Shamer

“The aquarium was a lot of fun.”

A weekend. Today I had a date with Touya.

As he said, we went to the aquarium today and were now on our way home.

“The dolphin show, with those cute dolphins flying so high, got me a little excited even though I’m in high school.”

“Yes, the dolphins were amazing.”

The dolphins were so high up in the air that they were flying over the water.

…But maybe I was not laughing with him right now.

“Where should we go on our next date?”

“Isn’t there… soccer practice? Shouldn’t first-years go?”

“That’s… okay. The third-year students’ last tournament is coming up, and it seems like having the freshmen there would be a distraction.”

“I-I see…”

Since Touya-kun and I go to different high schools, I don’t know what was going on with his soccer team.

So I could only believe his words… but I wonder if he was really okay with going out with me all the time on his days off.

“!”

Suddenly, I received a notification on my phone.

I looked and saw that I had received a LINE from a new friend I made in high school.

The message said that she wanted to go somewhere together sometime.

To which I replied, “Sure!”

“Ruri, who are you talking to?”

Touya asked unexpectedly.

“It’s a new girl friend of mine from high school. She wants to hang out with me sometime.”

“Hmm, what kind of friend?”

“What kind of friend… it’s a normal female friend.”

“I see..”

When Touya-kun said this, he moved from next to me to in front of me and stopped dead in his tracks.

“W-What’s wrong…?”

“You’re not talking with Kinu, are you?”

I was a little afraid of the look on his face when he asked me that.

“No, I’m not! She really is a friend!”

“Then, let me see your phone.”

I was so surprised by his words that for a moment I couldn’t say anything back.

I couldn’t believe that this was something that Touya-kun had said.

Ever since elementary school, he had been a considerate person. Even when he was playing soccer, he never got angry when a teammate made a mistake, and would even say that they would take it back instead.

And yet…

“…I don’t want to.”

“Why not? If you have nothing to hide, you can show it, right?”

“Yes, but… this is absurd.”

Here I could have just done as Touya-kun said.

…But I didn’t want to. I feel that my relationship with Touya-kun would end in many ways. Not just as lovers, but as friends.

“Then why don’t you always look happy when you’re with me!”

Suddenly, Touya-kun shouted.

…But soon he huffed and turned his face down a little.

“I’m sorry, Ruri…”

“No, umm… I’m sorry too.””

Sometimes Touya-kun told me I didn’t look like I was having fun, but I knew.

That I have never once had a date with him that I truly enjoyed.

“Hey… Ruri, turn around for a second.”

I turned my head toward Touya-kun as he called me.

Then, suddenly, he put his finger on my chin.

Then he slowly moved his face closer to mine.

“No!”

Immediately, I pushed him away.

Next, I quickly moved away from him.

“…Touya, why all of a sudden?”

“We’ve been dating for about a year now, and I thought it would have been fine…”

“Even so… You’re acting weird today, Touya.”

“I know… I’m really sorry.”

Touya-kun apologized with his eyes facing the ground.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this…”

He continued, muttering to himself. I felt the same way. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. How did we end up like this?

If it were true, the three of us would still be having a good time together, just as we did in the past.

As I think about this, I thought back.

There was no point in continuing this kind of relationship.

“Touya, we—”

“I can’t.”

As usual, he interrupted my words.

But I did not give up and tried to tell him one more time.

“Listen to me! I can’t be with you anymore, Touya-kun…”

“I can’t do this!”

He denied it more strongly than the first time.

“Because I only have Ruri now.”

He said with a sad smile.

Seeing the look on his face as if he was about to disappear, I couldn’t say anything more.

It must be too late for everything. For Touya-kun…and Kinu as well…

“Next time, let’s go to a movie for the first time in a while.”

Touya-kun asked me out on our next date with the same smile as before.

“…Yes.”

To which I could only nod.

…Where did I and Touya-kun go wrong?