Chapter 312: On a Rainy Day, Under a Tree #3
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 312: On a Rainy Day, Under a Tree #3
“You’re soaked. You’ll catch a cold.”
“Oh, really?”
What do you mean, ‘Oh, really?’ You’re shivering.
As I held the umbrella over Hiyori’s head, I thought her bright smile was truly captivating.
She’s really pretty up close. Even in a situation like this, that mischievous look on her face suits her perfectly.
“Where’s Mitsushima?”
“Miho? She got called to the faculty office.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask her when she gets back.”
“So you were just waiting here?”
“Yes. I was going to look around the school grounds for a bit, but then it suddenly started pouring…”
So that’s what happened.
But I have no idea where to look.
If I look at her face, my eyes naturally drift down to her chest…
But I can’t just not look at her at all. It’s quite the dilemma.
“Senpai, what are you doing here?”
“I was on my way to the parking lot and saw you. I was wondering what you were up to.”
“Is that so? Are you done with your club activities?”
“Yeah. Have you decided on a club yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Weren’t you thinking about the Archery Club or the Swimming Club?”
“I was, but after actually going to see them today, I wasn’t as drawn to them as I thought I’d be.”
I want to tell her to come to the Kendo Club.
I want to see her in a dark navy uniform, the wide legs of her pants fluttering as she runs across the dojo.
I want to see her pouting after getting a lecture from Renka and Chinami.
“I thought about checking out the Kendo Club, too, but no matter how I think about it, anything that physical seems like it would be too hard.”
Too hard to use her body?
She’ll need to use it plenty with me later. What’s with the complaining already?
Accepting Hiyori’s words, I asked, “You prefer things that are easy on the body?”
“And easy on the mind, too.”
Right, right. That’s so you.
I swallowed my words and just smiled in response.
Then, watching the rain start to fall harder again, I said, “I’ll share my umbrella, so let’s go wait inside the building. Mitsushima will probably be over there anyway.”
“Oh, thank you. I’ll gladly accept.”
Hiyori bowed her head in thanks, then did something unexpected.
Like the heroine of a teen drama, she took a large step forward, bringing herself right up close to me.
Startled, I jerked my chin back. Hiyori’s big eyes widened even more as she pointed at me with a long, slender finger.
“You got a double chin. Should I step back a little?”
Why does she say things like that in such a deadpan voice? It’s so flustering.
If you try a prank like that on anyone else, you’re going to be in for it.
“No. I was just surprised. Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
And so, with Hiyori wearing a mischievous grin, we started across the middle of the field toward the academy building.
Every time we took a step, Hiyori’s arm would brush against mine, creating a strange sensation.
It’s a shame Hiyori is wearing a cardigan.
How nice would it have been if it were summer? I could have fully soaked in the youthful vibes.
“Senpai, you don’t have to tilt the umbrella so much just for me.”
Hiyori spoke as she took a large step forward to avoid a puddle that had formed on the dirt field.
I had been shifting the center of the umbrella to match her head’s position. I just shrugged.
“That’s not what I was doing.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I was just trying to avoid the puddles, too.”
“Hmm…”
Hiyori narrowed her eyes skeptically and turned her head to look at the ground around me.
It seemed like she was trying to see if there were any puddles near me. Can’t you just accept a kind gesture for what it is?
“I don’t see any puddles…”
“Oh… really?”
She has a real talent for making people feel awkward.
Just as I was thinking that, Hiyori giggled and waved a hand in the air.
“I’m just kidding.”
First, she enjoyed my flustered reaction when she stepped closer, and now this…
Our Hiyori really loves to play pranks, doesn’t she?
Hiyori was the type to pull pranks on others often, but I thought she wouldn’t do it with me since we still had some distance between us.
But seeing her now, it seems we’ve gotten closer than I expected.
I guess it makes sense. Starting with our first meeting at the cafe during the break, followed by the coincidence of attending the same academy, and bumping into each other several times since—we were bound to get close faster than other people.
It feels good, but I shouldn’t get complacent. Hiyori is an unpredictable person.
“If you ever dislike it when I do this, please tell me anytime, without holding back. I can be a bit thoughtless, so I’m not very good at reading other people’s feelings.”
I chuckled at Hiyori’s request and replied, “No, it’s fine. I like pranks like that, too.”
“Oh, really? But…”
“But?”
“Never mind.”
I could see her lips twitching as she trailed off, hesitating.
It looked like she wanted to say something but was worried it might be rude to me.
As we entered the building, I folded the umbrella and spoke.
“It’s fine, just say it.”
“Umm… I don’t think you’re someone who likes to play pranks, Senpai. I think you’re just someone who’s good at taking them.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
Not that I like pranks, but that I’m good at taking them.
That was basically the same as saying I don’t seem like the type to play pranks myself.
It was a roundabout, nicely packaged way of saying I seem boring.
That was a bit of a shock. Am I being too guarded around Hiyori?
As I’ve thought before, am I subconsciously acting cautiously because I was intimidated by that post calling her the hardest character to capture?
Or am I actually just boring? If that’s the case, I have no choice but to accept it.
Whatever it is, this is my first time dealing with a junior heroine, so I feel a bit lost.
Hiyori is approaching me in a friendly way, but because I’m being so guarded, it’s possible the distance between us isn’t closing.
I want to be more relaxed around Hiyori, but it’s just not that easy.
This is hard, so hard.
This is when I should be patting Renka’s butt or touching Chinami’s to blow off steam… What a shame.
“That sounds kind of negative…”
“It’s not.”
“Seems like it is.”
“I meant it in a good way.”
“You did? Then it’s fine.”
“Are you doubting me?”
“Nope.”
“Seems like you are.”
Seeing Hiyori mimic my words with a teasing expression, I felt like we’d gotten off on the wrong foot.
She seems to be treating me more warmly than I ever imagined… but I don’t know why.
Is it because of my face? Or is this her way of showing gratitude for the umbrella?
I feel like I’ve lost by one… no, by about three moves.
At this rate, I’m worried I’ll become Hiyori’s plaything.
The kind of toy that’s so fun to hit, you want to pull light-hearted pranks on it several times a day.
Still, if I can secure that kind of image, that’s a good thing.
Later, I can be the one to tease her back, and I can always punish her at night, so it’s actually for the best.
Let’s just not become a pathetic loser like Tetsuya.
“I said no.”
“Okay, okay. Don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad. Anyway, aren’t you cold like that? Don’t you have a spare uniform or something?”
At my words, Hiyori looked down at her own uniform, which was plastered to her skin by the rain.
Without a care that I was watching her, she took off her wet cardigan.
Thanks to that, her slim waistline and the beautifully curved line of her ribs were revealed, leaving me at a loss for where to look.
“My spare uniform is at home… and my new cardigan is in my locker.”
Does this girl have no sense of caution around guys?
She desperately needs to be taught about chastity.
“Then what are you doing? You should go get it quickly.”
I turned my body and gestured toward the stairs, urging her to go up. Hiyori let out a small, somewhat sly laugh. “Heehee…”
“Shouldn’t I take a shower first?”
“Then go to the shower room.”
“Where is it?”
“Go up to the third floor, and as soon as you get there, turn left. You’ll see the staff lounge. It’s in there.”
“Am I allowed to just go in?”
“It should be fine if you just say you’re soaked and need to take a shower.”
“I see… But even if I shower, I don’t have anything to wear… Should I just wear the cardigan over my bare skin?”
She’s deliberately trying to stimulate my imagination.
She’s definitely enjoying my reaction by making indirectly suggestive comments.
And here she is, having never done anything truly lewd in her life… How audacious.
Still, I’m happy she’s treating me like this already.
“Why are you asking me? Just borrow something from Mitsushima.”
“Miho doesn’t have anything either.”
“Then just dry your clothes with a hairdryer.”
“That’ll take too long. Ghosts come out when it gets dark.”
“No, they don’t.”
“A third-year from the Archery Club said so. Don’t you believe in ghosts, Senpai?”
“I don’t. Now go.”
“Why aren’t you leaving, Senpai?”
“I’m going to meet Miyuki.”
“Hanazawa-senpai?”
“Yeah.”
“Where is she now?”
“She’s in the student council, so she’s in the student council room.”
“I see… I’ll really get going now. I should find Miho first.”
“Can’t you just call her?”
“Should I?”
“Yeah. And please, just go…”
As I deliberately let a troubled tone slip into my voice, I heard Hiyori’s laughter-filled reply.
“Alright. Thank you for the umbrella. I’ll buy you something tasty from the school store next time.”
“Sure.”
Perhaps deciding she should stop teasing me, Hiyori walked away without any more backtalk.
Her footsteps grew fainter and fainter, and once I felt they had disappeared completely, I cautiously turned my head.
I had a feeling Hiyori might be watching me from a distance, just to mess with me.
But even after looking around, Hiyori was nowhere to be seen.
What a pointless delusion. How embarrassing.
Still, can I call this event a success?
I wasn’t the one who led it—Hiyori did everything, but… what’s good is good.
Thinking it had been a satisfying day, I looked down at the water that had dripped from Hiyori’s uniform and cardigan. I considered following the trail for a moment, then stopped myself.
Let’s stop with the perverted thoughts for today and just enjoy the feeling of youth.
The lingering scent of lemon still hung in the hallway.
As the faint fragrance entered my nose, I let out an unconscious chuckle and started up the stairs to find Miyuki in the student council room.