Kono Monogatari O Kimi Ni Sasagu - Volume 1 Chapter 1.8

“…Senpai?” Kotoha tilted her head quizzically.

“…For now, wear this.”

Yuto handed Kotoha the school-issued tracksuit he had pulled from his bag.

“Huh…? Oh…”

Only then did Kotoha appear to realize her indecent state.

Her summer uniform, soaked through, clung to her body, revealing the skin and blue fabric beneath. Blue, huh?

Kotoha took the tracksuit and quickly covered herself.

“J-just turn around and wait.”

Following her request, Yuto turned his back to her.

Sensing her shuffling to change, Yuto began to speak.

“…I understand your resolve, Natsume. But that doesn’t mean I’ll write a novel. I should have just straightforwardly and clearly refused you instead of finding faults.”

Kotoha didn’t reply immediately.

A brief silence passed along with the sound of the flowing river.

“You can turn around now,” she finally said.

Turning, Yuto saw Kotoha standing there, now dressed in the tracksuit, looking somewhat embarrassed. She’s bold enough to jump off a bridge, yet shy about this, he thought, but kept it to himself.

Kotoha took a deep breath to calm herself.

“I understand how you feel, Senpai.”

“Then—”

Just as Yuto was about to ask if she would finally give up, Kotoha interrupted him.

“But I have one last request.”

“A request?”

“Yes. Please spend a little time with me the day after tomorrow. I won’t ask you to write a novel.”

***

Saturday, 9 AM.

Normally, Yuto would spend his time studying in his room or at the library.

But today, he found himself riding his bicycle down an unfamiliar path.

The streets, lined with a mix of old and new houses, a recently opened café, and an old library, were closer to the city center than Yuto’s usual route to school.

“Where are we going?”

“Turn left here,” Kotoha’s voice rang in his ear, making him flinch.

“No, I meant—”

Yuto, pedaling harder than usual, grumbled, but it seemed Kotoha, sitting on the back of his bike, didn’t hear him.

This morning, Kotoha had shown up at his place in a light yellow off-shoulder top and navy gaucho pants. Yuto thought it was a very Kotoha-like outfit—though her exposed shoulders were a bit distracting.

Despite asking where they were headed, she had dodged the question and led him outside. While two-person biking wasn’t exactly legal, they were in casual clothes, and Yuto decided to just go along with it.

“Turn at the next corner, not here. The slope is steep.”

Following Kotoha’s directions, Yuto pedaled.

Why on earth am I giving a ride to a self-proclaimed editor and slightly dangerous junior girl, who’s not even my girlfriend?

Feeling a bit melancholic at the thought, he decided to shake it off.

If this meant she would stop following him around, it would be worth it. He felt a slight pang of loneliness but pushed it deep down.

After riding for a while, Kotoha asked him to stop.

“This place…”

The sunlit building with a roof shaped like a ship’s bow was large. Supported by white pillars, its glass facade gleamed. A lawn in front had children playing.

“It’s the civic hall.”

Kotoha led Yuto to the largest hall in the city. It housed a grand theater for orchestras and plays as well as a smaller theater.

Though Yuto had never been here, he knew of its existence.

“What’s going on here?”

Yuto and Kotoha entered the lobby through the main entrance.

The lobby was crowded, mostly with people around their age.

“Come on.”

Ignoring Yuto’s question, Kotoha grabbed his hand and pulled him forward.

“Hey!”

“Just follow me. You promised to go along with anything today.”

“I don’t remember making that promise!”

Before he knew it, they were seated in the central area of the grand theater, which could hold about a thousand people. Kotoha sat beside him.

Looking around, he saw about sixty percent of the seats filled.

“It feels like a date.”

“Can you tell me what this is about now?”

Ignoring Kotoha’s playful comment, Yuto pressed for answers. She looked a bit displeased.

What did she expect me to say? Yuto wondered.

“You’re so cold. You’ll never be popular like this.”

“None of your business.”

Kotoha let out an exaggerated sigh.

“It’s our school’s drama club’s regular performance.”

“The drama club? Why—”

“Oh, it’s starting. Be quiet.”

Looking toward the stage, Yuto saw a familiar teacher standing there. Probably the advisor.

The advisor began the opening remarks.