Chapter 127Inside That Letter
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Dear Sajou-kun!
Good morning. It's me, Ichinose Mina.
I'm sorry that I suddenly sent this letter to you. I sent this letter because I wanted to talk to you. It's my first time writing to someone like this, so I'm a bit embarrassed...
Some time has passed since Sajou-kun decided to quit his part-time job during summer vacation. I've been able to serve customers, and I think it's mostly because of Sajou-kun's support. However, now, I have to start working part-time at night... ...and I've been sleeping late more often. I also yawned a lot the next day... and I felt very embarrassed when Shirai-san saw me.
Then, on a holiday a few days ago, Sasaki-san, who also knows Sajou-kun, came to the bookstore. She took a break from studying for her high school entrance exam, then came to the bookstore and visited us, but when she found out that Sajou-kun had quit his part-time job, she was very disappointed. You must not have told her, right? ...She was so angry that she said, "How dare he not tell me!"
She told me that she had no way to contact Sajou-kun and asked me to give her our messaging app IDs. Since we haven't exchanged personal contact information... ...that's why I'm writing this letter to you like this.
Actually... I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to start using the messaging app myself... ...Yeah, with the help of Big Bro and Yuri-san, I managed to do the same with Sasaki-san, and entered her ID into my smartphone. Yeah, it's been a long time since that time, but I feel that I'm gradually able to deal with them without having to run away from them.
So, um... ...if you don't mind, like Sasaki-san, I would also like to ask for your contact information, ...Um, it's okay if it bothers you. I don't want to bother you like I did during our part-time job. It's just that I haven't been able to talk and chat with Sajou-kun at school. ...Um, I'm sorry that I'm suddenly saying this. It's okay if we invite Sasaki-san... ...Look, I'd be very happy if I could chat with you if you don't mind.
—Ichinose Mina.
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On the back of this letter, there was a small note bordered with a cute floral border. In the center, as if that was enough, there was the name "Fuuka" and the account ID written in capitals. Perhaps that was what she really meant, in the bottom right corner of the note, there was a string of letters similar to the name "Mina" written in small letters, containing an apology.
"..."
That's cute. (Angrily)
Huh? It's cute, anyway. What's wrong with my racing heartbeat? This is more than just a love letter, isn't it? Wait a minute, is this not a love letter? What the heck happened in Japan? Sasaki-san was angry, so she asked Ichinose-san to give her my messaging app ID... ...Yeah, is this just for sending that message? Is this not made to make people writhe in pain with a message? What kind of excitement is this? Is it because of Yunker*?
(TL Note: Yunker is a Japanese energy drink brand.)
Come to think of it, I think it's fine if we exchange messages in person, anyway... ...I'm sure that we can exchange contact information when we're still working part-time during the summer vacation. Is she so clumsy that she would bother to write a letter...? ...She's too cute, isn't she? Or, is she too cute to show off in the classroom? ...I want to scream, but I can't. I want to spread this news, but I can't. I feel like my body is going to explode.
Middle school girls, high school girls, and college girls have united and worked together to make me squirm... As expected of a high school girl. She was the one who stood out the most. Is this really some kind of covert plan? It's like a terrorist act that suddenly makes people laugh on a quiet train. Could this be the result of a twist...? I can't believe it, is she doing this to fulfill one of her missions...!?
No, no, no, calm down, I'm just too upset. It's the same as when someone says "Let's be friends!" in an online game, right? Haven't you ever been that happy or sad about something like that? I wasn't happy about anything either. I could only reply, "Okay," flatly.
I should reply to this letter— Eh? How should I reply to this letter? Should I write to her too? Since she's done so much for me, I should also write her a letter.... This is amazing. I'll impress Ichinose-san, the literature girl, with my skillful writing.
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Dear, Ichinose-san.
Okay, I'll include both of your names in my smartphone.
- Sajou Wataru.
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This probably won't work.
I've never felt more like a waste of paper than I do now. I wonder if it's a negative effect of using my smartphone too much... ...I can't write long sentences. Even though it was just a reply to her letter, I felt like I was picking a fight with her. I started to feel the killing intent in the reply I wrote myself. If I were Ichinose-san, I probably wouldn't have forgiven myself.
Ichinose-san, why are you sending me a letter? ...No, I don't really mind, really? Actually, it makes me feel better. My feeling of happiness is really overwhelming. Really, my brain is filled with oxytocin. Because I was so excited. I was so moved that I felt like crying with emotion. Oxytocin started coming out of my eyes.
But, um, the difficulty level is quite high... ...Huh!? I wonder, is this what she's looking for!? Is it because she's still hurt because I warned her a lot while working part-time, that she's trying to take revenge on me and get me into trouble like this? Is making me writhe in pain in the classroom part of her tactics? ...No, no, no, I'm just being paranoid. There's no way Ichinose-san would think like that. Don't twist the facts too much just because you're unpopular, you b*stard!
One more time. Let's look at Ichinose-san's letter one more time. I'm sure it will heal my broken heart. Just a glimpse.
"..."
It's so cute, d*mmit! (Angrily)
...Wait a minute. Ashida made a scene before we switched seating positions, but Ichinose-san must have heard it, right? Eh? Oh, no! This is so embarrassing! It's not a love letter or anything like that, so why am I so excited? And what if the sender hears it too...? Is this the most embarrassing thing I've ever heard?
♦
"So what!? What does it say!?"
"Can you be quiet for a moment, Ashida?"
"Eh...?"
As soon as I realized it, my embarrassment grew even more. I felt so embarrassed that Ashida was making such a fuss. When I saw this from Ichinose-san's POV, it made me feel even more intimidated. She's probably laughing inside right now.
"How could this be a love letter, that's funny! (LOL!)"
I'm sure it must be like this—No, it's different, isn't it? This kind of thing will not only break my heart, but also make me lose trust in others. It's okay... ...In Ichinose-san's case, she's probably more worried about what she should do if people take the letter as a love letter. It's good if I talk to her about this as soon as possible... ...For my own sake.
"Making a fuss over a letter... ...Heh? You're still too naive, aren't you!?"
"I don't know why you're suddenly so annoying!"
To get to Ichinose-san, I had to sneak past this Ashida cheek. She was a persistent and tough opponent. I can't help but say that she has no delicacies. It's not good, if she can't understand other people's feelings and is more concerned with her own curiosity.
"I can't talk about this kind of thing with others. Do you understand?"
"Sajocchi, you're the kind of person who says those kinds of words. You have no delicacies yourself!"
"Didn't you just say that yourself?"
It wasn't a love letter, but that was a different story when I thought about whether we could talk about it or not. Given Ichinose-san's personality, I think she might not want others to see it, and more than anything, I'm afraid she might lose her sense of trust. It's very risky to go up to her and talk to her in person... ...Ichinose-san was talked to by a boy all the time during class. Not in a bad way, really.
"Because it makes me curious, after all..."
"The delicacies inside me are screaming at me not to tell you anything."
"I beg you, you must release it immediately."
"I won't be trapped by you, you know!"
I've been teased by her many times, but this is probably the first time I've felt so rude to her. No, come to think of it, I don't think so... ...It might have been an alternative to poking my ass through the seat. I think she's used to being rude to me in a bad way... ...Sorry, I'm so used to it that it's become a greeting for me.
"—Th-Then...!"
"!"
"So, was it actually a love letter... ...or not, though, just that...?"
Natsukawa asked me hesitantly. This is the point, Ashida. Yeah, all you need is "humility". She has such deep humility that she's secretly curious but she feels hesitant to ask. If you say it with words like that, I probably won't hesitate to tell you either.—
...Wait a moment. Is that why I should tell them? I was embarrassed that I had to explain to them that it wasn't a love letter after I got so upset and confused them. Moreover, if the person who found out about it was Natsukawa... ...That's so ridiculous!
"What's that? What's that? Is it really like that?"
"Um... ...Yeah, it's almost close to that kind of thing, you know?"
"Eh...?"
"Eh!? That's not something like a challenge letter!?"
I couldn't deny it. The fact that it was indeed a letter, its content, its awkwardness, and its overall cuteness made me tremble... ...I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said that the letter was trying to make me fall. Even though I was in the classroom, I couldn't help but growl. If I suddenly started growling and groaning during class, then I'd be a bad person. Even so, just thinking about it made me grin.
"Hehe... ...I guess this letter came to me to fulfill my purpose."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
It was something that suddenly happened.
Author's Note: "Sun*—"
(TL Note: The sound effect of staring flatly in the manga!)
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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