CH 4.3

The One Who Wants A Ride. (Part 3)

Surprised, I turned to look at her and saw Honma staring at me.

As the silence continued, I could see that Honma’s face was on fire.

“I’ll get embarrassed… if you stare at me that much.”

“Ahh. My bad…”

Suddenly, our fingertips touched one another on the bed.

My shoulder jerked, and just as I was about to pull back my hand…

“Senpai… you know… I…”

Just as I was waiting for Honma to speak, the house bell rang.

“Sorry, I have to go see the door.”

“Okay.”

I closed the door to my room and went down the stairs.

What was Honma trying to say?

It was like cotton flowing in the air. I was a little confused, but if two lovers are together… It’s usually followed by…

My mind alternately flashed back to Honma’s smiling face, her embarrassed red face, and the white thighs I saw when she ducked under the desk.

I shook my head to clear it and opened the front door.

“Good Af-”

“Ahh, thank you.”

The man at the door was an old neighbor who owns an automobile maintenance shop.

“Can I have a look at your dad’s bike?”

“Yes, please.”

Well, I remember my mom saying that he was coming over soon to help consider what to do with the bike.

We decided to have him check it out first to see if it was up to par for inspection.

I led him to the bike in the garage and asked him to take the cover off and take a look at it.

As a novice, I wondered if he knew anything about motorcycles, and with the tools he had brought with him, the old man began to perform what seemed to be a simple inspection.

“Ah. Is that Senpai’s bike?”

Honma came down from upstairs and looked at me.

“No, it’s not mine.”

“Are you good at riding it?”

The old man says as he works.

It was my mom who taught me, wasn’t it?

“Ahh–… Uhmm, hahaha… well.”

I was not going to tell anyone, but I was easily exposed in front of Honma.

“Can you ride it? Senpai?”

Honma’s eyes, staring alternately at the bike and at me, were blazing with interest and anticipation.

I decided to answer honestly, since I had no choice.

“Yes, I’ve got to get my license before I can do that.”

“That’s great.”

“Hey, sweetie, are you this boy’s girlfriend?”

“Ehehe. Yes…”

Don’t affirm with embarrassment.

“It’s not a yes. She’s not, old man.”

I immediately denied it, and the old man raised his voice as if he had guessed something.

“So it’s that delicate period before a relationship?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Like I said, don’t affirm it so naturally.

“When the boy can ride, you can have all the rides you want at the back, sweetie.”

“Old man, I gotta get my license first.”

That’s true too, the old man said, laughing cheerfully.

Honma, who was pressing her chest, had a look of mixed ecstasy and anguish on her face.

“My-my heart might… stop.”

She murmured so in a whisper.

“But you’re going to take Hinagata-senpai on a ride anyway, aren’t you? Maybe you made a promise or something.”

“That’s… I haven’t told anyone about it yet. About the motorcycle…”

“Oh…? Is that so?”

Honma blinked repeatedly in surprise.

That’s right, I said, leaving the old man to follow me out of the garage.

“Why haven’t you told anyone?”

“It’s nothing to make a big deal about, and I didn’t think it was worth mentioning.”

“So I’m the only one who knows about it?”

“That’s correct.”

Like a bud blooming into a flower, Honma’s expression gradually relaxed.

“This is a secret between me and my senpai.”

“It’s not so much of a secret, though.”

I smiled wryly as she held out her pinky finger to me.

“I want to ride behind you, Senpai. Can you give me a ride?”

“Only if I learn to drive safely, okay?”

I remembered that day with Hinagata. I didn’t make a promise like this to Hinagata.

“Yes, of course. Then, please promise me. Please go somewhere far with me.”

“Yeah, will do.”

I intertwined my pinky with Honma’s.

“Ha–~, so crazy, I made a promise…”

I can’t help but wonder why Honma looks so happy.

I wonder if… Hinagata will also be happy like this, saying “I’m looking forward to riding with you.”

“Is it really cool to ride a motorcycle?”

“It’s a big deal for me.”

“Why?”

“Motorcycles give an idea of maturity and masculine. Most other boys use bicycles, buses, or trains as their mode of transportation, so it would look even cooler.”

I see. So that’s how she looks at it.

I never expected to be taken in such a positive way.

Perhaps satisfied with the secret promise, Honma left happily.

I didn’t tell her why I started working part-time, but I’ll tell Hinagata.

After the inspection, the old man said, “It may cost a little extra money, but if the maintenance is done properly, you will be able to ride it.”

When I asked him about the details, he told me about the condition of the parts in detail. But I didn’t understand much about what he was talking about.

Well, to summarize, we could ride the bike, but the maintenance cost would be higher than usual because the bike was supposed to be subjected to vehicle inspection.

I asked him how much it would cost, and he said it would be quite expensive.

It seems I won’t be able to ride that bike so easily.