Chapter- 22

I thought, looking at the RAIN app still open. Is it okay to send a message to Rie?

　"Thank you for today. See you tomorrow." All you have to do is press the send button. It only takes about five seconds. But it's hard to find the courage to do so.

　"Thank you as always. Will you come again tomorrow?"

　While I was wondering whether to send her off, Rie-san sent Rain first. That alone blew away my doubts.

　"Thank you very much. Of course I'll go!"

　I sent what was probably the fastest message I had ever typed. ...I guess I'm just too simple.

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　"Yes! Then I'll wait."

　"Is it okay if we meet again around 7:30?"

　"If possible, it would be better to come a little earlier. Mommy says she has something she wants to give you."

　"Okay. I'll come by around 7 o'clock then."

　"Yeah!"

　After we'd finished our necessary exchanges, we continued our casual conversation. We talked about each other's likes, dislikes, hobbies... I'm sure Rie and I both didn't want this time to end.

　I want to keep talking like this forever. But even if I think that, there is no such thing as forever. It will come to an end someday. So, I'll end it. ...I have school tomorrow, and I've been doing RAIN for an hour now.

　"Well then, even though it's a shame, shall we wrap it up now?"

　"...It's already this late. Yeah, I have to finish this up."

　"Time flies when you're having fun. See you tomorrow. Good night."

　"I had fun too. Good night."

　And so our communication completely stopped. But I will never let my relationship with Rie-san end! ...Is that just a late-night feeling?

　I immediately crawled into bed. When I closed my eyes, the smile of the person I loved appeared before my eyes. …Yes, today was another fulfilling day. I think I was able to think that way because I met Rie.

　I wouldn't say our meeting was a good one, but she is the most important person to me. I feel good as her presence grows inside of me. There is still a lot I don't know about her, but the more I get to know her, the more I love her and the more I love her.

　I'll never feel such strong emotions again. I'm sure of that. I want her to smile. If possible, with me by her side.

　…If I wasn't so self-conscious, I'm sure Rie would like me. Otherwise, she wouldn't say that naughty things are okay with me. But I don't want her to see her ex-boyfriend in me, I want her to only see me and like me. So I have to try my best. I want to steal Rie's heart.