Chapter 131: Diary 4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 131: Diary 4
Imperial Year 525, June 4
Day 19 of Special Training
It’s already been five days since Johanna Freya started coming to the classroom. I might have been a little... harsh in my entries lately, haven't I?
It’s partly because of Johanna Freya, but it’s also because of Pushover. I mean, couldn't he at least tell me what they did during lunch that day?
Every time I ask, he just dodges the question. Well, it doesn't matter anymore. Why?
Because Pushover finally asked me to have tea with him!
And it’s tomorrow! I’m a bit annoyed that he only told me a day in advance, but I love the timing. Tomorrow is the weekend!
Why does the weekend matter, you ask?
It matters a lot! If it were a weekday, I’d have to go to the Academy. Between classes and training, we wouldn't have much time to actually hang out, right? But since it’s the weekend, we can spend time together from the morning right up until training starts.
But what should I wear tomorrow? If I wear the same perfume and clothes he said he liked last time... No, I’ve already worn that once, so I should definitely try something else.
As for the outfit... I’ll just ask the spirits to pick something from the clothes Mother sent me recently. And for the perfume—since Pushover mentioned he has a sensitive sense of smell—I should go with something subtle, right?
Ah, I didn't write anything about training again today. Um... basically, I worked hard today too. That’s it.
You might think I’m being too brief, but it’s the truth. Besides, I feel like I’ll be able to reach Pushover very soon.
Enough with the boring stuff. I wonder what Pushover will wear tomorrow? Is it because I’ve only ever seen him in his school uniform and Red Cloak? I can’t even imagine him in normal clothes.
Still, wouldn't he look good in anything? I don't really know what his face looks like because of the mask, but his height, his shoulders... he has a great build for the uniform, after all.
* * *
Imperial Year 525, June 5
Day 20 of Special Training
...I don't even have the strength to write. It was wonderful, but it was also exhausting. Both physically and mentally.
What on earth happened?
I have so much to say, but I should probably start from when I met Pushover this morning. Anyone would have been shocked if they saw what he was wearing.
Because that jerk, Pushover, showed up in his school uniform! Does that even make sense?! I spent so much time on my clothes, hair, and makeup! But he looked exactly the same as usual.
Of course, he looks good in the uniform, but still! I mean, couldn't he have worn something else? It makes it look like I was the only one looking forward to this...
No, never mind. I’ll get to see him in other clothes eventually, so let’s just put that aside for now.
I didn't like that he wore his uniform, but everything else was wonderful. The food at the restaurant I’d never been to, the tea we shared on that scenic hill, and even the play we watched at the end—all of it.
Writing it down like this makes it seem ordinary rather than grand, but that ordinariness was so comfortable and happy.
To the point where I wished every day could be like today.
I’m going to stop writing about today here.
I remember every single conversation I had with Pushover today vividly. That’s why I won’t write it down. The reason I keep a diary is so that when I look back on it later, I can remember these moments and think, Oh, that happened.
But no matter how much time passes, I will never forget... no, I won't be able to forget what happened today.
* * *
Imperial Year 525, June 11
Day 26 of Special Training
If I had to pick the area where I’ve grown the most while training with Pushover, it would definitely be Spirit Arts. My training hours have decreased compared to before, but I’m growing much faster.
Pushover said it’s because of my talent, but that’s nonsense. I’ve never once thought I lacked talent, but the reason I could get strong this quickly is obviously because of the mask.
If I had to name the next thing that’s improved after my Spirit Arts, it would be my stamina. It’s incomparable to a month ago. And as my stamina increased, my training hours naturally grew longer too.
The more I think about it, the more frustrated I get. I can't even sleep.
Today was such a waste. I dodged every single skeleton attack I’d seen so far, and I could have caught Pushover if I’d just reached out my hand.
But who expects something to pop out from under their feet like that! It was so small I could barely even see it.
Still. I’m really almost there now. If I just watch out for that tiny skeleton, I can definitely catch him!
Five days left. That’s plenty of time to analyze the tiny skeleton’s patterns.
* * *
Imperial Year 525, June 15
Last day of special training.
I finally reached him! I finally dodged all the skeletons' attacks and touched Pushover!
When I realized the tiny skeleton wasn't the end, I was a bit pis— no, I was angry, but I eventually succeeded in touching him.
Now that I think about the training being over, I’m feeling a lot of complicated emotions.
The nervousness of fighting Betzdo soon. The relief of finally being able to get revenge. The anxiety of what if I lose after Pushover helped me this much? And finally...
The regret that my training with Pushover is over.
Of course, if I asked him to train with me, he’d help, but it would be hard to do it every day like we do now.
This will probably be my last diary entry.
Even if I write a diary again later, I won’t use this notebook.
.
.
Sepia said she wouldn't write in this diary anymore, but there were other entries written in the back.
Unlike the handwriting in the diary so far, these were colorful and crooked, and there were even drawings.
.
.
.
* * *
Imperial Year 538, December 9
Title: I Hate Cucumbers
Mom got mad at me for being a picky eater. Vegetables don't taste good. I especially hate cucumbers. But Mom tells me to eat my vegetables.
Mom says I have to eat vegetables to grow tall. So when I asked her if I didn't have to eat them if I didn't want to grow tall, Dad said it was a wonderful idea and patted my head.
Dad’s head pats always feel good.
But for some reason, both Dad and I got scolded by Mom. Why did we get scolded?
When I asked Dad, who was holding his hands up next to me, he said he didn't really know either. Oh! Maybe Mom wanted head pats from Dad too, and that’s why she did it?
I know everything. I know Mom likes getting head pats from Dad just as much as I do.
I finished my old diary, so I went to Mom. Mom said she wouldn't give me a new diary until I ate my cucumbers. This is too much. I can give up on being tall, but eating cucumbers is impossible.
But it’s okay. Because I have Dad.
Just as I thought, I was able to get a diary after talking to Dad. The diary I got had writing in the front, like someone else had used it.
I’m curious about what it says, but I didn't look. Because Mom said you shouldn't peek at other people’s diaries.
[A drawing of a cucumber with evil-looking eyes, a nose, and a mouth]
[A drawing of a man with white hair holding his hands up, and a child with light pink hair holding their hands up next to him]
* * *
"Hum, hummm. And then..."
Writing in my diary while lying in bed is always fun.
I wish Big Sister Kiyo, Big Sister Rakira, Big Sister Karu, and Big Brother Naro knew how fun this is, but they like swords and magic more than writing in a diary.
"..........!"
"Mom, give it back! My diary!"
Oh no! Mom came in before I knew it and took away the diary I was writing in. This is clearly stealing. Dad said stealing is bad.
"Api, where did you get this diary?"
Where did I get it? Well, obviously.
"Dad gave it to me."
"What? Ho... no, why is this here... Api, did you happen to read what’s written in here?"
"No. People who peek at other people’s diaries are bad people."
"Phew... For now, this is confiscated."
I’m sad and miserable. Mom took away the diary I earned with my own strength.
I’m sure Mom enjoys seeing me suffer while eating cucumbers.
"Sniff, Dad gave that to Api. Hic! Mom won't even give me a diary. The diary Api got, sniff... Waaaaah!"
"Api? Mom’s sorry, okay? I’ll give you a brand new diary right away. So, let’s stop crying, okay?"
".......Okay."
I’m sad about the entry I just wrote, but I like a new diary better than one someone else used.
"Api, wait here for a moment. I have something to say to your father."
Mom patted my head and left the room. She’s definitely going to Dad.
Mom is going to scold Dad soon.
Watching Dad get scolded by Mom is always fun. Sometimes Mom stays mad even after Dad uses his finishing move, the head pat.
In those cases, if Dad pushes up his bangs and gives her a big hug, Mom’s anger melts away instantly.
I like it when Dad pushes up his bangs. But Mom says he can't do that because of an agreement she made with the other moms.
Maybe it’s because I’m still young, but I didn't understand what she meant.
"....Why... this..."
Oh, it’s already started. If I don't hurry, I might miss Dad pushing up his bangs. He always walks around with his bangs up when the maids aren't around, though.
But that’s different from this.
"Chirpy Three, Chirpy Four, let’s go quick!"
—Chirp!
—Cheep!