Volu 1, Chapter 10: Gotou Airi
Translator: yuNS
Editors: Yuuki, xyi
“Eh, you’re going out for dinner with Gotou-san?”
“Uh-huh…”
As I nodded to her, the piece of grilled salmon that Mishima held between her chopsticks fell back on to her plate.
“Ah.”
With a slightly delayed eep, Mishima finally ca back to her senses. She picked up the piece of salmon once again.
Mishima was eating a salmon set al. She had ordered it from the staff dining area as she vocally declared to that ‘this is what I like’. The set al consisted of grilled salmon, stir-fry vegetables, a bowl of soup, and slices of pickled vegetables served along with white rice. Although simple, it was a staple of the nu.
On the other hand, I ordered a bowl of Chinese noodles. By the ti I moved it to my seat and took a mouthful, it had already gone a bit soggy. It wasn’t particularly delectable.
“Eh? Eh? So were you the one who invited her, Yoshida-senpai?” Mishima asked while waving her chopsticks around.
“No, Gotou-san was the one who invited .”
“Ehhhhh…. I don’t get it!” She said before she started gnawing down on another piece of salmon.
“I don’t get it at all!!” She cried out again.
I grunted and waved my head in response.
“Trust , I don’t get it either.”
“If you don’t get it then why are you going!?”
“Is there anyone who would refuse an invitation from their superior though?”
“I an, I usually refuse.”
I took another mouthful of my bowl of noodles.
“Well, no one would mind if you did that, ‘cause you’re you.”
“What’s that supposed to an?” Mishima said with a pout.
Opting to remain silent, I took yet another mouthful of my bowl of Chinese noodles.
There was no need for to go out of my way to tell her that ‘It’s because you’re both good looking and a female employee whom the superiors are fond of, so they wouldn’t mind’.
Mishima frowned as she placed the last piece of salmon in her mouth.
“Fats shuninwitre a grap.”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, seriously.”
Young girls shouldn’t be doing such things.
It had been weighing on my mind since the ti we went out drinking a few days ago. Whatever the case, it seems that, despite her age, no one has ever warned her before of her poor habit of speaking while eating. Isn’t this sothing that her parents should have warned her about? Even if her parents didn’t, her close friends, or at least soone along those lines should have.
Perhaps young people these days didn’t care about such things? I don’t get it at all.
After swallowing with a loud gulp, Mishima spoke up again.
“That’s definitely a trap.”
“What the heck do you an by a ‘trap’?”
“What I an is that she’s trying to swindle you, Yoshida-senpai. It would better for you if you don’t go.”
“And why would she be trying to swindle ?”
At my response, Mishima made an ‘umm’ sound and her eyes drifted around, as if searching for a good reason.
So she said all that without giving it any thought?
“A-, Anyway” Mishima said as she pointed at with her chopsticks. “It would definitely be better for you to not go.”
“Don’t point chopsticks at others.”
Just where are her table manners?
＊
“Yoshida-kun, you can go ahead and start grilling the at.”
“Ah, right.”
“Rember the ti when departnt Head Onozaka said that ‘Yoshida-kun will be the at-magistrate~’?”
“Haha…”
That damn old man running his mouth at his own convenience.
On occasions such as these, he would spend his ti chatting up with the new female hires, so he had never helped grill the at. Thus, I always ended up being the one stuck with this job. With a forced smile, I carefully placed the plate of salt-and-onion marinated ribs onto the grill sh.
Gotou-san sat in the seat across .
“Ah, what a wonderful aroma!”
“Mhm…”
That aside, it was hard for to hold a proper conversation with her.
‘Why did she invite out for dinner today?’ My mind was stuck on this particular question.
“That piece is ready, feel free to grab it.”
“Oh really? Thanks, I’ll do just that then.”
With a bright smile, Gotou-san picked up the piece of at and moved it to her plate.
Then, she slowly sunk her teeth into the juicy barbecue rib. Opting to not eat the entire long and slender piece of at in one go, she decided to slowly chew off about half of it. The sight of her lips squeezing down on the piece of at as she tried to separate it with her front teeth was strangely erotic.
…I shouldn’t be doing this. It’s rude for to be so fixedly staring at soone else eating.
I quickly averted my gaze from Gotou-san and moved a piece of nicely-cooked rib from the grill to my plate. After dipping it in sauce, I shoved it into my mouth in one go. As I crunched on the at with my molars, the at’s juices filled my mouth.
“…Mmm”
Although the atmosphere was slightly awkward, the at was as delicious as ever.
Now that I think about it, Sayu doesn’t cook at-heavy dishes very often. I ate enough chicken to get tired of it when I went to the pub with Mishima the other day, but it has been a while since I last had pork. I slowly chewed on the oddly delicious pork, savoring its flavor.
Allowing my gaze to wander to the front, my gaze t Gotou-san’s. I was startled.
“You ate it all in one go?”
“Eh, is there sothing wrong with that?”
“Not at all. I was just thinking that you really are a man.”
Saying that, Gotou-san let out a chuckle.
…Ahh, why does everything you do seem so erotic? Give a break.
“I an, I am a guy.” I quickly replied, though it didn’t amount to much.
I tried to hide my embarrassnt by quickly stuffing my mouth with another piece of at.
What the heck is ‘I’m a guy ’ supposed to even an. Anyone with eyes can tell that I’m a guy.
Perhaps it was due to the heat from the charcoal flas, but I could feel my face getting hotter by the mont.
“Are you nervous?”
As if trying to peer at my face, Gotou-san slightly lowered her head and gazed at with upturned eyes.
“Well, of course.”
“Why?”
“Uhh… If soone who had just rejected you suddenly asked you out for dinner, wouldn’t you feel kind of awkward?”
“Ahaha, so that’s what it was?”
Gotou-san laughed heartily before taking another bite from her barbecue rib.
I hastily turned away from Gotou-san. I couldn’t allow myself to gaze upon that sight again.
If I end up doing sothing weird again, I’ll just make an idiot of myself.
“Alright then, how about we play a ga to relax?” Gotou-san suggested after swallowing her piece of barbecue rib.
“A ga?”
“Yup. We’ll be asking each other three questions that the other must answer. Sound okay?”
“…Can I ask anything?”
Hearing say that, Gotou-san made a playful grunt. ‘fufu’.
“What do you plan on asking?”
How sly of her. She already foresaw what I wanted to ask, but she wouldn’t admit to that. In the end, I would be the one forced to do the ‘asking’.
I had trouble dealing with this aspect of hers, however, at the sa ti I also found it to be very charming.
As I solemnly searched for an appropriate answer, Gotou-san giggled and waved her chopsticks about.
“Feel free to ask anything… Even if it’s sothing perverted.”
“No, it’s not like I am planning on asking such things.”
I shook my head in denial.
It was a lie. There was sothing that I really, really wanted to ask her – her cup size.
“Well let’s get started then! Go ahead!”
Gotou-san happily declared as she stared at .
I was a little worried.
In all honesty, I wanted to first ask her ‘why did you invite to dinner?’ I wanted to ask her that right this mont, but I was equally afraid of what her answer might be.
I didn’t have the courage to strike at the core on my first go.
“…Why barbecue?”
“Eh, what the heck is with that question? You can only ask three questions you know?”
“It’s fine, just answer .”
Gotou-san was the one to suggest barbecue.
To be honest, I was surprised. Never once in my wildest dreams would I have thought that she was the type that would take the person for barbecue when they invited a man out for dinner.
My instincts were telling that there was perhaps a reason for choosing barbecue in particular.
“Well, it’s because I’m eating with you, Yoshida-kun.” Gotou-san answered indifferently.
Although I was taken aback, I quickly replied.
“Because of ?”
“That’s right. Because of you.”
“What do you an by that?”
“Excuse waiter, could I get an additional plate of ox heart?”
Gotou-san evaded my question by placing an order of at with the waiter who passed by.
“What about you?”
“Ah, I’ll have a plate of salted ox tongue.”
“A plate of ox heart and a plate of salted ox tongue. Ah, we’d like another two glasses of beer as well.” Gotou-san gleefully told the waiter.
“Understood.” Replied the waiter as he placed the order into his handheld console.
As he did, I caught him taking a glance at her chest. I see you man. I see it all.
“So, what were we talking about?”
“Uhm… You said that it was ‘because of ’.”
“That’s right! It’s all because of you, Yoshida-kun.”
Gotou-san nodded. She then grabbed her glass of beer, which was still half-full, and started chugging it down.
I stared on blankly. Her drinking form was quite good.
After several seconds, Gotou-san, who had drained the glass, let out a long “Puha~” as she lowered the glass. That simple gesture felt strangely immoral and I couldn’t help but look away.
“How’s that?”
“Eh?”
“I drained half the glass in one go.”
“Your form was quite good, I guess.” I stated whilst tilting my head in confusion.
Gotou-san let out a shrill laugh in response.
“That. That’s what I like about you.”
“…Uh-huh?”
I showed a forced smile, unable to understand what she ant by that. Gotou-san waved her hand in a flutter.
“Back when we were still associates, before I beca your boss, I couldn’t take the initiative to go out for barbecue or drinking, you know? I an, everyone expects to act ‘ladylike’. ”
“Uh-huh… That’s…”
There was no denying that she had a rather mature appearance. Even when she beca a superior, she was, evidently, extrely popular. To be frank though, I only saw her in a perverted light.
Despite that though, I could sort of understand why she never suggested to go out for ‘barbecue’ or ‘drinking’. As soone in her position, there weren’t really any situations where she could suggest to go out for activities that were commonly suggested by middle-aged n.
“So, why is it okay to invite for a barbecue?”
“I an, it’s because you wouldn’t judge for it or anything like that, Yoshida-kun.”
“Well, barbecue and beer are pretty tasty after all.”
“Fufu, and you didn’t care when I ate that pork cutlet with curry set either.”
Saying that, Gotou-san squinted her eyes slightly and shook her shoulders.
Then, she rested her chin on one hand and looked directly at .
“That’s why you’re the only one, Yoshida-kun. The only one I can ask out for barbecue and beer.”
“Haha, should I be happy about that?”
“Hmm-, I wonder? It might feel a little funny though, fufu.”
Gotou-san’s nose trembled a little as she laughed, as if she were exhaling gently from the nose.
That laugh of hers tickled my heart a little. That laugh of hers was one that I hadn’t ever been able to overco, starting all the way from 5 years ago.
“Well, what will you be asking next?”
Gotou-san pressed on, her chin still resting upon her hand. She look at with upturned eyes, as if testing . Are you still not going to ask about that? Her gaze seed to be saying that.
I let out a small sigh.
“Why did you invite out for dinner today?” I asked without any pretenses, staring back at her.
“Well, there was sothing that I wanted to ask you, you see?”
Gotou-san’s lips slowly curled upwards.
‘I was waiting for you to ask that’, her attitude clearly showed that that was what she wanted to say.
So it really was about this. I clenched my teeth.
I found it extrely difficult to deal with her. Yet, I couldn’t help but be fascinated by her at the sa ti. Even now, my heart is beating as fast and loud as an alarm bell.
Hurry up and answer.
“Well you see…” Gotou-san said slowly.
Then, she pointed her index finger at .
With a hearty smile—
“You’ve got yourself a girlfriend, haven’t you, Yoshida-kun?”
She asked.
The affirmative implications she placed behind her question made my mind go blank for a brief mont.
After I recovered, I quickly shook my head in firm denial.
“No, I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Liar. How am I supposed to believe that?”
“Why don’t you believe it!?”
When I asked, Gotou-san eyes drifted about in a rare display of speechlessness.
Then, she said in a soft voice.
“I-, I an, it’s weird.”
“What is?”
Gotou-san put down her chopsticks and scrunched her back a little before answering.
“I’ve known you for five whole years. In all of these 5 years, you were passionate about your work and never thought twice before doing overti, but now suddenly, and I an suddenly, you started going ho on ti.”
“Like I said…”
“You wanted to get more sleep? Am I supposed to believe that? If you were soone who would go ho on ti for a reason like that, you would’ve done so a long ti ago.”
I was at a loss for words.
My answer when Gotou-san had last asked this, ‘I wanted to get more sleep’, had been a makeshift answer in order to hide the matter regarding Sayu. Since I did in fact say that, I couldn’t make any more excuses.
“Also… haven’t you been rather friendly with Mishima-san lately?”
“…Say what?”
“Mishima-san is a girl who almost always goes ho on ti and I can tell that she’s quite attached to you, Yoshida-kun. Didn’t the two of you leave work together a while back? That’s what got thinking.”
“Hey, hey wait a second.”
Once it was clear to that the conversation was taking a weird turn, I forcefully interrupted her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Could it be… that you think Mishima and I are dating?”
“Am I wrong!?”
“Of course you are!”
Rather, I had no idea why she would be thinking that. Well, she did state the reasons, but I don’t think that any of them were concrete enough for her to co to such a conclusion.
Also, Mishima is attached to ? No, that’s not true.
Not to ntion, the only ti we left together was that ti when we went drinking. For her to have such suspicions after having seen us leave together just once; did Mishima and I really seem that close?
“You don’t have to lie to . I won’t tell anyone.”
“Really though, there’s nothing between us.”
“…R-, Really?” Gotou-san nervously asked.
“Of course… Did you forget that I had just confessed to you not that long ago?”
Hearing that, Gotou-san grew a little red as she cleared her throat.
“How could I forget… But, back then… I clearly rejected you. So I don’t think it would be strange for you to get together with soone else soon after…”
Gotou-san is acting really odd today. She’s acting strangely suspicious and her attitude right now was completely different from her carefree attitude monts earlier. It felt as if I was dealing with soone younger than .
“Uhm.”
After taking a gulp from my beer, I assertively called out.
“W-, What?”
Gotou-san seed startled as she turned to look at .
I would rather not let the misunderstanding continue, so I thought that I should take this opportunity tell it to her straight.
“In… In the 5 years that I’ve known you, I’ve always had a crush on you.”
“Eh?”
“From the ti I had joined the company all the way until now, I’ve always been in love with you. I was serious about confessing to you, so it’s a little upsetting to be thought of as soone who would quickly move on to the next one right after being rejected.” I said while looking at her straight in the eye.
Gotou-san’s face flushed red in the blink of an eye. She hurriedly shook her head.
“No, of course not! I have never ever thought of you as an insincere person, Yoshida-kun, it’s just that…”
Gotou-san abruptly stopped. Her slouched back seed to be growing smaller. She then continued in a soft voice.
“I think that rather than soone like , soone younger would suit you better…”
“Hah…”
I reflexively let out a long sigh.
“…I’m still in love with you, even now, Gotou-san.”
As the conversation wasn’t getting anywhere, I resorted to telling it to her straight. Since I’d already been rejected by her once already, I didn’t feel too shy about saying it again.
“To be honest, I’ve never even considered anyone else… That’s just how special you are to , Gotou-san.”
It was still embarrassing though, so I was looking slightly downward as I said all that.
After several seconds had passed, Gotou-san still hadn’t said anything, so I shifted my gaze back up towards her. Even with just a quick glance, it was clear that Gotou-san’s face was flushed as red as a tomato.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, no, it’s nothing….”
Gotou-san quickly shook her head and took a gulp from her beer to hide her embarrassnt.
“T-, Then… it’s true that there’s nothing between you and Mishima-san?”
“Yup.”
More importantly, however—
I had been taken aback by her outrageous questions earlier, so I hadn’t had the presence of mind to ask about the key factor behind her questions. Now that I was calm though, my suspicions quickly rose to the surface of my mind.
“Why do you care so much anyway?”
“Huh?”
Gotou-san ca to a complete halt.
“I an, I’m soone you just rejected, aren’t I? This might sound a little rude, but personally, I think that whoever a guy whom you don’t like gets together with afterwards should be none of your business, really.”
“No, that’s…”
Her expression revealed her bewildernt for a brief mont, but she seed to have quickly recollected herself as she stuffed her mouth with the piece of at that had been on her plate.
I reflexively turned my gaze away.
Once it was clear that she had finished chewing, I shifted my gaze back to her. She let out an audible sigh from her nose before saying.
“I guess it would be a little irritating for a man who just confessed to to be stolen away by a younger girl.”
“I-, Is that so…?”
“Yup, that’s right.” She affird before taking another gulp of the beer.
Honestly, today’s her is a bit of an enigma. While I still have doubts to clear up, she’s definitely not the type to be convinced into talking about sothing she doesn’t want to talk about. Given that it’s a matter of 5 years, I can understand why she wouldn’t want to talk too much about it.
“Well, anyway, there’s nothing between Mishima and I, and I don’t have a girlfriend either.”
It would be pointless to delve any further into the topic, so I simply repeated what I said in a clear manner.
It felt strangely humiliating to say ‘I don’t have a girlfriend’ in front of the girl I liked. I felt a little angry, but it wasn’t directed at anyone in particular.
“Alright… If that’s all there is to it, then that’s good.”
After clearing her throat with a cough, Gotou-san seed to have regained her usual composure and nodded.
“Eh.”
“Eh?”
“Is that all?”
“What do you an?”
Gotou-san seed to be a little confused by my question, but I was the one who should’ve been confused.
“You went out of your way to invite to dinner and that’s all you wanted to ask?” I inquired again.
Gotou-san nodded her head in an indifferent manner and replied.
“That’s right…”
“…Seriously?”
I let out a long sigh as I slackened and leaned my whole body against the chair.
“I was sure that this was about sothing more… important.”
“But this is important!”
Her heavy-handed tone startled .
“And why would this be important?”
Gotou-san seed to go blank for a brief mont. She quickly coughed to clear her throat once again and continued in a defiant manner.
“That’s a secret.”
“A secret… huh.”
This doesn’t make any damn sense, but it’s probably pointless to inquire any further on this given her firm answer.
“Now then.”
Gotou-san, who had finally regained her bearings, inclined her head and spoke in her usual manner-of-speaking.
“You’re still allowed to ask one more question. Is there sothing you want to ask? Or are you done?” She asked as she set her glass on the table.
She didn’t mince her words to hide the connotation behind her words; ‘You’ve already asked everything you’ve wanted to ask, haven’t you?’ Still, it was clear that this question was also a sche to dismiss the earlier conversation, which was strangely vexing to .
“…Then.”
I can feel the alcohol running through my system. Perhaps there was also a desire to get rid of this murky and confused feelings in my mind.
So I boldly asked.
“What’s your cup size?”
Gotou-san let out a loud laugh.
Then, she covered a side of her mouth with her palm, a pose that implied that this would be a secret between us, and said in a small voice.
“…It’s an I-cup.”
I-cup? What cup is that?
I began to count on my fingers.
Seeing that, Gotou-san broke into another giggle.
＊
I absentmindedly stared out the window of the rocking train compartnt.
It had been a rather turbulent al of grilled at.
After my last question, it was Gotou-san’s turn, all her questions were about Mishima. ‘Even if I wasn’t dating her, was I interested in her?’, ‘Have I taken a special liking to her?’ and other questions like that.
In any case, when I persistently asked her about it, she explained that she had been startled by the rapidly shortening distance between Mishima and I, after which, in a flustered bout, she decided to invite out for dinner.
After hearing how it ca down to this, I couldn’t help but think that she had a strangely cute side to her as well.
I had to repeatedly explain to her that Mishima was rely my junior. I had explained it so many tis that it was hard to keep count.
Perhaps due to the influence of alcohol, Gotou-san had been incredibly insistent about hounding with questions regarding Mishima. ‘A younger girl would probably be better for you, wouldn’t she?’, ‘Mishima-chan has a great figure doesn’t she? Don’t you like that sort of figure?’, and all sort of questions of similar nature. To sum it all up, it had been a nuisance.
My only thoughts regarding Mishima was that I want her to ‘work seriously’.
I didn’t think that my thoughts and actions could be misinterpreted.
However…
I let out a long sigh. This situation really is over my head.
Gotou-san had rejected . My heartfelt confession had been rejected.
Yet, why was Gotou-san so bothered by what was happening between Mishima and I?
Well, she explained that it was because it irritated her that a man who had just confessed to her would imdiately turn to a younger woman, but the sense of desperation I felt from her today seed to be suggesting otherwise.
What Hashimoto had said the other day ca to mind.
‘As surprising as this may seem, I feel like you still have a chance.’
‘Getting rejected is the true beginning.’
Could it be? Could it really be as he said?
Based on Gotou-san’s behavior during the dinner, I could tell that she had an interest in my affairs.
However, in the end, this was about Gotou-san. I couldn’t imagine her being simple enough of a person to suddenly be fancying at the drop of a hat.
My elated heart quickly fell into low spirits.
The turbulent pondering I did on the train was now also taking its toll on my tired mind.
As I was walking ho, my thoughts were revolving endlessly around deciphering what Gotou-san’s intentions were, but on the other hand I also didn’t want to think about it.
“I’m back.”
“Oh!”
Unlocking the door and entering my ho, I was t with Sayu, who bounced off her seat and jumped up to greet .
“Welco back… Why the long face?”
“Eh?”
“Was it not fun?” Sayu asked while gazing at my face.
“No, it was a lot of fun, really”
“Eh, doesn’t seem that way to . Did she say sothing an to you or sothing like that?”
“Not really.”
I took off my jacket and quickly paced past Sayu towards the living room.
Why was she so sensitive to other people’s expressions?
“Hey, Yoshida-san.”
“What’s up?”
As I turned around to face her, I found her raising both her arms towards .
“Want a hug?”
“Wha?”
As I scowled, Sayu approached without any hesitation, her arms still extended forward.
“I don’t really know what’s going on here, but won’t you feel better if you got a hug from a JK?”
“Eh?”
Ignoring my protests, Sayu gave a firm hug.
She vigorously pressed her head against .
What’s she up to now, geez. I thought to myself with a forced smile.
One way or another, it was clear that she was trying to encourage .
“That’s enough already.” I said whilst patting her shoulders.
Sayu raised her head to face .
“Feeling better?”
“Yeah yeah.”
“Really!? You’re so simple, Yoshida-san.”
“Shush.”
I peeled the gleefully laughing Sayu off of and grabbed my sleep-wear.
“Hey wait!”
Sayu called out to as I was unbuttoning my shirt.
“You don’t want your clothes to stink of cigarettes too! Just get in the bath first!”
“Huh, did you fill the bath already?”
“I had a feeling that you’d be ho around now, so I filled it up!”
“The heck, that’s amazing.”
Sayu showed a proud expression with a peace sign, then she pointed towards the bathroom.
“Wash yourself off before getting in the bath, okay? I know you’re tired and all but don’t forget that.”
I felt a little warm in my chest hearing that.
It was an understanding and unassertive kindness.
“Yeah, sure thing.” I nodded.
Sayu returned to the living room with a satisfied expression and plopped herself down on the floor.
Then, she jerked her chin towards the living room exit as if to signal to hurry up and go.
“I got it already.”
I brought a change of underwear and my sleep-wear and headed towards the changing room1.
I let out a small sigh as I took off my clothes.
At this mont, I felt really grateful that Sayu was here. If I was all alone, I would’ve probably tornted myself to sleep thinking about today’s events with Gotou-san. It would’ve been a tough night.
“Hah… I’m pathetic.” I murmured to myself with a strained smile.
I was once again made to realize that Sayu was supporting ntally.
“One heck of a grown-up I am…”
I washed the sweat off from my body with the shower before entering the bath.
Now that I think about it, did she enter the bath before ?
I gazed down at the hot water as such a question crossed my mind.
“Well, it doesn’t really matter I guess.” I grumbled as I subrged myself up to my shoulders.
Having regained so presence of mind, I noticed that the thoughts regarding Gotou-san, that had seized my mind until a mont ago, had stopped.
Also, a sowhat uncertain feeling seed to have started to well up in my chest.
Although there were a lot of things that I didn’t understand, It remains true that I was able to eat with Gotou-san, whom I greatly yearned for. It had definitely been a joyous al.
However, Sayu had probably been worried about all along. She prepared the bath and consoled through her words and gestures. It’s possible that she had readied all of it before-the-fact.
I’m supposed to be her guardian, yet today, she seems to be the one taking care of instead.
It’s as if…
“…No, what am I thinking.”
As if–
This must be how it felt like to be a man who went out to play with other girls despite having a wife, I thought like that for a mont. I quickly shook my head to dismiss the thought.
The alcohol must be taking its toll on my mind. Regardless of the situation, she’s still a high-schooler, not my wife or anything like that. I don’t need to feel guilty about it.
However, I had to admit that I need to get a grip of myself.
“If I make a high-schooler like her worry for … then how am I supposed to play the role of her guardian?”
I scooped so bathwater and splashed my face.
Notes:
[1] In modern Japanese-style houses, the changing room acts as the space between the main area and the bathroom. The toilet is in a separate room.
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