What Comes Next...

Once our lunch break had ended, we were free to continue roaming the research facility as we pleased. As both Hatomi and myself walked around the facility, we heeded Nagashima-san's words and simply decided to not to use our abilities. Only when they were needed in that moment.

"Natsuo?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think about Nagashima-san's words? Do you think she's speaking the truth?"

"Yeah, I do"

"Did you hear her voice?"

"Yeah, I activated it and connected to her just like we had practiced back at the mall and there were no thoughts lingering. She had spoken the pure truth to us"

"I see... But, it still makes me wonder why she's working in this place..."

"What are you saying?"

I glanced over at Hatomi and she simply shook her head "There must be a reason that she's risking her life by still working here. I don't think it's just for the money or the benefits, there's something else"

"I get what you're trying to say, but if that were the case, why couldn't I hear it?"

"Probably because she had no need to think about it"

"I see..."

Just as we were talking amongst ourselves, a voice suddenly called out to us "Hey there Natsuo, Fujimura-san!"

I looked over my shoulder and saw Tetsuya with Chitose right beside him. When our eyes met, she looked like she wanted to look away, but at the same time she wanted to continue looking at me.

"Are the both of you touring this part as well?"

"Yeah, we were thinking of walking counter clockwise. How about the both of you?"

"We were just looking for anything that would catch our eye, that's all"

"I see... How about we all go together?"

I sneaked a glance over at Hatomi and she gave me a nod "I don't mind"

"Sure, why not?"

"Let's get going then!"

With those words, the four of us started making our way around the facility together. Since I really couldn't activate my ability in the moment, I couldn't tell what they were thinking and since Hatomi could use her own ability, I couldn't really ask her what she thought about the situation we were in.

"I'm starting to rely on this ability a bit too much..."

"Hey, Fujimura-san?"

"Yes?"

"Are you and Natsuo dating or what?"

Hearing those words coming from Tetsuya, I couldn't help but wonder what was his problem. Why was he asking her such a thing? He was never the type of person to be interested in these type of things.

"What makes you say this, Muratagi-san?"

"It's just that before, the both of you never spoke to each other and now the both of you are almost always together, so I was just wondering if the both of you had something going on with one another"

Chitose reacted to these words and sneaked a glance over at us. I acted as if I hadn't noticed and sighed "Like I said, we bumped into each other, I helped her out with something and we started getting along"

"I see..." "By the way, Natsuo?"

"Yeah?"

"What the hell happened to you back at school when you helped out Ichikawa-san and came back looking depressed?"

Hearing him say those words, I let out a sigh and scratched the back of my head "I just thought that I wouldn't have a chance with her and so I decided to let that love die out, that's all"

"It's a shame that you didn't try to confess, but I guess that was your choice"

"Y-Yeah..."

I could feel Hatomi's gaze on me. She knew everything and the reason as to why I didn't want to get closer to Sumiko anymore. She was the only one who could really know the meaning behind my actions.

Chitose knew about the fact that I had this ability, but even then, I didn't explain everything to her which made me feel a bit more relieved.

As we continued making our way around the facility and as we did so, out of nowhere, Chitose called out to me "N-Natsuo"

"Hmm?"

I glanced over at her and noticed that she wanted to say something, but at the same time, I knew that it was something that she didn't want anyone else to hear.

"C-Could you come with me really quick?"

"Sure" I glanced over at Hatomi and she gave me a single nod. With that out of the way, we started making our way towards a more or less empty section of the research facility and simply waited for her to speak up.

"I-I'm sorry for running away from you that time..."

"You don't have to apologize, I knew that it was a bit too much to take in"

"But even then... I didn't speak to you at all because of my mixed feelings and for that, I'm really sorry"

I stared at her for a bit and sighed "I understand. Let's just go back to how we were before, ok?"

I couldn't handle it any longer. I wanted us to be normal again, just like the good friends that we were.

"Thank you for accepting my apology"

"No worries"

With that out of the way, the both of us started making our way back towards the others and as we did so, she lightly pulled onto my sleeve "Are you starting to fall in love with Fujimura-san?"

"W-What are you saying?"

"I was just wondering... Since the both of you have been together these few days, I started to think that she was your new crush"

"No, we just started getting along. That's all"

"I see..."

"I can't really say about her own ability without actually getting her permission... Besides" I sneaked a glance over at Chitose and sighed "Even though I trust her, I don't want t tell her about my ability anymore, I can't risk anyone getting in trouble for colluding with us"

After walking around or a bit, we arrived at where Tetsuya and Hatomi were and I couldn't help but notice that the both of them were in complete silence.

"Sorry to make the both of you wait"

"Let's get going then"

With those words, we continued making our way around the facility and before we knew it, it was time for us to start making our way back to school.

After the long ride home, both Hatomi and myself started walking down the ever so familiar rode back to our houses, but as we did so, she called out to me.

"Natsuo?"

"Yeah?"

"How about you stay over at my place?"

"A-Are you sure?"

"I don't mind. My parents won't be home tonight"

Hearing her say that with the ever so serious tone that she would have, I couldn't help but feel like it was a bad idea, but at the same time, I wanted to speak with her a bit more. About today and what could happen in the future.

"Do you mind if I just go and grab some things?"

"I don't mind"

"Thanks"

With those words, she made her way to her place while I quickly made my way towards my own house to grab what I would need for the night.

Once I had done so, I started making my way to her place, but I simply stood there thinking if I was doing the right thing. Spending the night a girl my age was the dream of every man, but at the same time, I couldn't help but feel a bit awkward doing so.

"Come on in. The door's open"

"You connected without letting me know..."

"You're taking a long time deciding if you want to enter or not. Just come on in"

Hearing her say that, I couldn't help but sigh and do as she said. Once inside, I excused myself, put on my slippers and made my way through the entrance. 

"Take a seat"

"Huh?"

"I prepared some leftovers that I had from yesterday"

"Y-You really didn't have to"

"I know, but I wanted to" "Besides, we've only had the lunch from back at the facility. We need to have something to eat"

"I guess you make a good point there..."

With those words, I sat down, gave thanks and proceeded to eat alongside her.

"It's delicious..."

"I'm glad. Since others rarely taste my cooking, I didn't really know if it was good"

"It's very good... I'm surprised"

As we continued eating the food that she had gratefully given me, I couldn't help but notice that her place was well kept and compared to mine, it seemed a bit more lively in a way.

After some time passed, we finished having the food and thus I helped her with the dishes and what not.

"Let's go to my room"

"..."

"Natsuo?"

"I-It's nothing"

With those words, we made our way upstairs and as she entered the room, she simply told me to wait outside a bit so that she could pick up a few of her things.

I gave her a nod and simply waited for her to tell me to come in "I'm really nervous right now..."

After a few seconds passed, she called out to me "Come in"

"T-Thank you"