Chapter- 36

　After that, I took it slower than usual, although I didn't have time to talk... I finished my lunch and made it through my afternoon classes. Then I saw Rie off to her club activities again today, and studied in the library.

　And today, Rie didn't come until 6:30, the closing time. The school dismissal time is 7, so I wonder if she's still in club activities? I'd like to pick her up if I could, but I don't know what club Rie is in. For now, I'll tell her that I'll be waiting for her at the school gates at RAIN.

　I waited about 10 minutes and then Rie came. There were about five people around her who were probably from the same club, walking and talking happily. Rie seemed to be having fun too, so I was thinking about going home so as not to get in her way, when I thought she looked a little sad. It was only for a second, and no one else seemed to notice, so it might just be my imagination, but for some reason I can't get it out of my head.

　"Hey, can I join in too?"

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　I called out to her half unconsciously. If it had been yesterday, I might have just gone home, but today I couldn't just leave her alone. No, I wanted to go home with Rie!

　"…Mamoru, is that you?"

　"That's right... Don't make that face."

　Hug!

　"...Eh? Wait?! R-Rie-san?!"

　"I was scared! I thought Mamoru had already gone home! I thought he wouldn't come home with me anymore!"

　"...I'm sorry for making you feel uneasy. I want to be with you, Rie."

　…I made her look so sad. When I think about it, it's a little complicated, but it makes me happy that she was thinking about me that much. …If I wasn't thinking about something else, my heart would be beating so hard I would die! Rie-san hugged me!?

　"...This is the first time you've told me that you want to be with me."

　"R-Really? I was thinking that, but I don't think I said it out loud."

　"...Hey, do you really think that? Can I just assume that I'm not the only one?"

　"Of course! I'm not the type of person who would put up with someone I don't want to be with."

　"...Really? I thought for sure you had no interest in me. You didn't talk to me yesterday, and even today you were dragged along by another girl and I thought maybe you were just forcing yourself on me..."

　…Yes, I made her think that. It's true that I may have been passive up until now. Rie-san had shown me so much affection, but was there anything I had done for her?

　"...I'm doing this because She's Rie-san."

　"~!?"

　I put my hands around Rie-san's back and whispered in her ear. At that moment, I noticed that Rie-san's body jumped in shock.

　What on earth can I give back to Rie? I'm in the midst of my first love and I don't know what makes a girl happy.