I ate the breakfast made by Kaede and left the house.
We’re heading to the arcade that we went to previously with the girls.
Kaede was in a good mood and was skipping happily. We were supposed to walk side by side, but now he’s further ahead.
“Is Akira not feeling well? You’re kinda quiet.”
“Eh, not really?”
It’s not that I don’t feel well, but I’m worried about Kaede liking me…
I just don’t really know what to talk about anymore.
As I was feeling perplexed and walked while answering him absentmindedly, we arrived at the game arcade.
Saturday being a particular reason, it’s more crowded than the last time we came here.
I could see many groups of young people, but there were many families and children too.
“Here!”
He grabbed my arm and pushed through the crowd as if he had his eye on a target.
The destination we arrived at was the UFO catcher corner.
“Huh, it’s gone……”
Kaede was looking at the stuffed rabbit.
If I remember correctly, this is the place where Hina begged me to get that.
“Kokopeling?”
“Yeah. I wanted the same thing as her.”
So you did want it.
Since it was something Hina wanted, it should be popular.
“It probably changed to this one.”
“That might be it.”
From my point of view, his shoulders were drooping and he looked disappointed.
You don’t have to be so dejected……
If you wanted it so badly, then why didn’t you say so?
“Sighh……You’re really hopeless.”
I inserted a hundred yen coin into the rabbit UFO catcher.
“Akira?”
The rabbit that I was aiming at was slightly off-kilter and it was a little hard to get, but it’s not a problem.
I’ve studied by watching videos of UFO catcher masters and I’m quite good at this.
“Nice!”
As I aimed at it, the rabbit got caught and fell.
It was a pink rabbit with a heart-shaped shoulder bag.
I took it out of the receiving port and tossed it to Kaede.
“Here. It’s not Kokopeling, but this colour is the closest to it. It’s the same spot as that Kokopeling so there should be some charm to it.”
Hina said that it was a charm for love, so if it works, I’ll become a homo and I’m troubled by it.
When I thought he’d make a fuss because it wasn’t Kokopeling and peeked at him, he was laughing happily.
“Since it can’t be helped, I’ll endure it for you.”
He said it arrogantly but I could tell that he was happy.
This guy sure is cute.
But the stuffed bunny really suits him.
Time passed quickly. Kaede, who was in a good mood, ordered me around and I obliged him. We played games and got prizes.
We then ate at the food court and ambled around various places until it was almost time to go home.
“Let’s go to the ferris wheel. I’m definitely going to ride with Akira this time!”
When we went to the ferris wheel, it was more crowded than last time as well.
We ended up waiting, I feel like Kaede won’t go home until we ride on it.
There were only couples, parents and children and a group of girls lining up.
I don’t see a combination of two men like us.
It’s a little uncomfortable, but let’s endure it.
As we waited for about fifteen minutes in line, it was finally our turn.
Kaede lightly walked in first and I followed after him.
The inside of the ferris wheel was, of course, the same as before.
We sat in opposite seats.
The place that was so crowded and noisy suddenly turned into a quiet space of just two people, which made me a little perplexed.
Anyhow, the latter is Kaede, who is the same sex as me and likes me.
It’s too late to say this now, but I don’t know what to say.
Only the motor noise of the ferris wheel could be heard, the peaceful time flew by.
“Hey, Akira.”
“Hm?”
As I was being quiet, Kaede called out to me.
“Last night, when I was talking to Makoto-senpai, were you awake?”
“Ehh!? U-uhh……”
It’d be awkward to lie and say ‘I was sleeping’, but if I just plainly said that ‘I was awake’, I wouldn’t know what to do after that.
As I was wondering how I should reply, Kaede laughed.
“Akira is really easy to read. Well, I like that part about you too though.”
“Eh-”
The word ‘like’ was thrown directly at me, I was surprised.
I have been told something similar before.
But I thought it was something between friends, so I wasn’t especially conscious about it and I didn’t get it at that time.
Now I’m baffled because I know he’s saying it with romantic feelings.
“Go there.”
He muttered as he sat next to me.
It’s cramped when two people sit in a one-seater and it’s more embarrassing because our bodies are touching.
“It’s narrow and it leans towards one side.”
I feel strangely embarrassed and uncomfortable.
I tried to escape to the opposite seat, but……
“You can’t.”
Both of my arms were gripped by his hands and I couldn’t move.
“You, really……”
He clung onto my arm and put his head on my shoulder.
What are we, a couple that just started dating?!
Certainly, we’re not being seen, but it’s still embarrassing.
“Go away.”
“No.”
Perhaps he didn’t want to listen to me, but on top of squeezing my arm even tighter, he rubbed his head onto it like a cat.
His golden angel-like hair before my eyes was bright and beautiful.
His skin is white. It’s far different from that of a regular person. How do I say this……it really seems like he lives in heaven.
As I was looking at his hair while thinking so, Kaede turned to me.
When I turned my head on reflex, our eyes met.
So close.
We’re staring at each other at such a close distance.
This situation was similar to that time with President, but at that time it was indescribably chilly and I could laugh it off, but not now.
Kaede’s red jewel-like pupils were shaking, his slightly flushed cheeks and his lips dyed with faint redness even without makeup was getting closer and closer……
Closer and closer!?
As I was confused, Kaede’s face was already so close to mine that it made me catch my breath――
Ah, this is bad.
Predicting what will happen in my mind, I involuntarily squeezed my eyes closed to bear with it.
The next second, I felt the anticipated warm sensation.
……On my cheek.
“Akira……I like you.”
The words he whispered in my ear made my heart beat wildly.
When I opened my eyes, Kaede’s face, which was still close to me, looked like a child who was victorious at his mischief.
“You thought I was going to do it on your mouth?”
……I did.
With the flow just now, I thought that you were definitely going to do it on my mouth.
I’m so ashamed of myself for getting flustered trying to put up with it.
I could feel my face turning red.
“You…! Go away!”
“Haha!”
Being played around like I’m some plaything makes me angry.
I tore my arm away vigorously and escaped to the opposite seat.
What a vicious cat!
“If you’re fine with it, I will do it though?”
“You can’t! Absolutely not!”
“Okay, I’ll endure it for now.”
“‘For now’ you say……”
Why is it that I’m the one who’s flustered while Kaede is the bold one today?
I’m the one who’s being confessed to right now, but……wasn’t it supposed to be the one who is confessing should be nervous!?
“Hey, was it disgusting?”
“Huhh? What was?”
I was the only one flustered, I was gradually getting angrier.
“‘What was’……Haha, nevermind. That’s great.”
What’s great?
Nothing is great for me.
It’s not fun to be played with and this being the first ever confession I received in my life is too much for me.
I think I have the right to sulk about it.
“The last time I got on this ferris wheel, I thought about various things. Akira and that girl are childhood friends and you suit each other……And she’s a girl. I even thought that if you’d hate me after telling you about my feelings, then it’d be better for us to stay like this……”
Kaede quietly started talking as I was looking at the scenery outside.
Not knowing how to answer him, I silently listened.
However, he didn’t seem to mind. Kaede continued as if he was talking to himself.
“But I don’t like to endure, since I don’t want to regret it.”
‘Sounds like something Kaede would say’, I thought.
But as I thought, without knowing how I should react……I could only keep quiet.
“Akira, you’re troubled.”
Kaede laughed as he looked at my face that was facing the scenery outside.
“That’s—of course, I’m troubled……Rather, it makes me flustered.”
“You’re right. I know that Akira isn’t conscious of me. But you will from now on, right? I’ll do my best so……”
Even though I went through great pains to escape from him just now, he sat next to me again and went back to us sticking close to each other.
I tried to escape by moving to the other side, but my arms were grabbed the same way as he did before……
“So you should come to like me, okay?”
He smiled at me at a close distance, it unconsciously made my heart beat faster.
What a frightening person……!
I have no plans of becoming a homo……I definitely won’t become one!
“That’s……I don’t know if I should give an answer……”
“You should. Well, you could right now. Be prepared.”
……He looks so cute when he laughed like he was enjoying himself, I feel troubled.
No! I said I won’t become a homo! I won’t!!
I screamed in my heart as I got off the ferris wheel.