"How long have you waited?"

When Imadegawa Chisaka sat down across from him, the sunset was just right, and the misty purple sky was mixed with the golden clouds.

The breeze caressed it, reluctant to blow away the sunset, but blew away the thin clouds in the dome, so that a few silver stars and the setting sun could meet.

The girl wore the same white dress she wore when she met at the hospital, and her slender waist was tied with a cherry pink ribbon. The green silk fell, was blown up by the wind, and was reached behind her ears by her hand.

She smiled and turned her head to look at him, the sunset in her eyes.

Narumi Yu was stunned, and said for a long time, "From the time you hung up the phone to the present." ”

"Lying."

"That's after leaving the Imadegawa family."

Imadegawa Chisaka took a sip of the cold drink.

Narumi looked at her, knowing that her answer was wrong.

Citrus lime juice mixed with soda and a few extra sugar cubes.

"Aren't you," the girl asked him softly, holding up the glass of the cold drink, and glancing at it, "have you been waiting since you saw me?" ”

"Well...... Narumi smiled, hearing his own heartbeat.

One, two, three......

Isn't it a little fast?

7.8......

It seems, not fast either, so it's fine.

"Chisaka-san...... No, Chisaka—can I call you that? ”

"I'm not going to stop you." Imadegawa Chisaka sat in front of him, took another sip of cold drink, put the glass down, and said helplessly.

“…… Thank you"

Not this sentence.

What was he trying to say?

"Chisaka-san, I'm ......"

I like you.

Wrong.

I love you.

I can't say it.

"Huh?"

Narumi counted his heartbeat, faster.

Imadegawa Chisaka looked at him and waited quietly.

"Nothing ......"

Seventy-eight, seventy-nine......

Slowed down.

"If it's okay," Imadegawa Chisaka looked at him, but didn't laugh at him, just raised his hands and clasped his chopsticks together in front of his chest, "I'm moving." ”

“…… I got started. ”

After all, due to the limited time to prepare, Narumi wanted to study kaiseki or ryotei specialty cuisine, but found that the ingredients alone were a big problem, and it was impossible to buy ingredients of that quality in one day.

It seems that dinner is much more ordinary.

The atmosphere was completely different from what he expected.

Quiet and noisy.

I want to say something, but I don't know what to say.

It was the first time he had felt like this, and he was at a loss.

It's like you've been disguised for too long and don't know who you are.

The last rays of sunset dissipated, and a few thin clouds could still be faintly seen in the starry night sky.

"Thank you for your hospitality." Imadegawa Chisaka put down the bamboo chopsticks and said softly.

Narumi came back to his senses, still staying in the atmosphere where the girl had just sat down.

"There is still some time...... the girl took out her mobile phone, looked at the time, and instructed him, "Come with me to the beach and take a taxi." ”

"Ah...... Good. Like a marionette, he followed Imadegawa Chisaka to his feet, walked to the entrance, walked out of the rental house, walked down the ramp of the old neighborhood, and walked out onto the street.

Catch a taxi and take a taxi from Sumida to Minato-ku.

On the beach of Odaiba Park, you can see the stars in the sky reflected on the water surface and hear the quiet sea breeze.

"Isn't it time to say something?" Imadegawa Chisaka asked him suddenly.

If you don't say anything more, it's time to leave.

Narumi regrets not having thought of preparing the draft in advance, at least knowing what to say at this moment.

"Well...... Chisaka," he finally spoke, only to be interrupted.

"So," Imadegawa Chisaka ruffled her hair, and turned to look at Narumi.

Under his gaze, slowly, he bent down.

"In the future, I will ask Youjun for more advice."