CH 12

Touma-kun Digging His Own Grave

Translated by AmaLynne

First of all, it seems that I had to send them before I knew it.

Well, once that’s decided, I’ll have to hurry.

Regulations are very strict these days.

If a minor is out after 10 p.m., he or she can be arrested.

I’m in uniform because I’m on my way home from school, and there are elementary school students there.

By the way, the uniform is a school uniform. And girls wear sailor clothes.

「All right. Then, let’s go.」

「…Is it really fine? Isn’t that annoying?」

「If you ask me if…it’s annoying, but…」

「I knew it…」

「Touma-san, it’s annoying…?」

Shimizu was depressed.

Furthermore, with eyes like an abandoned puppy dog, Seiya appeals to me.

…Apparently, Seiya probably miss them…

I guess he must be lonely…I can’t help it, I understand how you feel.

「I’m just joking. I’ll give you a proper walk.」

「Yay!」

「Fufu, good for you. Thank you, Yoshino-kun.」

「No need to thank me. Besides, I’d be worried if I had to go through something like the other day.」

This is my true intention.

It’s too late to have regrets after something happens.

The normal routine doesn’t last forever.

「T-Thank you…」

「Sis, you look a little red.」

「I-It’s just your imagination!」

「Come on, let’s go. I mean, are we walking?」

「Uh, yeah, it’s only about 10 minutes, so I thought it’d be good.」

「I guess that’s no problem for me then.」

And the three of us leave the restaurant and start walking.

I text my sister.

Otherwise, I’m afraid of later…

「*Kushun!*」

「Sis, are you okay?」

「I’m fine, just a little cold…I came here in light clothing because I wanted to eat ramen noodles.」

The first time I saw Shimizu, she was wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans.

What to do…? No, but…

It’s against my principles not to give it to you when you have…

I take a hoodie out of my bag.

「Here, put this on.」

「Eh? But…」

「If you don’t like it, fine.」

「I-I don’t mind! …T-Thank you. I’ll borrow it.」

I don’t really care, but why do girls look so cute when they wear oversized clothes?

In the end, it naturally becomes moe sleeves…clever…!

「Touma-san! Thank you!」

「You’re welcome. By the way, how old is Seiya?」

「She’s 9 years old! She’s in the third grade!」

「I see. She’s a good kid.」

「Hehe……I got praised……」

「But still…you’re here at a very late hour, aren’t you?」

「Ugh! That’s…」

「Sis is trying to make mghhh――!」

Shimizu covered Seiya’s mouth.

「Hey!? You don’t have to say that!」

…Well, I kind of guessed.

I guess she must have failed… Well, you said earlier that you couldn’t do it.

「…It’s fine, isn’t it? For a perfect girl like Shimizu, it would be better to have that many gaps.」

「Yoshino-kun laughed for the first time…d-do you think so? Do you think so too, Yoshino-kun?」

「…Well, yes, I do. Perfect people smell like lies.」

「I see…」

「Touma-san! Are you my sister’s boyfriend!?」

I don’t know what he thought, but Seiya suddenly started saying such a thing.

「Wha!? Seiya!」

Shimizu is flustered.

But she is looking at me with some kind of expectation.

But I am not such an easy guy.

「No, you’re not. I’m not good enough for Shimizu.」

「I-I don’t think so…」

「That’s too bad! I thought brother could do it.」

That’s what I mean…

My father isn’t around much, and it would be hard to discuss things with my sister.

I can’t even play with them.

「I just moved to a new school, so I don’t have many friends yet…」

「Hmm? Is that so?」

「Yes. Father decided to buy his dream home and construction began, but right after was completed…he suddenly decided to transfer to another city.」

「That was…disaster.」

「Father was crying.」

「Of course he is.」

「He apologized to his boss. But I heard that it is necessary for promotion, so father agreed to it in tears. If he gets a raise, he can pay back the loan sooner.」

「I want to play games with my father, so we have two TVs in the same room. He’s overseas, so the time zones don’t match.」

「Hmm? What game are you playing?」

「Mon○World!」

「Well, you have good taste. I play it too.」

Basically, I’m a solo player.

But sometimes I show up as a stray.

I’ll head out to help a newbie.

It’s usually the difficulty in proceeding or the harsh words of an advanced player that causes them to stop.

I don’t do that.

I make sure to carry the dust up to the amount of the preparation.

And I follow up with them.

This is part of my missionary work.

「Really? Then come to my house and join me!」

Ugh! You’re so bright! Your eyes are sparkling!

But I’ve got my own time…! I dug my grave…!

But I can understand how lonely this girl is…!

Woah――! ! What are you going to do!? Me!?

……This is not the atmosphere to say online or anything like that.

「……Okay. I can’t promise today, but I’ll play with you……」

That’s the maximum concession I can make……

「Really! That’s a promise! Yay!」

Seiya is in a good mood, running along in the front.

I can’t believe he’s so happy……

I remember when my mother passed away, too, Shinji played with me…

That helped take my mind off a lot…

And I remember he told me not to do the same to anyone who might be lonely someday.

「Thanks, Yoshino-kun. I’m sorry, I know it’s annoying…」

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「No, not really. I have a mother who passed away. I don’t need any extra care, okay? Well, that’s why I understand how lonely you are. Even if they were alive, you’d probably only see them a few times a year, right?」

「Eh!? R-Right…un, okay. That’s right, he said it would be better if they could come back at least twice…」

「Then it’s no wonder he misses them. I have a younger sister, and our mother passed away when she was the same age as Seiya…」

At that time, it was hard for me to cry every day…

「I see. Un, all right.」

……Shimizu is a good girl.  

At times like this, I usually sympathize and say something……

That’s all right, if you just ask me… 

……Tot good, I feel like I’m bonding.

……Be strong! If she’s around, you’ll be wasting your time!

The two of us walk in silence.

Strangely, I don’t feel uncomfortable…why?

Hmmm……don’t know.

Also, I don’t care what it is…but it smells so good.

「Touma-san! We’re here!」

「Ah, right.」

I look up and see a two-story house.

There’s an apartment next to it on the left and a parking lot on the right.

「Thank you, Yoshino-kun. For sending me home…」

「No problem. Uh…if Seiya wants to play, just let me know. I’ll do my best.」

「Eh? Really?」

「It can’t be helped. I’ve already decided that I’ll never go back on my word again.」

Since that day when I broke my promise to mother…

「Right…Ah! Thanks for the hoodie! ….Can I wash this and give it back to you?」

Shimizu looked up, brought the sleeve cuff to her mouth, and said…so cunning, but cute.

………Not good not good! Calm down! Me!

「Yes? Why…」

No, wait.

That thing has the good smell of Shimizu on it now.

If I bring it home, Marina is going to ask me…

I’m going to feel weird too…Yeah, let’s do that.

「No, okay. That’s fine.」

「Eh!? Really!? Uh-huh!? I’ll give it back to you after I wash it properly!」

Why does she look so happy? …I don’t understand girls.

「I’m going home then. See you.」

「See you later, Touma-san!」

「Yoshino-kun! Thank you! Be careful!」

I turned around and headed back to the station.

On the way there, I thought calmly.

……Hmm? Washing hoodie means we need to meet somewhere…

It seems I’ve dug my grave…