CH 12.4

Epilogue- Sequel (for VOL 1)

Translated by Raze

Edited by Lieer

“W-well…let’s go?”

“Y-yes.”

We were sitting on the carpet, facing each other.

Today was our high school’s founding anniversary, so it was close.

After spending the day leisurely, we finished our homework in the evening at Tachibana’s house and had dinner.

To this point, the day went well…

“…Ri…Rii…”

“…”

“Fuhaa! I can’t do this! Stop!”

“W-why?! You’re not trying hard enough!”

“I…can’t, no?”

“Nope. We are doing this today. Come on, try again.”

“Ehhh…alright”

I placed my hand on my chest and took a deep breath.

I exhaled gently to soothe my heartbeat, then looked at Tachibana in her eyes.

“…Ri…Rika”

I wasn’t used to calling her by her name, or to be more precise, it was the first time I had done so.

After I said it, I was hit by a strange feeling. It was like getting warm, happy, bitter, or something.

“…yes.”

Tachibana replied with a very soft voice.

Her face had the brightest shade of red I’d ever seen.

“O-oi! Don’t blush that much! You are making me embarrassed too!”

“B-b-b-but! It’s because Kusuba-san had such a serious look on your face! And also, Kusuba-san’s face is red too!”

“I don’t have a choice! I am used to calling a girl by her last name. I’ve never called a girl by her first name before.”

It was not clear which of us started it.

‘We are going to have to do this someday, so you should get used to it as soon as possible.’

After discussing it, Tachibana and I reached a conclusion of agreeing to call each other by our first names.

Also, both of us have shorter first names than last names.

So using these shorter names than last names, looking from the aspect of saving time, is the right thing to do.

Besides, I remember that Kyoya and Hinata had also started calling each other by their first names soon after they started dating.

If you want to change the way you call someone, it’s better to do it earlier.

That’s definitely true, but…

“Please say it more normally! It’s embarrassing!”

“I don’t know what normal is! And anyway, you’re so nervous, you look serious!”

The task of switching names had been extremely difficult.

Well, I guess that’s natural.

It’s extremely embarrassing after all.

And when you face Tachibana directly like this, her cuteness is insane.

I should be praised for not looking away.

“A-alright. Now then, let’s do it again.”

“Y-yes”

I take a deep breath in.

I feel calmer than before.

I can go for this…

“…Rika”

“…Yes.”

“Rika”

“Y-yes”

“Rika”

“…”

“Rika”

“M-muuu! You don’t have to say It that many times, I can hear you!”

Tachibana’s face turned red again and she started to shout.

“B-but, it’s still better to get used to it. I’m still uncomfortable calling it…”

“T-that’s true…”

Rika. Rika.

I repeat it several times in my mind.

“T-then, now I’ll do it.”

“O-oh…”

In the meantime, another obstacle had arrived.

Now it was Tachibana…Rika’s turn to call me by name.

“…Fuu. Re…Ren-san…”

“…Fuguu”

No, I made a weird voice.

“W-what was that?!”

“N-no, that was…destructive. It’s embarrassing.”

“I-I told you!”

It was bad enough to call her by name, but it’s worse being called.

Rather, I’m impressed that you were able to endure your name being called 4 times in a row, from Tachibana to…Rika

“But…I thought you said not to call me Rika.”

“This is much more suitable for me. Also, I like to add ‘san’ to the first name because it feels like it’s my own.”

“…Well, if you say so R-Rika.”

“Yes…Ren-san. Ren-san.”

“D-don’t…”

“This is for you. Ren-san.”

“…Rika.”

“Ren-san.”

After a few seconds of silence, we both averted our gaze at the same time.

I felt like I was doing something extremely idiotic.

“…Anyway, is that what you’ll call me in public?”

“T-that’s…well…”

“…”

“…”

“…Well, let’s just stick to our last names for now.”

”T-that’s right! You wouldn’t want to get embarrassed in front of others.”

‘A-ah. That’s right…”

We patted each other’s shoulders and shifted our attention to the television.

We sat next to each other, our shoulders touching while watching shows we weren’t interested in.

“…But”

“Hmm?”

“…When we are alone, please call me by my name.”

“A-alright. Rika, no?”

“Y-yes. Ren-san.”

Well alright.

It’s not bad to start slow.

It’s been so long that It doesn’t matter if we slow down a bit.

However…

“…I can’t even imagine calling you like that in front of Kyoya and the others.”

“…That’s right.”

“I don’t want to be made fun of…”

“Me too…Let’s be careful with that.”

The road ahead really is tough.

But, these moments of annoyances and embarrassments are also indescribably beautiful.

“Rika”

“What is it, Ren-san?”

I knew that I was happy right now.

“Once again, take care of me”

“…Yes, take care of me too.”

TL: Finally, it’s over. Vol 1 at least. Ah well. Hope that goes well.