25. The Yeti's current feelings

Walking toward the nearest shopping mall, Shibata had regained possession of my arm again.

I have the feeling that it happened like a dozen times today alone...

Wandering around the stores, it was a pleasant pastime to digest the meal and forget the awkward atmosphere Shibata kept creating.

Inside a trift store, I saw Shibata stop in front of a shelf.

"What happened? Did you see something that caught your eye?"

Shaking her head, Shibata denied it.

"Don't worry."

Forcing a smile, I saw the object she was staring at.

A simple cup decorated with painted sakuras was on display.

"You have good taste. Do you want me to buy it for you?"

"Huh?"

Given her availability for the entire day and the fact that she was paying for it all, I wanted to somehow reciprocate (although I have a feeling she's going to remind it for the rest of my life).

Unexpectedly, Shibata declined the offer.

"I would be pleased... But it's not time yet."

"...? What do you mean?"

Pointing to the nameplate of the cup, I read the description.

Cups for couples.

Realizing the meaning of the object, I felt my body temperature suddenly rise.

"I didn't mean to give it to you with that intention...!"

"I know."

Shibata had a faint smile.

"Our relationship is not at that point yet."

Her expression made my chest tighten, but before I could even say anything about it, she leaned closer to me and whispered something in my ear.

"So I'm waiting for the moment you want to gift me this cup with that intention."

Reddened, I quickly turned away from Shibata.

It was at that moment that I noticed that her devilish smile seemed really devoid of her usual charm.

Just like that evening.

An expression that enclosed her true thoughts.

"That's why I decided to wait for my chance. And I've had enough of holding back."

I remembered what she had told me at our first meeting.

You are a liar. You are still holding back.

To break that mask, I had to act.

The obvious action to take was to buy those cups.

But at the mere thought of acting, I couldn't move.

At the thought of lying, I could not speak.

My body was completely paralyzed.

"It's not your fault".

Those words I had said in the past were haunting me.

Said not to resolve the situation but to escape, as I had lost hope in relationships with others.

However...

The bond I had with the girl in front of me was different.

It was not something that I wanted to maintain at all costs, it was she who was lying to herself to not have it severed.

Therefore, I could not lie about our current relationship.

Yet...

Putting a hand on her head, I did not want her to see my expression.

Even if I still couldn't regard her as if she were my girlfriend...

"Then do your best to make that wish come true."

Not allowing her to respond, I added the final blow.

"You made good progress".

I can no longer ignore this person.

Although this was a relationship had an unusual beginning and the girl who was pursuing me was a stalker, her feelings had always been genuine.

She lied for me when we were late for school, cried for me when she saw how bare my personal room was, and is still smiling to keep me from worrying.

Therefore, it was time to return the favor and start looking at her as such.

Not a person outside of my life but a person important to me.

With this conviction, my hand continued to rub the straight hair of Shibata's wig, who was silent and not resisting.

I wondered if her real hair was even more pleasant to touch?

It was a few minutes later that I remembered where I was, and seeing the curious looks of the onlookers put wings on my feet to escape from that awkward situation.

Meanwhile, Shibata had not yet said anything.