Chapter 68: Walking together on the moonlit way home

Walking together on the moonlit way home

I waited in the quiet corridor and Aya came out of the girls’ locker room.

“Sorry for making you wait.”

She raised one hand apologetically.

Indeed, I had waited for about thirty minutes. She hadn’t just changed her wet underwear, but it seemed she had also touched up her makeup. Her lip gloss and foundation seemed slightly darker than when she arrived.

From this point on, it’s like a date for Aya. Even though it’s just walking home with me, I’m genuinely happy that she perceives it that way.

“Shall we go then?”

I held out my hand and she lightly nodded before taking my hand.

“Hey, how about going through the courtyard?”

“The courtyard?”

“Yeah. At this time, the lights should still be on.”

While holding hands, Aya walked ahead and I followed.

“This is so fantastic.”

The courtyard was filled with globe lights installed all over the ground, illuminating the entire area in white.

“Isn’t it?”

Aya looked back, her expression saying, “What do you think?”

“Yeah… It’s really beautiful.”

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Her oversized white long-sleeved sweatshirt seemed to absorb the light, making her look as if she was floating. Like a fairy standing in an unmanned courtyard. Although she’s a bit tomboyish for a fairy.

“Hehe, you know, I’ve always wanted to show this to you, Boyan.”

“Yeah, I’m glad I got to see it.”

“You better be grateful.”

Aya played the senpai role again. She raised one corner of her mouth, as if she might wink at any moment.

“Yeah, I should thank the architect who designed this courtyard someday.”

“Is that so~”

She furrowed her brow as if I had stolen her thunder. But her tone sounded playful. I’m also having fun, enjoying the illuminations with her like this. It truly feels like a date.

Suddenly, the surroundings were enveloped in darkness.

“Oh, it’s already ten.” Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

Aya’s voice came from the darkness. It seemed that the courtyard’s illumination ended at ten in the evening.

“Well then, shall we head back?”

With a crisp sound of footsteps on the grass, a hand gently rested on my chest. I had gotten used to the contrast between light and darkness and her silhouette gradually became visible.

A slightly melancholic beauty looked up at me.

“Let’s walk back a bit more slowly.”

I gently brushed her hair and Aya leaned in, saying, “Yeah, let’s.”

Descending the hillside overgrown with black trees, Aya and I walked side by side.

The streetlights were sparse, but the light of the full moon illuminated the path brightly. Amidst that, our two shadows moved slowly.

“By the way, we’ll have another sleepover next time.”

Walking beside me, Aya said while looking ahead.

“With Kanappe?”

I mentioned the name of her best friend that I barely remembered.

“Yeah, with Kanappe… and Yukari too.”

“I see.”

“Yukari actually messaged me.”

On Aya’s profile, there was a mixture of happiness and anxiety… emotions like that were floating around.

Since I turned down Yukari’s confession, I guess the two of them haven’t really exchanged words. Aya has probably tried to message Yukari many times. But she’s been hesitating.

I feel that way.

I won’t pry into the details of the messages exchanged between them. That’s their business.

“That’s good… for you.”

In return, I smiled with the corners of my mouth lifted as much as possible.

“…Yeah!”

Aya showed a sincere smile, like a little boy who has finally reconciled.

They’ll probably become friends again. Somehow, I feel happy about that, almost as if it’s about myself.

As we continued down the hillside, approaching the middle of the slope, the trees parted and the view suddenly opened up.

“Oh, look, Boyan!”

Following her gaze, there spread a sparkling night view.

The lights of the residential area below filled the landscape and the moonlight made the townscape stand out. Perhaps because the season was transitioning to winter and the air was clear, each individual light was distinct.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Yeah, beautiful…”

At that moment, a chilly wind blew in abruptly.

The trees swayed and leaves rustled with a dry sound.

The cold wind mercilessly struck my exposed face.

It’s cold.

It’s cold, but somehow gentle… I could smell the clarity.

I suppose I felt this way because Aya was by my side.

I like this air.

A gentle fragrance.

It’s probably because Boyan is here.

From her touch on my shoulder, her warm sentiment reached me.

It seemed that Aya was feeling the same thing. Somehow, I felt that way.

—Boyan, right now…

She seemed to be thinking the same thing as me.

I nearly burst into laughter at her inner voice.

Without exchanging words or glances, we were sharing the same sentiment.

Perhaps this moment is what happiness is about.

I hope times like these continue.

Aya wished for that in her heart.

‘To be continued.’

As she was engrossed in the night view, I whispered softly.

When we reached the bus stop, as expected, there were no other people around.

It was already past eleven at night. Looking at the schedule, it seemed that the last bus would take a while to arrive.

What should we do until then?

I had a vague idea of the answer.

“Boyan, are your lips… cold?”

I almost burst into laughter at her awkward invitation. I was about to suggest it myself, but she beat me to it. It seems like Aya has the upper hand today.

“Yeah, sure.”

I gazed into her eyes, preparing myself for the kiss. I could sense the sensitivity of her lips sharpening. I lightly touched her cheek, which was tinged with a hint of pink, feeling the coolness and enjoying it. Her eyes flickered with a hint of feverishness. Her cute face was so adorable that I slowly drew closer.

As our noses got close enough to touch, her warm breath brushed against my face.

With overflowing emotions, our noses brushed against each other. Aya’s eyes, which had drawn a gentle arc, closed slowly. I closed my eyes too, focusing my nerves on my lips.

Our lips met softly. Gradually, a moist softness spread.

A kiss where we didn’t bite or use our tongues, just our lips touching. Yet, it was incredibly pleasurable, as if my brain was tingling. It was a kiss that exchanged affection through our lips, a kiss that felt fulfilling, like love passing back and forth.

—My heart.

It’s getting across.

I also realized that my own feelings were getting across.

Although our lips weren’t moving, the slightest twitch of muscles sent a surge of pleasure, as if electricity, through me. When I pushed my lips out just a bit, an even greater wave of pleasure rushed through my body.

As if in response, Aya slightly pushed her lips forward, as if returning the favor. We communicated our feelings to each other through this gentle, affectionate touch.

Truly, being with her is a series of surprises. I never knew that kisses could feel better than sex.

Surely, from now on, Aya will continue to teach me many things.

As we indulged in a kiss that felt like melting into each other, the area behind my eyelids brightened.

Opening my eyes, I saw the headlights of a bus approaching over her head. Aya seemed to notice it too, as our lips slowly parted.

“The bus is here.”

She said with a touch of disappointment, her attention shifting to behind her. I felt the same way.

“How about we don’t take the bus and just walk home like this?”

“Huh… How long would that take?”

“Probably about three hours?”

“Three hours?”

She seemed to ponder this with a faint hint of approval.

“Don’t worry, I’ll give you a piggyback ride.”

“Well, I’m afraid you might get tired…”

“But it’ll make my legs stronger, Aya.”

“Is that so?”

Just as she made a witty remark, the bus came to a stop right in front of us.

Holding hands, we boarded the bus through the open door.

“I could give you a piggyback ride from the nearest bus stop to your house, Aya.”

“Nah, it’s okay… I’m heavy.”

“I don’t think so.”

Seated at the backmost seats, I let her take the window side and settled down beside her. The bus began to move as a sign.

“Remember when I gave you a piggyback ride in the past?”

“Did that actually happen?”

“It did! It was like a punishment game or something.”

“Well then, let’s have a challenge from now until we reach the bus stop.”

“Sounds good. Uh, since staring contests are a bit much, how about Rock-paper-scissors… or no, how about the ‘Look over there’ game?”

In the bus that no one else but us was on, Aya’s cheerful voice echoed. I felt like I made eye contact with the driver through the rearview mirror, so we lowered our voices a bit.

“Sure. Can I go first?”

“Go ahead~”

“Alright… oh, isn’t that the roof of the wedding hall over there?”

“Huh?”

She turned her gaze toward the window, so I pointed in that direction. All I could see from Aya’s line of sight were the lights of the residential area.

“Yes, that’s one point for me.”

“Hey, you’re cheating, Boyan! You’re such a cheater.”

She glared at me with a disgruntled expression.

Since Aya had been having the upper hand today, she should cut me some slack for this minor infraction.

“Okay, now it’s my turn. Look, it’s so round!”

Aya pointed behind me.

Round…? Is she talking about the full moon?

“Saying ’round’ really makes it sound cute.”

“You didn’t fall for that~…”

She looked frustrated as she scrunched her eyebrows, which made me chuckle unintentionally.

Beyond the window, a brilliant night scene was unfolding. If we were looking at it together, it would surely be romantic.

But we…

Until we reached the bus stop, we spent our time playing the ‘Look over there’ game like close childhood friends.