Chapter 315: A Place of Memories
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 315: A Place of Memories
“Ah! Matsu... da-senpai!”
Lunchtime.
Miyuki had gone to the student council office again, so I was heading back to the classroom alone when Hiyori’s voice made me turn my head.
There she was, waving with her usual bright expression.
But didn't she hesitate a bit when she said my last name just now?
Could it be that after everything that happened yesterday, she’s already thinking of calling me by my first name, in her own Hiyori way?
If so, I’d be more than happy.
As Hiyori strode over by herself, I asked.
“What is it?”
“I just felt like calling your name. But whenever you see me, it seems like I’m always the one who has to come over, you know? And I’m so slender, it’s tough...”
Her waist and limbs are thin, sure, but her chest is huge.
Not as big as Miyuki’s, but still, she’s definitely not ‘slender,’ so she can stop pretending to be weak.
I’m not falling for it.
“The person who called should be the one to come over.”
At my indifferent reply, Hiyori flashed the same mischievous smile as yesterday and said.
“Is that how it works?”
“Yeah. Have you eaten?”
“I had my lunchbox. What about you, senpai?”
“I just finished. I’m on my way back now.”
“Alone?”
“No, with Miyuki.”
“With Hanazawa-senpai? You don’t eat with any other senpais?”
“What other senpai?”
“The one you worked with at the cafe. The kendo club captain, right?”
“Right.”
“Where is she?”
It made sense for her to ask.
Hiyori probably thought I was only really close with Renka.
“She’s probably with Nanase-senpai.”
“Oh! That cute senpai? The one who talks in a really unique way...”
You’re one to talk about unique speech patterns.
“That’s her. The two of them are super close.”
“Childhood friends?”
“Something like that, but they haven’t known each other since they were really little.”
“I see... I’m so jealous.”
“You have Miho, don’t you?”
“That’s why I’m happy, too. Where’s Hanazawa-senpai?”
“She had to go early for student council work.”
“So you’re alone right now?”
“Pretty much.”
“Don’t you have any guy friends?”
Should I say I do, or that I don’t?
I’ve barely built any friendships with guys, so it’s a bit awkward to answer.
“By the way, senpai, don’t you ever pack a lunchbox?”
Thankfully, Hiyori didn’t wait for my answer and asked another question.
Why is she so curious about everything? She’s like a three-year-old full of wonder.
Still, it was nice that she was the one keeping the conversation going.
“I don’t. It’s fine for a day or two, but eventually, you just end up eating the school lunch.”
“The school lunch is gross, though. I tried it once yesterday. It was really bad, you know?”
“You get used to it if you just treat it like feed.”
“What’s with that office-worker tone? You sound like you have no soul.”
“Let’s just say you’re right. Anyway, why are you alone? Where’s Mitsushima?”
“She’s in the classroom.”
“Then why are you out here? You said you already ate.”
“I was looking for a quiet place.”
“A quiet place? Why?”
“So I can get lost in my thoughts alone when I’m feeling gloomy.”
So she’s looking for a good place to skip class. Understood.
“Do you know any good spots?”
At Hiyori’s follow-up question, I shrugged and replied.
“I know a few, but you’re not supposed to share places like that. Someone might show up while you’re trying to be alone with your thoughts.”
“Then we can just get lost in our thoughts together, right?”
“Not a bad idea.”
“See?”
Hiyori grinned, urging me to hurry up and show her the way. Just then...
“Excuse me, student.”
A middle-aged woman who looked like a teacher approached from behind her.
She was frowning as she glanced at Hiyori’s skirt.
She seems like the strict type. Hiyori might get a demerit.
“Hellooo...”
Hiyori must have sensed something from the teacher’s gaze, because she bowed politely, her voice a little smaller.
The teacher gave a curt nod in return before asking in a chilly tone.
“Why is your skirt so short?”
“This? Um...”
I had a feeling Hiyori was about to use the line she heard from Miyuki—that she ‘didn’t have to worry anymore’—to get out of this. I quickly stepped up beside her and lied to the teacher.
“I spilled a drink on her skirt earlier.”
Right after I spoke, I secretly gave Hiyori a look, signaling her to play along. Her eyes, which had been wide with surprise, immediately followed my lead as she nodded vigorously.
“Ah, yes, that’s right. This is the first skirt I had shortened before I saw the school rules notice. Luckily, I had it in my locker, so I changed into it.”
“You don’t have another skirt?”
“I have one more new one, but it’s at the dry cleaner’s right now.”
“The dry cleaner’s?”
“I sent it to be dry-cleaned. The new-clothes smell was too strong.”
“Is that so? Well, you’re still getting a demerit. You shouldn’t have altered a uniform skirt like that in the first place.”
“I’m so, soooooorry. Can’t you please let it slide just this once? I’ll wear it properly starting tomorrow, I promise... Please?”
Hiyori clasped her hands together, rubbing them pleadingly as she stomped her feet.
At a glance, it might seem flippant or disrespectful, but her face was so likable, and her expression and gestures were so full of sincerity that the teacher cracked a smile that was half exasperated, half amused.
“Are you a first-year?”
“Yes.”
“Name.”
“Asahina Hiyori. I’m in Class 1-C.”
“Asahina Hiyori... Alright. I’ll be checking to see if you’re wearing it properly tomorrow, you hear?”
“Yes! Thank you so much!”
The teacher let out a small chuckle, seemingly finding Hiyori’s unique way of speaking both pleasant and funny.
As the teacher walked away, saying she wouldn’t be so lenient next time, Hiyori watched her go before letting out a sigh of relief.
Then she looked up at me and said.
“You didn’t have to help, you know... I had a really good excuse.”
Yeah, an excuse that would have caused trouble for Miyuki and the entire student council she belongs to.
I’d rather not see you and Miyuki start bickering already.
“Oh, really? You should’ve said something.”
“How was I supposed to say anything in that situation? Are you teasing me?”
“Nope.”
“I think you are... But still, thank you. I’ll give you a Suichu as a thank-you gift.”
“I still have the ones you gave me before.”
“You can just have another one.”
“Forget it. What were you thinking, wearing a skirt like that during lunchtime when so many people are around?”
“Why? I can wear it if I want. Is it that short?”
“Yeah. It’d be one thing if it was just above your knees, but that’s a bit...”
“If I pull it down a little, it comes to here. Is this still too short?”
As she spoke, Hiyori tugged her skirt down, shaking the hem from side to side, before sticking one of her legs forward.
She then pointed to the line where the hem of her skirt met her thigh.
At the sudden, somewhat suggestive action, I quickly turned my head away.
“Hey, hey... what do you think you’re doing?”
“What? I’m just asking, you know. Hurry up and look.”
“Just cover yourself. People are going to get the wrong idea.”
“What wrong idea?”
Seeing the playful mischief filling her face, I could tell she was enjoying teasing me.
My dear Hiyori... do you really have to have such a loose sense of modesty?
First yesterday, showing me your drenched figure... If you keep this up, I’m going to feel the need to discipline you harshly.
“I’m leaving.”
“Aww, whyyy...! You promised you’d show me the quiet place.”
Hiyori knew exactly how to handle guys.
No, it was less about knowing and more like pure instinct.
Putting on a pitiful expression with that pretty face of hers while acting just a little cute—who wouldn’t fall for that?
I certainly don’t think anyone could resist.
It wasn’t a calculated act of playing queen bee, but a naturally mischievous attitude that just oozed out of her...
That must have played a huge part in capturing the hearts of so many guys, right?
There were probably tons of her old classmates who still adored her.
A few of them might have even cried their eyes out because they couldn’t get into the same academy as her.
I pointed to the cafeteria behind Hiyori and said.
“If you go behind the cafeteria, there’s a side path. Go that way and...”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to make me go alone? I won’t mess around anymore, so please just show me.”
“It’s not because you were messing around. It’s just a place that’s easy enough to explain with words.”
“So I just follow the path and that’s it?”
“No. Follow the path, and when you see a spot where the stone wall on the right is slightly caved in...”
“That sounds complicated... Can’t we just go together?”
“Can you at least try to listen to my directions first?”
“You’re the one who spilled a drink on me. I’ll consider you showing me the way as payment for the cleaning bill.”
She was now treating the excuse I made up for the teacher as the truth.
What a shameless girl... But since it’s what I want too, I might as well play along.
“Fine... I get it.”
In a way, I felt a sense of relief. That I was the first guy Hiyori had gotten close to since coming here.
And that she seemed to enjoy bantering with me.
If you act this casual with other guys, you’re going to get a serious scolding, you know?
You should only be like this with me. You should only find it interesting to have these kinds of conversations with me.
Swallowing those words, I looked down at Hiyori, whose eyes were sparkling with anticipation.
“Follow me.”
“Okay. But is this place outdoors?”
“It is.”
“So the ground is probably dirt, right? I bet there are a lot of bugs...”
“It’s not dirt, it’s a flat cement floor, but there are a lot of mosquitoes in the summer.”
“Ugh... I really hate mosquitoes... Can’t you show me an indoor place instead? If it’s outdoors, I can’t use it on rainy or snowy days.”
“Why are you so demanding? Just find one yourself.”
“...I’m sorry. Outdoors is fine, too.”
She apologized, looking crestfallen.
It seemed she felt bad for pushing it too far.
My resolve weakened. These were places I was going to use with Hiyori and the other heroines anyway. Wouldn’t it be better to just show her all of them at once instead of revealing them one by one?
With that thought, I pointed over my shoulder with my thumb.
“I’ll show you an indoor spot.”
At that, Hiyori’s face, which had been gloomy just a moment ago, brightened up instantly.
“Okay!”
What was that? Her mood recovered incredibly fast.
Was that sad expression just an act? I couldn’t shake the suspicion that I’d just been played.
I felt a strange mix of emotions—happy, but also a little bit like my pride had been wounded.
If little things like this start piling up, I’ll become the perfect pushover, easy to take advantage of... but even though Hiyori seems flippant on the outside, she’s a very warm person on the inside.
She’s definitely not the type to use someone for her own gain, and she’s the kind of person who returns a favor with a favor. So, if I treat her well, it will all come back to me.
I’ll change my approach later, but for now, this position seems best.
The guy who acts prickly but always ends up granting her requests...
Yeah, a tsundere, just like Renka.