Finding the Shape of Love - Chapter 11

We decided to walk home together after school again. Or rather, we’d been doing it since last weekend, and it seemed like it would just keep going that way. After changing my shoes at the shoe lockers and slinging my bag over my shoulder, I noticed my phone wasn’t in the front pocket where it should be.

Since it feels heavy in my uniform pocket, my usual spot when carrying my bag is the front pocket—but it wasn’t there.

“Wait a sec. My phone’s gone. Maybe I left it in the classroom.”

“Ah, r-really? I’ll come with you.”

“Hmm, sure? Sorry about this.”

“No, no, no, no!”

I led Koume, who had come to the third-year lockers before I’d even changed my shoes, back upstairs, switching into indoor shoes again as we returned to the classroom. Since I’d met up with Koume from a different building wing, by the time we got back, there were no other students left.

I went to my desk and peered inside. Huh? It’s not there. Wait, crap. Did I drop my phone somewhere? I felt the blood drain from my face.

It’s not like I’m on it 24/7, but losing it would be bad. It’s locked, so if someone turned it in as lost property, that’d be fine, but there’s also a chance it got stolen. And it’s still practically brand new.

“Oh no, this is bad. I haven’t touched it since lunch, so I don’t remember where I had it last. I’m gonna go look for it!”

“Ah, I-I’ll help look too!”

“Please do!”

I hurried off to search. First, I checked the staff room to see if it had been turned in. Then I retraced my steps from lunch and the way back, the bathroom, and once more went from one end of the classroom to the other.

…Nothing. Wait, seriously? Did someone actually steal it?

“No way…”

Ugh, what a shock… More than that, it’s just plain inconvenient. Without my phone, I can’t get in touch with anyone, all my contacts would be gone, and even the progress in that social game I occasionally remember to play would vanish.

“…Sigh.”

No point staying here forever. I’d just go home today, check again tomorrow to see if it had been turned in, and if not, file a report with the police and apologize to my parents.

Anyway, before heading home, I needed to find Koume. Oh, right. Without my phone, I can’t even contact her to meet up. Crap. Secondary damage. But she probably hasn’t gone home yet, so I’ll just head toward Koume’s classroom.

“…Sigh.”

She’s not here. Where’d she go? I reached her classroom, but maybe Koume was out looking for me too. In that case, she might be waiting in my classroom—oh, there she is.

I sighed as I arrived at Koume’s classroom and casually peeked inside through the door left wide open. Koume was there by the window. Since there didn’t seem to be any other students around, I went in without hesitation and called out to her.

“Koume…? Huh?”

“! S-Senpai! Ah, no—um, I-I found it in the hallway!”

When I called her name, Koume was somehow holding my phone, and I could see the screen was lit up and unlocked. Startled, she turned around and flusteredly lifted my phone up as if presenting it, saying that.

Well, that’s a plausible scenario, but then why was she in her own classroom, and why was she using it? Trying not to show my unease, I smiled.

“I see, thanks. Can I have it back?”

“Ah, uh… Right now, it’s a bit, you could say, tied up…”

“Can I have it back?”

“…Yes.”

Koume handed me the phone. Some English app seemed to be running. I couldn’t read all of it, but it said something like “GPS.” It’s an app I’ve never seen before.

Even if she’d accidentally opened it by touching the screen and some default mystery app started up, her attitude was clearly off.

“Did you install this, Koume? Can you explain what this app is?”

“…Um, well, it’s an app for couples so they can always share each other’s location information.”

“I see.”

Putting aside the “for couples” part, it basically means it’s a surveillance app.

“Why did you install it?”

“Well… I just always want to know where you are, Senpai.”

I see. So, she went ahead and installed it without asking. No doubt about it—she stole my phone. Was she planning to install it after we parted ways, then pretend she’d found it and return it?

And she intended to constantly monitor where I was, one-sidedly. That’s seriously not okay, right?

I sighed, and Koume flinched, her body trembling as she looked down, only occasionally glancing up at me. She’s not as small as Yoko, but Koume is still shorter than me.

With her fluffy hair adding to it, she has this small-animal-like cuteness. But that doesn’t mean we can gloss over this.

“Koume, you know you can’t just do things like this without permission, right?”

“…Yes. I’m sorry.”

“Do you understand what you did wrong?”

“…I touched someone else’s phone without permission and tried to surveil them without asking.”

“Yeah. One wrong step, or rather, I’m pretty sure touching someone’s phone without permission is illegal. Even if we’re dating, it’s absolutely something you must not do.”

Plus, GPS surveillance is just the right level of creepy clinginess. At least it’s not wiretapping, so it doesn’t feel fully criminal, but it’s definitely off-putting.

At my scolding tone, Koume shrank even more, trembling as she clenched her hands together in front of her and spoke.

“…Yes. I’m very sorry. But, um, I just wanted to know about you, Senpai. Um. I’m sorry!”

Her voice shook. Seriously, is she bold or sensitive? I let out a breath, then took a handkerchief from my pocket.

“Don’t cry. I’m not mad.”

I held out the handkerchief as I said that, and Koume glanced up, turning teary eyes toward me. Those sparkling eyes didn’t look at all like a quasi-criminal’s.

“Y-You’re not mad?”

“Nope. Dry your tears.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Koume took the handkerchief and gently dabbed the corners of her eyes. Then, with her face still slightly flushed, she looked up at me with an anxious expression.

“Wh-Why aren’t you mad?”

“Do you want me to be?”

“It’s not that.”

Koume looked surprised and bewildered. Did she really expect me to be furious? That’s surprising to me.

I held up my phone so Koume could see it and looked at her.

“With this app, can I see your location too?”

“Y-Yes, if you set it up.”

“And you’re okay with being constantly watched too, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Then it’s fine.”

She probably meant no real harm. She did it secretly because she thought I’d dislike it or get angry if I found out. But if she herself is fine with being on the receiving end, then maybe it’s somewhat understandable.

Besides, while I did think it was outrageous at first, upon calm reflection, even if my GPS is always known, it’s not really a big deal. We are dating, even if it’s provisional, and if she asked where I was, I’d tell her anytime. So, her knowing before asking isn’t really a problem.

“If you want to know, it’s fine. Set it up. But from now on, if there’s something you want to do, you have to say so. We’re dating, right?”

“Ah, Asahi-senpai! I love you!”

Koume’s eyes shone as if overwhelmed with emotion, and she clasped my hand—the one holding the phone—with both of hers.

“Okay, okay. Sure.”

“Sorry. I promise I’ll never do anything to your phone without permission again.”

“Yeah. Please do.”

I gave a small smile, and Koume’s cheeks flushed pink as she let go, covering her own cheeks and fidgeting shyly.

“And… I don’t have it ready yet, but would listening apps be okay too?”

“I take my phone to the bathroom, so that’s probably a no. It’d be embarrassing.”

Seems like Koume really wants us to expose our privacy to each other completely. GPS just shows if I’m home or out, but that’s definitely too much.

Since she asked honestly, I won’t get mad, but if she’d actually planned to do that secretly too, I’d be seriously creeped out. If she just thought of it now, it’s fine.

“Ah… I see.”

“Besides, wouldn’t it be better if you just called me anytime?”

“…Would you do falling-asleep-on-the-phone calls with me?”

“Every day?”

“N-No, just on days you’re willing is fine.”

“Well, in that case.”

Falling-asleep calls—that’s the thing where you stay connected the whole time, chat until you say goodnight, and keep the line open until morning, right?

Innocent Koume might not have thought of it, but at night, there are sounds I wouldn’t want overheard. Even excluding Yoko.

“Okay. Then that’s settled. Let’s go home.”

“Yes! Hehe, S-Senpai, can I hold your hand?”

“Sure, but you’re pretty forward, huh.”

I urged her forward as I took a step, and Koume quickly tucked the handkerchief she was holding into her pocket, then took my hand as she said that.

I squeezed back, and we started walking side by side. Koume seemed unusually lively, beaming a bright smile at me.

“Ufufu, because if I say what I want to do, you’ll make it happen, right?”

“…If I can.”

I’d rather she tell me than be reserved and do things secretly, but if she comes on too strong, it’s a bit troublesome. Because I’m not good at refusing that sort of thing. And besides, it’s not like I dislike it.

“Ah, by the way, the handkerchief.”

“Ah, I’ll wash it and return it.”

“Don’t worry about it. Well, please do.”

“Yes! I’ll call you tonight.”

Koume smiled happily, and I couldn’t help thinking—cute kids really have it easy, huh.

Still, it seems she’s a bit heavier with love than I expected. Yoko was pretty intense too, but well, she did say she’d liked me for a long time, so it’s not like she was hiding it. Actually, making me a bento out of the blue was already pretty heavy, wasn’t it? I hadn’t really thought about it.

“…Yeah. Later.”

Anyway, if Yoko brings it up again today, I’ll settle it early.