Chapter 2 – Part 2 – The result of me trying hard
After swapping my shoes at my shoebox, I headed to the rooftop where Himawari was. In order to wait for that guy—– for Sun-chan.
「Hey Jouro, why are you crossing your arms and puffing out your chest like that?」
「To show off the beauty of my form.」1
Of course you’d wait for the person you called out in this pose. Jeez, this girl has no common sense.2
「Will Sun-chan really come?」
「Yes. He’ll definitely come.」
Kukuku, don’t make such a worried face Himawari, my plan is perfect.
「Ah!」
Because Himawari, who had her head hanging downwards, quickly looked up, I also looked in the same direction towards the slight opening in the rooftop’s doorway and could see the figure of a guy.
He had a crew-cut, his muscles were well-defined, and he was 18# centimeters3 tall…… It’s Sun-chan!
「Amazing! He actually came Jouro!」
「Right? All according to my plan!」
Nothing has been resolved yet though. Having no interest in the two of us who were happily celebrating, Sun-chan came closer with a certain something held in his right hand.
That’s definitely the secret weapon that I prepared this time in order to call him out here.
An item that would motivate Sun-chan, who’s so stubborn, so “cookie-cutter” with everything, and is such a sore loser. That is…
「This letter of challenge, it’s quite the interesting thing to send to me, isn’t it Jouro?」
So there it is. I dropped that off at Sun-chan’s shoebox.
I bought an envelope at the convenience store and wrote “Letter of Challenge” very big on the front, and inside I put a note that had “I’ll be waiting on the rooftop. Have a match with me. Amatsuyu Kisaragi.”, written down on it. But, I didn’t tell him what kind of match it is.
Of course, we won’t be physically fighting each other. Sun-chan is the baseball club’s ace after all. I don’t want to do anything that can lead to injury. In the first place, I wouldn’t even be able to win if we had a physical fight……
And so, what I thought up was—
「So, what kind of match are we having? Baseball? Rubber ball baseball?4 Or maybe Cricket? Well, for now let’s just hurry and move down to the grounds, since it would be dangerous for others if we played up here.」
It’s my fault for not writing down what the match would be about, but why are all of those options related to hitting a ball?
「No, the match isn’t about baseball…… Let’s compete over studying.」
「Huuh!?」
Whoa! The moment I said ‘studying’, he made a really sour face. This is bad…… My plan might fail.
「What a waste of time. There’s no way I’d be part of a match like that…… I’ll be heading back to the classroom then.」
Ah! Wa- you! Don’t turn around so suddenly and leave!
「Wait Sun-chan!」
Nice one Himawari! As expected of the Tennis club’s ace, quickly moving with nimble steps and spreading her arms out in front of Sun-chan who was moving to leave the rooftop!
「Move Himawari.」
「No way!」
Even when the 18#cm tall Sun-chan was looking down and glaring at her, Himawari returned that glare without faltering. But she’s probably scared isn’t she? Her legs are shaking a little.
「You can’t go!」
「Don’t joke around. I apologized to everyone since I made some trouble, but Jouro is different. Me, you… and everyone else, he tricked us. I really hate that kind of frivolous, unmanly guy. I don’t even want to see his face.」
Figures…… That’s true…… It’s a fact that I hid my true self and deceived everyone. A guy like that is the number one type that Sun-chan hates.
Guess it’s impossible after all……
「Uuuuuu! Sun-chan you idiot! Just listen to what Jouro has to say!」
「I have nothing to talk about with Jouro. I also………….don’t plan on being friends again.」
……Huh? Just now, what did Sun-chan say?
I did write a letter of challenge, but I never wrote anything that said I wanted to be friends again.
Besides, I haven’t even said anything yet, but he’s saying stuff like that……
「Sun-chan, are you running away?」
I purposefully called out to Sun-chan with a provocative line. 俺はあえて挑発するような口調で、 サンちゃんへと声をかけた。
It’s alright. I already understand. Sun-chan is also thinking about wanting to become friends with me again.
That’s why I said that right away.
「Running away you say, what do you mean?」
Sun-chan turned towards me as his expression became angry.
「Ah! Jo-Jouro!」
It’s alright Himawari. Don’t make such a worried face. Just leave the rest to me.
Sun-chan, even if you stand right in front of me and scowl that much, you still won’t make my heart flutter you know.
「Let me just tell you how it’ll work first. The studying challenge will play out like this, if you manage to not get any failing marks on the tests after I tutor you then you win. If you get any failing marks even after I tutor you then you lose. Understand?」
Looking straight at Sun-chan without averting my gaze, I straight-forwardly said that.
「I don’t plan on being tutored by anyone, so I don’t plan on having a match like that.」
Instead of his usual enthusiastic voice, a cold-blooded voice poured down on me as if everything froze over.
Sorry it’s a shame but, Pansy is way way way more scary when she’s angry. This much is nothing.
「Ha! What’s this, so you’re running away after all huh…… How lame.」
「What did you say!? I told you, you’re wro—-」
「Don’t lie. If you get failing marks then you’d have to take supplementary lessons AND would have to stop going to club you know? And yet, why would you not accept my tutoring? I thought you thought of baseball as more important than anything no matter what though. You should be happy that I’m willing to teach someone who prefers to keep their useless pride like you. You’re so lame Sun-chan.」
「Don’t fuck with me!! Baseball is more important than anything else to me!」
「Then you’re going to accept this challenge right? It’s gonna end up like that anyways right? When you fail, you’ll just be like “It would’ve been good if someone tutored me” and make excuses right? Even if I teach you, you don’t have the confidence that you’ll be able to understand what I’m teaching so you’re scared and want to run away right? It’s so obvious you know?」
Thanks to Sun-chan’s personality, if I say this much then there’s no way he’ll back down.
And so with this, my plan is a succe…… No, I change my mind.
「If you’re gonna say that much then—」
「Wait a sec. Scrap the challenge.」
「Huh?」
Well, it’s true that if I start teaching Sun-chan then there will be more chances for us to talk.
Then our relationship could be in good standing again, it’s quite possible for that to happen.
……But, that’s not enough. Think back to when I thought up the plan to become friends with Himawari.
We can only return to how things were before when there won’t be any future troubles. Only when this is satisfied can we be friends again.
If that’s the case then it’s just as that glasses wearing girl with braids said, I need to express my honest thoughts.
「That letter was just to use your personality to get you to come here. The challenge and studying was all just a pretense…… I’ll speak truthfully.」
Swallowing my saliva, I paused for a little. Sun-chan stayed silent and waited.
「I, want to be friends with you again. Like how we used to be, always together.」
「Um, I also think being with you is good! The three of us should hang out together again!」
Thanks Himawari, your backup is a great help.
「…………It’s rare for you to send such a straight-ball at me.」
After being silent for a little, Sun-chan said that. Taking a glance at his face, the cold expression he had before was gone, and the zealous, warm smile that I knew was there.
「One of my close friends sent an unexpected curveball, so in return I sent a straight one.」
Getting lured in by that smile, my cheeks began to naturally loosen up.
「I see…… Alright then! Let’s have that match!」
This heavy, uncomfortably-hot voice, this is Sun-chan.
I did it…… He’s returned, the usual Sun-chan has returned!
「Himawari, let’s beat Jouro and make him speechless together!」
「Yup! Let’s do our best! Let’s show Jouro and make him speechless!」
Himawari nodded with a sparkling expression on her face in return to Sun-chan’s words.
「Oi Jouro! I’ll just say this first but being tutored by my best friend is one of my strengths so I’m definitely going to win!」
Hey hey, don’t suddenly thrust out your hand in a place like this. Your smile is as swelteringly hot as ever huh.
「Is that even something to be proud about?」
Of course, I grabbed his hand in return. It’s a friendship fixing handshake right? Of course I’d do it.
「Lookin’ forward to working with you Amatsuyu Kisaragi, the absolute worst, hypocritical, piece of trash bastard!」
「Likewise, Taiyou Ooga, you absolute worst, sinister, and deeply jealous guy.」
Doing something like this on the rooftop is kinda embarrassing, but my joy overwhelmed that feeling and while the three of us talked together again, we headed back to our classroom.
***
Lunch time. After confirming that Sun-chan went to the cafeteria to go eat and Himawari went to go to the rooftop to meet with the senpais she’s recently been getting along with, I left the classroom and headed towards the library alone.
You could say that the way I walked had already become very lively.
I did it! I’ve become friends with Himawari and Sun-chan again!
Looks like trying your best to be honest is important after all huh! Man~ I’m so relieved everything was resolved!
「Heyo Pansy!」
Opening the door to the library, I brightly greeted the glasses wearing girl with braids sitting at the reception desk.
「Good for you. You are friends again.」
As expected of an ESPer. Being able to understand what happened even without me saying anything, how amazing.
「Yeah, thanks! Let’s hurry and go eat lunch at the reading space!」
「Sure, let’s go.」
After we finished eating lunch at the reading space, I started talking to Pansy who was sitting next to me.
「Thanks to your advice, I’m friends with Sun-chan and Himawari again. Thanks a lot. Also, your cookies were delicious today too.」
The sweets that Pansy prepares are always tasty, but for some reason, they were more delicious~ than usual!
「……Ara?」
At the sight of me eating her cookies in a really good mood, Pansy tilted her head to the side.
「This is a little different than I expected.」
「Huh? What were you expecting to happen?」
「Don’t worry about it.」
Saying only that, Pansy indifferently drank her tea.
Just what was she expecting? I’m quite curious, but whatever. Rather than that……
「Anyways Pansy, there’s something I’d like to ask you.」
「You’re going to put in effort to understand me better? I’m happy. Ask me anything.」
「What, do you think, about Himawari and Sun-chan?」
Suppressing the excitement I had before, I asked her that with a calm voice.
Pansy was also dragged into last time’s situation after all. Since I’m thinking about what I should do from now on, it’s really important for me to know what she thinks about those two.
「Hinata-san is your childhood friend, so I’m envious of her. Ooga-kun is your best friend, so I’m envious of him. Both of them have this bond with you that I don’t have.」
「I see. So you don’t hate them?」
「Yes, I don’t hate them. Deep down, both of them are bright and very good people.」
For real!? Pansy, you’re unexpectedly big-hearted!
More-so than Himawari, she doesn’t hate Sun-chan for what he did last time.
「By the way, I love you so much, you are the apple of my eyes.」
「Well of course! I can tell! It really really hurts!」
It’s normal for me to squeeze in some unnecessary words, but it’s time to end this quickly.
「Alright then, today after school—-」
「No way. If it’s about helping those two with their studies then please leave me out of it. Your wretched ulterior motive is obvious you know?」
The conversation ended too quick! Before I could even finish explaining the situation, she already figured it out and refused!
「W-why is that? Isn’t it fine? Your the top student in the whole school for Japanese courses, those guys want you to teach them! C’mon, I’d also be a little happy if…」
「I’m working on myself with everything I’ve got. I don’t have the leeway to pay attention to others.」
Her heart is so cold! If she cut down on how much time she always spends reading books in the library, then she’d have some time to teach!
「Please give up. I don’t plan on listening to the rash thoughts of an idiot.」
A cracking sound could be heard. Because of this.
If that’s so then, you’ve forced my hand. The trump card I’ve prepared to make you listen to me….
「If you plan on studying here since you assumed I’d be here in the library after school then feel free. There’s not many people here, and so your studies should go well due to how quiet it is. I’ll be leaving though.」
At least let me say a word first! I didn’t even say anything yet!
I couldn’t use my trump card, “You’ll be here in the library anyways”!
「T-t-this… shitty braided—-」
「”girl has glasses but, actually I really love Sumireko~ Hnnn, I’m excited~~”」
「There’s no way I’d say anything like that though!? And also, your impression of me wasn’t even close at all, and what was that last part! When you indifferently went “Hnnn, I’m excited~~”, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard that!」
On top of predicting everything I was going to say, she even had the nerve to add some unnecessary words……
When I started glaring at her, Pansy put her usual positive thinking hat on.
Since she was slowly moving her chair closer to my side, I maintained my distance and moved back.
「Geez, even though you actually want me to spoil you~ You’re a shy person after all.」
「That’s true. If you help out then I’d start thinking “I want to be spoiled” real hard.」
「I already said no. I don’t have any reason to teach those people.」
Grrrrrrr! If only I had something to convince her with! ……Ah, wait. I do have something.
「It’s true that you don’t have any reason to teach those guys. However, you owe me don’t you?」
「…………………………What are you referring to?」
Kukuku, let that abnormality sink in for a sec. You’ve already noticed haven’t you?
However, after confirming it, you’ll have to listen to what I have to say.
So, let’s switch to a half-baked question without any lies.
「Don’t you remember what happened yesterday? You broke the promise didn’t you? You never showed me that appearance.」
Grinning like a villain, I said that.
「If it’s the other me you’re talking about, then I already showed you didn’t I?」
「Sure you showed your other face, but your chest was the same as usual wasn’t it?」
Yesterday in my room, Pansy promised to show me that version of her, but it never happened due to my mom coming in. On her way home, she did take off her glasses and undid her braids, but of course we were outside.
She didn’t take the wrapping around her chest off. If we focus on that, then this battle, I’m winning it!
「I thought that you were the type to keep promises though~! What a huge shame~! Our promise was broken, I’m so sad~!」
「……You’re the one saying that?」
Kuhahaha! I won! I won! I won against Pansy with my words for the first time!
With this I can say that I’ve taken a huge step forward! I really am different today!
「Don’t be worried. I’m merciful so I’ll forgive your blunder. Only if you help me teach Himawari and Sun-chan though.」
「I don’t really care if you forgive me or not. If I said that, what would you do?」
Ah, that’s an unfair question you know. You can’t ask that. You ask me that all the time.
「W-well… I’ll get mad you know? Really mad you know? I’m already extremely angry you know?」
「Along with being unconvincing, you aren’t any different from usual.」
Shit! If only I had the guts to say I won’t come to the library anymore! くそう！ ここで、 図書室にもう来ないぐらい言う根性が俺にあれば！
However, I don’t want to become unable to see that version of Pansy… That’s because… you know?
「Anyways, you’re going to teach Sun-chan and Himawari together with me! Do you understand!?」
「Getting all forceful like that at the end, you smell like some small fry.」
「So noisy! Anyways, that’s how it is! O-okay? Help me out please~」
This is bad… She’s definitely going to refuse right?
「……Hah… Seems like there’s no helping it. Only today okay? I won’t be helping you after today.」
「Huh?! Really!? Thanks a lot Pansy! You’re a lifesaver!」
She didn’t refuse! Pansy is cooperating!!
I thought this would be tougher than becoming friends with Himawari and Sun-chan, but it turned out all right!
Unintentionally, I let my excitement take over, gripped Pansy’s hand and shook it up and down.
「D-don’t be so delighted please. It’s… It’s only for today after all.」
Hmm? Doesn’t she seem embarrassed?
Getting this flustered at my extremely rare gratitude, she does have a cute side to her after all.
「By the way Jouro, is it just going to be you, Hinata-san, and Ooga-kun coming to the library after classes?」
Pansy, trying to hide her shyness, said that with an extremely forced indifferent tone.
Also, can you let go of my hand and stop appealing to me?
「Huh? Of course. Is there something wrong with that?」
「……I see.」
There shouldn’t be anyone else to call. What is this girl talking about…
「Aight then, I’m gonna head back to my classroom. You better be at the library afterschool today. 」
I stood up while casually pulling away from Pansy’s hands, and headed towards the library entrance.
「I understand. Also, if you’ve forgotten then I think you should hurry and remember before things get troublesome. It definitely will… It might be too late though.」
「Huuh? What are you saying?」
「Think about it yourself, you idiot.」
Saying that with a loud voice, Pansy turned her head the other way. Well for now, even when this girl is not happy, or when she’s in a good mood, she hides her expressions, but I was able to find some new ones.
Looking at that Pansy, and finding myself thinking she’s a little cute… Let’s not discover any more.
TL notes
1. The raw says “様式美だ”, where 様式美 apparently means beauty of style/form. If anyone else can think of a better way to TL this, let me know.
2. There’s a reference here to the show Gunbuster by Gainax, one of the mechs has a pose where its arms are crossed, it seems.
3. Again, the author purposefully omitted the last number of Sun-chan’s height.
4. RAW: 軟式野球, which is literally just baseball but with rubber balls instead of, uh, regular balls.
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