A Popular Girl Confessed to Me, the Loner—Thinking It Was a Prank, I Tried to Scare Her Off... But She Was Actually Serious. - Chapter 17: Walking Home Side by Side

After spending some quiet time at the café, we boarded the train, and by the time we stepped out onto the platform at our local station, the sun had already set.

The sky, which had been a warm orange just a short while ago, had turned to a deep navy blue, and the streetlights were beginning to flicker on one by one.

“Wow… it’s gotten kind of chilly~”

Hiyori hunched her shoulders and winced a little at the cold night air.

I gave a silent nod.

It had felt like spring during the day, but now that night had fallen, the wind cut through like a blade.

I glanced over and saw Hiyori hugging her arms close to her body.

No wonder she was cold—wearing just a dress and a light cardigan.

(…Should I offer her my jacket? But what if…)

I hesitated for a moment.

Would it be too much? Would she think I was trying too hard? What if she thought it was weird or overbearing?

But it felt wrong to keep walking when her shoulders looked so small and fragile in the cold.

Steeling myself, I reached into my backpack and pulled out the hoodie I’d brought just in case.

“…Want to wear this?”

My voice came out awkward and stiff.

Even the motion of handing it to her felt weirdly rigid—I almost wanted to scold myself for it.

Hiyori looked a bit surprised at first.

But then she gave me a soft, glowing smile—

“…Yeah. Thank you.”

Our fingertips brushed as she took it from me.

They were cold.

But somehow, I felt a gentle warmth spread through my chest.

She slipped on the slightly oversized hoodie, murmuring, “It’s so warm…”

That little whisper hit me harder than I expected, like a quiet thud straight to the heart.

But still—

We didn’t hold hands or anything like that.

Neither of us could quite take that last step forward.

***

The walk home was slow and quiet.

There weren’t as many people out as I expected, and the night had a calm stillness to it.

We were waiting at a crosswalk when Hiyori suddenly spoke.

“Today was… really fun.”

Her voice was softer than usual, a little quieter—but it felt warm and genuine.

“Yeah. The movie was great. …And being with you, Madoka-kun, it felt like everything became a real memory.”

“…A memory?”

“Yeah. Like, even the ordinary moments started to feel kind of special.”

Hiyori gave a shy smile, then turned her gaze back ahead.

“…Me too.”

The words came out naturally.

“…Let’s do it again sometime.”

“…!”

That simple line was probably the best I could manage.

I just really wanted to let her know—I wanted to spend more time with her.

And for some reason, those few words made her light up completely.

“…Yeah! Let’s definitely go again.”

Her cheerful reply filled me with relief—and a little fluttery warmth.

***

When we got close to her house, she tried to return the hoodie, but I shook my head.

“No need to give it back now. It’s too cold. Just bring it next time we meet.”

“Hehe, so that means we’ve already got another date planned, huh?”

She teased playfully, her smile warmer than the night breeze.

And then, just before we parted ways—

“See you later, Madoka-kun.”

“…Yeah. See you.”

We gave a small wave and started walking in opposite directions.

Even after I turned my back, I could still feel her warmth behind me—and I had to fight the urge to look back.

(…Just a little more.)

When I gave her the hoodie, when our fingers touched… maybe if I’d just taken one more step, I could’ve reached her hand.

(But maybe this is okay.)

I still don’t really know what kind of relationship we have. We’re not “officially” dating, not yet.

But I do know—what I feel is real.

As I walked, Hiyori’s profile from just a few minutes ago floated into my mind.

(Slowly is fine. As long as we keep moving forward together.)

On our walk home, we might’ve still had a little physical distance between us.

But I knew—without a doubt—that the space between our hearts had grown smaller.