SCPK 02

Chapter 2

A Walk

My family has a dog. Not that it’s some purebred with an impressive pedigree — it’s a mutt we got from a relative. My mom and my little sister take care of most of the chores, but walking it is pretty much my job.

Since I’d been in the hospital and couldn’t do it recently, this was perfect timing.

I manage the leash of our small but energetic dog, Tarō. Summer afternoons really are hot, but when a breeze blows through, it feels nice.

“Tarō, the weather’s great today, huh?”
“Woof!”
“On a day like this, I feel like I might meet a beautiful woman…”
“Ah, Taiyō-saaan!”

And there she was.
As I walked along the riverbank, Tsukiyo Kaminagi came running over from the road, waving her hand.
Her chestnut hair swayed down to her back, and her beautiful features were enough to make me blush just by looking at her.

“Woof!”
“H-hey, Tarō!”

Tarō reacted and bolted toward the little sister. In the sudden appearance of her cuteness, I absentmindedly let go of the leash.
Tarō leapt into her arms and licked her face. He’s not a big dog, so it should be fine. She held him close.
Damn, I’m so jealous.

“Oh, you’re such a spoiled boy. Cute!”

She’s even cuter playing with the dog!
Not that I’d ever say that out loud. Just watching them was a feast for the eyes.

After Tarō had had his fill of affection, she held the leash for me as the two of us walked along the river path.

“So this is Tarō-chan. I heard about him from my brother.”
“He even jumped on him too. Maybe he just likes the Kaminagi siblings.”
“Just like you, Taiyō-san.”
“That’s right. I like siblings too… wait, why did you make me say that?”
“Hehe.”

Getting teased by someone younger than me — how mortifying. But she wasn’t wrong, so I didn’t deny it.
She tilted her head at me. No matter what angle I looked from, she really was cute.

“Do you like dogs?” I asked.
“I do. They’re adorable, aren’t they?”
“Yeah. You holding Tarō just now looked really cute too.”
“Eh!? S-such… c-cute… you thought I looked…?”
“Ahhhh, I-I said it wrong.”

My face heated up instantly. I was probably bright red.
I meant it like that, but not like that.
She too relaxed her expression, her cheeks tinged pink.
She really had been ridiculously cute, but I shouldn’t have said it out loud.

“Sorry for making you hold him so long!”

I instinctively snatched the leash back from her.
At that moment… her soft hand brushed mine and time froze.

“Ah.”

Our palms touched, the warmth of her skin transferring to me. We both quickly pulled our hands away.

“S-sorry!”
“N-no…”

She turned her face aside.
Girls really are soft… and small.
Just touching her hand had me like this… My lack of dating experience really hurts. Sixteen years — heck, up until recently I didn’t even have a proper female friend, let alone a girlfriend.
She still held the leash. I should’ve just taken it properly.

“Here, I’ll hand you the leash.”

The heat cooled and my breathing steadied. Her expression was calmer too.
I tried to grab the leash with just my fingers so our hands wouldn’t touch.

“What’s that?” she asked.
“Huh?”
“You have to hold it properly. H-hold my hand!”

Eh, what? Just taking the leash — my fingers would be fine!
But she stubbornly refused, shaking her head no matter what I said. “Hold my hand properly,” she insisted.
Why so insistent…? Then I remembered that moment.

I think I might have fallen for you, Taiyō-san.

No way. I steadied myself and took her right hand.
She still didn’t hand me the leash.

“Uh…”
“Just a little longer, just a little…”

Just a little what!?
Her face was so red! Her tiny hand was gripping my palm tightly. Then her grip loosened for a second — and that’s when—

“Woof!”
“Tarō!”

Taking advantage of the moment, the leash slipped out and Tarō dashed ahead. I took off after him.
And as I chased him, I caught a glimpse — she had pressed my right hand, the one she’d been holding, against her cheek, her expression like she was savoring something.