Volume 1 - CH 5.1

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Chapter 5: the fate of the sub heroines

Early June. Despite it being the height of the rainy season, the weather was clear.

Cloudless blue skies stretched out endlessly. The only thing floating and hogging the skies all to itself was the sun. 

“H-Hot…aren’t you overly motivated, Mr sun? I’d prefer it if you stayed more docile. Really, I hate the heat.”

In the corner of the schoolyard. Shimotsuki-san leaned her back against the tree, crouching down in the shade.

“You see, my body is rather fragile. If I were to come into contact with the sun, right away, my skin would’ve been burnt. Really, if I hadn’t borrowed this straw hat from my mother, I would’ve already burned up like a vampire.”

Shimotsuki-san put on her straw hat while complaining.

Looking at her like that, I felt somewhat strange.

(I never thought there’d be a person who looks so good with a straw hat…)

It was a shame to hide her beautiful silver hair, but I felt that the straw hat matched Shimotsuki-san’s innocent personality.

“You look good in a straw hat.”

When I honestly voiced my thoughts, Shimotsuki-san’s cheeks slackened, revealing a smile.

“You know, my mom also told me I look good in a straw hat. But the only people who’d look good with a straw hat like this are ship captains aspiring to become the Pirate King, and Shii-chan.” 

[no clue this was a one-piece reference.]

Recently, Shimotsuki-san has been smiling a lot more at school.

I felt happy about that…but at the same time, I was also worried.

(Ryuuzaki’s gaze hurts…)

Whether I liked it or not, I was concerned about the guy who was staring at me a few distances away.

Three days have passed since the declaration of war, but Ryuuzaki has yet to take any significant action.

It was highly unlikely that he was nervous about confessing his feelings──most likely, he was planning on settling the bout during the study accommodation.

“At any rate, the teachers are late…I can’t wait to get onto the air-conditioned bus.”

Blurted out Shimotsuki-san in a fed-up tone. That’s probably the same opinion of all the students standing in line waiting to get on the bus.

From here on out, we’ll be heading to our accommodation study.

The place itself was a nature park two hours away from our school by bus.

Right now, we were waiting for the teachers to arrive at the schoolyard.

However, it was so hot that I and Shimotsuki-san rested a little distance away from them under the shade of a tree. This made us stand out a little, as we looked out of place. 

It was uncomfortable being watched by others.

“Nakayama-kun, are we free to seat anywhere on the bus? If so, how about we sit together? Otherwise, in times like these, I’d usually have to sit together with that person on the bus.”

She was now talking to me without a hint of nervousness.

With her eyes looking straight at me.

…As if I was the only one she could see.

I never thought I would be so adored.

I was really happy about that. However…at the same time, this meant that Ryuuzaki was also being backed into a corner, so I could not genuinely be happy.

Because the protagonist is a being that grows and awakens when he finds himself in a predicament.

Of course, I’d understand if people were to think it’s ridiculous that such a fabrication like this could happen in real life. If I’m overthinking it, that’s fine, but I can’t help but be anxious because of all the things happened up till now.

On other hand, Shimotsuki-san doesn’t seem to have that kind of concern at all.

“Nakayama-kun, let’s make plenty of wonderful memories, okay?”

She was smiling innocently.

Seeing that smile, I felt as if my negative self was being purified, and I felt so much better.

Well, there’s no use worrying about it.

“Yes, of course.”

I nodded, and she nodded broadly as if imitating me.

At that moment, the teachers arrived, so we ended our conversation at that point.

And thus, the climax of the story, the overnight study accommodation, officially began.