My Girlfriend Who Is Older Than Me Teases Me When I’m Working At A Bar, But Maybe Because Of Alcohol

The Same Resolve to Endure…

“I really went through a tough time…with everyone bullying me…”

“Mio-san, you a famous person, so I understand how you feel.”

Toma smiled as he agreed, while Mio pouted cutely and complained.

Currently, they have finished their respective classes at university and met up. The sunset had started, painting the sky in shades of red and gold. They walked step by step, admiring the beautiful scenery that they wanted to capture in a photo.

“Are you one of the people who bully me too, Toma-kun?”

“I might be the ringleader and bully you myself.”

“Oh come on…that’s not nice of you, Toma-kun.”

“I’m sorry, I just wanted to see your reaction, Mio-san.”

“If you were to join in with everyone else, I’d hit you first. With all my might.”

“Hey…you’re not joking, are you?”

“Hehe, of course I am.”

As Mio and Toma continued their friendly conversation, they headed towards their workplace at Shine. Today was Toma’s shift, and it was also the day that Mio had gathered the courage to confess her feelings.

“Oh, let me carry your tote bag. I have one hand free.”

“That doesn’t sound like something the ringleader who just said he might bully me would say…”

“That was just a joke, I swear.”

With a smile, Toma offered his free hand.

Indeed, Toma’s suggestion was thoughtful. It made Mio happy that he cared about her. However, today was different.

If she handed him the tote bag, both of Toma’s hands would be occupied.

If that happened, their promise from yesterday… would become impossible to fulfill.

They had made a promise to “walk home while holding hands” today.

“Are you really intending to carry my bag, Toma-kun?”

“…I-Is there a problem?”

“There are tons of problems…”

“…Y-Yes, I suppose.”

“Huh? It’s a little strange for you to say ‘yes’ like that.”

Toma, who had just raised the question himself, agreed in this way. It was only natural for Mio to feel a sense of discomfort.

“Are you talking about… our promise from yesterday?”

“Y-Yes… I am. If you remember, then hurry up… I mean, I switched the bag to the opposite hand so that it’s easier for you to hold hands, Toma-kun.”

“I’m sorry… I knew that you were considerate, but I couldn’t find the right timing… I’m not used to this kind of thing…”

This was a promise made by Toma. He scratched his cheek, tinted with the colors of the sunset, while oozing an apologetic expression.

It wasn’t easy to say lines like “Let’s hold hands” during such a casual conversation.

Toma, who lacked experience in love, couldn’t help it. And… Mio was the same.

“I-if you can’t find the right timing… then… you can hold my hand now…”

Mio stopped and timidly extended her pale hand towards Toma, looking down. Her ears turned bright red and she seemed like she might run away at any moment.

“B-bold… aren’t you?”

“I-I’m not used to it either… I can only do clumsy things like this… I-is it bad?”

“It’s not bad at all… I’m sorry, if I were more composed…”

“If you’re going to say that… then hurry up and hold it… people are looking at us strangely…”

“P-please say it quickly…”

“It’s your fault for not holding my hand sooner, Toma-kun…”

The current situation was that Mio had reached out her hand to Toma. Although it was done to hold hands, people around them misunderstood it as a strong man letting a woman carry his bag.

Indeed, it is a common consideration for a strong man to carry the bag.

“W-well then… excuse me…”

“Y-yeah…”

With a voice tinged with nervousness, Toma enveloped Mio’s hand, just as he did yesterday.

Thanks to Mio’s quick thinking and their inexperience, they were able to fulfill their promise.

…

…

However, no conversation occurred since they held hands.

Unlike the late nights after work, there were people and cars around now. They were receiving warm gazes from the surroundings, as if saying, “Ah, it was to hold hands.”

The silence and the atmosphere made them suddenly feel embarrassed.

“U-um…”

To break this situation even a little, Toma forcefully squeezed out his voice, and Mio, with her lustrous long hair swaying, shook her head sideways.

“If you don’t want to force yourself to talk, it’s okay. I like this time too, so…”

“I-I see. In that case… let’s stay like this.”

His heart throbbed so hard that he felt like he couldn’t breathe. It was only few words, but it was enough to make Toma unable to remain calm. Was it because of the sunset, or something else, that his entire face was tinged with red? Mio, who made a single character out of her small lips, was looking down at her feet. She was hiding her embarrassment.

Mio, who was usually unshaken, was behaving in such a way. Toma witnessed an adorable gap.

“…!”

He couldn’t hold back his feelings any longer. He had to express them… to Mio… after work. Toma’s gears had begun to turn.

Someone was following them from behind. He had put his silver shining blade back into his bag…