Chapter 44: Chapter 42 - Date (3)
The two finished their lunch time. With Kawajima filling the glass in Ryousuke's hand with warm tea from the thermos she had brought. There was no rush, they wanted this time to be a relaxing and enjoyable time for them, so there was no need to rush.
"This is a nice place, Kawajima-san. The trees are lined up neatly, the garden looks beautiful and pretty, the air is nice too. Relaxing like this, just looking at other people who also look happy is good"
"Un. I too will sometimes come to this place to relax a bit, especially in the morning. It's very calming and beautiful too. I don't go out too often, but if the time comes for me to need a little refreshing, then this place will be one of the places I choose"
"I see, that's good. I also have a nice park near my home, and indeed, a park in the morning would bring a sense of calm. I'll sometimes go for a morning run through it, or even exercise there"
"I'm not good at sports... Maybe I'll give it a try, too. Run in the morning."
"haha, you should. It's healthy and refreshing too"
"Fufu, okay."
The two stared at each other, laughing happily. They looked at the scene in front of them, the sakura garden looking very lively. Children could be seen playing on the playground, their parents would be watching from the side, sitting happily. Couples were seen walking while looking at the scenery, they exchanged flirts and held each other's hands with a lover's grip.
What a nice place. Whether it was this cherry blossom garden, or Japan itself, it made the people living in it feel safe and secure.
Of course, he knew that reality was not all white like this. During the day, it would indeed appear that Japan was a very peaceful country. But at night, then the society would start to show its true colors. Well, not all of them. But yes, it does happen.
After all, all that he knew from all the books and movies he had seen in this world.
No no, it's impossible for him to see it in person anyway, right? Never. He didn't want to see it, the dark side of humans.
This kind of thing was enough. Just having lunch in the park like everyone else, without the need to get involved with strange and serious things. Just a good calm, that was all enough for him.
Hahh... He suddenly felt melancholy.
"Where are we going after this?" trying to distract his thoughts, he looked at Kawajima and asked her.
"The museum. Let's go to the museum."
"The museum huh... Sounds interesting. Let's go"
"Yes!"
It seemed like their next destination was a museum. He didn't know what museum Kawajima was referring to, but it seemed interesting. So he just agreed to it.
Once that was decided, the two of them got moving. They cleaned up and put the lunch boxes and glasses back into the basket. This time Ryousuke forced Kawajima to carry the basket, and Kawajima reluctantly agreed.
The two walked out of the park, earning a few stares from the few people who were curious about the two. Well, not in a good way. They weren't looking at the two in a good way, but rather in a cold and curious way.
That's fine. As long as they don't bother us. Especially Kawajima.
He had thought, a long time ago when he was only seven years old. If this was a world where the sense of beauty was reversed, was plastic surgery meant to make one's face uglier?
The answer is no. There was no such thing as plastic surgery. There was no technology about it, he didn't know why.
Then, another problem arises. Would an ugly injury to the face, such as a scalded face, make one look handsome or beautiful as well?
The answer was no. He doesn't know the reason why.
It's like the world has some kind of system or power that makes someone who is already ugly stay ugly and someone who is beautiful stay beautiful. And that can't be changed. Something like that.
So, someone like Kawajima who has a very beautiful face, inevitably has to live their entire life with that face forever. They can't change it, and they won't be able to. No matter what.
So the stares that others gave Kawajima, had become daily fodder for everyone who had a face as beautiful as her.
Some get used to it, some get angry, some become shy and insecure (like Kawajima), and even some can't help it and end up committing suicide.
Arrgh, once again his mind began to wander to things it shouldn't.
Back to the current events, he and Kawajima once again boarded a bus that stopped at the bus station in front of the sakura garden. This time the bus they got on was a red one with an anime image of a man from a shounen manga carrying a flaming sword.
The journey took thirty minutes, which was quite fast considering their destination was in the suburbs in the opposite direction from where they were currently.
Where were they going? I told you, it's a museum.
What museum? Well... It's...
"Kawajima-san, what museum are we going to?"
"Hmm? Isn't it obvious, Toru-san? We're going to the art museum"
"oh, I see. Okay."
Just like Kawajima said. They were going to the art museum.
A museum where there are various kinds of antique and historical items. Especially in the fields of art, such as painting, writing, and calligraphy.
So, there also seemed to be a lot of books. Although the books there will look ancient, very ancient and old. And even they will only be allowed to see a few pages of the book.
It was okay, the museum was still a good place. Although if he had to be honest, it wasn't a good enough place to be one of his date destinations.
Since Kawajima was the one in charge this time, it was up to her. Even if she wanted to go ahead and go somewhere like the fish market, he would still agree.
"We've arrived. Here comes Toru-san, our city's art museum"
"So this is it, I'm seeing it for the first time"
What Kawajima showed him was a large, solidly placed building, with a unique design, looking a little gaudy.
"In that case, let's go in"
"Yes", Ryousuke followed Kawajima who was leading in front of him. This was his first time going to an art museum in his city. He had never been interested in visiting and didn't even think about it.
"Have you been here before, Kawajima-san? You seem to be familiar with this place" Ryousuke asked. While continuing to follow Kawajima a little behind.
"That's right. I came here a few times, back in elementary school, my school had a field trip, and we went to this museum for learning purposes"
"I've loved this place ever since. Everything fascinates me. Even the paintings on the walls, which look ordinary, have a deep history behind them. "
"I've been coming here on my own ever since. Every two or three years, I would come to this place and read the information of each item in this museum quietly. Somehow, it seemed to become a habit. Hehe"
Kawajima turned to the right after entering the main entrance. Then, there was a banquet locker. We both paid the 500 yen ticket, and then entered the interior of the museum.
"This seems like a pretty important place for you."
"I-yeah... Maybe you could say that... "
"Why don't you just guide me here, Kawajima-san? Since you're already familiar with this place, I'm sure you'll be able to guide me well" Ryousuke suggested.
Kawajima did not object. So she nodded and agreed. She walked to the front and began to explain many things to him about the museum.
"Toru-san, this is a painting of... "
Both are enjoying their time. Sometimes, it's an object with a fun story. Other times, it was a painting with a tragic background attached to it.
Kawajima explained everything to him, she also told him to read the background written near the museum items to understand each one.
"and this is a water painting. It's called 'love and wind'. It was made 500 years ago by a ronin who traveled all over Japan. This is his name" Kawajima pointed to a painting that looked beautiful. It depicted a river scene and the surrounding nature. Below the painting, there was information on the artist who painted this art. As Kawajima said, the painter was a ronin.
"Interesting. Although I don't know which part of love is in this painting... All I see is a river scene"
"Here, look. In the center of the river, the current forms a small circle. That is the place where his sword fell when he was bathing. The painter lost his sword here, so maybe that's what he meant by love."
"Hoooo, I see."
"Yes. Let's move on to the others"
"Okay."
It turned out that walking around the museum wasn't a bad experience either. In fact, it was fun.
Perhaps it was also because Kawajima was the one guiding him, so he didn't have to be confused to look around.
This place had few visitors, and everyone was calm. Not making any noise. He and Kawajima continued to look at the museum objects until they were satisfied.
"That was the last one"
"Really? It doesn't feel like it's over yet. I'm thirsty, let's go find a vending machine"
"It's outside, let's go"
The two walked outside and headed to the vending machine that was there. He was thirsty from all the traveling, and I guess it was even more so for Kawajima, since she was the one explaining things to him there.
He pressed the button for an energy drink, apparently luck was on his side this time too. Because he again got two drinks.
"This is for you, Kawajima-san. You must be thirsty" he handed one to her, who was sitting on a nearby bench.
Kawajima accepted it obediently, saying, "thank you."
He also sat down beside her, opened the drink and drank it.
"..."
For some reason, there seemed to be something different about Kawajima since they entered the museum. I don't know, he felt that she was a little more reserved.
Her eyes seemed to be looking at something far away, something she could not reach.
"Did something happen, Kawajima-san? "
"...eh?"
"I mean, you look different since we entered this museum. Do you have something on your mind? You can tell me, if you want"
Her eyes widened, looking surprised that Ryosuke had noticed. Shifting her gaze, she tried to distract him.
"It-it's... "
It seemed like she couldn't hide this from him. Kawajima smiled, seeming to have a face that seemed to remember the past. "You always seem to be aware of Toru-san. Is my face so easy to read?"
"You suck at covering it up. Even during that book club problem, Mayu realized there was something wrong with you"
"hehe, I guess so" Kawajima agreed. Indeed, she seemed to suck at hiding her feelings. Her face was too open to read. "It's nothing important really, it's just that... I went to this museum once with my parents" Kawajima continued.
"I was a kid then, my parents weren't as busy as they are now with their work. We went to this place, everything felt so good. It was probably the last time I felt the warmth of family. My mom would call me, 'Midori, don't run in the corridor', or dad would praise me, 'Midori's a smart kid, you can already read complicated kanji like this'."
She bowed her head, looking at her legs that wobbled languidly. "From then on, my father got a promotion in his company. I was also very happy at first, but then, he came home less and less because of how busy he was with work."
Her eyes began to tear up, looking a little watery. "I don't know, maybe mom started getting affected by it too. Because ever since dad started focusing more on his work, mom also seemed to turn her mind to the same thing it seems"
"Both of them started to get busy with their work. I was in the first grade of junior high school at that time. And after that, we never had any family time"
"..."
"ah, sorry. I made things serious, should we continue to the next place Toru-san? I know a go-"
Her words were interrupted when something surprising happened to her. Ryousuke, who had been seriously listening to her words, began to hug her tightly.
"W-wha?! A-Anoo, Toru-san?!!! "
Kawajima didn't know what to do. Right now she was just stiffly silent without moving, letting Ryousuke hug her because even she didn't know how to respond.
"It's okay, Kawajima-san... Now, you have friends by your side. Me, Sayaka Mayu, and even library employee Inaka-san" Ryosuke hugged Kawajima. His hand began to pat her head gently, trying to act like a father or mother.
"!!..."
"Midori... Midori... Yes. How about from now on, I call you Midori too? That sounds better?"
"H-hyaa?! What?! "
To Kawajima's surprise, being hugged already made her feel very difficult, and this time Ryousuke also started adding another bomb.
He called her by her first name.
'M-M-Mi-Midori?!!! He just called me Midori?!!'
Her wet eyes were replaced with other eyes. Now, her eyes had visible heart marks.
And...
The heart marks on her eyelids were getting bigger, bigger than before.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone