Chapter 28
Moonlit Date (Part 5)
Just before 6 p.m.
Since closing time was approaching, Tsukiyo and I left the library.
The evening air had cooled to a perfect temperature.
On the way home, Tsukiyo suddenly stopped.
“Shall we go home through the park?”
Once again, we were headed for the nature park.
Thanks to the setting sun, there was no problem this time.
It was a bit of a detour, but still on the way home—so not a waste at all.
We chatted lightly as we walked along the outer path.
“We need to give a final review of our first date.”
“Right, we do.”
Even in the dim light, Tsukiyo’s chestnut hair still seemed to glow softly.
Her beauty hadn’t faded all day.
If I were to sum up my feelings—Tsukiyo was just so cute…
and being with her made my heart race constantly.
But I couldn’t possibly say that aloud, so I said instead:
“I think the library was the best part.”
“Oh, come on! That doesn’t count!”
“Then what about you, Tsukiyo?”
She paused and looked up at the sky.
Even that simple gesture looked like a painting.
Then she glanced at me—those eyes were so clear and deep it felt like I could fall into them.
What was she thinking?
Her lips curved slightly as she said:
“I should’ve dressed more appropriately for the occasion.”
“Next time, we should plan what we’ll do in advance.”
“Which means… there will be a next time?”
“Ah—”
She bent slightly, smiling mischievously, as if to say, Got you to admit it.
Well… if she says it like that, of course I’ll want to see her again.
Really, being with Tsukiyo never gets boring.
“It’s getting dark… shall we head back?”
It’s ending.
This time I spent with Tsukiyo is coming to an end.
Is that really okay?
If I let this chance slip away, it might never come again.
But… if she rejects me, or if I make her uncomfortable…
I can’t muster the courage.
“Tsukiyo!”
“Y-yes!?”
The sun was just about to set.
The warm summer breeze passed gently between us.
I’d spent the whole day with her.
I’d held back the feelings in my chest all this time—but I couldn’t anymore.
I grabbed Tsukiyo’s arm, which she had nervously raised near her chest.
“Sorry for being sudden… but there’s something I have to tell you.”
“Wha—umm…”
“I’ve always… always…”
Maybe I was going too far.
But I’d already grabbed her arm—there was no turning back.
Tsukiyo’s eyes darted around, flustered, maybe even a little scared.
My breathing grew shallow.
The tension was unbearable—if I was going to say it, it had to be now.
She waited silently.
“I… Tsukiyo, I—”
“—!”
I took a deep breath—
“I want to take a picture of you!!”
“…What… what!?”
She might call me a pervert.
Terrified, I shut my eyes tight.
When I cautiously opened them again, Tsukiyo was standing there—
looking utterly exasperated.
It felt like all the heat drained out of my body.
“Honestly!”
She pulled her arm free and started walking ahead.
It didn’t seem like she was calling me a pervert exactly,
but she was definitely angry.
“I feel stupid for getting my hopes up!”
She was really mad now.
“Hopes up? About what?”
“Nothing! You idiot!”
“Idiot!?”
At that, Tsukiyo finally stopped walking.
“You really want to take pictures of me that badly?”
“Because… you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen—ah.”
“～～～～～～～っ!!”
Her face turned red, glowing like the setting sun itself.
Okay, maybe that was too straightforward.
But it was a compliment—hopefully she took it that way.
“So… what kind of background will you use?”
“Wait, you’re letting me!?”
“Since I’m all dressed up anyway… but! Only you can look at them, Mr. Taiyo!”
Of course.
No one else would ever see them—I’d lock them away forever.
I had her stand facing the sunset and picked up my camera.
It was the magic hour—the most beautiful time for photos.
My skills weren’t great, but I didn’t want to miss this moment.
I framed Tsukiyo through the viewfinder,
blurring everything else away.
All that mattered was the single, most beautiful thing in front of me.
I took shot after shot.
“The sun’s gone down already.”
I pressed the playback button again and again,
looking through the dozen or so photos of Tsukiyo I’d taken.
It wasn’t exactly a “report” of the day’s results,
but somehow it felt like everything about today was captured in them.
I was so happy I almost cried—but what came out wasn’t tears, but—
“How are they?”
“Tsukiyo…”
I looked up from the camera at her.
Thinking back, I was probably smiling more brightly than I had all day.
“This Tsukiyo… is the most beautiful she’s been all day!”
◇◇◇
Night had fallen, and although it was a detour, I walked her home to the Kannagi residence.
At first she tried to refuse, but her outfit today didn’t exactly allow for a quick escape if something happened,
so I insisted.
We talked peacefully until we reached the stairs of her apartment building.
As she started to go up, I called out:
“Tsukiyo… one more thing?”
“Yes?”
I decided to ask, sincerely, one more time.
She’d said yes before—so maybe she’d say yes again.
“If it’s okay… can I take more pictures of you sometime?”
“Taiyo… are you a pervert?”
“She said it! She said the one thing I didn’t want to hear!”
And so, my day off ended up being wonderfully fulfilling.
