"Good morning."
"Ah, good morning, Himeji-san."
The next morning, I met Himeji-san on the road to school. To meet her so early, what a wonderful thing. I'm so lucky.
Oh yeah. Now's the appropriate time to ask her.
"Himeji-san, I got something I want to ask you."
"Yes. What is it?"
"Yesterday, you said 'And—one day—I'll go with Akihisa-kun—', what do you mean by that?"
Those words may have some sort of promise hidden behind it, maybe...there's something even more important than that meaning. A certain uncertainty makes my heart beat faster without me want to. What's the real meaning behind that sentence...?
For a moment, Himeji-san can't say anything. She then nervously says,
"I'm sorry, I don't seem to remember what happened yesterday."
"Eh?"
As I was nervous, this answer made me a bit disappointed. If so, this meant that she was really drunk, and really, it wasn't weird at all.
"Ah, I, I see. Himeji-san really can't take alcohol."
"I'm sorry, I can't remember anything, Akihisa-kun."
"Nonono, it's noth—"
Hm? Akihisa-kun?
"...Yuuji, the marriage proposal was rejected. What a pity..."
"Of course it would be rejected. If you calm down and think, I just reached 17."
"...So I'll carefully keep this until next year. Right now, we're just a pre-married couple."
"Shouko, can I go to your house and play next time?"
"...Yes, but the marriage proposal won't be at home, but at the lawyer."
"YOU'RE SAFEGUARDING IT TOO TIGHTLY!!"
The familiar voices came from somewhere. Should be Kirishima-san and Yuuji. Really, it's time for Yuuji to give up already. However, it's just that he's thoroughly rejecting those premium tickets.
"Come to think of it, how should I use those tickets?"
Yuuji said that it was too dangerous to keep it, so in the end, he still gave them to me. If I'm to use this to go out with someone...
"Hm? Is there something wrong?"
"Ah, no. it's nothing."
I seemingly unconsciously gaze at Himeji-san's face.
However, I'm not sure whether it'll be useful or useless if I'm to use these tickets. Maybe it might make the situation even more awkward...
"Alright, I should return this to the one who needs it the most."
"The one who needs it the most? What are you talking about?"
"Let's treat it as a gift to that dishonest guy and a woman who's dead set on him."
"???"
Himeji-san looks extremely puzzled. Even though I feel that it's a waste, let's just give these tickets to Kirishima-san as a gift. As for me...I'm fine with things as they are now.
"Oh yes, I was called to head off to the staff room. Sorry, I'm making a move."
"Ah, okay, walk slowly."
Himeji-san suddenly briskly walks forward. At this moment—
"—Like you, Akihisa-kun."
Though she said something rather softly, I can't hear it as it's buried among the noises of this early morning.
