E-book Bonus Short Story: ‘Time Begins to Move’
─Sunday, Ichijou Ai’s Perspective─
Eating lunch together and window shopping—it’s been a long time since I’ve gone shopping with anyone. To think that person would be a guy… I couldn’t have imagined it a week ago.
Watching movies has always been my escape. For those two hours, I’m whisked away to another world, far from the painful, hellish reality I live in. That’s why I grew to love them. But watching a movie with him was different. It wasn’t negative, not at all. It still transported me to another place, but it felt like an adventure—an exciting journey with Senpai, stepping into the same story, diving deeper together. It felt… good.
Earlier, as we talked endlessly about the movie we’d just seen, I felt a part of myself being saved. Having someone understand me, sharing those emotions—it lightened my heart, little by little, like a weight slowly lifting.
What I’ve been yearning for, I think, is someone close who truly gets me. Since meeting him, I’ve started to see myself more clearly. That incident stole my sense of who I was, and the pain only grew heavier. That’s probably why I wanted to disappear.
My gaze drifted to the side, landing on a stuffed toy displayed outside a general store. Most were characters I didn’t recognize, but one caught my eye. It was almost too cute, though. Asking for something like that would be way too embarrassing.
“Something catch your eye?”
I flinched, startled. He noticed just from a slight shift in my gaze? I’ve never gone out with a guy like this before. This is my first date, and…
“Um…”
Caught off guard, I hesitated, but he seemed to sense my unease and gave a gentle smile.
“That shop from earlier? If there’s something you want to check out, don’t hold back. Just tell me. We’re shopping together, after all.”
How does he understand me so well? It’s not normal—it’s something only he can do. If that’s true, maybe it’s okay to lean on him, just a little.
“That general store over there.”
He nodded softly, and we stepped into the shop.
※
“Is it really okay? You paid for the movie, and now you’re buying me a stuffed toy?”
Leaving the general store, I clutched the paper bag with the stuffed toy he’d bought me, holding it close.
“It’s fine. You’re always helping me out, after all.”
My first gift from a guy.
“Thank you so much. I’ll treasure it.”
I didn’t mention it was my first. Because, in truth, I’ve already received so much from him. We kept walking, our date continuing as the day unfolded.
