Chapter 2 – Part 1 – The result of me trying hard
If I decide to do something then I’ll do it (No matter how long it takes). That’s my motto.
「Now then, what should I do……」
Looking at the nameplate in front of my eyes with the name “Hinata” written on it, I stood there worrying.
It’s morning. I left the house an hour earlier than usual and dropped by my childhood friend Himawari’s house. The reason why I came here is very simple. It’s in order to improve my relationship with Himawari.
Since her house is close, and it’s easier to get a hold of her, I’ll start with fixing my relationship with her. This is the first step of my plan.
However, there is a problem. I’ve come all the way here, but I have no plan.
It would be great if I could stop worrying and hesitating and decide to do something, but as expected, without a plan it is a little difficult to go after Himawari.
And so, I’m going to think of a plan until Himawari appears.
I’ll think of anything from absurd ideas to practical ideas, and then carry out the best plan of all of them to reconcile with Himawari! My special strategy-thinking time, start!
Plan 1: With my usual attitude, naturally talk to her.
Suddenly saying “Yo, Himawari”, when she appears, and talking completely as if nothing had happened, it’s an extremely natural method of fixing our relationship.
……This won’t work. As expected, I can’t just ignore what happened. If we settle that major incident with just a “don’t worry, let’s just say nothing happened”, then both of us will definitely have some kind of uncertain feeling remain.
Returning to our relationship where we cause no future problems for each other. That’s what re-conciliating is.
Therefore, rejected.
Plan 2: Complain non-stop so that she’ll apologize.
What happened this time was a problem to me as well as Himawari. But, putting aside my own wrongdoings, and give her a piece of my mind. Then, when she’s feeling down, I’ll use the ‘geez guess there’s no helping it’ line while sighing and forgive her.
……This also won’t work. In the first place, no matter how you think about it, this whole situation was basically my fault. Unfortunately, while I was telling her that I would be cooperating with her, I also betrayed her.
At the same time, with Himawari’s personality, if I am mad at her, then she’ll pout and be mad in return.
Therefore, rejected.
Plan 3: For now let’s just dogeza1. And then lick her shoes.
……No way. This one’s impossible. Apologizing is important, but that’s just going too far.
Besides, what if things take a turn for the worse after I do that and some demon with braids learns of what I did? What would happen then?
It would be the worst. It’s possible that everyday, a pair of indoor shoes will be held out to me.
Therefore, rejected.
……This ain’t good. Once again I’ve said “Therefore, rejected” to everything.
Can’t help it then, the safest choice would be ‘Plan 1’ so……
「…………Jouro?」
「Huh?」
Before I knew it, there was Himawari, right in front of me.
To this unexpected event, I unconsciously put together a haiku. I used Himawari as the seasonal word2.
Wait, now’s not the time for this! Even though I was focused on thinking, I still noticed Himawari who seemed to be staring at me…… Uh for now, ‘Plan 1’ is fine right? It’s fine isn’t it?
「Um listen Himawari……」
「Humph!」
Oh shit! The moment she met eyes with me, Himawari began to slowly step backwards while keeping her eyes on me! This girl, she plans on running away……
Even though there are physical differences between males and females, Himawari is the tennis club’s ace. If she runs away, there’s no way I’ll be able to catch up to her. I need to hurry and stop her before the distance between us widens! Uh, uhm…….
「Himawari-san, I’m so sorry! It was my fault so please forgive meeeeeee!」
I went and did itttttttt! Why the heck did I chose ‘Plan 3’ over the other ones!?
「What an amazing dogeza. His head is a centimeter above the ground and everything. I look forward to his future.」
「By ‘Himawari’, does he mean that girl? Why is she making him dogeza like that……? A lover’s quarrel?」
Aah…… The gazes of the people walking by are harsh……
「H-hey Jouro stop it, don’t do that here! They’re also looking at me with weird gazes!」
But, it worked.
Somehow, instead of running away Himawari came to my side! Now that it’s come to this, I should keep going!
「I understand! I’ll lick your shoes!」
「Whyy!? Don’t! A-anyways just stand up!…… Okay?」
It seems it’s okay for me to not li k her shoes. Himawari-san is so kind. *Licking sounds*
Anyways, I stood up after being urged to by Himawari.
Phew~, it seems like we’ll be able to talk with each other like this……
「Al-alright then! I’ll be going now!」
「Hol’ up!」
You think I’ll let you do that!? Seeing as you suddenly turned around to escape, I wouldn’t let you go so easily! I firmly grabbed her arm and caught her!
「Let go! I, I’ve caused you so much trouble! If we’re together then I’ll end up troubling you again! So let me go!」
I won’t let go even if you struggle! With all my power I’ll give you my apologizes and my gratitude!
「I never thought of you as bothersome! It’s fine, just listen to what I’m saying!」
「Uuuuuuuu! There’s no way that’s true! You’re a liar! I’m so sorry for causing trouble for you, but you’re so cruel Jouro! So cruel!」
「I know I was cruel! That’s why I came to apologize and repair our relationship! Also, I came to say my thanks for helping me out when I was in that tough situation! Do you not even understand that? You shitty idiot girl! This is why you’re an idiot!」
「I’m not an idiot! I’ve wanted to fix our relationship this whole time, but I just didn’t know how to do it! You’re the idiot! Do you not understand me idiot!」
「It’s because it’s you that I can’t understand! I’ve also wanted to be friends again this whole time! You’re my childhood friend you know? Even if you frustrate me, or come to hate me, you’re still important to me! There’s no way I could ever hate you! So I’m the idiot? Let me just say this! I’ll do whatever it takes to be friends with you again, so prepare yourself!」
「Jouro!」
「Himawari!」
With me and Himawari glaring at each other at point blank range, rather than calling it a critical situation, it’s already exploded.
「Huh?」 「Uu?」
However, suddenly our necks got along with each other and tilted to the side together.
Huh? Doesn’t this conversation seem a little, weird? Did Himawari just say she wanted to be friends with me again?
「Hey Himawari……」
「Uh….. what?」
Himawari nervously kept her gaze on me without looking away. Like a small animal.
「Himawari, you also wanted to be friends again? Uh, I want that too……」
「……Y-yeah.」
Oioi, Himawari is nodding her head with a seemingly flustered face!
「T-then…… Uh… Would you, like to be friends with me again?」
「Yes! I want to be friends again! 100%!」
Ooooooooooooooooh! I’ve become friends with Himawari again! Man I’m so glad~…… wait, huh?
「O-oi!」
That was dangerous! This Himawari girl just suddenly fell backwards!
I went to go support her waist up in a panic so she didn’t fall down, but that was dangerous just now!
「I’m glad~, all of my strength just left my body when I felt relieved. Ehehe~」
Himawari, who’s strength gradually returned, in that position…… leaped into my chest which was in front of her.
Oooh! As expected of an air-headed type bitch! This is the perks I get for being friends again huh? It’s irresistible!
「Thank you Jouro! I’m really happy!」
With her arms wrapped around to my back, Himawari said that with an innocent face while hugging me.
It’s been awhile since I’ve seen her smile like this. How do I put it, I’m really happy.
「Alright then, I’ll be in your care again from here on Himawari.」
「Yup! Same here Jouro! Ah, uhm, you see……」
It’s okay Himawari. Even if you didn’t make that troubled face, I already know what you want to say.
I already plan on saying it myself.
「You can rely on me to help with studying for midterms.」
As I said that, Himawari’s expression lit up…… Yup, she’s mega cute.
「Ehehe~! When it comes to the person helping me study, it has to be Jouro after all!」
Well, honestly teaching this girl is a big pain though……
***
After safely (?) repairing my relationship with Himawari, the two of us headed to school together, side by side.
Due to her good mood, Himawari was hugging my arm quite closely, and that made me happy.
Long live air-headed bitches! Thank you very much! ………Well anyways, let’s put that aside.
「Anyways Himawari, I’ve got something to talk about.」
「With me? What’s up?」
To be honest, I selected Himawari to be the first one to reconcile with, since her house was close and it’s easier to meet up with her, but there’s actually another reason why.
「Well… Uh… It’s about Sun-chan.」
「Sun-chan?」
The guy who I want to reconcile with the most……Sun-chan, aka Taiyo Ooga, but I don’t have the confidence to face him alone, so I wanted an ally. So this is the other reason why I chose Himawari first.
However, there’s a problem here. What does Himawari think of Sun-chan?
Putting it frankly, because of all of the complications of what happened before, Sun-chan has messed up his relationship with Himawari quite a bit. I think that Sun-chan more or less owes Himawari an apology, but the more important thing is whether or not she’ll forgive him.
「Aah, you see I, I want to be friends with Sun-chan again. And so, what do you think of Sun-chan—-」
「I also want to reconcile with Sun-chan! This whole time, it’s been so lonely not being able to talk with him!」
I wish you’d listen until a person is done talking, but I’m delighted with your answer so OK!
「Also, Sun-chan re~ally politely apologized to me! “Sorry for tricking you, it’s all my fault” he said! But we never talked again after that…」
Getting depressed, Himawari briefly explained what had happened. Come to think of it, does she still like Sun-chan? Well, honestly I don’t care about that anymore.
「Uhm! I still think Sun-chan is a good friend! So um… you see…… even though I’m not in love with him anymore, I still think of him as an important friend!」
Oh, is that so? That’s not a flag for me though right? I won’t be tricked after all. Definitely.
「Alright then, it might be a little difficult, but why don’t the two of us think of a plan on how to reconcile with Sun-chan together?」
「Okay! I’ll think! Let’s do our best together, Jouro!」
In terms of what happened with Himawari, I felt really, really bad, so I’m glad I was able to find a chance to apologize to her, but it’s not the same with Sun-chan.
In the final stages of that event, I wildly yelled at Sun-chan in anger, telling him how I felt with all my strength.
I don’t plan on apologizing to Sun-chan, since it would make everything I said back then seem like a lie. Aah…… I’m anxious now.
「Well, he might not want to reconcile with me though……」
「That’s not true!」
The moment I let those weak words leak out, Himawari denied them.
「Sun-chan also definitely wants to be friends with you again! After all, Sun-chan is always stealthily looking at you! Also, he always seems lonely when he sighs!」
Unexpectedly, Sun-chan has a maiden side.
「I-is that so?」
「Yup! Definitely!」
Himawari encouraged me with a bright smile, and I somehow felt like doing my best.
Defeating a maiden dude huh……? I guess I have no time to consult with Aisaka-san and Kushieda-san3. I’ll give up then.
「Okay then, Himawari, what do you think would be the best way to reconcile with Sun-chan? I’ve also more or less thought about it but, I haven’t come up with anything good……」
「Hmm~…… Ah! That’s it! What about giving Sun-chan something that he wants?」
「Does Sun-chan have anything he wants?」
「I heard about it before, he said he wanted to drink this sports drink made by Kona Nigari4.」
「Rejected. That’ll bankrupt me.」
Buying water that’s more expensive than a PS4 is too much for a high school student.
「Eeh! Then, what about soil from the Koushien?5」
「That’s definitely something Sun-chan has to do by himself. There’s no point if we give it to him you know.」
「I see~. Wait Jouro! It’s not fair if I’m the only one pitching ideas!」
Himawari puffed her cheeks out like a hamster and complained.
Not good, not good. I should also tell her my own plans. I’m not really confident in them though…
「Let’s see… What if I tell him I’ll help him study for the midterms?」
「That won’t work! Sun-chan is stubborn after all! He’ll just say he’ll do his best by himself!」
「Yeah that’s true…… Then, what if we just talk to him like nothing happened?」
「That won’t work! Sun-chan hates people who aren’t clear with him! We have to properly label stuff black or white!」
「Yeah that’s true…… Then how about, we get angry, and tell him to reconcile with us?」
「That won’t work! Sun-chan hates losing after all! He’ll definitely get heated up and this will fail!」
「Yeah that’s trueee……」
It’s as Himawari says, but Sun-chan, your guard is too solid.
Why are you that stubborn, so insistent on being transparent, and hate losing……
「That’s it!」
「W-what’s that matter Jouro?」
「I got it! I got it Himawari!」
「Uuhm…… What did you get?」
Fuu. Don’t be so confused about my sudden rise in tension. Don’t be anxious either.
「That’s right! Sun-chan is stubborn, hates people who are clear, and also hates losing! So, we can use that! Good work Himawari!」
「O-okay… I don’t really get it, but I get it!」
「Ku ku ku, prepare yourself Sun-chan…… Your fate has been decided! I’ll make you obediently reconcile with us! Ku ke ke ke ke!」
「Jouro…… When you become honest, you’re cruel in various ways……」
Being put off by my clear laughter, she pulled back. What a rude childhood friend huh.
Well whatever. Anyways, I’ve decided on a plan. Now we just have to execute it!
「Himawari, sorry about this but go on ahead and wait for me on the school’s roof! If anyone else comes, shoo them away! I’ll meet up with you after going to the convenience store!」
「Eh? Rooftop? Convenience store? O-okay! I got it!」
Temporarily leaving Himawari and going off on my own, I dashed to the nearest convenience store.
TL notes
1 Dogeza – The act of kneeling on the ground and bowing your head down close to the floor. It’s used only when you’re really sorry about something or like you’re asking for a favour from a superior
2 Seasonal Words – a word or phrase associated with a season. They indicate the season being referred to in any particular stanza of japanese poetry, like a haiku. Himawari (sunflower) would be used to refer to the Summer season.
3 I have no clue who these names reference to, probably anime characters? If you know, drop a comment.
4 Not sure if ‘Kona Nigari’ is the name of the manufacturer or the brand name, but it’s basically SUPER expensive water with minerals from deep down underwater off the coast of hawaii. Search up Kona Nigari and see if you can find more about it.
5 Koushien – I dunno if you guys remember, but that’s the big baseball tournament thing talked about in volume 1. Apparently there’s a tradition where high school students will bring home some of the soil of the stadium.
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