Nanako and I arrived at the hotel.
In the end, we ended up staying in the same room. Nanako kept her face flushed, stammering “uh-oh” the entire time.
Staying in the same room as a minor. Normally, that’s a case for the police. Sure, it was consensual, but it’s not a socially acceptable relationship, and if anyone saw us here, it would be trouble regardless of how you look at it.
At that time, I’ll be ready to take the fall.
I just need to focus on not harming this kid’s future.
After dropping our bags at the hotel, we stepped out to get lunch. ”……Wa-waah, the roads are wide!”
Nanako muttered in awe, looking out at the main street.
It was summer, and since it was the homecoming season, there were lots of people walking by, and a lot of cars too.
”……And also, the air is cool.”
“It sure is. The atmosphere feels completely different from Tokyo.”
”……Yes. I’m not making it sticky or anything. It’s more like… smooth, you know?”
The tactile sensation on my skin was different even from my hometown in Nagano.
People tend to get it wrong, but it’s not particularly cool there.
There’s a town in the basin nestled between the mountains, so the heat has nowhere to escape; summers are brutally hot. Unreasonably so. But setting that aside. “What do you want for lunch?”
“……Whatever Teacher likes.”
Nanako answered with a beaming smile. “I expect you to have some initiative, though.”
“…If Teacher’s happy with it, that’s all I need.”
She had a personality exactly opposite to her little sister Akari’s.
Akari has clear ideas about what she wants to do and what she wants inside herself.
Neither way is wrong; everyone has different preferences. Asking me to decide wasn’t due to a lack of agency, but rather a preference for doing whatever makes me happy. If that was the claim, I suppose it was fine. “How about ramen?”
“…Great idea! I love ramen!”
She quickly pulled out a guidebook from her bag.
“…They say this shop, and this one, and this one, and this one are the recommended places!”
The guidebook was stuffed full of sticky notes.
He must have done some prior research.
This was the opposite of Akari. She had a lot she wanted to do, but lacked planning and tended to go by feel when it felt right. “Thanks for checking things out.” ”……You’re welcome~♡”
She must have been pleased by the compliment, smiling with a soft, fluffy warmth. There was both childishness and cleverness within her. That was what made Nako who she was.