Chapter 44: Three men make a loud racket
After a few one-on-one lessons with Kaede, I was finally competent enough to ski the intermediate course. I fell a few times, but apart from the first time into the net, I didn’t have any spectacular falls and Kaede didn’t hug me.
It was now past 7:30 pm. Only half an hour to go until the final battle of my destiny. Now I was killing time at the cottage until the stargazing meeting.
Dinner was steak, which was also discussed yesterday. The boys were very excited. It was certainly the thickest steak I had ever seen. It was the thickest steak I’ve ever seen, and yet it was so tender that I could easily slide my knife into it. The sweetness of the meat spread as soon as you put it in your mouth. It wasn’t too fatty, so it was easy for girls to eat too. By the time we’d finished the dessert, our tiredness was gone and our hearts were filled with a sense of fullness and happiness.
“Oh… I’m so happy. Skiing was a disaster, but I’m glad we had some good meat!”
“It was the worst because some people created a space so annoyingly sweet, but the meat was delicious, so I guess there was no negative impact.”
Motegi and Sakaguchi, who were also present, looked at me and told me how they felt about the day. Did I create that space so annoyingly sweet? I don’t get what you’re talking about. Even though Kaede laughed at me all the time and made me look pathetic?
“I’ve been watching from a distance, but I’m pretty sure you two had your own space on that slope. I mean, you were flirting with each other all over the place!”
“Me and Kaede? It’s not possible. It’s just me being teased as usual, you know?”
“That’s what all couples say. There’s a lot of evidence too, such as being in close contact in the lift, hugging Hitotsuba-san, and patting her head, who was worried about your bad fall. I’m sorry, but you’re totally guilty, Yuya.”
Motegi and Sakaguchi nodded as if to agree, ‘Yes, that’s right’. Also, Shinji talked as if he had been there to witness it. Maybe you were close by?
“… Look at that, look at that. That man was so immersed in his own world that he forgot that Akiho and I were in the lift right behind you. As soon as you both got off the lift, you started skiing together, so I thought that was it. …”
So Shinji and Otsuki-san were standing in a line together, waiting for the lift. I see, that was why he was able to see everything. If that’s the case, don’t keep quiet and come talk to us.
“I can’t talk to you! You two are always in a world of your own, a world where nobody else can get in! And if I spoke to you, you’d be very unhappy, wouldn’t you? You’d look at me like I would be getting in your way, wouldn’t you?”
“… Yeah. Definitely.”
Which one of us was going to be unhappy? That would be both of us, of course.
“Look at you, you’re definitely a couple. No, you’re beyond a couple. You’re not even in the second generation or something this lukewarm. Well, … what do you two think?”
“How about a Jell-O machine (Footnote: A Jell-O machine is a machine producing a variety of Jell-O products, such as gelatin desserts, puddings, and pies with cream. In short, a sweets generator.)? You know how many men are getting jealous when they see the two of you together?”
“As for me, I’d like to form a group for victims of sugar overload…”
What does Motegi mean by ‘Jell-O machine’? If you say that, Shinji and Otsuki-san have been in love with each other more than enough to make you feel jealous. It was not right to apply it only on me and Kaede, you know!?
What does Sakaguchi mean by a group for victims of sugar overload? Are you complaining that you get heartburn from watching and listening to Kaede and me messing around because it’s too sweet? That’s ridiculous!
“I like both suggestions. Hmm, my guess would be… Maybe a couple simply in love? Or an irritating couple for heartburn?” [Footnote: Original: Mukappuru. Muka = Annoying, irritating, Kappuru = Couple.]
‘That’s fun to think about!’ said Shinji, laughing. Then the three of them started to make up new names for Kaede and I, such as ‘bakouple’ (Footnote: Baka + Couple. Now the pun is ruined since you now have checked the explanation.). I don’t get it.
But to be honest, I don’t have time to worry about them right now. I went back to my bedroom alone and simulated my confession in my mind.
“I’ll gently take her hand, put my hand on her shoulder when she’s surprised, look her in the eye and say ‘I love you’. It will be fine, it’s not difficult. It will be fine… Kaede would surely…”
I chanted it over and over again like an incantation, preparing myself for the final battle. Confessing will be such a nerve-wracking experience, won’t iit?
＊＊＊＊＊
Time flies. If one stays indoors, one would only get stuck. So I decided to get some fresh air and calm down. So I said goodbye to the three of them and decided to leave the cottage first while being annoyed by Shinji’s face, as if he knew everything.
If you look up at the sky, you would see countless stars in the dark night. It was a fantastic scene that you could never see in the city. Underneath it all, I’m going to tell Kaede…
“Ah, Yuya-kun…”
I was walking to the Manor House in a daze and I was called out. There is only one girl who calls me by my name.
“Kaede. Hey, what happened to Otsuki-san and everyone else?”
“Akiho-chan and her friends are watching TV until the last minute. I wanted to watch the stars, so I left first, but Yuya-kun, are you alone? What about Higure-kun? Is he watching TV?”
“… No, no. I don’t know if there’s a saying about three boys in a room, but they’re talking nonsense. I got sick and tired of everyone mistreating me, so I came out.”
I smiled affectionately as I said it and tried to cover it up. I couldn’t tell her that I had been practicing my confession and my head was about to boil, so I came outside to cool myself down. And it was true to say that I had been mistreated.
“Ara, it’s terrible that they mistreated Yuya-kun. What did they say to you? I’m curious!”
“… Lovouple.” (Footnote: Love + Couple. Now another pun is ruined since you now have checked the explanation.)
In a small voice, I replied to Kaede as she leaned closer to me. Oh, the usual scent of Kaede. It was a nice, calming smell.
“…… Yes? Lovou… What’s that?”
“So, it means love-couple. They say it’s me and Kaede apparently. They’re trying to think of more words than just ‘couple’, I think.”
I don’t know. I haven’t confessed yet, so why should I be called a couple? I’m sure they’ll be picking on me about that later tonight.
“I see, Higure-kun and his friends are quite troubling. But I was also told a lot by Akiho-chan. She said she was surprised that we started flirting with each other despite them being behind us. She seemed to be referring to the lift, but it was normal, right?”
That’s right. For me and Kaede, it was the same old exchange in the lift, but for Shinji and Otsuki-san, it just looked like we were flirting. If that was the case, I wonder what would happen if they knew that we not only sleep on the same bed, but also hug each other sometimes.
“It doesn’t matter what people say, right? So, Yuya-kun, please.”
Kaede quickly reached out her hand to me. I didn’t need to be told what to do. I took her hand and held it tight, intertwining our fingers.
“Fufu. I don’t have a coat so I can’t hide it, but sometimes it’s nice.”
“… Yeah.”
I would have liked to confess my feelings right then and there, but alas, time was running out. The time for the assembly was approaching and the students began to emerge out of their cottages.
“I’m looking forward to stargazing.”
“… Yeah.”
Repeating the same words, I tightened my grip on Kaede’s hand a little. I hoped that I could continue to hold her hand after this. That was what I’m wishing for.
‘I’m not going anywhere, Yuya-kun.’
I thought I heard Kaede’s gentle murmur of a voice.
Chapter 44: Three men make a loud racket
After a few one-on-one lessons with Kaede, I was finally competent enough to ski the intermediate course. I fell a few times, but apart from the first time into the net, I didn’t have any spectacular falls and Kaede didn’t hug me.
It was now past 7:30 pm. Only half an hour to go until the final battle of my destiny. Now I was killing time at the cottage until the stargazing meeting.
Dinner was steak, which was also discussed yesterday. The boys were very excited. It was certainly the thickest steak I had ever seen. It was the thickest steak I’ve ever seen, and yet it was so tender that I could easily slide my knife into it. The sweetness of the meat spread as soon as you put it in your mouth. It wasn’t too fatty, so it was easy for girls to eat too. By the time we’d finished the dessert, our tiredness was gone and our hearts were filled with a sense of fullness and happiness.
“Oh… I’m so happy. Skiing was a disaster, but I’m glad we had some good meat!”
“It was the worst because some people created a space so annoyingly sweet, but the meat was delicious, so I guess there was no negative impact.”
Motegi and Sakaguchi, who were also present, looked at me and told me how they felt about the day. Did I create that space so annoyingly sweet? I don’t get what you’re talking about. Even though Kaede laughed at me all the time and made me look pathetic?
“I’ve been watching from a distance, but I’m pretty sure you two had your own space on that slope. I mean, you were flirting with each other all over the place!”
“Me and Kaede? It’s not possible. It’s just me being teased as usual, you know?”
“That’s what all couples say. There’s a lot of evidence too, such as being in close contact in the lift, hugging Hitotsuba-san, and patting her head, who was worried about your bad fall. I’m sorry, but you’re totally guilty, Yuya.”
Motegi and Sakaguchi nodded as if to agree, ‘Yes, that’s right’. Also, Shinji talked as if he had been there to witness it. Maybe you were close by?
“… Look at that, look at that. That man was so immersed in his own world that he forgot that Akiho and I were in the lift right behind you. As soon as you both got off the lift, you started skiing together, so I thought that was it. …”
So Shinji and Otsuki-san were standing in a line together, waiting for the lift. I see, that was why he was able to see everything. If that’s the case, don’t keep quiet and come talk to us.
“I can’t talk to you! You two are always in a world of your own, a world where nobody else can get in! And if I spoke to you, you’d be very unhappy, wouldn’t you? You’d look at me like I would be getting in your way, wouldn’t you?”
“… Yeah. Definitely.”
Which one of us was going to be unhappy? That would be both of us, of course.
“Look at you, you’re definitely a couple. No, you’re beyond a couple. You’re not even in the second generation or something this lukewarm. Well, … what do you two think?”
“How about a Jell-O machine (Footnote: A Jell-O machine is a machine producing a variety of Jell-O products, such as gelatin desserts, puddings, and pies with cream. In short, a sweets generator.)? You know how many men are getting jealous when they see the two of you together?”
“As for me, I’d like to form a group for victims of sugar overload…”
What does Motegi mean by ‘Jell-O machine’? If you say that, Shinji and Otsuki-san have been in love with each other more than enough to make you feel jealous. It was not right to apply it only on me and Kaede, you know!?
What does Sakaguchi mean by a group for victims of sugar overload? Are you complaining that you get heartburn from watching and listening to Kaede and me messing around because it’s too sweet? That’s ridiculous!
“I like both suggestions. Hmm, my guess would be… Maybe a couple simply in love? Or an irritating couple for heartburn?” [Footnote: Original: Mukappuru. Muka = Annoying, irritating, Kappuru = Couple.]
‘That’s fun to think about!’ said Shinji, laughing. Then the three of them started to make up new names for Kaede and I, such as ‘bakouple’ (Footnote: Baka + Couple. Now the pun is ruined since you now have checked the explanation.). I don’t get it.
But to be honest, I don’t have time to worry about them right now. I went back to my bedroom alone and simulated my confession in my mind.
“I’ll gently take her hand, put my hand on her shoulder when she’s surprised, look her in the eye and say ‘I love you’. It will be fine, it’s not difficult. It will be fine… Kaede would surely…”
I chanted it over and over again like an incantation, preparing myself for the final battle. Confessing will be such a nerve-wracking experience, won’t iit?
＊＊＊＊＊
Time flies. If one stays indoors, one would only get stuck. So I decided to get some fresh air and calm down. So I said goodbye to the three of them and decided to leave the cottage first while being annoyed by Shinji’s face, as if he knew everything.
If you look up at the sky, you would see countless stars in the dark night. It was a fantastic scene that you could never see in the city. Underneath it all, I’m going to tell Kaede…
“Ah, Yuya-kun…”
I was walking to the Manor House in a daze and I was called out. There is only one girl who calls me by my name.
“Kaede. Hey, what happened to Otsuki-san and everyone else?”
“Akiho-chan and her friends are watching TV until the last minute. I wanted to watch the stars, so I left first, but Yuya-kun, are you alone? What about Higure-kun? Is he watching TV?”
“… No, no. I don’t know if there’s a saying about three boys in a room, but they’re talking nonsense. I got sick and tired of everyone mistreating me, so I came out.”
I smiled affectionately as I said it and tried to cover it up. I couldn’t tell her that I had been practicing my confession and my head was about to boil, so I came outside to cool myself down. And it was true to say that I had been mistreated.
“Ara, it’s terrible that they mistreated Yuya-kun. What did they say to you? I’m curious!”
“… Lovouple.” (Footnote: Love + Couple. Now another pun is ruined since you now have checked the explanation.)
In a small voice, I replied to Kaede as she leaned closer to me. Oh, the usual scent of Kaede. It was a nice, calming smell.
“…… Yes? Lovou… What’s that?”
“So, it means love-couple. They say it’s me and Kaede apparently. They’re trying to think of more words than just ‘couple’, I think.”
I don’t know. I haven’t confessed yet, so why should I be called a couple? I’m sure they’ll be picking on me about that later tonight.
“I see, Higure-kun and his friends are quite troubling. But I was also told a lot by Akiho-chan. She said she was surprised that we started flirting with each other despite them being behind us. She seemed to be referring to the lift, but it was normal, right?”
That’s right. For me and Kaede, it was the same old exchange in the lift, but for Shinji and Otsuki-san, it just looked like we were flirting. If that was the case, I wonder what would happen if they knew that we not only sleep on the same bed, but also hug each other sometimes.
“It doesn’t matter what people say, right? So, Yuya-kun, please.”
Kaede quickly reached out her hand to me. I didn’t need to be told what to do. I took her hand and held it tight, intertwining our fingers.
“Fufu. I don’t have a coat so I can’t hide it, but sometimes it’s nice.”
“… Yeah.”
I would have liked to confess my feelings right then and there, but alas, time was running out. The time for the assembly was approaching and the students began to emerge out of their cottages.
“I’m looking forward to stargazing.”
“… Yeah.”
Repeating the same words, I tightened my grip on Kaede’s hand a little. I hoped that I could continue to hold her hand after this. That was what I’m wishing for.
‘I’m not going anywhere, Yuya-kun.’
I thought I heard Kaede’s gentle murmur of a voice.
