Chapter 33: CH 33

Phone Time

After changing in the gym’s changing room, Ei-sensei took us to a familiar okonomiyaki restaurant, where she treated Ruru-nee and me to dinner.

“I’ve been indebted to you, Asami-san. I have to earn some points here.”

Ei-sensei was one of my mother’s juniors at university. She had been instructed by my mother, who had visited her alma mater as an OB.

Ruru-nee also started learning self-defense because she admired my mother, and I ended up learning it when she invited me to join her – it was good to have an exercise routine, and even then I was embarrassed to go with my sister, but it was not that I didn’t want to.

I thought about it on our way home together after dinner. I used to be shorter than her, and she used to pull my hand, but it had been a long time since she did that.

“Yes. Welcome back.”

While thinking that I should say “I’m home,” Ruru-nee opened the front door and urged me to go inside first.

“Nakkun, are you thinking that you need to get away from Onee-chan?”

“…Well… Um…”

It was normal for my sister to read my mind. My sister’s intuition was frightening – well, if you were reminiscing about the past and staring into the distance, it was no wonder she could usually tell.

I sat down on the sofa in the living room to take a break for the time being. She walked through the dining room to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and checked the ingredients for tomorrow’s breakfast while talking to me.

“Onee-chan knows everything about you, you know? You’ve got a very cute girlfriend named Takane-san, and you’re also getting along with Kiri-chan, so you think you don’t have time to bother Onee-chan, right?”

“That’s not true.”

“Eh? Then does that mean you don’t want to be friends with Kiri-chan or something?”

“Well, yeah, but… I can’t just say something like that, I know that. So don’t say anything right now.”

“I guess you’re right, that’s gonna take some time. You don’t need to worry about me, Nakkun…”

Ruru-nee tried to tell me, but stopped mid-sentence. I casually turned around to ask her what the rest of the story was about–

“…After eating okonomiyaki, you have to brush your teeth properly. But Onee-chan is fine.”

“…T-Too close…”

Before I knew it, Ruru-nee’s face was in front of me, and she was right behind me. When she said that, I was worried that I had left green seaweed on my teeth.

“Joking, Nakkun is well groomed. Maybe Onee-chan doesn’t have to worry about you anymore.”

“…You know I’m weak when you talk to me like that.”

“Fufufu… If you don’t leave Onee-chan alone, Onee-chan will gradually become more troublesome.”

“Give me a break… Ah, who’s going to take a bath first? I can take mine later.”

“Hmm, then Onee-chan will go in first. I’m sorry I kicked you so hard at the gym.”

“That was because I was out of shape. It was a good kick.”

“Is that so…? Are you sure you were okay?”

Ruru-nee still looked apologetic. I thought she was overreacting, but she always had been -My sister had a tendency to feel overly responsible when it came to me getting hurt.

“Look, there’s nothing wrong with where you hit.”

“…Okay, if Nakkun says so. I’m going to take a bath first.”

I was relieved that she somehow understood. After Ruru-nee left, my phone vibrated.

Asatani-san sent me a message. That shouldn’t happen for a while, no, maybe even never again – this might be an exaggeration, but that was what I thought.

I guessed I was overreacting. Asatani-san was just doing what she said she would do. Since we were friends, she could feel free to contact me – If I were to contact her, I would have to ask permission from Takane-san. That would be the rule to follow, of course.

[Good evening, can I talk to you for a second?]

While I was still thinking about it, two minutes had passed since the notification arrived. I wondered if this was acceptable – no, I shouldn’t be so nervous about this.

[Good evening. What’s going on?]

[I heard from Yui-chan. Can I join you?]

She was quick to talk – and I was sure she would be fine when Nakano-san asked her out, even if she didn’t check with me. I guessed Asatani-san was very polite in these situations.

[Sure, but I wonder if I can also come.]

[If you’re worried about it being all girls, why don’t you bring a friend, Nagi-kun? Like the two people you always hang out with in class.]

[I wonder if Takadera and Ogishima can come if they don’t have club activities.]

[You joined a club, didn’t you, Nagi-kun? I’ve joined a club too, but until we decide what we’re going to do for the festival, I think I’ll be taking things at my own pace.]

[We’re just starting out, but Nakano-san said we’re going to make a club magazine.]

I felt like the interaction was much more natural than I thought it would be.

I couldn’t help but feel nervous when I talked to Asatani-san. The reason why this was no longer the case – I guessed it was because Takane-san listened to me slowly.

‘Indirect kiss alone is not enough to make it even…’

[It’s nice to make something with everyone, isn’t it?]

While I was remembering the event at the bicycle parking lot, a message arrived.

It was a stamp of a cat saying, “That’s great, nyan!” I’ve heard that Asatani-san had a cat and doted on it.

[I think the light music club is the same when it comes to making something together.]

[Oh, so you knew I joined the light music club.]

[I’m sure you’re busy with work, but it’s amazing that you’re also involved in the light music club.]

After typing the message, I noticed that my finger was tapping the screen faster.

I needed to calm down. I put the brakes on myself to make sure I didn’t become a compliment-killer.

[Woah.]

[Eh?]

[No, I just felt like saying it.]

[Oh, I see.]

I wish I had said something more clever – I wondered what we would have been like if I could have done that.

How would we have been, what an unlikely possibility. Before I knew it, I found myself smiling.

[Nagi-kun, you can’t tell me I’m too awesome, you know?]

–I knew it. I’ve been told.

[I have something I want to do when I join the light music club. I want to join a club with all girls and have tea parties after school.]

[That sounds like fun.]

[“What part do you think I’ll play?]

[Maybe a vocalist?]

[Oh, you’re so perceptive. Nagi-kun, you really are my fa.]

Perhaps she made a typing mistake, but Asatani-san immediately deleted the message.

It was hard to get another message. I thought about it for a while and tried sending a message again first.

[I heard you posted a song on your Instagram story and it was really popular.]

[Did I ever tell Nagi-kun about that? Ah, it’s because I talked about it with Nabeyuka.]

As if nothing had happened, Asatani-san answered me. It was so fast – she responded in a few seconds.

[Nagi-kun, you’re lucky to have Takane-san as your seatmate. Isn’t it great to be sitting next to her?]

I knew I was supposed to take that message as if it were nothing.

Asatani-san and I started out sitting next to each other too. But it didn’t feel like we were actually dating.

It wasn’t that “my girlfriend” was sitting next to me. Asatani-san did not clearly respond to my confession.

I just happened to be sitting next to someone I knew from the same junior high school – now I understand that’s what it’s all about.

[I think it’s awesome, or something like that.]

[Are you hiding your embarrassment?]

[Well, I guess you could say that.]

[Nagi-kun is becoming a tsundere. I wonder if that’s what Takane-san likes about you?]

I didn’t expect Asatani-san to be so aggressive. I was also surprised that she would call me a tsundere.

The part of me that Takane-san liked – I didn’t know if it was possible to be embarrassed just by thinking about ‘like,’ but I was in such a state that I couldn’t reply right away.

‘Not only because you helped me, but also because you are very vulnerable and sensitive, and yet you are strong in pain.’

‘You are a kind person… I wanted to know everything about you that I didn’t know yet.’

Why did she want to go out with me? I could still remember everything that happened when she told me that.

But that was something that should be a secret between me and Takane-san – maybe I was being a little too self-conscious, but it was important to feel that way.

[Nagi-kun, are you going to call Takane-san now?]

[Yeah, I have to ask about your schedule. Where would you like to go for the holiday weekend, Asatani-san? I’ll be fine on the weekend.]

[May 3rd will be fine. If I say I don’t have anything to do during the holidays, then my schedule will be packed. Can you ask Takane-san about it?]

[Alright, I’ll check with her. I’ll be in touch.]

[Yeah.]

Asatani-san sent a sticker to me again, but for some reason it said “Fight!” I didn’t know what she was trying to tell me to do, but I knew she was cheering me on, so I tried not to think about it too much.

I sent a message to Takane-san, but she didn’t reply for a while, so I wondered if she had something to do – and then, I got a call.

[…Hello, good evening.] (*moshimoshi.)

“Yeah, hello. That’s pretty rare of you, saying hello.”

[I-I’m sorry. This just happens when I’m on the phone…]

“Ah, no. I just thought you were cute…calm.”

[That’s good… I’m relieved to hear you say that.]

My parents say “Hello” on the phone, but I didn’t think we used it much between ourselves. Takane-san had mentioned it before, so I guessed it was common in her house.

[Have you heard from Asatani-san?]

I knew that Nakano-san was going to ask Asatani-san out, so I guessed she was asking if there was any progress. If that was the case, it was easier to talk about it.

“We were just talking about it. Asatani-san said she’ll be fine on May 3rd.”

[Excuse me, let me check first… Yes, I can go out then.]

“That’s good. Then the only thing left is my friends’ schedule…. Well, if they can’t go, it’s okay. It’s a short notice after all.”

[I think it would be uncomfortable for a boy to be alone, so it would be a relief for Nagito-san if his friends could come too. It seems that we will go to karaoke as well.]

“A relief, you say… Well, I feel bad being the only one guy in a place full of girls.”

[I don’t think that’s the case. Nakano-san hasn’t talked to Nagito-san in a while since she entered the school, so I’m sure there are many things to talk about.]

“Hahaha… I wonder about that.”

Once the restriction was lifted, Nakano-san was the type of person who chatted as if she was trying to make up for lost time, so I had a feeling she would naturally run out of things to say.

[…Nagito-san is really amazing.]

“Eh?”

[It’s amazing how many people adore you and you don’t even realize it. I, on the other hand, don’t get to be liked by many people.]

“That’s the one thing I don’t think is true. Nakano-san also adores Takane-san at first sight.”

[That’s because Nagito-san was with me, that’s why…]

“That might be part of it, but Nakano-san is a person who clearly states her likes and dislikes. I think it’s true that she likes Takane-san.”

[…Nagito-san is amazing, but I’m having a bit of a problem.]

“…S-Sorry, I hope I didn’t come off as insensitive.”

I hurriedly apologized, but I could sense that Takane-san was laughing on the other end of the phone. She didn’t seem to be offended.

[But that’s one of the things that makes me think Nagito-san is a wo…wonderful person.]

“U-Um… I guess this is where I say thank you.”

[Yes. Thank you for the call. It will be a bit later, but I’m looking forward to it. It will be after next week’s orientation, so we can have a party to celebrate.]

The first major event of the year at Hekizakura Academy is the orientation in Hakone. We have been told about this event since the beginning of the school year, but before I knew it, it was coming up next week. (T/N: Hakone is a city in Japan.)

“I’ve never been to Hakone before. What about Takane-san?”

[I’ve been to Hakone once, but this is my first time going there for orientation.]

“Somehow, I imagine it as a place with hot springs.”

[Yes, at the place I stayed with my family, we had an open-air bath. But this time we will all be together, so I’m a little nervous.]

“I’m also slightly uncomfortable taking a bath with everyone else, but let’s both do our best to get through it. If we end up in different groups, it would be nice if we could talk somewhere.”

[Y-Yes. Maybe we can talk somewhere… We don’t get to choose our group, so I’ll do my best if I end up in a different group.]

“Yeah. Then I’ll tell Asatani-san about the plan…”

[Nagito-san, please tell Asatani-san about it. Also, an SNS group has been set up, so please invite Asatani-san to join it.]

“Ah, yeah. Well then, good night, Takane-san.”

[Yes, good night.]

I wondered why Nakano-san didn’t invite Asaya-san to join the group. Was it a subtle prank?

Takane-san and I have been invited to a group that Nakano-san created, so I could invite Asatani-san. As soon as I tried to do so – the screen of my phone switched to show an incoming call.

“Y-Yes. Asatani-san?”

[Sorry, I was just wondering what happened, so I called you.]

“Ah, yeah, I see. Takane-san said May 3rd is fine.”

[That’s great. I’ve always wanted to hang out with Takane-san. Of course, I wanted to play with Yui-chan too. Are any of your friends coming, Nagi-kun?]

“I’m going to try to invite them.”

[I see, I see. Yui-chan is trying to get me to sing at karaoke, isn’t she?]

“That feeling… I can understand a bit.”

[Ah, I’m on Yui-chan’s side. Well, if you’re going, I’ll sing. What kind of songs do you like, Nagi-kun?]

“Eh, um… I don’t know if I should say this to Asatani-san, who is in the show. I guess I like the ending of ‘Ao Riri’ a lot.”

The drama in which Asatani-san appeared, “Lyric of Love and Blue,” was to be aired after eleven o’clock this evening.

As we were talking, I remembered it and thought about whether I should watch it in real time today.

[…Nagi-kun, you’ve been watching me?]

“Ah… That’s… Well, how do I say it…”

I kept recording dramas in which my ‘ex-girlfriend’ appeared. I wondered how Asatani-san would see me – would she think that I was still in love with her?

[Ah… Mou. That sort of thing, it’s a little unexpected…]

“S-Sorry. I guess I should have said I am watching it normally.”

Asatani-san did not speak for a while. If the silence continued any longer, the atmosphere would become awkward – but just before that,

[I don’t know if it’s okay for me to sing a song from a drama I’m in, but it’s a good song. I’ve always liked this artist, too.]

“I first heard about them through this drama, but I’ve bought their music. I even saw it in a magazine with Asatani-san… Ah, no…”

Before I was dumped, I had bought a magazine that Asaya-san was in – that’s not something I should mention now, but I was not very adept.

[…Well, I guess I’ll do my best. My friends are supporting my drama.]

“Really? I think everyone would be happy about that. I think Nakano-san is going to jump out of her skin.”

[Yeah, that girl being so excited makes me happy.]

The word ‘friend’ didn’t cause me any pain. I was able to stay calm and take it positively.

It was because I met Takane-san that my relationship with Asatani-san changed and I was able to talk like this. If I hadn’t met her, I wouldn’t have become ‘friends’ with Asatani-san and would have returned to being a stranger.

[I’m sorry if I’m taking your time, but I have to go.]

“Ah, yeah. Asatani-san, I’m in a group that Nakano-san created, can I invite you?”

[Yeah, sure. Then, I’ll talk to you later.]

The call went dead. I invited Asatani-san to join the group and put my phone on the table.

“Nakkun, you seem more mature than usual when you talk to girls.”

Ruru-nee called out to me from the dining room behind me. Was she already out of the bath, or was she just getting ready?

“It’s not any different from normal…”

I casually turned around and pretended I hadn’t noticed anything and looked at the TV in the living room, which was showing nothing.

“It may be hot, but don’t go wandering around dressed like that.”

“Onee-chan heard Nakkun talking, so she came out to see what was going on. And you were talking to Kiri-chan, right? You didn’t say good night or anything?”

“…T-That’s, something I definitely can’t say.”

“I’m sure if Takane-san finds out Nakkun is such a serious person, she’ll be very happy.”

“Let’s leave it at that and get you fully dressed first.”

An older sister hanging around in loose clothes after a hot bath in front of her younger brother – I didn’t know how it was in other houses, but usually they would be more cautious if they had a brother.

“Onee-chan still has some of the pudding that Nakkun bought, do you think I can eat it now and not get fat?”

“Let me think, wait… I don’t care either way.”

“Eh, it’s a matter of life and death Onee-chan.”

She seemed to be dependable, but she was also a bit out of touch – she was an older sister that I could respect more honestly if she didn’t worry too much about her brother.