Author's Note: When I wrote this chapter, it was still summer.
Chapter 15Realist Way
It's still morning. It's been very hot since morning, very different from yesterday. Because of my trouble sleeping, I've been waking up at regular times lately, but today I woke up just as the parents were starting to stretch. Although I think it's still too early, but I'm not sleepy anymore. So, I guess I had no choice but to start getting ready.
Just as I was about to leave the house, Big Sis came down from the second floor wearing a camisole with her hair disheveled, and she glanced at me, feeling disappointed, like "What are you doing?". If she was in front of a handsome boy, she would never look like that.
Then, I left my house while my tension subsided.
In many stories like in light novels and manga, the main character will meet a girl who is destined. Of course, it's the main character, so even if it's just an ordinary high school boy, the illustrations usually depict him as handsome. You see, a really ugly-looking hero wouldn't sell well in anime or manga.
That's why he can get close to cute girls without having to do anything, and it's not an exaggeration to say that the success rate when he does something is 100%. Yeah, it wouldn't be a story otherwise.
On the contrary, a girl's reaction when a normal boy takes action like what happened to me yesterday.
'Huh...? Disgusting.' (*Exaggerating)
That kind of reaction from a well-behaved girl is just too much for me. It's true. I've never felt that empty. You see, no matter how hot or cold the temperature was at that time, those words definitely made the environment feel very cold... Yeah, it was a good lesson for me.
"Hey."
No, I actually realized it again. After all, when I thought of Natsukawa, I was still very excited. Even though I warned myself that much, I wonder if it still wasn't enough.
"Wait."
This might be a good opportunity to sit in the front corner. From my point of view, I thought it was indeed a boring seat position favored only by serious people, and annoying because it was easily pointed out by the teacher, but by taking advantage of it I could make myself, Sajou Wataru, to have a new impression from others, they might start to think that I was actually a diligent student.
"Don't ignore me!"
"Ugh!?"
Sudden suffocation made me make a strange sound. Oh, my Adam's apple... ...Hey, what if my voice becomes a beautiful soprano voice because of this!? Maybe I'll sing a Ghibli song...!
My Adam's apple... ...Why are you holding such a grudge? While imagining myself making a spectacular singing debut, I looked back.
Then what was reflected in front of me was the face of the Goddess (*Natsukawa).
"...Oh, I'm happy."
"You're too close!"
"Ugh!?"
She pushed me with her bag. Natsukawa-san, that's my solar plexus, you know...? ...While in pain, I wonder if surprise attacks are popular these days. If that's the case, that's bad... ...Besides, my voice still sounds strange.
'Haritsumeta, Yumi no'.. ...Ugh!???
[TL Note: So, this is the beginning of the OST of the Ghibli Anime, Princess Mononoke. The song is "Princess Mononoke" sung by Yoshikazu Mera.]
"What a vicious way to show your affection for someone..."
"No, that's not what I meant!"
"...Of course, it's not."
Unconsciously, I let out a sentence that I used to say when I was still 'dreaming'. But, hearing Natsukawa's harsh words, immediately brought me back to reality. Yeah, my solar plexus is indeed like a handkerchief to wipe the bag.
"...It's good to follow what's popular these days, but don't start doing something bad when you see something unpleasant, okay?"
"Hey, why does it sound like this is all my fault... ...W-Wait a minute!"
"What? Do you have something you want to ask me?"
I was disappointed with her, she put me in a bad mood and beat me with a bag since morning. No matter how much I liked Natsukawa, there was no way I could be graceful.
When I realized that, my attitude towards her just now was indeed cold, I even answered without looking at her. Oh, isn't this dangerous? That will definitely make Natsukawa angry...
"Hmm... ...Y-You don't need to put on such a creepy face..."
"...Huh?"
I heard a cute voice that I didn't expect and looked back. There was the figure of Natsukawa who was looking down as if she was lonely. Eh, wait, she looked really cute.
"Are you okay?"
Normally, she doesn't care about me. She shouldn't think too much of it when a boy like me has an attitude that makes her feel vulnerable. What kind of change has happened to you so suddenly, Natsukawa?
"I should be the one asking that... ...Even though I've always been around you until now, why all of a sudden...?"
"Oh...!"
For some reason, I was annoyed by the emotional face that she had never shown me before. I couldn't think of any words in this unprecedented development. So, I was surprised that I could only speak tremblingly. Then, Natsukawa gave me a strong look and went ahead.
...Strange. It had been two weeks since I stopped following Natsukawa, but the reactions of others and even Natsukawa to me were different from what I expected. I thought that if I didn't get in her way anymore, she would become a popular idol in class, and forget about me quickly.
"...I don't understand."
First of all, why was she suddenly talking to me? Wasn't I just giving her a hard time? Look, if an annoying person like that is in front of me, I'll take another path until I never see that person again. It's better to take a detour even if I have to waste my time, than to be annoyed.
Hmm, should I ask for advice?
It's not like I want to hide and keep this in my mind. And, I guess it's fine if there's only one more person who knows my thoughts. As I expected, it's hard for me, who is a boy, to think about a girl's heart. I should immediately ask others for advice, to the point that I won't be punished any further than this.
♦
"What do you think about Natsukawa's opinion about me?"
"I think she finds you disgusting."
"..."
I think I've made a serious mistake in choosing my advisor. I think I should have asked someone who would pay more attention to others. Although you answered bluntly, that person herself is in front of you right now, so can't you be a little more considerate, Ashida? This d*mn girl.
Wait, calm down. I'm an adult now. Yeah, I am indeed an adult. This is the perfect time for me to show off a way of thinking that accepts everything without getting angry easily...!
"...Yeah, even I myself think that I am disgusting."
"Sajocchi... ...For some reason, I feel sad."
(TL Note: I laughed when I translated this, lol.)
Ugh... ...This girl... It's what I expected from Ashida. But, didn't you say that I'm disgusting? So, don't look at me with pitying eyes... ...Calm down, I'm consulting with her right now. No matter what she says, I can't get angry.
"Usually, if that disgusting and annoying boy says something cold to you, you won't feel anything, right?"
"Huh...? Wait a minute. Did you say something cold to Aichi?"
"...She said that she was fed up with me at the beginning of the meeting, and she hit my solar plexus with her bag. So of course I'm going to be cold to her. That's natural, isn't it?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Ashida held her face in her hands as if she had guessed something. Then a moment later, she looked at me with an annoying face, and put her hands together.
"I don't think Aichi has any bad intentions towards you. You just need to take heart about it."
"Don't worry, I don't really care, though, because it's Natsukawa."
"Right, no need to think too much about it. By the way, what's with that Aichi's favoritism?"
Ashida looked at me with astonished eyes. Wait a minute, what is that, 'I really can't understand you yet', what does she look like right now? We're talking about the Goddess' hand and bag, after all. Of course it's going to be very popular, right?
"What I don't understand yet is after that. I did have a ridiculous low voice after she hit me, but Natsukawa had a cute reaction after that. Did she intend to kill me with her cuteness?"
"Sajocchi, I don't need to try to compensate for uncontrollable excitement with a character like that yet."
"The point is, if I'm so disgusting that she hits me, if I give her a dull response she shouldn't feel anything. In fact, it's good if he responds in kind. It won't make me think too much."
"..."
'Isn't it normal for me to be like that?', was what I wanted to ask her. But, after looking at me with a surprised face, she started thinking with a troubled face again. Why are you looking at my face? Right now, I'm really curious what Natsukawa is thinking.
"Hey, can I ask why you call her by her family name again?"
"Because it would make other people misunderstand us, and she also told me that it's annoying."
"These days, you don't approach Aichi anymore, do you?"
"Because I've been rejected by her so many times."
"Giving up just because of that, it's really not like you, Sajocchi."
"It's only natural that the time will come eventually. It's hard to think that I'll be able to bear being rejected in the future. And I think Natsukawa, who's always being stalked by a boy she doesn't like, will feel that I'm just a nuisance."
"...Right now, I understand what's bothering you."
Ashida listened to my words and she made a sour face. She kept putting on different expressions. You see, if she showed that kind of face to a smart boy, he would definitely feel depressed.
Perhaps my feelings did show on my face, Ashida turned around and rubbed her cheeks, looking back and showing her usual cheerful expression. Y-You don't need to force yourself to fix your expression.
"Hmm, I think Aichi's attitude is indeed bad! But, I think Sajocchi's attitude is bad too!"
"Wh-Why?"
"Because that Sajocchi has always been with her until now, the people around Aichi refrain from chatting with her, so there are very few people she can talk to at school! Her only friends are you and me, so you can't just walk away from Aichi, can you!?"
"So, it's because I'm always with her, huh...?"
Ashida's words strucked my chest. I thought it was a very convincing explanation indeed.
I did not doubt Natsukawa's idol nature. But what if I involve myself with her? If I stay next to her, the surroundings will only move away from her. And even now, I'm sure that the students around me will be involved in my stupid words and actions by getting involved with Natsukawa...
Maybe my way of liking Natsukawa is also bad...? For students who don't like to be conspicuous, that alone might be a reason to avoid her.
"...Wait, so..."
"Hmm, Wait? What's wrong?"
Now that I'm far away from her seat, unless I approach her seat, the other friends won't be afraid to approach her, right? And if I add Ashida to it, this warm atmosphere will increase even more, and an easy environment to talk to will be created.
Th-This is it...!
"Ashida."
"Wh-What...?"
"This is the beginning of the Great Idol Production Strategy...!"
"What the heck was that? Hey, are you okay...!?"
Author's Note: Maybe.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Special Thanks to Our Current Monthly Supporter: Mr. Ads.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: