CH 83

Chapter 83: (Extra) Sara’s POV Part 11

I keep in touch with my parents overseas. Not even counting texting, we talk via video call once a week. I think a friendly relationship with your parents is good.

Like Shiori-san’s, my father is child-doting. . .or rather compared to Shiori-san’s father, who is more of a daughter-doting parent. If those two met they’d be talking about their daughters the whole day.

That could happen if Shiori-san and I have a parent approval meeting for our relationship, well I wonder if that day will ever come.

“Hmmm, I keep fantasizing. . .”

Love is terrifying. I’ve never been this dreamy before, but lately I’ve been having these fantasies about “If Shiori-san and I become lovers.”, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

If I say I love you, I want you to smile back, I want to hold hands. I want to cuddle together on the sofa, where we usually sit beside each other, whispering sweet words to each other, and giving sporadic kisses many times.

I’d like to go on a standard date, like amusement parks or a movie theater. I could see her not being good with haunted houses and horror movies. Even if she’s extremely scared, I think she’d try and stay strong, saying she’s fine. I can see her saying it with a tight face trying to hide it, my face softened thinking how cute she’d be.

Ah, I smiled again at the imaginary Shiori-san. I wondered if this counts as being an uncommunicative person like Miharu-chan said.

As I surrendered myself to the endlessly expanding sea of fantasy, my phone beeped on the table beside me. I looked at my watch and then realized what time it was, it was time for my video call with my parents.

It was early morning in Japan, but it was evening over there. There is a big time difference so we try to set a specific time for the video call.

“Sara! Long time no see!”

As soon as I hit answer, I heard my father’s excited voice and saw his huge smile all over the screen. He has always been a cheerful person, but since going abroad it has only grown. The air there must just suit him. Behind my father’s big face, I could see my mother with a fed up smile on her face.

“Yeah yeah, it’s only been 5 days, but long time no see. Ah you too mother. Oh yeah, Happy anniversary!”

“Thank you, it’s officially our 20th anniversary this year.”

It seems that 20th anniversaries are called porcelain wedding anniversaries. It’s common to give porcelain or ceramic tableware. A few days ago my mother said that she got a variety of different colored mugs from her favorite dinnerware brand.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that they are an ideal couple, but even from their daughter’s point of view, they are a close couple. I had a vague notion that at one point in my life, I’d meet my life partner, get married, have children, and become like these two.- – -Only up until a few days ago. 

“Are you guys going out for dinner after this?”

“Yeah! Since it’s our 20th anniversary, we can splurge a little bit! It’s too bad Sara can’t be with us though.”

“Ahaha, you should just spend your wedding anniversary together, for the first time in a long time.”

I told them not to worry about me, my father looked lonely and dropped his shoulders, but it doesn’t look like it’s all bad for them. Yeah, as I thought, we are close.

After that we talked about various things happening in each other’s lives. When suddenly my mother said “Oh by the way” as if she remembered something.

“Yesterday I was talking to your father about what kind of person you’d marry in the futur-”

“It’s way too early for Sara to be thinking about marriage!”

“Well. It’s when Sara gets married, but it will surely be difficult with your father, so please do your best.”

Is it okay to say “do your best”! My father simply pouted in the back, as my mother gave a light smile. My father said it’s way too early, but I’m old enough to get married according to Japanese law. However if I said that he would surely get even more pouty, so I’ll keep quiet. I don’t want to spoil the good mood on their anniversary. 

“I won’t just accept any guy. It has to be someone as accomplished as Shiori-san.”

Uh oh. I know he is probably joking, but I can’t let those words slide.

It seems that Shiori-san is held in pretty high esteem by my father, it’s probably because her name comes up often despite never meeting her. Well, it’s also because I’m always complimenting her.

“Well, then I wonder if I’ll just marry Shiori-san-.”

“Eh?”

“Well, same-sex marriage is legal in Sweden.”

“Um, Sara. . .?”

In a half-serious way and with a friendly smile I asked if I could just marry Shiori-san, but my father’s eyebrows strangely dropped.

On the other hand, my mother happily jumped in saying, “Ara, that’d be wonderful.”

“I would love to get another daughter~, please introduce us to her when we return.”

“Ok-ay. Well then, I’ll have to seduce her before then.”

“Sara~!?”

My father raised a pitiful voice, but I wasn’t going to say “I’m just kidding.” Even though I didn’t mean for it to hurt or anything, he was the one that stepped on the landmine. I have to get my revenge at least a little.

“Don’t we need to get ready soon, we’ll be late for our reservations, won’t we?”

“Seriously. Look, father, you have to hurry.”

“Sara~! Do not attract strange insects! Also be careful on the roads at night, and make sure to properly lock all the doors.”

“Yeah yeah, don’t worry about it. Just have a good dinner. Bye!”

I sent the two busy people off with a “see ya later” and soon hung up the phone, letting out a deep sigh when it was all over.

To be honest, I was a little nervous. I’m sure they didn’t mean anything by it, but it was such a thrill to hear the person I love being discussed with my parents.

“. . .Marriage, huh.”

I’ve just discovered love, and have no idea what the future may hold. It’s not even mutual love yet, so don’t jump the gun.

A few months ago I had no idea I’d fall in love, so there is no way I know what would happen years from now. I’d rather focus on how I’m feeling right now.

I was resting my cheek on the table, deep in thought, when my phone I was holding in my hand buzzed.

I opened the message screen and saw it was from my mother.

(I’m relieved to see your reaction has softened a lot, before you used to react badly when we talked about love or marriage. We should have a talk between just the two of us, without your father on the call.)

. . .I wonder how much she realized? I don’t want to talk about love with my mother. I had to find an excuse this time.

I put my phone with the screen down gently on the table, and got up from my seat. I’ll reply later. As I headed towards the kitchen to make a pot of tea, my phone briefly rang once more.

I didn’t read it for an hour, thinking it was just an additional stamp from my mother. I learned to regret that later when I realized it was from Shiori-san! What is this timing?

In my moment of regret, I sent a quick stamp containing a “Good morning kiss.”. I had never used it before, and she instantly sent a stamp back with a cat saying “I love you!” it had hearts flying around it. It was a stunning comeback.

“Geeze! This is what I mean! When you do this stuff! !”

Far from ignoring my recent hard work, she sent me this! Dense! Airhead! Temptress! !

It’s hard enough for me to choose just one of my stamps, but she just sends this instantly back!? Is she that unaware of me? It’s making me depressed.

I should go on the offense and just send back “I love you too(Heart)” or something. However, that’s impossible. The next time I see her I wouldn’t be able to look her in the eyes.

What should I do? I’ve been trying to convey my love to her in very simple ways, so that she will be aware of me, but I’m not sure if that’s enough. However, what more can I do?

“You’re a powerful enemy, Shiori-san. . .”

It was after noon on that day, the day I was lamenting how dense my love interest was. When I then received a message from Yoko-san, saying “Shiori is asking for a Sara-chan lap pillow.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(She had a bad dream last night, and didn’t sleep well. Her head isn’t working and she had huge eye bags ruining her pretty face, so please heal her.)

Sometime after I received a message from Shiori-san saying she was coming over, I received an additional message from Yoko saying that.

It was a jokey text at first, so I thought she was simply teasing Shiori-san. However, that wasn’t the case. I wonder what kind of dream she had.

Honestly a bed at home would be better for her to rest at, but if she’s coming over I’ll do my best to entertain her.

I cleaned up lightly, changed my clothes, and got ready to welcome her. Once she arrived I met her at the door, I hadn’t seen her in her school uniform in a while, and just as I heard, she looked a little weird with dark circles under her eyes.

I welcomed her and invited her to my lap! However she firmly rejected it and said “I’ll refrain from doing that today.”

She said that her pride as a senpai won’t allow her. I don’t really care about age, I just want to be in a relationship where she can rely on me and I can depend on her. I want it to be mutual, but I wonder if it’s just because I am younger. I don’t want to say it out loud, I feel a little lonely and sad that she doesn’t depend on me.

I shouldn’t force her to use my lap as a pillow, so I simply said I understood and withdrew, but then I got an idea. If she wants to be older and dependable, why not grant her wish?

I honestly didn’t mean to make a move right away, but there was momentum here.

Without saying a word, I closed the gap between us and clung to her left arm, snuggling up to her. I could tell that she was surprised, but with an obvious face I said “Then, I’ll be spoiled”. Her face went bright red as she stiffened up. Cute.

She said she imagined this was a way you’d spoil your lover, she was slightly reluctant as she tilted away, I totally agree with that assessment.

That’s what I’m trying to do.

“Then, right now I’m your lover.“

I specifically chose my words. If I did this at her school, my desk and shoes might be gone the next day.

However it seems to have an effect if I go this far, and Shiori-san, who looked more flustered than ever, was shaking a little. Maybe I overdid it. Today’s goal was to heal her, so I should give her a break.

“So, what kind of nightmare did you have?”

She tried to skirt around the question at first, but as I persisted, she relinquished and told me about her dream. It was a dream where I was killed.

She slowly talked in a pained voice about the gruesome contents, her hands that were holding my hand were sweaty with cold fingertips.

I’m sorry, but despite the situation, I was very happy.

Even though she is hurting so much from a terrible story.

Despite that, her dark circles under her eyes, the coldness on her finger tips, the sad pitiful voice, knowing all of that was for me made me feel lovely.

“It’s okay though. You see, because I’m 100% alive.”

I held back the urge to hug her and tighten my grip on the hand I held.

I have to thank Yoko for getting her to come here today. I don’t want to leave her alone like this. Above all, the only person who could comfort her now is probably me, because I was the one who was killed in the dream. I’m okay, I’m fine, saying it was okay. I repeated that, and her stiff expression softened somewhat.

I thought about what I could do to cheer her up more, when it dawned on me that it would be better if we went to the spot she dreamed about, and overwrite that memory with happy uneventful ones. Let’s not only do that, but also go back to that pancake restaurant. Also try that honey lemon frappuccino at starducks, we can get drinks together.

It’s not just to hang out with her. . . Okay maybe a little.

“Even if something happens, You will protect me this time, right?”

As I poked her, she didn’t reply easily, from her blank face, it contorted and gave a pitiful smile. Coupled with the bags under her eyes, it didn’t make for a pretty expression, but- – -I like this face. I really like the kind face. A face that became this pathetic for my sake.

But I have to be strong so that she doesn’t make this kind of face all the time.

I’m glad that she is trying to protect me. However I don’t want to be protected all the time either. I want to protect her, and have her depend on me. I want to be equal.

It’s all wishful thinking, and I haven’t achieved anything in that way yet, but I will definitely make it happen. If I can do that, I could confidently say “I love you” to her.

“So what kind of movie do you like?”

She asked.

“Well, I like sci-fi and action movies. We’re going to see them on the big screen, right?”

After she understood that, she immediately searched for ones on her phone, when suddenly it hit me.

“Hey, Shiori-san, can you handle horror movies?”

I remembered that fantasy I had in the morning. She stopped her search and looked up from her phone, her mouth twitched for a moment and her face stiffened, but said with a beautiful smile, “I’m okay with them.”- – – -while avoiding looking me in the eyes.

It was just as I had imagined, so cute and funny, I couldn’t hold in my guttural laughter. Her cheeks puffed out in embarrassment.

Ah, she is really cute. My favorite person is the cutest girl in the world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That was a very cute chapter. It’s nice seeing what Sara was thinking during this. And hopefully Sara picks up the pace and protects Shiori from her own doubts.

Anyways, I fixed up chapters up to chapter 25, and they weren’t that bad. It was mainly the first chapter(which is the worst one to be bad) was bad. The rest are good if not passable. I’ll do them in bunches of 25 and then work on translating.