to.

‘It’s… a date with his girlfriend…!!’