Chapter 4: There's nobody following us, right?

Amano Keita:

"Sometimes I think I deserve to be a loner or a hated person.", I told Aguri-san while riding my bicycle. Aguri-san, who was sitting in the carrier of my bicycle, tilted her head.

"Hated? For being average in studies? Or for being Below average in almost everything else? Or for being a pathetic nerd who doesn't care anything other than games? In my opinion I don't think you deserve to be hated for being useless.", Aguri-san said as if she thought a lot about it.

"It's amazing I'm not even angry after hearing your pathetic comments and opinion about my life. Sigh...", I couldn't help but sighed. If this was any other person, I wouldn't have been angry at her. But I can't really get angry at Aguri-san after all. In fact I can't even imagine that. She is the most important friend of mine. When I first met her, I planned to help her because of her being the girlfriend of my best friend Uehara-kun. However that relationship has grown a lot throughout this whole time, even to that level that I can't even allow any harm to her.

"Now, now, Amanocchi...", Aguri-san suddenly tugged my shirt to break my thoughts. Then she said, "Don't get angry. I'm 30% joking you know."

"That's really low percentage you know? Anyway I didn't mean I deserve to be hated because of being useless."

"Huh? Then for what else should you be hated?"

"Did you forget already? From Uehara-kun's perspective, who is one of my best friends, his girlfriend and I are having a inappropriate affair. This misunderstanding is getting bigger and bigger, and still I'm with you. If anyone sees us on my bicycle then that's it.", I became quiet after telling this to Aguri-san.

"So that's why you are thinking..."

"Isn't it right? I'm just like the antagonist in a rom-com anime who wants to snatch the girl away from the Main Character."

"Yeah just like the handsome antagonists."

"Yeah just like- wait, Aguri-san, I'm not handsome at all."

"Then just like the ugly NTR hentai protagonists?"

"Yeah that seems more likable- NO WAIT WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU..."

"Fufu..", Aguri-san started laughing.

"Oh Aguri-san, this is not the time of joking you know...jeez.", this girl... just can't be serious at important time.

"Sorry I was 40% joking...fufu..."

"That's still a low percentage. Jeez, just what do you exactly think of me? No stop, I don't even want to hear..."

"I think of you as a very fun person to pass time with."

"Oh... that was unexpectedly good impression."

I felt my cheeks got a little reddened after hearing the compliment. To be honest I absolutely love to talk with Aguri-san, but surely I can't tell this to her. In fact I can't tell this to anyone at all... she is my friend's girlfriend for goodness sake.

We finally arrived at our destination, the supermarket, to buy ingredients for dinner. Aguri-san proposed to cook dinner for both of us tonight in my home. Yeah, I'm absolutely not her boyfriend, don't get wrong idea. After parking my bicycle outside, we both entered the mall.

I just hope we don't encounter anyone known here.

"Hey Amanocchi... what do you want to eat tonight?"

"Umm... you're the one cooking so whatever you think would be the best."

"But I want you to decide..."

"Umm... how about meatballs?"

"Ohh...how coincidence... I once made meatballs for Tasuku. At that time I was practising cooking so I can feed Tasuku whenever he wants."

"Eh really? Then what did Tasuku- I mean Uehara-kun said about your cooking?"

"Well... he couldn't eat it because the inside of the lunchbox was messed up."

"Oh how disappointing, anyway let's just buy-"

"Yeah let's... huh? Did something happen Amanocchi?", Aguri-san asked me as I suddenly became quiet.

"Ah... nothing happened... it might be an illusion."

"Illusion? What illusion?"

"No... actually I was thinking about Tendou-san for a long time... so I just thought for a moment that I saw Tendou-san here. Haha, must be mistaken for a different lady."

"Umm...", Aguri-san seemed like she became a bit nervous. She inquired the surroundings once more. It's 3:00 P.M. currently. Mostly housewives are here shopping at this time.

"Don't worry Aguri-san, it's still school time. No way Tendou-san could be here."

"Umm... Amanocchi... actually I also might have had an illusion."

"Eh? Ah... don't tell me..."

"No... I didn't see Tendou-san anywhere."

"Phew... you almost scared me."

"No but... I thought I may... just may have seen Tasuku here."

"Oh..."

We both became quiet and stared at each other. Then after a minute, we started shopping like nothing happened. But we are still quiet. Because I am terrified. I don't know what to do now...

Calm down... calm down a little... there's no way... it may just be an illusion like Aguri-san said.

But hang on a minute... I can expect Tendou-san not to be here because she should be at school at this moment. But Uehara-kun has not gone to school today... because we have encountered him this morning... there's a high possibility he can be here.

We are facing the vegetable shelf here. Aguri-san is constantly staring at the vegetables. But I know she is not thinking about vegetables. She glanced at me once and told me,

"I thought I might have seen Tasuku while entering the store. But then I thought it might be an illusion as I was thinking about him. But then you said that you saw Tendou-san..."

"Well both could be illusion..."

"But both could be true as well..."

"No way... why would both of them be here?"

"Don't tell me Amanocchi... they are following us?"

"No way, I don't think so... Don't worry so much."

I may sound confident... but I'm sweating like hell... and Aguri-san... also seemed to be tensed... what should I do here?

I thought a bit and then I slowly held her hand...

She looked a bit surprised but soon her body calmed down. I also became relaxed. I'm not that tensed anymore. I actually forgot everything for a minute while holding Aguri-san's hand. I know it's wrong to hold a girl's hand who is a girlfriend of my friend but at that time I forgot that.

And Aguri-san... looked like she didn't mind it.

"Aguri-san... it's okay... don't worry..."

She hesitated a moment and then told me, "As if I'm worried at all. Amanocchi might be the one who is scared.", and then pouted.

We both smiled at each other and only hoped for the best. In fact I'm slowly realizing the worst case here... I may... just may actually be falling for her...

[To be continued]