Nyanta & Pomeko

Chapter 64: Recreation

I used to hate taking pictures.

　I hated seeing my dark face in the album.

　That changed when I met Anri. The folders on my phone are filled with pictures of me and Anri.

　It started from the field trip to Destinyland. When I look at the pictures from then, we both still had stiff smiles on our faces, but now it's different.

　In the picture of us sitting together in the corner of the kitchen, looking at each other, we had natural smiles on our faces.

"It wasn't that long ago that we took our first picture together, and I miss it. ......"

　Anri scrolls through her phone and looks at old photos.

Rewinding back to the pictures from the time in Destinyland. It seems as if it rewinds back to the memories of that time.

"I remember how surprised everyone was when they saw Anri back then. You looked so beautiful."

"T-that's not true!?　A-All the girls were staring at you, Makoto-kun."

"Is that so?"

"Mou, Makoto, you are in trouble for not being aware of it. ......"

　That day's excursion was something special for us.

If we were together, the wounds of the past would disappear. That was the day I was convinced of it.

"Speaking of that day, I remember that Anri's tone of voice became kinder and gentler."

"Eh!?　T-That's not true. I-its because of Destinyland.

"Of course, it was a mysterious space."

　Summer vacation is long. There is still a lot of time off after this forest school is over.

Of course, I have to revise for publication and write a bonus chapter for the store. That's not a problem. Everything is going according to schedule.

And I'm getting motivated to create when I see Mitobe-sensei's wonderful drawings.

　Anri is still looking at the pictures with a smirk on her face. It's a picture from our walking date.

　......I had this look on my face.

"Makoto, you cried a lot after that, didn't you? Fufu, you were so cool, helping Haruka-chan afterwards."

"A-aah, that's uhm...."

Anri turns to me, shutting her phone.

　It was just a gesture, but it made my heart beat faster. I can't look at her face.

"Ah, there you go again!　You've been doing that a lot lately.　I wish you would look at me properly."

"Right. ....... That's because, Pomeko-san is so cute, oh, no, I mean, ......–oh, let's go out with Puggy for summer vacation, shall we?"

"C-cute, that's embarrassing. ....... Stop joking around and talk to me face to face, will you?"

"I'm not joking."

"M-Makoto? U-uhm, I agree with you about going to hang out with Puggy. What shall we do?"

Nobody of the students approached this place. I felt like my mouth was getting lighter.

It was like I wanted to say something, but couldn't.

　Anri clears her throat with a "kohon-koh. Her face was a little red. Then she gently took my hand.

"Makoto-kun, we have to go over there soon. Hehe, here I can talk normally, but over there it will be difficult."

We are always alone, but I don't want to leave her.