It was nearly three o’clock.
I was busy scrubbing the bathroom. Normally, Hayashi would have flown into a rage if she caught me cleaning, but today she didn't seem to mind.
"Are you done yet?"
If anything, I was the one grumbling at her while I worked. I wondered what had brought on this change of heart.
"Just a little longer!"
Well, it wasn't exactly some grand, dramatic mystery. I was simply waiting for Hayashi to finish picking out her outfit. For quite a while now, she had shoved me into the bathroom while she agonized over what to wear. She still hadn't made up her mind, and the minutes were ticking away.
"That’s enough, isn't it? Just pick something already."
"As if I could do that."
"Why not? We’re just going out together, aren’t we?"
I couldn't understand why she needed to be so meticulous about her clothes just to spend time with someone like me.
"It’s because it’s with you, isn't it?"
"Huh? I have no idea what that’s supposed to mean."
Honestly. I would never understand the way a woman’s mind worked.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"You certainly did."
"...You could try being a little more patient."
Maybe I had gone a bit too far with my complaints.
Looking at the sulking Hayashi, I felt a slight pang of inner panic. It would be fine if she were just annoyed, but lately, she had been prone to depressive slumps because of her ex-lover. I felt a flicker of genuine concern.
"Let’s go."
"O-oh, right."
It seemed she wasn't letting my attitude get to her too much. Relieved, I followed her out of the apartment.
...That’s right. I should say something.
"Hey, Hayashi."
"What?"
"That outfit looks good on you. Really good."
I had been a jerk earlier, but what I just said was the absolute truth.
"...Hmph!"
"Ah, hey."
Hayashi puffed out her cheeks and marched ahead of me.
Well, I suppose my earlier comments really had been too harsh. I had no choice but to work hard to get her back into a good mood.
On the way to the station, I put every ounce of effort I had into flattering her. I feel like I said a lot of things, though I only remember about half of it now. I do know, however, that I didn't tell a single lie.
As a result of my campaign, Hayashi seemed to have cheered up a bit by the time we reached the station. Though, was it just my imagination, or had her cheeks been flushed for a while?
"So, what’s the plan from here?" I asked.
"We’ll take a short stroll, have dinner, and then go see the play."
"I see. Where are we walking?"
"Actually, I haven't decided that part yet."
Is that so?
Come to think of it, when Hayashi went on a date with me before, her planning had been quite passive. Kasahara had probably picked the dinner and the theater... but she hadn't specified where to walk. So, Hayashi was left with a blank space in the itinerary. That was likely the case.
...Hmm.
"Yamamoto, is there anywhere you want to go?"
"Actually..."
"You have an idea?"
"How about the Rainbow Bridge?"
"Wait, you can walk across that?"
"There’s actually a promenade."
The Rainbow Bridge featured a walkway in addition to the Yurikamome tracks and the two-tier roadway. From there, you could see both Tokyo Bay and the city skyline. Truth be told, I had been thinking about walking it alone someday, but I figured this was as good a time as any.
"I hear the view is pretty spectacular."
"...The view is good?"
"Yeah."
"...Then it sounds like it might be atmospheric."
"Hm? Yeah, I guess."
"...Heh."
Hayashi put her hand to her chin, lost in thought for a moment. I had a feeling my suggestion would be accepted. The theater performance was being held in Odaiba, so we'd likely be eating dinner around there anyway. A stroll across the bridge was a perfect fit for the location.
"Shall we try it?"
"Sure."
With her agreement, we caught a series of trains toward the bridge.
Passing through the industrial area by Shibaura Pier, the path to the Rainbow Bridge Promenade emerged from a somewhat desolate spot between factories. From there, we had to take an elevator up to the walkway.
Before we entered the facility, Hayashi looked up at the massive structure of the bridge looming directly above us.
"...Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Are we really walking up there?"
Just then, a roar echoed from the bridge. It seemed that when trucks drove by, the sound of their cargo rattling resonated through the steel structure, magnifying into a thunderous boom.
"Do you hate the idea?"
"...Uh, well."
"If you hate it, we can stop. It’s not like I wanted to put you through something miserable."
I felt a bit guilty. I had let the novelty of the walk take precedence over how overwhelming it might be. I could handle it fine on my own, but dragging a girl up there felt a bit cruel.
"Let’s go," Hayashi said firmly.
"Eh?"
"...Let’s go."
"...Are you sure? You're not scared?"
Hayashi looked down, then slowly shook her head.
I figured as much. One look at her pale face told me everything I needed to know.
"Sorry. Let’s call it off. To be honest, I'm getting cold feet too. It's actually pretty terrifying. Let's just give up."
I knew she would be stubborn if I pushed her, so I tried to take the blame to lighten her burden.
"You know," she said.
"What?"
"You’re a really terrible liar."
On the verge of tears, Hayashi grabbed my hand and pulled me into the elevator building.
Once she found the elevator, she pulled me inside with a trembling hand, and finally, we stepped out onto the Rainbow Bridge Promenade.
As soon as we cleared the automatic doors, a truck roared past on the roadway right beside us. The thunderous sound echoed through the air, and the bridge swayed ever so slightly.
"Hiii...!"
Hayashi clung tightly to my arm.
...I wasn't afraid of the height, but strangely, my own heart began to pound against my ribs.
"L-let’s turn back..."
"What!?"
"Let’s turn back!!!"
The traffic noise was so loud that my normal voice couldn't reach her. When I shouted, Hayashi looked up at me with a sullen pout, her eyes upturned. I could see a faint glimmer of tears at the corners of her lids.
"If you're going to cry, don't force yourself," I said, my voice full of exasperation. I reached out and wiped the tears away.
"I-I can do it..."
"You're acting like a toddler right now."
"I said we're going!"
Still clinging to my arm, Hayashi managed to take one step, then another.
Just a date!!!