[Warning 15+]
Author's Notes:
Somehow or another, we finally hit Chapter 100.
Part Three"―Seriously, Your Vibe Hasn't Changed a Bit Since the Old Days!"Chapter 100Himeko x Japanese Sweets
"It's over—!"
The second the bell rang to end the finals, Himeko threw both hands in the air and let out a victory screech, feeling totally liberated.
"Kirishima—I get the vibe, but let me actually collect the bubble sheets first, okay?"
"Ugh, my bad..."
Chuckles broke out all around the room, making Himeko shrink back in total embarrassment. Everyone's eyes were like, 'There she goes again,' but in a sweet way.
Once the Teacher finished grabbing the papers and headed out, the classroom exploded with cheers.
Himeko might've jumped the gun a bit, but even for students prep-ping for entrance exams, getting done with finals is a huge-*ss win. Just for today, everyone was busy making plans to hang out all over the place.
In the middle of all that hype, Torigai Honoka and the usual squad strolled over to Himeko's desk.
"Himeko-chan, you free after this? We're all talkin' about hittin' up a post-exam celebration."
"A celebration!? You mean that thing where everyone's like 'Good job on the finals!' and eats together!? I'm so in! Count me in!"
Himeko jumped on that invite instantly. Well, specifically, she jumped on the word "Celebration."
Back in Tsukinose, where kids Himeko's age were basically non-existent, a "celebration" meant a bunch of adults getting wasted after a Festival or a Countryside Meeting—something a kid like Himeko had zero part in. Students having their own celebration was strictly stuff she'd only seen in manga or anime.
Seeing Himeko's eyes sparkle, Honoka and the crew grinned while they talked about where to go.
"Oh, where are we goin'? Karaoke? I know a really good family restaurant!"
"Ahaha, a 'good' family restaurant? Anyway, there's this legendary traditional sweets shop called 'Okashizukasa Shiro', and it's super classy."
"It's actually a pretty famous date spot, too."
"Right now, the seasonal stuff like both kuzukiri and mizumanjuu are the ones to get!"
"They've got both nerikiri and kingyoku too—they look totally fancy!"
"And more than anything, the uniforms there are, like, crazy cute—"
"Legendary, classy, AND cute uniforms!?"
Hearing all these buzzwords she'd never once heard in the countryside, Himeko's hype levels went off the charts.
As Himeko grabbed her bag, acting like she wanted to bolt out the door right now, the others started getting ready while watching her with a smile. But then, Honoka suddenly let out an "Oh!" and frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"There's just one big problem with that place. Since it's so popular, sometimes you have to wait in a pretty long line."
"Wait, there's actually a line!?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Whoa, so it's so popular that people actually line up for it!"
Right now, summer is in full swing, and waiting in line under the scorching sun is honestly a total drag. It wasn't just Honoka; The other girls also had sour looks on their faces just thinking about it, but Himeko was a whole different story.
A popular shop with a long line—that was something you'd never, ever see in Tsukinose. To Himeko, it was like some legendary thing you only saw on TV or in news articles. Her eyes started sparkling even more than usual.
"Yep, yep, that's our Kirishima-chan for ya."
"Himeko-chan wouldn't be herself if she wasn't like this."
"Alright then, us 'Big Sissies' are gonna treat you to some shiratama anmitsu!"
"Wait, for real!? You girls... ...wait, they have anmitsu there too!?"
Seeing Himeko get all hyped up, Honoka and the others couldn't help but grin.
◇◇◇
'Okashizukasa Shiro' is located in a town two train stations away from Himeko and her cos' middle school.
Even though the train would've been faster, the girls chose to walk. A middle school girl's allowance is strictly limited, and the budget ceiling isn't exactly high.
Besides, if you're chatting the whole way, the distance doesn't even feel that long.
"Sigh... ...I'm looking forward to summer break, but at the same time, I'm totally not..."
"Don't even say that! But yeah, I feel ya. It's all gonna be sucked up by Cram School and Summer Intensives, though."
"We're exam students, so it is what it is, but we seriously need a breather somewhere!"
"A-Ahaha..."
For Himeko and her crew of exam-track students, talkin' about Summer Break usually turns into a total vent session.
Himeko, who had zero plans for Cram School or Summer Intensives, just flashed a stiff-*ss smile while her eyes darted around in a panic, thinkin', 'Cr*p, I'm not doing any of that stuff!?'
Then, as Himeko's gaze drifted, she caught sight of a massive white building that stood out like crazy even from where they were standing.
(Wh-What should I eat later? Back in the countryside, Japanese sweets were always just dango or yomogi buns, so I wanna try something you can only get out here in the city.)
For a sec, Himeko's face went stiff, but she shook her head hard and forced herself to focus on the shop they were headed to.
"Kirishima-chan, you got any plans—...Kirishima-chan?"
"Huh!? Oh, yeah, I'm totally down for some warabimochi or kuzukiri—y'know, something cold and smooth!"
"Ahaha, you were totally lost in thought about the food, weren't you? That's not what I meant. I was askin' if you've got any plans for Summer Break."
"Oh, right! That! Well, I'm still on the fence about a few things, but I'm definitely goin' back to Tsukinose. My bestie's a shrine maiden, so I gotta go cheer for her while she performs her dance at the Festival."
"A shrine maiden!? For real? That is so cool!"
"Yeah, she's the priest's daughter. Oh, I've got a pic, check it out."
"...Whoa!? She's gorgeous... ...and d*ng, her skin is so pale! Is that actually her real hair!?"
"Hey, lemme see as well!"
"Wait, seriously? She's the same age as us!?"
Looks like the conversation had shifted while Himeko was spaced out.
Himeko scrambled to move the topic toward goin' back home and talkin' about Saki, and Honoka and the others bit way harder than Himeko expected. Hearing her bestie get called beautiful and amazing made Himeko feel like a proud mom. Himeko just kept goin' on and on, preachin' about what a great person Saki actually is.
"—And like, since Big Bro has zero social cues, Saki-chan is always hidin' behind my back. Even at the festival, I dunno if it's 'cause Big Bro is just trash at givin' compliments, but she totally shuts down. On the flip side, Saki-chan is out here in the group chat hyping up the food Big Bro cooked, giving him tips, and being all sweet by starting conversations. She's seriously such a gem."
Before Himeko knew it, her talk had turned into a full-on vent session comparing Saki to her Big Bro. How he has no tact, needs to fix his look, is way too rough when waking Himeko up, and how he should really learn a thing or two from Saki-chan.
Honoka and the crew's eyes went wide like they couldn't believe what Himeko was saying, and they started blurting out their thoughts like a collective reality check.
"Wait, Hime-chan, are you actually for real right now?"
"S-Saki-chan is way too devoted, it's almost painful..."
"I don't get why her Big Bro is like that... ...wait, actually, it makes total sense since he's Kirishima-chan's Big Bro after all..."
"Man, this siblings duo is honestly something else..."
"Wait, what? You girls...?"
Getting a reaction that was a bit off from what she expected, Himeko just tilted her head in confusion.
Himeko didn't quite get it, but she could tell they were exasperated. She just figured they were on her side about her Big Bro being a pain and kept walking toward their destination.
And just like that, the destination they were heading for came right into view.
"Whoa!"
"D*ng, the line's actually legit."
"Since it's around this time, looks like a ton of people are plannin' to use this as a lunch substitute, just like us."
On the edge of the shopping district, a bit away from the station, stood a massive shop styled like an old-school Japanese house.
'Okashizukasa Shiro' didn't just stand out because of its traditional vibe; With a line of about 20 people snaking out the front, it was impossible to miss.
"Hey, hey, is the back of the line over there!? If we get in behind that person—"
"Oh, Himeko-chan?"
"—Huh?"
Someone called out to stop Himeko just as she was about to bolt. It was a young boy's voice.
Since she'd just moved recently, Himeko didn't have many acquaintances. When she turned around wonderin' who it was, even the women in line couldn't help but look back at the tall, breezy hottie standin' there—it was Kazuki.
Kazuki flashed a friendly grin and gave a casual wave, and Himeko broke into a huge-ass smile before skippin' over to him.
Himeko is usually crazy shy, but once she lets someone in, she gets attached fast. When they hung out the other day, she really liked how Kazuki was attentive to the little things and acted like a total gentleman—basically the polar opposite of Hayato.
"Kazuki-san!"
"Hey, Himeko-chan. What a coincidence, right? I just felt like stoppin' by to check out how the shop was doin'."
"I'm here for a post-exam celeb with my classmates... ...oh, are you all by yourself, Kazuki-san? It's super packed, so why don't you just come in with us? Plus, we gotta get in line fast!"
"Wait, eh, I—"
"Honoka-chan and the girls won't mind, right?"
Without even waitin' for a "yeah" from Kazuki, Himeko just grabbed his hand and dragged him right over to Honoka and the crew.
Himeko had a huge-*ss grin on her face, totally hyped to run into someone she knew in such a random spot.
Meanwhile, Honoka and the girls were just standin' there with their mouths wide open, totally left in the dust by the whole situation.
I mean, can you blame 'em? Even right now, Kazuki is such a hottie that he's catchin' thirsty looks from all the women nearby. But from Himeko herself? Zero romantic vibes. Not even a hint.
Honoka was especially trippin' since she'd been plannin' to tease Himeko about that photo she took in front of the theater—the one that looked like a total lover's spat. Now she was just more confused than ever.
In the middle of all that, Kazuki just shrugged, let out a long-*ss sigh, and muttered under his breath.
"Himeko-chan, you really are Hayato-kun's little sis, huh..."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean—?"
As Himeko pouted her lips in annoyance, Kazuki just brushed it off with a dry-*ss laugh.
Feelin' like she was bein' treated like a total kid, Himeko puffed out her cheeks in protest.
It was just a big-*ss mess of confusion.
But somehow, Honoka and the girls felt for Kazuki and his exasperation. They silently offered their prayers for Saki—the girl they'd never met—thinkin' about all the cr*p she must've gone through dealin' with this family.
Author's Notes:
A bunch of official announcements just dropped.
The physical book is set to hit the shelves on March 1 (though Sn*aker B*nko's site says February 27) (2021)!
I've posted illustrations and all kinds of stuff in the activity report, so definitely go check that out! And hey, if you're feelin' it, please add me to your favorite authors list!
Also, I've started postin' on Kakuyomu too. If the vibes are good over there, it'll definitely keep my motivation up with those incentives, so I'd really appreciate the support. That version is actually the first draft for the book, so you'll find plenty of cool stuff to enjoy. If I had to sum all that up in just one word, it'd be this:
Meow!!
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.
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Read in other languages:
"It's over—!"
The second the bell rang to end the finals, Himeko threw both hands in the air and let out a victory screech, feeling totally liberated.
"Kirishima—I get the vibe, but let me actually collect the bubble sheets first, okay?"
"Ugh, my bad..."
Chuckles broke out all around the room, making Himeko shrink back in total embarrassment. Everyone's eyes were like, 'There she goes again,' but in a sweet way.
Once the Teacher finished grabbing the papers and headed out, the classroom exploded with cheers.
Himeko might've jumped the gun a bit, but even for students prep-ping for entrance exams, getting done with finals is a huge-*ss win. Just for today, everyone was busy making plans to hang out all over the place.
In the middle of all that hype, Torigai Honoka and the usual squad strolled over to Himeko's desk.
"Himeko-chan, you free after this? We're all talkin' about hittin' up a post-exam celebration."
"A celebration!? You mean that thing where everyone's like 'Good job on the finals!' and eats together!? I'm so in! Count me in!"
Himeko jumped on that invite instantly. Well, specifically, she jumped on the word "Celebration."
Back in Tsukinose, where kids Himeko's age were basically non-existent, a "celebration" meant a bunch of adults getting wasted after a Festival or a Countryside Meeting—something a kid like Himeko had zero part in. Students having their own celebration was strictly stuff she'd only seen in manga or anime.
Seeing Himeko's eyes sparkle, Honoka and the crew grinned while they talked about where to go.
"Oh, where are we goin'? Karaoke? I know a really good family restaurant!"
"Ahaha, a 'good' family restaurant? Anyway, there's this legendary traditional sweets shop called 'Okashizukasa Shiro', and it's super classy."
"It's actually a pretty famous date spot, too."
"Right now, the seasonal stuff like both kuzukiri and mizumanjuu are the ones to get!"
"They've got both nerikiri and kingyoku too—they look totally fancy!"
"And more than anything, the uniforms there are, like, crazy cute—"
"Legendary, classy, AND cute uniforms!?"
Hearing all these buzzwords she'd never once heard in the countryside, Himeko's hype levels went off the charts.
As Himeko grabbed her bag, acting like she wanted to bolt out the door right now, the others started getting ready while watching her with a smile. But then, Honoka suddenly let out an "Oh!" and frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"There's just one big problem with that place. Since it's so popular, sometimes you have to wait in a pretty long line."
"Wait, there's actually a line!?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Whoa, so it's so popular that people actually line up for it!"
Right now, summer is in full swing, and waiting in line under the scorching sun is honestly a total drag. It wasn't just Honoka; The other girls also had sour looks on their faces just thinking about it, but Himeko was a whole different story.
A popular shop with a long line—that was something you'd never, ever see in Tsukinose. To Himeko, it was like some legendary thing you only saw on TV or in news articles. Her eyes started sparkling even more than usual.
"Yep, yep, that's our Kirishima-chan for ya."
"Himeko-chan wouldn't be herself if she wasn't like this."
"Alright then, us 'Big Sissies' are gonna treat you to some shiratama anmitsu!"
"Wait, for real!? You girls... ...wait, they have anmitsu there too!?"
Seeing Himeko get all hyped up, Honoka and the others couldn't help but grin.
◇◇◇
'Okashizukasa Shiro' is located in a town two train stations away from Himeko and her cos' middle school.
Even though the train would've been faster, the girls chose to walk. A middle school girl's allowance is strictly limited, and the budget ceiling isn't exactly high.
Besides, if you're chatting the whole way, the distance doesn't even feel that long.
"Sigh... ...I'm looking forward to summer break, but at the same time, I'm totally not..."
"Don't even say that! But yeah, I feel ya. It's all gonna be sucked up by Cram School and Summer Intensives, though."
"We're exam students, so it is what it is, but we seriously need a breather somewhere!"
"A-Ahaha..."
For Himeko and her crew of exam-track students, talkin' about Summer Break usually turns into a total vent session.
Himeko, who had zero plans for Cram School or Summer Intensives, just flashed a stiff-*ss smile while her eyes darted around in a panic, thinkin', 'Cr*p, I'm not doing any of that stuff!?'
Then, as Himeko's gaze drifted, she caught sight of a massive white building that stood out like crazy even from where they were standing.
(Wh-What should I eat later? Back in the countryside, Japanese sweets were always just dango or yomogi buns, so I wanna try something you can only get out here in the city.)
For a sec, Himeko's face went stiff, but she shook her head hard and forced herself to focus on the shop they were headed to.
"Kirishima-chan, you got any plans—...Kirishima-chan?"
"Huh!? Oh, yeah, I'm totally down for some warabimochi or kuzukiri—y'know, something cold and smooth!"
"Ahaha, you were totally lost in thought about the food, weren't you? That's not what I meant. I was askin' if you've got any plans for Summer Break."
"Oh, right! That! Well, I'm still on the fence about a few things, but I'm definitely goin' back to Tsukinose. My bestie's a shrine maiden, so I gotta go cheer for her while she performs her dance at the Festival."
"A shrine maiden!? For real? That is so cool!"
"Yeah, she's the priest's daughter. Oh, I've got a pic, check it out."
"...Whoa!? She's gorgeous... ...and d*ng, her skin is so pale! Is that actually her real hair!?"
"Hey, lemme see as well!"
"Wait, seriously? She's the same age as us!?"
Looks like the conversation had shifted while Himeko was spaced out.
Himeko scrambled to move the topic toward goin' back home and talkin' about Saki, and Honoka and the others bit way harder than Himeko expected. Hearing her bestie get called beautiful and amazing made Himeko feel like a proud mom. Himeko just kept goin' on and on, preachin' about what a great person Saki actually is.
"—And like, since Big Bro has zero social cues, Saki-chan is always hidin' behind my back. Even at the festival, I dunno if it's 'cause Big Bro is just trash at givin' compliments, but she totally shuts down. On the flip side, Saki-chan is out here in the group chat hyping up the food Big Bro cooked, giving him tips, and being all sweet by starting conversations. She's seriously such a gem."
Before Himeko knew it, her talk had turned into a full-on vent session comparing Saki to her Big Bro. How he has no tact, needs to fix his look, is way too rough when waking Himeko up, and how he should really learn a thing or two from Saki-chan.
Honoka and the crew's eyes went wide like they couldn't believe what Himeko was saying, and they started blurting out their thoughts like a collective reality check.
"Wait, Hime-chan, are you actually for real right now?"
"S-Saki-chan is way too devoted, it's almost painful..."
"I don't get why her Big Bro is like that... ...wait, actually, it makes total sense since he's Kirishima-chan's Big Bro after all..."
"Man, this siblings duo is honestly something else..."
"Wait, what? You girls...?"
Getting a reaction that was a bit off from what she expected, Himeko just tilted her head in confusion.
Himeko didn't quite get it, but she could tell they were exasperated. She just figured they were on her side about her Big Bro being a pain and kept walking toward their destination.
And just like that, the destination they were heading for came right into view.
"Whoa!"
"D*ng, the line's actually legit."
"Since it's around this time, looks like a ton of people are plannin' to use this as a lunch substitute, just like us."
On the edge of the shopping district, a bit away from the station, stood a massive shop styled like an old-school Japanese house.
'Okashizukasa Shiro' didn't just stand out because of its traditional vibe; With a line of about 20 people snaking out the front, it was impossible to miss.
"Hey, hey, is the back of the line over there!? If we get in behind that person—"
"Oh, Himeko-chan?"
"—Huh?"
Someone called out to stop Himeko just as she was about to bolt. It was a young boy's voice.
Since she'd just moved recently, Himeko didn't have many acquaintances. When she turned around wonderin' who it was, even the women in line couldn't help but look back at the tall, breezy hottie standin' there—it was Kazuki.
Kazuki flashed a friendly grin and gave a casual wave, and Himeko broke into a huge-ass smile before skippin' over to him.
Himeko is usually crazy shy, but once she lets someone in, she gets attached fast. When they hung out the other day, she really liked how Kazuki was attentive to the little things and acted like a total gentleman—basically the polar opposite of Hayato.
"Kazuki-san!"
"Hey, Himeko-chan. What a coincidence, right? I just felt like stoppin' by to check out how the shop was doin'."
"I'm here for a post-exam celeb with my classmates... ...oh, are you all by yourself, Kazuki-san? It's super packed, so why don't you just come in with us? Plus, we gotta get in line fast!"
"Wait, eh, I—"
"Honoka-chan and the girls won't mind, right?"
Without even waitin' for a "yeah" from Kazuki, Himeko just grabbed his hand and dragged him right over to Honoka and the crew.
Himeko had a huge-*ss grin on her face, totally hyped to run into someone she knew in such a random spot.
Meanwhile, Honoka and the girls were just standin' there with their mouths wide open, totally left in the dust by the whole situation.
I mean, can you blame 'em? Even right now, Kazuki is such a hottie that he's catchin' thirsty looks from all the women nearby. But from Himeko herself? Zero romantic vibes. Not even a hint.
Honoka was especially trippin' since she'd been plannin' to tease Himeko about that photo she took in front of the theater—the one that looked like a total lover's spat. Now she was just more confused than ever.
In the middle of all that, Kazuki just shrugged, let out a long-*ss sigh, and muttered under his breath.
"Himeko-chan, you really are Hayato-kun's little sis, huh..."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean—?"
As Himeko pouted her lips in annoyance, Kazuki just brushed it off with a dry-*ss laugh.
Feelin' like she was bein' treated like a total kid, Himeko puffed out her cheeks in protest.
It was just a big-*ss mess of confusion.
But somehow, Honoka and the girls felt for Kazuki and his exasperation. They silently offered their prayers for Saki—the girl they'd never met—thinkin' about all the cr*p she must've gone through dealin' with this family.
Author's Notes:
A bunch of official announcements just dropped.
The physical book is set to hit the shelves on March 1 (though Sn*aker B*nko's site says February 27) (2021)!
I've posted illustrations and all kinds of stuff in the activity report, so definitely go check that out! And hey, if you're feelin' it, please add me to your favorite authors list!
Also, I've started postin' on Kakuyomu too. If the vibes are good over there, it'll definitely keep my motivation up with those incentives, so I'd really appreciate the support. That version is actually the first draft for the book, so you'll find plenty of cool stuff to enjoy. If I had to sum all that up in just one word, it'd be this:
Meow!!
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: