Chapter 319: Karma
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 319: Karma
After licking the can clean, the cat let out its characteristic meow, as if to thank Hiyori, before taking its leave.
Even though the cat was gone, Hiyori remained squatting on the ground. I spoke to her.
“Are you asleep? Not getting up?”
“My legs fell asleep… Help me up, please.”
Hiyori reached her arm out into the air, trembling.
I walked over, took her umbrella, and pulled her up by the wrist. She stumbled for a moment, then smiled sheepishly.
“Thank you. I can’t move, so you have to stay here too, senpai.”
“Until your legs wake up?”
“Yup.”
“Why should I?”
“Are you just going to abandon me, then?”
“You’re making me want to.”
“So mean…”
Putting on such a fake, sulky act.
Having dealt with Miyuki’s and Renka’s endless whining, such a pathetic performance wouldn’t work on me.
I handed Hiyori the umbrella I’d been using and held hers up to block the rain.
“Do you like cats?” I asked.
“Not really? I don’t hate them, but I don’t love them either.”
“Then why were you feeding it?”
“It wasn’t moving and was just getting soaked by the rain so pitifully.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. And it looked hungry.”
“If I look hungry, will you buy me food too?”
“Of course. But you’d have to make me feel sorry for you.”
For Hiyori to feel sorry for me, I’d probably have to shrink to half my current size.
“So, what are you doing here, senpai?”
Hiyori pulled her hood forward, showing off the line of her small head. I let out a dry laugh and answered.
“I was on my way back from the stationery store.”
“The stuff in your hand?”
“Yeah.”
“I see. Is it okay if I wear this?”
She didn’t seem curious about why I’d bought these things at a stationery store. She probably just assumed it was for studying.
“You can wear it, but wash it before you bring it back.”
“Should I wash it with my clothes?”
At her strangely suggestive remark, my body instinctively flinched.
Seeing this, Hiyori burst out laughing, then put on a composed expression as if to reassure me.
“I was just asking if it needs to be hand-washed or if I can just put it in with a normal load.”
That was definitely not her intention… Unbelievable.
People who make these kinds of indirect lewd jokes are always the shyest in bed.
I’ll be counting the days until that day comes.
“A normal load is fine.”
“Okay. If you have time, do you want to get coffee with us?”
I desperately wanted to, but if I went back now, I’d get there just in time for Miyuki to finish.
I shook my head and glanced at Hiyori’s soaked uniform.
“No, I have something to do. You should change your clothes first.”
“I don’t have a spare set. How am I supposed to change?”
“Buy one. There’s a second-hand clothing store over there.”
“This windbreaker is fine, though.”
“If you stay in wet clothes…”
“I can just wear this inside out.”
“Just listen to me.”
“I am listening.”
The way she talked back with that bright, sunny face was cute, but if I had my way, I’d have her lie over my lap and give her bottom a good spanking.
It felt like playing with a four or five-year-old child who’s at that peak age of curiosity and in need of some discipline.
“Don’t interrupt, just listen. If you stay in wet clothes, your immune system will weaken.”
“What happens if it weakens?”
“You’ll catch a cold.”
“I haven’t had a cold in the last three years, so I’ll be fine.”
That’s the kind of line that sets up a flag.
There was a high probability that Hiyori would be sick and miserable tomorrow.
With that thought, I pressed a hand to my forehead and said in resignation.
“Fine… I get it. I’m leaving, so I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay. Get home safe. And thanks for the jacket.”
At least she has good manners.
That’s probably why I can’t bring myself to dislike her. There’s no malice in her tone, only goodwill.
I gave a rough nod and turned to leave the alley.
At that moment,
Splaaaaash—!
A truck driving in the lane closest to the sidewalk sped past, sending a sheet of water that had pooled at the curb flying.
In the blink of an eye, a wave of water crashed over me, soaking not only my umbrella but my entire lower body.
As I stood there, stunned by the unexpected accident, Hiyori rushed over.
“Are you okay…?”
Her voice snapped me back to reality. I checked the items I’d bought from the stationery store.
Thankfully, they weren’t too wet. The notebooks were fine thanks to their plastic wrapping…
I shook the water off the mechanical pencils and pens, listening to the curses other people were shouting at the already-gone truck, and nodded.
“I’m fine.”
“Wanna go pick out some clothes together…?”
I couldn’t get in the car like this, so it seemed I had no choice.
Letting out a deep sigh that came from the bottom of my heart, I fantasized about seducing the truck driver’s wife before turning back to Hiyori, defeated.
What a shitty day for luck.
But let’s think positively. Let’s be happy about it.
It’s better to be glad that another event has occurred that can deepen my bond with Hiyori.
“Yeah… let’s do that.”
* * *
“…What is that?”
They were the kind of baggy pants that grandmas and grandpas love to wear.
Seeing me standing there limply in them, Miyuki stared with a blank expression for a moment.
I walked up to her and held out a plastic bag.
“A truck splashed me with rainwater.”
“Really…? Are you okay?”
“No, I’m cold.”
“Then why are you standing out here? You should have waited in the car.”
“I was waiting for you. You said you didn’t have an umbrella.”
“I could have just borrowed one, you should have told me… Anyway, thank you. I’ll just run this up to the student council room real quick.”
“Take your time.”
Miyuki said okay, took the plastic bag, and dashed toward the stairs.
It was gratifying to see her rush like that just because I said I was cold.
Miyuki really is a person you can’t help but love.
A moment later, she came back down and immediately linked her arm with mine.
She must have been out of breath, but she wasn’t panting, just taking quick, sharp breaths through her nose. It was cute.
As we left the building, sharing an umbrella, I saw her glance down at my pants.
The corners of her mouth were twitching. The sight of such an unfashionable item paired with my dress shirt must have been hilarious.
“Don’t laugh.”
“I’m not laughing…? Did you pick those out yourself?”
“Yeah.”
“They’re very… vibrant.”
In contrast to Hiyori, who had laughed openly, Miyuki wrapped her impression in prettier words.
I chuckled in agreement.
“I bought them because they looked comfortable.”
“They do look comfortable. But… are you wearing anything under them?”
“If I wasn’t, wouldn’t they be swinging?”
“W-What would be swinging…!”
She knows exactly what, but she’s playing dumb.
As Miyuki’s pervert power started to rise, I gently tapped my head against hers.
“Are you sleeping over tonight?”
“Yeah. It’s raining, so we have to go to the ramen place.”
The ramen shop had become a permanent part of our routine.
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
And so, after the day’s big and small happenings were settled and I had spent some sweet, lovey-dovey time with Miyuki, the next day arrived.
Unlike me, who was filled with fatigue, a revitalized Miyuki, having absorbed my energy, headed to the student council room. I, as usual, left the boring classroom to wander the academy grounds.
I bought a soboro bread and milk for Bread Girl, exchanged simple greetings with kendo club members I ran into…
After wandering around like that for a while, I spotted Hiyori and Miho arriving at school in the distance.
Guess you really have to put in the legwork to meet a heroine. Today was another reminder of that.
Watching Hiyori from afar, I saw her tilt her head back and open her mouth slightly.
She stayed like that for a moment, like someone who’d eaten a forsythia leaf, and then—
“Hwa-aah-CHOO…!!”
She snapped her head and torso forward, spraying droplets toward the ground.
How can someone sneeze so cutely? It was almost on par with Chinami’s.
Anyway, things were turning out exactly as I’d expected.
I knew it the moment she set that flag by saying she’d be fine.
Her powerful sneeze drew everyone’s attention.
She wiped her nose and mouth with a tissue Miho handed her and gave an embarrassed smile, but she didn’t seem to feel any shame at all, continuing her leisurely stroll across the grounds without slowing down.
She probably just thinks of it as a natural bodily function… She’s positive to a fault.
Still, it’s a bit of a waste to just throw that reward on the ground.
If she’d sneezed on me, I’m confident I could have licked it all up.
Having that unsanitary thought, I walked over to Hiyori, openly trying to hold back a laugh.
Our eyes met, and she raised one arm above her shoulder like a zombie, waving it slowly.
When I reached her, I politely returned Miho’s courteous greeting, then grinned at Hiyori.
“I knew this would happen.”
“What is it…! Did you come here just to tease me…?”
Seeing her whine in that stuffy, nasal voice made me want to hug her tight.
Barely suppressing the urge, I said, “Looks like your karma built up and finally hit you. Be more careful from now on.”
“Karma, what karma…! Give me that bread.”
“If you want it, pay up. 200 yen.”
“Isn’t that from the school store?”
“It is.”
“The soboro bread at the school store is 150 yen, though?”
“Labor costs.”
“Ah, what the… so childish…!”
Even the way she scrunched up her face and flailed her arm in the air as if to scold me was incredibly pretty.
Deciding that was enough teasing, I placed the soboro bread and milk in Miho’s hands.
“Share it between the two of you. Asahina, you should go to the nurse’s office before class and put on something warmer.”
At my genuine concern, Hiyori, who had been about to retort, paused and nodded.
“Okayy…”
“Don’t use informal speech with me.”
“Okay…”
She has no intention of listening to me.
Our poor Renka… she must have had a hard time.
Knowing Hiyori’s personality, if she felt sick, she’d probably find it too bothersome to go to the nurse’s office.
And Miho would likely nag her and try to drag her there by force.
Should I get some medicine for her beforehand?
No, I don’t have any knowledge about these medical issues, and it’s something that requires a proper diagnosis. It’s better to leave it to the school nurse.
If she whines and asks me for medicine later, I can pretend to give in and bring her some then.
“See you later. Mitsushima, you be careful not to catch her cold.”
“Yes, thank you.”
I said my goodbyes to the two of them and walked away from Hiyori, who let out a peculiar “Puhih!” sneeze, and Miho, who was gently patting her back.
Then, I turned and headed back to the school store to buy another bread for Bread Girl.