[Warning 15+]
Author's Notes:
This is the third update out of three.Got an announcement in the afterword.
Part Two~Save That Old Energy Only For Me, Seriously!~Chapter 84Save That Old Energy Only For Me, Seriously!
The house Haruki returned to with Hayato was dark and lifeless, just like always.
"...Guess your Mom's not here."
"Well, Mom's a busy woman. Last time I saw her was for the high school enrollment paperwork, and before that... ...maybe for the field trip stuff back at the start of the third year of the middle school?"
"I see..."
That pretty much said it all—Takura Mao, as a parent, only did the absolute bare minimum when it came to legal stuff and actually seeing her daughter.
It was a straight-up distorted parent-child relationship.
In contrast to Hayato, who looked pained by the situation, Haruki actually looked relieved, letting out a sigh of suppressed anxiety. To Haruki, "Mom" was just a word for someone like that.
Haruki's Mom wasn't someone to expect anything from or ask anything of anymore. The only thing her biological mom ever wanted from Haruki was to "Be a good girl" and wait. Haruki knew deep down that this was messed up.
But to Haruki, this was just how life was. Actually, it'd be more accurate to say she didn't know any other way.
However, Haruki had finally learned what warmth felt like.
The heat from Hayato was radiating through their joined right hands.
"Mmm, thanks for everything today."
"...Whatever, I just did it 'cause I felt like it."
Then, without a word from either of them, they let go of each other's hands.
The second that physical contact was gone, Haruki felt a wave of loneliness wash over her, and a troubled little laugh slipped out.
Because of that, Haruki started thinking. It was something she'd been turning a blind eye to without even realizing it.
Back when she was in Tsukinose, Haruki remembered being looked after a lot by Hayato's Mom. His Mom was a bit pushy and meddlesome, just like Hayato—a memory of someone who actually poured real love into her child, unlike Haruki's own Mom.
If someone like that suddenly collapsed and disappeared from view... ...the sense of loss must be on a whole different level compared to the empty feeling Haruki felt in her right hand right now. That was something Mitake Minamo had just made Haruki realize, too.
That's why a sudden urge to do something for Hayato welled up inside Haruki, and a smile naturally formed on her lips. She decided she was gonna give it her all from now on.
"Well then, see y—"
"Wait, Haruki."
"―Hayato?"
It happened just as they were about to say goodbye like they always did.
Hayato suddenly grabbed Haruki's hand right as she reached for her front door, and then he forced something into her palm.
Wondering what the heck it was, Haruki looked down. There it was—a key with a cat keychain she'd seen somewhere recently. Haruki couldn't wrap her head around what was happening, her eyes darting back and forth between the key and Hayato's face.
Then, looking totally embarrassed, Hayato scratched his head, turned his face away, and blurted it out in his usual blunt tone.
"That's... ...eh, the spare key to my place."
"Eh... ...oh, okay...?"
"Look, if you ever get sick of being alone in a house that feels like a birdcage, then, well... ...you should just come over whenever you feel like it. First thing in the morning, middle of the night... ...I just want you to come over without worrying about it."
"Hayato... ...wh-whoa?!"
Then, turning back to Haruki, Hayato started aggressively messing up her hair just to hide how flustered he was.
"H-Hey, stop that—"
"The thing is... ...you're not the only one who feels like they want to do something for the other person."
"―Hayato...?"
It was simple, really—they felt the exact same way.
The look in Hayato's eyes as he smiled like that was something Haruki had never seen before, and it made her heart flutter in a way that felt strangely intense.
"Alright, catch ya later."
"...Oh."
Then, with his usual smile, Hayato took off like he was making a run for it.
(TL Note: Ignore their uniforms and Hayato's hands. Haruki's still in Minamo's jersey and Hayato's in his casual clothes.)
Haruki just stood there dazed, watching Hayato go, before finally heading inside and opening the front door in total silence with shaky steps.
"..."
Without even bothering to flip a switch, Haruki moved through the dark house by muscle memory, headed up the stairs, and ducked into her room.
Light from the stars and streetlamps filtered through the uncurtained window, dimly lighting up the messy space.
There was a mirror and makeup kits on Haruki's desk. On the bed lay the clothes she'd agonized over wearing today, along with that lingerie she'd gone out of her way to buy. Game consoles and manga were scattered on the floor next to fashion and lifestyle magazines. In the shadows, they looked kinda lonely, like the leftovers of a party that'd just ended.
But inside, Haruki's heart was still pounding like the party was in full swing.
Haruki shut the door, leaned her back against it, and slid down until she hit the floor.
Sitting there in a "duck sit" pose, Haruki squeezed her right hand tight against her chest—the same hand Hayato'd been holding just a minute ago. And now, tucked inside that hand, was the spare key to Hayato's place.
"...That's so not fair."
I should've been first, I should be the one for Hayato, I should be even more―all these resentful thoughts started swarming in Haruki's head. Haruki couldn't stop picturing the look Hayato gave her when they said goodbye—that troubled but happy face that reminded her of how he used to act back in Tsukinose when he'd throw a tantrum because he wanted to play longer. It totally made her heart ache.
It hurt, yet it felt sweet, lonely, and almost driving Haruki crazy—and she felt weird for not even hating the feeling. The key gripped in her right hand felt incredibly hot.
That's just the kind of boy Hayato is.
Just like Hayato did with Kazuki today, Hayato'll probably keep reaching out to people without a second thought, just like the old days, and keep messing with everyone's hearts.
Haruki let out a heavy, hot sigh that melted into the darkness.
The same lonely house as always.
The same dark, lonely room as always.
Haruki should've been all alone as always, yet her chest was throbbing with a dull ache that was nothing like the usual.
Without thinking, Haruki turned her gaze toward the direction of the apartment where Hayato lived.
And there were words Haruki wanted to scream at the top of her lungs in her heart.
―Save that old energy only for me, seriously!
Author's Notes:
So, it ended up being a bit longer than I planned, but that's a wrap for Part Two. How'd you guys like it?
Also, big news—this series is officially getting a light novel release from K*dokawa Sn*aker B*nko!
This is all thanks to every single one of you awesome kitties who've been supporting me! Meow!
Oh, and I'll drop the full details on the book release later on.
Anyway, if you think this is fire! Or it's great! Or you want the next part ASAP! Or just wanna say congrats on the book deal!
If that's the case, as a wedding-gift-style celeb, please bookmark this and turn those ☆☆☆☆☆ into solid ★★★★★! Do it! Seriously! I'm begging you! I really want those reviews (kitty whimper).
If you've read this far, you probably already know the drill...
Your congrats and feedback will reach me if you just give a big "Meow!"
Keep those meows coming!
Translator's Notes:
We'd like to give you guys a quick heads-up: The Light Novel (LN) version actually has quite a few differences compared to this Web Novel (WN) version. So, even if you've already checked out the LN, we highly recommend reading through the WN here on our blog to spot all the changes for yourself.
A huge thanks to all the readers who've stuck with us this far! We're fully committed to seeing this Web Novel translation through to the very end—including the Parts that haven't even been adapted into the Light Novel yet. So, make sure to stay tuned and keep reading until the final chapter right here at Ninja Cross Translation!
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:
• Indonesian / Bahasa Indonesia
←Previous Table of Contents Next→
The house Haruki returned to with Hayato was dark and lifeless, just like always.
"...Guess your Mom's not here."
"Well, Mom's a busy woman. Last time I saw her was for the high school enrollment paperwork, and before that... ...maybe for the field trip stuff back at the start of the third year of the middle school?"
"I see..."
That pretty much said it all—Takura Mao, as a parent, only did the absolute bare minimum when it came to legal stuff and actually seeing her daughter.
It was a straight-up distorted parent-child relationship.
In contrast to Hayato, who looked pained by the situation, Haruki actually looked relieved, letting out a sigh of suppressed anxiety. To Haruki, "Mom" was just a word for someone like that.
Haruki's Mom wasn't someone to expect anything from or ask anything of anymore. The only thing her biological mom ever wanted from Haruki was to "Be a good girl" and wait. Haruki knew deep down that this was messed up.
But to Haruki, this was just how life was. Actually, it'd be more accurate to say she didn't know any other way.
However, Haruki had finally learned what warmth felt like.
The heat from Hayato was radiating through their joined right hands.
"Mmm, thanks for everything today."
"...Whatever, I just did it 'cause I felt like it."
Then, without a word from either of them, they let go of each other's hands.
The second that physical contact was gone, Haruki felt a wave of loneliness wash over her, and a troubled little laugh slipped out.
Because of that, Haruki started thinking. It was something she'd been turning a blind eye to without even realizing it.
Back when she was in Tsukinose, Haruki remembered being looked after a lot by Hayato's Mom. His Mom was a bit pushy and meddlesome, just like Hayato—a memory of someone who actually poured real love into her child, unlike Haruki's own Mom.
If someone like that suddenly collapsed and disappeared from view... ...the sense of loss must be on a whole different level compared to the empty feeling Haruki felt in her right hand right now. That was something Mitake Minamo had just made Haruki realize, too.
That's why a sudden urge to do something for Hayato welled up inside Haruki, and a smile naturally formed on her lips. She decided she was gonna give it her all from now on.
"Well then, see y—"
"Wait, Haruki."
"―Hayato?"
It happened just as they were about to say goodbye like they always did.
Hayato suddenly grabbed Haruki's hand right as she reached for her front door, and then he forced something into her palm.
Wondering what the heck it was, Haruki looked down. There it was—a key with a cat keychain she'd seen somewhere recently. Haruki couldn't wrap her head around what was happening, her eyes darting back and forth between the key and Hayato's face.
Then, looking totally embarrassed, Hayato scratched his head, turned his face away, and blurted it out in his usual blunt tone.
"That's... ...eh, the spare key to my place."
"Eh... ...oh, okay...?"
"Look, if you ever get sick of being alone in a house that feels like a birdcage, then, well... ...you should just come over whenever you feel like it. First thing in the morning, middle of the night... ...I just want you to come over without worrying about it."
"Hayato... ...wh-whoa?!"
Then, turning back to Haruki, Hayato started aggressively messing up her hair just to hide how flustered he was.
"H-Hey, stop that—"
"The thing is... ...you're not the only one who feels like they want to do something for the other person."
"―Hayato...?"
It was simple, really—they felt the exact same way.
The look in Hayato's eyes as he smiled like that was something Haruki had never seen before, and it made her heart flutter in a way that felt strangely intense.
"Alright, catch ya later."
"...Oh."
Then, with his usual smile, Hayato took off like he was making a run for it.
(TL Note: Ignore their uniforms and Hayato's hands. Haruki's still in Minamo's jersey and Hayato's in his casual clothes.)
Haruki just stood there dazed, watching Hayato go, before finally heading inside and opening the front door in total silence with shaky steps.
"..."
Without even bothering to flip a switch, Haruki moved through the dark house by muscle memory, headed up the stairs, and ducked into her room.
Light from the stars and streetlamps filtered through the uncurtained window, dimly lighting up the messy space.
There was a mirror and makeup kits on Haruki's desk. On the bed lay the clothes she'd agonized over wearing today, along with that lingerie she'd gone out of her way to buy. Game consoles and manga were scattered on the floor next to fashion and lifestyle magazines. In the shadows, they looked kinda lonely, like the leftovers of a party that'd just ended.
But inside, Haruki's heart was still pounding like the party was in full swing.
Haruki shut the door, leaned her back against it, and slid down until she hit the floor.
Sitting there in a "duck sit" pose, Haruki squeezed her right hand tight against her chest—the same hand Hayato'd been holding just a minute ago. And now, tucked inside that hand, was the spare key to Hayato's place.
"...That's so not fair."
I should've been first, I should be the one for Hayato, I should be even more―all these resentful thoughts started swarming in Haruki's head. Haruki couldn't stop picturing the look Hayato gave her when they said goodbye—that troubled but happy face that reminded her of how he used to act back in Tsukinose when he'd throw a tantrum because he wanted to play longer. It totally made her heart ache.
It hurt, yet it felt sweet, lonely, and almost driving Haruki crazy—and she felt weird for not even hating the feeling. The key gripped in her right hand felt incredibly hot.
That's just the kind of boy Hayato is.
Just like Hayato did with Kazuki today, Hayato'll probably keep reaching out to people without a second thought, just like the old days, and keep messing with everyone's hearts.
Haruki let out a heavy, hot sigh that melted into the darkness.
The same lonely house as always.
The same dark, lonely room as always.
Haruki should've been all alone as always, yet her chest was throbbing with a dull ache that was nothing like the usual.
Without thinking, Haruki turned her gaze toward the direction of the apartment where Hayato lived.
And there were words Haruki wanted to scream at the top of her lungs in her heart.
―Save that old energy only for me, seriously!
Author's Notes:
So, it ended up being a bit longer than I planned, but that's a wrap for Part Two. How'd you guys like it?
Also, big news—this series is officially getting a light novel release from K*dokawa Sn*aker B*nko!
This is all thanks to every single one of you awesome kitties who've been supporting me! Meow!
Oh, and I'll drop the full details on the book release later on.
Anyway, if you think this is fire! Or it's great! Or you want the next part ASAP! Or just wanna say congrats on the book deal!
If that's the case, as a wedding-gift-style celeb, please bookmark this and turn those ☆☆☆☆☆ into solid ★★★★★! Do it! Seriously! I'm begging you! I really want those reviews (kitty whimper).
If you've read this far, you probably already know the drill...
Your congrats and feedback will reach me if you just give a big "Meow!"
Keep those meows coming!
Translator's Notes:
We'd like to give you guys a quick heads-up: The Light Novel (LN) version actually has quite a few differences compared to this Web Novel (WN) version. So, even if you've already checked out the LN, we highly recommend reading through the WN here on our blog to spot all the changes for yourself.
A huge thanks to all the readers who've stuck with us this far! We're fully committed to seeing this Web Novel translation through to the very end—including the Parts that haven't even been adapted into the Light Novel yet. So, make sure to stay tuned and keep reading until the final chapter right here at Ninja Cross Translation!
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:
• Indonesian / Bahasa Indonesia
←Previous Table of Contents Next→