Am I being simulated by their love affair.

Chapter 737 "I like you," how many times do I have to say it for it to reach your heart?

As he strolled along the riverbank, passing two bare soccer fields and walking under the bridge spanning the Arakawa River, Jun Matsueda couldn't help but take a closer look at the girl beside him.

Natsumi Imokawa gripped the strap of her bag in one hand and held a black point-and-shoot camera in the other. Her smooth face, which usually showed a touch of innocent naivety, now appeared melancholic and serene under the shadow of the bridge, revealing a touch of artistic temperament.

The pale yellow floral sundress appeared dull in the shadows, but her eyes still sparkled as she gazed ahead, as if anticipating the autumn light after the brief darkness.

Although there was a busy road and traffic right above them, the area under the bridge was unusually quiet—so quiet that even the sound of a girl's hair brushing against the air when she turned her head could be clearly heard by a boy.

"Has Matsue adjusted her mood?" Natsumi Imokawa asked directly.

The girl's tone remained unchanged, just as it had been when she confessed her feelings and was rejected, and when she asked him where he was going next.

“…Hmm.” Jun Matsueda nodded, trying his best to appear as normal as ever.

Imokawa acted so calmly; if I cared too much, it would feel like I had lost.

"Can we continue chatting now?" the girl blinked.

"...No problem." The boy nodded again.

Just as the two returned to the sunlight, Natsumi Imokawa's expression became lively again, and she turned to look at the dark space under the bridge.

"I've seen scenes of the male and female leads kissing under bridges in teen movies so many times..."

"Does kissing under a bridge feel any different?"

The girl turned her head again and cast a curious glance at the boy's lips, which were neither thin nor thick.

"...Do we really have to talk about this?" Jun Matsue subconsciously pursed his lips.

"Oh..." Natsumi Imokawa's eyes showed a hint of regret. "So, what does Matsueda want to talk about?"

The boy's gaze wandered again, but finally returned to her face.

"Why... did Imokawa suddenly have the idea of ​​confessing?" He decided to have a proper talk with him.

"Because I suddenly realized that I like pine branches."

The girl clutched the strap of her handbag tightly. "That day when I went to the Shanghai Oriental Art Center audition, the interviewer suddenly asked me—"

"Why is Matsueda always in my portfolio? Is it because we're lovers or because I like him?"

“That’s definitely not it!” Jun Matsue said without hesitation.

“I thought so at first too!” Natsumi Imokawa nodded in agreement.

She looked at the riverbank in front of them, where a boy and a girl in high school uniforms were sitting on the shore—they were doing nothing, just quietly leaning against each other and chatting.

“But—” The girl looked away and tugged at the hem of the person next to her.

"But didn't Songzhi just tell me about your feelings a while ago?"

Jun Matsue blinked, his expression subtle.

“I’ve realized that I’m actually just like what Matsue said before.” Natsumi Imokawa gently shook the hand she was holding onto her clothes.

“I never decided whether I liked pine branches or not—I had already fallen for you before that.”

"When we're together, when we're apart, when I think of you... it's exactly the same feeling as what Songzhi said back then."

“So I’m sure!” She looked at the boy next to her.

"I just really like pine branches!"

So, did I say too much in front of Imokawa? Matsueda Jun's feelings were complicated.

"And it's all the pine branch's fault!" The girl glared at him again.

"I want to spend more time with Songzhi, I want you to look at me more and talk to me, but Songzhi can't do that! You only have eyes for the girl you're dating!"

"That's why I want to date you too!"

It was rare for her to say so much in one breath, and Natsumi Imokawa's breathing became a little heavy. The girl patted her heaving chest, silently took out chestnut milk from her canvas bag, and gulped down a big mouthful.

The boy stopped while waiting for her to drink water. A bus drove by on the outer side of the road, and the green grass between the road and the walkway swayed.

After the girl licked her lips and tightened the bottle cap, Jun Matsue carefully spoke.

"Anyway, I still want to say thank you first." He smiled. "I feel really happy to be liked by Imokawa."

"So, can we start dating now?" Natsumi Imokawa blinked.

The boy shook his head slightly, then said, "What Imokawa said was too sudden. It's not appropriate for us to date."

"What's wrong with it?" The girl tilted her head. "Doesn't Songzhi like me?"

"..." Jun Matsue looked away. "The affection of a friend is different from the affection of a lover."

"Then how can I turn it into love?" She leaned close to the boy's face, her eyes filled with a strong thirst for knowledge.

"Should we go on more dates? To see a movie, go shopping, or have coffee? Or should I give Songzhi a gift to express my feelings?"

"Or holding hands, kissing, and hugging?"

The girl glanced down at the neckline of her sundress, her arms pressed against her sides, creating a soft, white, and full shape.

"My body should feel quite comfortable to touch, would you like to try it, Pine Branch?"

Seeing the wide strap of the canvas bag sink into the proud, full cleavage in front of him, Jun Matsue consciously took a step back.

"So how can I turn my feelings into those of a lover?" Natsumi Imokawa pressed on relentlessly.

"...I don't know either." The boy put his arm around her shoulder. "You can figure it out yourself."

"Oh..." The girl's expression remained unchanged as she put the chestnut milk into her bag.

Let's keep going~

They continued their walk, and after four o'clock, the sky gradually turned a soft, light yellow, and the shadows of the two people on the riverbank were stretched longer and longer in the wind.

Jun Matsue then looked at the profile of the girl beside him—Natsumi Imokawa had some fine, soft downy hairs on her face, and her eyelashes trembled gently in the wind, painted with a transparent and delicate gold by the warm yellow halo that permeated the riverbank.

Why is it that Imokawa can still take a walk with himself as if nothing is wrong?
"Does Imokawa really know what it means to be in a relationship with me?" he couldn't help but ask.

Have you thought about how to explain this to your parents?

"What does it mean?" Natsumi Imokawa turned to look at him. "Doesn't it just mean that Matsueda and I have become closer?"

The boy paused, wondering how he could refute those words.

"Besides, I've already talked to my mom about the pine branch thing—she told me to do whatever I want, as long as I'm happy."

"You've already told them?" Jun Matsuoka met her gaze immediately.

"is it not OK?"

The girl's gaze remained calm and clear, even more so than the flowing water of the Arakawa River beside them.

The heavy footsteps were muffled by the grass on both sides, and Jun Matsue sighed helplessly.

"That's why I can't handle it..."

"What are you dealing with?" The girl, who kept walking, bent down and peeked into the boy's downcast eyes.

"Did I bother the pine branch?"

"..." Jun Matsue looked up. "Let's not talk about this anymore."

The boy had already realized that, just as they were still inexplicably walking side by side on the riverbank, his refusal or dissuasion would have no effect on Imokawa's mindset.

"Oh~" The girl pouted, still wanting more.

There are still so many things she doesn't understand!

But it doesn't matter, she has plenty of time now... Imokawa Natsumi turned her cheek to the side.

Several grey wild pigeons landed on the flat ground beside the path, startled by the figures of the two, and fluttered away. The girl raised her camera and captured the image of the grey shadows fluttering across the boundary of the sports field.

"Matsueda, why are there so many sports fields along the Arakawa River?" Her tone remained natural and friendly.

The boy glanced at her camera. "The 'riverbanks' on both sides of the Arakawa River are all designated as levee land, where it is forbidden to build permanent structures."

"If we can't build buildings, we can't waste the space. We might as well build a sports field, which can also be used as an emergency shelter—that's probably what the government is thinking."

"I see~" The girl nodded.

Another bicycle whizzed past on the path on the other side of the bank, the girl on it with her black hair flowing and her skirt swaying.

“That’s why the Arakawa River is such a great place for walking and cycling…” Natsumi Imokawa squinted her eyes slightly, looking thoughtful and adorable.

"If I move to Arakawa, should I buy a bicycle too? My mom says my legs have gotten fat."

"Where did you get fat?" Jun Matsuoka had a vivid memory of the fair and slender legs under the skirt in the bookstore.

"Parents are all like this. If Imokawa were a boy, she would think you're too thin."

"Really?" The girl's eyelashes fluttered.

She held down her skirt with one hand, the pale yellow floral fabric clinging to the soft, slightly plump curves of her thigh.

"But Mom was talking about my thighs, aren't they fat?"

A guy who hasn't seen her thighs can't answer that.

"Would you like to take a look at the pine branch?" Natsumi Imokawa lifted the hem of her skirt slightly.

"Or how about touching it? The most direct feeling is probably the one you get from touching it."

“There’s no need for that.” Jun Matsueda looked to the side. “Anyway, there’s no harm in riding a bike. You can ride if you want.”

"Isn't Songzhi interested in girls' bodies?"

The girl patted her thigh dejectedly, making a soft "slap slap" sound.

“I have other girls’ bodies that I can touch.” The boy rolled his eyes at her.

“…Matsueda’s words are so cheesy!” Natsumi Imokawa puffed out her cheeks.

Jun Matsue ignored her complaints and instead looked at the highway on the higher ground to the outside.

"Shouldn't we be heading back soon?"

After confessing his feelings, Imokawa had only walked a short distance when he was subjected to direct attacks and physical seduction. He felt that he should not stay here any longer.

"So fast?!" The girl's eyes widened. "It's not even five o'clock yet!"

"It'll take almost an hour to get back by tram." The boy was determined to go.

"Then let's wait a bit longer!" The girl stuffed her camera into her bag. "It looks like the apartment we filmed at before is up ahead. I want to go take a look."

She took a step and was about to run, but the boy stopped her.

"Imokawa, let me carry your bag." Matsueda Jun looked at the shoulder bag strap that was fastened to her chest.

“You have two photography books, a drink and a camera in your bag. They’re too much of a hindrance when you’re running.”

"Oh, oh." Natsumi Imokawa looked down and took off her canvas bag.

Freed from its constraints, the taut, deformed pale yellow floral pattern on her chest trembled freely, dazzling the eye.

A few minutes later, the two people who were jogging along the riverbank stopped and looked at the apartment building standing in the distance.

"Is this the building?" The panting girl turned her head to the side, knowing that Songzhi always had a good memory.

“That’s right.” The boy took out chestnut milk from the canvas bag on his waist and handed it to her.

“The room where we were filming was over there.” Jun Matsueda raised his hand and pointed to a small, gleaming window in the middle of the apartment building.

"However, the apartment building is located by the Sumida River, but it is now blocked by the high ground between the two rivers, so you can't see the Sumida River."

“I remember!” Natsumi Imokawa wiped her lips after finishing her milk. “We even took pictures by the river.”

"Yes, it was filmed with Kurusu."

“That’s right, with Ms. Kurusu.” The girl, who had straightened up, repeated.

"No wonder I felt strange when I took your photos back then—it's because I like pine branches."

"..." The boy who was looking at the building turned to look at her.

"Matsue, shall we take a picture before we go?" Natsumi Imokawa tugged at the boy's shoulder bag.

This time, she wanted to take a photo of herself with the pine branches.

Jun Matsueda glanced at the golden rays of the setting sun. "So, you're leaving after taking the photos?"

"Hmm!" The girl leaned closer and took out a black point-and-shoot camera from the canvas bag at his waist.

"Let me find the right lighting and angle~"

She raised the camera to face herself, took out her phone with her other hand, and opened the software that linked to the screen.

"Well……"

Natsumi Imokawa was searching for the best spot to take photos on the riverside path, while the boy stood by her side to prevent her from accidentally stepping on the slope behind her and falling down.

"..."

Jun Matsue watched the girl move slowly, her black hair, which reached her collarbone, swaying in the wind, and her skirt was draped in the delicate and brilliant golden light before sunset.

Natsumi Imokawa's charm is truly special. Even knowing that the girl's affection might be a fleeting impulse during adolescence, he still firmly imprints the romantic scene before him in his heart.

"Found it!" Natsumi Imokawa exclaimed softly with delight. She kept the camera in place, put down her phone, and waved to the boy.

"Pine branch, come quick!"

Jun Matsue walked up to her, and the girl pressed against his shoulder without saying a word.

"Isn't that going too far?"

The light of the setting sun flickered in Natsumi Imokawa's eyes.

"...Hurry up and finish filming." The boy twisted his neck to avoid the girl's hot, moist breath next to him.

"I'll count to three before pressing the shutter. Pine branch, remember to look at the camera and don't blink, okay?"

"three!"

Jun Matsue looked up at the point-and-shoot camera held in her small hand.

"two!"

"one!"

Just before his slender index finger pressed the shutter, Natsumi Imokawa suddenly put her arm around his shoulder with her free left hand.

Her flawless face was magnified in the afterglow of the sunlight, accompanied by the sound of the wind by the river, the autumn sun that was about to set on the horizon, and the sweet and hot body temperature of the girl.

A moist, light touch landed on his cheek, leaving a jelly-like wet mark.

The shutter clicked, capturing the boy's handsome features, unexpectedly illuminated.

"The last time today—"

The girl's voice gently rang in Jun Matsueda's ear, like soft red bean paste, containing a touch of adolescent shyness.

"Pine branch, please remember, I love you."

(End of this chapter)