Chapter 1 - In this way, Hikigaya Hachiman's plan is postponed.
Fresh green leaves growing from the trees looking down from the window, and the smell of early summer began to mix with the warm breeze. Occasionally, the wind blowing from the open window swelled the loose curtains like sails, delivering fresh sunlight.
The grand holiday, the so-called Golden Week, is also approaching, making it the best season for events. At this time, even on the shores of the Tokyo Bay coast, you can see a lot of people coming out to catch clams. Or, there are probably many people who go hiking, outingking, or trekking to Mt. Nokogiri. Or, some people go on a small cruise on Niemon-jima Island.
(Annotation: An island with a circumference of 4 km in the southern part of Chiba)
Anyway, there are so many things to see in Chiba. If you want to enjoy everything, there is no choice as far as a large holiday. There should be at least 7 trillion holidays. More than that, they say it's a large holiday, but I hope you don't say it is a large holiday because the worst is 3 consecutive holidays, or 5 consecutive holidays at the longest. Please don't use words that look old, because you look weak.
In the first place, if we call a five-day holiday a large holiday, isn't working 5 consecutive days and 2 days off every week a large-scale shift? A working environment that shows no signs of reform, even though it is called job reform.
It was the same for this Service Club.
With my younger sister, Hikigaya Komachi as the president, it was a new service club that should have started with a new system, but still, as in the past, with two days off, there is no work or anything, but for some reason I am going to work.
It is like a microcosm of Japanese society that the constitution itself of the organization does not change immediately even if the top is changed. In the political world and in the business world, even if an old man is overthrown in one way or another, another old man immediately appears as his successor...
Still, that's not to say that it's good to change everything radically. In some cases, they are unable to adapt to changes in the environment that are too rapid. The so-called May Disease would be the most appropriate term.
(Annotation: A feeling that students and workers get around the time of May. Freed from entrance exams or the burden of finding a job, they start to express a feeling of let down or loss of purpose. It can be cured by showing them to appreciate what is in front of them.)
If that is the case, it might be just right for you to feel the passing of time slowly, as if you were watching the cherry blossoms turn into new leaves, grumbling in your heart, every day without change. Such minor changes also came to this insolvency.
For example, the temperature of lukewarm tea.
For example, handmade sweets that have been increased by one type.
For example, the colour of the hairpin that adorns the bangs.
For example, recently, for some reason, the student council president is not a member who comes every day. Huh! This hasn't changed! Really, why does he come to the office every day? work, are you okay? Hachiman, I'm very worried!
In any case, even in this insolvency, change is coming, albeit slowly.
Yukinoshita pours another cup of tea and measures the time to drink. Yuigahama hastily takes out sweets that smell good from a paper bag. An energetic Komachi who puts a hairpin on her bangs and exhales after taking in the fragrance. Isshiki gently fixes her bangs while gently using her smartphone while glancing at Komachi's forehead. It's such a small difference that you might miss it if you're not conscious of it.
It boasts a level of difficulty comparable to that of food illustration in Saize's children's menu, but, however, there was a definite change.
I, too, are changing, though insignificant indeed.
Just like last year, last month, or two days ago, just like yesterday, with my back and chin slouched, I am still staring down, but today, I am holding a pamphlet rather than a paperback.
The colourful and fantasy pamphlet, painted with dreams and magic, is from Destiny Land, which usually makes your heart pound just by looking at it. However, now I am feeling restless no matter what. Now, how do we get the clues from this pamphlet? As I fell into setback, I opened the pamphlet as if to look at it, and as I looked closely, flax hair suddenly popped in of my sight.
“My, this.”
Isshiki tilted her head, gently tucking the flowing hair on her ear, peering at my fingertips. And haha, I sighed with the same feeling.
“Outing, is it tomorrow?”
“...Yeah, so for now.”
I turned it over on the table, avoiding Isshiki who was peeking at the pamphlet, and answered appropriately. Seriously, what's the point? I said it, but it's really ridiculous. It was a very crude excuse, but I'm glad I didn't ask for it. Isshiki's consciousness is completely directed towards the pamphlet. Thank you for the magic of Destiny that fascinates the viewer!
“I envy you, Destiny Land.”
Isshiki glanced at the pamphlet, sighing in ecstasy or disappointment that could not be read.
“No, how long ago did you go...?”
You are saying that? and seeking consent. As if, I looked towards Yukinoshita and Yuigahama. Just recently, during the Christmas season, we, Isshiki, and Hayama and others went to Destiny Land to cover the event.
Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were both reading the brochure, but they noticed my question and looked up. However, their expression seemed a little perplexed.
“Yeah, well, about half a year ago...” “It's subtle to say that it's recent...”
Yuigahama fiddled with her bun, while Yukinoshita put her hand on her temple and fell into thought.
No, it's been about half a year, isn't it recent? is not it? It's really recent in my opinion. Some say that 7 or 8 years ago is recent. Well, that, that. They say that as you get older, a year goes by faster! I mean, I'm an adult too.
Every day that is nothing special is so precious. Adults say that, but it's me who has been touched by something that I haven't been able to reach. In that way, facing my own aging and making noises, Komachi, who sat in front of the diagonal line, was also making noises with resentment.
“Komachi wanted to go, too.......”
While muttering resentfully, Komachi raised her body forward and stared at the pamphlet as if she would chew it out. If you look like a boy looking at the trumpet displayed in the showcase, I have no choice but to hand over the pamphlet. Okay, so I'll give you this... I swiped the pamphlet and handed it to Komachi.
However, Isshiki reached out and snatched it away.
“I was looking at it.”
“That's right! I was! It's the past tense!”
Komachi clapped her hands and smiled broadly.
“Well, that's fine...”
Phew, I'm glad I can't help it, Komachi gently pulled the pamphlet toward her, as if beckoning her to a cat. Isshiki looked like she was awake.
“Ha? Really, what is this person......”
Komachi smiled cunningly at Isshiki and slapped her shoulders.
“Oh, would you like to see it together?”
“I said I was reading it. I'll see it as well.”
Moving the chair, Komachi and Isshiki put their heads together, and they started to look at the pamphlet, pointing with their hands.
“By the way, a new attraction has been added~”
“Yeah. I also wanted to go-.”
The way they exchange conversations like that just seems like they're on good terms, and it makes me feel reassured both as an older brother and as a senior.... And I thought for a moment.
“Ah, because you don't have a friend to go with.”
“It’s… no, it’s not like that.”
Isshiki responded conditionally, but the words she added at the end were too small a voice. It was too thin, and there was a strange realism in the murmuring murmur. Perhaps Komachi felt a little sorry too, so she lowered her eyebrows and lowered her shoulders, looking up at Isshiki as if worried.
“I'm sorry... are you okay? Are you sure you have friends?”
“Don't ask about useless things! There are for now!”
Isshiki answered immediately, but from the standpoint of listening, I can't help but worry about the first word ... This kid, it seems like there were a few things like this in class last year, and each of us stared at her with worried expression.
However, the party itself doesn't seem to pay that much attention, and Isshiki spoke with a bold, somehow bright face.
“More than that, is Rice-chan okay? Do you have any friends?”
No matter how I interpreted the tone, it only sounded like “You, you don't have any friends,” but Komachi put her hand on her waist and puffed her small chest.
“Komachi has a lot of friends! I can talk to everyone without any problem.”
Besides that, I, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama also nodded in response.
In fact, Komachi's communication ability is truly amazing, and even if it's her first meeting, she talks to each other in a frank, casual way.
During summer vacation, when we went to Chiba-mura, everyone around us was older, but she communicated with ease, and she had a good conversation with Kawasaki's younger sister, Kawasaki Keika. One more drink, I'm not afraid of Isshiki, a junior by one grade. It's not a level where you don't get scared, it's a level where you don't get scared. I don't know Komachi, but Isshiki-san, from my classmates, I'm hearing things like the queen of the night party... It's a misunderstanding! Because Isshiki is just the cutest scumbag girl in the world.
However, the cutest scumbag girl in the world doesn't call herself a scumbag girl for nothing. No, she doesn't call herself. Isshiki squinted her eyes and nodded with a sobbing expression on her face as if she knew something. Yukinoshita and Yuigahama nodded with smiles but there was some hint of sadness on their lips.
“Ah, so you are that type of girl.”
“Ahhh, your tone. You said something bad about me, didn’t you?”
At Isshiki's words, Komachi groaned and raises her eyebrows, as if trying to dig out the truth as a bonus, and came closer to Isshiki.
As if to avoid the pressure, Isshiki waved her hand in the sky and shook her head lightly saying no.
“No, I didn't say anything bad.”
“Eh~ Really~? You've been saying a lot.”
Isshiki pushed Komachi's face, which was bluntly poking out her lips and digging deeper.
“No, because it was just difficult to explain.”
“Hoo, that means that.......”
Komachi lightly folded her arms, gently placed her hand on her chin, and posed for asking for an explanation. Her squinted eyes were persistent, and it didn't seem like she could convince her with a half-baked answer. Isshiki tried to hide the bothersome feeling, but after a while, she coughed and said with a troubled smile “tehehe”.
“No, what should I say? ...I'm loved by everyone, so on the other hand, it's hard to get into a close relationship with others. At school, even if we talk, we don't go out together, that kind of feeling?”
Isshiki smiles “hehehehe” and smirks and tilts her head cutely. However, no matter how cute you are, you cannot cover everything because content is content.
What the heck are you talking about... Our Komachi is the world's best imouto loved by everyone? I wanted to object in a loud voice, but Isshiki's comment on Komachi wasn't completely correct, but it wasn't wrong either, so I could only make a sound of pain in a slightly negative nuance, like uhm...
Komachi gets along with anyone, and she gets along well with gritty people. One can say she's good at keeping a good sense of distance. However, it also can be said when she reverses it, she doesn't make any effort to close her distance to become a deeper friend.
Isshiki, who also fought in the women's society. I am well aware of the trends living with Komachi that I have been vaguely grasping over the past 15 years. Or Isshiki herself may have had the same experience. Komachi is a shrewd child, so even if she stands from a slightly distorted point of view, as an older brother I am very grateful that she has an understanding.
I am truly grateful....
...But even so, isn't there a way of speaking? Isn't your opinion too distorted? If it's just that way of speaking, it's a negative impression no matter how you look at it...
In fact, Yukinoshita was putting her hand on her temple and shaking her head a little, while Yuigahama was letting out a small, wooowy voice.
When she heard the words, she stood firm and opened her mouth. However, when Komachi was hot and restarted, she reached out helplessly as if to grab a straw.
“... Wait a minute. Why are you suddenly talking about my personal life ? That's a bit serious......”
Komachi, who purposely cried and collapsed saying “Oh yo…”, Isshiki was exasperated with excitement. Seeing that immaculate figure, Komachi blinked her eyes two or three times, and made a voice that seemed to admire.
“Hey-, this person is really amazing... After thinking about it... Iroha-senpai is amazing...”
With that feeling, Komachi sighed and exhaled a breath that could not be called a sigh.
A bitter laugh and a light sigh were superimposed on that breath. Looking from the side, Yuigahama smiled like her older sister while saying that she had nothing to do with it, and Yukinoshita was also half awake, but looked at her with pitiful eyes.
“Certainly, the way she spoke was cute...but only the way she spoke was cute...”
“If the content of a word is too poignant, no matter how cute it may seem on the outside, wouldn't it be impossible to ignore it...”
Hahaha! Same with Yukinoshita from the past! Far from being bitter, it's even vicious. With that said, I'm going to leave it because it's going to be a story of fortune that it looks cute. It's not like it's outward appearance or anything like that, but this person...
However, no matter how sharp and vicious the words are, there are some things that are passed on because they are unpretentious words. The conversation between Isshiki and Komachi might be like that. After all, Komachi also speaks harsh words!
Even now, the two of them continued to talk about this and that, using my pamphlet as a snack, while lightly accusing each other with disrespect. It is very welcome to see each other on good terms, but losing the brochure is a bit difficult. I can't help it....... It's too small and hard to see, but let's look at it with a smartphone....... And when I tried to pull my smartphone out of my pocket, someone tapped my shoulder.
Looking at my side, Yuigahama was holding her own pamphlet in her hand. All of the 3rd graders had been distributed in advance, but it seemed to be taken out of the bag on purpose.
“Oh, are you okay? Thank you.”
I said a full farewell and reached out to the pamphlet. However, Yuigahama gently avoided my hand. Eh...why...you won’t lend to me...? And, without even having time to think about the question, Yuigahama jerkily moved the chair and sat next to me.
Then, unfolding the pamphlet on the desk, and gently placing it between me and Yuigahama, Yuigahama smiled buoyantly.
“I'll show you.”
“Yeah, yes... Thank you...”
If you look from the side-lines, it’s like the state of someone who has forgotten his textbook.
The only thing that is different from when I forgot the textbook is that no one shows me the textbook...
It's not that..., it's this sense of distance.
I can't decide if it's a shampoo or a perfume, but the strong floral scent reached the tip of my nose, Yuigahama started peeking at the pamphlet.
With her bun swaying in front of my eyes, I involuntarily avoided it. As an added bonus, Yuigahama clasped her chin in the opposite direction to her bun, and as an added bonus, she slightly changed her seat and tried to make space, but nevertheless, her shoulder and my shoulder occasionally bumped into each other. That being said, it would be rude if the person who was borrowing and looking at it explicitly distanced himself.
Try to make the gap as natural as possible, brushing your hair up, or turning your shoulders, look at the pamphlet from a distance, for a moment...
In an unreasonable position where our upper body touched constantly, my spine was already stiff. Ummm... and straightening my back, I could see Yukinoshita's eyes narrowing at the end of her field of vision. With chills, my spine pinged and straightened.
Our eyes met for sure, but Yukinoshita didn't say anything. I just let out a short sigh of exhaustion, as if I was exhausted, and as if I had given up. Shrugging her shoulders as if she had no choice, Yukinoshita gently stood up.
I wondered if she was going to pick flowers... but there was no way to ask for sure. Yukinoshita didn't say anything, carefully lifted her chair, and, as it was, came my way with her gunshot steps.
And, as if nothing had happened, she placed her chair next to me. She swung her own bag and pulled out her brochure.
The way she gently unfolds a brochure on her desk may be a bit like reading a magazine at a beauty salon. It's like, it's been there from the beginning, it's the same naturalness.
However, the natural look is only because Yukinoshita's behavior is elegant, but the behaviour itself is unnatural.
“Eh, what, what's going on...”
When I asked in a small voice, Yukinoshita glanced at the other side, and pushed her pamphlet with a sigh. And then, she spoke loudly.
“...because it didn't seem like the contents were easily visible.”
“Ah, yes...... Thank you for that. Well, look......”
After thinking about what to answer, when I gave such a banal answer, Yukinoshita continued to look in the distant direction and nodded her head in reply. Each time, her black hair swayed gently, revealing her vermilion-tinted ears. The moment I saw it, I felt as if my ears were also dyed red, and I raised my head without any meaning.
My unsteady behaviour, and Yukinoshita's sudden movement, must have been a very unnatural sight.
The moment Komachi saw this, she looked at this site with a blank face, Isshiki sighed with a mouth that looked like she had chewed a piece of silver foil, and Yuigahama shrugged his shoulders and held back the laughter.
(T/N: Silver foil means aluminium foil wrap. This metaphor seems out of place but since its literal translation it can’t be helped.)
I'm unfamiliar with this type of situation, and I'm surrounded by Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, so I have no choice but to shrink my shoulders.
Don't turn to the side and keep looking forward, I'm just going to look at the pamphlet and focus on thinking about my plans for tomorrow.
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