Volume 1 - CH 12

Episode 12: “Nanami-san in a Daze”

“Goodnight, Nanami-san.”

The words of Youshin, whom I had been talking to until just now, lingered pleasantly in my ears, and I kept replaying them in my mind.

It’s not like it’s the first time I’ve talked to a guy, but talking with him makes my heart flutter endlessly.

It’s like he’s right there next to my ear. Telephones are such an amazing invention, and I’m grateful to the person who invented them, even though I don’t know their face or name.

…Come to think of it, this might be the first time I’ve had a private conversation with a guy. And on top of that, it’s late at night…

“What is this? I’m so nervous… Ya-ba-i…”

I lay on the bed, face down, and fluttered my legs. It doesn’t really serve any purpose, but I can’t calm down if I don’t move something.

I’m done for. I can’t seem to control my feelings anymore. I’m really unsettled. I feel light and fluffy.

“If that’s the case, I won’t be able to refute Hatsumi or Ayumi… “

Today has been a series of unbelievable events.

In the morning, when I arrived too early and was thinking about how to kill time, he came to me right away.

He noticed my changed hairstyle and shyly called it cute. I thought he was the cute one.

He even suggested holding hands first, and I was surprised at myself for such a thing. I hope my hands weren’t sweaty or anything.

He also poked my cheek, and we ate lunch together… Why did I even say “Ahh” and do that?

Come to think of it, that wasn’t an indirect kiss!?

Oh no, I just realised it now… Now I’m getting embarrassed… I cover my burning cheeks and become round on the bed.

Say it, Youshin… that it was an indirect kiss…

No, that won’t do. If he says something like that, I’m sure I’ll die of embarrassment. Youshin would never say something like that…

And then, the last thing today… even after school, we went on a shopping date…

Everything, every single thing, is my first time.

Even though he became my boyfriend through a punishment game… being with Youshin is incredibly fun. I want to be with him even more… that’s how I feel.

Instantly, the grinning faces of Hatsumi and Ayumi come to mind.

“I’m not an ‘adored wife’ yet!”

I sat up abruptly on the bed and made excuses to the non-existent pair.

Ugh… They say weird things…

Cooking does involve love, so it’s true that I put love into it, but… it’s the same amount of love as mothers put into it… it should be love… I think…

The more I think about it, the hotter my cheeks get, and once again, I wriggle on the bed.

“Hey, what happened? Nanami, who said she was a little scared of boys, holding hands and going to school…”

“I’m so jealous~. I want to go to school holding hands with my boyfriend too~… but it’s impossible…”

This morning, when I was interrogated by Hatsumi and Ayumi about the situation, they said those words… Hatsumi, I want to hear that from you.

Ayumi seemed envious of the fact that Youshin and I were holding hands and going to school.

Certainly, it was just going to school… but it was incredibly fun.

No, going to school with friends is fun too, but this was a different kind of fun. Ayumi envies it because she can’t do it herself… that’s true…

For now, I explained everything that happened yesterday. Including the fact that Youshin helped me… everything…

“Well… you’re doing great, Misumai . So you fell head over heels for Nanami, huh? I see… Our worries were spot on, weren’t they? We were seriously worried that you were too easygoing and might give up on going to college because of Nanami…”

After that, I talked to Youshin… and he asked me out on a date… When I mentioned I had a prior commitment on Saturday, he suddenly started using honorific language and invited me on a date.

Honestly, I was planning to ask him out for a date on Sunday… but I ended up being beaten to the punch. It’s a bit frustrating.

But being asked out on a date by Youshin… it’s irresistibly delightful.

I’m so happy.

Why am I this happy?

A date… our first date… on Sunday… I can’t contain my excitement.

“For tomorrow’s bento… I need to put in some effort… Ah, but I have to make sure my parents don’t find out…”

They don’t need to worry about thanking me for the bento. I do it because I enjoy it…

Enjoy it? Who enjoys it? Well, I enjoy cooking, and I’m just using it as practice, that’s all.

…I realize that’s a bit of an unreasonable excuse, even for myself.

Anyway, to regulate my overly excited heart, I start thinking about tomorrow’s bento.

Youshin said he likes hamburgers. I’ll make a really big one. I wonder if it will fit in the lunchbox?

“I’m not ready yet! I can’t do it!”

I argue back in my mind against Hatsumi and Ayumi.

I started shouting and thrashing about on the bed, and my mom scolded me.

That’s not good… I need to calm down…

Youshin is different from me, he was calm… I thought he was quiet at school, but maybe he’s actually mature?

He probably doesn’t know that I’m secretly getting nervous and excited even during our phone calls.

Oh, but wait… Did I hear him sound flustered too? And why did he use honorific language when he asked me out again?

If he was nervous like me… would it make me happy if we were both the same?

What do I want after one month…?

I’m really scared at the thought of him finding out and drifting away from me… Just thinking about it makes me want to cry.

“…Am I… too easy going?”

The question without anyone to answer dissipates within me.

There’s probably no way… I’m not easygoing… I think to myself… but even now, I can’t stop thinking about Youshin. That’s the only thing I’m aware of, that I can’t argue against their words.

So I made a decision. As advised… I’ll be proactive and go for it.

“I’ll make Youshin fall madly in love with me! Through his stomach! We’ll have lots of fun! …But I’m still too embarrassed for a kiss! If I do that, he won’t drift away from me!”

I can’t help but feel like I’m the worst.

Even though I know this started as a punishment game, I’ll try my best to fully capture Youshin’s heart before he forgives me.

Because Youshin will fall head over heels for me.

…It’s my best effort since I still can’t gather the courage to confess.

“If that’s decided, tomorrow will be another day of making bento! Yeah, I’ll put all my effort into it!”

I stood up on the bed and made a commotion, and once again, my mom scolded me.

But I’ve set my course, and I no longer have any doubts!

And then, I slip back into bed and fall asleep. I hope I have sweet dreams… dreams about Youshin.

…No, wait, me… even in my dreams… Am I really so easygoing?

Interlude: Youshin at that time

“All right!! I managed to ask her out on a date! Baron-san! I did it!! I showed my manliness!”

“Oh, yeah. You seem quite high-spirited… Did you just ask her out on impulse?”

“What are you talking about?! I’m calm and rational! Now, I’ll do my best for the Sunday date!”

“Ah… Yeah, just keep it in moderation, okay?”

TL notes: My favourite chapter till now ^_^