Part-2 Ch-10 Ep-03

Maki’s POV

“Mari, your shoulder is pretty soaked. Why don’t you change?”

The moment I let Mari into my room, those were the first words out of my mouth.

Ever since she had been holding the umbrella for me, that completely drenched shoulder had bothered me the entire way home.

If it stayed like that, her body would get cold.

But her reply was casual. “Ah, I’ll be heading home soon anyway, so it’s fine. Just lend me a towel.”

“Do you have something to do after you get home?”

“Hm? No, not really.”

“Then change. If you catch a cold and can’t come on the school trip with me, I’d be sad, you know.”

As I said that, I half-forcibly handed her a change of clothes along with a towel.

Since we had been childhood friends for so long, Mari’s loungewear was always stocked in my room.

Mari replied with a somewhat reluctant “Got it,” then began awkwardly averting her eyes.

Something about her behavior felt off.

“What’s wrong?”

Thinking that maybe she actually did have somewhere to be after all, I asked her, and an unexpected answer came back.

“…Um, would it be okay if I changed in another room?”

Her cheeks were faintly flushed, and I realized she was embarrassed to change in front of me.

“…Ah, yeah.”

Normally, we would not think twice about changing in the same room.

But the fact that Mari made that suggestion meant she was conscious of me, and that realization honestly made me happy.

Watching her back as she left the room with the clothes, I thought to myself:

It really feels like we’re lovers.

No, we already are lovers.

For some reason, that thought made my chest feel strangely ticklish.

Once we had both changed into loungewear, we sat together and opened the guidebook.

It was already November, so the room felt slightly chilly, though not enough to warrant turning on the heater.

Perhaps instinctively seeking warmth, we pressed closer to each other and talked about the school trip that would start next week.

When Mari casually said, “Maki, your body is really warm,” I felt as if my own temperature was rising even more.

We flipped through the guidebook, skimming over the tourist spots in each region of Okinawa.

“If we’re going to Okinawa, summer might have been better.”

“Apparently summer in Okinawa has a lot of typhoons and sudden squalls, so there actually aren’t that many sunny days. That’s probably why choosing the dates is difficult, right?”

“Huh, but isn’t it still cold in Okinawa at this time of year?”

“Um, let’s see. Last November’s highest temperature in Okinawa was… it says 30.6 degrees Celsius…”

“That’s hooot…”

Each time Mari shifted even slightly, small vibrations traveled through every point where our shoulders and arms touched.

It felt faintly ticklish.

We talked about trivial things. Yeah, we should probably bring our summer uniforms after all. Thick loungewear might not be necessary. I wonder if the nights are hot too.

Before I realized it, time had slipped by.

It had been about an hour since Mari arrived at my house.

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

The window suddenly flashed brightly, followed by an especially loud, growling rumble.

Startled, I looked toward the window, and Mari murmured, “Maybe it struck nearby. That thunder.”

“Yeah,” I replied, and Mari gently placed her hand over mine, wrapping it softly.

She probably still thought I was afraid of thunder.

Or perhaps Mari herself was the one who felt afraid. Silence settled between us, and the sound of raindrops striking the window became clearly audible.

When I looked at Mari, she was looking at me too, and our eyes met.

My heart jolted.

Deep inside me, it felt as though a tiny flame, like a candle being lit, had quietly sparked to life.

I could not look away from Mari, and we continued staring at each other. The warmth born deep within me slowly grew stronger.

I want to touch her.

For a moment, my gaze drifted to the lips right in front of me. When our eyes met again, I saw Mari’s cheeks twitch slightly, a faint sign of agitation.

The hand covering mine trembled as well.

“Mari.”

When I called her name, her lips quivered faintly.

She may have intended to respond.

But no sound came out.

I leaned closer to her.

There was a trace of wariness in her expression, but she showed no sign of pulling away.

Hesitantly, I reached out toward her.

Mari’s eyes wavered, yet even then, she did not flee.

Please, don’t run away.

I pleaded silently in my heart.

She still looked a little unsure.

Please. Please don’t run away.

The moment my hand touched her cheek, I felt her body tense.

If she told me to stop, I would stop immediately.

I made that resolve firmly, and slowly leaned in closer.

Just before our lips met, I saw Mari gently close her eyes.

That was her answer.

Ah. I might cry.

Sorry for not being able to wait properly. But I love you.

With those feelings poured into it, wrapped in the sound of the falling rain, I kissed my precious girlfriend.