SCPK 06

Chapter 6 

Camera

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I like taking photographs.

Well, I’m not particularly skilled—it’s more of a hobby—but going out and capturing beautiful moments in everyday life has become one of my pastimes.
I borrow my father’s mirrorless camera and walk around the neighborhood, looking for something beautiful. Maybe when I become a university student, I’ll get a part-time job and buy a proper DSLR.

Since today is another sunny summer day, I sling the camera strap over my neck and head out to take some good shots.
Earlier, I walked along the riverside where I usually take the dog out. I prefer places with fewer people. I don’t want any misunderstandings.
I snap pictures of the river, the bridges, birds perched in trees, parked cars… capturing them as data while moving around.
Today’s shots aren’t bad. Alright…

“Whoa!”

Shoulder-length chestnut hair, eyes, nose, mouth—all perfectly aligned, healthy skin, a body with not an ounce of excess fat.
Her double-layered eyes were so pure that I instinctively stopped in my tracks.
That ideal… almost dazzling girl filled my viewfinder… and I pressed the shutter.

“Ah.”

Startled by my voice, the girl realized she’d been photographed and instinctively covered her face.
She… Tsukiyo Kaminagi, spoke up.

“D-Don’t take pictures of me!”
“Sorry, it was an impulse!”

I felt like it was the little sister who suddenly stepped forward’s fault…
But I couldn’t let this perfectly captured photo go to waste.

“You like cameras, don’t you, Taiyō-san? What were you photographing?”
“Landscapes, everyday life… I’m not really interested in funny or staged photos.”

The little sister was dressed in a typical girly outfit, a small pouch hanging from her side. Probably on her way back from hanging out with friends.

“Can I see your photos?”

I didn’t have anything embarrassing on the camera, so I handed it over. She scrolled through them one by one.
There were quite a few. Some were out of focus… nothing outstanding in quality, really.

“Mostly landscapes, huh.”
“Yeah. I don’t photograph people unless it’s really necessary.”
“Eh, so… was this one necessary?”
“Pffft!”

The photo in question was actually a joke shot of her older brother.

“So you really like your brother, Taiyō-san…”

She put her hand to her mouth and took a small step back. Her tone, the way she narrowed her eyes and loosened her lips… she’s teasing me.

“I hear that a lot, but it’s not true.”
“Your brother doesn’t have any other friends besides you, so it makes sense, right?”

That photo of him was unnecessary, so I deleted it. She continued browsing through the camera.

“I only photograph truly beautiful things. I like beauty, after all.”
“Then…”

She held the camera’s playback screen up to me.

“Is this beautiful?”
“Ugh!?”

It was my best shot—the photo I’d just taken of her. And yes, it was beautiful. Anyone could see that.
But there was no way I could say that out loud. How could I tell the girl in front of me that she was truly beautiful?

“My finger must have hit the button…”
“Mmmph…”

That answer didn’t satisfy her.
She gave me a sharp look, but I stubbornly tried to hide my red face and find a way out of this situation.
I got the camera back, slung the strap over my neck again, and went back to searching for subjects.
Ah, a bird on the river. Perfect. I raised the camera, framed it in the viewfinder…

—Beep

Huh? Wait, I haven’t even taken the photo yet.
That’s the sound of a smartphone shutter!

“I’m heading home now.”
“Eh, wait, little sister… what did you take!? Hey!”

She walked away from me, smartphone in hand. And the subject I had wanted to photograph was gone.