Chapter 90Only at Times Like These
"Hey, lift your face! Seriously! Really, please!"
Eh, what's with this guilty feeling? I feel like my heart is going to explode. I don't understand the situation. Why are you suddenly prostrate yourself? Am I that scary? Did I intimidate you too much!?
Hieh! Please, just lift your face for me!
"I-I'm just a fellow part-time worker! I can't make you quit, Ichinose-san!"
"I-I'll do anything for you...!"
"I got it, I got it! I already understand that you're motivated, so just lift your face! I'll be in trouble if you continue like that!"
After I said so, Ichinose-san was finally willing to lift her face. Her eyes trembled with anxiety and we stared at each other. As I nodded repeatedly as if I was hurriedly trying to deceive her, Ichinose-san's eyes narrowed as if she was relieved. Toward the end, I yelled at her and told her to lift her face.
"Wh-What's going on? What the heck!?"
"It's nothing! Manager, don't worry! Ichinose-san will continue to work part-time here! She'll improve her performance again starting tomorrow!"
"A-Are you sure!?"
"I'm sure!"
Whoa... ...that's bad!!! If I had been a step too late, my neck would've been strangled!!! No, rather, who am I to make a shy girl as she prostrates herself on the floor!? Wouldn't it be better if I was beheaded!? Am I breaking the norm in real life!?
"I-Ichinose-san! If you want to continue working part-time here, let's do our best starting tomorrow! Okay!"
"O-Okay..."
She replied with frightened eyes. I don't know, why do I feel like I'm going to die? Will I be able to get home safely today...? I'm afraid that I'll get heatstroke and faint from the sun on the way home.
"I see... ...alright, then. It's time for you two to go home, you can both go home at this time."
"Oh, no, I believe I still haven't finished my usual duties, so I'll stay here."
"No, no, I'll make an exception for today, you can continue tomorrow. Including you, Mina-chan, please come as usual, is that possible?"
"...A-Alright. Sure..."
Ichinose-san had indeed stopped crying, but her eyes and face were still red. I didn't suspect her because she had been crying since I called Gramps' wife earlier, but I was starting to feel that it would be better if she blamed me rather than someone else. I wanted to get soaked by the heavy rain.
"Then..., let's wrap it up for today, shall we go home, Ichinose-san?"
"Y-Yeah."
Wow, seriously, your eyes are like saying "I'll get in trouble if I don't answer him" to me. Am I a physical education teacher in high school? I'm your classmate and we also sit next to each other...
I'll go out first with my personal belongings. Ichinose-san just came out and I realized something.
"I-Ichinose-san? Are you still letting your bangs split...?"
"—Ah...!"
Ichinose-san shook her head. As she removed the hairpins on both sides of her bangs, her long bangs returned to covering her eyes as usual. I was worried, would she be able to see the road ahead with that hairstyle? But on the other hand, I felt relieved, as I couldn't see any signs of her crying.
The destruction of evidence... Ah... I can see that I'm becoming a worse and worse boy from today on. I won't go to heaven even if I die now. I'll go to hell and they'll make me prostrate myself on a pile of needles. Blood bath? It smells like iron.
As we were about to part, I bowed my head to Gramps and me and looked at his back as I walked home. For some reason, he patted my back, gently. Please stop, I'm serious.
♦
I don't know when I arrived home. I took a shower right away, and as soon as I got out of the bathroom and headed for the living room with the AC, I realized that I had been out of my mind all this time. It's just past noon, but what kind of fatigue is this...? Is it just me being tired?
"Wataru, your cellphone is vibrating."
"Oh..., smartphone, Mom, smartphone."
"Oh, yeah, that's what I meant."
Mom, while washing the bowl she used for the somen noodles she had finished eating, told me about the notification. I felt like I had been correcting her 'cellphone' to 'smartphone' almost every day. I opened the lock screen of my smartphone, and after taking a shower, I felt like I had been floating in the water somewhere. Maybe it was because I was in a depressed mood, but I didn't feel any reality.
[Eh, didn't Wataru just read it?]
[Right. How could he read it now? Isn't he working part-time?]
[Part-time job... I wonder if he's busy.]
[No... ...he didn't tell us the details.]
It was a continuation of the chat that I skimmed through during the break from my part-time job. They mentioned for a moment that I had read their chat. The chat seemed to go on for quite a while after that. Are the two of them still chatting?
[I wonder... ...is Wataru free in the afternoon?]
[Isn't he free? It's Sajocchi after all.]
I'm free... ...but. Eh? Are you guys going to ask me out when I have time? Gosh, you don't mix boys into girls' pranks, do you?
[Sajocchi! Let's visit Aichi and Ai-chan's house this afternoon!]
Are you serious? Eh? This is a serious invitation. What should I do...? I don't feel like I can meet them with my current tension. I'd be nervous about dealing with two girls, let alone them being my classmates. Hey, "Aichi and Ai-chan"... that's confusing.
Calm down, me. Let's think about this in another way. If I start tomorrow in the same mood as today, I can already see that it's going to be a mess. Then maybe a change of scenery and diving into something unusual is a good idea...? Should I take another shower? With lots of soap.
[Let me know when you're done with your part-time job!] Ashida said. After that [I'll be right there!] was sent after Ashida's last words. Ashida was done with her club activities, took a shower, and was on her way to Natsukawa's house.
"Am I... ...preceded by Ashida...?"
I never thought the day would come when I would lose to Ashida because of Natsukawa..., but yeah, I did lose badly. Those two are always teasing me like they're making me jealous. I'm glad that you two are getting along. It's okay if you forget about me for now and can you do this without me?
[Good job. Great story!]
[Sajocchi! It's not strange that high school students are tired! Are you tired from working part-time?]
[You have a part-time job, huh?]
[Thank you very much.]
[Sajocchi. Aichi is having a hard time replying.]
I was trying to talk them out when suddenly the Goddess appeared and commented. I have no choice but to thank her. Should I bring her an offering? Oh, or the type we toss with coins?
[Sajiwiya]
...Hmm?
[Sajo still?]
Calm down, me. I controlled myself from jumping up and down. That's right, let's go to the convenience store and buy all the candy. That's right, that's a good idea. Because I think I'm going to drown in whipped cream too. I feel like I'm running out of sugar in my head. Wait for me, Airi-chan. I'm going to spend all your energy and torture myself today.
[I'll bring lots of snacks.]
[Ai-chan, she almost forgot about Sajocchi for a while (haha)]
[When I said the person holding Airi, Iihoshi-san's name came up...]
[Impossible.]
Wait, Airi-chan...? Oh, I see, so my current rival is Iihoshi-san. She is indeed a tough opponent.
[What does she remember?]
[She said you have weird hair...]
[Thank you very much.]
[Sajocchi. Can you give Aichi some space to care about you?]
I appreciate you reminding me of that. Hey Ashida, have you reached Natsukawa's house by now? I'm late. Is it okay if I go there? It's like a girls' night out, and I'm afraid that I'll ruin the atmosphere if I join. I'm just an obstacle... ...If you two just pay attention to me, I won't be shy anymore.
[Should I come?]
This is important. There are times when I think that I understand a girl's mind when I don't. I don't realize it, and it's like an indirect way of saying, "We're both having fun." Because it's a girls' night out, right? What if they misunderstand and get frustrated? What should I do? Come to think of it, how can a boy come to a girl's house as if it's a normal thing to do?
That's why I dared to ask them this question, to find out their true intentions...
[Eh? Just come, what are you talking about?]
[Oh, yeah]
S-So fast...!
Ashida's turn of phrase scared me, so I hurriedly answered her. Eh? What's with a hot atmosphere like this? She told me that it was a natural thing. Will they be mad if I don't come? Uncle got surprised, you know. Uncle... ...uh, I mean, I remembered something that I don't like.
[Eh? Are you coming?]
[I'll come. I'm on my way.]
[Yeah, okay.]
W-Was it just my imagination...? The atmosphere seemed a bit tense through the message..., Are you sure that you're okay with it? You won't hurt me, right? I'm a bit afraid of Ashida-san. I've gotten into trouble before, and I may have been traumatized by the existence of "girl classmates"... Haha, hahaha...
No, I like it in a normal sense.
TL Note: This is the end of Part Three/Volume Three of the Web Novel version. Actually, there's an extra chapter after this chapter, but since it's an LN-only chapter, we're not going to translate it, so if you want to read the chapter, you can do it by purchasing the official English translation of Light Novel Volume 3 when it comes out. After this chapter, we'll continue to translate the Part Four.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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