Chapter 42

42

When I finished eating the cake, Hasumi finally arrived.

In an unusual disorganized state, he was trying to catch his breath.

Different from his usual perfectly worn uniform, Hasumi has a different s.e.x appeal now.

I wonder if I've become a pervert; because my eyes ended up going to his exposed collarbone which could be seen from the Y shirt that could be seen from unfastened b.u.t.ton of his shirt? I shouldn't have a collarbone fetish though.

"Sorry I got here late."

"No. It was time well spent organizing my thoughts."

I try to avoid looking at his collarbone as much as possible.

When Hasumi sat in front of me, he drank the cold water the shopkeeper brought.

The cold water was gone in no time. Had he come in such a hurry? It would have been fine to not hurry though.

"What were you thinking about?"

"About Tojo-sama."

"About Subaru, you say…….have you put your thoughts in order?"

"Yes. I'll stop running away."

Firmly looking at Hasumi's eyes, I said flatly.

To make him understand that it was a hard decision for me.

"I was running away from the thing called love. I thought that, if I were to fall in love, I would become the manga's main character heroine, I was scared to not be myself anymore. However, exactly because I'm scared, nothing will be solved by running away. That's why, I'll stop running away."

".......ah, now that you say it…...you were the heroine of a manga, mh……."

For a moment, Hasumi averted his eyes and whispered that.

I can hear you!!

So you'd forgotten! Even though it took me a lot of courage to say it!

No, that doesn't matter. It's not good, but I'll put this aside for now.

"So, you said that you'll stop avoiding Subaru?"

Hasumi got a grip on himself and looked at me.

Looking at him too, I nodded.

When our eyes met, Hasumi's eyes shook as if bewildered, and then he turned his eyes away.

".....I see. You've already decided then."

"Yes."

"You're... a strong person."

Hasumi, looking away, sighed while muttering.

"Strong, you say?"

"Yeah. You are a strong person. While I always run away."

"Hasumi-sama……."

"Like that time with Miku. While saying that I was doing it for their sake, in the end I was only running away. Because that way it was easier."

"That's wrong. No, it may have been so. However, it wasn't like Hasumi-sama was running away. Even though it was tough, you continued to watch over them, right? So which part of that was easy?"

"......you may think so. But I was running away. Even now."

The instant he said that, his eyes met mine and my startled heart skipped a beat.

What's this? Wanting to calm down, I drank a mouthful of the tea that had already gone cold.

"From Miku-sama?"

After thinking for a bit, I asked Hasumi.

No, I can only think of that.

"No. Now I'm fine about Miku. Now I support her from the bottom of my heart."

"Eh?......then, from whom are you running away from now?"

"......you don't get it?"

Hasumi looked at me with upturned eyes.

I did think so before too; but, Hasumi's upturned eyes have a tremendous s.e.x appeal. It somehow made my heart pound.

Just when my heart finally had calmed down too.

"I don't get it."

"Really?"

Hasumi's eyes become entangled.

The sound of my heart is loud. Why am I feeling such palpitations?

When the violent throbbing of my chest was reaching its peak, Hasumi suddenly averted his eyes.

I who ended up thinking that it was a pity, was perplexed at myself for that thought.

I wonder what happened to me?

Somehow, I feel strange.

"I will tell you, someday."

I almost missed the words Hasumi muttered in a sigh.

That was dangerous. I must get a grip on myself.

"I'll wait for when you're ready to tell me then."

I held down my agitation and somehow managed to smile.

The next day, I met Hasumi by chance while I was going to school.

We had never met while going to school, so it's rare.

I'll properly greet him, because greetings are important, you know!

"Good morning, Hasumi-sama."

"Morning."

When we were exchanging mild greetings, that person freshly made his appearance.

"Morning, Kaguragi-san. …..and, Sousuke."

"......morning, Subaru."

When I was going to hide as a conditional reflex, I met eyes with Hasumi.

And Hasumi told me in a low voice.

"Didn't you say that you would stop running away?"

"No, that, this is…...what you would call a conditional reflex that I had trained for over a year……"

"What are you two talking about? Let me partic.i.p.ate too."

When I was about to fumble an excuse, the prince cut in the s.p.a.ce between us and suddenly put his hand on my shoulder.

"N-nothing, it's nothing. G-good morning, Tojo-sama."

"Morning. Is it something you can't tell me? Don't tell me, it's something bad about me……"

"It's no such thing…...I wouldn't talk badly about Tojo-sama."

"Really?"

"Yes, obviously."

I nodded with a serious face.

If I were to badmouth the prince, the prince's fans would attack me under the cover of darkness…….and I still want to live.

"Haha. Kaguragi-san is interesting."

"Ha…...is that so?"

"Un. Sousuke feels the same too, you know."

The prince, as he said so, turned his eyes to Hasumi.

Why did Hasumi's name come out there?

Did the prince perhaps misunderstand that Hasumi likes me?

I must solve this misunderstanding! But, when I tried to speak, the prince continued.

"I've lost and won repeatedly against Sousuke, but…..I absolutely won't lose this time."

".....as you wish. I won't lose too."

A spark scattered between the prince and Hasumi.

Ah, c.r.a.p. I can't open my mouth like this.

More importantly, is Hasumi okay being misunderstood by the prince?

"Neesan, what's with this situation."

My little brother's face suddenly appeared behind me.

Feeling a bit relieved in seeing him, I laughed as if troubled.

"I don't really understand that. Tojo-sama suddenly said "I won't lose" to Hasumi-sama……"

"Aah…...I see…..I understand the situation. …...as for this, if I don't give them a proper warning….."

Fufu, said my little brother while looking at them with a smile.

Ehm…..is it just my imagination?

I feel like my little brother's smile is incredibly dark.

Now, from the bottom of my heart, I thought.

Someone, please, do something about this situation.

Tn: Naoriel

Ed: Aeternatrix

Nao's lil corner  Ｏ(≧▽≦)Ｏ

Finally!!! Hasumiiii!!!!

Will that someday be near?! Or will it not!!??

And our most lovable little brother enter the scene to oppose these two like I won't give you my sister!! (◞≼◉ื≽◟ ;益;◞≼◉ื≽◟)Ψ

THIS IS THE END OF THE KICKI-NO WAIT, STEPPING ON THE PRINCE FEET.

Unfortunately we didn't reach the 120# so no extra chappy! Though this whole thing was just to make you all vent some anger! xD

And I think it succeeded in its purpose! (Though the most s.a.d.i.s.tic readers here probably are still unsatisfied cough)