NOVEL NEXT Chapter 69
The time was just before three o’clock.
I was cleaning the bathroom. Usually, Hayashi would be upset when I cleaned, but today she wasn’t showing any such signs.
“Are you ready yet?”
Instead, it was I who was now complaining about Hayashi while cleaning.
What on earth had happened?
“Just a little longer.”
Well, it wasn’t anything extraordinary.
I was just waiting for Hayashi to decide on the outfit she would wear. She had been selecting her outfit ever since she shoved me into the bathroom. It was taking quite a long time, and the minutes were ticking by.
“Isn’t it fine yet? Just choose anything.”
“There’s no way I could do that.”
“Why not? You’re just going out with me, right?”
Why would she need to be so fussy about her clothes when she’s just going out with someone like me?
“Exactly because I’m going out with you.”
“Huh? I don’t get it.”
Seriously, I can’t understand a woman’s heart.
“I’m ready now.”
“Finally.”
“Please be a little more patient.”
Did I say too much?
With Hayashi sullen in front of me, I felt a little anxious. Lately, she’d been feeling down a lot, probably because of her ex-boyfriend… It’s a bit worrying.
“Let’s go.”
“O-Okay.”
She didn’t seem too upset.
I followed her out of the room, feeling relieved.
“Oh yeah, Hayashi.”
“What?”
“That outfit looks really good on you. Seriously.”
I had said something harsh to Hayashi earlier, but what I just said was undoubtedly true.
“Hmph.”
“Hey, wait.”
Hayashi puffed her cheeks and walked ahead of me.
Well, maybe my remarks were a bit too much. I’ll just have to try my best to cheer her up.
I flattered Hayashi all the way to the station.
I don’t remember half of what I said, but I’m sure I didn’t lie about anything.
By the time we arrived at the station, Hayashi seemed to have cheered up a bit. But her cheeks seemed a bit flushed; I wondered if it was my imagination.
“So, what’s the plan now?”
“We’ll take a walk, have dinner, and then go to the theater.”
“Huh. Where are we going for a walk?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
I see.
The last time Hayashi and I went on a date, she had a very passive planning style. The dinner and theater were presumably chosen by Kasahara… But the walk was not. That’s why she hasn’t decided anything yet.
“Hmm.”
“Yamamoto, is there a place you want to go?”
“Actually, there is.”
“Where?”
“How about the Rainbow Bridge?”
“Wait, can you walk there?”
“Actually, there’s a promenade there.”
There’s a promenade on the Rainbow Bridge where you can see Tokyo Bay and the city of Tokyo.
To be honest, I’ve always wanted to walk there alone, but I guess this is a good opportunity to try.
“The view’s supposed to be pretty good.”
“Is the view… good?”
“Yeah.”
“That might set the mood, then.”
“Huh? Yeah.”
“Hmm.”
Hayashi rested her chin in her hand and pondered for a while.
I had a hunch. Most likely, this idea would be accepted.
The theater where the play was being held was in Odaiba. So, the place for dinner would be around there too.
In other words, a walk on the Rainbow Bridge would be perfect in terms of location.
“Let’s give it a try.”
“Alright.”
Having agreed, we took several trains to head towards the Rainbow Bridge.
The way to the pedestrian path of the Rainbow Bridge was through some factories at Shibaura Pier and then through a somewhat desolate area. From there, it seemed we had to go up an elevator to reach the promenade.
Just before entering the elevator, Hayashi looked up at the Rainbow Bridge above us.
“Hey.”
“Hmm?”
“We’re going to walk up there?”
Just at that moment, a roaring sound echoed from the Rainbow Bridge.
It seemed that when a truck drove by, the shaking of its cargo echoed across the bridge and turned into a thunderous noise.
“Do you dislike it?”
“Umm…”
“If you don’t want to, we can stop. I didn’t mean to put you through anything difficult.”
I felt a little guilty.
I was preoccupied with the novelty of being able to walk on the Rainbow Bridge and hadn’t considered the thrill it could bring.
Well, if I were alone, I might be able to endure it, but making a girl walk there might be a bit harsh.
“Let’s go,” said Hayashi.
“Huh?”
“Let’s go.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with being scared?”
Hayashi looked down and after a while, she shook her head sideways.
I thought as much. Without even asking, I could tell by her uneasy expression.
“Sorry. Let’s call it off after all. I’m honestly scared, to be honest. It’s too much.”
At this point, it was clear that she was going to be stubborn.
I tried saying this, thinking that it might relieve her if I took responsibility.
“You know what,”
“What?”
“You’re really bad at lying.”
Half-crying, Hayashi forcefully dragged me into the elevator building.
Finding the elevator, Hayashi, with her trembling hand, pulled me onto it, and finally, we stepped onto the pedestrian path of the Rainbow Bridge.
As soon as we exited the automatic doors, a truck passed by on the road right beside us.
The resounding roar.
The faintly shaking Rainbow Bridge.
“Eeek…!”
Hayashi clung to my arm.
Although I wasn’t scared, my heartbeat strangely increased.
“L-Let’s go back…”
“What!?”
“Let’s go back!!!”
The sound of the vehicles echoed, and my normal voice didn’t reach Hayashi, who was right beside me.
When I yelled, Hayashi looked up at me with a sullen expression. There were faint tears at the corners of her eyes.
“If you’re going to cry, don’t push yourself.”
With a dumbfounded face, I told her that. Then, I wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
“I-I can do it…”
“You’re slightly regressing to a childlike state, you know.”
“It’s fine, let’s go!”
Still clinging to my arm, Hayashi took one step, then another.