Chapter 39Only One Is More Than Enough
─It's Tuesday. Hmm, what? It's still only Tuesday?
Looking at the date on the calendar hanging in the hallway, I felt sad. With everything that happened yesterday, really making me exhausted, I didn't think that it was only the second day of the week. Thinking to myself 'Oh, I'm tired', I confirmed my current appearance in the toilet mirror. Although I cut the ends of my hair, because I left the brown hair that I dyed a month and a half ago alone, the roots were already black. And because the brown part of my hair is light brown, it really looks like pudding.
(TL Note: It's called that in Japan because the dark roots look like caramel to the point of making the brown or golden parts of the hair look like pudding.)
"This is what you call two-toned hair."
The positive self inside me made me say that... Yeah, it did look quite fashionable... ...I tried to advise myself. Before, I hated my natural hair color, but now I don't care anymore.
...Not yet, I need more energy... ...Remember the Natsukawa from yesterday... ...Her angry face, her embarrassed face, her sullen face... ...fuhehe, okay, I'm getting excited again this time!
I also felt like it had been a while since I last had such a relaxing morning. I took a detour to the convenience store, bought provisions for my lunch break, and passed through the school gates. For once, no one cared about me or called out to me, so I was able to go out for the whole morning... ...Right, what I lacked was time for myself. Seriously, everyone is so clingy~
The corridor was refreshing. Thanks to the cool breeze coming from the corridor, all the sweat disappeared from my body... ...Welcome, cold air. Goodbye, sweaty armpits.
"O-Oh, good afternoon, cozy atmosphere."
"...But it's still morning?"
"Don't sweat the small stuff─ Oh, good morning, Natsukawa-san."
I'm just trying to act normal after everything that happened yesterday, dear Goddess? Think about it, I'm sure it's not much different from how we usually talk, but still, I can't just greet you, right? It's a bit awkward, Patrasche....
(TL Note: Patrasche, I believe it's a reference to the anime Dog of Flanders, the famous line from that anime is, 'Patrasche, aren't you tired? I'm tired, for some reason, I'm very sleepy', which the MC said to the dog before he was called to heaven (died).)
...No, that's not good, just with this awkwardness alone, I was almost summoned to heaven. Oh. You're still as beautiful as ever.
"Ohー...Good morning, Natsukawa. And, Ashida."
"Good morningー, It's hot like usual todayー. Give me some fresh air, Sajocchi. Fan me."
"Don't sweat the small stuff─ Oh, good morning, Natsukawa-san."
"It's really hot. Geezー Did I apply enough sunscreen?" (*High-pitched voice)
"You, the way you talk sounds disgusting, stop it."
I mean, how else am I going to join in on your girl talk? If I don't do that, I don't have the confidence to be around you guys. Eh? Is it okay to be like normal? Let's tell the story from the beginning.
It's not uncommon to see Ashida around Natsukawa's desk, but it's rare to see the opposite like this. I guess Natsukawa couldn't win against Ashida's pressure last night either. Yeah, I totally understand. She was very scary last night. And, Natsukawa was as cute as ever.
"Oh, that reminds me. When are we going to do it?"
"Eh!? Wh-What... ...do you mean?"
"You want me to visit your mythological little sis, Airi-chan, don't you...?"
"Wh-Who's mythological... ...Airi isn't─"
"Yeah, she is for me."
"Ugh..."
To me, she's an existence like, 'Just so, you know'. I mean, even though you answered me earlier for some reason, the last time I said her name, you ignored me for a whole week, right? That traumatized me. So, to me, Airi-chan is an existence to be feared. Yeah, judging from her photo, she must be an angelic figure, so it's not like I want to ignore her existence. And, since it never really comes up in conversation, Natsukawa feels more like an only child. At the same time, Airi-chan doesn't know about the concept of 'your own big sis is a Goddess'. But she did, it was better to leave without telling her about it.
"J-Just wait! A-After I finish preparing it, I'll tell you...!"
"Preparing your home security? Okay."
"Don't you feel sad saying that...?"
I mean, installing equipment, making a contract with the internet provider, or maybe that 'Wrestling Queen's' schedule needs to be checked as well, there are a lot of things she needs to prepare, right?
"Also, Aichi, are you planning to invite Sajocchi to your house just both of you? Isn't that pretty bad?"
"Eh, oh?!"
Eh, pretty bad? In what sense...? What part of her must be afraid of me attacking her when it's just the two of us? But, if she was worried about it, then she wouldn't let me meet Airi-chan, right? I mean, I do want to meet her, but...
"K-Kei! When else would you not have any club activities...?!"
"We're right before a big tournament... ...so not for a while."
"..."
'Hahaha'... Ashida let out a complicated laugh, and scratched the back of his head, only leaving Natsukawa at a loss for words with bulging eyes and gaping mouth.
Eh... ...is that so surprising? Very cute. Yeah, Ashida is indeed very good as an intermediary. Yeah, in this kind of situation Ashida's presence is very helpful. After all, we're talking about 'Natsukawa Aika and Sajou Wataru you know'.
"In that case, how many more months should I wait...?"
"Before these months pass, isn't there a second batch you should be worried about?"
"Eh? What's this second batch?"
"It shows how popular Aichi and Ai-chan are."
"Eh...? Is that a big deal?"
If Shirai-san, Sasaki, and a few others make up the first batch, does that mean more people want to meet Airi-chan? I don't think Yamazaki is in that second batch, she got carried away since talking to Koga and Murata, she would be a bad influence. That means the second batch is mostly filled with girls too, right? In that case, I wouldn't mind waiting if I'm honest, just thinking about these girls having fun is more than enough for me. Yeah, if possible, can you send me some photos afterwards? Okay?
"Th-That's... ...won't be possible."
"Eh?"
"That won't be possible! Because, if that happens... ...Airi will just... Sasaki-kun─"
"Eh, Sasaki?"
"Oh, no, it's nothing!"
"Should I just kill him?"
"She said it's nothing, so don't start, Sajocchi."
Sasaki! I don't really understand, but I'm definitely going to make you pay for this! Just hearing your name come out of Natsukawa's mouth makes my blood rise!
"Yeah, tell me when you're done getting prepared. I'll definitely take the time, at any cost..."
"Eh? Y-You don't have to go that far..."
"No, I'll definitely go."
"What are you, a spoiled brat?"
I mean, yeah, you know, hmm... ...peace is the most important thing to me. But, I can't miss out on the good memories I can make, right? Come to think of it, I am indeed happy to be legally allowed to be together with Natsukawa... wait, does that mean it was ilegal before?
"...Wh-What's the matter... ...Why are you suddenly being assertive..."
"Eh? It's because you said that you're okay with me alone."
"Wh-What did you say!?"
"I mean, this distance between us ─Oh? Are you going to attack me? Is that so? Something inside me will be awakened, you know? That's right, it's going to wake up, isn't it?"
"Disgusting! You idiot!"
"Thank you very much!" (*Awakened)
Oh, how happy I am right now... ...All the fatigue from yesterday is gone right now. Just by making Natsukawa talk to me normally... ...Does it get any better than this? I think I'm dreaming. I didn't think that this would happen again. That's right, I think so.
"Oh, Sajocchi, Aichi ran away."
"─Hahaha."
"You're not listening to me, huh."
♦
Time seemed to pass more slowly than usual. Every second before the lunch break felt like an eternity. It was probably because Natsukawa declared that he would invite me to his house like that (sudden progress). This moment, which I don't know when it will actually happen, makes me feel like time is going slower and slower. It made me feel like doing the legendary back wrestling suplex that Big Sis did to me, to Einstein, who proposed the theory of relativity.
(TL Note: Maybe because the MC was too impatient, he felt like beating a boy who basically said 'time is relative')
Speaking of sisters, Big Sis didn't tell me to go to the Student Council Office today. Since I wanted to distance myself from her for a while, I really welcomed it. Moreover, the presence of Yuuki-senpai would make the atmosphere between us a little more awkward.
That's why, after the lunch break arrived, I went straight to the cafeteria, and sat beside the window that was usually crowded. I became worried, looking around me to check if it was okay for me to sit there. Since no one objected, I relaxed.
...Yeah, it's really hot outside... I don't want to see you anymore, you know. Eh? Who? It's you, my apocryphal sweat gland.
I was in a pretty good mood, so I bought two nutrition bars at the convenience store, even though I'm usually satisfied with just one. Let me say this once again, I ate two bars. Besides, I had some sweet bread, so I'll probably have too much energy and won't be able to stop myself soon.
By the way, how come I can be satisfied with just one bar... ...Of course it's not enough.
"That back... ...Is that you, Sajou?"
"Hmm...?"
I should have thought that I would only suffer damage for leaving my home (classroom) like that. After all, the world is full of distractions. But still, no one in my classroom would call me like this.
Turning around, I found three girls sitting at a table for four. Let me say this again, they were girls. Two of them were two senpai-s that I had met recently. Anyway, I was surprised that they managed to find me.
"Oh, hello..."
I looked back, put one hand behind my head, and while rubbing the back of my head, I greeted awkwardly.
Greetings coming from a male kouhai are usually like this, right? By the way, why am I giving them this much attention, I'm not doing anything strange, though. Thinking of the Disciplinary Committee, usually the other students would be scared like I am right now, right?
"..."
"W-Wait a minute, why did you start eating your food again."
"Eh... ...shouldn't I?"
"Normally, you would ask earnestly like, 'Can I sit with you guys?', right?"
"How could I, just look at the members of your group. Don't you realize that your group only gives off a 'troublesome' vibe?"
There were Shinomiya Rin-senpai, Inatomi Yuyu-senpai, and another girl who were all wearing armbands that read 'the Disciplinary Committee'.
...Do you guys have to wear those during lunch too? Or does the armband have paralysis and immunity to poison? If so, I'd like one too.
"Hello, Sajou-kun!"
"Oh, yeah, hello ─Eh?"
One of the girls, with a small body and a red ribbon on her head, looking like a small animal, vigorously waved her hand at me.
Gosh, kids can't enroll high school ─Oh... hmm? Shinomiya-senpai? Isn't the strength of your grip too strong? I'm sorry!
No matter how often I rubbed my eyes and blinked in confusion, she was still the Inatomi-senpai I had known before. Instead of being bold and imposing, the expression she gave me was one of genuine happiness.
Eh, are you very happy to make my acquaintance?
"Hey, Senpai? Who is that angel?"
"Fix yourself up, she's an archangel."
"Um... ...why do you seem so serious about it right now?"
It seems that Inatomi-senpai underwent a lot of changes in the last few days I haven't seen her. Her cozy sparkling atmosphere turned into a very shiny atmosphere. Rather than rubbing her head, I encouraged her to stroke my head. Then again, I still wanted to pet her.
"Sajou-kun! Let's eat together!"
"E-Eh?"
"Sajou, Yuyu said so. You understand what she means, right?"
"Oh, yeah."
What kind of coordination is this...? Isn't the combination of strikers and supporters too overwhelming? After all, before I could even act, I was already holding back ─Oh, wait a minute... am I being invited to a girl group right now? If I think so... ...for some reason, I'm really excited right now. Do those nutrition bars have this kind of effect, huh? If so, I'm very satisfied with it.
Author's Note: And that second one feels like doping!
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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