Chapter 63
Every two or three days, they meet deep in Rookie Forest to spend time alone together.
As these days continue, Isamu completely remembers the love he had forgotten.
When he learns through their conversations that Yuka doesn’t have a partner, he starts strongly wishing to try again with her.
Moreover, from Yuka’s words here and there, he often thinks, 「Maybe she still has feelings for me.」
Of course, that’s probably just wishful thinking.
But what if it’s not a misunderstanding?
After much deliberation, Isamu decides to take action, pinning his hopes on this possibility.
☆
「By the way, the latest InviHero movie is coming out soon, isn’t it?」
Isamu casually brings up while they’re waiting for monsters to appear.
InviHero is the abbreviation for 「Invisible Hero,」 a popular Hollywood movie series worldwide.
The protagonist appears to be an ordinary office worker, but his true identity is a superhuman with special abilities who fights villains day and night—a typical superhero movie.
Isamu and Yuka are big fans of this movie series and used to watch it repeatedly when they were dating.
The long-awaited latest installment of the series is set to release this weekend.
「Yeah! I’m so excited!」 Yuka exclaims.
「Me too. So, Yuka, have you already made plans to see it with someone?」 Isamu probes.
「Hm? No! I don’t have anyone I like around, so I was planning to go alone,」 she replies.
「I see. Well… if you’d like, would you want to go with me?」 Isamu suggests.
Yuka’s eyes widen at his words.
Her surprise is natural. After all, this is an invitation for a date.
If she refuses here, Isamu is prepared to give up on Yuka gracefully and continue treating her as just a friend.
He’s made up his mind about that.
(W-Well…?)
Isamu waits nervously for a few seconds. Then, Yuka, who had been frozen until now, breaks into a smile.
「Yes, I’d love to! It sounds fun to go with you, Isamu!」
Whether it’s because she still has feelings for him or simply because they’re both movie fans who get along well, he doesn’t know.
Either way, she’s accepted his invitation for a date.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Isamu decides to set the date and time for their outing.
☆
On the day of the date, a few minutes before 6 PM.
Isamu, dressed more stylishly than usual, stands in front of the station ticket gates with his smartphone in hand.
He’s wearing a smart casual outfit: a white cut-and-sew top, a navy jacket, and black chino pants.
Everything is newly bought for today, showing his enthusiasm for the date.
(It should be about time…)
Isamu checks the time and takes a deep breath.
As he’s moistening his throat with the milk tea he just bought from a vending machine—
「Good evening! Sorry, did I keep you waiting?」
A voice calls out from the side.
When he looks over, there stands Yuka.
The combination of her white knit top and beige long skirt enhances her inherent modesty.
(She’s cute…)
Isamu freezes, captivated by Yuka’s appearance that he hasn’t seen in a while.
Yuka looks at the stunned Isamu with a puzzled expression.
「…Isamu?」
「Huh? Oh, sorry. I just got here myself! I haven’t been waiting at all!」
In reality, he had arrived more than 30 minutes early.
But that was just because he couldn’t sit still and came early on his own.
Besides, even if Yuka had been late, he wouldn’t mention such an uncouth thing.
「Oh, good! I’m glad!」
「Yeah. Well, shall we go?」
After this typical exchange, the two start walking towards the movie theater.
☆
Time passes, and it’s now 10 PM.
After watching the movie, Isamu invites Yuka to dinner, saying, 「Since we’re already out.」
She happily agrees, and they spend an enjoyable time discussing their impressions of the film over the meal.
On their way back—
「Walking like this reminds me of the old days.」
Yuka says, breaking a brief silence that had fallen between them.
「The old days?」
「Yeah. When you and I were dating… Those days were so happy.」
She says, looking up at the night sky.
Her somewhat lonely expression and tone seem to express a desire to return to those times.
(So Yuka really…)
Today’s date was just the first step.
Isamu isn’t reckless enough to propose getting back together on their first date.
He had planned to go on more dates, properly close the emotional distance between them, and then confess his feelings when the time was right.
But the moment he hears Yuka’s words, Isamu can’t hold back anymore.
「Oh, sorry for saying something weird! Ah, look! Over there—」
「Yuka,」
Isamu interrupts her, stopping in his tracks.
「Hm?」
Yuka also stops and turns to face him.
「I know I’m not in a position to say this after hurting you five years ago… But still, please let me say it.」
Saying this, Isamu takes a deep breath.
Then, after steeling himself, he continues:
「Until recently, I was truly the worst kind of man. But thanks to the friends I made in the game, I think I’ve become a bit more decent… I won’t ever disappoint you like before. So… would you please go out with me again?」
Isamu honestly conveys his feelings.
After a brief pause, Yuka begins to speak with a serious expression:
「You know, I was really shocked when you changed like that. But I think I was partly to blame for what happened. So, I decided to say goodbye to you. I thought if I did that, you’d go back to being the hardworking and kind person you used to be… And that you’d come back for me.」
After slowly finishing her piece, Yuka smiles.
「…You’ve kept me waiting for too long, you idiot.」
It wasn’t a misunderstanding after all.
Yuka had been thinking of him all this time.
Always, even though he was such a hopeless case.
「I’m sorry. I really am an idiot… I promise I’ll never let you down again, Yuka.」
Isamu embraces Yuka.
In response, Yuka wraps her arms around his back.
Then, with a tear-tinged voice, she replies:
「…It’s a promise, okay?」
「Yeah. I promise.」
On this day, Isamu and Yuka get back together.
Sub29: My Thoughts on ‘Tutorial Guy’ as the Series Nears Its End
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