CH 37

Touma-kun Realizes It Now

Translated by AmaLynne

Well, finally, summer vacation is about a week away.

This year, it’s been a very special summer vacation…

I never thought I would have a girlfriend and become crazy about her…

I would have never thought that was possible until last year.

And today, I think I made Aya’s part-time job debut.

I am relieved to hear that she had a successful interview and was accepted.

I can trust them there.

I was…but I was curious about something.

I wanted to go see her right away, but Yakura-san and his daughter stopped me.

At least wait a little bit.

Because Aya can’t concentrate on her work.

Finally, on the third day of work, I was given permission.

I went to the Yakura bookstore and entered.

「Welcome to…Touma-kun! Hello! There’s still time before I finish, right?」

「Oh, Aya. I’m not sure how much time you have left. No, I was just curious.」

「Is that so…yeah! Thanks to you, working here is easy! There are a few things…」

「Thing? What’s wrong?」

「My my, Touma-kun. I knew you’d come early. You can go straight to the back~ Father is waiting for you. You can stay with Aya until she’s done with her work if you like.」

「I understand, I don’t want to bother you. Okay, Aya, see you later.」

「Yes, I’ll try my best. I’ll work a little harder!」

Yakura Bookstore closes at 8:00 p.m., so it’s probably easier to work there, although the earning potential may be low.

They have two weekdays off and you only have to work for about three hours at a time.

Today it’s 3:00 to 6:00, and it’s about 5:30 now.

I knock and enter the back door.

「Excuse me.」

「Phew, are you here because you’re worried?’」

「Well, yeah, something like that.」

「She’s helped our sales go up, and it’s not easy for us.」

「What? Is that so?」

「Yeah, there’s a pretty girl. Of course, I got rid of the bad ones.」

「Thank you very much. I feel safer.」

「Just…」

「Hmm? I remember Aya was about to say something about…a problem?」

「…There’s a surveillance camera over there, watch it for a minute.」

「Oh…got it.」

I sat down on a chair and looked at the surveillance camera.

Then a man approaches Aya.

He is holding a bouquet of flowers.

And he is offering something.

But then he quickly sinks down and leaves.

「Um…what this about…?」

「I’m surprised too. I didn’t expect this to happen on the third day. It seems that he is making an application for a serious relationship. As a man, I can’t blame him for that.」

「…I see, so that’s what you mean.」

What should I do? …Things are getting very blurry, aren’t they?

「…Jealousy? Monopoly? Lack of self-confidence?」

「Different…no, I guess so. I have to improve my manliness.」

「That’s tight. She seems to be making a lot of effort for you, you know? She even asked me, Do you know what kind of clothes Touma-kun likes?」

「That’s…sorry.」

After that, we had a chat and it was 6 o’clock.

「Touma-kun! Sorry to keep you waiting! Manager! Thanks for your hard work!」

「Oh, good work…It’s good that you’re polite.」 

「Ah, thank you!」

「Well, then, old man. Excuse me.」

「…Come again.」

◆◇◆◇◆

After that, I take Aya and enter the coffee shop Isle.

She greets the master and takes her usual seat.

Then the drinks come and we talk about what I just said.

「So, that…」

「Yes…that’s right. I said I have a boyfriend. Touma-kun, are you mad? I’m sorry.」

「What…? I’m not angry, but…why?」

「Eh? Because…you have a wrinkle between your eyebrows…」

「What? Seriously…?」

I’m not angry…Aya is not bad.

It’s just that I’m a small person…

「So…no? I knew it…」

「Wait, wait. There is nothing for Aya to apologize for. It’s just that thing.」

「That thing?」

「Ah, what…it’s just ugly jealousy. It means I’m a small person. The one who should be apologizing is me. I’m sorry.」

I placed my hands neatly on my thighs and bowed my head.

「Ehh!? J-Jealous…that, I’m glad…」

「Really? Isn’t that a little small and lame?」

「I don’t think so. I’m happy if the boy I like is jealous of me. Because…that means you like me, right…」

「Obviously. Of course, I like you.」

「It’s a given… Hehe, you did it.」

「Ah― I see. Now I understand…」

As I look at that smile, I realize something very new.

「Eh? What do you mean?」

「No…when school starts, he’ll confess again, right?」

「Umm, yes…I also want to ask for that…Touma-kun, can I say that you are my boyfriend?」

「That’s the thing, right? You mean you care about me, don’t you?」

「Yes…Touma-kun, I’ll cause trouble for you……but I……」

「No more. For Aya’s sake, I’ll throw away my peaceful days.」

「Eh…? Are you sure? Because…you say it yourself, it’s going to be tough when he finds out you’re my boyfriend, right?」

「Oh, that’s fine. I also want to eat lunch with Aya and be with her on the way to and from school.」

「Really!? Good! I want to do that too!」

「Well, that’s good, because……more than anything else.」

「Hmm?」

「I thought it might cut down on the confessions a little…because apparently, I’m not only possessive but also jealous…I don’t like it…」

Aya pouted for a moment, then her cheeks turned red as if she understood the meaning.

「…………hauu……wh-what should I do…I can’t stop my heart from pounding…!」

…That’s my line!

Well, this may be the end of my days of peace and quiet.

But strangely enough, I don’t feel bad about it…

Learn more

Pause

Unmute

I guess it means that Aya’s presence is growing inside me.

To be honest, I can’t imagine what will happen…

The rest is just a matter of getting out of there…

I was thinking about that as I looked at Aya’s embarrassed face.