Chapter 44: Volume 2 - CH 17

Posted on May 13, 2022by Soafp

Translator: Soafp

TL: I’m going to take a break because of school. I will be back on June 1.

“Okay, I’ll see you later.”

“See you at school.”

The train arrived at the station, and we were split up.

I started walking home. My body was on fire, probably due to the festive atmosphere. The night breeze felt good.

It was good that I could deepen my friendship with my classmates whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. I was glad to see that everyone seemed to be in good health. I hope everyone will continue to get along with each other from the second semester onward.

I was feeling very good after the summer festival event.

“……”

“……”

For some reason, Akazawa is walking next to me.

I don’t know why this is happening. I got off the train as usual, we split up as usual, and I was walking home as usual when before I knew it, she was next to me. It was a bit of a horror story to find her next to me without even a hint of her presence.

If we were on the same way home, Akazawa’s house is not this way. Not to say it was the opposite direction, but at least it was not this way.

It’s hard to say I know where she lives, so I’ll just keep my mouth shut.

“…… Is Akazawa’s house this way?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Then you’d better go home right away. If it’s too late, your family will be worried. Look, it’s already dark.”

“I called before I got on the train to tell them I might be late, so I’m fine.”

That was the exchange at the station before I left. The girl was very careful to let them know that she was going to be late.

“Unless the house isn’t this way, then what the hell is going on?”

“Kanon-chan invited me, so I thought I’d check it out.”

“Invited? Check out?”

“Kanon-chan invited me to play with her just now. She said we should hang out next week. She asked me to come over to her house, so I thought maybe I’d check it out.”

“……”

What the hell?

I didn’t hear anything from Kanon.

I thought she was sneaking around earlier, but I didn’t realize she was planning something like this. If Kanon is inviting her, I can’t refuse her.

“Huh, haven’t you heard?”

“……, I’ve not heard it.”

“She said that Nijitani’s parents are out of town, so you don’t have to worry about them.”

My parents, who have been busy since their remarriage, are finally going on their honeymoon. The timing is more than four months after their remarriage, but they are going to leave because they can get some time off from work.

They invited me and Kanon to join them on their honeymoon, but we refused, saying that we couldn’t interfere with their honeymoon.

“Are you done with your homework?”

“I’ve already finished it.”

Next week is the last week of summer vacation. I have already done my homework, and I have nothing to do.

It is possible that Kanon has already told her that she has nothing to do. Lying at this point would not be a good idea. What, if she comes to my house, it doesn’t matter as long as she is out.

“Don’t go out. I promised to make dinner.”

“……”

“Oh, you don’t trust your skills with that face, do you?”

“……”

“I hope you don’t mind. I’ve been helping out at home for a long time, even though I look like this. I’ve been seriously studying cooking since I entered high school.”

I’m not asking you anything.

While swearing in my heart.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m a lucky guy, apparently.”

I smile affectionately.

But, Kanon, you should have told me that first. It wouldn’t hurt to at least talk to your brother about it.

I was thinking that, when I received a message on my phone.

–Good news to Onii-chan who doesn’t have a girlfriend. I invited Akazawa-senpai to our house next week. It was a no-brainer, but I didn’t expect her to say yes and I freaked out. Please get ready to entertain the goddess, Onii-chan. In addition, Akazawa-senpai is going to cook dinner for us. She agreed so easily to come, and maybe she has a thing for her brother.

“……”

She did it!

I was naive to think that the summer festival would be the last event of the summer. A new event has been added.

“Is that Nijitani’s phone?”

Akazawa’s gaze turns to my phone. I hadn’t told her that I had bought a smartphone.

“You bought it?”

“O-ou”

Akazawa stares at the phone. I’m not so stupid that I don’t notice the meaning of that look, but I dare to pretend that I don’t notice it.

I was about to put the phone in my pocket.

“I see you bought …… your phone.”

“A while ago.”

“How’s it feel?”

“It’s nice. It’s fun to play with the apps.”

“I see. I don’t play games very often, so I don’t know, but if it’s a game that Nijitani-kun plays, I’ll put it in and see what happens.”

I was about to put my phone in my pocket when the conversation stopped.

“Who are you in touch with?”

“Uhm…..My family”

“It’s convenient to keep in touch with family, isn’t it? But if you’re a student, isn’t it also important to keep in touch with your friends and classmates?”

This is a trend that requires asking for contact information. It’s a natural process for classmates to exchange contact information with each other, and if I am this blunt and don’t ask, she’ll think I’m rejecting her.

“Would you like to exchange contact information?”

“Eh, are you sure?”

It’s so obvious. I couldn’t not ask her if she was so eager to hear it.

“We’re classmates.”

“Yeah. Then let’s trade.”

She looked so happy.

……It was unthinkable in the old days.

In Mukawa-kun’s era, it would have been unthinkable to exchange contact information with this girl. This girl is so innocently happy because she doesn’t know who I am.

While walking around chatting like this, we arrived at the house.

“So this is your house, Nijitani-kun huh”

“Nothing out of the ordinary, right?”

Akazawa stared at the house.

“Now I know the location. Thanks for showing me around on such short notice.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Well, I’m going home.”

Akazawa started to walk away and disappeared into the darkness.

I was so excited when she disappeared completely that I found myself chasing after her back.

“—–wait”

“Nijitani-kun?”

I stand next to Akazawa.

“I’ll walk you home.”

“……Eh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s not safe to go out at night. If something were to happen, it would be hard to run in a yukata.”

Let’s use common sense. The most common man would have sent her on her way.

The yukata makes her look more sexy, so some guys might go for it.

As a result, we didn’t see anyone.

Then, I reached the front of the nostalgic house. The house had lights on, so there must be a family there. I stopped a little before the house because I didn’t know what face to make.

“Thanks for walking me back….”

“Don’t worry about it. See you later.”

I was about to walk away, but Akazawa called out, “Wait.” When I turned around, I saw that Akazawa, who was in a hurry.

“What’s wrong?”

“Uhm….It’s”

“If it’s nothing, I will be on my way”

“T-that thing is cute right!”

Akazawa pointed to the mask of a strange character on my head. It would have been sent to the storeroom when I got home.

“I’ll give it to you if you want it.”

“I can have it?”

“Because it would have been trash anyway even if I brought it home.”

I handed Akazawa a mask I bought on the spur of the moment and didn’t really understand. The fact that she was holding the mask with great care was a little eerie, but she seemed to be pleased with it, so it was fine.

How can you be happy with just a mask, or are you just a child?

“I’m looking forward to seeing you next week!”

“Understood, bye.”

“Oh, and you should cut your hair.”

“I’ll have it cut by next week. See you.”

I started walking home again.

And so the summer festival event was over this time. I feel all sorts of mixed feelings about the new event next week, but I’ll just leave it to Kanon to deal with it. At this point, I don’t think I have to worry about being found out.

……

…………

But I have no idea what’s about to happen.

That a shocking event will occur before that so that I can no longer think about the event with Akazawa.