Is It Okay to Fall in Love?

†

That night.

Kinoshita texted me, and we decided to practice basketball together again.

The ball game tournament is the day after tomorrow.

Around this time of year, the sky stays bright even past 5 PM. One of the enjoyable aspects of having a running habit is experiencing these seasonal changes. Rain, however, is the worst.

“…Oh, you’re already practicing.”

When I reached the park, I saw a familiar bike parked in front of the bench.

I could hear the sound of a ball bouncing from a distance.

Sure enough, there was Kinoshita, intently focused on practicing her layups.

…Hmm, what’s this?

“Fuuu… Ah, Goda-san!”

She caught the ball through the hoop and turned around to meet my gaze.

Her natural smile and the different impression from her usual attire made her look unusually cute.

“I started ahead!”

“Yeah.”

I could roughly guess why Kinoshita’s cheeks were slightly red.

After all, her practice outfit had become really cute.

I’m not the type to rudely ask why she stopped wearing her tracksuit, but it’s probably because she feels embarrassed. She suddenly looks more stylish.

Her off-shoulder white T-shirt was asymmetrical, with one shoulder tied like a ribbon. On the other shoulder, a red tank top peeked out, and the T-shirt was short, showing glimpses of her stomach.

Her pants looked like a mini skirt, cute culottes. Her white, slender legs were highlighted, giving her a healthy and cute appearance.

Is this Kinoshita’s sense of style? Or did she borrow the outfit from her friends?

…Well, it doesn’t matter. What’s in front of me is Kinoshita being cute.

If she’s conscious about it, I’ll address it later.

“…Alright.”

After finishing my warm-up while idly watching Kinoshita, I joined her.

“Let’s start, Kinoshita.”

“Ah, y-yes!”

Kinoshita’s face was a mix of relief and disappointment.

I’ll address it properly later, so prepare yourself. With that in mind, we started with some light passing drills.

“We’ve practiced quite a bit. Let’s take a break.”

“Yes!”

We moved from passing drills to more practical exercises like passing to a moving target for layups. After a while, we took a break.

I sat on a bench.

Kinoshita took a deep breath and stood in front of me──huh?

“Hmm, why don’t you sit?”

“Oh, yes. That’s right!”

It wasn’t like the bench was sized for just one person. It was a regular bench.

Kinoshita sat down slightly away from me. …Hmm.

“Do I smell bad from sweat?”

“N-no, not at all!”

She scooted closer. Close enough that our thighs touched through our clothes.

Then she jumped away. There she goes again, being an interesting girl.

“Kinoshita?”

“N-no, I thought I smelled from sweat.”

“That’s not possible. You have a nice, clean soap scent.”

“Huh!?”

A compliment about smelling nice would be appreciated by a close female friend, according to Saiga. But it felt awkward after I said it.

“G-Goda-san…?”

Looking up, I saw Kinoshita’s uncertain face under the streetlight.

I must have had a difficult expression.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to harass you.”

I felt a point of my perfection chipped away.

Hmm, but if it came out naturally, I must have said it before.

The only difference this time──.

“I-I don’t mind if you say that…”

She scooted closer again.

The back of her red ear, her white neck peeking through her tied hair, glistened slightly with sweat in the streetlight. Her slightly downcast profile, with her long eyelashes and somber eyes, was beautiful. The contrast of emotions reflected on her flushed cheeks was striking in the night park.

“Ah…”

I understood. Kinoshita wasn’t just an average girl I needed to help.

She’s someone who doesn’t shy away from putting in the effort, making her a valuable comrade…though it feels odd to say. I don’t need to communicate with her as I would with a regular girl.

Not Saiga’s borrowed words but my genuine thoughts.

So.

“Kinoshita, you’re beautiful.”

“Wha-wha-wha-what!?”

Oh.

“You’re not beautiful anymore.”

“That’s mean!”

Her tantrum-like retort, which ruined the atmosphere, was adorably contrary to being beautiful.

I should’ve taken a photo and posted it on Instagram. That’s probably illegal. I’ll keep it in my mind.

“Wh-what do you mean by that!?”

Kinoshita banged on the bench in protest.

“I meant the atmosphere was ruined by your intense reaction.”

“You know what I meant!!”

But Kinoshita is cuter when teased day by day…

“The beautiful part?”

“Y-yes…”

Saying that while making eye contact, Kinoshita instantly blushed.

“Goda-san, you’re not affected at all… You’re used to it… that’s unfair…”

“Sorry.”

“I don’t want an apology…”

Her lips pouted in a still embarrassed and discontented face.

She averted her gaze, but her ears were still facing me.

“Your calm profile surprised me with its beauty.”

“Don’t say that so suddenly!”

Kinoshita panicked. Hmm… I still have a long way to go… Should I start a daily reading journal?

“Really… what is this…”

Kinoshita muttered to herself, taking a sip of her Pocari.

“Your outfit is really cute.”

“Phuwah!”

Oh dear.

“G-Goda-san…!”

“Sorry. I was waiting for the right time.”

“You timed it on purpose, didn’t you…!”

That’s true… but she really is cute. Not just the outfit, but everything.

Kinoshita took a deep breath, then glanced at the empty hoop.

“…The goal is to work hard… right?”

“Hmm?”

For a moment, I didn’t get what she meant, but then it clicked.

“What you said, about being hardworking… that it’s my charm… I don’t want to misunderstand that.”

“Yeah, right. It looks practical and easy to move in. It’s cute but functional.”

She nodded slightly, still blushing.

“I borrowed it from Momose-san from the dance club. She’s been friendly lately.”

Ah, yes. That group. I kind of threw Kinoshita in with them.

“Today’s goal was…”

Blushing, she spoke softly, barely making eye contact.

“To work hard in practice… and to be cute…”

Her last words were almost inaudible, but sitting next to her, I heard them clearly. She wanted to be cute… I see.

Maybe that goal was already achieved without the outfit, but the clothes definitely enhanced Kinoshita’s cuteness.

“So, mission accomplished.”

“…”

She blushed deeply, unable to move. Searching for words to say to the earnest and adorable girl.

Realizing her charm meant she could look at herself in the mirror properly. She could face herself directly.

You figured it out. Kinoshita Minami is really charming.

Though I just realized that myself moments ago.

“I can’t speak to how much weight my guarantee holds, but out of the girls I’ve met, your charm stands out. So, I’m saying your initiative to be cute is what makes you charming, rather than just the outfit… if that’s alright, it’s a big success.”

“Uh…”

Smiling at the stiffened Kinoshita, unaccustomed to such words.

“Really, what a discovery.”

The city night sky had few stars visible.

Looking up, I remembered the beginning.

“I didn’t know anything about you back when we met at the bookstore.”

“Oh…”

Kinoshita glanced at me, and I turned to look at her. Her flushed cheeks cooled a bit, and she gave a shy smile.

“…Yes.”

Touching her cheek, Kinoshita took a deep breath, then smiled self-deprecatingly.

“Back then, you told me I looked sick, tired… I really worried you.”

“It’s not about that… it’s more of a change than a discovery.”

“It’s embarrassing, but I think so.”

She looked up at the night sky and smiled.

“It’s embarrassing, but if it’s a good change… oh.”

She murmured, as if she had an idea.

Seeing her glance at me, I asked.

“Kinoshita?”

“…No. I think I have an idea about what caused it.”

“Oh. Mind sharing it with me?”

The recent change, the reason.

Turning to me, Kinoshita mischievously smiled and stuck out her tongue.

“It’s a secret.”

──What makes a girl beautiful and cute?

It would be a bit longer before I found the answer.