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Chapter 24, Preparedness
After parting with Ike and
Tatsumiya, I returned home and went back to my room.
I send a message to Touka
about the fireworks display that came up in my conversation with them.
『How about we go to the
next fireworks display together?』
I sent the message and
then tossed my smartphone on the desk...
"Uoh"
Instantly, the smartphone
trembled on the desk and announced an incoming call.
I looked at the
notification and saw that it was from Touka.
Is that a reply to what I
just sent?
...... That's fast.
With that in mind, I
answer the phone.
[I-Is this senpai? It's
me!]
"I-It's me. What's up?"
I ask Touka, whose voice
is a bit high-pitched.
[I-It's not what's up or
whatever! I was suddenly invited to a fireworks display, so I was
surprised, or how should I put it... you're sane, right?]
"I'm sane. I'm sorry to
ask you out of the blue. Do you have plans already?"
Do you even need to ask my
sanity?
...... Maybe she already
had a plan.
If so, I'm sorry for
bothering her.
[No, I've kept my schedule
open...]
As I thought, Touka and I
should go to the summer festival together, even though we are "fake"
lovers! Perhaps she thought it was a good idea.
"That's good to know."
"I-I see. ......But
then again, senpai really loves me, to even invite me to a fireworks display~. No,
it's not that you are annoying or anything, it's just that I think it's pretty
cute that you are so excited to invite me to a fireworks display, and I don't
dislike that about you either."
Touka says rapidly.
Apparently, she's in a
good mood and is teasing me.
If she is in this good
mood, maybe if I tell her that I'm also inviting Ike and Tatsumiya, she'll
easily agree.
"I'm inviting Ike and
Tatsumiya too, is that okay?"
When I say so,
[If anything, I am pretty
much ――Eh? ……Eh? ......
Sorry, senpai, what did you say now?]
I interrupted her while
she was speaking, so she apparently missed it.
I say it again.
"I'm also inviting
Ike and Tatsumiya to go to the fireworks display, no problem, right?"
[……Ha? ……Eh?]
Did she not hear it?
No, I can tell from her
voice that she is upset about it.
As I wondered what was
going on, I heard a huge sigh of "Haah~" from the phone.
"...Was it bad?"
[Isn't it obvious!? I
thought it was an invitation to romantically watch fireworks with my lover... I
thought senpai understood it too!! ...... How did that happen!?]
Touka seems more
dissatisfied than I thought she would be.
...... Maybe it wasn't a
good idea to say "with Tatsumiya".
When she was asked how it
happened, it was because I couldn't bear to overlook Tatsumiya, and one more
thing.
"I've always had a
rather longing to go to a fireworks display with a group of friends."
Right, what I said to Ike
was meant to be said.
Touka, upon hearing this,
was silent on the other end of the phone for a while.
[...cunning]
She mumbled in a whisper.
Then she continues.
[Senpai, you’re so cunning!? If
you say that... I can't object to that, can I.]
Mou, Touka muttered in
dissatisfaction.
She knew how I felt and
respected it.
After all, Touka is a good
girl.
"My bad. ......Thank
you. "
When I thanked her,
[It's fine, you know. Senpai
is that kind of person~, I knew that]
After a teasing, "In
exchange" she continues.
[On the day of the event,
I'll have you listen to my~ every wish!]
In a joyful voice, Touka
told me.
"Yeah. ...... just
please go easy on me."
[No, I will have you
listen to my every whim ♡]
Touka says with a giggle
and a funny laugh.
I started to wonder what
kind of selfishness he would have to say, but still.
I was looking forward to
that day.
☆
"Ah"
Then, the next day, I went
to a nearby convenience store and ran into Makiri-sensei.
"Tomoki-kun...
Hello"
"Hello"
Maybe it's because I met
Makiri-sensei before, a few days ago at a hot spring... It's embarrassing.
"...How have you been?"
Perhaps it is the same for
Makiri-sensei.
Somewhat embarrassed, she
turned to me and asked.
"Yes. How about Makiri-sensei?"
I ask.
Even so, it's hard to
believe that this is a conversation that took place after only a few days of
not seeing each other...
"...Yes, of
course."
said Makiri-sensei with a
somewhat gloomy expression contrary to her words.
What happened?
"Then I'll excuse
myself"
After saying that, Makiri-sensei,
who had finished her shopping, left the convenience store.
"Yes"
I follow her back with my
eyes while responding with a few words.
Then I remember what Ike
and Tatsumiya said yesterday.
"It seems like
Makiri-sensei has been a bit down lately."
"Makiri-sensei seemed
depressed."
...... I had assumed that Makiri-sensei
had witnessed their lovemaking and was about to fall into the darkness, but
perhaps there is something else going on?
I became anxious and
chased after Makiri-sensei.
And I quickly caught up
with her, who was ahead of me.
"Makiri-sensei!"
I called out to her from
behind and she slowly turned around.
Tilting her head,
"What is it?"
Asked Makiri-sensei.
I look straight at her.
I was going to ask her
what had happened, but ... Is it really something that can be talked over while
standing around?
If something really
happened, I don't think she would want too many strangers to hear about it.
Then it's better to talk
in a place where no one else can come.
"I have something
important to talk to you about, so can I come over to sensei's house now?"
With that in mind, I faced
Makiri-sensei and said so.
"…Eh?"
Did she not hear it?
Thinking so, I say it
again.
"I have something
important to talk to you about, so can I come over to sensei's house now?"
"W-Wait a minute,
Tomoki-kun! Do you realize what you are saying!? Of course, it's wrong for a
student to go into a teacher's room! It's a lack of common sense!?"
Makiri-sensei looks
flustered.
As I thought, suspicious. She
is too flustered.
After hearing about the
incoherent remarks about lack of common sense, Makiri-sensei, who was the one
who had once called a student to the teacher's room, and I was convinced that
something had happened to her.
"No, I can't pull
back. I... want to know the sensei's feelings!"
What kind of feeling did
you have?
I don't know what I can
do.
But now that I have
noticed that something is wrong with Makiri-sensei.
Even if it is just
unnecessary meddling, I cannot ...... turn a blind eye to it.
Upon hearing my words,
Makiri-sensei looked puzzled, then dropped the plastic bag in her hand on the
road.
Then she covered her face
with her hands before saying, "Eh, eh?" And she tried not to let me
see her bright red face.
Perhaps it was a shock to
have a student perceive her troubles.
With that in mind, I wait
for Makiri-sensei's words.
"...I get it. Follow
me."
Makiri-sensei turned to me
with tears in the corners of her eyes and looked me upward.
I nod and pick up the
fallen plastic shopping bag.
Then, I decided that I had
to be ready to help her no matter what happened.
――I walked side by side
next to Makiri-sensei, whose face was still bright red.
4 Comments
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Deletethanks for translation
ReplyDeletech 23 next button leads to 404 error, the link lacks the .html
I hope Asakura is not watching this... The poor guy might jump off a bridge.
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