Chapter 2091: A Fleeting Moment

"Yosh. Onoda-han, we'll be taking off! Don't scare Shi-chan! I'll tell Chii if you do!"

An-rin loudly reminded me as she waved at us before stepping out of our classroom. Esumi and Amano were standing behind her but those two only gave us a small farewell greeting like 'See you tomorrow' and 'Thanks for the hard work'.

At the moment, while we're technically not finished with Cleaning Duty yet, those three were already free to go after finishing the tasks assigned to them.

All that's left is to throw the garbage bags into the incinerator area and rearrange the chairs and desks.

Shimura divided the tasks which actually put us both to be the last ones to finish.

I had no idea if it was intentional on her part but it probably had to do with being handed the task to divide it. She might've not wanted to appear biased, so she gave herself one more task than the other three.

Really, she's being so much of a good girl. Is she trying to impress me? Unlikely. This was just her real personality.

Or so I made myself believe it.

Regardless, I'm truly impressed.

Anyway, while she was tying the bags, I was still putting the chairs upside down and placing them on top of the desks.

When she finished, she didn't leave right away and waited for me.

"Shimura is kind. You know you don't have to wait for me." I said as soon as I finished the last chair.

She shyly smiled and lowered her head, "I thought it would be sad to leave you behind here, Onoda-kun."

"And that's why I said you're kind. Then, I have to do my own part. Give me one of the bags. I'll help you carry them."

"Eh? But they're not heavy."

"I know. I just want an excuse to accompany you. Can I?"

Perhaps not expecting me to be blunt like that, the girl was dumbfounded at first, and a delayed explosion turned her face red as an apple.

Not commenting on that, I picked up my bag and walked over to her. And while she was still feeling the aftershock, I grabbed one of her wrists and lifted it to take the garbage bag held by it.

Only then did she recover from her state.

"Shall we go?" I smiled and gestured towards the door.

Shimura was still speechless so all she could do was move her head before taking a step to walk alongside me.

With most of the students already busy with their clubs, our trip outside to the incinerator area was uninterrupted. B

However, at the same time, we didn't talk that much.

I could sense Shimura not knowing what to say so I let her cool her head first. Unfortunately, it took her so long that we had already reached our destination.

I threw mine first and then asked her to give me the other one to throw it as well.

"T-thank you, Onoda-kun."

"Happy to help."

Watching her struggle like this was quite an experience. But at the same time, I also didn't want to push her over the edge.

And so, since our time together was about to expire, I offered her something else.

"You're going to the Photography Club, right? Can I walk with you?"

"Y-yes! But why? I... I might slow you down."

Yep. That delighted her. However, she immediately cast her down as though she didn't want to trouble me.

Did I find another overthinker? Ah. No. This is just Shimura not knowing how to deal with me now that I have become a little forward when it comes to interacting with her. Back then, our interaction would always start with her. She hadn't prepared herself for this situation.

"Who said that?"

"Me?" She pointed at herself. As expected.

I thought for a moment before taking a step forward. With my hand dropping on her head, I ruffled her hair lightly.

"Ah. Don't worry. I'm also going to the Club Building anyway. Unless I'm bothering you then forget it."

Upon hearing that, Shimura panicked right away, denying it.

"Eh? No... You're not..."

"I'm not what?" I pressed on as I slowly guided her head to rise again.

We can't really talk if she keeps her head low, right?

When her face angled just right for me to capture her current expression, Shimura nibbled on

her lips before meeting my gaze. A burst of determination flowed out of her.

"You're not a bother. Uhh, Onoda-kun, you're such a bully... Am I getting teased right now?"

"What do you think?"

"... Yes?"

I smirked and the girl blinked her eyes in confusion.

Once again, I ruffled her hair before carefully fixing it back as I corrected her.

"No. You're wrong. If I'm going to tease you, it won't be as light as this, don't you think so?" I paused for a moment to allow her to process it. My hand continued combing her hair back to how it was. Then I tucked a fair bit behind her ear, exposing its redness.

"I'll be honest with you. I just thought I put so much on your shoulder... I thought I could repay that by accompanying you. I know it's pretty cheap coming from me but I don't know what Shimura-san wants."

"I don't want anything. Being acknowledged by you is enough."

"Is that so? That puts me at ease."

"Un..." Shimura hummed.

I noticed her mouth opening and closing but no more words were produced by it.

Most likely, she pushed back whatever was in her head.

To not make things uncomfortable for her, I decided to change our topic.

"By the way, Shimura-san, how's your photographs going? Did you find a new subject?"

Understanding what I was trying to do, a relieved smile formed on her lips, "Not yet. I'm thinking of changing my theme. Koizumi-senpai wants to capture the present. I'm thinking I want to capture something more fleeting."

She brought up Juri. I guess she got inspired by her during our visit to their club last time.

"Fleeting? Won't that be hard to capture?"

"Un. It will be difficult but I got new inspiration. Onoda-kun. This moment with you. I think it counts as one. If it's not inappropriate, can I take a photo of us?"

I see. So that's what she meant by that. A fleeting moment. She possibly believed that this

might not happen again in the future so she wanted to capture it right now.

And honestly, that's also what I'm thinking. However, the future is ever-changing. Who knows what will happen tomorrow? The next day? Week? Month? Year? It's indeterminable.

We can have dreams but fulfilling them still depends on our present.

"Sure. Let's take one. But... Are you sure? Our background is...kind of icky."

"Pfft. It'll be fine. Rather than a picturesque background, won't this fleeting be more immortalized when I capture it? Wait a moment. Please stand there."

Shimura giggled before instructing me to stand in front of the incinerator.

She then opened her bag and took out a digital camera. Looks like she still lacks the funds to buy herself something much better. But it's fine I guess? We're already in the digital age, even if the photo she can with it fades in the future, the memory of the device will remember it and if she uploads it onto the internet, she can keep it for as long as she wants to. Before long, Shimura hopped over and stood next to me. Shyly, she held onto my arm as she tiptoed to capture both of us in the camera.

And then with her cue, she counted down and captured this moment.

I might not have posed in front of it but at least, I put on a smile to match hers.

A moment later, she planted her feet on the ground and checked the photo she captured.

Although I could only see one side of her face, the widening of her smile failed to escape my

notice.

It must be a great shot, no?