I Want to Have a Girlfriend Too - Chapter 58

The end of our date, I confessed, and then———

(*Alice’s point of view)

　Our enjoyable times are over in the blink of an eye.

　I have never felt so bad over it as I do today.

　As the date comes to an end and the sun begins to set, we walk hand in hand on our way back.

“In the end, we spent the whole day at the aquariumー.”

　I hear his voice beside me.

　He must be reflecting today.

“I’m sorry…it’s because I said I wanted to stay at the aquarium…”

　I feel bad about that.

　Considering he had bought the ticket to the aquarium in advance, maybe he had planned something else for today’s date.

　…And now it’s ruined because of me.

　Ugh… I’m such an idiot for enjoying myself too much!

“Ah, I don’t blame you, okay? I was having fun too, and—— “

　Tokimori-kun patted my head gently.

“——For me, Kagurazaka enjoying herself is the most important thing.”

” ————ッ ! ? “

　I can’t help but get a little nervous at his words.

　…Tokimori-kun is really kind.

　I can feel this feeling growing inside me.

　I want to be with him like this forever.

　I want to laugh together, talk more, have him stroke my head again, and always have him look at me…

　——But it’s about to end soon.

　No matter how much I wish for this time to continue, time goes on.

　We walk in silence for a while and eventually arrive at my house.

“We’ve arrived.”

” …Yeah. “

　I can’t help but feel sad about coming back to this house.

　If only it were a little farther away, I could have spent a little more time with him.

“Thanks for today… Well, I’ve never been on a date before….but it was fun.”

　Tokimori-kun thanked me with a slightly embarrassed expression.

　…No, wrong.

　I’m the one who should be thanking him.

“I… I had a really great time today…”

　I try to be as cheerful as possible.

　My heart aches even more because I know these words are probably the last words I’ll ever say to him.

　But I try to act calm so he won’t notice.

“Well then, I shouldn’t linger for too long. I’m going to go home.”

　With that, he removes his hand from mine and turns his back to me with a smile on his face.

　——The warmth of his hand fades away from my hand.

“Wait! “

　I hastily grab his arm.

　I haven’t said it properly yet!

　I haven’t put these overflowing feelings into words!

“What’s wrong, Kagurazaka? “

“…you know, Tokimori-kun.”

　I weave my words slowly toward his astonished face.

　I hope I can express my overflowing feelings properly in words.

“Do you remember what my goal is? “

“Ah, yeah… [Get a boyfriend.], right? “

“Yeah, that’s right.”

　It all started when we peeked in on Tokimori-kun while he was practicing his confession.

　I think that’s how my story started.

“——I’m quitting.”

“Huh?”

　He exclaims in surprise.

　Of course, it’s because I suddenly said something unexpected.

　But my story has no happy ending, and I know how it ends.

　I can’t let Tokimori-kun stay in such a story any longer.

　Also, my sincere apologies to Hii-chan and Maya Senpai.

　….I mean, my story ends here.

　Today’s date reminded me of that.

　[Oh, no. I can’t take away his time with me because of my selfishness.] I think to myself.

　Because I already got enough memories from Tokimori-kun.

　That’s why I need to give up this position to Hii-chan and Maya Senpai.

　I can’t stand on the same stage with them anymore.

“You know what, Tokimori-kun———”

　I take a deep breath and begin to weave words that will be my last words to steer my story to its conclusion.

“I like you, Tokimori-kun.”

“…What? “

　Tokimori-kun seemed momentarily stunned, but I ignored his reaction and continued speaking.

“I like the way you see beyond people’s appearances. While everyone else only looked at me from the outside, you were the only one who looked at the real ‘me’.

I like your kindness. I love the way you can reach out to anyone.

I like your heart. I love how you can believe in yourself and never bends—— “

　When I was confessed and almost assaulted, you were the one who came to my rescue.

　You acknowledged my efforts and praised me for them.

　You understood both my good and bad sides and comforted me when I felt down.

“I love you——I love you so much because of that!”

　I finally put this overflowing feeling into words.

　He listened to my words without saying a word.

　He is definitely the prince in my story.

　He is strong, good-looking, kind, and he also saves the princess——He’s that kind of prince.

　But the prince and I will never be together.

　Becoming a princess was an overly reckless ambition for me.

　Still, I wanted to convey my feelings to him.

　I wanted to tell him that I love him, thank him for everything, and how grateful to him I was for everything.

“I…I——”

“No, no, no more.”

　I put my hand over his mouth.

　I don’t want to hear the rest of what he has to say.

　I don’t want to hear his response.

　….Because I already know the answer.

　I am sure that Tokimori-kun only thinks of me as a friend.

　That’s why I don’t want to hear anything more from him.

　Even though I knew I would be rejected, I only wanted to leave behind the happy memories with the prince and let the story come to an end.

“I don’t need a reply because that’s not why I confessed… Instead—— “

　I removed my hand from his mouth and leaned forward slightly.

” ————ッッッ ! ? “

　I kissed him softly, just a touch.

　I could feel the warmth of his lips against mine.

“Fufu… This is my first kiss, and I want you to take it. “

　I said and gently pulled away from his lips.

　He blinked in surprise.

　Fufu, you look surprised… It’s kind of cute.

　Well, it’s my first time, so I should get a reaction like that.

“Goodbye, and really… Thank you.”

　I don’t look at his reaction but open the front door and step inside.

　…I’m sure he’s still outside, probably bewildered.

　But it’s no good, if I stay with him any longer, I’ll only yearn for him.

“Ah, well, I guess this is the end of it…. “

　I closed the front door and crouched down, leaning against it.

　And then those words escape my mouth as if I miss the end.

“Seriously… I had a good time today… Hic… Ughh… “

　Then, tears spill from my eyes.

　…I remember the time I spent with him.

　Being with him was enjoyable and comforting.

　I love his smiling face, his serious face, and his joking face.

　Just remembering his face makes my tears flow unceasingly.

“I thought I was prepared for this…. “

　A small sob echoes in the doorway.

　Without anyone to hear me, I continued to cry alone.

　With this, my story is over.

　Unable to move forward any further, the curtain was closed.

* * *

　I don’t know how I got home yesterday.

　I went on a date with Kagurazaka for the whole day, and I safely sent her home.

　She confessed that she loves me, and then————

　I lift my heavy eyelids and get up.

　I’m still sleepy because I didn’t sleep well last night.

　In fact, I don’t sleep at all, and I keep thinking about yesterday’s events.

　Yesterday, someone confessed her love for me for the first time in my life.

　I was stunned when she told me that she liked me. Of course I was happy.

　But I couldn’t respond to it.

　I don’t really have an answer.

　So far, I’ve been trying to get a girlfriend.

　But what if it’s Kagurazaka?

　Kagurazaka has always been my friend.

　Of course, I didn’t expect her to confess, and if asked if I liked her…I think I would say yes.

　However, if you ask me if I like her as a member of the opposite sex…I would say it’s a little different.

“No…I sort my thoughts together.”

　I can’t think straight, and I hold my head in my hands.

　Then, I gently touch my lips.

　I remember the soft touch of Kagurazaka’s lips.

　…She kissed me.

　I feel my face getting hot when I remember that.

　I glance at my watch.

　It’s just before 8 o’clock.

　I have two hours before the meeting with Saijouin.

“I have to put it into words…”

　I get up slowly from the bed and hurry to change into my casual clothes.

　I should reply to Kagurazaka properly.

　Even if I don’t have an answer right now, I think it’s better to tell her what I’m thinking.

　With this thought, I get ready to go out and leave the house without eating breakfast.

* * *

“I hope she’s already awake… “

　I walked a little faster and arrived in front of the Kagurazaka house.

　I’m a little out of breath, perhaps because I hurried a bit.

　So, after catching my breath a bit, I pressed the doorbell next to the entrance.

“Huh…? Are you still sleeping? “

　Nobody responded, and only the sound of the bell echoed.

　I tried to peek inside from the outside, but all the windows were curtained, and I couldn’t see anything.

　…At this time, someone should be already awake.

　And even if they were still sleeping, the Kagurazaka house was too quiet.

　I wonder if everything was alright?

　I press the doorbell again, feeling uneasy.

　——Click.

　Suddenly, the sound of the door opening was heard.

　But it was not the door of Kagurazaka’s house, but the door of the house next door.

“Oh, do you need something from Kagurazaka-san?”

“Ah, yes. I have something to say to Kagurazaka-san.”

　A middle-aged woman called out to me.

　I was a little surprised, but I answered her right away.

　But the lady’s voice sounded somewhat mysterious.

　It was as if she was expressing, [Don’t you know?]

　——I have a bad premonition about this.

　But I put the thought away to the back of my mind.

　I hope it’s just my imagination, maybe I’m mistaken, and maybe she’s just sleeping.

　I cling to such baseless thoughts.

　But, inevitably, I face reality.

　——It comes suddenly, without any prior notice.

“I’m sorry to tell you this, but Kagurazaka-san and her whole family moved to their wife’s parents’ hometown last night——I think… it’s Moscow, I believe? “

“——————Yes?”

　And my bad premonition has sadly come true.

　Kagurazaka suddenly disappeared.

　Thus, one of our stories disappeared.