Side Story: ???
On our way back to our ramshackle apartment.
As I was walking home with Lefi, she suddenly asked.
“Yuki, what is that? I sometimes see them in town.” (Lefi)
Lefi pointed at a park.It was a small park with just a jungle gym, a seesaw, and swings, and I didn’t know if it was because of its secluded location, but there were no children there.
“Oh, that’s a park. That’s a place for kids to play.” (Yuki)
“Hou…like Illuna?” (Lefi)
“Yeah, like Illuna.” (Yuki)
After I said that, Lefi said, “Hmmm,” and made a slight gesture of thinking.
“Okay, let’s do some research now in case Illuna wants to go to the park!” (Lefi)
Yeah, this was not something we could find on the other side, right?“Great. Let’s start with the seesaw in front of you. Here, you sit on that side.” (Yuki)
“Mm-hmm.” (Lefi)
Lefi and I sat down on the seesaw.
First I kicked the ground and rose, then Lefi whose position dropped, kicked the ground to return to raise her position.
The seesaw rattled as we continued.
“…” (Lefi)
“…” (Yuki)
After a short silence, Lefi remarked.
“…Is that it?” (Lefi)
“That is all for this one.” (Yuki)
“…Hmmm, it’s interesting how the body moves in a fluffy way.” (Lefi)
I appreciate that attitude of praise right from the start.
“Okay, I think you’ve had your fill of the seesaw, now let’s move on to the jungle gym!” (Yuki)
“How do you play with this thing that looks like a steel grate?” (Lefi)
“Oh, I don’t know exactly how, but let’s climb it anyway.” (Yuki)
“Mm.” (Lefi)
We climbed to the top of the jungle gym.
It was high enough for the kids, but for us, it was just enough to think, “Well, this is it”. I never thought I would be climbing a jungle gym at my age.
But Lefi seemed to like it a bit, even at our height.
“Well, it’s nice to be in an elevated position. Even this high, it feels good.” (Lefi)
“Wow, you like heights, huh?” (Yuki)
“Yes, because I can look down on living things like they are dust!” (Lefi)
It was for the worst possible reason.
“I see, so a ‘janguru-jim’ is playground equipment to look down on people from a high place and feel superiority.” (Lefi)
“I don’t know why you would put that kind of playground equipment for children. And you, if you stand up here on this jungle gym, one can see your underpants from down.” (Yuki)
How was she able to stand on a high place like this?
Actually, with her body, she probably wouldn’t even get hurt even if she fell off the top of the jungle gym.
“Kyaaa, pervert…” (Lefi)
“Gah!” (Yuki)
After smacking my face, Lefi laughed, and jumped off the top of the jungle gym in one fluid motion.
“Okay, last one. What’s this?” (Lefi)
“It’s a swing. It’s a little more fun than the earlier ones. Here, sit down like this.” (Yuki)
“Mm-hmm.” (Lefi)
“And then you just row like this, like this.” (Yuki)
Lefi sat down on the swing next to me and started rowing like me…
“Ho! Well… this is quite fun.” (Lefi)
“Right? It’s fun. Swinging.” (Yuki)
“Yuki, give me a push.” (Lefi)
“Yes, yes.” (Yuki)
I got off the swing and pushed Lefi.
The speed was probably not as fast as when I rowed by myself, but Lefi seemed to be in a good mood, so I continued pushing her.
“Ah! Hey, guys! Hello!” (Illuna)
At that moment, a voice called out to us from outside the park.
There was a little blonde girl with a school bag on her back.
“Hey, Illuna, welcome back, back from school?” (Yuki)
“Welcome back, Illuna.” (Lefi)
Illuna was the girl who lived next door to me in my apartment.
