"Ms. Tsundere" Can Even Cares About "Mr. Loner"

After we finished resting in the cat café, we continued our ‘practice-agreement’ date. During this time, I learned that “Ms. Tsundere,” or Furumi, has a hidden cute side that many don’t know about. She was still acting differently from her usual self since I talked about my past.

Maybe she cares about what happened to me? I thought, but I doubted she would care about me, her practice-agreement buddy.

“Hey, why are you just standing there? Hurry up! Let’s try to get on that!” Furumi called out.

Really, she was different today. As she said this, she pointed at the merry-go-round, and we rode it.

“Do you like this kind of ride?” I asked.

“Yeah! I mean, this ride is my favorite one! Oh—” she started, then quickly added, “Forget that one! Erase that me from your mind right away!”

She was embarrassed as she boasted about how she liked this ride. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Pfft… Hahahaha, you’re really something, aren’t you?” I said.

“Hey, don’t laugh, okay? You should say that I’m cute rather than saying that, you know?! This is our ‘practice-agreement’ date, so don’t you forget that! Hmph!” she retorted.

I guess I take back what I said earlier. She is no different from before.

“Okay, okay. I understand,” I replied.

After our ride on the merry-go-round, we tried other rides in the park. Time passed, and soon it was time for us to part ways.

“It was so much fun, wasn’t it?” Furumi said.

“Yeah, even though it’s you, it was fun,” I replied.

“Hey! Are you saying I’m not fun to be with?!” she exclaimed.

“Hahaha, well, sorry about that,” I said.

We laughed, and then…

“Hey, why don’t we ride that to end this date for the day?” Furumi suggested.

As she said this, I followed where she was pointing, and it turned out she wanted to ride the… Ferris wheel.

...

Will something romantic happen between us here?!, is what I’d like to think. But no way, right? Right?

Anyways, I agreed, and we rode together. And so, we are now alone in a secluded place where people say this is a good spot for romantic moments. But I don’t expect that. Even so, I don’t expect that… The atmosphere around us is… super weird!

It’s not just weird, it is also pretty awkward. Neither of us wants to start a conversation.

We were just talking and enjoying ourselves earlier, doing the ‘practice-agreement’ date, but what is this?! I can’t stand this situation, so I took the lead and spoke up.

“Ah… It sure is nice up here, isn’t it?” I said.

A weird question… I couldn’t think of anything else to say, so I ended up asking a weird question. However, instead of answering my question, she said something different.

“Uhh… Did you have fun at all?” Furumi asked.

For a moment, I tried to recall what she said even though she had just said it. I mean… I can’t believe she would ask something like that?! And moreover, with a red face like that? Why would she ask if I had fun?

Well, for the sake of it, I just responded to her question.

“Yeah, why did you ask?” I replied.

This time, it looked like I had pushed the wrong button, and so…

“Why? You ask? Don’t misunderstand it, okay? But I only asked because you looked gloomy earlier and thought it must be because of your past, so really! Don’t misunderstand it!” she said.

…

I was thinking of saying something funny about what she said, but…

“Thank you,” I said.

“Wh-why would you thank m-me?” she stammered, pointing at herself.

I responded while scratching my cheek, embarrassed. “I mean, to think you would care about me even though we’re in a fake relationship.”

“So… you think of me as a bad woman who doesn’t care about others’ feelings, huh?” she retorted.

Oops, I think I said something wrong.

“But you really cared about my feelings? What about those you rejected?” I asked.

...

“Of course, I do, you know?! But I don’t care about some of the guys I rejected since they only see me for their personal desires,” Furumi said.

I see… So, even the Ms. Tsundere of our class cares about others, huh? I’m glad that she cared about me.

“Umm…” Furumi hesitated.

…

“Kazuhiko, why don’t we become friends?” she suggested.

The moment she said that, I remembered something.

We don’t have any proper relationship at all… With or without us going out as ‘fake lovers’ and with or without the agreement, we are just more or less acquaintances. It’s kind of funny but…

“Sure. Nice to meet you, Furumi!” I said.

“Same here, nice to meet you too, Kazuhiko!” she replied.

And with that, we now had a proper relationship.

…

After a while, we were back on the ground.

“Ah! It was nice to be up there! I wish we could go here again someday!” Furumi exclaimed.

“Ah… Yeah, me too. I’d like to come back here again someday,” I agreed.

“Then, it’s decided! Next time we come back here, it will be for our friendship!” she declared.

“That’s a great idea, so let’s do it!” I said.

And so, we were now officially friends. However… Will the two of us still be friends until then? Or will we be less than friends or… more than friends? We clearly don’t know what will really happen in the future.

…

“Well, this is my station. Let’s see each other at school, Furumi! Get back home safely!” I said.

“Yeah, let’s see each other at school!” she replied.

We said our goodbyes as we parted ways at the train station. With that, our ‘practice-agreement’ date ended, as well as this day. I wonder what will happen soon…?

…

But really, we don’t think something shocking will happen to us in the future.