Chapter 57
Translator: nakimushitl
Please read at the translator’s site or the hosted site, moonbunnycafe .
”Hasumi, is this one of those that can be put away?”
I’m separating the leftover ingredients from the Butler&Maid Cafe into refrigerated and room temperature, to be put away into bags and boxes . These will be split evenly with the class tomorrow .
“Yep . Separate them into refrigerated and room temperature . Put those that require refrigeration in the fridge of the home economics room . ”
“Okay . ”
Hasumi and I are tidying up after the Cultural Festival .
Originally, the tidy up would be done by the entire class tomorrow . However, Hasumi, wanting to do most of the tidying up today, including that of the raw ingredients, forced me to help out .
I think she could be more lenient towards me, who had to accompany Junya, Prince, and Soutarou around the Cultural Festival . However, for some reason, Hasumi’s only asking me for help . Take this task for example . Even though she could’ve asked the male class rep for help, she designated me for some reason . Although I obediently help out because I don’t loathe tidying up, I can’t shake this feeling of being used .
Translated at nakimushitl . wordpress . com and hosted at moonbunnycafe
Unexpectedly, I was able to normally enjoy going round the Cultural Festival with Prince and company .
I had thought Junya would conspire for my chastity, Prince would conspire to push me down and the Pitch Black Soutarou would conspire to kiss me . However, I was able to enjoy it just like a normal friend .
“Hey Sakurai, so who are you going to the post-festival celebration with?”
“Eh, I don’t know . Can’t I casually spend it with Soutarou and company?”
“You’re going to spend the post-festival celebrations with other dudes? Even though there will be folk dancing?”
Hasumi laughs a little jokingly, and looks at me .
Is there a rule that the high school post-festival celebration must be spent in male-female pairs? Even though this is an otome game, one should be able to do more than romance . Studies, sports and friendship should be able to enliven one’s youth too .
“How about you, Hasumi, who are you intending to spend it with? Is it Soutarou?”
“I’m…”
Translated at nakimushitl . wordpress . com and hosted at moonbunnycafe
When I raise my gaze that had been on my hands, the image of her blushing profusely, with her eyes looking towards her lower right, appears in my field of vision .
As the sun is already setting outside the window, it could be that the sunlight is making Hasumi’s face look red . The preparation for fireworks is steadily progressing in the school yard . Although I thought it was extravagant to have fireworks in a high school post-festival celebration, it will surely remain in my memory . I wonder if it will remain as a happy memory .
If only, nothing remains, just for me . If only I can forget Soutarou, Prince, Kaname and all the fun memories, once I return .
Such negativity is a no-no . It’s not certain that I can return to the real world so I should enjoy school life right now .
“Sakurai, …”
“Ah, but Soutarou may be going to the post-festival celebration with me . Want to join us, Hasumi?”
Translated at nakimushitl . wordpress . com and hosted at moonbunnycafe
Although it’s not like I had specially arranged to spend the post-festival celebration with Soutarou, I’m sure that one way or another, he’ll spend it with Prince, Kaname, Hasumi and I . With the members of “Alliance of Those Without Girlfriends”, it will probably be a post-festival celebration that stinks of dudes . However, I’ve a feeling that this way, I can enjoy the post-festival celebration best .
A part of me is anticipating it .
Just like this, I’ll steadily accumulate memories so enjoyable that I’d want to forget them . This is something to feel happy, and also sad, about .
Looking at my face, Hasumi shows a troubled yet happy smile and moves her head left and right .
“It’s fine . I think I’ll spend it with Mitsuki . ”
“Isn’t Mitsuki spending it with Takayanagi?”
“Takayanagi-senpai would be busy with Student Council work, right? It seemed like he worked quite hard to be able to go round the Cultural Festival with Mitsuki . ”
As the management of Izumino School’s Cultural Festival was mostly left to the students, the Student Council, which lies at the core, should be considerably busy . Also, the operating of the post-festival celebration is naturally the Student Council’s job .
“I see . You worked crazy hard too, Hasumi . It’s okay to enjoy at least the post-festival celebration . ”
“What’s with that condescending manner . ”
Translated at nakimushitl . wordpress . com and hosted at moonbunnycafe
Chuckling a little, Hasumi lifts up the box with dirty utensils and hot plates . I, too, carrying the plastic bag containing ingredients, stand up .
With this amount of tidying up, there won’t be great disasters like the food rotting and causing trouble, or being unable to remove dirt stuck on the utensils . For the remaining tidying up, let’s believe in everyone’s strength and leave it till tomorrow . We, too, need to prepare to enjoy the post-festival celebration and savour the aftertaste of the Cultural Festival .
“Makooo! I came to help out . Let’s finish the tidy up quickly and head to the post-festival celebration venue . It seems they’re distributing juice and snacks for free . ”
“What can be obtained for free has to be obtained, don’t they~”
Soutarou, Kaname and Prince noisily jump into the classroom .
Prince, who is more gluttonous than he appears, is chewing on melon bread . Moreover, he’s holding the bread with both hands like a squirrel and is chewing on it expressionlessly .
“I’m almost done so wait just a little . ”
“What’s left to be done? I’ll help . ”
Translated at nakimushitl . wordpress . com and hosted at moonbunnycafe
Soutarou approaches me with a bright smile and casually lifts the plastic bag I’m holding .
If there are the male me and the female Hasumi, you should first lift the female’s, Hasumi’s, burden . Although Soutarou is a mother-like boy who’s fundamentally gentle towards girls, he can be inconsiderate in areas like this .
“”Ah, my plastic bag is to be kept in the fridge . The utensils in Hasumi’s box are to be washed before returning them to the box, and kept in the classroom . ”
“That’s right . With the 5 of us, I think it can be completed in no time . You can take Sakurai away after that . ”
“Take away… hey, I’m not an object . ”
Even tidying up is fun when it’s done with everyone . The existence of friends is really extremely important .
By the time we’re done with the tidying up, before we knew it, it’s already 6pm . Perhaps because winter is approaching, the sky is already beginning to dim .
“Well then, let’s head to the school yard! Get the free juice!”
With a fist up, Kaname leaves us behind, dashing to the school yard . Behind him follows Prince in a quick walk, his eyes shining . Prince loves snacks and things related to food after all . However, running when lured by food, the two of them sure are like kids .
“Let’s get the free juice and snacks too, Soutarou . ”
“Yeah . The good stuff will be taken if we don’t hurry, huh?
The duo are already far away and we can only see their backs .
As it doesn’t seem like we can catch up even if we start running after them now, Soutarou and I decided to leisurely walk after them . Anyhow, we have the same destination so there’s no doubt we’ll meet again in the school yard .
“What drinks were there?”
“I think there were tea, sports drinks and soft drinks . ”
“I’ll play safe and get tea . ”
Translated at nakimushitl . wordpress . com and hosted at moonbunnycafe
While figures of students can be sparsely seen in the school yard, there are barely anyone . It’s hard to claim that I can see Soutarou’s face well in this gloomy corridor where the lights and electricity are off .
Flyers that were thrown away, posters that were stuck up, classrooms that were decorated . They are all remnants of the Cultural Festival . I feel nostalgic, recalling the 2 days of Cultural Festival and the preparation for it .
“The Cultural Festival was fun, huh . ”
“It was . I didn’t get to spend it much with you though, Soutarou . ”
“Let’s spend more of it together next year, then . Besides, I want to go round the Cultural Festival with Mako more, not just for an hour . ”
This year’s Cultural Festival is my last . I have a place I ought to return to in March next year . However, there’s a strong feeling of wanting to participate in the Cultural Festival again next year .
“Yeah . However, the Christmas in winter break and New Year cherry blossom viewing comes before the Cultural Festival next year, don’t they?”
“Ah, that’s right . Where should we go during the winter break? I definitely want to go for New Year’s first shrine visit . ”
Soutarou happily speaks of his plans for the winter break .
I, too, have tons of places I want to go in the winter break . I also want to go for New Year’s first shrine visit with everyone .
“… Hey, Mako, are you transferring schools next year?”
“Eh?”
“You always make a sad face after events and whenever I try to make plans for next year, you’d dodge them . ”
Translated at nakimushitl . wordpress . com and hosted at moonbunnycafe
Soutarou has an absent-minded and dull side . However, because he suddenly says things that hit the mark, he can’t be taken lightly .
Next year, I’ll be going to a place further than I would if I were transferring schools . To a place we may never meet each other again . Regardless of whether I desire it or not .
“Eh, nah, it’s not like that . ”
“If so!”
Soutarou grabs my arm . When I turn around, Soutarou’s looking at my friend with a serious expression . It’s uncomfortable .
The two of us stand stock-still in the middle of the corridor, silent as time passes slowly .
Unsure of how to spend the time so silent that it rings in my ears, I stare at my own toes . The first one to tear up this overly-quiet time is Soutarou .
The usual gentle voice that resounds sweetly, loses its sweetness and gentleness and merely resounds flatly .
“If so, why?”
There’s no way I can tell him the reason . Even if I do tell him, what should I say?
This is the world of an otome game and I got transported here from the real world . Therefore, I’ll be going back when the game ends on the last day of March . Who’d believe me if I say that? They’ll just think I’m not right in the head . They definitely won’t believe me even if i tell them .
However, I do have feelings of wanting to tell Soutarou the truth and having him believe me . Thus, I’m starting to not know what to do .
Translated at nakimushitl . wordpress . com and hosted at moonbunnycafe
“… I’ll tell you on 31st March . However, I do want to be with you and the rest next year and the year after that . ”
“You can’t say it today, huh . ”
“Yeah… There’s something I’m hiding from you guys . It’s not something I can easily tell someone and it’s not something believable . However, I’ll definitely say it on 31st March . Please wait till then . ”
Soutarou suddenly laughs .
“Got it . I’ll wait till then . ”
“Yeah, I promise . ”
“Just remember this . I’ll accept you no matter who you are, Mako . I’ll definitely believe you no matter what you say . ”
Even if I say I’m a human from another world, Soutarou will surely accept it with a smile . He’ll also believe me . That’s the kind of person Soutarou is .
At that moment, a huge don sound comes from outside the window . Surprised, I reflexively look out the window . Large fireworks are being launched . Glittering and colorful fireworks color the sky .
“Wow, … it’s pretty . ”
“Yes, it’s beautiful . They spent more money than expected . ”
“To be able to watch it alone with Mako, I feel like I profited somehow . ”
Translated at nakimushitl . wordpress . com and hosted at moonbunnycafe
A relaxed grin surfaces on Soutarou’s face .
Gentle, down-turned eyes look at me . An angular, large hand grasps my hand tightly . The kind and sweet voice speaks only to me . Stinking slightly of sweat, the cheap fruity smell of his antiperspirant tickles my nose .
My 4 senses are now all dominated by Soutarou . I just need to be kissed now and remember Soutarou’s taste, for all 5 senses to become his .
“AH! Why are you two flirting~!”
“Makoto!”
Kaname and Prince, who wangled juice and snacks, are running towards us .
“We aren’t flirting . ”
“Excuses are useless! Onwards to us four’s post-festival celebration in the classroom! Yay!”
“‘Yay’?…”
Please read at the translator’s site or hosted site .
This may be the most enjoyable Cultural Festival I’ve ever had .
Even when I’ve returned to the other world, whenever I see a Cultural Festival, I’ll probably recall this instance of this moment on this day, for countless times .
I’m happy but it hurts a lot . I hate everyone of this world, who gives me so many memories that are so happy that I want to forget and yet can’t throw away . I hate them because I love them .
[1] The raw had Hasumi too but I’m pretty sure that was a typo .
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login