“Wait, you knew? About my feelings?”
We had confirmed each other's feelings and shared a kiss.
Perhaps suddenly feeling embarrassed, Riran sat back down in front of me, just as she had before.
When I asked for the details, it turned out that when Tsuchimikado was confessing to me behind the school building, Riran had been listening through a speaker.
Wait... what? How does that even work?
“In other words, Tsuchimikado confessed to me just to let you hear my true feelings?”
“That was the case then. But I was truly flustered at the cafe.”
“Ah... I see.”
Tsuchimikado had been the first to notice my feelings for Riran. And, thinking she had no chance herself, she did something like that.
That girl is such a meddler.
Just then, Riran gently poked my hand which was resting on the table.
“W-What is it?”
“Nn... I just thought it feels like a dream.”
Riran had a happier expression on her face than I had ever seen before.
Well, from Riran's perspective, she had been tied to me—the person she's loved for a long time—by the Red Thread of Fate, and now we've ended up dating... It certainly sounds like a dream-like story.
But I wish she’d stop poking me. It tickles.
“Hey. Are we going to tell anyone that we’ve started dating?”
“I guess so. We should probably tell the guys who know about us. After all, they’ve been looking out for us in their own way.”
There's Ryuya, Neika. Then Kotono, Ryuguin, and Karura-san.
And also... Tsuchimikado and Noa.
I’m hesitant about those two, but... as a matter of closure, it’s probably better to report it to them.
Especially since Noa doesn’t seem to have given up on me yet.
...Reporting that we’ve started dating, huh.
“...? ...??”
O-Oh? Now that I’m conscious of it, I’m suddenly getting really embarrassed...!?
Riran must have been thinking the same thing, as her face turned bright red like an apple in an instant.
Seeing that, I also felt my own body becoming hotter than ever before.
No, seriously... wait, are we actually dating now?
I mean, this is that Riran.
With a look and proportions that seemed perfected since middle school, she’s the same Riran who was said to be the number one girl everyone would want to date if the Red Thread didn't exist...!
From my perspective, she was a woman who was always snapping at me like a natural enemy, so I hadn't really been conscious of it.
But now that I’m looking at her like this... she is... dangerously... cute...!
“W-W-W-Well, let's take it bit by bit, in moderation, okay...!”
“Y-Yeah, that's right! In moderation, in moderation...!”
I looked away and took a deep breath.
Self-awareness is a terrifying thing; my heart is pounding like never before in my life.
Did I really like Riran this much...!?
I stole a glance at Riran.
Was she looking at me, or did we just happen to look at the same time?
Our eyes met perfectly, and we both looked away at the same time.
Are we perfectly in sync or what!
Well, since we're tied by a Dark Scarlet thread, I guess being in sync is a good thing!
“S-Should we head back?”
“Eh... You’re going home?”
Stop making that face like an abandoned puppy.
“I-It’s getting cold out here. It’s so you don’t catch a cold.”
“...I understand...”
“Instead, I’ll walk you to your house.”
“Okay!”
She switched moods in an instant.
A smiling Riran opened her umbrella and stepped out into the rain.
I followed after her, stepping onto the wet ground.
It had been pouring quite hard a while ago, but now it was just a light drizzle. At this rate, I should be able to get her home without getting too wet.
“............”
“............”
We walked through the rain in silence.
Looking at Riran holding her pink umbrella, she seemed to be in a good mood for some reason.
Seeing Riran so happy made me feel happy too.
They say humans instinctively fear things they don't know or understand.
Until a while ago, I didn't understand Riran's feelings, so there was an awkwardness even when we were together.
But... it’s different now. Even this silence feels comfortable.
That’s probably because I know how Riran feels.
I really am a simple creature.
“I like the rain.”
Riran, walking beside me, whispered softly.
“...What’s with that, all of a sudden?”
“Nn. I just felt like saying it.”
“What kind of reason is that?”
“Fufu. The reason is you.”
What kind of reason is that?
Sorry, I take back what I said earlier.
Even if our feelings reach each other, other people are still a mystery.