The Cheeky Junior Gal Becomes Too Cute When She Gets Attached to Me - Volume 1 Epilogue
Epilogue
Once the Christmas event was over, the regular tests were right around the corner.
Before the tests, we decided to take a break from Student Council activities.
It wasn’t a particularly busy period, and we figured it would be better to focus on studying.
Well, Kawana and I were fine, but Monaka seemed to be in a bit of trouble.
After the tests, winter break began immediately.
At the closing ceremony, there was a speech from the Student Council President, so I took the opportunity to sound important.
While feeling the pressure from Kawana to finish quickly, I tried to keep it as short as possible.
I spent a relaxing year-end with my family, and then the new year arrived.
And today, on New Year’s Day, I got dressed early in the morning and left the house to visit the shrine.
“Ah, Senpai!”
Monaka found me and waved her hands frantically at the entrance of the shrine.
She was wearing a boa jacket and even the scarf I gave her, making her look all fluffy all over.
“…You’re early.”
Determined to arrive before her this time, I came an hour earlier than our meeting time, but Monaka was even earlier.
I made her wait again.
“Happy New Year~”
“Happy New Year. I look forward to another good year with you.”
“Same to you!”
We exchanged the customary greetings and bowed to each other.
The reason we went out so early in the new year was for the first shrine visit.
“It would have been nice if Matsurin could have come too~”
“She’s gone back to her parent’s place, so it can’t be helped.”
We started walking side by side.
Today is the busiest day of the year for the shrine.
I saw on TV that it was quite crowded at the moment of the New Year last year, but it seems to be just as crowded, if not more, now.
“It’s so crowded~”
Perhaps so we wouldn’t get separated, Monaka naturally linked arms with me.
We’re both in heavy clothing, so all I can feel is the fabric, but my right elbow gradually warms up.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing.”
“Are you getting nervous?”
“Not at all.”
“You should~”
Monaka teased, clinging to me even more tightly. She hugged my arm as if clinging to it.
Naturally, our faces got correspondingly closer.
“Hey, Senpai.”
Monaka leaned in close and whispered in my ear.
Her breath tickled my ear.
“…What is it?”
“I want to eat that.”
Monaka pointed at a chocolate banana at a food stall.
…I knew it. Monaka is just like this.
The sweet atmosphere of lovers was nowhere to be found, instead flowing towards something physically sweet.
“Wouldn’t it be delicious to put a banana inside a capsule chocolate?”
“Does it have to be a capsule chocolate?”
“You don’t get it~ The capsule chocolate is filled with dreams. It’s not just any chocolate.”
It was a logic I couldn’t understand at all.
Various food stalls lined the street for the biggest money-making event, the New Year’s shrine visit.
We queued for the chocolate-covered bananas, waiting for our turn.
“Gaining weight during the New Year doesn’t count, right?”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, it’s beyond our control.”
“It’s just your lack of willpower.”
Well, Monaka is on the thinner side, so I don’t think she needs to worry about that.
Perhaps it’s the guilt of eating sweets that weighs more heavily than her actual body weight.
Monaka narrowed her eyes in happiness after receiving a chocolate banana from the stall owner.
We ate as we lined up for the shrine visit.
It was good to see her enjoying the first day of the New Year.
“Senpai, what was your first dream of the year?”
“I was processing a massive amount of paperwork. No matter how much I did, it never ended.”
“Wow, that sounds like a nightmare.”
I’m the type who dreams not of bizarre things but of an extension of reality. And not of any problems arising, but of endlessly repeating the unpleasant aspects of daily life…
Having such a dream to start the New Year… I woke up feeling quite terrible.
“In my dream, I saw you, Senpai. Maybe because I wanted to see you soon.”
“…Try not to say embarrassing things with a straight face.”
“It’s not my fault that you appear in my dreams on your own.”
Well, if I appeared on my own, there’s nothing I can do about it.
Monaka is straight up telling me how much she likes me… I think.
I still haven’t responded to anything.
It’s not like she’s asked to be in a relationship. But it feels rude to keep things vague forever.
Still… I’m running away from making things clear.
I think I’d be happy if we were together. Surely, every day would be fun with Monaka.
But in the end, I’m a person who’s only interested in myself.
Monaka might try to deny it with various reasons, but I know myself best.
Even if we became lovers, I’m not confident I could cherish her.
I’m fond of her, and if it’s romantic feelings, they’re surely there. But I think we shouldn’t date.
Senpai and junior. This relationship feels the most comfortable.
At least I didn’t want to ruin it for now.
“How much should I put in for the offering?”
As we chatted idly in line, our turn to visit the shrine drew near. Monaka rummaged through her coin purse as we climbed the stairs to the offering box.
“I think about a hundred yen would be good.”
“Really?”
“If the amount is too small, you lose too much on the exchange fee. Since the value changes with the number of coins, you actually lose money with one-yen coins.”
“Wow, even the gods are pretty harsh with money, huh?”
I pulled a thousand-yen bill from my wallet and folded it small to make it easier to throw.
“You’re going to put in a thousand yen?”
“The larger the amount, the better, right? Though I don’t really know.”
“Hehe, that’s unexpected. I thought you’d say spending like this is wasteful, Senpai.”
“If I’m using a thousand yen to pray, it makes me feel like I absolutely have to have my wish granted.”
I don’t actually believe that some supernatural being will grant my wish, but this is more about my own feelings.
“Then I’ll also go with a thousand yen.”
Following my lead, Monaka gripped a bill in her hand.
We stood in front of the offering box, threw in the thousand-yen bills, and rang the bell together.
After two bows, we clapped our hands twice.
With my hands clasped together, I closed my eyes.
――May everything in the future go well.
It’s a vague wish, but since it’s about determination, it’s better to cover everything.
I’m not focusing on something specific. I intend to handle everything well.
…Including things related to Ooba Monaka.
I want to navigate things well for a good outcome.
So… I decided to pretend I didn’t hear the quiet words that came from beside me.
“May I get together with Senpai.”
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