Night Stroll

"Eh?" asked Suzuki. "W-What do you mean I am?"

At the worst possible time, I uttered something unbelievable!

"W-Well, I mean you're the one who's always mocking me...!" I answered. "Hehehe... Hehehe..."

"Make yourself clear, Tanaka," said Suzuki. "Otherwise, I'll get the wrong idea."

W-Wrong idea?! H-Hmp, t-that won't happen.

Wait a minute, why am I the one being cornered here? I should make a rebuttal statement! She's taking advantage of my vulnerability!

"I'll return the question to you!" I said. "Do you like someone right now?"

How was that? Pretty brave remark, it seems!

"Hmm, why do you want to know?" asked Suzuki.

"I-I just returned your question, that's it!" I said.

"Hmm~ Guess I'll you a little bit of clue," said Suzuki.

Eh? A clue? So she does have someone she likes?

"His name, hmm..," said Suzuki.

Why am I nervous?! This is Suzuki and all! I should look composed.

"It starts with..," said Suzuki. "...K."

"Huh?" I reacted.

Whose name starts with the letter K in our class? K-Kurumi? K-Konishizawa? Is it even a surname? Is it a first name? Konishi? Kito? Kazuya? No, there's no one in our class with a name like that.

"What's the matter, Tanaka?" answered Suzuki. "Are you perhaps disappointed?"

"M-Me? Being mad about it? I-Impossible..."

Though to be honest, for an unknown cause, I feel somehow mad. I don't know myself.

"Hoho, you feel mad because you actually meant what you said earlier," said Suzuki. "You like me, don't you? Hmm~"

"It's not like that!" I answered. "I-I do not like you at all. I don't see any reason..."

Huh? What did I just say? Words came out of my mouth suddenly, again. My thoughts are in a rumble.

As I uttered that line, she looked at me like she is in shock and pain. N-No, that can't happen, I-It's Suzuki, she's just looking for an opportunity to sneak up on me, to tease me. T-That's it, I guess.

"I-Is that so?" said Suzuki. "I'm sorry, Tanaka."

She smiles at me after what she said. My mind tells me that everything is fine but somewhere inside my heart, I feel bad. That smile... It wasn't the usual one.

"N-No, that wasn't wh-"

"Let's go back to the hotel," said Suzuki. "The orientation probably is done given by the weather. Let's take the opportunity while the rain subsided."

Argh! Now it's bedtime and I'm with these dudes (Okamoto, Koyanagi, and Tatsumi) in our room.

Honestly, I feel really bad right now. This situation feels like what happened before when I uttered something insensitive to Suzuki. Her smile wasn't natural, of course. If it was, then we should have been speaking to each other earlier. She isn't even online on LINE even right now.

Gosh, this bothers me a lot!

"So Okamoto my man, how is it going with Riko-san?" asked Koyanagi.

"H-How is it going, you say?" said Okamoto.

Ah, he's blushing. He's definitely embarrassed.

"Hehe! He's turning red! Hahaha!" said Koyanagi.

"Shut it!" reacted Okamoto. "It's because you asked something like that all of a sudden."

Why do I have a feeling that this is like what a girls' talk sound like?

"Well, it wouldn't hurt if you answer him," said Tatsumi.

"W-We're doing fine," said Okamoto. "H-Happy with each other, I guess."

Seeing him being flustered seems weird to me since he has this cool character aura.

"Good for you~," said Koyanagi. "I wish I have a girlfriend as well... Argh, I'm so envious!"

"Hahaha, you'll have someone soon," said Okamoto.

"But I think girls are hard to handle," said Koyanagi.

"What makes you think like that?" asked Tatsumi.

"Well, it's a pain in the ass if they suddenly get mad at you for no reason at all," said Koyanagi. "Like you weren't doing anything to them and they will abruptly don't talk to you like it was your fault... Jeez..."

"Are you watching a lot of drama, Koyanagi?" I asked.

"I'm not! Plus, you should know the feeling, Tanaka," said Koyanagi. "You're dating Suzuki-san, right?!"

"We're not like that yet!" I answered.

"'Yet, huh?" said Koyanagi. "Suspicious...."

"I told you nothing is going on between us!" I said. "We're just..."

What are we anyway?

"I haven't seen you talking to each other like usual this dinner time. Was something wrong?" asked Tatsumi.

Eek!

"U-Uhh, I guess she's just exhausted today," I said. "A-Anyway, Okamoto must have known the feeling of what you're saying, Koyanagi!"

I need to pass the baton to you, Okamoto! Sorry!

"Yeah! You're experiencing that kind of attitude from Riko-san, don't you?" asked Koyanagi.

Why is this guy being noisy tonight? He could have just stayed eating potato chips!

"W-Well, she is like that sometimes," said Okamoto.

"See?! That's why I'm having thoughts as well on liking someone!" said Koyanagi.

"But instead of being mad at her, I try to understand the situation," said Okamoto. "Like if I did say something wrong to her or did her wrong indirectly, it wouldn't hurt to consider situations."

"C-Cool and mature," reacted Tatsumi and Koyanagi.

"Plus, if it really was my doing, then usually I apologize and give her compensation, even a small one," added Okamoto.

"I got it!" I shouted.

"Eek, what's the matter, Tanaka?" asked Koyanagi.

"Tatsumi, how long did it rain earlier?" I asked.

"Well, about thirty minutes," said Tatsumi. "I thought there'd be another round of heavy rains after that but thank God it didn't."

Thirty minutes... The soil should be dry right now 'coz it was a few hours ago since it rained. Wait, that spot might be already cemented so...

Without thinking, I actually grabbed my bag and impends to leave our room.

"Hey Tanaka, where are you going?" asked Koyanagi. "It's light out already!"

"Guys, if Satsuki-sensei checked our room, tell him I'm in the comfort room," I said.

"I get it," said Okamoto. "Go forth, Tanaka. We'll cover for you."

"Thank you! I'll be back later!" I said.

I quietly sprinted through the girls' room section.

Tsk, I hope I wouldn't run at Satsuki-sensei. Good thing the hallway lights are dimly open.

"Hm~ Hm~ Hm~" hummed Satsuki-sensei as he roams around the hallway.

Crap, why is he here?! I just hoped for the best-case scenario. Hide!

N-Now that I'm here, I'm feeling extremely nervous! W-What should I even say to her?! Argh, this goes nothing then, I'll knock on the door!

"Who's there?" asked Suzuki as she opens her door. "T-Tanaka, what are you doing here?"

"Suzuki," I said. "Let's go on a date right now."

"E-Eh?" reacted Suzuki. "I-It's already night time."

"Don't worry, I got us covered," I said.

"Where are we going?" asked Suzuki. "I can't see a thing."

"It's okay," I said. "I'm with you."

"I-If you say so, then-" said Suzuki.

"We're here," I said.

Suzuki immediately looks at the clear night sky in awe. This is what she's longing for, a place where she can witness the stars.

"T-This is so beautiful..." uttered Suzuki. "A-Amazing!"

Her excitement is off the mark. I never saw her this thrilled before.

"Ehrm, your hand..." said Suzuki.

"Ah, sorry!" I reacted. "I'll prepare some things, so g-give me for five minutes!

"Wow, it's been a while since I saw stars these abundant!" said Suzuki. "Pegasus, Cassiopeia, and even Triangulum are present!"

"In short, we are viewing the Andromeda constellation, am I wrong?" I asked. "It's the Fall season, after all."

"No, no. You are correct, Tanaka!" said Suzuki. "Ah, I will never get sick of looking at this alluring sight."

I stared at her as she was strongly looking at the sky. Her eyes were sparkling as pretty as these stars. Her smile, it was the natural one. My heart, not only it is at ease, but it is also racing as of now. I can't explain what's happening to me but one thing I'm sure of is that this girl beside me, is more beautiful than the night sky itself. I can feel that same warm feeling from when we were in the Mt. Fuji viewpoint, but the feeling is much warmer right now.

"S-Suzuki," I said. "W-Well, I apologize for what I said earlier."

"It's fine, I know that you're thinking of it since I always teas-" said Suzuki but I interrupted.

"It's not like that!" I said. "I was in deep thoughts, that's why I uttered it. Sorry, I don't mean it at all."

"Hmm? What do you mean, then?" asked Suzuki.

"I mean, uhhmm, well," I replied. "You're not bad in a sense that I wouldn't like you. D-Don't get the wrong idea, though!"

Jeez, I don't know what words to use now!

"Hahaha..." laughed Suzuki.

"Don't laugh at me!" I said. "I wanted to make it up to you, so I invited you here."

"Thank you, Tanaka," said Suzuki. "I never expected this from you, so until now, I'm having butterflies inside my stomach. Hahaha~"

"Suzuki, I can't promise that I wouldn't hurt you nor make you sad," I said. "But, I'll be doing my best to make you happy since I want you to smile as always."

She is visibly flustered as I am right now since I can see her blushing, even the natural light is dim.

"Dummy, as if you're already proposing to me," said Suzuki.

"I-It's not like that!" I said. "I wanted to get back to you from teasing me but I don't like us being on bad terms. T-That's it! H-Here, sip a cup of tea!"

P-Proposing?! What is she saying...?!

"Since you made this kind of effort, I'm giving you another clue about the person I like," said Suzuki.

"W-What is it? Not that I am interested though...."

"That guy, he is extremely kind," said Suzuki. "He is soft-spoken, competitive, and caring."

Is that "K" persona really that well-groomed?!

"G-Good for that K person, then..." I said. "He's full of great traits..."

"What makes him unique is that he is someone who gets teased so easily," said Suzuki. "Hahaha~"

T-Teased easily...?! I-Is she talking about....?!

"Don't say that, you might give me the wrong idea about who you're pertaining," I said.

"I want you to get the wrong idea, though," replied Suzuki.

M-My blushing meter is on full blast right now!!

"Ah, you're turning red," said Suzuki.

"You're just teasing me!" I reacted. "Just drink some tea and eat snacks then we're going."

Just to be real, I wouldn't be able to forget this gorgeous scene for a long, long time.

"The moon is beautiful tonight isn't it?" asked Suzuki.

"Huh? We can't completely see the moon since it's New Moon phase," I said.

"Hahaha, dummy~" she replied. "Come on, let's take a picture together."