I Got Into a Secret Relationship With a Girl Who Was Out of My League
We moved to the penguin show area and luckily managed to get seats right at the front. Although it was called a show, it was small-scale with no seats to sit on, so we had to stand to watch.
Then, a female keeper appeared with a penguin, and the audience cheered.
“It’s so small…but it’s walking so hard !”
The penguin waddled slowly in front of us, and Nanamori, sitting next to me, let out a small gasp. Its childlike excitement made me smile.
Every time a new penguin appeared, the crowd would clap or laugh.
Before I knew it, more and more people had gathered around us, and the show area was filled with people, creating a lively atmosphere.
Like a crowded train, there were times when people pushed from behind, but even that, which would normally be unpleasant, felt strangely acceptable now.
The more people gathered, the more she felt a strange joy in being close to Nanamori.
“…That movement reminds me of something.”
“Who?”
“Nanamori. When she wakes up. She looks just like that when she’s sleepy and getting ready to go home.”
“That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it? Am I really that unsteady on my feet?”
“I’m complimenting you. It’s cute.”
“…Well, if that’s the case, then it’s okay.”
It was payback for teasing her earlier.
I could tell she was blushing, even as she puffed out her cheeks.
Even Nanami, who was usually so composed and serious, couldn’t get into the swing of things when she first woke up.
I was probably the only one at school who knew that.
While secretly feeling superior, I smile at Nanamori’s smile out of the corner of my eye.
Every time the penguins jump, go through hoops, or splash into the water, Nanamori naturally exclaims, “Wow !” and “Cute !”
I almost blurted out the cheesy line, “You’re cuter than the penguins” but managed to hold back and focus on the show.
◆
“Ah, that was fun !”
When the show ended, I said that with satisfaction, and Yagami kun smiled in response.
…Maybe I looked a little childish.
As I was thinking about that, the crowd suddenly started moving. Trying not to get swept away by the crowd, I naturally tightened my grip on his right hand, and in response, Yagami kun squeezed my hand back even harder.
I should have been paying attention to my surroundings to avoid bumping into others, but I couldn’t take my eyes off his hand.
“We finally made it out.”
“There were so many people.”
We left the show area and took a break in the next area.
This area had otters and other river animals, and unlike the dark area we had just left, it was brightly lit.
At that moment, I felt a little anxious that Yagami kun might notice my flushed cheeks, which I had been able to hide in the darkness.
I tried not to look at his face and scanned the area around me.
Then, I heard a small sob coming from somewhere.
“Ah…”
I looked in that direction and saw a small girl crouched behind a pillar.
She was alone. She looked to be around kindergarten age.
Her hands were shaking as she rubbed her eyes, and she was crying while trying to suppress her voice.
“Nanamori…? Ah !”
Yagami kun, who was standing next to me, also noticed her and stopped in his tracks.
I approached the girl and spoke to her.
“What’s wrong? Did you come here with your mom?”
“Hiks…”
The girl stiffened for a moment and let out an anxious cry.
I had scared her. Large tears were welling up in her eyes again.
“Uuuuuu…”
“It’s okay ! There’s nothing to be afraid of ! Um…um…”
I panicked and tried to convey with gestures that I was a safe person to the girl who was about to burst into tears.
But that only made things worse, and she was on the verge of exploding.
—This is hopeless.
Just as I thought that, a hand reached out from beside me, and Yagami kun knelt down and stroked the girl’s head.
“There. It’s okay now. Do you know what this is?”
“Ah, candy.”
“That’s right. It’s delicious. Try one.”
The girl seemed to relax at Yagami kun’s soft, gentle voice and opened the milk candy he gave her, putting it in her mouth.
“Did you come here with your mom?”
“My mom and dad are gone…I was looking at the fish…”
We exchanged glances at her voice, choked with tears.
“You’re lost?”
“Yeah…”
Looking around, there were no adults in sight.
“I’ll go get the staff.”
Just as Yagami kun stood up, the girl grabbed his sleeve tightly.
“No, no…don’t go…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Look, there’s big sister here too.”
Yagami kun smiled at me and gently stroked the girl’s head.
I was a little startled by his mature, calm, and gentle side, which he usually didn’t show.
“Yeah. It’s okay. Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.”
I imitated Yagami kun and matched my gaze with the girl’s. Then I spoke to her in a calm voice and gently stroked her head.
This time, the girl didn’t cry and clung tightly to me.
“Then I’ll go find the staff. Can you take care of the girl?”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
Yagami kun hurried away.
I watched his retreating figure.
…He can make such a face.
The gentle expression and tone of voice he used to comfort the girl.
And the way he interacted with the little girl was perfect.
I was amazed by this first glimpse of Yagami kun’s rare expression.
While waiting for Yagami kun, the girl clings to me. The candy she was rolling around in her mouth seems to be almost gone.
I need to say something.
But the more I think about it, the more I don’t know what to say.
…What would Yagami kun do in a situation like this?
As I was thinking about that, I suddenly noticed that the girl was staring intently at my face.
“Do you like that mister?”
“Eh !?”
I was speechless at the sudden question.
“Um…”
“Because when you were looking at him just now, you looked like my mom.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nagi’s mom loves her dad very much.”
Nagi seems to be the girl’s name.
“I see. They must be close.”
“Yeah ! Dad loves Mom too. That’s why they got married !”
The girl’s face had completely changed from before, now smiling.
“Will you marry him too?”
“I don’t know. But probably not.”
I will have a fiancée soon.
And as part of the family, I will probably forget about him. So I won’t marry him.
“Why?”
But her innocent eyes didn’t miss a thing.
“You don’t marry someone you love?”
“…..There are people like that.”
“Huh, that’s weird.”
That was all I could say, and my chest felt tight.
“Nagi also has a boy she likes at kindergarten. She says she wants to marry him in the future.”
“Oh, really?”
She’s so advanced.
She had forgotten about crying earlier and seemed to have gotten used to me, chatting away.
It made me realize that even little girls like to talk about such things.
“Oh, it’s mister ! There’s Mom and Dad too !”
As we were talking, Yagami kun returned with the staff, accompanied by what appeared to be his mother and father.
He was also holding what seemed to be Nagi chan’s younger brother in his arms.
Then he bowed repeatedly and kept thanking us.
And as we were about to leave.
“You should definitely get married ! !”
She shouted that and waved goodbye.
Next to Yagami kun, I could only manage a dry laugh.
“You’ve become pretty close, haven’t you?”
“Uh, yeah. Well…”
“What were you talking about?”
“It’s a secret.”
I said that to cover it up and started walking ahead. Yagami kun hurriedly caught up beside me.
“But that’s amazing. Yagami kun is really good at talking to kids.”
“Well, yeah. Nanamori was surprisingly bad at it.”
“…Ugh !”
Though a bit annoyed at being teased, I recalled his profile as he saw off the family earlier.
The sight of him watching the backs of the harmonious family. It made me feel a bit sad.
And I recalled the girl’s words from earlier.
They kept stabbing at my heart.
…For some reason, I suddenly wanted Yagami kun to hold me.
Maitoshi