Our Dating Story: The Experienced You and The Inexperienced Me - Volume 3 - Chapter Ep

Epilogue

When we heard the door open, Runa and I let go of each other.

“Oh, great, you’re still here.” The one who had shown up was Kurose-san. “Takei-sensei said we should throw a little wrap party for the pamphlet subcommittee in the classroom after the folk dance. She got cola and sweets ready.”

Takei-sensei was the teacher supervising the pamphlet group.

“Huh...? Oh, okay,” I replied.

“Th-Thank you, Maria,” added Runa.

Though we were both flustered, I figured we’d replied naturally enough.

“Oh, you can see the stage and the bonfire from here too,” said Kurose-san, coming over.

Stepping out onto the balcony, she grasped the handrail a bit away from us and looked down.

The song that had just played on the stage seemed to have been the last one, and now the folk dance was about to start.

There was a wooden yagura structure in the center of the schoolyard some distance away from the stage. It was a burning red, but since it was still bright outside, it didn’t stand out. Pairs of boys and girls made a circle around it, holding hands and waiting for the song to start.

“Last year, I wondered why they do a folk dance at the end of all this,” began Runa, her eyes fixed on the waiting students. “But maybe this is fine too. Makes it feel like the festival’s coming to an end.”

“Yeah.”

Just as I’d said that, the song began—the famous “Oklahoma Mixer,” aka “Turkey in the Straw.”

The boys and girls holding hands began to dance, letting go of each other every now and then to move on to a new partner. The scene went on and on.

“That looks nice. I wanted to dance to this tune,” Kurose-san said quietly, looking down at the group.

“What, really?” asked Runa, sounding surprised.

Kurose-san nodded. “Yeah. I went to an all-girls school before, so I’ve never done this folk dance.”

“Then why didn’t you go down there and dance?”

“I was looking for you two to tell you about the wrap party.”

“Oh, that makes sense...” Runa looked a bit uncomfortable, but then her face brightened as if she had thought of something. “Wanna dance? Here, right now.”

“There’s three of us, so we can’t,” Kurose-san replied curtly.

Runa drooped her shoulders. “Okay. Then we could... I guess we won’t make it in time if we go down there now.” Suddenly, Runa looked like an idea had come to her. “All right, I’m gonna go snag someone!”

“What...?!” I exclaimed in surprise.

Shooting me and Kurose-san a look, Runa rushed back into the classroom.

“We can dance if we have another guy with us, right? I’m sure there’s someone around, so I’ll go bring ’em here!” As soon as Runa said that, she dashed into the hallway, leaving us speechless.

There she goes.

Seeing Runa so enthusiastic put a smile on my face.

“That looks nice. I wanted to dance to this tune.”

Runa must’ve been eager to fulfill her sister’s wish. Even though Kurose-san had been cold to her all this time, she had spoken up about it anyway.

Now that our relationship had been repaired, Runa’s Friendship Project would no doubt start going according to plan.

As I thought that, I was surprised to feel a light touch on my right hand.

“Huh...?!” Looking over, I saw that Kurose-san had taken my hand. “K-Kurose-san...?”

My heart pounded at our unexpected proximity.

Kurose-san had her large eyes fixed on me. “Help me practice,” she said and puffed out her cheeks like she was sulking a bit. “You can do that much for me, right? It’s my first time.”

I didn’t know what to say.

O-Okay, so she’s just talking about the folk dance...

Kurose-san held my hand as I remained speechless. She closed the distance between us and assumed the correct stance for dancing to the “Oklahoma Mixer.” As her black hair swayed smoothly, a girly scent filled the air. Unlike Runa’s scent, it was a soapy one.

My heart was pounding. My hand that touched hers felt hot.

It was the same hand I’d put in the Mouth of Truth back then.

“I hear if a liar puts his hand in the mouth, it’ll get bitten off.”

“I guess you’re safe, then. You’re ‘the last man’ and all.”

What had I vowed back then? One day, when Runa and I would go to Italy, would I be brave enough to put this hand into the real Mouth of Truth?

The “Oklahoma Mixer” was still playing at the schoolyard.

I started my clumsy dance with Kurose-san.

I loved Runa. I wanted to be with her forever. These feelings were unwavering.

But...

I didn’t have the courage to shake off this fair, delicate hand. I couldn’t steel my heart to stop it from pounding so much either.

At least not the way I was now.