Chapter 36 - XX for a Day ③

In the end, it appears that this girl is always taking the lead.

After meal I was brought along to the 5th floor of the station building.
Well, as I usually don"t go out of house on days off, much less shopping mall, most of the places are like savage lands to me, but among them there is one that is especially wicked… With surroundings of annoying random colors, a real Mystery Dungeon1 stood right there.

– Ah, aaah…

With that before my eyes, I let out a hoa.r.s.e voice.
Multicolored frilly cloth. It"s a swimsuit shop. Women"s.

It seems like for some reason my girlfriend for a day who was hugging my left arm the same as before became very interested in my miserable reaction.

– Choosing a swimsuit for me. "Cause, aren"t we going to beach…? Stuff like this, boyfriend-kun should be the one choosing it, right…?

– Is, is zat so… Rather, we"re going to beach…?

– Fufu. That shy face… so cute

Saying that, she poked my thoroughly flushed cheek.

Ah, hey, pa.s.serby right there! Stop having that satisfied grin.
I"m barely keeping myself from having foggy head. Just the fact that I have walked up to here is a miracle, if you like.

Naturally, not only was my face was hot since a while ago, I felt uneasiness in my chest.
That being said, If I try taking my eyes off my one-day girlfriend for a moment.
Here, a harsh flank attack like this is waiting for me.

– Mm… chu. You"re not allowed look away from me.

Ugh… Kill me! I"m done with this!

I"m already regretting being so caught up in the moment earlier.
Shifting from defense to offence. There was no false in these words.
And she"s not just physically teasing me.
To begin with, bringing me to such a place, I can"t help but think that she really wants to kill the bookworm.

Like, isn"t that so? A large room with rows of ladies" swimsuits?
The moment I saw it, it gave me a loud impression of "It"s a Monster House!"2. I"m in trouble as smartphone and the like doesn"t even have a function like the Scroll of Evac3. When push comes to shove, modern technology is useless.

Shuddering, I ended up pulling back one of my legs, but there was no escape as I was already firmly caught.
… By the way, it seems my lack of enthusiasm was perceived by Tachibana and she strengthened her hold even more.

I can see "There is no escape" from her smiling face. Everything from my arm to my back is already soaking wet, but apparently the blonde girl is not worried about it.

However, at the same time, it appears that she paid attention to my rigid reaction.
And just when I thought she was foolishly laughing, and yet, probably feeling uneasy because of my nonplussed reaction, with despondent upturned eyes she… Seriously, she changes her facial expressions so frequently.

– Girlfriend"s wish… Is it no good?

Seeing such a face, there"s no way I can refuse, right…
Now that I"m already here, just as usual, this was a lost game from the beginning.

That is… Today, I want to see her laughing plenty of times…

Is it okay if I gently pat her on the head and say that there is no need to make such a face? However, I cannot possibly do it, so instead, I"ve made a sullen face and replied.

– Not really. Anyway, there was no plan in the first place, so it can"t be helped or something…

– Yay, thank you… So kind…

– Unh, it"s not like that. For your information, I"m not the only one who can"t refuse when they are asked like that! Just take a look in the mirror.

– Fufu, what"s that? Is that by any chance indirect compliment?

– …… Wrong. Here, let"s go…

– Ehehe, look who"s shy…

And with that, Tachibana finally released my left arm and we started looking through the shop.
My heart felt so light it was about to hop, yet at the same time it felt agonizing. When I thought that she was concentrated on choosing swimsuit, she would turn around and grin from time to time.

I, am together with such a girl.
What"s more, the other person looks exaggeratedly joyful.

Taking a look once again like this, Tachibana Karen is infinitely cute.
And if I don"t pay attention, I get mesmerized by her.
Naturally, I don"t want this kind of thoughts to be noticed, so I am constantly under a strange pressure. Each second with this girl is agonizing.

Still, it"s not only about appearance.
There is a great variety to Tachibana"s smiling face.

A teasing playful smile, a kind and caring smile, a happy smile and others… and I can already mostly recognize them. And all of these facial expressions are not for decoration, they are nothing but genuine.

Right now, I have a monopoly on this smile.
And even if it is for a brief time, it is only for me alone.
A boyfriend for a day… Boyfriend…
Right now… me……?

My chest tightened. My whole body still holds her warmth.

– Hey…?

I was startled. Because Tachibana"s face was closer than I thought.
I haven"t noticed as she was walking next to me all along, but right now we are much closer than usual.

This lips…
Soft lips that have touched my cheek many times since not long ago are curved now, like a beautiful bow. And this cute smile has been so close all this time.

– This and this, which do you think is better?

She showed me two hangers with bikini.
One black and one pink… Ah, no, no!
I was taken aback. Well, choosing swimsuit should be like this, but I haven"t made any preparations at all.

Rather, what in the world is preparation for choosing a swimsuit?
Today, it"s just like there is no meaning to my thoughts…

– Em, even if you ask which one is better…

I have a mood like this, so I ended up making an indifferent reply.
However, Karen,… ahem. Tachibana grinned as if my reply just now was exactly what she expected.

– Fuuun?

– Wh-, what?

– Well then, there"s no choice but try it on, right? Tell me which one you like?

– Try, try it on? Here…?

– Come on, dummy… What are you surprised at? It is that sort of shop, you know?

Then, when she appeared from the other side of the curtain, my brain was about to melt and pour out of my ears.
Blonde girl"s red face was blank.
At the same time, noticing my nervousness, she gave me a shy smile.

– Now that I"m showing it to you, it may be a bit embarra.s.sing… How is it…?

How is it, huh…? Well, of course…

On the healthy slender body, there was a black bikini with frills.
She has a well-balanced figure. Bust and hips beautifully bulge and smoothly join at the slim waist. Choice of black was superb too. Contrasting with the white skin and bright blonde hair, somehow, it seems extremely adult-like.

At that time, I was at last mesmerized by the girl before my eyes.
I ended up standing still on the spot for several seconds and noticing my own state I couldn"t look in front of me.
Still, for some reason, Tachibana before me had a lack of confidence and avoided looking into my eyes. Glancing at me, she anxiously averted her eyes.

– How is it…? Does it, not suit me…?

Why are you making such a face?
You are Tachibana Karen after all, you"re always br.i.m.m.i.n.g with confidence.
But because of uncertainty in my att.i.tude, anxiety in her look kept getting stronger little by little. It seems that she is looking forward to my reply so much.

And as it is me, the words I thought of were held at the tip of my tongue.
Although, so far it was always like that. Tachibana has been saying what she thinks without a worry all the time, and yet, I want to hide my s.h.i.tty embarra.s.sment again…

Ugh… Say it, me… at least this much.
Boyfriend for a day should mean that I"m the boyfriend right now. If I put it into words, she will be happy just like earlier.
There"s no need to worry. Today, I"ll get carried away…

Taking a breath, I barely managed to say the words.

– … It"s, beautiful……

– Eh…?

– That is, it"s obviously cute… It suits you. Although it"s coming from an amateur…

Before long, a lovely smile spread over the girl"s face.

– I"m so glad…

– The-, there"s no sort of deep meaning in that… Cute, I mean, um, you are cute.

– After all… I was always worried that maybe in truth I"m not your taste. Come on, compliment me sooner…

Tachibana looked more and more exaggeratedly relieved to the point of almost crying, but with nothing particular to say to each other, our chat paused like that…
Of all things, we entered the stare at each other mode in a place like this.

At a distance where we can almost hear each other"s disordered breath, her dreamy gaze captured my eyes and wouldn"t let go.

"Um, anyway, say something… Just consider the location…"

"Ehehe… Beautiful, he says. Cute. Ehehehehe~"

"Hey, it should be clear that black one is good. Choose faster"

"No… I want to stay like this a bit more. Just a little bit, look at me like that…"

"… K, Karen…"

"Jun…"

It"s not the place to have a talk like this.
I can clearly sense the glances coming at us from here and there.
However, lately, we suddenly become like this when there is a chance. Saying no words within the atmosphere of uncertainty, fluffy time of simply gazing at each other for several seconds.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice coming from within the hustle and bustle.
Hearing that by chance, I became terrified.

– Look, like I thought, on that side… isn"t that Karen?