That morning, when I woke up, Kimiko isn't there. This didn't really surprise me. I had expected that she would want to leave. Since she's always the one giving help and advice, I guess it would be difficult for her to suddenly receive it. Although, of course, I still don't fully understand her feelings.
As Nishimua-sensei, Remi's mother, looked at my hand in, I asked about how Kimiko behaved before she left.
"I'm not a mental health specialist, Minimi, and even if I was, I wouldn't be able to tell you anything without Kimiko's consent. I did recommend some colleagues that she could try talking to if her situation worsens."
Clearly, Kimiko had managed to talk her way out.
Nishimua-sensei's face looked a lot like Remi's, but that's about where their similarity ends. Although she is in her casual clothes, you can tell that Nishimua-sensei is a professional. She has straight hair, a straight posture, and thin square glasses that she often adjusted with the her index and middle finger causing a mysterious glare.
"Where did she go?"
"She told me that was going home. I tried to get in contact with her mother, but looks like she already went to work. It's not easy being a single mother."
That's right, although Kimiko didn't talk very much about her family, she did mention that she didn't have a father.
Like Kimiko, Remi had also decided leave early that morning. I imagine that she is too embarrassed to face me after getting exposed yesterday. Again, not that I cared.
I didn't want to overstay my welcome at the Nishimura's, but Remi's father didn't intend to let me go before having breakfast. So, I ended up having dinner alone with the parents of someone that am not even friends with. However, the experience turned out not to be that uncomfortable since Remi's parents are very talkative and forgot that I am here.
I saw Riyuzaki waiting for me in the park wearing. I wonder why he wore our school uniform even though it is the weekend.
"Riyuzaki! I'm sorry I made you wait."
I said rolling my wheelchair up to him. It seemed like a long time ago that I last saw him. As usual, he didn't lower himself as he approached me. And, even on this sunny day, I couldn't make out his face beneath his bangs. The part I can see is, of course, perfectly expressionless.
Riyuzaki nodded to me in response to my greeting.
"Minami-san. Don't worry, I only just here."
"Oh, really?"
That is surprising. It isn't like dark Riyuzaki to be considerate.
"No, but it is proper dating etiquette to say so. Actually, I got here 40 minutes ago at 9:55, since we decided to meet at 10 O'clock."
"Aa! I'm really sorry."
"There is no need to worry, the bus runs all day. There's another one coming in a 10 minutes. Come with me, Minami-san."
I expected that Riyuzaki would try to pick me up again, but he didn't. I guess that to do that in broad daylight would be going too far even for him. We would have to wait till we were alone for that kind of thing.
We walked around for a few hours visiting various attractions in the city like the museums and parks. I had a lot of fun just being with Riyuzaki, however, I am still not sure how he feels about me. Like he said, maybe he isn't capable of feeling anything at all. Although, he walked with me, listened to me talk, asked interesting questions and told his own strange jokes. He didn't laugh or smile, not even a badly like virgin Riyuzaki.
I also noticed something else. Riyuzaki seemed to be avoiding some places.
"Ano… Riyuzaki, do you not like the zoo?"
"I don't dislike it."
"…So, why did we avoid it? And the cinema, and ferris wheel too?"
Riyuzaki came to a stop in front of a corner store.
"I sorry."
"No, I'm not angry or anything. If you needed money-"
"Minami-san, I have enough…"
Riyuzaki turned his head toward the convenience store. He took out an worn-out wallet from his pocket and emptied out the few coins that it contained, into his hands.
"Wait for me, Minami-san."
Riyuzaki bought two the reduced to clear sandwiches and a bottle of water from the store. We found a bench in a nearby park where we could eat. The bench faced toward a large pond and where there are many ducks.
I opened the wrapping on my sandwich and took a bite.
"Mmm! It tastes really good. Thanks, Riyuzaki."
Riyuzaki nodded and watched me eat. I wonder what he is thinking. Surely, after today, this heart must have softened a little bit.
"Riyuzaki, please taste a bit."
"It's fine, I have my own."
"Come on don't be shy."
I held out my sandwich to him. He hesitated, but then took a bite. He managed to avoid the places that I had bitten into already.
"I sorry."
The disappointment must have shown on my face.
"It's fine."
A few moments passed in silence. I know I'm ruining the good mood we had until now, but, for some reason, that hurt me more than I expected and I started to cry.
"Minami-san, look over there for a moment."
I looked over to where Riyuzaki indicated. It is at to two ducks huddled together, by the water. They looked like a couple, with one cleaning the other. So what? Why did he-
Suddenly, Riyuzaki put his hand on my face and turned me toward him. Then he kissed me. It didn't seem like he had any experience doing it at all; he kissed me gently and then tried to slip away, but I didn't let him. I leaned forward and pulled myself onto his lap by his blazer and kissed him again.
"You are right. It is delicious…"
After Riyuzaki said this, there's a pause, and I can see that he's trying to tell me something. For the first time, I see the expression on dark Riyuzaki's face change. It is only slight, but I can tell that he's smiling.
"I don't want-"
His throat croaked and he tried again.
"I don't want you to cry, Minami-san."