[Warning 15+]
Part Two~Save That Old Energy Only For Me, Seriously!~Chapter 69Shaking Hands
After school that day, Hayato swung back home for a bit.
"Sign or stamp here, please."
"...I'll just sign."
Hayato picked up a small parcel that arrived exactly at the time specified in the message from his Dad. It was pretty light, maybe about the size of a textbook. The contents label read 'Embroidery Kit'.
(...For rehab, I guess?)
Looks like it was something Hayato's Dad bought for Mom.
Hayato scratched his head, thinking his Dad could've just delivered it himself, before heading off to the hospital still decked out in his school uniform.
The weather was drizzly. Kinda gloomy, honestly.
Even though the crappy sky didn’t exactly call for an umbrella, it still got Hayato's hair and clothes damp enough to be annoying. He hurried toward the station, wanting to just get this errand over with as fast as possible.
◇◇◇
This General Hospital—the biggest one in the area—was even more massive than Hayato's high school, boasting a unique, imposing, and solid vibe.
It felt like a prison camp, giving off the impression that once it swallowed someone up, it had no intention of letting them escape.
In fact, Hayato's Mom was also chained down here by a sickness, held as a prisoner of sorts.
Being here didn't exactly lift Hayato's spirits.
Hayato couldn't tell if it was the weather, the hospital itself, or if he was just distracted thinking about Haruki and Kaidō Kazuki.
At the same time, Hayato definitely felt a sense of duty to show his face sooner or later, so the errand from his Dad was actually a pretty good excuse to drop by.
"...Sigh."
Hayato let out a heavy sigh as he sluggishly went through the visitor registration process.
Come to think of it, the main reason they moved from Tsukinose was for Hayato's Mom's hospitalization. Hayato figured his Dad made a pretty bold call back then.
But it was also a fact that the move was the only reason Hayato'd managed to reunite with Haruki.
(Oh, d*mmit!)
Hayato's head was a total mess. He just couldn't get his thoughts straight.
Once Hayato dropped off this package, he was gonna vent all this weird frustration by making some unnecessarily fancy croquettes—with that in mind, he hopped on the elevator and hit the button for the 6th floor, where his Mom's room was.
"Huh?"
The second Hayato stepped out of the elevator, a totally dumb sound escaped his mouth.
Hayato's brain just couldn't process the unexpected scene playing out right in front of him.
"Now, now, you're a girl, so you've gotta keep your hair looking nice! There are totally styles that only work because of that wavy hair of yours. Girl, I'm getting fired up now!"
"Kaka, my bad, Kirishima-san. My house is nothing but a bunch of dudes, so I'm pretty clueless about this kind of stuff. Good for you, Minamo."
"Au..."
The lounge area right outside the elevator.
For some reason, Hayato's Mom was right there, busily and a bit forcefully messing around with Mitake Minamo's hair. Standing around them, Minamo's Grandpa and some familiar faces—probably other patients from the same room—watched on with warm smiles.
Hayato's Mom's energetic face was a stark contrast to Minamo's beet-red face as she just sat there and let it happen. It almost looked like she was being treated like a doll, but nobody stepped in to stop it. If anything, they were totally mesmerized.
And for good reason.
With those swift, expert hands, Minamo's hair was combed and braided in the blink of an eye. The transformation was like straight-up magic, and it naturally drew everyone's eyes. Hayato was no exception.
In just a matter of minutes, Minamo looked so cute she was almost unrecognizable.
"Took a little effort, but it's a perfect finish! Yep, yep, so cute, so cute!"
"O-Oh, Minamo... ...Minamo has become such a beauty..."
"Wow, Minamo-chan, you look like a different person. This is amazing."
"Man, it's crazy how much a girl's vibe can change with just one hairstyle."
"Wh-What? This is me...?!"
Minamo's Grandpa was so moved he actually started praying in gratitude, while the regulars joined in with a chorus of cheers and compliments. Hayato's Mom handed over a mirror, clearly enjoying the reaction of the shy, startled, yet blushing girl.
The braided half-up hairstyle had completely wiped away Minamo's usual frumpiness. Instead, it played up the innocent charm of her wavy hair while adding a slightly mature vibe, making Hayato unintentionally catch his breath.
(Eh, okay, what the heck is happening here?)
It was totally beyond Hayato's comprehension.
The only thing he knew for sure was that a Mitake Minamo with her hair actually done was way cuter than Hayato'd ever imagined.
Seeing Minamo's look so different—shy but beaming with joy—made Hayato's heart skip a beat, much to his own annoyance.
"Oh, Hayato, you brought it for me, didn't you?"
"O-Oh, yeah."
"Wh-Whoa?! Kirishima-san, eh, um, this is...!"
"Hmph, it's that brat from before!"
Noticing Hayato, his Mom beckoned him over with a strangely bright, mischievous smile.
Hayato tried to play it cool by flashing the parcel he was carrying, hoping his Mom wouldn't notice how rattled he was, but his Mom's "I'm up to no good" face didn't budge. Mom then grabbed Minamo—who was trying to hide behind her Grandpa out of pure embarrassment—by the shoulders and shoved Minamo right in front of Hayato.
"So, what do you think? Don't you think Minamo-chan looks absolutely adorable?"
"Oh—yeah, I think Mitake-san's really pretty..."
"Wh-What?! A-Awawa, I... ...um..."
"Hey, you punk! Don't you dare try hitting on Minamo!"
Since Mom asked Hayato with such confidence, the words just slipped out of Hayato's mouth exactly as he thought them. It was a totally natural reaction.
"Eh, yeah, well... ...it's, you know..."
"Y-Yeah... ...'you know,' right..."
As their eyes met, Minamo blinked in total shock, making Hayato lose his cool over his own careless words, and they both quickly looked away. The small talk they were making didn't even make sense anymore.
Being watched by Hayato's smirking Mom and the regulars, not to mention feeling the full force of Minamo's Grandpa's murderous aura, Hayato felt super awkward and just wanted to get the heck out of there.
"Ahem, anyway, here! This is the stuff Dad asked me to bring!"
Unable to take the tension anymore, Hayato forced a cough and tried to hand over the parcel, but that's when it happened.
"...Oh."
A heavy thud echoed through the area.
It should've been a simple hand-off.
Even though Hayato made sure his Mom had a firm grip on it, the parcel dropped straight to the floor.
Hayato's Mom played it off with a troubled look like it was just a clumsy mistake, but her hands, trembling ever so slightly, silenced everyone around them.
This was a hospital. It spoke volumes that this wasn't just some random accident—it was the very reason Hayato's Mom was stuck here in the first place.
"Ahem, well, this is embarrassing. It just happens sometimes. Hayato, thanks for bringing the stuff for me."
"...It's fine, no big deal, Mom."
But Hayato's Mom forced a bright face and a cheerful voice, waving the hand that had been trembling just moments ago, acting like it was absolutely nothing.
"I'm gonna work hard on my rehab with this. And... ...Minamo-chan."
"Y-Yeah!"
"Next time you come to visit your Grandpa, would it be okay if I play with your hair again? It's actually perfect for my rehab exercises."
"Wh-What?! I mean, sure, that's fine, but..."
Taken aback by the sudden request, Minamo blinked in surprise, her gaze darting back and forth between Hayato's face and his Mom's hand.
Normally, Hayato would've stepped in to say something, but after what just happened, he could only give Minamo a vague, uncertain look.
The mood was heavy.
But acting like she couldn't care less about what those two were thinking, Hayato's Mom took Minamo's hand, pulled her close, and smiled.
"My daughter doesn't let me mess with her hair anymore these days... ...Oh my, your hands are so rough. And your skin, too... ...Are you taking care of yourself? You can't have that—you're a girl, after all!"
"Hauh, well, um, it's 'cause I grow veggies, so..."
And then, with a steady hand that wasn't shaking anymore, Hayato's Mom started fussing over Minamo again.
Hayato's Mom could be a real busybody. Plus, she didn't exactly have a "filter" when it came to boundaries.
Minamo just stood there and took it, shooting Hayato a look like she was begging for backup, totally clueless about what to do.
"We're heading home today."
"K-Kirishima-san!?"
Not knowing what else to say, Hayato just grabbed Minamo's hand right out of his Mom's grip and pulled Minamo toward the elevator.
Since Minamo was totally overwhelmed by the situation anyway, she was more than happy to just go along with it and be led away.
"Oh, what a shame. Hayato, make sure you walk her home properly, okay?"
"You punk! What do you think you're doing with Minamo!?"
"Minamo-chan, come back and visit soon!"
"We're looking forward to those veggies!"
From behind them, Hayato could hear everyone's teasing voices mixed in with a few angry shouts.
Author's Notes:
＼ Meow ／
∧＿∧＿_
／(´・ω・`) ／＼
／|￣￣￣￣|＼／
| |／
￣￣￣￣
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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Donations are very much appreciated.
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After school that day, Hayato swung back home for a bit.
"Sign or stamp here, please."
"...I'll just sign."
Hayato picked up a small parcel that arrived exactly at the time specified in the message from his Dad. It was pretty light, maybe about the size of a textbook. The contents label read 'Embroidery Kit'.
(...For rehab, I guess?)
Looks like it was something Hayato's Dad bought for Mom.
Hayato scratched his head, thinking his Dad could've just delivered it himself, before heading off to the hospital still decked out in his school uniform.
The weather was drizzly. Kinda gloomy, honestly.
Even though the crappy sky didn’t exactly call for an umbrella, it still got Hayato's hair and clothes damp enough to be annoying. He hurried toward the station, wanting to just get this errand over with as fast as possible.
◇◇◇
This General Hospital—the biggest one in the area—was even more massive than Hayato's high school, boasting a unique, imposing, and solid vibe.
It felt like a prison camp, giving off the impression that once it swallowed someone up, it had no intention of letting them escape.
In fact, Hayato's Mom was also chained down here by a sickness, held as a prisoner of sorts.
Being here didn't exactly lift Hayato's spirits.
Hayato couldn't tell if it was the weather, the hospital itself, or if he was just distracted thinking about Haruki and Kaidō Kazuki.
At the same time, Hayato definitely felt a sense of duty to show his face sooner or later, so the errand from his Dad was actually a pretty good excuse to drop by.
"...Sigh."
Hayato let out a heavy sigh as he sluggishly went through the visitor registration process.
Come to think of it, the main reason they moved from Tsukinose was for Hayato's Mom's hospitalization. Hayato figured his Dad made a pretty bold call back then.
But it was also a fact that the move was the only reason Hayato'd managed to reunite with Haruki.
(Oh, d*mmit!)
Hayato's head was a total mess. He just couldn't get his thoughts straight.
Once Hayato dropped off this package, he was gonna vent all this weird frustration by making some unnecessarily fancy croquettes—with that in mind, he hopped on the elevator and hit the button for the 6th floor, where his Mom's room was.
"Huh?"
The second Hayato stepped out of the elevator, a totally dumb sound escaped his mouth.
Hayato's brain just couldn't process the unexpected scene playing out right in front of him.
"Now, now, you're a girl, so you've gotta keep your hair looking nice! There are totally styles that only work because of that wavy hair of yours. Girl, I'm getting fired up now!"
"Kaka, my bad, Kirishima-san. My house is nothing but a bunch of dudes, so I'm pretty clueless about this kind of stuff. Good for you, Minamo."
"Au..."
The lounge area right outside the elevator.
For some reason, Hayato's Mom was right there, busily and a bit forcefully messing around with Mitake Minamo's hair. Standing around them, Minamo's Grandpa and some familiar faces—probably other patients from the same room—watched on with warm smiles.
Hayato's Mom's energetic face was a stark contrast to Minamo's beet-red face as she just sat there and let it happen. It almost looked like she was being treated like a doll, but nobody stepped in to stop it. If anything, they were totally mesmerized.
And for good reason.
With those swift, expert hands, Minamo's hair was combed and braided in the blink of an eye. The transformation was like straight-up magic, and it naturally drew everyone's eyes. Hayato was no exception.
In just a matter of minutes, Minamo looked so cute she was almost unrecognizable.
"Took a little effort, but it's a perfect finish! Yep, yep, so cute, so cute!"
"O-Oh, Minamo... ...Minamo has become such a beauty..."
"Wow, Minamo-chan, you look like a different person. This is amazing."
"Man, it's crazy how much a girl's vibe can change with just one hairstyle."
"Wh-What? This is me...?!"
Minamo's Grandpa was so moved he actually started praying in gratitude, while the regulars joined in with a chorus of cheers and compliments. Hayato's Mom handed over a mirror, clearly enjoying the reaction of the shy, startled, yet blushing girl.
The braided half-up hairstyle had completely wiped away Minamo's usual frumpiness. Instead, it played up the innocent charm of her wavy hair while adding a slightly mature vibe, making Hayato unintentionally catch his breath.
(Eh, okay, what the heck is happening here?)
It was totally beyond Hayato's comprehension.
The only thing he knew for sure was that a Mitake Minamo with her hair actually done was way cuter than Hayato'd ever imagined.
Seeing Minamo's look so different—shy but beaming with joy—made Hayato's heart skip a beat, much to his own annoyance.
"Oh, Hayato, you brought it for me, didn't you?"
"O-Oh, yeah."
"Wh-Whoa?! Kirishima-san, eh, um, this is...!"
"Hmph, it's that brat from before!"
Noticing Hayato, his Mom beckoned him over with a strangely bright, mischievous smile.
Hayato tried to play it cool by flashing the parcel he was carrying, hoping his Mom wouldn't notice how rattled he was, but his Mom's "I'm up to no good" face didn't budge. Mom then grabbed Minamo—who was trying to hide behind her Grandpa out of pure embarrassment—by the shoulders and shoved Minamo right in front of Hayato.
"So, what do you think? Don't you think Minamo-chan looks absolutely adorable?"
"Oh—yeah, I think Mitake-san's really pretty..."
"Wh-What?! A-Awawa, I... ...um..."
"Hey, you punk! Don't you dare try hitting on Minamo!"
Since Mom asked Hayato with such confidence, the words just slipped out of Hayato's mouth exactly as he thought them. It was a totally natural reaction.
"Eh, yeah, well... ...it's, you know..."
"Y-Yeah... ...'you know,' right..."
As their eyes met, Minamo blinked in total shock, making Hayato lose his cool over his own careless words, and they both quickly looked away. The small talk they were making didn't even make sense anymore.
Being watched by Hayato's smirking Mom and the regulars, not to mention feeling the full force of Minamo's Grandpa's murderous aura, Hayato felt super awkward and just wanted to get the heck out of there.
"Ahem, anyway, here! This is the stuff Dad asked me to bring!"
Unable to take the tension anymore, Hayato forced a cough and tried to hand over the parcel, but that's when it happened.
"...Oh."
A heavy thud echoed through the area.
It should've been a simple hand-off.
Even though Hayato made sure his Mom had a firm grip on it, the parcel dropped straight to the floor.
Hayato's Mom played it off with a troubled look like it was just a clumsy mistake, but her hands, trembling ever so slightly, silenced everyone around them.
This was a hospital. It spoke volumes that this wasn't just some random accident—it was the very reason Hayato's Mom was stuck here in the first place.
"Ahem, well, this is embarrassing. It just happens sometimes. Hayato, thanks for bringing the stuff for me."
"...It's fine, no big deal, Mom."
But Hayato's Mom forced a bright face and a cheerful voice, waving the hand that had been trembling just moments ago, acting like it was absolutely nothing.
"I'm gonna work hard on my rehab with this. And... ...Minamo-chan."
"Y-Yeah!"
"Next time you come to visit your Grandpa, would it be okay if I play with your hair again? It's actually perfect for my rehab exercises."
"Wh-What?! I mean, sure, that's fine, but..."
Taken aback by the sudden request, Minamo blinked in surprise, her gaze darting back and forth between Hayato's face and his Mom's hand.
Normally, Hayato would've stepped in to say something, but after what just happened, he could only give Minamo a vague, uncertain look.
The mood was heavy.
But acting like she couldn't care less about what those two were thinking, Hayato's Mom took Minamo's hand, pulled her close, and smiled.
"My daughter doesn't let me mess with her hair anymore these days... ...Oh my, your hands are so rough. And your skin, too... ...Are you taking care of yourself? You can't have that—you're a girl, after all!"
"Hauh, well, um, it's 'cause I grow veggies, so..."
And then, with a steady hand that wasn't shaking anymore, Hayato's Mom started fussing over Minamo again.
Hayato's Mom could be a real busybody. Plus, she didn't exactly have a "filter" when it came to boundaries.
Minamo just stood there and took it, shooting Hayato a look like she was begging for backup, totally clueless about what to do.
"We're heading home today."
"K-Kirishima-san!?"
Not knowing what else to say, Hayato just grabbed Minamo's hand right out of his Mom's grip and pulled Minamo toward the elevator.
Since Minamo was totally overwhelmed by the situation anyway, she was more than happy to just go along with it and be led away.
"Oh, what a shame. Hayato, make sure you walk her home properly, okay?"
"You punk! What do you think you're doing with Minamo!?"
"Minamo-chan, come back and visit soon!"
"We're looking forward to those veggies!"
From behind them, Hayato could hear everyone's teasing voices mixed in with a few angry shouts.
Author's Notes:
＼ Meow ／
∧＿∧＿_
／(´・ω・`) ／＼
／|￣￣￣￣|＼／
| |／
￣￣￣￣
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: