Day Five

Day Five.

Monday. Just as we’d promised at the cafe yesterday, we met again.

As if it had become a daily ritual, Tanaka pulled me away the second class let out, forcing everyone’s eyes onto us.

"Where are we going?"

"No idea."

A truly spectacular answer.

*** 

It seemed Tanaka didn't have any specific plan that afternoon. So, she just took me for a stroll around the mall.

We went up and down the escalators, browsed through clothes and typical high school girl trinkets, and watched the crowds from the upper floors while playing shiritori—just pointless stuff like that.

After getting tired of wandering aimlessly, we stopped at a stall to grab some burgers. Once we finished eating, we continued our directionless trek until we stumbled upon a purikura booth. Tanaka immediately dragged me inside.

"Have you ever taken a photo with a girl before?" she asked while tapping away at the machine's buttons.

"I have, of course."

"Oh, that's a surprise. With who? By the way, your mom and little sister don't count, okay."

"Do you really need to be this cruel?"

"Haha. You’re just way too predictable."

I wasn't about to argue with that.

"Well, don't worry. I’m about to change your ironic fate in a moment."

"Thank you for the consideration."

"You're very welcome."

Tanaka pressed the button—click! A few photo strips slid out a moment later.

"Hahaha! Your face is so awkward. And why is every single pose just a thumbs-up?"

"It’s the only pose I know."

"Don't pull my leg! No, no. This won't do at all. It's gotta be more aesthetic!"

In the end, we redid the session. This time, Tanaka micromanaged every single one of my poses to suit her taste. I was treated like a marionette.

"Hm, hm. Now this is more like it. Way more expressive and teenagerish."

Tanaka showed me the photos. My face—forced into a smile—created a massive contrast with her own cheerful profile.

"I’m just not that photogenic."

"Says who?"

I did. Just now.

"That's why you need to smile more often. So your face doesn't stay so stiff."

Easy for you to say. I wasn't born with the face of a model, you know.

"I like this one," Tanaka said, tucking a few photos into my uniform pocket. "Don't throw them away, okay? Make sure you keep them."

The way she stared me down made it impossible to refuse.

"I won't throw them away."

I mean, these are photos with the school celebrity. Not everyone gets a chance like this.

"Good. Keep them and pass them down as an heirloom to your descendants."

"I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But, I see what I can do."

I'd have to make sure I actually have descendants first, though. Or even a wife.

"Promise?"

Tanaka held out her pinky.

"Yeah... promise."

I hooked my pinky with hers. She gave a small, faint smile—the kind of smile that made me feel like I was in a completely different dimension.

A smile that I did not wish to disappear from this world.

***