Reflections in the Evening Calm 4
“Well, we can’t go to the sea every ti.”
With that, I called over the waiter to place our order.
While waiting for the food to arrive, I took the opportunity to thank her for yesterday.
“Thank you for taking care of Kaguya. I had t up with Akira and Mayuzumi-san at that ti, so I couldn’t contact you.”
“I was surprised when soone suddenly called out from behind.”
“Were you bombarded with questions by Mayuzumi-san?”
“She did-she did. Mayuzumi-san is really lively. Kuhouin-san, on the other hand, was rather quiet.”
“It wasn’t first thing in the morning, so maybe she was in a bad mood.”
Kuhouin Akira’s mood and behavior are notoriously bad when she wakes up.
She, being her teacher, knows this well and just gives a wry smile.
“From a distance, I saw you join the two of them and manage to keep the conversation going smoothly. Yuunagi-kun, you’re pretty good.”
“Rei-san, you also quickly noticed that Kaguya ran away.”
“I was secretly watching from a distance where everyone else was. If Yuunagi-kun hadn’t held them back, who knows what could have happened.”
I have to say, it was a nice assist.
“It would have been ga over if everyone had run into each other.”
I couldn’t, nor would it be possible to make Akira and Mayuzumi-san our accomplices.
“That was a close call. Keeping a secret is really hard work.”
“I wish Kaguya would just quickly give up on trying to bring back ho. Then you wouldn’t have had to use the fake na Tōmi Rei.”
I couldn’t help but complain a little.
“Still, you can’t co to dislike Kaguya-chan, can you?”
The person I like sees right through .
“Well, she is my cute stepsister.”
My feeling of wanting to cherish her is genuine.
However, Nishiki Kaguya will always be my stepsister.
Falling in love is out of the question.
“I’m in a similar position, so I feel sowhat guilty…”
She let out a self-deprecating remark.
“—Please throw away that weird empathy right now. Your situation and Kaguya’s are different.”
Startled by my sharp tone, she looks up.
“Sorry.”
Her expression clouded over as if a mont of weakness had crept in.
Ah, I realize that the anxiety in her heart is rely hidden, not absent.
“I will protect you, no matter what.”
My resolve hasn’t changed.
“What can a high school student possibly protect from?”
“Maybe I should at least propose to you clearly.”
“What are you suddenly talking about!?”
Rei-san panicked, leaning back against the chair.
“The eternal love you desire is about choosing that special soone and loving them for a lifeti. It’s about making an absolute distinction from others and maintaining unwavering affection. Am I wrong?”
“That’s correct, but… isn’t it a bit too heavy?”
She seed incredibly embarrassed after having her own desires.
“I think I understand the weight of it.”
“You’re getting ahead of yourself.”
“The conclusion remains unchanged, right?”
“There’s an order and timing to things.”
“How troubleso.”
“That’s why the number of people not getting married is increasing.”
Her reaction seed indifferent to the idea of marriage.
“Wait, our relationship isn’t just for fun, right!?”
I feigned agitation.
“No! Of course not!”
“Then, recite Clause 6 of the Neighbor Agreent!”
“Huh!? Right now?”
“Just do it, co on!”
I urge her on, and she obediently answered.
“Uh… Clause 6, ‘Neither party shall have a romantic partner until graduation’.”
She said in a muffled, hesitant voice.
“I can’t hear you. One more ti!”
Of course, she repeats imdiately.
Important things must be confird multiple tis.
“Clause 6, Neither party shall have a romantic partner until graduation!”
She answered loud enough for only to hear.
“Nice. I feel like giving you a hug as a reward.”
I wish we could hug each other like we did when we added the sixth clause.
“It’s so annoying how satisfied you look. You were so quiet just a mont ago.”
She blushes at what she’s been made to say.
“Isn’t this sothing we decided together? Or am I wrong?”
“Yeah.”
Rei-san nods slightly.
“…Rei-san, I wonder if other people think we’re flirting when they see us like this?”
I suddenly find myself looking at us from an outsider’s perspective.
“What? That’s not okay! I thought we were just having a normal conversation? What if people at school find out!?”
Is this really what she considers normal…!?
Does she not realize how giddy she gets when her romance switch is flipped on?
“We’ve been calm recently, so it’s all good.”
“What do you an by ‘recently’? Was it dangerous before?”
“You didn’t realize…?”
I start listing specific examples from our ti in the classroom.
Like the incident with the strawberry jam or the mini cold war that ensued when Akira’s morning call made Mayuzumi-san point out that her spirits were low.
“I need to be even more careful than before.”
It’s as if she’s hypnotizing herself with a renewed sense of determination.
“The slip-ups are a sign of love…”
“Adults can’t afford to think like that.”
She dismisses my nonsense with a sharp voice.
“You’re very stoic.”
“It’s a matter of professionalism.”
“Even if Rei-san quits being a teacher one day in the future, I hope to beco an adult who can earn enough to support a family.”
Youth is the embodint of infinite possibilities. Dreaming is free.
I simply want the future I desire.
“Thank you. But your financial ability and my working are two different things.”
Rei-san is firmly independent and doesn’t seem to intend to rely on anyone.
Her decisive attitude was reassuring.
“I said sothing tactless.”
“Still, you need to keep that ambition. Having motivation is better than just making an aimless effort. It will change the outco in the future, like with university entrance exams for example.”
It’s a painful reminder, but I’ll rember it well.
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