Inside the restaurant were many students our own age. There were even some people there who looked at Orihara-san and whispered “That girl from Tourin is cute,” making me feel a bit of pride.
Together we ordered off the set menu, and at Orihara-san’s request we split the cost between us. We sat in a booth in the back and engaged in light conversation while eating our reasonably priced hamburgers.
“So, you actually play video games, Orihara-san?”
“I do. A lot, actually! On my days off I probably won’t step foot outside and spend the whole day playing them.”
“What are you playing now?”
“I’m playing a lot of different ones, but I think the one I play most is Smash Bros.”
“Oh, I play that too.”
“Really?! Smash Bros is so fun, right? No matter how old you get, it’s still good! I’ve been playing it since the 64. I’d play it so much the analog stick in the middle of the controller would get all worn out—”
“...Sixty-four? What was ‘the sixty-four’ again?”
“What... oh! That’s right, high schoolers these days don’t know about the 64. You see, I... um... had an older sister, so there was a 64 in our house... So, Momota-kun, was your first Smash Bros game on the ’Cube?”
“C-Cube...? No, the first one I played was on the Wii.”
“Y-You started from the Wii...?!”
For some reason, Orihara-san looked like she just got punched in the gut as her face filled with despair.
After eating, we started talking about going to karaoke... however...
“...Let’s not go after all.”
“Y-Yeah.”
We came all the way to the storefront of the karaoke place, but both of us were unable to take another step before we gave up. As expected, karaoke was too difficult for us. Having to sing in front of each other was already embarrassing enough as it was, and I had a feeling being together in that tiny karaoke box would be pretty awkward. Even though we ended up not going to karaoke, it got us talking about music.
“Orihara-san, what kind of music do you like?”
“Um, I don’t really have a particular genre that I like. I listen to anything. I listen to what I feel like at the time, so what I’m hooked on changes.”
“Ah, I’m kind of like that too. A lot of times I’ll listen to the themes for dramas and anime and get hooked on those songs’ genres. From there I’ll make my ‘Best of’ playlist.”
“Oh. I do that too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’ll make my own ‘Best of’ playlist for every situation. I’ve been doing it for a while, come to think of it... Back in middle school I made a ton of MDs with playlists for stuff like, ‘When I’m Sad’ or ‘Study Time’ and so on...”
“...MD? What’s that?”
“What...? You don’t know MiniDiscs?! Then, what do you listen to music on...? Momota-kun, what was your very first music player...?”
“Just an iPod.”
“...Y-You started in the iPod generation?!”
For some reason, Orihara-san looked like she just had her entrails cut out as her face filled with anguish.
Next we stepped into the bookstore. I had a feeling that we didn’t really have much in common when it came to talking about games and music, but for some reason when it came to manga we were totally in sync.
“Momota-kun, you read a lot of older manga, huh?”
“Well, there just happens to be a lot of opportunities to notice them. Also, I’ll see on manga apps that they’re being re-serialized, develop an interest and buy the digital version, then read them at manga cafés, that sort of thing.”
“I see.”
“Not only that, but also there’s a lot of manga that are still going whose publication began before we were born... also, lately there’re ones that get turned into anime.”
“That’s true. Lately in the anime industry a lot of past works are being remade.”
“It also seems like One Piece has been going since before we were born; actually, my dad bought the manga and we’ve read it together since I was in elementary school.”
“...Oh, your dad. B-By the way, how old is your dad?”
“Um, he’s 23 years older than me, so... I think he’s 38 this year?”
“38?!”
“Yeah... a-are you okay?”
“Y-Yes, it’s n-nothing...”
For some reason, Orihara-san’s eyes went wide and she seemed like she was going to faint.
At around 3 p.m. we headed to the Round One close to the station. If we’re talking about the standard date spot for students around here, then it would have to be Round One, after all.
Today being Sunday meant that it was totally crowded on the inside of the building. There were people with their families, groups that appeared to be students, and young couples. The interior was boisterous with people’s conversations and the music playing in the background.
“Wow, it’s amazing.”
Orihara-san’s eyes lit up as she looked out from the second floor’s reception desk to the play area.
“Could it be that this is your first time coming to Round One?”
“The truth is, y-yeah.”
Unable to conceal her excitement, she gave a small nod.
“It’s like... the me at high school isn’t anything like that. I’ve always been interested, but I don’t have any friends to come with me,” she muttered with a clouded expression. She then looked at me as if she were expecting something.
“Momota-kun, do you come here often?”
“Yeah, now and again.”
“In that case...”
She then grabbed her school uniform’s sleeves tightly and said, “Teach me how to have fun here today, Momota-kun.”
That gesture and those words were more than enough to shoot me through the heart like Cupid’s arrow.
Even if I say that I’m going to teach her, there isn’t really a proper way to have fun at an amusement park. You should just do whatever you like.
Bowling, batting cages, mini basketball, darts, ping pong, badminton, segways, the video game arcade, and so on—we enjoyed as many attractions as time permitted. Just like students would, we enjoyed a wholesome low-budget date.
“Ahh... now that was fun. It’s been a while since I’ve cut loose and moved around so much.”
Orihara-san let out a long stretch as we waited for the elevator on the fifth floor.