CH 22

Touma-kun Makes a Decision

Translated by AmaLynne

Well, a week has passed since then, and the third week of June vacation is coming.

I was spending my time on my part-time job and my hobbies, but I was also getting to know Shimizu better.

Well, we texted…and made a phone call for the first time.

This led me to an idea.

I am trying to change at school.

Of course, if I change suddenly, people will think I’m weird, so I’m trying to change little by little.

I greet the students in the morning, talk with Shimizu, talk with Tanaka in front of me, and so on…

Well, that’s about it.

And as usual, I still like to be a loner…

◆◇◆◇◆

And this Saturday, I’m at Shimizu’s house again.

But today is different from usual.

Because Seiya is not here today.

Her mother seems to be there, though.

Well, in other words…today, it’s a study session in Shimizu’s room…

「Umm, I don’t understand this…」

「Oh, this――――」

「I-I see. Thank you!」

「O-Oh.」

It all started with a conversation at Shimizu’s house last week.

◆◇◆◇◆

「Hey, Yoshino-kun, you’re good at Japanese, aren’t you?」

「Well, I’m good at it. I was at the top of my class once.」

「R-Right…then, if you don’t mind me……」

「What’s wrong with your fidgeting, sister?」

「Seiya! You can’t! Aya is fighting right now!」

…What a…interesting family.

But a good one.

「P-Please teach me to studyh! …auu……」

…You bit it with all your might…Well, it’s okay, it’s cute.

Yes, this might be a good chance to find out for sure.

「Good. But weren’t Shimizu grades in the top five?」

「Yes, but only my Japanese is low…even though I like books…」

「No matter how low your Japanese is, it’s okay if you like books. I’ll teach you if it’s okay with you.」

「R-Really!? I’m so happy…!」

She looks really happy…Maybe this is a good thing…

◆◇◆◇◆

And here we are.

Yes, here’s the problem.

This is the first time I’ve ever entered a…girl’s room?

Why does it smell so good…?

It doesn’t smell like this in my sister’s room.

It looks like a very ordinary room, but it is…

Just the fact that it is Shimizu’s room makes me uncomfortable…

「Yoshino-kun, is something wrong?」

「…No, I just thought it was a rather simple room. Oh, I don’t mean that in a bad way, okay?」

「Phew…I’m glad…yes, I’m not a fan of putting too much stuff or glitter on things.」

「I see…」

Then the door opens.

「Yes, yes~! Sweets and tea are here!」

「M-Mother! At least knock!」

「My? That’s fine! It’s not like you were kissing or anything, right?」

「Ki, ki, ki, ki……」

「Hey, are you a woodpecker? Your mother is playing with you.」

…And I have to admit, I was a little nervous, too…

「My? That’s so boring! But I’ll let you off the hook for that!」

She left the room after saying that.

Something like that, we both fall silent…

…No, what to do with this situation!

I’m not calm either, you know?

「Geez mother, what is she saying? I’m sorry…」

Shimizu’s face is turning red…Am I okay?

「…No, don’t worry about it. It’s a fun mother and I think it’s good. It reminds me a little bit of the old days…」

I wonder how mother would have reacted to me bringing a girl to her if she were still alive?

「Is it…hard for you to see that…?」

「No, it’s not hard. It’s strange…though I think it’s nice.」

「I see…」

「……my mother is…」

「Eh…?」

「I wonder how she would have reacted if she were alive. I brought a girl over. She’s not quite what she looks like in the picture, you know?」

I’m talking about my mother for the first time…

I have never told anyone except my family since my death until now.

Not Aki, not Shinji…

People have asked me about it, but I always dodge it.

It takes a lot of determination to talk about it, and if I don’t…my tear will collapse…

But I felt like I could talk naturally now.

Maybe it was because Shimizu had never once asked me about my mom.

Maybe that’s why I feel a little more comfortable…

「…Right.」

「Yeah, I got scolded quite a bit…Be nice to girls! And don’t get into fights! And so on.」

「Fufufu, I see. Huh? But…」

「That’s right. I broke my promise to my mother once…and we got into a fight, and she told me to take care of my family, but I couldn’t…」

「Yoshino-kun…」

「Mother, is she mad at me?」

「…I wonder? What does Yoshino-kun mother will say?」

「…Geez! Can’t help it! I guess that’s what she’s going to say.」

「Then maybe that’s your answer?」

「I see…thank you.」

「Y-You’re welcome…ehehe…」

After that, I go home to concentrate on my studies.

I ate dinner and I was in the living room thinking about…

Then my sister takes a bath, and my father moves when he hasn’t come back yet.

I go to the Japanese-style room and sit in front of the Buddhist altar.

「Mother…today I talked about mother for the first time in a long time. I think I managed to talk without crying. She is a very good girl. She’s family oriented and has a great smile. Most of all…I seem to be more natural and calm when I’m with that girl. But I get nervous when I’m near her…I’m sure mother would say? It’s too late now… Yes, I won’t run away anymore. Don’t worry, I’m already prepared for that…」

I thought when I called her the other day…I wanted to hear her voice again.

…I wanted to see her.

Furthermore, today I am convinced.

I’m convinced that I like Shimizu…

All I have to do now is to tell her.