[Warning 15+]
Author's Notes:
Feels like we're headin' into Part 4 Sub-Part 2 from here on out.
Feels like we're headin' into Part 4 Sub-Part 2 from here on out.
Part Four
"―From Now On, You Better Treat Me with That Same Energy, Too!"
Chapter 132
So Beautiful and Vivid
"―From Now On, You Better Treat Me with That Same Energy, Too!"
Chapter 132
So Beautiful and Vivid
Early mornin', while the veil of night was still hangin' on thick.
Checkin' out the east sky through the window where the stars were still flickerin', Hayato watched the view with sleepy eyes, just like he was told to.
After a bit, the world started turnin' white, and before he knew it, everythin' caught fire in a deep red, like the whole world was gettin' scorched.
It was a heck of a sunrise. Just straight-up gorgeous.
The kinda view that makes you forget to breathe and blows your sleepiness right out the window.
But unlike Haruki, who was squintin' her eyes all emotional-like, Hayato just let out a sigh with a deadpan look on his face.
"Pretty wild, huh, Hayato? I think I finally get why 'Summer dawn' is such a big deal in poetry now."
"Yeah, it's wild alright. But maybe show some sympathy for the boy who got dragged outta bed at this ungodly hour just to look at it."
Openin' the window wide, Haruki just gave a mischievous grin.
That split second when night turns into day—and a summer dawn you can only catch in this exact season—it really was somethin' else. Even Hayato was seein' it for the first time.
Lookin' at the clock, it wasn't even 5 AM yet—a totally insane time to be awake.
Still dim in the room, with Haruki right in front of Hayato.
Haruki probably wasn't just thinkin' 'bout the sunrise—she was definitely plottin' some other nonsense.
Even though Haruki was just rockin' a shirt and shorts like she used to, her grown-up physique was totally different from when they were kids, and it made Hayato feel kinda restless.
Himeko's words from last night flashed through Hayato's mind.
Thinkin' 'bout that made things complicated inside, but when Hayato realized Haruki only pulled this stuff because he was Hayato, he felt a weird surge of happiness. So, with a bit of self-deprecation and a side of protest, he let out a huge-*ss yawn on purpose.
Then Hayato gave his messy bedhead a good scratch.
"Haruki, didn't you think 'bout how much of a pain this is?"
"Huh? Didn't you say it was fine for me to be a pain whenever I wanted?"
"That's... ...seriously, man."
"W-We're so sorry for bargin' in this early... ...i-it must be a total bother, right...?"
"M-Murao-san!?"
Caught off guard by that voice, Hayato froze with a dumb-*ss look on his face and his mouth wide open.
Turnin' toward the voice, Hayato saw Saki standin' by the door lookin' all apologetic.
Seein' Saki's fidgetin' with a face as red as the sunrise made Hayato's heart skip a beat, and he started panickin'.
"Um, eh, well, Himeko's probably still crashed out, and, ugh, sorry for lookin' like a mess right outta bed!"
"No, it's actually kinda rare to see you like this, and besides, it's our fault to begin with for bargin' in at this hour."
"Wait, Hayato, why is your reaction totally different from when it was just me!?"
"You're a special case, Haruki, you've got a prior record!"
"What the heck do you mean, a prior record!?"
"A-Ahaha..."
Partly to hide his blush, Hayato's voice got a bit rough when he snapped back at Haruki.
To Hayato, Saki was someone special, but in a totally different way than Haruki.
One of the few people Hayato's age in Tsukinose.
Hayato's little sis' bestie.
And the girl who performed the Kagura dance at the Festival every single year.
Hayato still remembered the total shock he felt the first time he saw that dance.
Swayin' under the moon, the stars, and the bonfire light, Saki'd acted out an ancient story that was straight-up mystical and out of this world.
It was the first stage performance—the first real drama—Hayato had ever seen.
The raw power of it totally blew Hayato away, and the image was still burned into his brain.
Even more so because the one performin' it was Saki, who was usually so timid and quiet.
"Big Sis Haru, let's go already."
"---!? Sh-Shinta...?"
Right then, a little boy popped his head out from behind Saki, tottered over to Haruki, and gave Haruki's shirt a little tug.
The boy was a scrawny kid with the same flaxen hair as Saki.
Murao Shinta, Saki's little bro, seven years younger than Saki.
Just like his big sis, Shinta was the quiet type who'd rather spend his time readin' books at school. Even Hayato hardly ever saw Shinta playin' outside.
That's why Hayato was even more shocked to see Shinta there than Hayato was to see Saki.
This was an hour where even wakin' up should've been a nightmare for a kid that young.
When Hayato looked back at Haruki, who obviously knew what was goin' on, she just shot him a smug-*ss look.
"Hehe, I actually set up some bug traps last night!"
"I made 'em with Big Sis Haru."
"When the heck did you guys do that? And man, I'm surprised Shinta actually showed some interest..."
"That's 'cause I gave Shinta a whole lecture 'bout Miyama stags!"
"I worked hard to wake up early."
"A-Ahaha..."
Rubbin' his sleepy eyes, Shinta was tuggin' hard on Haruki's shirt, breathin' all heavy like he was in a total rush.
When Hayato looked over at Saki, she just gave an awkward, apologetic grin.
Looks like Saki only came along to keep Shinta company.
Since there was such a big age gap between Hayato and Shinta, they didn't really hang out, so Hayato had no clue how to act around Shinta.
But watchin' Shinta foolin' around with Haruki made Hayato look back on his own childhood.
Maybe just for today, it'd be cool to act like a kid again.
"Hold your horses, I'm gonna go change real quick."
"Gotcha. Oh, what 'bout Hime-chan?"
"...There's no way Himeko is wakin' up at this hour. Besides, she'd just get cranky and go on a rampage."
"Ahaha, you're totally right."
Then they all looked at each other and shared a little laugh.
Author's Notes:
Meow.
Translator's Notes:
Didn't you tell us that Saki is the only daughter? Idk.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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