SWNOVELXO Chapter 38 - Date with Reina - Part 2
“Reina-san is — cute. She’s older, but — adorable in every way. For some reason, my heart feels strange. It’s painful…what is this? A pain I’ve never experienced before…
“Mito-kun!”
“…Yes?”
“Are you okay? You’re clutching your chest… You look in pain… Are you not feeling well?”
Looking into her eyes filled with worry, it hurts me. But I can’t allow myself to make her worry. I forcibly suppress the discomfort, maintaining a facade of calmness.
“No, I’m fine. I just overdid it a little.”
“Really? Don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”
“Thank you, as always, you’re so kind.”
“I-It’s nothing… just normal…”
She isn’t used to being complimented like this, much like I am not used to giving compliments. We get back in the car and start moving again.
“Hehe…”
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“Huh?”
“Well, you were smiling, so…”
While driving, I almost get lost in her smile…
“Uh, no! Nothing… I-I just thought it was fun…”
Reina-san says shyly.
“Is that so… I’m glad then.”
What a bland response! Couldn’t I come up with something more thoughtful! After that, a slightly awkward, but oddly comfortable silence continues…
As I stop at a red light…
“The next is bowling, right?”
“Yes, it is…”
And then… I inadvertently glance at her thighs. If she’s going to throw in that mini skirt… won’t it be visible? Such beautiful legs… what am I thinking? Oh, right, I have that thing.
“Uh, um…”
“Yes?”
Before I know it, Reina-san… is holding down the hem of her skirt with both hands… Fidgeting around, desperately trying to hide her legs…
“Ah…”
“S-sorry!!”
No good! I was staring right at her! That’s total harassment!
“N-No, don’t worry about it! Oh, watch out!”
“Huh?…Oh, close call!”
The light had turned green… Pay attention! You’re driving!
“I’m sorry… It’s embarrassing… at my age…”
“Huh?”
“I haven’t worn a skirt since my college days…”
“…Reina-san”
While concentrating on driving, I muster up the courage to speak.
“Y-Yes…”
“I told you before… you look very good in it.”
“…………”
Huh? I answered with all my might… But no response… I can’t afford to be distracted…
“Reina-san?”
“Th-thank you…”
A very faint voice could be heard… I wonder what kind of face she’s making?
And then… we arrive at the bowling alley. I park the car and we head inside.
“Oh wow… It’s changed so much now…”
“Indeed… It’s quite nice. Back in our student days, to put it bluntly…”
“It felt a bit rundown, right?”
“Yes, it did. It felt like it could close down any moment…”
“I know right! It seemed haunted, like a place for testing your courage!”
“Yeah, we did that. However, it also used to be a hangout for troublemakers…”
“They’re gone now, right?”
“Indeed… Delinquents seem to be a thing of the past…”
We joke about these ‘age-old’ things as we check in. All the while, Reina-san… is receiving glances from both men and women… She really is beautiful… I bet she’s used to it, she’s so confident. Let’s fix my posture at least, even if I don’t match up to her in looks.
We put on our shoes and it’s time to start… I hand her that thing.
“Reina-san, please use this if you like.”
I pull out a hoodie from the bag. I brought it as a precaution against the cold, glad it could be of use.
“Um…”
“Well… when you throw, the skirt might…”
“Huh…? Oh–is that why…?”
“Yes… I thought it might be visible.”
“Ah, I’m so embarrassed… I misunderstood… I thought Mito-kun liked legs…”
…I do.
“…I can’t possibly say that.”
“Huh?”
“No… please use it if you like.”
“Oh, thank you… hehe…”
I wonder why she’s holding the hoodie so tight? It’s just a regular hoodie… does it smell strange? I washed it properly…
Reina-san ties the hoodie around her waist and we both finish choosing our bowling balls. But… we end up having to change them right away.
As the game starts…
“Ouch!?”
“Are you okay!?”
“Yes… It’s heavy!”
I picked up a 14 pound ball… but it was too heavy to throw… I’m completely out of shape… This is definitely going to cause muscle soreness. I switch to a 13 pound ball and manage to spare.
“Wow…! Amazing!”
Phew… I’m relieved.
I secretly had a knack for bowling…
It seems my throwing technique itself hasn’t dulled.
By the way… should I shout “Yay” or something?
When I look at Reina-san… she is clapping…
Hmm… I’m not sure about the hype, but… I feel this is fine with Reina-san.
“Then it’s your turn, Reina-san.”
“Alright…!”
Reina-san’s standing posture is like that of a professional bowler.
I can feel her determination from her straight back…
This is… going to be a high score.
Even the people in the bowling alley seem mesmerized by her form…
And then… Reina-san… throws!
“Take that!”
The ball she threw with an incredibly beautiful form…
“What?”
… was sucked into the gutter…
Contrary to Reina-san’s beautiful throw…
“…………”
“…………”
“Hey, the beauty over there is frozen.”
“It was such a beautiful form though…”
… I don’t know… what to say.
“…………”
With a serious expression on her face, Reina-san quietly returns…
And as if nothing happened, she sits down in the chair…
“…Ah…”
She covers her face with both hands and hangs her head down with a cute voice…
The bowling alley falls silent…
But… I’m sure everyone feels the same.
(Hey, she’s cute, hey)
After calming down, Reina-san begins to make excuses.
“No, no! That was because of that thing.”
“Doesn’t really answer anything though…”
“Hmph… you’re mean…”
“Don’t pout…”
Although it’s super cute.
“It’s strange! Even though it’s been 10 years…”
“Well, you can forget.”
“…Then… Will you… teach me, Mito-kun…?”
“Huh?”
“You were good at it.”
“I-I understand…”
For now, it’s my turn, so when I throw…
“It’s a strike! Amazing, amazing!”
Hmm, I’m very happy.
Being praised, even though it’s just a game.
“Thank you. Let’s give it a try then.”
“Y-Yes, please.”
I stand behind Reina-san… huh?
“What should I do?”
This is… bad, isn’t it?
I have to be close…
Is it okay? Is it allowed?
No, I’m the only one who’s conscious about it… Then, I should act naturally.
“Excuse me.”
“Huh–”
Hm? Did something leak out?
… Maybe it’s just my imagination.
“When you throw, focus on keeping straight and maintaining your posture. You don’t need much strength. In fact, it’s important to relax.”
“O-Okay…”
She smells so good, but… Hold on!
My ‘thing’ is also in a terrible state… What am I, a middle schooler?!
“Are you ready? Lift your arm like this… and throw!”
“Take that!”
The thrown ball… reaches the end of the lane!
There’s a crisp sound, and some pins fall.
“I did it!”
“You did it!”
Before I know it… we naturally high-fived.
… What should I do?
I’m still nervous, and my heart hurts…
… But it’s so much fun.