Volume 1 Chapter 1 Part 4
Chapter 1 - Part 4
[Mu!]
[Eh?!]
When the girl noticed Hayato's gaze, she hit him with a shredded eraser in a pin-like shape. It didn’t hurt, but I was surprised by her childish behaviour.
(Are you a child?!)
Haruki Nikaido looked at Hayato’s face with satisfaction, then pulled out her tongue for a bit. The pink tip of her tongue, which she slightly showed, seemed to be a protest against being called a monkey.
And then, Hayato's class is over.
In the blink of an eye, the classroom was back to normal and the students were free from boredom. The summer solstice was approaching in June. The sky was endlessly blue, indicating that it was bright outside. It was the perfect day to go out and play.
[Hey Kirishima, We’re going to Karaoke together, wanna join us?]
[Yeah, it’s a welcoming party for you. I’ll buy you a drink.]
[I wonder what the transfer student will sing.]
[No, I’m...]
Hayato was surrounded by a group of well behaved and curious people. Among them he could see some of the faces that had been asking him questions since earlier. Hayato thought that this is something normal for them. Hayato, who had never interacted with people his own age in the countryside, hesitated for a moment.
(Besides, I’ve never been to karaoke before...)
Hayato was in a state between uncertainty and confusion. And then, a certain classmate put her hand on his shoulder and tried to pick him away.
[Without further ado, let’s go!]
[Wai-, Oi-!]
[You can’t!]
But then, a sharp voice called out to Hayato.
[Eh?]
[Hm?]
[Nikaido… san?]
[... ah]
It was an unexpected event for everyone, so they turned their gaze to the girl, Nikaido Haruki.
The girl in question, Haruki was surprised by her own action, so she coughed for a moment and turned around.
[I mean, you can’t do that. I’ve been asked by the teacher to show him around school. Right, Kirishima-kun?]
[I see...Welp, it can’t be helped, huh? I’m jealous that you can spend your time with Nikaido-san, you bastard!]
[Eh, Wait, Nikaido-san?..!]
In the midst of the envious stares of the boys, Haruki suddenly grabbed Hayato’s bag and forcefully pulled him along. The force which pulled Hayato was incredibly strong. Rather than being pulled, Hayato was being dragged by the girl with such a thin arm.
[Hey, where the hell are you taking me?]
[It’s fine, just follow my scheme]
Hayato then passed the school gate as Haruki pulled him along as they ran through the residential area. From an outsider perspective, it looked like Hayato was forcibly dragged away by a beautiful girl.
For Hayato, this was embarrassing, and his face was having a bit of a fever. Despite that, Haruki just ran ahead of him as if she didn’t care about her surroundings.
Even though Hayato was embarrassed, for him, this event reminded him of his childhood.
(Haha! Honestly, you haven’t changed at all, huh!)
The only difference was that he was running on asphalt instead of dirt.
[I don’t know where you’re heading, but you’re slow]
[HM?!]
Hayato tried to overtake Haruki in a race of speed, just as he did back then.
Then, just as Hayato did before, Haruki started to run faster as well.
Hayato went ahead of her, and then Haruki overtaking Hayato, they ran as fast as they could, overtaking and being overtaken. The two of them was reminded of their childhood memories.
[Aha!]
[Haha!]
Hayato couldn’t really describe his feelings.
But the fact that they were running together, side-by-side made Hayato happy.
He was reminded of the events and emotions that occurred in the past. And now, Hayato was sure that the girl that ran in front of him, was his Childhood friend, Haruki.
The girl may look different than how she was in the past. But there were things that haven’t changed yet. That alone has made Hayato happy for some reason.
[Well then, we’ve arrived! Here we are]
[Eh, we are...]
It was a common house that you’d find in the residential area. So there’s nothing special about it. But Hayato already knew where he was without having to ask.
Besides, going to each other’s house for playing used to be a common thing between them.
[Hm? Is there anything wrong, Hayato?]
[Nope, don’t mind about it.]
The girl has long hair that reaches her back, small hands that are a little cold, and a beautiful face that’s different from what she used to look.
But the smile that she’s showing to Hayato turned a bit bitter. Hayato thought that if he left here, he'd lose something. With such childish thoughts, he muttered, [I’m sorry.]
[Ah, don’t worry. There’s no one inside, so don’t be shy.]
[Seriously?]
Hayato was a little nervous because of Haruki’s appearance. She looks like a completely neat and pretty girl. But what he got was some Haruki-like words in return
Everyone would react the same way if they were to see their childhood friend turn into a neat and beautiful girl, right?
With that out of Hayato’s mind. Haruki suddenly made an [Ah!] kind of voice as if she had noticed something.
[Please wait here okay! I’ll be back!]
[Oi!]
The girl left in a rush and ran up the stairs while holding her skirt. And then, Hayato heard a noisy noise. It was Haruki cleaning up her room.
[That girl.… Now what?]
Hayato was left at the entrance of someone’s house, alone. He let out an involuntary sigh.
Not only that, the girl was running so fast that he caught a glimpse of the girl’s boxers. It left Hayato a strange feeling of guilt.
[Thanks for waiting!]
After a while, an out-of-breath Haruki invited Hayato into his room. At first glance, the room was tidy. But Hayato suspected that she was shocking the whole thing in the closet by force.
The room was dyed with the color of black and dark brown from the furniture, and there were bookshelves full of manga and figurines, and it also contained various game consoles. It was an expected type of room for Haruki.
If it weren’t for the mirror and the cosmetics placed on the desk, it wouldn’t be much different from Hayato’s room.
[Aight, here we are.]
[Right. Wait, Haruki?]
[Yeah? Why don’t you take off your socks, Hayato? It’s hot isn’t it?]
[Well, that’s true...]
Suddenly, Haruki threw a cushion at Hayato and suddenly started taking off her socks.
Unlike in the past, Hayato got flustered when he saw Haruki’s bare feet, which are white and plump with a hint of femininity exposed. It was understandable that he’d be flustered, even if he knew that the girl sitting in front of him was Haruki.
Followed by a loud bang, she sat down on his knees and leaned forward. No matter what she did, for Hayato, she’s still a resemblance of Haruki in the past. Right after that, Hayato felt that her femininity faded away, a laugh bubbled up in the back of Hayato’s throat.
However, when Haruki looked back on Hayato, she was looking at him with a reproachful look in her eyes.
[So, who’s that Monkey you told the whole class this morning?]
[Umm, that was...]
It seems that Haruki was still holding a grudge on Hayato’s words this morning.
Not only that she’s serious, if anything, she was also sulking.
But when she pouted her lips and leaned in close to Hayato, sweat started to run down his spine.
[Welp, I’m sorry. That was my bad. Keep it on my loan.]
[Hmm, you owe me one then. I guess that’s fine.]
As if satisfied with Hayato’s reply, Haruki immediately retracted the sullen look on her face. She then muttered the word “owe” and started grinning.
“Owe/Loan” has a special meaning between the two of them.
This “Loan” is given one-sidedly and it will never be spared.
[Loan, huh… That brings back memories. How much does Hayato owe me now?]
[Same thing applies to you, I’m sure you’ve got a lot to owe me.]
[Ahaha, not as much as yours]
[Pfft]
[Ahahahaha]
The two of them looked at each other, and laughter broke out.
In the midst of this atmosphere, Hayato let out the question he had on his mind since this morning.
.
[What’s with your personality at school?]
[My personality?]
Hayato looked at Haruki’s neat, pretty, and beautiful figure, which is far different from her former bratty self she used to be. It’s a shame that her true nature has been revealed now.
[Well, let’s just say that I’ve been through lots of stuff. That’s why I’m in that “coat” at school.]
[Mimicry, huh… As expected, you’re still a demon, huh.]
[Hayato!]
[Ahaha, my bad, that’s on me.]
[Hayato, you...]
These kind of fights tend to happen between the two of them. In the end, one of them will brush it off with this loan system.
For both of them, it was both amusing and embarrassing to think that they’d be able to accumulate each other’s loan/debt again, just like what they've done in the past.
After a while, Hayato felt uncomfortable that his feelings were being noticed, so he went around the room to see if he could find something to talk about.
[I didn’t know that you still have that game]
[Ah, there’s a software version of it too, I think I have it]
[How nostalgic...]
[All right, it’s been a while since we’ve played together, Loser own the winner]
[That’s a cheap loan]
[Well then, how about making it five games?]
[Deal]
It was a console game that they used to play together. The game itself was 2 generations old. It was a karting game with characters that looked like mushrooms, and they were very enthusiastic about it.
And then, the first game of a long-awaited reunion… begins!
[Eh, that’s cheating! Why did you pull that item at this time!]
[Is it because I’m a good person?]
[Liar! You treated me just like a demon!]
[Haha!]
It’s been a while since they’ve seen each other, and they’ve been playing games alone without talking. Hayato must've had lots of questions to be asked to Haruki, but at that moment, all he did was shout at the game in front of him. For him, this was enough, and the distance between them was getting smaller and smaller.
.
[Yep. It’s almost time for me to go home]
[Ah, I see… Ok then]
It was a fun time for them yet it passed quickly. After that, the girl beside Hayato felt a little bit of loneliness.
In the past, they used to think that time was a moment that would last forever. But that idea collapsed after the moving of Nikaido Haruki.
Haruki was looking at Hayato’s back as he picked up his shoes, with a spoiled child look in her face. Hayato himself truly understands her feelings.
As if an attempt to shake off her anxiety, the boy stopped and let out a word.
[See you later]
[Ah...]
It was the usual farewell. And it’s not like Haruki doesn’t understand that. They both got reunited. So, for Haruki, the correct greeting for this reunion was…
[Yeah, see you later… and from now on… Welcome back!]
[Welcome back?]
[For me, this moment is a welcome home]
[Haha, what the hell was that]
Haruki smiles just like a sunflower blooming. It was the best smile that Hayato had seen today.
Thanks for the chapter!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this awesome chapter!
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