During class, our main teacher, Tamura-sensei, gave us the details of our school trip.
—For the visit of the different places, you will be in pairs. For the hotel, you will be in a trio according to your gender. Is this included?
—Yes, it is.
In pairs during the day. In trio during the evening, what can I dream of better.
Shimizu turns to me and whispers.
—Shall we get together, Yamazaki-kun?
I sweep my gaze across the classroom.
I haven't made friends with anyone but her…
—Yeah, if you want.
The trip is scheduled within two nights and lasts for a week. The first step is settling into our rooms, a sort of rest period. The second day is the visit of Chiba Shrine, the famous religious temple of Chiba Prefecture. Then, our expedition continues on the second place, the Kamogawa Sea World aquarium. The fourth date is at the most picturesque amusement park in Japan, Kodomo no Kuni Kidsom. Finally, our last page of travel, the fifth is the return to Yokohama station.
Why did I enrol in this school?
—Good. You will take a selfie with your partner in each tourist place. They will be sent to the photography club. These little guys will post your portraits on the school bulletin board for you to have a souvenir.
I didn't understand anything.
Two days later, we board the bus to reach the hotel.
The trip is rather calm. I even managed to find a seat against the edge of a window: a great view on the landscape and nobody dared to sit next to me.
Once I arrived in Chiba, I put my luggage in my cell.
Well, I guess these two are my roommates.
— Hi Yamazaki-kun, I am Maeda Takumi, and he is my friend, Yamaguchi Akira.
Smiles, almost identical outfits, complicity visible from miles away, is this the friendship of 3D? It's disgusting.
—Hi.
I'll never remember all your names.
Once Yamaguchi, Maeda and I have finished setting up, we head to the showers. One of them approaches me and exclaims.
—I hope we get along well, Yamazaki-kun!
We don't yell in the Japanese baths, you idiot.
I remain silent, look at him, and advantage of the heat of the sauna to rest.
Why is he smiling like that? Always these famous boys who hide their real faces, it bores me.
When I went back to my room, I saw Shimizu.
—I'm embarrassed to ask you this, Yamazaki-kun.
What does she want from me now?
—Can I have your … your LINE?
—No way.
You won't take away my independence, normie.
—But, Yamazaki-kun, it's so we can meet tomorrow for the temple tour!
Another good excuse, she pisses me off.
I hand my phone to her.
Goodbye, sweet freedom.
—Thank you, she repeats several times.
You don't have to put on such a smile.
Seriously, what it with them being so happy all the time, it annoys me!
I continue on my way to return to my room then call to Chizu.
—Big Brother! I thought that you had forgotten me!
Never, sis, never, never. And listen to him one last time. J-a-m-a-i-s.
—You're doing it on your own?
—Don't worry about me and are you okay?
—I'm fine, I'm just a little beat. I'm not gonna drag myself to bed, I'll try to call you a little longer next time, okay?
—Yes, yes, silly Big Brother.
I can only make extended sentences with her. I love that girl so much.
I hang up the phone, sigh, then put my phone down next to my pillow.
A few minutes later, my smartphone vibrates. I look at the notification I received.
Shimizu? I should never have given you my LINE.
My curiosity makes me open the LINE app and then I discover his message.
Good night.
A sticker of a dog with a kiss? Surely a habit in this 3D universe.
I'm about to put my phone back, but Yamaguchi jumps on me and asks me with a Shinichi Kudo look.
—Are you are hiding something from us, Yamazaki-kun?
Why are you trying to get interested in me?
—Nope.
—Then let's check it out!
He grabs my smartphone. Maeda, on the other hand, paralyses me by trying to immobilise me.
You'll never guess my lock code!
—Don't you even have a protection to unlock your phone?
He found my weak spot so easily…
—Here, he says again… Do you like her, Shimizu-chan?
—Don't talk nonsense!
—If you want, we can help you,' Maeda says calmly.
One pacifist who condemns my arms and the other who thinks he's Cupid, those two are real idiots.
—Mind your own business.
Annoyed by the situation, I force the passage and recover my telephone.
Who put me two such freaks, seriously.
The calm returns in our room, I advantage of it to go to bed.
The next day, I quickly understood my delay when the sun rays dazzled my eyes. I hurry to join the bus at the bottom of the hotel.
I stayed up late with their bullshit!
During the journey, we sit in pairs.
Chizu?
I receive a call from my sister and decide to pick up.
—Big Brother?
—A problem, Sis?
—Ôta came to the house, you must contact her in LINE, I send you her address.
The president? I don't have time to deal with her.
—Yeah, yeah.
—I'm counting on you, big brother.
You're counting on me, huh…
I have a quick message for our president.
Sorry, I'm on a trip with my class, I'll call you later.
That's enough for now.
Shimizu turns to me.
—Was that Chizu?
—Yeah, she asked me to contact Ota-senpai, but I'll see about it later.
—I'll see about that later.
—By the way, what's your dream, Shimizu-chan?
—It's already come true, mine.
What's that? What's she talking about?
—Are you serious? What was it?
—To meet you.
My heart is beating fast, very fast, too fast.
Was that really her dream? This is a joke, right?
The silence broke as my roommates laughed after whispering.
What are you two best buddies talking about that's so funny?
We passed Chiba Shrine. Our homeroom teacher stood up and turned to us with a terrified expression.
—We arrived. This place is a religious shrine, so be quiet! Stay with your partner. We'll meet back here at the end of the day.
Shimizu and I went to visit. We notice ema hanging on one of the walls of the temple. The ema symbolises the Japanese manners. On a wooden board, we had to indicate one of our wishes, attach it and finally make a prayer. With my partner, we both bought a wooden board.
What do I write now?
I grab a pen, and transcribe.
I don't want to lose my little sister anymore.
We pray.
Hunger has called us. We stopped on a bench not far from the temple and eat our sandwiches.
Kisaragi Amatsuyu, you don't like benches, do you.
In front of us, a couple is sitting, holding hands, looking very much in love.
I already met this look, but where was it?
Ecstatic by the sight, Shimizu, cruelly embarrassed, blushes then turns to me.
It is … it is the same look? It's identical. Calm down, Kinari. Why am I getting so excited? We're nothing but classmates!
—You know, Yamazaki-kun, I really like you. So maybe we can call each other by our first names, what do you say?
By our first names? Is it a step to become a normal person? I don't know!
— Kinari? She pronounces.
She didn't stammer for a second, she's a real heroine of the normies… She didn't steal her title at all!
My discomfort is palpable.
Apart from my family, no one has ever said my first name in my life.
It is disturbing.
Anzu, smiling brightly, seemed happy to call me that. The girl swivels, hides her soft cheeks, strokes her locks and asks me.
—Can we walk a bit to find the place of our selfie?
I nod silently and we walk around the temple.
She contemplates the landscape that has just risen before us. An alley of smooth slabs. On the sides, we notice several mailboxes as well as a big staircase which allows, undoubtedly, to reach the temple.
Anzu takes out the camera.
—Here, it is perfect!
I notice that in the frame of our selfie are arranged two cherry blossom trees at each end of the temple wall.
—Shall we hold hands? stammers Anzu, avoiding my gaze.
Holding … holding hands? According to the few shōjos I've read, that's the first step in being a couple. Is this a good idea? It pisses me off this complexity!
I stand still and silent. Her fingers cross mine.
How sweet it is…
What are these sensations? My body is shaking?
She photographed us exactly three seconds and forty-seven hundredths later. Her delicate hand withdrew from mine slowly.
Did I just touch Princess Kaguya? Am I the bamboo cutter's child?
Intimidated, I dared not look at her anymore.
I am lost. Completely lost.
She approaches me and whispers.
—Shall we continue, Kinari?
Continue what? What is she saying to me?
—Don't make that face, it's embarrassing.
—You … you wanted to continue what?
—Our ba-la-de she articulates sensually.
She tilts her head, caresses one of her locks, and adds.
—You thought of what?
Where do I have the head, me… I only have to put my glance on the surrounding landscape.
We are moving in the middle of the temple's alley when a crowd of people came in front of us.
Anzu repeatedly pulls my sleeve, and asks me.
—Can I hold on to you? I don't want to lose sight of you, Kinari.
To … lose sight of me? A meeting is taking place in my mind.
—I announce assembly number one, entitled 'Kinari is a fool' open, take your seats, exclaims Kinari as chairman.
—Who decided on that name?' sighed Kinari jaggedly.
—Well, today's question is what we should do when Anzu pulls our sleeve, explains Kinari president.
—According to my research, at this time, exactly two thousand three hundred and fifty-four people and thirteen pets are walking around the temple. So it's likely that if she doesn't hold our sleeve, she can really get lost,' says Kinari intelligently.
—She can just wander off, that silly girl,' shouted Kinari in annoyance.
—I wish she would hold my sleeve, dreams Kinari in love.
—You're going astray, you fool.
—The debate is over.
He taps his hammer twice and then judges.
—We agree, it would be silly to get lost, and I don't want to get yelled at by our teacher.
Of return to reality, I inhale to the maximum, then answer him.
—Hold me tight, we're going to the bus.
—Thanks, Kinari!
I have the impression to drag Mashiro Shiina…
We find our class which seemed strangely less breathless than our binomial.
This day has made me tired.
Yamaguchi slips behind us, and laughs.
—Well, then, the lovers!
Embarrassed, Anzu withdraws her hand from my sleeve. I turn around and try a threatening approach.
—Don't tell the others and I'll keep quiet about what I saw yesterday while you were sleeping.
I didn't notice anything special the night before, but I'd rather he didn't spread a false rumour.
I see that Yamaguchi goes back to his partner's side.
Perfect, I am really the best otaku ever.
With our classmates, we got back on the bus. Anzu, embarrassed all the way, grabs her phone, and scans it.
My phone is vibrating?
I take it out and read her message.
Thank you for today, Kinari.
Such kindness…
What was I thinking having 3D relationships, I haven't become normal, have I?
I went back to the hotel with my roommates and noticed that Yamaguchi and Maeda had avoided me both in our accommodation and at the baths.
Good, I can wash myself quietly.
That evening, my phone vibrated again.
I open the notification.
Anzu? You again?
My eyes stare at her message, my heart starts to beat wildly. I stand still, shocked by her statement.
A torrent of happiness assails me. Shivers run through my whole body.
The colours were always so beautiful?
*Shinichi Kudo: Detectives of the work Detective Conan.
*Kisaragi Amatsuyu: Character afraid of the benches (Oresuki)
*Mashiro Shiina: Character that the main character has to take care of all time. (Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo)