Chapter 45: The Appointed Day
#22 Moto KanoThe Appointed Day
After arriving at school, I threw myself into class for a while. But today, thanks to that app, concentrating was even harder than usual.
Was there some hint I had missed? Closing my eyes, I mentally sorted through the information I had just seen, clinging to any possible clue.
“Iori, don’t fall asleep—”
“…Sorry.”
Laughter rippled through the classroom.
Sugo-sensei had scolded me, though I hadn’t actually been sleeping. But given the circumstances, it certainly looked that way, and I wasn’t exactly participating in class with model-student enthusiasm.
Growing restless, I watched as one class, then another, came to an end.
“Hey.”
At lunchtime, the one who called out to me was Tachibana-san.
“…Lunch. Let’s go.”
“Ah, yeah.”
“Let’s decide on the plans for our next date.”
The moment she said that, I felt sharp gazes stabbing into my back. When I turned around, I was met with the murderous glares of my male classmates.
Now that I thought about it, Tachibana-san was ridiculously popular in our class—especially among the guys. It seemed they had overheard our conversation.
“Someday, I might actually get stabbed.”
“Hah? What are you even saying?”
Tachibana-san tilted her head, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer.
In the cafeteria, I ordered a plain bowl of udon. It wasn’t exactly a luxurious meal, but the reason was simple—I was saving up for the trip.
“You’ve been eating just that lately… Is it enough?”
“I’ll eat plenty at dinner, so it’s fine.”
“You do know you should eat more at lunch than at night, right?”
I knew that. But I had no other choice.
“…I made an extra bento for you, just in case. Want it?”
“Huh?”
“D-Don’t get the wrong idea… I just figured you wouldn’t have enough energy for the whole day if you keep eating like that.”
“Ah… Thanks.”
My eyes brimmed with tears as I accepted the bento from Tachibana-san.
“It’s just leftovers thrown together, so don’t complain.”
“Like I ever would. I can vouch for how good your cooking is.”
Even now, on days I worked my part-time job, I still dropped by Tachibana-san’s place for dinner. It couldn’t be helped. It was practically part of my employee benefits. Besides, I couldn’t endure hunger all the way home, and we could use the time to discuss the trip.
It wasn’t just killing two birds with one stone—it was three.
“So, when are you planning to go back to your hometown?”
“…Ah, right.”
My mouth felt heavy.
In a previous conversation, we had decided that the trip would take place sometime this month, during spring break.
“Probably at the end of the month?”
“Do you have something to do before then?”
“Not really…”
“Then why are you putting it off?”
With a tone like a boss reprimanding an employee for delaying work, Tachibana-san shot down my reasoning.
“I’ve been thinking about going earlier, but… I’d rather wait until I get my paycheck this month.”
After calculating the cost for both of us—travel, food, and everything in between—I realized we’d go over budget. That’s why I planned for the end of the month, after payday.
“…But this morning, I saw you grinning at your budgeting app. Doesn’t that mean you’ve saved up quite a bit?”
“Yeah, but covering two people is still a lot… and who knows what unexpected costs might come up.”
“Two people?”
Tachibana-san tilted her head. It seemed she had forgotten our agreement—that I’d be covering her expenses for the trip.
“I’ll pay for my own share.”
“No, that won’t do. I made the offer, so I’ll cover both of us. No exceptions.”
“Just because you offered doesn’t mean I agreed. That’s not how a promise works.”
“But you did say yes under those conditions, didn’t you?”
“I never said that. From the start, I planned to cover my own expenses. …I have my own allowance, you know.”
“…Still—”
“Th-this is… a date, right?”
“Yeah.”
Tachibana-san stammered, her cheeks tinged red, and I nodded.
“This isn’t a trip—it’s a date. So, of course, I should pay for my share. Do you think all girls expect guys to cover everything on dates?”
“I know there are girls who treat guys like ATMs.”
“Hah. Do you really think there are that many?”
Tachibana-san scoffed, speaking as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
But to be blunt… that was absolutely not true.
“…Let’s go this weekend.”
After a brief pause, Tachibana-san said those words.
“This weekend?”
“We have the Coming of Age holiday, so it’s the perfect time to go, don’t you think?”
“But isn’t that way too soon?”
“What, do you not want to go on a date with me?”
She leaned in, eyes blazing with indignation.
The sheer intensity of her expression made me wonder if I was reading too much into this.
“That’s not it. I want to go soon, too.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“…Alright.”
If I didn’t have to cover expenses for two, then my current funds might actually be enough.
Still, I never expected Tachibana-san to push this trip forward with such enthusiasm.
To be honest, I almost wondered if she was out of her mind.
She was just that eager to go on a date with me.
That, at least, I could wrap my head around.
But the fact that this was happening not with a fifteen-year-old Iori, but with a thirty-five-year-old me… Yeah, there’s no way that’s the reason.