Watashi, Dokidoki Renai Kakumei de Onii-chan Yattemasu - Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Chapter 50 – The Fireworks and the Realisation and the Stalking [2]

　30th of August . The weather is fine on this day . The fireworks should appear beautiful in this weather .
　In the Fireworks Festival a . k . a . Tachibana City Fireworks Festival, besides fireworks, there are performances like Bon Festival dance and Taiko, and you can partake in the food stands and flea market . For the finale, over 10 000 fireworks will color the night sky .
　The highlights are magnificent star mines[1], humongous skyrockets and elaborately-planned preset fireworks . All of that makes up Tachibana City’s grand event as summer comes to a close .

“Mitsuki’s friggin’ cute, cuute~! As expected of my Mitsuki…”

“Sheesh, stop it already, Mako-chan . ”

“There aren’t many girls this cute after all . Mitsuki’s the cutest in the world . Honestly, I wanted to wear a yukata and go to the festival with you . I’m envious of senpai . ”

　Mitsuki, clad in a dark blue yukata with images of carnations, is unmistakably the cutest girl in the world .
　On her head is a fluffy hair ornament that’s also in the design of a carnation . The pearls inlaid on the petals glitter, complementing Mitsuki’s angelic appearance .
　I may sound like a foolish doting parent but Mitsuki is really cute .

“Does Mako-chan not have a yukata?”

“Don’t worry about me . Besides, I’m not like Mitsuki; I don’t think things like that suit me . ”

“Why? Mako-chan’s cool . It’ll definitely suit you . ”

　The Mitsuki tilting her head in puzzlement is cute too .
　I suppose Mitsuki really does think that I’m cool .

“Really?”

“Un! Let’s go to the festival together next year . At that time, Mako-chan has to wear the yukata too . ”

“… Ah, yeah . ”

　It’s not certain I’ll be here next year . I give a vague reply as though I’m trying to evade the loneliness that stems from that . Mitsuki’s expression makes a complete reversal from puzzlement to smiling faintly with the corners of her eyes turned down .

　Mitsuki’s meeting Takayanagi at Tachibana Station while I’m meeting Soutarou and Kaname at Sakaki Shrine, the main venue of the Fireworks Festival .
　Mitsuki’s meeting time is 1 hour before mine . To see off Mitsuki who’s heading out first, I accompany her to the entranceway .

“Take care on your way, alright . ”

　I tell her as I correct the position of her hair clip .

“Mako-chan, too, you can’t trouble Tsubaki-kun and Fujisaka-kun, okay?”

“Why would I trouble them . It should be the other way round . ”

　Mitsuki chuckles .

“I’ll be going now then, Mako-chan . ”

“‘Kay . ”

　As though having had gauged the moment Mitsuki will be leaving the house, my phone rings .
　Opening the app, I see it’s from Soutarou . I received a message: “Can I come pick you up?” that comes with a grinning emoji . I’m not a girl, not to mention I’m not Soutarou’s girlfriend, so he doesn’t have to come and pick me up . Is what I’m thinking but since that doesn’t make a good refusal, I reply: “Okay . ”

　Seeing as Soutarou’s coming to pick me up, it’s about time I prepare to head out too .
　Simple works for summer fashion, which is good . One can look somewhat decent with jeans, cut-and-sew, and a cardigan . Along with my wallet and handphone, I’m all set .

　Just as I get to take a breath after finishing my preparations, the intercom sounds .
　It’s undoubtedly Soutarou .

“Mako, I’m here to pick you up . ”

“‘Kay . Thanks . Shall we go?”

　The clock indicates 16:30 . There’s 30 minutes till our meeting time so it’s just about right . With that in mind, I try to leave from the entranceway but Soutarou quickly blocks the way . I’m bewildered at the iron wall guard made by the blockage of the muscular guy before me, who’s more than 180cm tall .
　Not understanding his intention, my bewilderment transcends into irritation . I raise my head and crash into the gaze from his downcast eyes . The tip of his red, wet tongue peeks out from his slightly open mouth and he slowly licks his lips .

　Ah, this is bad .
　My instincts inform me of the danger . Generally, nothing good happens when Soutarou makes this face .

“Ahh, … I forgot something . ”

“Go get it . I’ll wait . ”

　The Soutarou smiling sweetly with his head tilted is the usual Soutarou .
　Still, Soutarou’s kind of scary recently . I feel a considerable amount of danger for my chastity .

　I don’t really get it but I’m bad at dealing with this face that guys make . When a guy whom I fool around and spend idle days with suddenly shows a masculine face, I’m so bad at dealing with it that I feel like crying .
　I feel like throwing everything away and escaping .
　Even though I clearly know I shouldn’t and that escaping like this won’t always work . I know that a day will come whereby I’ve to face Soutarou properly . I’m, clear on that .

　This Sakaki Shrine is the main venue of the Fireworks Festival .
　Closely-packed food stands are set up in Sakaki Shrine and there’s a small stage at the plaza where mini-performances are carried out . A student band is currently presenting their musical performance .
　Reaching the place of meeting, Kaname’s already eating grilled skewered chicken bought from the food stands .

“Hiiiya . ”

“Hiya, Kaname . I see you’re already eating something . ”

“The skewered chicken’s delish . ”

　Kaname busily chews the grilled skewered chicken as he makes a V-sign .

“How envious . What food should I get?”

　The festival music that can be heard from afar, the smell of the cheap-looking sauce from the food stands and the colorful yukatas . The humid air and fluorescent lights . Everything is nostalgic, making my chest feel tight .
　I wonder what should the extremely exciting yet extremely sad feeling that appears at times like this be called?

“What do you want to eat, Soutarou?”

“I, … let’s see, I want some shaved ice . Melon flavoured . ”

　I spot a shaved ice stand relatively nearby . A young big brother is operating the stall without much enthusiasm .

“Ehh, wouldn’t melon turn your tongue into a weird colour?”

“Isn’t that appealing in itself?”

“I still prefer takoyaki . ”

　I do like sweet things but I prefer meat in comparison .
　Where’s the takoyaki stand? Looking around, I see a food stand that says ‘Takoyaki’ opposite the shaved ice stand . Over here’s a young big brother too, but he’s operating the stall while perspiring . I suppose it really is tough to be in front of a hot plate for a long period in summer .

“I see, I’ll go get shaved ice so you should get takoyaki, Mako . ”

“Okay . Let’s meet up here again . ”

“I’ll get us spots and wait for you guys~”

　The takoyaki stand smells of savoury sauce . Sure enough, takoyaki is a must in festivals . It’s not exactly done that well and is ridiculously priced but somehow one would feel like having it huh .

“Excuse me, can I have a takoya…”

“… Makoto?”

“Nn?”

　Lifting my head up when my name is called, before my eyes is Ichigo-chan who’s grilling takoyaki .

“Ichigo-chan?! What are you doing, Ichigo-chan?”

“’What’, you say… I’m grilling takoyaki . A number of food stands in this area are operated by Minami High’s students . ”

“No wonder . I was thinking that the people operating the stalls are pretty young . ”

　With the sleeves of his short-sleeved shirt rolled up and a towel wrapped around his head[2], Ichigo-chan’s grilling takoyaki in the fashion of a food stand big brother . His grim facial features and build deepens the impression of a food stand big brother .
　Looking at it closely, written at the end of the shop curtain that says “Takoyaki”, is “Presented by: Kuzuha Minami Technical High School PTA” .

“Who did you come with, Makoto? Your lil’ sis? Subaru-san?”

“Nope . I came with Sou—”

　I was going to say ‘I came with Soutarou’ but Ichigo-chan will probably be unhappy if I say that .
　Let me first apologise for my upcoming narcissistic statement but Ichigo-chan probably doesn’t hate me . If he knows that I came to the festival with other guys ―― moreover with someone he thinks of as a rival, it’s inevitable that he gets unhappy .
　I shut my mouth the moment I thought of that but Ichigo-chan, with his sharp, animal-like instincts, raises his brows .

“… Sou? Huh? So it’s not Subaru-san . I hope I’m wrong but, … you came with Tsubaki?”

　Ichigo-chan makes a clearly unhappy face . He’s totally angry .

“Ah, … yeah . I came with Soutarou and, a friend called Kaname . ”

“… Realllly, oh, I see . ”

　Ahh he totally got angry .
　His already-scary face is even scarier when he gives out a sense of intimidation like this .
　In this situation where I’m not doing anything wrong and am just going to a festival with friends, why do I have to be held accountable? With this in mind, rather than apologetic feelings, anger wells up in me .

“Why do you have to get unhappy, Ichigo-chan?”

“Haaah? Obviously ‘cos I like you right, Makoto?”

　An unexpectedly serious reply!
　I was going to fire back but got shot instead .

“Soutarou and I are just normal friends . There’s nothing between us . ”

“There’s no way there’s nothing, right? Don’t cha look down on me . ”

　Certainly, Soutarou has an aggressive side . However, fundamentally, he’s properly considerate of me . Kind and cheerful, he’s a silk floss-like good guy .
　Therefore .

“Soutarou won’t do anything I dislike . ”

“Yeah, I won’t . I like Mako so I’ll definitely not do anything you dislike . ”

　It’s unknown when he appeared . Soutarou hugs me tightly from behind .

“It’s been a while, Tsubaki . You’re frivolous as ever . It’s advantageous that you look like a gentleman with those droopy eyes even though you’re watching Makoto with eagle eyes, seriously . Just like a panda or clione . ”

“Eh, me, a panda…?”

　Soutarou won’t do anything I dislike . He definitely won’t . However, it’s also true that, while I’m still unsure if he’s airheaded or two-faced, there are times where he vigorously aims for my chastity . If the face he makes when he aims for my chastity is the true Soutarou, it’s considerably scary .
　If he’s pretending to be attached to me as he gives out a soft and fluffy aura, grows dog ears and tail and cries ‘Woof, woof’ at normal times, when he’s actually watching my chastity with eagle eyes . That’s freaking scary .

“I’m not like that! I want to get along better, better with Mako, just that… Hey, I’m not like that, right, Mako?”

　With a miserable expression, Soutarou’s dog ears flops as he cries, ‘Kyun, kyun’ .
　Speechless, I maintain my silence . Soutarou’s eyebrows increasingly droops as he makes a face as though he’s about to cry .

“Ehh, ehh, Mako!? Don’t tell me you think so too? How cruel~…!”

　Trifle conversation like this continues for 30 minutes . It’s no surprise that Kaname, who was waiting for us, got angry .
Translated at nakimushitl . wordpress . com and hosted at moonbunnycafe
Please do not post elsewhere or steal .

[1] Star mine
[2] Towel wrapped in this or this manner .