I'm Being Threatened by My Sister's Ex-girlfriend. (GL) - Chapter 13
“For now, don’t you think we should find some common hobby or something?”
Toudou leaned forward. Her hair swayed gently, and a sweet, peach-like scent teased my nose.
A common hobby, huh? I wonder what Hakobe likes.
She was able to pick me out of a sea of thumbnails. Maybe she watches streams like this often.
She also takes care of her appearance and is good at dyeing her hair. When she kills time, she opens a paperback instead of scrolling through her phone. She has a good sense of rhythm.
What else—what else?
I couldn’t think of anything.
It dawned on me that I hardly knew anything about her. I only learned recently that she has an older sister.
Hakobe’s older sister, who might be dating Ichika, my twin sister.
I intentionally pushed those thoughts out of my mind. It wasn’t something I should focus on right now. I shook my head at Toudou, whose eyes were shining with curiosity.
“Hobbies? I’m not really sure.”
“I see… In that case, I think an aquarium or a movie would be good.”
“Why’s that?”
Toudou raised her finger.
“Basically, they’re not too crowded, and you’ll have something to talk about right there. Plus, since you’re both girls, window shopping should be enough.”
“I see.”
It made sense. It was practical.
There was a shopping mall near Kaigan Mihama Station, with a small theater attached. It was a bit farther from the station, but the aquarium was within walking distance.
Considering what might happen later, a movie seemed like the safer bet.
I searched for showtimes online. There was the latest anime movie everyone was talking about this summer, a romance film that looked like the heroine was going to die, the latest Marvel superhero movie, a Japanese horror film I’d seen on social media, and a revival of a classic masterpiece.
Toudou, peering over my shoulder, spoke in an almost sage-like tone.
“Ultimately, any movie works.”
She raised her index finger again.
“Because in the end, it’s about having something to talk about. The important part is watching it seriously and being able to put your thoughts into words. That’s the first step to mutual understanding.”
“Even if it’s a movie where sharks are flying in the sky?”
“Of course. Even if sharks are flying in the sky, Tsuguno-chan.”
“So, where was everyone’s first date?”
At 9:00 PM that night, I asked the 200 people on the other side of the screen. The comments quickly picked up speed.
‘Ikebukuro Aquarium’
‘Movie. Mad Max: Fury Road’
‘No way…’
‘I went to Saizeriya and got rejected. I’ll never go again.’
‘That’s slander, seriously.’
“Saizeriya is so good, right? The spice that comes with the arrostini is super tasty.”
“That spice is illegal. You can actually buy it at the register though.”
“I love those illegal spices.”
“Here we go with the rumors again.”
“I’m fine with Saizeriya, though.”
“Back when I was a kid, I used to love doing those spot-the-difference puzzles. I could never solve them.”
“I know, right?”
I picked through the flowing comments like I was snacking on chips, reminiscing about my experiences at the famous restaurant chain.
I see now that what Toudo said makes sense.
To get a conversation going, you need to find common ground. The connection I share with the two hundred viewers is based on a shared experience. At some point in their lives, everyone’s eaten escargot at that restaurant, or lost at a spot-the-difference puzzle, and that’s why we’re all able to communicate now.
Sometimes, even one-sided talk has its value. Streamers, for example, are the epitome of that. But that’s more of a performance than a conversation. What I want isn’t just Hakobe listening to me talk, I want to have a conversation.
I want to talk, and I want to understand Hakobe.
I’m not exactly sure why I feel that way, but it’s true.
Either way, it’s a holiday. I want to make the most of the day, even if it doesn’t have a fancy name attached to it.
At the east exit of Mihama Seaside Station, there’s a golden dolphin statue standing tall. It’s the work of a local artist. Perhaps someday, this town will leave the land behind and sail off to the farthest sea.
But today is not that day. For now, the main role of the dolphin statue is to serve as a meeting spot.
I arrived about ten minutes early, and Hakobe was already standing there.
She spotted me quickly, narrowing her eyes like a mischievous witch.
“Didn’t you say you’d forget about arriving five minutes early?”
“I remembered. I thought of it when I woke up this morning.”
“I see, huh?”
She teasingly placed a hand near her mouth, and the polished nails shimmered as they caught the light.
It wasn’t just her nails. Her outfit was, well, put together. She wore a blouse with exposed shoulders and a high-waisted wrap skirt. Her collarbones were on full display, gleaming.
I hated to admit it, but I couldn’t deny it.
Today, Hakobe was cute. Probably the cutest she’d ever been.
“So, are you staring?”
She clasped her hands behind her back and peered at me from a downward angle. She knew exactly which angle made her look the best. It was a practiced, sly move.
I hid my eyes with my casquette hat and said, “Not really.”
Hakobe’s lips curled into a smirk. A mischievous look.
“Well, shall we go?”
Her slender arm curled around mine, which was sticking out from my oversized T-shirt. Skin brushed against skin, and heat quickly spread between us.
“Well, I don’t know where you’re taking me.”
“Just keep your expectations moderate.”
“I’ll do that.”
We walked side by side through the brightly lit station hall, looking like a couple.
Her curves brushed against my upper arm. The scent of vanilla tickled my nose, and the sweetness made my feet feel like they weren’t even touching the ground.