Chapter 8: The Gears Accelerate
“… Did you see that? Hanazono was there!”
“Well, of course she was. We’re in the same school, it’s not that surprising. You like her too much, don’t you?”
“No, she was walking with a senior, just the two of them!”
“Hmm? If she’s dating a senior, then Yoshiki’s wish is over! “
“Don’t say that so casually! And I don’t have any hopes yet!”
Probably not, anyway.
And yet, an unpleasant feeling crosses my mind.
Come to think of it, Hanazono always said she ate lunch with the same person.
…I hope it’s not that senior.
As I’m brooding, Yuzuha cracks her shoulder.
“So, Yoshiki, how badly do you want a girlfriend?”
“What’s that about? Are you picking a fight?”
“Why!? I just asked a question!”
I snort and crumple my empty plastic bottle.
“Of course I want one. But it’s not like having a girlfriend is essential for school life. I’m actually having fun even without one.”
Even without a girlfriend, I’m having a decent time.
This “decent” is an important time for me.
If having a girlfriend guaranteed a rosy life, I’d want one, but looking around, I see people becoming unhappy with fights and breakups.
Considering that possibility, I find myself thinking it’s fine to stay as I am now.
That doesn’t mean the desire to take one step forward disappears, and basically, I do want a girlfriend.
“Hmm. So, what would you do if Hanazono said she’d be your girlfriend?”
I look up.
The girl I once admired approaching me.
It’s an unrealistic fantasy that would captivate any high school boy.
If you talk to your crush in class even once, unconscious fantasies start running through your head.
Reuniting with a female friend after a long time, with whom you once had a good vibe.
It would be a lie to say you don’t think about it at all at that point.
“As a man, I’d have to say ‘please have me the honor.'”
“I’m sorry.”
“Huh, did I just get rejected? Did I just get rejected by proxy?”
“That’s a possibility too!”
“Wasn’t that conversation based on the premise that I was confessed to!? I know that!”
Having been properly rejected before, I’m aware of reality even without that.
I always set my expectations for reality to zero, realizing that fantasies are only allowed in my head.
I’m not so deluded as to expose my fantasy expectations to the real world.
“Hanazono is a friend, and sure, there was a time when I started to have those feelings. But having someone you just end up liking without it going anywhere, by high school, everyone’s had a few of those. Hanazono is just one of them.”
As I line up these words, Yuzuha’s broadly grinning face comes into view.
“See, you did like her before. Until just now, you had a face like you were going to start pursuing her from now on.”
“You tricked me!?”
“You started talking on your own.”
Yuzuha replied, looking amused.
Earlier, I had blurted out about Yuzuha’s part-time job, and it seems I’ve fallen into the same trap.
In front of Yuzuha, I find myself relaxing unintentionally.
Well, I can trust Yuzuha, and it’s not particularly troublesome if she knows.
“So if Hanazono confessed to you, you’d date her. Okay, then there’s hope for a connection!”
“…This is only if Hanazono approached me, which is impossible in reality. And even if we connected, I’d be satisfied just to have a relationship that isn’t awkward.”
“Haha. If that’s all, you wouldn’t have a face that looks like you’re dying to chase after her now.”
I involuntarily close my mouth. That seems to have been my answer.
Yuzuha’s mouth corners turn up in a grin.
“See, if that’s decided, we have to go!”
Yuzuha runs off in the direction Hanazono and the others disappeared.
“Hey, wait!”
I reflexively kick off the ground.
—This sprint is a gear.
Gears accelerate the opposing gear exponentially.
Such a premonition races through my mind.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
Hanazono and the senior were standing behind the track and field club room, where there were no people around.
The track and field club room is located at a distance that takes about five minutes to walk, crossing the schoolyard from the school building.
The club room was surrounded by trees with lush green leaves, making it impossible to see from afar.
Yuzuha and I hide behind the water fountain, observing the situation.
I peek out a little.
Hanazono, facing the senior, keeps her mouth corners raised without moving.
Yuzuha, above my head, whispers, “Looks like something’s going on,” and holds her breath.
…It’s more than just “something’s going on.”
I could tell everything from the senior’s expression.
In other words, it’s a confession scene.
Moreover, looking closely, that senior is the handsome famous person who guided us during the entrance ceremony.
At this point, he’s a senior with very high name recognition among first-year students.
The senior opened his mouth.
“…I like you. Will you go out with me?”
Yuzuha excitedly taps my shoulder.
That senior is probably of the same type as the Remi from before.
His confidence in himself is evident from his expression.
Despite facing such a person, Hanazono’s expression doesn’t change at all.
Just like her behavior in class, she’s just smiling.
When the senior prompts for an answer, Hanazono finally speaks quietly.
“Thank you. …May I ask one thing?”
“What is it? Ask me anything.”
“Yes. Why do you like me?”
Her tone was that of pure curiosity.
The senior scratched his head a little before answering.
“…Do you remember when I guided you during the entrance ceremony?”
“I remember.”
“It was love at first sight.”
The senior said it straight out.
Yuzuha reacts in a small voice, “Wow, he’s good.”
…Indeed, he is.
I didn’t think there were people in this real world who would confess using words like “love at first sight.”
If I were in the opposite position, I’m confident I’d be more flustered.
It’s frustrating as a fellow male, but he’s in a different league from me.
Surely that senior has various experiences with girls, which is why he can be so composed.
The senior shows the composure to smile modestly and prompts for an answer.
“So, let me hear your answer.”
“My answer?”
Hanazono responded in her usual tone.
—Too usual.
If there were any positive signs, I think her voice would have cracked a bit, or it would have shown in some behavior.
It’s completely different from the expression Hanazono had when the things were going well, the ‘good vibe’ between us.
In middle school, Hanazono didn’t often put things into direct words like Yuzuha, but there was always kindness in the depths of her eyes.
She’s clearly different from how she is now.
That’s why I knew Hanazono’s answer.
“I’m sorry. I can’t go out with you, senpai.”
Even though I know it’s not about me right now, it’s a painful scene to watch.
But at the same time, I feel relieved, and soon the latter emotion becomes stronger.
“R-really?”
The senior’s face twisted in frustration.
He probably hadn’t expected to be rejected much.
“Are you sure? I hate to say it myself, but I’m quite a big fish, you know.”
“…You’re too big for me. I think there are plenty of girls who would want to be your girlfriend, senpai.”
“But I’m the one who wants to date you.”
The senior scratched his head, seeming a bit irritated.
Hanazono looked down troubledly.
She clasped her hands in front of her and whispered, “I’m sorry,” in a small voice.
“…Isn’t there any way? I’m quite serious, you know.”
“Serious?”
“That’s right, I’m serious. So… I’d like you to think about it a bit more, at least. You probably didn’t have much time to think about it since it was so sudden, right? If you want, you can even give me an answer later.”
“…But you said it was love at first sight, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Seriously, since I saw you in April, I haven’t been able to get you out of my head. Every time I see you, I feel happy—”
“What’s the benefit for me in dating you now, senpai? I don’t know anything about you. So I don’t know how to judge.”
Hanazono interrupted with a question.
The senior opened his mouth in bewilderment.
I looked up involuntarily, and Yuzuha had the same expression.
“Benefit? A boyfriend-girlfriend relationship isn’t about that kind of profit and loss calculation, is it?”
“But for me, you’re almost a stranger, senpai. It’s called a romantic relationship, but how can you want to date someone whose inner self you don’t know?”
“I thought you were cute! You were seriously my type, that’s why I wanted to know your inner self. I don’t intend to say pretty things like looks don’t matter at all. Rather, I think it’s fine to get to know the inner self even after doing couple-like things!”
Gradually, Hanazono’s expression turns cold.
She scratches her cheek modestly and murmurs.
“So, after kissing and having sex… only then will you finally measure my true worth?”
Sex.
The word that’s usually hesitated to be spoken aloud came out so casually, it startled me.
It seems the same for the senior, as his eyes are wide open.
While boys might jokingly say it among themselves, it’s probably an experience most boys haven’t had—hearing it from a girl, especially in the middle of a serious conversation.
But Hanazono’s expression remains calm.
There was a Hanazono I didn’t know.
“I think I have too much to lose before you even look at my inner self.”
“…Look, I’m telling you I’m not just after sex. Sure, that kind of sexual desire might be part of it, but that’s not all, that’s why I’m confessing like this.”
“But you just said that the inner self comes last, didn’t you?”
“I was talking about the timing of wanting to understand the inner self, wasn’t I? I admit that timing comes last. Is that a problem?”
Hanazono looked down again, but it wasn’t a meek expression.
Rather, it gave the impression of being fed up with this kind of pickup line.
“If that’s the case, I’d feel more at ease if you just asked to have sex with me.”
The senior furrowed his brow.
I could see his heart moving away from Hanazono.
“…You look like you’d get upset if I actually asked. Sex is also a form of proper communication, and there’s nothing wrong with liking someone based on their looks first, right? Or are you the kind of person who would sleep with anyone who just bows their head? I’ve heard rumors that there are first-years like that.”
“That’s not me.”
“Then there’s nothing wrong with me confessing, is there?”
“Maybe you’re right. But…”
Hanazono interrupted the senior’s words.
“As long as I don’t understand how you can like me without ever having talked to me, I can’t date you.”
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
BUY THE SOURCE MATERIAL TO SUPPORT THE AUTHOR !!!
Kindly click on the green button above and contribute to filling the green bar if you’re interested in having another LN from the request page translated. Also, every donation is being used to purchase the source material and to fund more English translations.
Please consider joining my Ko-Fi membership. By becoming a member, you’ll also gain access to 2-10 additional chapters of all of the novels from this site translated into English. Last but not least your support will also assist me in upholding the translation quality and speed. For more information, please follow the link.
Donation for faster release is always welcome
Additionally, I am now accepting translation requests.
finally she gets some spotlight, she’s been completely absent till now lol