ALL NOVEL 23: I Don't Want to Go Home Today
“I don’t want to go home today…”
As I walked absentmindedly towards the bike parking lot, I said something that sounded like a girl gathering her courage before the last train. I immediately came to my senses and tried to correct myself, but before I could, Kamidama, with her sparkling eyes, peered at me.
“Hehe, so what should we do now?”
“Following me is a given, huh…”
“Well, you see, I’m your bride, after all.”
“Yeah, yeah… But today, I’ll be staying much later than yesterday. Are you really okay with that?”
Of course, I don’t have any plans for later. My schedule is generally blank, with plenty of room to write in. So this is just a matter of mood—a moment when I think, “I don’t want to push myself today.”
It’s purely a matter of intuition, but from my experiences over the past year, I understand well that it’s best to follow my gut. If I mess up, I might end up spitting out everything the moment it touches my lips.
If that happens, it would be impossible to not only improve our relationship but even maintain it in the future. You might think it’s odd, considering I hardly go home now, but I don’t think for a moment that having a bad relationship is okay.
I’d be fine with keeping a moderate distance, and I do understand that we should get to know each other a little better to maintain that. But that’s all. If I could do that, I would have already done it.
I couldn’t do it before, so here we are now. That’s something I can’t help, and at least for now, there’s nothing I can do about it.
So, I thought about sticking it out at a family restaurant today…
But spending late hours at a family restaurant with Kamidama, just the two of us, how does that sound?
Even at school, where she was approached, Kamidama managed to create an amazing scene.
Even though Japan is safe, it’s not like there are no harmful people at all. The later it gets, the more weird people come out, and Kamidama, who attracts attention, would be a perfect target for such people.
If Kamidama gets harassed again, I wouldn’t even be able to act as a shield… I couldn’t help but think that.
To avoid risk, we should either send her home immediately or consider another place…
But as you know, I have no options at all.
Wh-what should I do…?
“I’m fine. Wherever you go, I’ll be there too.”
“You sound pretty confident…”
“And I have a suggestion for you, who seems to be at a loss for where to go.”
“Hmm?”
Kamidama, who immediately saw through my troubles, filled me with unspoken dread, but I swallowed it and urged her to continue.
If I kept reacting every time, I wouldn’t be able to take it.
“Do you remember the library I mentioned yesterday?”
“…Oh, the one you said was small in this town?”
“Yes, yes. Why don’t we go there?”
“I don’t mind, but… Is it still open?”
It was just past 5 PM. I had no idea what time the average library closed, but the smaller it was, the earlier it seemed to close. Even if we head there now, if it closes around 6 PM, it would be a wasted trip.
But Kamidama smiled as if to say, “I anticipated that question.”
“Don’t worry about that. No one will say anything, no matter how long we stay.”
“Now I’m getting worried… Is it really a library? It’s not just someone’s private home with a lot of books, is it?”
Kamidama was suspected of calling a private home with many books a library.
If that were the case, I’d have to politely decline.
There’s no way I could relax in a stranger’s house. Don’t underestimate me.
Besides, the other person would hate it too… Even if they’re Kamidama’s acquaintance, having an unknown male high school student come to their house and say they’ll read books late into the night is simply horror.
If it were me, I’d cry and chase them away.
I don’t want to do to others what I wouldn’t want done to me.
“You’re too cautious… Unlike you, I’m a normal person. You can relax and leave it all to me.”
“Don’t call me abnormal so casually! No matter how you look at it, Kamidama is the weird one! I won’t leave it to you!”
“But, as it turns out, I’m the only one who thinks that way,” she concluded in a monologue style, trying to end the conversation with me at a disadvantage.
I flailed in protest, but Kamidama nonchalantly said, “Come on, let’s go,” and led me to the bike.
Although it was only yesterday that I first rode on the back, Kamidama prepared as if it were already a given spot.
Her beautiful hazel eyes seemed to be urging me to hurry up.
I was briefly captivated by her, then let out a small sigh.
I’ve never agreed to it, but the destination was already decided…
I thought it was too much, but it’s too late now.
In life, giving up is important.
I repeated my favorite phrase in my mind and started pedaling.
“I’ll say this just in case, but hold on tight. And don’t complain if we fall.”
“I got it, I got it!”