Chapter 8Shishio-doshi
(TL Note: Shishi-odoshi (鹿威し) (literally, "deer-frightening" or "boar-frightening"), in a wide sense, refers to Japanese devices made to frighten away animals that pose a threat to agriculture, including kakashi (scarecrows), naruko (clappers) and sōzu. In a narrower sense, it is synonymous with sōzu. Source: Wikipedia.)
We walk along without conversation.
But as we proceeded down the corridor, down the stairs, and arrived at the entrance to the elevator, Shindo, as expected, opened her mouth.
"Are you going outside?"
"Yeah. I'm going to walk a little bit. There are some clouds, and the sun will be shining a little less."
"That's fine for you...?"
Our high school, Himehachi High School, is a private high school with liberal school culture and vast land for sale.
The school actively supports students based on their family situations, which is why I can take time off school for my sister without worrying about school fees.
The principal is a unique person, but he is a bold and generous school principal who cares about his students.
"So, this is... the way."
"I didn't know there was a side street."
"The high school is a big place. It's like a maze."
"I still get lost."
"That's true for everyone. Some of the students are said to have gotten lost and could not get out of the school. At night, there are more side streets, and if you go into one of them--"
"...Stop."
"You're not good at these stories?"
"I don't know."
"I didn't know Rei was so emotional."
"I don't know either."
What a funny girl.
I felt that the students passing by were comparing me and Shindo, but I tried not to pay attention to them.
After walking for a while–, we came to a pavilion where there was no sign of people.
This place does not get much sun.
And because there is a good vantage point with a large pond in front of it, it seems to be a place that no students bother to visit during their lunch break.
"Huh..., I didn't know there was a place like this."
"I just found out about it recently."
"Why?"
"Not Teru-nee.., but Togure-sensei assigned me as a volunteer. This log chair and desk were rotting, so I was assigned to fix them."
"Why...?"
"It wasn't to help the janitor who was helping Togure-sensei, not Teru-nee..."
The janitor's uncle hit his fingers with a hammer and injured himself, so he needed my help.
They were extremely pleased to hear that not many students are willing to help out with something like this but to be honest, I didn't do much.
"I'm not making a big deal out of it, to be honest. I think it's very nice--and who's Teru-nee, anyway?"
"Oh... sorry, just a habit of mine. Never mind."
I tried to make a good fake, but Shindo came closer to me.
"Who's Teru-nee? I want to know."
"Oh, oh, ......, that's kind of scary, Rei."
"Oh, no, no, no, no. It's normal. It's normal."
Why did she blush there, and why did she let go of her face?
Did I get too close?
I wasn't that close, though...
"Teru-nee is, of course, I mean Togure-sensei, our homeroom teacher is--But actually, it's just between you and me, she's the daughter of the landlord of that apartment building."
"Hah...."
"I've lived in that apartment since I was in elementary school, and she's helped me a lot since then. I had heard she was a teacher, but it was at another high school. But it seems she entered Himehachi High School at the same time as me. She didn't tell me about it. That's terrible."
"Huh...!"
"Don't tell anyone, okay? It's bad for Teru-nee."
Shindo nodded her head.
Her expression does not move much, but her eyes are indeed wide open as if she was surprised.
It is interesting to see the surprised expression on the face of a cool, slender, beautiful girl, which makes me feel like I am doing more than I should.
I couldn't help but laugh at her.
"Jin-kun. I'm not sure what to think. I can feel the malice in your smile."
"No, it's not that. I just feel good when I surprise a beautiful woman."
"......"
"Hmm?"
"Are you always like that?"
"Always?"
"Do you always say things like that to girls....?"
Shindo doesn't seem to be angry.
But she looks very serious.
The problem is that I probably don't understand the intent of Shindo's question at all.
"What do you mean?"
"No..., it's nothing. I'm going to assume it's my fault for asking."
"I sense malice in you."
"I hope you'll see it as a good thing."
...Well, okay.
If I talk too much, my lunch break will be over.
It seems that Shindo agreed.
"I've come all this way..., but what are you going to do? I haven't prepared the cake yet, and Mai-chan isn't here either."
"I'm not asking for an apology in a place like this."
And I've said it many times, I'm not looking for an apology in the first place.
You don't even know why a second apology is being executed.
Well, Mai is happy and there is no need to point it out.
Besides, I've prepared this instead.
"Do you like sandwiches, Shindo?"
"Yes, I do. Yes..., I don't dislike it and I rather like it...?"
"I'm glad to hear that. Well, then, eat up."
"What?"
"This is my way of saying thank you for your apology."
I don't understand the meaning, though.
Still, I held out the bag from which I had been hanging it, hoping that my feelings would be conveyed.
"What?"
Shindo, which reacts uniformly like Shishio-doshi, was interesting with that.
TL: Reeze27, ディープエル
ED: Reeze27, Gureimeri-shisha