Chapter 36

After about twenty minutes of being jostled on the bus, they arrived at the largest comprehensive park in the area.

This park is largely divided into an area with sports fields and gymnasiums, and another area with playgrounds and vast expanses of pristine grass.

Additionally, a long promenade stretches around the perimeter of the park, and Yuki and the others were walking along this path.

As they moved away from the main area, which was bustling with people, and headed deeper into the less crowded parts, the artificial structures gradually decreased, and the greenery increased, changing the smell of the air.

"Hmm, so this is Yuki's top recommended date course, huh..."

Yuri, walking beside him, looked around and said in a deliberately impressed tone.

In response, Yuki said in his usual manner,

"It's not like that. I come here sometimes, by myself."

"By yourself?"

"When I get stuck in my thoughts or something."

"That's a shame."

"No, not in that way. There's a place I like."

Yuki wondered if Yuri was angry about being dragged here without consultation. When he glanced at her, she seemed to have forgotten their conversation and pointed ahead, raising her voice.

"Oh, there's a pond! This side is like this, I've never been here before."

As Yuri said, there was a large oval-shaped pond in the back, from which several small streams flowed.

"Look at that bird with the red beak. It's so fast, three times as fast."

They slowly walked around the pond, admiring the birds swimming on the water. There were few people around, and the only sounds were the occasional flapping of birds' wings, making it very quiet.

"Let's eat over there."

Yuki pointed to a place a little away from the pond where several benches stood at regular intervals. The area was shaded by tall trees, making it cooler. This was Yuki's favorite spot.

"It's cool here."

Yuri looked around and said. Yuki sat down on the bench first and pulled out onigiri and bread from the convenience store bag he had slung over his shoulder. He had bought these at a convenience store near where they got off the bus.

Yuri, sitting next to him, also took out food from her bag. As Yuki was about to open the onigiri and take a bite, he noticed that Yuri was holding a 100-yen coin in her fingertips, looking frozen.

"What's up with that?"

"It was on the bench."

"You're lucky. Good fortune."

"Yeah."

She didn't seem particularly happy about it. Maybe she was the type who had more money than she knew what to do with.

They started their slightly late lunch. Yuri had brought onigiri and sandwiches, which was quite a small amount. Yuki ate silently, and Yuri, following his lead, quietly ate her food. Eventually, she couldn't hold it in any longer and spoke up.

"...Actually, this is my first time going out alone with a boy."

"Hmm?"

"And I'm actually feeling quite relieved. Yesterday, my sister told me all sorts of things... like what to do and not to do on a first date, where to eat and what places to avoid... I was thinking about all that, and it seemed so silly."

"Is that so? Well, it's not really a real date, you know..."

"That's true! I know that!"

She suddenly raised her voice, and Yuki glanced at her profile, noticing she seemed a bit upset. Yuri stared at Yuki's hand holding the onigiri.

"Who would have thought we'd be eating convenience store onigiri in a park?"

"Ah, sorry. Did you not like it?"

"No, that's not it. I'm just saying it was surprisingly good!"

Despite saying it was good, she seemed a bit irritated, which Yuki couldn't quite understand. He decided to treat it as a tsundere moment and tried to finish the rest of his onigiri in one go.

"But if you had told me we were coming here, I could have brought a bento."

"Really? I'd love to eat your bento again."

"F, f~n, really?"

Yuri pretended to brush it off lightly but bit into her sandwich with a noticeable change in her behavior. Her cheeks were clearly relaxed.

"You're so easy to read, Yuri."

"Wh, what are you talking about!"

"It's true, really. Hehe."

Yuki's expression naturally relaxed. However, seeing this, Yuri looked suspicious.

"...You're smiling so much? You hardly ever smile."

"Maybe it's the weather. It's neither too hot nor too cold... it's quiet, and the breeze feels good... I feel really happy."

"And there's a beautiful girl next to you."

"True."

"You're brushing it off lightly."

"Being happy in this moment. If you repeat that, you'll be happy for life."

"What's with the sudden poetry?"

This was a direct quote from his teacher. He had heard it during a counseling session with Rina a long time ago. It resonated with something his mother had said, and the words stuck with him.

"What about you, Yuri?"

"Ah, me? I... kind of feel... happy too?"

"That's good."

Yuki smiled. Yuri, after saying this, seemed embarrassed and turned her gaze away, focusing on her food.

After finishing their lunch, they sat together and gazed at the pond for a while. It was a very soothing moment, but with their full stomachs, Yuki felt a sudden wave of drowsiness. As his eyelids started to droop, Yuri noticed and leaned in, smiling.

"Yuki, you look sleepy, hehe... How about... a lap pillow?"

"Sure, lucky me."

"Wait, wait! I was joking, joking!"

Yuki was about to lean over, but Yuri quickly stopped him, her face turning red.

"That's not how it's supposed to go! You're supposed to get flustered and ask, 'What are you saying all of a sudden!' and then try to use it as a pillow right away!"

"That's not funny."

"Are you a bit angry?"

There are jokes you can make and those you can't. For Yuki, who was on the verge of falling asleep, this was the latter. Yuki sent a look that said, "I can't stay awake," and Yuri smirked.

"Hehe, you really want a lap pillow?"

"I want a pillow."

"Saying you want any pillow is not okay. If you want one, say, 'I want a lap pillow from the cute, cute Yuri.'"

"I want a lap pillow from the cute, cute Yuri."

"You're too honest, it's scary..."

Yuri, who had been slightly hesitant, seemed to soften. She cleared her throat, sat deeper on the bench, and straightened her skirt. Then, turning her face away, she said in a small voice, "H, here you go."

Yuki, without hesitation, turned his body ninety degrees and leaned over, placing his head on her lap.

"Ah... it smells good."

"Stop with the smell! And you're facing the wrong way!"

Yuki's nose, which had been on his stomach side, was rolled to the opposite side. The softness of her thigh, which touched his face, was much softer than he expected, and it felt very good.

"A, a~a~... you really did it... Hey, remember, we're just pretending to be a couple, okay?"

"Does that matter now?"

"You're quite convenient, aren't you?"

Yuki's cheek was pinched by the fingers that reached down from above. However, he couldn't leave the pillow he had finally obtained. He relaxed and closed his eyes forcefully.

"Goodnight."

"Wh, what? Really?"

Despite her words, Yuri seemed to be adjusting the height and balance of her legs, making it very comfortable. Feeling secure, Yuki quickly fell asleep.