Volu 8, The Second Question
Amongst the famous works of Shakespeare, please state the 4 great tragedies.
Hiji Mizuki's answer
“① Hamlet, ② King Lear, ③ Othello, ④ Macbeth.”
Teacher's comnt.
Correct answer. Shakespeare had other famous works like 'Roo and Juliet' and the 'rchant of Venice', and these 4 are known as the '4 great tragedies'. Though Roo and Juliet was the most widely known work, do rember that these are the 4 great tragedies.
Yoshii Akihisa's answer
“① Hamlet, ② King Lear, ③ Roo and Juliet, ④ My dad's married life.”
Teacher's comnt
How is your dad treated at ho anyway!?
Tsuchiya Kouta's answer
“① Losing my wallet, ② Running out of film. ③ Dirt running into the eyes at the critical mont when a photo's about to be taken, ④ Broken Hard Disk.”
Teacher's comnt.
If ④ really did happen, maybe sensei will be crying as well.
“Fuuwaa…why is it that I always feel like sleeping whenever it's morning…”
“You can't do that, Akihisa-kun. You have to sleep well at night or else you'll ruin your body.”
On Monday morning, Hiji-san and I were walking side by side with each other as we just so happened to talk about this.
“Even if you say that, that book was really too interesting, so I couldn't help but—fuuwaa~”
“Really…Akihisa-kun, your necktie's crooked.”
“Eh? Really?”
I moved my necktie a little bit. It should be alright now, right?”
“Ah, now the collar is undone…can you please turn around and face ?”
“Ahh, there's no real need to be concerned about it.”
“No. If you can't even wear your shirt properly, Nishimura-sensei's going to be angry with you.”
After saying that, Hiji-san turned around to face and reached her hands out to adjust my necktie and shirt. Uu, uuu…why do I feel a little shy…
“…”
“Hiji-san?”
“…”
Erm…Hiji-san?”
“…”
“Hiji-san, do you hear ?”
“Eh? Ah, yes!”
“What's going on? You were stoned over there and blushing.”
“It, it's nothing. It's just…a little weird…”
Oh, so I'm not the only one shy about this. This action of adjusting the necktie looks no different from husband and wife…
“Tha, that's right, Akihisa-kun. Did you bring your handkerchief?”
To change the mood, Hiji-san changed the topic. Let’s see, handkerchief, handkerchief…
“Ah! Now that you said it, I forgot.”
I don’t rember putting my handkerchief into my bag. OR rather, I’ll normally forget about bringing it.
“In that case, please use mine.”
On hearing that I didn’t bring my handkerchief, Hiji-san imdiately took out a handkerchief from her bag and passed it to . Is she lending it to ?
“Ah, no need. It’s alright even if I don’t have it. Also, Hiji-san, if you lend it to , you won’t have one to use, right?”
“It’s alright. I brought another handkerchief along too.”
Hiji-san said that as she took out the other handkerchief from her pocket. She’s really well-prepared.
“Uu, since Hiji-san says so…”
In that case, I’ll take this handkerchief according to her kind intentions. As I thought this, I reached my hand out for the handkerchief in her hand.
“Here, guys must not trivialize such minor things, or else you won’t be popular with girls—”
For so reason, Hiji-san went silent. She didn’t hand the handkerchief over to , but held it tightly in her hands.
“Hiji-san?”
“…I guess…it’s alright not to have one!”
“?”
After saying that, Hiji-san hurriedly placed the handkerchief back into her pocket.
I really don’t understand what she ant by that, but on seeing that I can talk with Hiji-san in such a happy manner, I’m rather happy too.
—And up till now, these were all the only happy mories I had in the morning.
☆
“From now on, we’ll start with the interrogation of the heretic Yoshii Akihisa.”
About 5 minutes after that, I was arrested by the FFF.
I was forcefully taken away from the puzzled Hiji-san, and my limbs were all tied up as I was rcilessly pushed onto the hard tatami of class 2-F’s floor.
“Yoshii Akihisa, do you have any last words?”
“I only t Hiji-san on the way to school! It’s not like I’m completely innocent…but I earnestly request to have my punishnt reduced!!”
“…”
After hearing my explanation, the leader of the FFF seed to ponder for a while. Even if the FFF would severely deal with any guy who interacts with girls, if I only t her coincidentally on my way to school, wouldn’t that be too heavy of a punishnt? If they’re always jealous about this, it would never end! Don’t tell that they were blinded by jealously because of such a trivial thing? I think they’ll send 5 mbers to pinch my arms with the thumb and middle fingers—
“—Then, 10 mbers shall deal flying kicks to Yoshii Akihisa.”
Seems like their jealousy’s more than what I could imagine!
“Wa, wait! Isn’t this punishnt too heavy!? If you want to punish , what will happen if sothing similar happens to you?”
“Uu…”
The leader went silent again. He should be considering the possibility that ‘the sa thing may happen to them’.
“Leader, I don’t think what the accused said is unreasonable.”
“We’re not rciless devil. For this level of action, I think we can just close an eye and forgive him.”
“Maybe one day, this lucky event of getting to walk to school with girls will happen to us too.”
“Also, I’ll be punished everyday if I’m being punished for ogling soone.”
The mbers rallied around . It seed that the ‘this thing may happen to you’ statent had so effect.
“In that case, we’ll specially reduce the punishnt such that it’ll be a flick on the forehead by the leader.”
Just when I heaved a huge sigh of relief because of such a large reduction in punishnt—
“Please wait a mont!”
Hiji-san panged as she rushed into the classroom. Hm? What’s going on? Did Hiji-san run over because she was worried about ?
“Akihisa-kun didn’t do anything wrong! I—”
Hiji-san blushed as she desperately tried to explain to everyone.
“—I forced him to co to school with today!”
“20 mbers shall now carry out German Suplexes.”
“““NO OBJECTIONS!!!”””
What’s going on? What Hiji-san said changed my punishnt from a flick on the forehead to German Suplexes, and the number went from 1 to 20! Such a drastic change is really hard to react to!
“Hi, Hiji-san, I’m grateful that you spoke up for , but what you just said would only create an opposite effect…”
“But, it’s my selfish intention to adjust Akihisa-kun’s collar and let our hands touch each other! This has nothing to do with Akihisa-kun, it’s not Akihisa-kun’s fault at all…”
“FLIP THE TATAMI! SMASH HIS HEAD DIRECTLY ONTO THE FLOOR!”
“YES! THE WORK’S DONE HERE!”
“WE CAN ADD SO NAILS TO ADD TO THE EFFECT!”
“I GOT SO IRON STAKES READY!”
Damn it! These guys are already thinking about burying this immobilized now! If I don’t hurry up and explain…that’s right! I just need to make them feel like this is nothing! I just need to explain to them that it’s sothing trivial in our everyday lives—
“Everyone, calm down! If you’re punishing because of this, what about Yuuji? Don’t you often see him coming to school with Kirishima-san?”
“In that case, we shall punish Sakamoto Yuuji as well.”
Sorry Yuuji, it seed that my words caused you to be punished too.
I was sending my apologies in my mind to that bad friend of mine with the wild presence as I clapped my hands together. At this mont, CRAK, the entrance door to the classroom was slid aside.
“Good morning~fuuwaa…I really feel like sleeping…”
Ahh, Yuuji, why did you have to turn up just at this mont?
“Hm? Akihisa? What’s up? You got captured by the FFF again? It’s been tough on you in the morning—OI, WHY ARE YOU GUYS SNEAKING BEHIND AND TWISTING MY ARMS!!?”
Yuuji, who looked sleepy as he ca to school, was imdiately grabbed on the waist from the back by the FFF mbers with their strong arms.
“Hiji-san, can you please turn over and look at ?”
“Eh? Ah, okay.”
I tried to gather Hiji-san’s gaze and concentration onto .
From the corner of the classroom, Yuuji’s body flew in a beautiful arc in mid-air, and at the sa ti, ‘THOMP’, ‘THOMP’, ‘THOMP’, blunt sounds could be heard. That would be three tis already…
“Good morning—WHAT IN THE WORLD? YUUJI’S BLOODIED FACE’S SLAMD ONTO THE GROUND!!”
17 tis already?
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? HURRY UP AND GET BACK TO YOUR SEATS!!”
As the heavy sound echoed for the 18th ti, Ironman’s arrival finally cald down this commotion. Ah, that was dangerous. Once Yuuji’s head takes another 2 hits, the next one would be …
☆
“Damn it, ending up with such dumb luck in the morning!”
After morning lessons ended, afternoon break finally started. Yuuji finally regained consciousness as he sat at the seat right in front of with his bento there.
“Though it is the sa as usual, seeing that so early in the morning really isn't good for the heart…”
The one who said that was the bishoujo girl carrying the bento—Hideyoshi as he walked over. He had smooth silky hair and wide puppy-like eyes. Hideyoshi himself was already very cute, but ever since second year started, I started to feel that Hideyoshi looked a lot tenderer. Is this so-called youth? Does Hideyoshi have soone he likes?
“…Other people’s happiness is the taste of poison. This is the tradition of the FFF.”
After that, the one who approached us silently after buying the rice ball from the convenience store was Tsuchiya Kouta, nicknad ‘Muttsurini’. He’s a short and small classmate of mine who gives a silent vibe.
“That’s strange? Didn’t you take part in the execution this morning, Muttsurini?”
“…I went to investigate a few things.”
“To think that there are even executioners and accused amongst friends. Even I feel that this is way too weird…”
“Really? Isn’t there a saying that ‘yesterday’s enemy is today’s friend’?”
“I say…the way you guys switch between enemies and friends is way too intense.”
From my personal experience, we’re enemies about 90% of the ti and 10% in critical danger.
“You guys are always repeating the sa thing over and over again.”
“I thought that this would be a peaceful class when I ca to second year…”
Minami swung her ponytail about as she walked over, and Hiji-san followed her from behind.
After moving a few short tables together, the six of us tucked in our lunches like usual. Such a scene is gradually becoming more common nowadays.
“Eh? Aki, you brought a bento today?”
As I opened my bento on the table, Minami asked .
“It’s rare for Akihisa to bring his own bento.”
“Yeah, there were a lot of side dishes left yesterday.”
I accidentally cooked too much yesterday. Luckily, these were all dishes that can be eaten cold.
“Then let’s do ‘that’ again. Scissors, paper…”
“““Stone!”””
Muttsurini showed scissors. Everyone else showed stone.
“…Uu…”
Muttsurini looked at his hand that showed scissors in a remorseful manner. It seed that he was really bothered.
“It’s rare to see that we can decide the winner in one go. I want Oolong tea.”
“I’ll take green tea then.”
“I want lemon soda.”
“I want milk tea.”
“Excuse , please help get sugarless red tea.”
Everyone took out a 100 yen coin and handed it to Muttsurini.
“…I’ll get the drinks then.”
After collecting the money, Muttsurini ran off alone to the teamwork club to buy drinks for everyone. This punishnt ga of being a gofer is a common scene during lunch break.
“Ah~ I’m hungry.”
Yuuji opened the bento he brought, and everyone else opened their bentos on the table. It’s a basic rule not to wait for the gofer to co back before we start eating. If not, we will feel bothered and end up restraining ourselves.
“Akihisa, your bento looks rather good.”
“Yours too, Yuuji.”
It’s rare that Yuuji and I would each bring our own bentos as we couldn’t help but compare. Yuuji’s side dish is teriyaki pork…it looks good.
“Is that tuna…ginger fried tuna? Not bad…”
Yuuji’s voice ca from beside. It seed that he had already locked onto his target.
“Alright, Akihisa, let’s have an exchange.”
“Ok, what do you want, Yuuji?”
“I want that ginger fried tuna of yours. You?”
“I want that teriyaki pork of yours.”
“Okay, deal’s set.”
“Yeah. Here’s the ginger fried tuna.”
“Oh, your teriyaki pork.”
IN? Cherry tomato stalk (dipped in teriyaki sauce)
OUT? cabbage shreds (Ginger flavored)
“YOU WANT A PIECE OF !!!??”
“I’LL RETURN THOSE WORDS RIGHT BACK AT YOU, BASTARD!”
Both of us grabbed each other on the collar. This guy’s really petty! Can’t he just let win a little bit?
“Are you two kids…”
Seeing Yuuji and I tussle each other as we grabbed each other on the collars, Hideyoshi could only sigh in a sowhat reluctant manner.
“No, that’s not it, Hideyoshi. I’m already an adult, but Yuuji’s a despicable scumbag!”
“Hideyoshi, don’t compare with Akihisa, will ya? That guy’s the only one with the brain of a primary school kid!”
““!”” (Widening our eyes and glaring at each other)
“You two are just like kids in situations like this…really, you guys…”
Hideyoshi sighed and then used his chopsticks—
“Well, isn’t this enough?”
““AH!””
Just when Yuuji and I were roaring at each other and holding each other off, Hideyoshi had already switched our dishes over.
“Of course, I want my share too.”
Hideyoshi said as he moved his chopsticks and swapped the deep-fried pork chop he brought over too. Now everyone’s dishes looked much more interesting and appetizing.
“Can’t be helped then. Since Hideyoshi said so, I’ll forgive you for today, damned Yuuji.”
“That’s my line!”
My hand released Yuuji’s collar and retracted back. Instead of doing such a stupid and aningless thing, it’s more important to put the food into my stomach.
“Really…can’t you two just eat your own bentos quietly?”
“If soone would prepare a bento for , of course I’ll just eat my own share.”
“There’s a lack of surprise when I prepare my own bento. It’s kinda lonely.”
“Then shouldn’t you guys just exchange your dishes in the first place…”
If Yuuji and I are to bring our own bentos, we’ll normally prepare our own dishes. It’s good that we can choose whatever dishes we like, but there will be no sense of expectation when we open the bento box, and that’s a little empty feeling.
On a side note, the option to exchange dishes quietly never existed in the first place. Because if that happened, we can’t increase our bento’s share. Don’t underestimate a high school guy’s stomach!
“Mizuki, what did you bring to exchange with everyone today?”
“Ah. In that case, then…let’s exchange a little…”
“Un. Then, here.”
“Here, please have so.”
Seeing our commotion, it seed that the girls wanted to try it out too. Hiji-san and Minami wanted to try the fun of exchanging dishes as they handed their bento boxes over to each other. It’s a lot gentler when girls do the sa thing, and this is quite a nice scene.
“Heh, you have quite the interesting side dish. Is this tuna…ginger-fried tuna?”
“Yes.”
“Un? Ginger-fried tuna?”
“ACK!”
I choked hard on my food.
DA, DAAAAAAMMMMNNNN IT! Speaking of which, I prepared Hiji-san’s bento too, so the dishes inside are completely similar to mine! Got to smoke this through sohow!
“Tha, that’s quite a coincidence, Hiji-san! Did your mom watch the ‘simple cooking’ program yesterday?”
The next second, I blurted out the excuse of watching the sa TV program. Please, Hiji-san, please go along with what I said and end this topic right now!
“Eh? Akihisa-kun, have you forgotten? Today’s bento was prepared by yo—UU!”
“Hiji-san, let’s go sowhere else to talk first!”
She’s way too na?ve!
I frantically covered Hiji-san’s mouth and moved to a corner of the classroom. I vaguely realized it a while back, but Hiji-san’s really slow-witted!
(You can’t tell them, Hiji-san! If you tell them the truth, wouldn’t they know that we’re living together?)
(Eh? We can’t tell everyone else that we’re living together?)
(No way! Absolutely not! We mustn’t let other people know about this!)
Whether it’s about Hiji-san’s reputation or my own life.
(Ah…that’s right. It’s really not good if the school knows that we’re living together.)
(That’s right, that’s right. It’s great that you can understand.)
(I got it. Then, this will be our little secret.)
Hiji-san clenched her small fist in front of her chest.
Now that I rember, I realized we have never talked about keeping the fact that we’re living together a secret. Even so…but she never really thought about it. It seems that Hiji-san’s really a little weird. She said that she’s like her mother, so I guess it’s definitely about being so na?ve that she‘s an air head.
(Akihisa-kun, let’s work hard to hide this secret!)
(Un, let’s do our best.)
After achieving common understanding with Hiji-san, we returned back to our seats. From now on, we have to protect this secret with a bronze wall like stance!
“What the heck, Akihisa, did you prepare the bento for Hiji?”
But the first attack rattled .
“Ahh, no. That’s…eh…”
It’s monts like this that Yuuji can easily see through lies. Also, he had Hideyoshi beside him. To think that there’s such big trouble at this mont!
Just when I was thinking about this—
“What are you worried about? She’s just helping you finish off the seafood deluxe set you drew the last ti, right?”
“That was really a lot.”
It seed that Yuuji and Hideyoshi didn’t really worry about it. That’s strange? Was I able to sneak through like this?
(You must have said to Hiji sothing like ‘since there are leftovers, I’ll just prepare sothing for you as thanks’ and prepared the food for her before sending her off, right? Your mind’s rather quick at tis, Akihisa.)
(I really have to look at you in a different light.)
They deliberately whispered to . I see, so there’s such a misunderstanding. Anyway, it’s great that they would think this way about that.
“That’s right. It’s like we didn’t use up much food after we had the hotpot party.”
“It can’t be helped though. A lot of things happened back then.”
“The hotpot then beca a black hotpot that didn’t really have any relation with the seafood. The only one who really used the seafood was the cold dish Shimada and the rest did, right?”
“Yeah, that was really good.”
I rembered the appetizer Minami, Kirishima-san and Kudou-san made for us that day. There was a seafood cold dish, stead oysters and seafood salad. Each one of them was really good.
“That’s right. Minami, the sauce for that seafood cold dish—”
I wanted to turn around and ask Minami how she prepared that sauce. But…
“Humph!”
I found that Minami was giving an unhappy look.
“What’s wrong, Minami?”
“…Nothing, nothing at all.”
Though she said that, it’s obvious that she was unhappy about sothing. Uu, does Minami want a bento too? We tried her cooking the last ti, but there wasn’t any response, and I only made a bento for Hiji-san, so it’s kinda unfair to Minami. I see. If that’s how it is…
“If you don’t mind, Minami, I’ll make a bento for you next ti.”
“Eh? Will you?”
“Un, it doesn’t really matter whether it’s a 3 persons share or 4 persons share.”
It didn’t really matter whether I cooked a person’s share or many’s. If the current situation can be resolved by making a bento, it’s not so difficult problem.
“I see. I’ll tell you the recipe for that cold dish~ for the sauce, do not add too much balsamic vinegar, and also—”
Minami shook aside the unhappiness that shrouded her and happily told the way to make the cold dish sauce.
“Balsamic vinegar? Must I add distilled pesticide to acetic acid?”
Beside , Hiji-san muttered sothing really scary. If she says that she wants to make a seafood cold dish, I have to be careful the next ti! I again checked the danger hidden within Hiji-san.
Anyway, let’s tuck in first. This is the first ti I tried making ginger-fried tuna, and unexpectedly, it tastes good even after being cold. Maybe it’s really suited to be added to a bento.
“…I’m back.”
Just when everyone was talking and eating, Muttsurini carried a large number of dishes with both hands as he finally ca back.
“Oh, you took quite so ti today. Were there a lot of people inside the teamwork club?”
Yuuji asked as he received the Oolong tea Muttsurini handed over. It really took quite so ti today, and for the quick and nimble Muttsurini, it’s really rare.
“…Soone discussed sothing with when I went to buy drinks.”
“Discussed sothing with you—”
Who is it? Just as I was about to ask, a certain person happened to appear right before our eyes.
“It doesn’t matter, Tsuchiya-kun. I’ll talk to them directly.”
She had nice short shoulder-length hair and a cold expression. Her arms were folded right in front of her as she looked down at us while we were tucking in as we sat on the tatami mat. This person in front of us was—
“Hello, everyone in class F.”
“Hm? That’s quite a rare guest.”
The one who ca over was the class rep of C class, Koyama-san. Like what Yuuji said, she was really a rare guest.
“In that case, the one who went to discuss things with Muttsurini was—”
“That’s right, it was . But, instead of a discussion, I’ll say that we just so happened to et each other in front of the teamwork club, so I asked him a few questions.”
“…It seed that she wanted to know about F class’ plans for the summoning battle.”
“Our class’ plans?”
“It seems that the system maintenance was done, and we should be able to carry out our summoning battle two days later in the morning. I want to ask what F class will be doing.”
The summoning war that was supposed to be allowed once the second term started had to undergo so maintenance because of change of equipnt and other situations (the given reason though was that they wanted to change the summoned beasts' equipnt). However, the summoning war that was delayed for quite a while will finally be restarted two days later. Our F class’ aim is obviously to take revenge after losing in the first sester.
Even so, it was unexpected that she would actually co over to check on us, the worst class.
“You’re really cautious.”
Yuuji said in a mocking manner. As for this, I had the sa thoughts as Yuuji.
“Really? You F class created lots of chaos in the first sester among the second years, and it wasn’t any different from the eye of a tornado. It’s obvious that I would be more cautious, right?”
Koyama-san wasn’t affected by Yuuji’s taunting words as she calmly smiled back.
“That’s quite an appraisal for us…but can that really do? Once second term starts, class C will finally get back their original facilities, but to think that you would consider about the summoning battles…”
Yuuji said to Koyama-san in a criticizing manner.
One of the rules of the summoning war was that ‘the facilities that were swapped because of a loss in the summoning war will be reset once the new term starts’. Of course, while nothing will change when the upper-ranked class lost to a lower-ranked class and caused a change in facilities, but if the lower-ranked class lost and had to degrade their facilities, it’ll be reset in the new sester.
“Speaking of which, C class lost to A class before and had their equipnt downgraded to D class, right?”
“Then C class should be able to get back C class’ equipnt once the new term starts, right?”
To emphasize on this rule. The main aim is to hope that the students can take part in a summoning battle enthusiastically. In that case, once a summoning battle begins at the end of the sester; the lower class will challenge the upper-ranked class without much risk.
Even if we wanted to carry out a summoning battle after we were stread, the points difference between us was way too great, and normally speaking, we won’t easily go for battle. The school hoped that students would study hard while regretting this and check their progress at the end of the school sester. However, we started a riot right from the beginning of school term, and with the adjustnts of the summoning system and all sorts of events, the end of the school sester was rather quiet.
“What do you an by starting a summoning battle? I never talked about taking the initiative to fight. I just want to know the action of F class, which was the central cause of everything the last ti.”
“That’s really an indirect way of saying it. In other words, if we don’t provide information, you won’t say anything, right?”
“You can interpret it like that too.”
Koyama-san gave a proud smirk as she said that.
Is she asking for an alliance? I guess not. She’s just going to make a deal with us. She will talk about C class’ movents, and also, we have to talk about F class’ movents. There won’t be any problems if we don’t get into each other’s way. If not, we can think of a counterasure early and avoid attacking each other if we know what will happen.
“In that case, why didn’t you just ask Yuuji straight away?”
Why did you ask Muttsurini?
“Well, if I ask Sakamoto-kun, I won’t have to make such a deal. It’ll be best if I don’t have to automatically provide information.”
Facing my doubt, Koyama-san didn’t flinch as she honestly answered. That’s just like her.
“Uu…Yuuji, what do you intend to do?”
“That’s good. I accept this deal.”
“Really? That’s really a great help.”
Koyama-san looked like she knew that Yuuji wouldn’t refuse right from the beginning and said thanks indirectly.
“I just need to tell you the class we intend to go against, right?”
“That’s not enough. You need to say the ti you intend to attack. If we know the class you intend to target, I wouldn’t have to co over and ask you.”
Koyama-san’s right. Our F class’ ultimate aim was to beat A class, and everyone knew about this. It’s not much of a deal if she knows who we want to attack.
Yuuji showed a sowhat hesitant look as he was asked to ntion the timing of the attack. Don’t tell that he hasn't decided on those details yet? It’s not like Yuuji to say triumphantly that we’re going to beat A class without thinking of a plan.
“As for A class, about a week after the summoning battles are allowed—latest 2 weeks, and we’ll attack. That’s my plan.”
“Un…I see…”
That’s strange? Do we have to wait that long…I thought that with Yuuji’s personality, we’ll be attacking imdiately after the summoning battles are allowed.
I wanted to ask the question, but Yuuji gave a sharp stare that said ‘don’t talk too much’. It seed that the information battle had begun silently even when the battles hadn’t started. In that case, I’ll let Yuuji handle this.
“And what about your class? If you’re aiming for A class, we’re enemies.”
“We’re not so ambitious. We just want to attack B class. It’s about the sa as you guys, most likely, about a week or two after the summoning battles are allowed.”
“…”
C class was aiming for B class? It’s true that this was a rather logical consideration. They couldn’t fight it out to decide the winner the last ti, so they intended to fight B class. I can understand that.
“But is that really good? I rember B class’s Nemoto-kun…should be Koyama-san’s boy—”
“I’ll kill you if you dare continue.”
It seed that I misappropriated her unforgettable past.
“I like smart guys, and not guys who’ll only study.”
“That’s right. That Nemoto’s just a despicable scum.”
“To achieve victory, it’s rather effective to use all sorts of despicable tactics, isn’t it? I kinda like it…but I had enough of that guy.”
Koyama-san cackled. To think that she would like despicable guys. I guess everyone thinks differently…
“I’ll be later than others when playing janken.”
“What are you saying!? Don’t you always lose even when you showed up late? You’re not despicable. Unlike , I’ll pretend to have a tummy-ache every ti it’s my turn to sweep the floor!”
“Nonono, I’m the real despicable person.”
“There’s no such thing. I’m the really despicable one here.”
“…Actually, I have a cousin of the sa age. I once asked him about dating, and he introduced his classmates to .”
““YOU DAMNED BASTARD! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!””
“…But I rember that guy should be studying in a guys’ school.”
“…I’ll give you this can of juice.”
“…I’ll treat you to takoyaki when we go ho.”
“…Thanks guys…”
Our nearby classmates started boasting about how despicable they were. Our guys were really too understanding.
“I see, so Koyama-san likes smart guys.”
“That’s right, Hiji-san, I like smart guys. Fufu~”
Koyama-san gave a sowhat aningful smile.
“In that case…Sakamoto-kun’s a smart person too, right?”
“““…(Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh)!”””
“Oi, you guys! Don’t stab those penknives into the tatami mat. That’s really uncomfortable, you know!”
A few of our classmates far away stabbed the tatami mats beside them with the penknives. If they were a little more direct, the ones that would have holes pierced through wouldn’t just be tatami mats, but Yuuji’s body.
“Speaking of which…really? One, two weeks after the ban’s lifted…I see…”
Koyama-san muttered with a sowhat aningful tone, and Yuuji looked surprised as he stared at her.
“Thanks for sharing this with . It seed that our aim was different. Let’s do our best when we start the battles, then.”
Leaving this sentence behind, Koyama-san folded her arms, turned around and left F class’ classroom. Now that we knew that we wouldn’t be fighting C class in the next summoning battle, there was one less enemy we had to be wary of.
“Looks like the other classes are already testing each other out and preparing for the summoning war.”
“It’s been a while ever since we swapped classrooms. Now even if the quality of the classes have changed, it’s not really that surprising, isn’t it?”
The last ti, it seed that only F class took the initiative. However, the summoning war that will soon start seems like it will cause quite the ripple among the 2nd years. Will that be good or bad for us…
“Ah, speaking of summoning battles, didn’t I hear that the summoned beasts’ equipnt changed? What will they be like now?”
Beside , Minami tilted her head and asked. That’s right, how do our summoned beasts look like now?
“Change in equipnt…we have to check it out so that we can control the summoning battle well.”
“…It seems that the system’s repaired.”
“Now we can summon our summoned beasts, right?”
“I guess. Do you want to try it out? Who’s going to get the teacher—”
Anyway, we have to get permission from a teacher before we can summon our summoned beasts.
Perhaps it was perfect timing as we saw our horoom teacher, nicknad Ironman—Nishimura-sensei walk over from the corridor…
“It can’t be helped then…”
“Yeah, lunch break’s about to end soon.”
“Then…Nishimura-sensei!”
“Hm? Yoshii, Sakamoto, what’s the matter?”
Once I called out, Ironman walked into the classroom. He frowned in an irritated manner. That attitude was basically ‘there’ll be trouble once we talk to him’. How rude!
“Sorry, can you please ‘nope’ allow us to ‘no way’ summon? ‘Rejected’ the summoning war ban’s ‘I refuse’ lifted, ‘give up’ so the new summoned beasts ‘don’t force ’…oi, how many tis have you refused us? I only asked you for one thing, and you refused six tis before I even finished. This is the first ti I t such a situation, how infuriating!”
“It’s because you brats never listen to , right?”
No, I think that was completely far off. Sensei wasn’t even listening to …
“I ntioned it before that your summoned beasts can’t be summoned whenever you want to, right?”
“Even though you did say so…”
My summoned beast’s different from others, one that can touch other physical objects. As I have a special summoned beast that can touch other objects and has several tis the strength of an ordinary person, it’s no wonder that Ironman would be so worried. However—
“Sensei, don’t worry about it. Have we deliberately caused trouble up till now?”
“I rember you two had to write more than 100 reflections in the first term, right?”
“Let see…that’s about 1 every day.”
“That’s enough to make a book…”
“How many have you two written anyway…?”
Yuuji definitely wrote 99 of them!
“Besides, if you would call ‘sensei’, it ans that nothing good will happen. Are you going to co up with so tricks again?”
Ironman stared at Yuuji and with a suspicious look. What the heck, so we called him wrongly.
That’s simple then. We just need to change the way we call him.
“Please, Sou-kun~ (PAKK!)”
“Thousand please, Souichi~ (BEKK!)”
“WHO ASKED YOU TO CALL SENSEI BY HIS NA NA DIRECTLY!?”
““MY HAAANNNDDD!!!””
As we just said that, our arms that were reached out were twisted by a powerful pliers-like force. If we can’t call him that, what’s next?
As we were clutching our right hands and rolling on the floor in pain, Hiji-san and Minami went in front of Ironman.
“You can’t allow us, Nishimura-sensei? It’s not like I and everyone else want to do sothing bad. We just want to call out our summoned beasts and see if there’s any change in equipnt.”
“Minami-chan’s right. We won’t summon our summoned beasts for pranks.”
“No…but…”
““Please, Nishimura-sensei.””
“Haa…it’s not like I don’t understand how you feel about wanting to check out your new equipnt.”
As the two model students in our class pleaded earnestly, Ironman’s attitude showed so signs of softening.
Alright, now, once more!
“Please, Tetsun (PAKK)☆”
“We’ll leave it to you then, Te-chan (BEKK) ?”
Now our left hands, which were fine, were twisted. Damn it! How can there be such a stubborn guy!?
“You two, really…okay, make it quick.”
“Eh? What quick?”
“I’m busy here. Just summon if you want to. Really…”
Ironman sighed as he said that. What, so he still agreed in the end.
“And besides, no matter how I refuse, you’ll use Sakamoto’s platinum bracelet to summon, right? In that case, I might as well let you take action under my watch, and I’ll…feel more at ease.”
I see, so there’s such a reason. But in that case…
“If you think that way, shouldn’t you have just allowed us to summon right from the beginning?”
“Yeah, and my hands got twisted. That was really quite the loss.”
“If I gave you permission just like that, you guys will definitely get ahead of yourselves.”
Of course we won’t…ah, maybe.
“Never mind, at least we got permission.”
“Yeah, we got what we wanted in the end.”
“…(Nods head).”
“I’m looking forward to it. I don’t know how our summoned beasts would look.”
“I’ll just pray that it’s not a concrete wall like the last ti…”
“Then lets summon and see, ready—”
“““SUMMON!”””
Our gang shouted out. Soon, patterned array appeared around our feet, and the summoned beasts that were shaped off everyone’s looks appeared.
“Wow…nice armor…it really looks awe-inspiring.”
“A lance and armor? Have I evolved into a knight? That’s great…it’s great that I’m not using a chopping board as a shield. This is really great!”
“Oi, Yuuji, look at . My uniform has a dragon woven.”
“Look, Akihisa, mine’s a tiger.”
“A longsword and a coat…so I beca the Shinsengumi. Looks really strong.”
“…I got improved to a jonin.”
Unn, I see. So everyone’s equipnt beca better.
““JUST WAIT A SECOND, DAMN IT!!””
“What now, Yoshii, Sakamoto? You’re really noisy.”
“OF COURSE WE HAVE TO COMPLAIN! THIS IS OBVIOUSLY UNFAIR!”
“Really?”
“Yeah! Just look at the changes on Hiji-san!”
“Eh, my armor’s sturdier than before, and my weapon beca longer and larger.”
“Minami?”
“My army uniform beca a knight’s uniform, and my spear beca a lance.”
“Then Hideyoshi?”
“My Naginata warrior beca a Shinsengumi mber.”
“Muttsurini!”
“…I went from a Chonin to a Jonin.”
“But Yuuji and I—”
“Only had patterns woven on our school uniforms!”
““THAT IS WAY TOO STRANGE!””
Yuuji and I said that in perfect unison. This is way too different from the rest! Why is Yuuji and my equipnt almost the sa as before!
“No, Akihisa, wait, I’m different from you. My weapon changed too.”
“Eh? Really?”
“Yeah. My tal knuckles beca a bat.”
“THAT’S NOT MUCH DIFFERENT!”
It looks like no matter how much changes happened, I’m always given the equipnt of a delinquent. Or rather…is it the principal’s doing?
“Alright, you should be happy now, right? I’m going to revoke the permission.”
Once Ironman said that, the summoning field disappeared, and at the sa ti, our summoned beasts disappeared. GUUUUUU…! I CAN’T ACCEPT THIS…!
“Lunch break’s almost over. Don’t play around and prepare for the next lesson.”
Leaving those words behind, Ironman left the classroom.
“Aki and Sakamoto haven’t grown up at all.”
“Shimada, don’t associate with that idiot. It’s too disrespectful.”
“Yeah, Minami. My brain’s different from Yuuji’s brain and Minami’s chest, I did grow—(CRACK)”
“What did you just say?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Akihisa really hasn't grown up at all…”
I held my hands that were twisted to the limit and endured the sharp pain that ca from the joint as I continued the afternoon lessons.
☆
Ti flew, and it was already after school.
“It’s been a while since things were quiet. Let’s just look forward to the upcoming days of school dismissal.”
Carrying the school bag that wasn’t really heavy, Yuuji walked beside and muttered.
“Because we had to stay behind for after-school supplentary lessons recently.”
The school’s nature allowed for more supplentary lessons for classes that were more likely to be involved in summoning battles. We had to take lessons, and also had to take exams to replenish our points.
“It’s because you guys always skipped lessons that you ended up having more supplentary lessons than the rest.”
I had no idea about what Minami was talking about at all.
“…We should be grateful that we can look forward to school dismissal in such a free manner.”
“Speaking of which, it’s like our free ti was extended. It really feels like we earned it.”
Muttsurini and Hiji-san said that in a seemingly happy manner. On a side note, Hideyoshi went for his drama club practice. He’s the only one among us who’s taking part in club activities, so there’s not many chances for him to go back with everyone.
“It’s rare for us to leave school early. Why don’t we walk sowhere?”
Yuuji raised this usual plan as we never had a planned schedule.
Normally, I would definitely agree to hang out with him, but…
“Forget about today. I need to go to the supermarket to buy ingredients.”
“You’re going shopping? I thought there was a lot of that seafood you won.”
“There is a lot, but I want to cook at. I rember that eggs and at will be cheaper on Monday.”
In fact, as there were 3 people at ho, the seafood we won was almost finished. It’s okay if nee-san and I were at ho, but since Hiji-san’s living at my house, I had to put so more effort in cooking. As we had been eating seafood for the past few days, I wanted to try a at dish.
“Really? I’ll have at today too.”
Yuuji’s in charge of cooking today too (In his situation, it should be ‘again’)? He seed to be pondering as he said this.
“Oh yeah. What do you intend to cook tonight?”
“Hm…about that…”
That’s really troubleso. Even though I said that I wanted to cook at, I don’t really have things that I want to cook…and every nu has to vary, which is really troubleso…ah, that’s right!
“Hiji-san, what do you want to eat tonight?”
“Eh? ?”
I turned around and asked Hiji-san. It’s rare for her to be a guest of mine, so I’ll like to hear what she wants to eat. I’ll have so idea on what to cook.
“I don’t really have things I like or hate…but more than that, Akihisa-kun, what do you like to eat? Akihisa-kun cooked yesterday, and it’s my—”
“No no no no no! It’s my job to cook! You really don’t have to worry about this!”
Before Hiji-san could say sothing even more dangerous, I hurriedly interrupted her. I’ll handle the cooking; no way will I back off from that!
“““…”””
Just when I was discussing dinner with Hiji-san, Yuuji and company looked at us.
“Oi, Akihisa.”
“What is it, Yuuji?”
“Why are you asking Hiji what she wants for dinner?”
“Eh?”
Now that Yuuji ntioned it, Hiji-san and I subconsciously looked at each other.
Damn it! I was thinking about dinner tonight and accidentally blurted out that we’re living together! How could I make such a simple mistake! An, anyway, got to calm down! Got to find so way to hide this!
“Tha, tha tha tha that’s because of that! Right, Hiji-san?”
“Ye, yes! It’s because…eh, Akihisa-kun just wants to use what I like as reference so that he can prepare dinner tonight. It’s not for to eat!”
“““…”””
After hearing Hiji-san’s explanation, the stares on us had even more doubts and suspicions.
“Eh…the…I’m going to the supermarket first. I’ll make a move first!”
“I, I have sothing I have to do. Sorry, I have to leave!”
Before everyone else could comnt, we ran off. Though they didn’t chase up, the stares on my back were so piercing that they were aching .
“Is, is it alright? We weren’t discovered, right?”
“I, I guess we’re definitely alright. We just explained it properly just now.”
After turning around the corner, Hiji-san and I looked at each other. It’s really hard to hide secrets from others…
“In that case, how about you go ho first, Hiji-san? I’ll go back once I’m done buying the stuff.”
“No, I should co along if I want to buy stuff. I've been treated kindly by you, and I would be bothered by it.”
“But it’s not good for us to buy ingredients together…”
“How about you leave the shopping to ? I’ll be in charge of dinner tonight. Akihisa-kun can go back to study for tomorrow’s lessons…”
“Alright, let’s go shop then! What should we have for dinner tonight?”
“Ah, Akihisa-kun, wait for !”
Asking Hiji-san to cook, and for to study…wouldn’t that be the worst case scenario? There’ll be no problems if it was the complete opposite…
☆
“Akihisa-kun, I heard that eggplants are going at a special price today?”
As I carried the basket into the supermarket, Hiji-san said to after seeing the vegetable area near the entrance.
“Eggplant…that's good. Do you eat eggplants, Hiji-san?”
“Yes, I like eggplants the most!”
Hiji-san answered with an ever-radiant smile.
We're now entering autumn ti, and it's the ti when eggplant tastes best. If it's a little cheaper, I'd really like to buy it. Maybe I should deep-fry and then stew it, or maybe I should add green peppers and at slices to stir fry if I want so seasonal taste. It'll taste good once I add ginger soy sauce after frying. My mouth started to water as I imagined it.
“Miso yakitori’s good too…no, we can also steam it with chicken…”
“Sounds good. Eggplants have low calories and are really healthy, and since it is autumn, it’s the best season to eat eggplants.”
“That’s right.”
Just when we intended to buy so eggplants, a shop worker was walking over and shouting energetically.
“OVER HERE, OVER HERE! CHEAP AND HEALTHY STUFF ARE HERE! CO CHECK IT OUT!”
It seed like I heard this mysterious tone before…is this shop attendant a foreigner?
As Hiji-san and I widened our eyes curiously, the shop attendant continued to shout in front of us.
“TODAY’S VEGETABLES ARE VALUE FOR MONEY! ESPECIALLY THIS—”
At that mont, the shouting stopped.
The shop attendant’s eyes were staring at the eggplant he was holding in his hand as he tilted his head slightly before shouting again.
“ESPECIALLY THIS…how should I call it? Eh…THIS THING THAT LOOKS LIKE A PURPLE BAT! IT’S REALLY DELICIOUS!”
Doesn’t this guy know what an eggplant is?
“IT’S COMPLETELY RIPE AND FULL OF HONEY! IT’S SWEET AND DELICIOUS!”
What’s with that eggplant? What’s added inside!?
“Ohh, the newly-wed couple over there! How do you feel about this…purple thing? Wanna buy so?”
Maybe we were looking too interested as the shop attendant that was hawking soon noticed us. Damn it. This person doesn’t look normal in any way. It’s best to run away before we get involved with him…
“Call, calling us a newly-wed couple…”
Hiji-san beside was blushing as she looked all fluffy, and had no intention of running away.
Speaking of which, Hiji-san’s really like a girl. It seems that girls are powerless against words like ‘bride’ or ‘newly-weds’.
“Co, look! What do you think of this purple rod, kiddo? It’s cheap and ripe! It’s extrely sweet!”
“Sorry. If possible, please don’t give that ripe and sweet one.”
That unnaturally soft and sweet sll must be because the inside’s rotten already, right?
“No no, kiddo, you don’t have to be so kind with ! This purple rod’s sweet part is the best! This, eh…this has the label ‘local produce’! It has lots of calories, and has nothing to do with nutrition! Also—”
This shop attendant was not even listening to at all as he continued to mutter rubbish…Hiji-san hadn't recovered yet. Looked like I could only continue to stay there…
“…And sothing like that. It’s a good that’s well-loved from the past! Once this vegetable had been used in the north pole 800 years ago…”
As I stood in front of the shop attendant who was continuing to fire off, I sank into deep thought. Let see…aside from the ingredients for the dishes tonight, is there anything else I need to buy?
“Ah, speaking of which, kiddo…”
There are still napkins, and there’s no problem with the toilet paper and toothbrushes.
“I’d like to know the na of this purple vegetable?—”
If I have to say it, it’s the one thing we didn’t have much left the last ti we did cleaning…
“—Toilet cleaner…”
“Oh! I see! Thank you very much!”
“Hm?”
Once I recovered, I found that the shopkeeper was standing in front of , holding my hand and thanking . Ahh, so he finally finished talking?
“I’ll have a bag then. Let’s go, Hiji-san.”
“Ah, okay, my beloved—no, Akihisa-kun!”
Hiji-san looked like she finally recovered too. I took a bag of eggplants, and soon after, left the vegetable section.
“WE’RE SELLING TOILET CLEANERS CHEAPLY TO YOU! RIPE AND SWEET TOILET CLEANERS ARE NOW FOR SALE! FOR SWEET STUFF, CHOOSE TOILET CLEANERS!”
The shop attendant just now was shouting behind about sothing he was selling.
“Akihisa-kun, what was that shop attendant selling?”
“I don’t know either…”
I heard toilet clean or sweet or sothing. Are they selling a new product, edible toilet cleaner?
“Oh yes, Akihisa-kun, do you know?”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Do you know the saying ‘don’t let your wives eat eggplants in autumn’…”
“Ah, I think I heard of that before.”
The source of this saying should be because aunties feel that ‘it’ll be a waste that the delicious eggplants in autumn are fed to those irritating spouses’, I guess. That’s rude.
But Hiji-san was thinking so thoroughly for her to ask this. Maybe she was wondering if she could eat eggplants.
“Hiji-san, you don’t have to worry about that saying. That’s an old generation's way of thinking.”
“Tha, that’s right. I shouldn’t be thinking about this and work hard to give birth to a healthy and energetic baby!”
Why must you ntion a baby? I don’t understand what she ant at all.
“Akihisa, I think I have to explain it to you. The saying ‘don’t let your wives eat eggplants in autumn’ is because ‘eggplants have few seeds, and they feared that the chances of pregnancy would be lowered’, so they would prevent their wives from eating eggplants.”
“Heh~ I see. Yuuji’s really knowledgeable.”
“It’s not that I’m knowledgeable, but that you lack common sense.”
Really? I didn’t know that—HEY, HOLD ON A SEC!
“Yu, Yuuji? Why are you here?”
“Sa, Sakamoto-kun! When did you co here?”
“Nothing, I just ca here to buy ingredients for dinner…”
Speaking of which, Yuuji did ntion that he had to cook dinner tonight too…there are not many supermarkets from school to ho, so it’s not really surprising that we would et here. It’s because we just went our separate ways that I made a huge mistake…
“Say it! What’s going on?”
“Wha, what are you saying? Hiji-san and I just happened to et at the supermarket and went together!”
“That’s right, Sakamoto-kun. We really t coincidentally before shopping in the supermarket!”
“Hoho? Really, you two said that you wanted to buy ingredients for dinner together. Looks like you have quite the good relationship there.”
“That’s not it. It’s not like that at all!”
“Speaking of which, it’s too suspicious that you two would enter a supermarket together. You must be hiding sothing else besides shopping together, right?”
Seeing that Hiji-san and I were looking uncomfortable because of his words, Yuuji placed his hand under his chin and gave a pondering look.
“Yesterday’s dinner, today’s lunch and tonight’s dinner are the sa…it seems that you two have been eating the sa dishes together…and you two ca to school together…”
WAAAAHHHH!! Yuuji’s getting closer to the truth! Got to find so way to change the topic!
“S, speaking of which! There’s a lot of social news everyday!”
“Yes yes! Like airport strikes, flights terminated and all that stuff!”
“That’s really bad! A lot of people can’t go back to Japan if the airport’s under strike!”
Hiji-san and I tried our best to divert the topic to the latest news. But after hearing what we said, Yuuji frowned harder.
“…Airport stop…Hiji had to stay at Akihisa’s house two days ago…are you two…”
Most likely, Yuuji noticed so critical fact as he inadvertently widened his eyes. Wha, what what? Does he know about it?
“Oi, Akihisa, answer honestly! Don’t tell —”
“Wha, what do you want to say?”
“—You’re staying together with Hiji…!?”
WERE WE DISCOVERED? SO QUICKLY TOO!
“NO, NONONONONO, OF COURSE NOT! HOW COULD SUCH AN IMPOSSIBLE THING HAPPEN!?”
“THATHATHATHATHATHAT’S RIGHT, SAKAMOTO-KUN. THAT’S COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE. HOW COULD IT HAPPEN! YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT HAPPENING!”
“Yo, you two…why must you two co up with sothing like this at this mont!?”
Our denials were aningless as Yuuji gave us vengeful looks as he glared at Hiji-san and . Damn it! If anyone knows of what happy things happened in my life, I’ll have people jealous of and killing …
I predicted the attack manner Yuuji may choose and stealthily got into defensive position. However—
“How did that happen…this is bad! This is really bad! Damn it…!”
Yuuji was clutching his head and shaking as he didn’t do anything cruel to . Eh? That’s strange?
“What’s with you, Yuuji?”
“AND YOU DARE ASK WHAT’S WRONG!? DAMN IT…WHAT DID I…WHAT STUPID THINGS DID I SAY!? I REALLY WANT TO WHACK AKIHISA AND THIS TI…”
If you really want to do so, couldn’t you just hit yourself only?
“Ah well, it’s pointless to grumble about it. Oi, Akihisa. Nobody knows that you two are living together, right?”
“Uu, ah, yes. I don’t think anyone other than Yuuji knows.”
“That’s really the best thing I heard in this misfortune. If you find out that this is about to be discovered, hurry up and tell , and I’ll try to cover up for you.”
“Eh…Ah, un, thanks then.”
To think that Yuuji would say such things. I thought that he would be hollering in anger ‘how can you get so cocky you idiot’ and beat up.
“However, you must never ever let anyone else know that you two are staying together! You must be extrely careful, understood!?”
“I’ll definitely try my best not to let others know…”
“What’s with those spineless words!? It’s not even to try! Akihisa, listen up! You must, never, ever, let anyone else know about it!”
“Uu…un, I understand.”
Yuuji glared at viciously as he continued to remind over and over again.
“If other people co to know about it, I’ll beat you down into the path to hell, or else I won’t be able to erase the anger within !”
What’s going on? Will sothing horrifying happen to Yuuji if the fact that Hiji-san and I are living in the sa place gets out?
“Got it, Yuuji. I’ll keep that secret no matter what.”
“Please. I really want to avoid doing aningless actions like taking revenge on you! Hurry up and go back before other people discover you.”
“Got it. Then, here’s a present.”
After handing the eggplant in my hand, we said goodbye to Yuuji. It’ll be alright. Though that guy said it as if sothing will happen, but nobody will know that Hiji-san and I are living together!
“I’m worried, but it can’t be helped…I have to hide this secret for them with my utmost—!”
“…Yuuji.”
“…………………………………What is it?”
“…Do you rember our promise?”
“Ha…haha, ha…Shouko, since when were you…standing there…”
“…Right from the beginning. Because Yuuji wouldn’t co ho with , I ca over to punish Yuuji.”
“I, I see…I’m really sorry then…”
“…Don’t worry. It doesn’t matter now.”
“That’s right. Then—”
“…Un.”
“Farewell!”
“…Don’t run. You won’t be able to escape.”
"DDDDDDDDDAAAAMMMMMNNNNNN IIIIITTTTT, AKIHISAAAAAA!!! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULLLLTTTT!!!”
I felt a little killing intent behind , but I must be thinking too much.
After walking out of the supermarket, Hiji-san and I walked side by side with each other as we went ho. Really, it’s because Yuuji suddenly appeared that I forgot to buy vegetables…
“Wah, speaking of which. I haven’t bought ingredients for dinner!”
“Ah, you’re right.”
It took a lot of my mind to think of how to handle the situation just now, and I forgot to buy vegetables. This is bad.
“Can’t be helped then. I’ll go back and buy again. Can you please head ho first, Hiji-san?”
“No, in that case, I should follow…”
“No, we were just discovered by Yuuji. I don’t know what he will say if we head back to the supermarket together.”
“I see…”
“I’m going back then.”
“I understand. Please take care.”
I waved my hand and bid farewell to Hiji-san for the ti being. Alright, I have to buy the ingredients for dinner tonight and hurry back ho.
☆
And so, after buying all the ingredients for dinner, I went back ho.
“I guess it’s about ti it starts raining too, but this is bad…”
I already felt that the air was a little too humid, and soon, it started raining as expected.
“This is bad. And I didn’t bring an umbrella…”
I took note not to let the rainwater enter the grocery bag with the dinner ingredients inside. Anyway, better get to a nearby convenience store to avoid the rain. It’s not far from ho here, and I’m fine with running back in the rain, but I saw so manga that were recently released—maybe I should go ho when the rain’s lighter.
I noticed the outside situation as I took the magazine out to read. Unn, there’s going to be a lot of gas coming out next month. I don’t know if I can secretly get so money from nee-san…
I browsed through the magazines for quite a while and found a lot of interesting reports, but just when I wanted to stop reading and brought it directly over to the cashier, I found—
—ZABA ZABA ZABA ZABA ZABA
The rain outside was like a pail that was fully filled with water being kicked, and had beco a torrent. Looks like…I will get wet no matter whether I bring an umbrella out or not…
I took out my handphone, went to the internet and checked the weather report. The webpage did note that I have to be wary of heavy rain. This is bad. I was thinking about not letting Hiji-san cook so much that I didn’t notice the weather change. But the good thing is that I let Hiji-san go ho first.
“Looks like the rain won’t be stopping anyti soon…”
Looking at the current situation now, the rain will only get stronger. Can’t be helped then, I can only run ho…
I got ready to get drenched as I walked out of the convenience store. The magazines will only get wet under such large rain. Next ti, I guess.
BAYABAYABAYA. The rain continued to pour on as I couldn’t see the road in front of . Uuu…if I don’t hurry back to take a shower, I might catch a cold…
The ground collected lots of rainwater as the cars that moved by created splashes like they were wading through a river. The sound of rain and wind swirled beside my ears, and my eyes and hearing were covered by the stormy rain all around .
At that mont—
“Uu…”
It seed that I heard a soft sound.
Hm? I think I have heard this voice before…
To hear that voice clearly, I gathered all my concentration.
“Uu…it’s so cold…this place is so cold…”
On hearing that, it sounded like a girl crying.
To find the owner of that voice, I could only widen my eyes at the visual range that was only several ters in radius and search. That voice…I think it ca from the park?
Since I’m already wet, I might as well go into the park.
Looking inside the pavilion,
“Hazuki-chan?”
“Ah…baka onii-chan?”
I found Hazuki-chan, all wet and looking like she was about to cry.
“Why did you co here? You’ll catch a cold.”
“I ca to see baka onii-chan! I thought that I’ll see you here if I waited here!”
“Eh? You ca to see ?”
Ah, that’s right. Speaking of which, I did et Hazuki-chan for the first ti at this park.
“But why are you looking for ?”
“Onee-chan was too much. She always lied and wouldn’t let Hazuki go to baka onii-chan’s house.”
As she said that, Hazuki-chan puffed her cheeks unhappily.
“So Hazuki kept it a secret from onee-chan and ca to look for baka onii-chan!”
“But it suddenly rained, and you didn’t even know where my house is, so you ca to the pavilion in the park to avoid the rain?”
“That’s the case…”
And that’s quite the coincidence. But since I can et Hazuki-chan here, I guess it’s the best thing among all these.
“Kuchuun.”
Hazuki-chan was trembling from the cold as she let out a cute sneeze.
As I went there before, I guess Minami’s house wasn’t that near to my house. It was really tough for Hazuki-chan to go out alone in such weather.
“Then co over to my house. You’ll catch a cold if you continue to stay here.”
“Can I really? That’s great! Hazuki’s really happy!”
“Guu!!”
It seed that she was really happy as she hugged happily and hit her head straight into my chest. Due to the difference in height, that one hit from her slamd straight into my weakest point. I know Hazuki-chan shouldn’t have any ill intent, but if she’s going to et like this all the ti, my life may be at risk…
“Hazuki-chan, you better grow up…”
“Hm?”
At that mont, your head won’t be hitting my chest.
“Ah, that’s right, so baka onii-chan ans that. Hazuki understands and will do her best. Hazuki will work hard and grow bigger!”
“You understand?”
“Yes! Hazuki wants to hurry and grow up to beco a beautiful bride!”
Un, she’s thinking the wrong way.
“But I don’t really have confidence about my chest’s size…”
Hazuki-chan placed her hand on her chest and said in a sowhat dejected manner.
That’s not true—I wanted to comfort her like that, but I couldn’t say more. I rembered Muttsurini saying before that this is most likely genetic…
“An, anyway, you have to get yourself dry. Let’s go, Hazuki-chan.”
“Okay!”
To escape from this rain that continued to pour hard, I took Hazuki-chan’s hand and started running again.
☆
“Akihisa-kun, you finally ca back. It’s quite the heavy rain outside, are you—oh my?”
“Ah! Pretty onee-chan!”
“I’m back, Hiji-san.”
Hiji-san, who ca back ho first, t at the entrance with a large towel, but she couldn’t help but widen her eyes after seeing Hazuki-chan co back with .
“I found her at the park nearby. She can’t go back ho alone in such heavy rain, so I brought her back. Right, Hazuki-chan?”
“Yes!”
“I see. It’s easy to catch a cold when you’re all wet. Hurry up and wipe yourselves dry, I have prepared the bath.”
The indoor slippers let out a clapping sound as Hiji-san went back into the house to get another towel. To think that she would even prepare the bath water. She’s really a thoughtful girl.
“Go take a bath first, Hazuki-chan, I’ll see if nee-san has a shirt or sothing for you to wear—”
“Got it! A bath it is, right?”
Hazuki-chan nodded her head and imdiately got ready to take off those wet clothes of hers. Eh? That’s not good no matter what, isn’t it?
“Well…Hazuki-chan, it doesn’t really matter if you wet the floor, but you should head to the changing room before taking off your clothes.”
“? I can’t take off my clothes here?”
“Un. Hazuki-chan’s not that young anymore. I feel that it’s not right to take off clothes in front of the opposite gender.”
I won’t have any perverse lust for such a small kid (I guess), but even so, she can’t just take off her clothes right in front of like that. Though Hazuki-chan’s na?ve and carefree, she’s a little too liberal in so aspects.
“But even if we take off our clothes separately, Hazuki’s going to bathe with baka onii-chan, right?”
“You want to bathe with !?”
“Eh? Hazuki often bathes with onee-chan, like after watching a scary TV show, we will always bathe together.”
Minami…if you’re so scared that you have to bathe with a primary school kid after seeing such a scary show, you might as well not watch it in the first place, right…
“And I would also bathe with daddy and mummy.”
“No, it’s not really a problem if it’s with family mbers…”
“Then it’s alright, because baka onii-chan’s Hazuki’s husband, so you’re family!”
It sounded right, but our conversation didn’t seem to match. Uu…what should I do now?
“Or rather, will baka onii-chan feel weird sowhere if you bathe with Hazuki?”
Hazuki-chan looked at with really sincere eyes. Nononono. It’ll be bad if I have such an interest!
“That’s not true! There’s no one able to keep a steady emotion and remain unshakable like !”
“That’s great. Then we can bathe together!”
“Of course!”
………………………Eh?
“…”
“??? Baka onii-chan, what’s wrong?”
Eve, even though it’s not really possible, but did I…
“Did I lose in a debate to a primary school kid? How did this happen…”
“Hazuki’s not really sure what’s going on, but Hazuki is happy that baka onii-chan’s willing to bathe together!”
“MY GOOODDDDD!!!”
Did I just verbally lose to a primary school kid? I’m already a high school student!
“Hazuki-chan, that won’t do. Akihisa-kun’s a boy, so how can you bathe with him? That’s not good.”
Just when I was clutching my head because of this unacceptable fact, Hiji-san ca over with another towel.
“Uu…that won’t do…”
“That’s right. Hazuki-chan’s a girl, so you have to be more wary of guys.”
“I understand. Hazuki wants to bathe with pretty onee-chan then!”
“Eh? Bathe with ?”
“Yes!”
Hazuki-chan smiled happily. Girls can bathe together, and that will really help out a lot. That’s gratifying, gratifying—
“Akihisa-kun. I’ll like to talk to you later about you two wanting to bathe together just now.”
As she handed the towel to , Hiji-san’s eyes gave off an inexplicable aura.
“Alright, Hazuki-chan. Let’s hurry up and bathe.”
“Okay!”
Hiji-san led Hazuki into a room. I suddenly felt a bad chill and hurriedly used the towel to wipe my wet hair as I entered the house. While they’re bathing, I should wipe myself dry and change clothes…ah, before that, I should call Minami first. I think she should be worried about where Hazuki-chan is.
After taking out the handphone, I used the towel to wipe the wet screen and searched for her handphone number. However, the phone rang a few tis and then went straight to the mailbox, so I could only leave a ssage in her phone ‘I found Hazuki-chan in the park nearby, so I’ll send her back later. Don’t worry’. That should do, I guess?
“Waa~ pretty onee-chan’s really amazing! It’s completely different from my onee-chan!”
“Hazuki-chan, you’ll get a cold if you don’t hurry up and enter.”
“I will enter only when I touch your breasts!”
“No~! I’ll let you touch later. Get into the bathtub first—”
“Fuwaa…amazing…onee-chan’s breasts are so soft…”
“Ahh, really…can’t be helped. Once you have enough, get inside the bathtub and warm your body up.”
“Okay!”
“…”
Okay, now I should…
“Hiji-san.”
“Ah, yes. What is it, Akihisa-kun?”
“I’ll go run a few rounds outside.”
“Eh? Isn’t it raining now?”
“And also, I bought so dishes on the way back. You can start off with Hazuki-chan. No need to wait for .”
“Ah? Akihisa-kun! Why are you suddenly…”
“I’m going out then…”
Hiji-san’s surprised voice ca from behind, but I sprinted out of the house. No! This isn’t so despicable perverse lust, but that I’m overflowing with abundance of youth and a lust to abuse housewives…that’s all!
I muttered to myself in the rain and ran for quite a few minutes, catching Minami’s call on the way. The mont I got ho, my brain and my body were all cold.
☆
“Fuu…that’s a nice bath…”
It felt really good to be bathed in hot water after being drenched in rain, and I accidentally stayed inside the bathtub for too long. It was a luxurious happiness to be able to have a warm bath in cold weather.
“Onii-chan, you’re all warm now that you bathed!”
As I returned back to the living room, Hazuki-chan, who was dressed in pajamas, ran to .
“Are you cold, Hazuki-chan? There are no problems, right?”
“Yes!”
Hazuki-chan showed a bright smile. Seeing her like this, I won’t have to worry about her getting a cold, right?
“That’s strange? Where’s Hiji-san?”
“Pretty onee-chan looked like she went to dry Hazuki’s clothes.”
The blow-dryer’s buzzing ca from the room. Hiji-san, must be using the iron and blow dryer to dry Hazuki-chan’s clothes.
“Hazuki said that she would do it, but pretty onee-chan said that it’s dangerous and wouldn’t allow to do it…”
“Un…that’s true. The blow dryer is alright, but the iron is really too dangerous for you.”
Maybe Hazuki-chan can really dry her own clothes, but it’s better to leave this to Hiji-san. Having lived together in the sa house as Hiji-san during these past few days, I understand that Hiji-san is good at every form of housework except cooking.
“Hazuki-chan, do you want to watch TV with ?”
“Okay!”
I took the remote control and sat on the sofa in the living room. Hazuki-chan then sat beside . Unn, this little critter-like action’s really cute.
“What show do you want to watch, Hazuki-chan?”
“Erm…Hazuki wants to watch a drama!”
“A drama? Which one?”
I don’t really watch dramas, so I was sowhat shocked to hear her say that. So do kids nowadays love to watch dramas?
“Hazuki doesn’t really want to choose one…but Hazuki wants to watch one!”
Hazuki-chan looked around before answering. Oh, I get it…she’s trying to be like an adult, right? Hazuki-chan most likely watches other shows.
“But there are a few interesting shows on other channels too.”
“I don’t want to watch those childish shows. I want to watch those shows that are related to romance!”
Hazuki-chan forcefully voiced her opinion. Un…was there sothing wrong with the way I suggested it? Maybe I should choose a show Hazuki-chan may be interested in. Besides, I feel that it will be better watching it.
“Then, let’s see what sort of interesting drama we can find…”
I searched the program nu, but the ti wasn’t right, and there was no drama showing now.
“There’s no drama.”
“Ahh…”
“Ah, speaking of which.”
I rember I recorded so ridiculous drama accidentally because I failed in my recording. I guess I haven’t deleted that program…oh, got it, found it.
“Can this do, Hazuki-chan? This looks like a drama too.”
“Okay, Hazuki wants to watch this!”
After obtaining her permission, I pressed the play button on the remote control. Soon, the lody of the main the ca from the screen, and then the drama was aired. This drama’s called ‘Waiting for you under that legendary tree’…hmm, let see.
“Shinji, I’m sorry for taking sothing to smash you. Thinking that you wouldn’t accept my love, I couldn’t hold back my emotions…”
“That’s not sothing that can be settled by apologizing.”
“As an apology, I prepared a bento for you. Are you willing to eat it?”
“That’s suspicious. Did you spike the bento?”
“Ho, how could I do such a thing?”
“As expected. Let’s check it out first. (licks) this is…anesthetic!”
“Damn it! You find out…that’s right! That’s a powerful anesthetic that will numb you with just a lick. As expected of George, for you to find that out!”
“Fufun, I’ve already seen through your thoughts (bkun bkun)”
Fuu…this drama was really boring…we started from the middle, so I really couldn’t tell what the drama was about, and up till now, it was all about guys…
“…(Nods head, nods head).”
As I looked beside , Hazuki-chan seed to feel bored too as she leaned on and slept.
“I’m tired from all the running today too. I just had a nice warm bath. Now I want to sleep…”
My consciousness felt like it was floating away as my eyelids beca heavier and heavier…
☆
“Hm? Ugh…”
Ah, this is bad. I fell asleep!
My mind wasn't really awake, but I still tried to wake up, and I found—
“Eh…ah, waahh! Akihisa-kun!”
Hiji-san was in front of , looking all flustered.
“Eh…Hiji-san, what are you doing?”
“Eh, we, well…I entered the living room and found that both of you were sleeping, so I wanted to join in…”
“But your eyes were open, weren't they…”
“Tha, that's not true! I wasn't staring at Akihisa-kun's face!”
Hiji-san raised her hands to deny it. Is that so? I guess I'm mistaken then.
“Hm…baka onii-chan?”
“Ah, Hazuki-chan, are you awake?”
“Yes…”
Rubbing her eyes sleepily, Hazuki-chan sat up straight on the sofa. I looked at the clock and found that the minute hand was between '9' and '10'.
“Ah, we slept too much. Hazuki-chan, it's about ti to go ho.”
“I understand…”
I handed the still sleepy Hazuki-chan over to Hiji-san and let her change Hazuki-chan's clothes. I got up to prepare the rainy day attire to send Hazuki-chan back to Minami's house.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
After waiting at the corridor for several minutes, the still-sowhat-sleepy Hazuki-chan ca walking towards with her clothes changed.
“I'll send her back then, Hiji-san.”
“I'll go too…”
“No no no. If you do that, Minami will know that both of us are staying together.”
“Ahh…that's right. I'll stay at ho and wait for Akira-san then.”
“Un, I'll leave it to you.”
I took two umbrellas and pushed the main door of the corridor.
“Good night, Hazuki-chan.”
“Good night, pretty onee-chan.”
Hazuki-chan waved her hand and said goodbye to Hiji-san before following out of the house.
The heavy rain's over already, I guess. As it drizzled, I held Hazuki-chan's hand as we walked slowly down the night street.
“Hazuki-chan, are you still sleepy?”
“A little…”
Hazuki-chan struggled sowhat with holding the umbrella as she yawned and walked.
“In that case, I'll give you a special service.”
I knelt down in front of Hazuki-chan, who was nodding away in a sleepy manner, and she imdiately understood my intent.
“Thank you, onii-chan…”
Hazuki-chan said as she climbed up my back.
“Heh!”
I leaned the umbrella in my hand on my shoulder and carried Hazuki-chan as I walked on. The weight that ca from behind was warm, and that sure did feel good.
And then, we continued to walk in the middle of the rain.
“Aki! Hazuki!”
Just when we were about to reach Minami's house, soone called our nas.
“Ah, Minami, sorry for being late.”
“No, I should be the one. I'm sorry for not bringing her back.”
It's dangerous for a girl to walk alone at night. Even though Minami wanted to co over to my house to pick up Hazuki-chan, I was the one who stopped her, so she didn't have to apologize to . Minami's rather polite too.
“My turn to carry.”
“I'll just carry her over to your house.”
“It's alright here. My house's nearby.”
“Un, got it.”
I handed the weight over to Minami. Hazuki-chan twitched for a mont, but soon found that Minami was the one carrying her and went back to dreamland.
“Hazuki, say thank you to Aki.”
Minami shook Hazuki-chan gently and prompted her to thank .
“No need for that. She's still asleep. You don't have to worry about that.”
“That won't do. Oi, Hazuki, thank Aki.”
“U…onii-chan, thank you very much…”
Even though she was almost asleep, Hazuki-chan thanked politely.
“No no, it's alright.”
I responded back,
And then—
“Please help Hazuki thank that pretty onee-chan too…”
“Eh? Hazuki? Are you talking about Akira-san?”
Minami asked the half-asleep Hazuki. Argh, just treat it as if she was talking in her dreams and leave it at that!
“I, I understand! I'll pass Hazuki-chan's feelings over to nee-san!”
I deliberately emphasized that the sister Hazuki-chan said was nee-san and wanted to end this topic.
However—
“That's strange? I rember pretty onee-chan is used on Mizuki…”
Minami still noticed the suspicious thing about this. In that case, it can't be helped!
“I'll leave it at that then, Minami! See you at school tomorrow!”
“Ah! Wait a minute, Aki!”
If all else fails, retreat! I ran away as fast as I could before Minami discovered even more.
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