Chapter 66: Volume 2 - CH 4.3

If I Bring the Glass Closer

Translated by 64990022

Chapter 4: If I Bring the Glass Closer

Part 3

We went out and got some drinks at the convenience store.

I waited until we got back to the cafe so I could pour it into the glass I had there, fill it with ice and stick in a straw.

I used that timing to send a thank you message to Yukito, he replied with a weird sticker. I’ll take that as a yes…

At last, a cup of Calpis soda and oolong tea was on the table.

“If you would let me ask.”

“Go ahead.”

If anything, it was an improvement to our earlier conversation. I could tell that her tone was lighter.

“How do you want the situation to be?”

“Hm? I want to continue my relationship with Hibiki as it is now. I also want everyone, including you, to believe that I really like him, and then…”

“…”

“I don’t want to fight with you either. That’s all I want.”

“Okay, I get it.”

That was, more or less, what I expected.

However, it was more refreshing when she put it into words like this. My thoughts could run more freely and, above all, kept me from getting tired.

“And you?”

“I want to know what happened, why did you lie about your feelings towards Hibiki. And if the reason for that interferes with my objective, I want to do something about it. And I can’t tell you about the said ‘objective’”

“I see… the more I hear the less fair it seems.” She laughed amusedly.

Okay, I admit this, this sounded ridiculous.

“So, I can’t change your mind? You really think I don’t like Hibiki-kun?”

She stared at me. From the depths of her eyes, something glowed. Our eyes met.

“Yeah. I won’t change my mind.”

I chanted silently in my head, “I’m sorry.”

“Then I’ll fess up now…” she smiled weakly. “No, I have no feelings for Hibiki-kun.”

“Hoh…”

“I’m sorry I’ve been lying to you this whole time…”

“I’m not blaming you. What I want is to know why. Save your apologies.”

Her face wrapped. She looked terribly apologetic. She then drank the tea and put back a little of her usual cool.

“Why? I… I made you go through all that trouble, why aren’t you…?”

“Now that you say it, I guess I do. But whatever the reason, you seemed genuinely desperate, right? Then I forgive you.”

Besides, no matter how unreal it may seem, she was the perfect samaritan. She hopped down a train to help a lost child, she apologized to Minato for believing in the rumors, and so on. Her good conduct was without blemish.

“You know how to cozy up to someone, huh?” she mused.

I had no comment on that.

“So, the problem is, my reason you’re dying to know. I can’t tell you about it.”

“I figured.” Ahh, what am I doing? Sticking my nose into people’s affairs, their secrets…

Everyone has one or two. Even me or Minato.

“But, I have to hear it. I’m sorry, I can’t back down.”

“Yeah… you don’t seem to give up,” she said faintly. “I have a lot of questions, actually,”

“I’ll answer what I can.” Because who knows what would happen if I don’t. Better establish an understanding while we were at it.

“Why have you revealed yourself? Only for more time in convincing me? Only that?”

“More or less.”

“Don’t you think this is risky? What do you have to guarantee I will keep my mouth shut? I would like, check your face and walk away.”

“I’m out of options,” I admitted dryly.

“But from what I know, you keep your identity a tight secret. Until now, you’ve stressed that quite a lot, be it the broadcast, be it the conditions of the consultation. Such a precious secret for a bet? Such high stakes for a losing gamble?”

“Well… like you’ve said…”

Do I seem to have any choice?

“So, Angel… what could you possibly want with me?” It was a rhetoric. She had already decided the answer. “Or was it someone else?”

“I’ll let you imagine.”

“I suppose you won’t tell me who?”

“Sorry…”

She threw her gaze down at the floor and fumbled with the straw of her oolong tea.

“One of your consultation clients?”

“I can’t say.”

“Why?’

[TN: Lmao. Have mercy.]

“I have secrecy to keep.”

Her face twitched, the expression of someone having a suspicion confirmed as truth.

“I see. It’s him…” she muttered, fidgeting the straw. “It makes sense. You’re the Angel of Kuze High.”

She pressed a palm to her forehead and fell silent.

“Okay, I get your intentions now. I’ll take that in mind”

Thank you for contemplating.

“No, I can’t tell you. It won’t work.”

“I see…”

“But.”

But?

“But you’ve come this far. And I’m not that merciless.” She closed her eyes, drawing her lips into a thin line. “Two conditions.”

Thank you, Mikage.

“I’m listening.”

Then  she said with the brightest smile of the day. “I’ll tell you everything you wanna know after clearing these two, ‘kay?”

I gather the empty glasses to the counter. “So, let’s hear it”

The needle of the clock went over ten p.m. Considering commuting time, best we wrap up right now.

“First, you’ll have lunch with me at school every day for the rest of the week.”

“Hm…?”

Excuse me?

“Whoa, you’re backing down now?”

“N-no not like that. It’s… more mundane than I imagined…”

“Hmm, good for you then,” she said cheerfully, leaning on to the counter. She propped her face on her hands.

The tips of her slender fingers sank softly into her soft cheeks.

I honestly doubt if I’m lucky.

“And why the request?”

“Thaaat’s a secret!”

“Oh…”

Did she know I would ask? Well, let’s conclude the deal while she’s still in the mood.

“What’s the second thing?”

“Hmm… let’s see…”

“Wait, you haven’t thought about this.”

I couldn’t help but wonder why she would ask for two. Like, cut the unnecessary part, cut the unnecessity.

“Let’s save it for later. You’ll need to clear the first condition first anyway.”

“Okay… got it.”

Let’s conclude this already.

“Deal”

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Pause

Unmute

Nodding in satisfaction, Mikage held out her right hand. She tilted her head and waited for me to respond.

Until the end, I’ve been surprised by an astounding number of turns of events.

I sighed inwardly as I shook hands with her.

“Looking forward to working with you, Akashi-kun.”