Chapter 37: A schemer’s errand?
After listening to the Headmaster’s words in this cold weather, I was completely chilled. I really wished for him to keep his speech short and precise. After this, we boarded the bus to reach our destination of the trip.
Shinji and I chose a seat at the front of the bus, where no one else wanted to sit. The others don’t want to be close to where the teacher sat, so they inevitably choose the back. In other words, the front seats were the best choice because we would be away from the rumor mongers and the people who might be asking troublesome questions.
“I don’t think people listen to our conversations on the bus that much. Aren’t you overly concerned?”
Whose fault do you think it is that I’m so concerned!? Isn’t it because you’re up to no good!?
“What do you mean? I don’t think there’s anything special about it, is there? We’re just talking to each other about – what we like about our respective girlfriends. Or do you want to talk about it in front of everyone at night?”
I don’t want to talk about that. The cottage we will be staying in is for four people in each room. There were two bedrooms, and we would be separated when going to bed, but we would probably meet in the living room and have a chat anyway. Fortunately, the other two have girlfriends too, so I don’t think there would be any undue jealousy, but I’m sure they would still ask questions. And, I really don’t want to talk about that.
“No, wait. Does that mean you won’t ask at the cottage, but you want me to tell you now? I’ve already politely declined though.”
“Don’t be silly. We have a lot of free time on the road, so let me hear all about it. Or does Yuya want to hear me brag about Akiho? If so, that’s fine, but… be prepared for it, okay?”
Listening to Shinji’s boasting about Otsuki-san was almost like a kind of torture. He would ask me for my opinion and agreement every time. On such occasions, I couldn’t reply to anything other than yes and it was kind of cute seeing him talking with a happy face. Normally, I’d rather sit next to him for almost three hours and listen to him bragging, but for today —
“All right, all right. I’ll take you up on your offer.”
Prepare yourself. If you want to ask me seriously, I’ll do some serious boasting about Kaede. You are ready to writhe in agony, aren’t you?
The roll call ended, and the bus started to move. As I listened to the bus guide’s announcement, I thought about what to say.
＊＊＊＊＊
An hour and a half has passed since the bus departed, and we’ve just passed the turnaround to our destination. There was something strange about Shinji sitting next to me. I’m not sure why.
“Hey, hey Yuya… I’ve been bad, can you please forgive me soon?”
“Huh? There’s nothing to forgive, is there? You’re the one who asked me about it in the first place.”
I went along with Shinji’s plan and explained to him in detail what I found attractive about Kaede. Shinji had been to our house once, so he’d seen the gaps in Kaede’s personality, so it was a little late to tell that, but I gave him some examples of how she’d tease me and then get embarrassed when I fought back — especially on Valentine’s night. — I talked about her.
I also told him that Kaede was looking out for me more than anyone else. She didn’t laugh at my football detentions, which everyone, except Shinji, looked at coldly, but she acknowledged my efforts. She also praised me and encouraged me to do my best and I was very happy with that.
At first, I was just admiring her, was afraid to spend time with her, and more than that, I was nervous to death. But now it has become the norm and I’m now fascinated by the new side of her that I never knew existed. To put it bluntly, I can no longer imagine my life without Kaede. I can’t tell her about this yet, though.
“Ha, hahaha… sorry. Yuya. I’m really sorry. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t listen to this. I didn’t think it was this serious. Though I’ve brought it to myself…”
“Oh? What does that mean?”
Just as I was about to ask Shinji a question, the bus pulled into a service area. We were told that we would be stopping here for about fifteen minutes. As soon as we stopped, Shinji ran out of the bus like he was trying to get away from me. I’m not letting that b*****d get away!
I jumped off the bus in pursuit of Shinji, but he had already disappeared into thin air. Damn, what speed!
“Ah… Yuya-kun…!”
I was about to run after him when I heard a familiar voice calling my name. I turned around to see Kaede, and sure enough, there she was.
“Oh, Kaede. Good afternoon. How was it on the bus? Did you get any sleep?”
“Uhn. I’m fine. I’ve been talking to Akiho-chan and listening to music. Yuya-kun, how was it?”
What is it, Kaede’s face seems to be red? I wonder if it was too hot in the bus. Well, the heating in our bus was almost too good. I’m sure that’s why her face is red. But I don’t like her question. Because for the last hour and a half I’ve been telling Shinji about Kaede’s loveliness, with examples.
“Ah, ah… yeah. As Kaede said, Shinji asked me a lot of questions, but I was fine. I think it was more difficult for me to listen to Shinji bragging about it. Ahahaha!”
I decided to laugh and cover it up. There was no way I could say that here! I can’t believe I told Shinji that I couldn’t imagine life without Kaede anymore! That wouldn’t be a confession, that would be a marriage proposal to her! I haven’t even said ‘I love you’ to Kaede with all my heart yet! That’s where the story should start at first.
“Oh, yes! Well, that’s a shame! Oh, I have to go to the bathroom! I’ll see you at our destination then!”
Bye-bye! Kaede waved her hand and fiercely dashed to the toilet. What was this feeling of being left alone?
“Yoshi can’t be left behind! Hey, you big philandering devil!”
“— Otsuki-san? Huh, I’m a devil? What does that mean?”
It was Otsuki-san who called out to me, slapping me on the back with her bashing. It was really painful.
“What a story, this story! I see, Kaede-chan is so loved! See you later, Yoshi!”
Otsuki-san followed Kaede’s back, laughing loudly. I don’t know, maybe there really was something strange going on that I didn’t know about.
“… Should I give Shinji a good interrogation?”
If he gets away with it now, it’ll be the end of him when he comes back. I’ll make him spill out everything he’s been up to.
Shinji came back and put on his earphones and started listening to music, ignoring my question. When I asked him why he was doing this, he just looked at me apologetically.
“Sorry, Yuya. It was my fault. I’m really sorry.”
He only apologised. In the end, we arrived at our destination without me being able to find out the truth.
Chapter 37: A schemer’s errand?
After listening to the Headmaster’s words in this cold weather, I was completely chilled. I really wished for him to keep his speech short and precise. After this, we boarded the bus to reach our destination of the trip.
Shinji and I chose a seat at the front of the bus, where no one else wanted to sit. The others don’t want to be close to where the teacher sat, so they inevitably choose the back. In other words, the front seats were the best choice because we would be away from the rumor mongers and the people who might be asking troublesome questions.
“I don’t think people listen to our conversations on the bus that much. Aren’t you overly concerned?”
Whose fault do you think it is that I’m so concerned!? Isn’t it because you’re up to no good!?
“What do you mean? I don’t think there’s anything special about it, is there? We’re just talking to each other about – what we like about our respective girlfriends. Or do you want to talk about it in front of everyone at night?”
I don’t want to talk about that. The cottage we will be staying in is for four people in each room. There were two bedrooms, and we would be separated when going to bed, but we would probably meet in the living room and have a chat anyway. Fortunately, the other two have girlfriends too, so I don’t think there would be any undue jealousy, but I’m sure they would still ask questions. And, I really don’t want to talk about that.
“No, wait. Does that mean you won’t ask at the cottage, but you want me to tell you now? I’ve already politely declined though.”
“Don’t be silly. We have a lot of free time on the road, so let me hear all about it. Or does Yuya want to hear me brag about Akiho? If so, that’s fine, but… be prepared for it, okay?”
Listening to Shinji’s boasting about Otsuki-san was almost like a kind of torture. He would ask me for my opinion and agreement every time. On such occasions, I couldn’t reply to anything other than yes and it was kind of cute seeing him talking with a happy face. Normally, I’d rather sit next to him for almost three hours and listen to him bragging, but for today —
“All right, all right. I’ll take you up on your offer.”
Prepare yourself. If you want to ask me seriously, I’ll do some serious boasting about Kaede. You are ready to writhe in agony, aren’t you?
The roll call ended, and the bus started to move. As I listened to the bus guide’s announcement, I thought about what to say.
＊＊＊＊＊
An hour and a half has passed since the bus departed, and we’ve just passed the turnaround to our destination. There was something strange about Shinji sitting next to me. I’m not sure why.
“Hey, hey Yuya… I’ve been bad, can you please forgive me soon?”
“Huh? There’s nothing to forgive, is there? You’re the one who asked me about it in the first place.”
I went along with Shinji’s plan and explained to him in detail what I found attractive about Kaede. Shinji had been to our house once, so he’d seen the gaps in Kaede’s personality, so it was a little late to tell that, but I gave him some examples of how she’d tease me and then get embarrassed when I fought back — especially on Valentine’s night. — I talked about her.
I also told him that Kaede was looking out for me more than anyone else. She didn’t laugh at my football detentions, which everyone, except Shinji, looked at coldly, but she acknowledged my efforts. She also praised me and encouraged me to do my best and I was very happy with that.
At first, I was just admiring her, was afraid to spend time with her, and more than that, I was nervous to death. But now it has become the norm and I’m now fascinated by the new side of her that I never knew existed. To put it bluntly, I can no longer imagine my life without Kaede. I can’t tell her about this yet, though.
“Ha, hahaha… sorry. Yuya. I’m really sorry. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t listen to this. I didn’t think it was this serious. Though I’ve brought it to myself…”
“Oh? What does that mean?”
Just as I was about to ask Shinji a question, the bus pulled into a service area. We were told that we would be stopping here for about fifteen minutes. As soon as we stopped, Shinji ran out of the bus like he was trying to get away from me. I’m not letting that b*****d get away!
I jumped off the bus in pursuit of Shinji, but he had already disappeared into thin air. Damn, what speed!
“Ah… Yuya-kun…!”
I was about to run after him when I heard a familiar voice calling my name. I turned around to see Kaede, and sure enough, there she was.
“Oh, Kaede. Good afternoon. How was it on the bus? Did you get any sleep?”
“Uhn. I’m fine. I’ve been talking to Akiho-chan and listening to music. Yuya-kun, how was it?”
What is it, Kaede’s face seems to be red? I wonder if it was too hot in the bus. Well, the heating in our bus was almost too good. I’m sure that’s why her face is red. But I don’t like her question. Because for the last hour and a half I’ve been telling Shinji about Kaede’s loveliness, with examples.
“Ah, ah… yeah. As Kaede said, Shinji asked me a lot of questions, but I was fine. I think it was more difficult for me to listen to Shinji bragging about it. Ahahaha!”
I decided to laugh and cover it up. There was no way I could say that here! I can’t believe I told Shinji that I couldn’t imagine life without Kaede anymore! That wouldn’t be a confession, that would be a marriage proposal to her! I haven’t even said ‘I love you’ to Kaede with all my heart yet! That’s where the story should start at first.
“Oh, yes! Well, that’s a shame! Oh, I have to go to the bathroom! I’ll see you at our destination then!”
Bye-bye! Kaede waved her hand and fiercely dashed to the toilet. What was this feeling of being left alone?
“Yoshi can’t be left behind! Hey, you big philandering devil!”
“— Otsuki-san? Huh, I’m a devil? What does that mean?”
It was Otsuki-san who called out to me, slapping me on the back with her bashing. It was really painful.
“What a story, this story! I see, Kaede-chan is so loved! See you later, Yoshi!”
Otsuki-san followed Kaede’s back, laughing loudly. I don’t know, maybe there really was something strange going on that I didn’t know about.
“… Should I give Shinji a good interrogation?”
If he gets away with it now, it’ll be the end of him when he comes back. I’ll make him spill out everything he’s been up to.
Shinji came back and put on his earphones and started listening to music, ignoring my question. When I asked him why he was doing this, he just looked at me apologetically.
“Sorry, Yuya. It was my fault. I’m really sorry.”
He only apologised. In the end, we arrived at our destination without me being able to find out the truth.
