The Delinquent Shimizu-san Sitting Next to Me Has Dyed Her Hair Black-Chapter 8Volume 4 .2 - Shimizu-san and the Cultural Festival Tour

Shimizu-san and the Cultural Festival Tour 2

“Hondō, are you there?”

“I’m here.”

“Then, that’s good.”

How many times have we repeated this conversation?

I’m starting to get a little worried.

“Shimizu-san, are you really okay?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ve seemed anxious ever since we entered.”

“I’m not anxious!”

“Really?”

“Come on, let’s keep going.”

Shimizu-san moved ahead in the dark haunted house, relying on the light from the flashlight we received from Ai-san at the reception.

The walls inside the haunted house were made of cardboard, and the path was a straight line.

“If you’re scared, Shimizu-san, I can go in front?”

“I told you, I’m not scared! Just follow me with peace of mind.”

The next moment, a sound like a child’s laughter came from nowhere.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, there was an impact from the front.

It took me a few seconds to realize that Shimizu-san had clung to me.

“...Shimizu-san, it’s a bit tight.”

“H-Huh? T-this is to protect you...”

That excuse seems a bit far-fetched.

As I was thinking this, something flashed violently overhead.

“Ahhh!”

This time, she clung to my arm with force. There was a soft sensation on my arm.

No, I shouldn’t think too deeply about that sensation right now.

“Calm down. It’s okay, Shimizu-san.”

“But the voice! The light!”

“The voice is probably just a recording played by some machine. The light might be a camera flash or something.”

“...I see.”

Shimizu-san seemed to calm down a bit and let go of my arm.

“Are you calmed down?”

“...Sorry, I got a little panicked.”

It felt like more than just a little, but it’s probably better not to say that.

“Shall we keep going then? Can I lead the way this time?”

It feels dangerous to let Shimizu-san go ahead.

Or rather, I don’t want to put Shimizu-san in any danger.

“...I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“...Lend me your hand.”

“Sure.”

I reached out my hand to Shimizu-san.

I remembered the expression on her face when she pressed my hand against her cheek and smiled during my visit, and my heart skipped a beat.

Shimizu-san hesitantly touched my hand and then intertwined her fingers with mine.

“Shimizu-san!?”

“This place is more dangerous than I thought. So let’s move together.”

“O-okay?”

“...Do you mind?”

“No, I was just surprised because it was so sudden. I feel more reassured holding hands with you too, Shimizu-san.”

“T-that’s right!”

Although it was dark and hard to see, I’m sure Shimizu-san had a proud expression on her face.

“Then let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

Holding the flashlight in one hand and Shimizu-san’s hand in the other, we began to walk again, little by little.

“By the way, you seem fine with the haunted house. That’s different from what you said.”

Shimizu-san, having regained her spirits, started the conversation.

“It’s not that I’m really good with scary things.”

“Then why are you so calm?”

“Because if I panicked too, there would be no one left to protect you, Shimizu-san.”

“Wha?!”

“That’s why I’m just trying hard to keep my fear under control.”

“You...”

Even without seeing, I know.

Right now, I’m definitely being glared at by Shimizu-san.

“Did I say something weird?”

“I don’t know if it’s weird, but if you say that to just anyone, you’ll end up in a lot of trouble later.”

“I only say it to you, Shimizu-san, so it should be fine.”

I felt Shimizu-san’s grip on my hand tighten a bit.

“You don’t have to grip so tightly. As long as Shimizu-san doesn’t let go of my hand, I definitely won’t let go either.”

“You, are you always this talkative?”

“Maybe I’m trying to hide how scared I am.”

“...I’ll let that excuse slide.”

I was indeed anxious about what might come next.

“Hey, don’t just tap my shoulder without saying anything at a time like this.”

“Ah, are you serious?”

“Why would I need to lie... wait...”

It seemed Shimizu-san had realized it too.

I was holding a flashlight in one hand, and my other hand was linked with Shimizu-san’s.

There was no way I could have tapped anyone’s shoulder.

We slowly turned around together. There, standing behind us, was a figure wrapped head to toe in bandages.

The faceless figure seemed to be laughing for some reason.

“Kyaa!”

Shimizu-san let out a high-pitched scream.

Together, Shimizu-san and I ran the rest of the way.

***

“Good job!”

“...Haa,...haa.”

“Huh, Kei-san seems really tired?”

Ai-san was sporting a grin that could only be described as mischievous.

Shimizu-san didn’t retort immediately, probably exhausted from all the screaming.

“...remember this later.”

“I’ll just erase it from my memory. And this!”

Ai-san fiddled with her smartphone, and a sound came from Shimizu-san’s direction.

“What’s that?”

“Kei, check your phone?”

Shimizu-san pulled out her smartphone from her pocket.

“W-what’s this!”

“What’s in the picture?”

“Show him, Kei.”

“Ugh...”

Shimizu-san showed me the smartphone screen.

It displayed a photo of Shimizu-san clinging to my arm.

“Is this a picture from inside the haunted house we were in just now?”

“That’s right! Remember when there was a flash inside the haunted house? That was the light from the smartphone’s flash!”

So that intense light was this.

It had caught me off guard, so I hadn’t seen the source clearly.

“Can I get a copy of that photo too?”

“Hondō!?”

“Of course!”

Ai-san quickly operated her smartphone, and a sound came from my phone.

Checking it, I saw that the same photo Shimizu-san had shown me had been sent to me.

“Thank you very much.”

“No need to thank me! It’s all part of the service for our group!”

“Don’t you dare show it to anyone else.”

“Of course. It’ll just be a memory for me and Shimizu-san.”

“Ah, Ai has it too, right?”

“I’ve already deleted it. Now it’s a memory just for the two of you.”

“You!”

Shimizu-san glared at Ai-san, but it didn’t seem to affect her much.