CH 62

Chapter 62: Season Finale "First Kiss"

TL: Akabane

TL: There is too much people keep give us a bad rating on NU just because my poor grammar and not even for the story. If you aren't satisfied, just drop it or read the raw instead. I translate all novels just for fun and I want to share my translation for everyone with the same hobbies.

It's better if you give me some correction rather than complaint about my grammar.

***

Tsukasa was waiting for me when he returned to the harbor.

"Welcome back. From the looks of it. I guess it looks like we've solved the case without incident."

Tsukasa seemed relieved to see Okuwa and the rest of the criminal group.

"Oh, um. Mikamo... this..."

Houjou took a sheet of sleeping pills from his pocket and offered it apologetically to Tsukasa. Tsukasa took it without expression.

"I'm really sorry for everything I've done! Please forgive me!"

Houjou even got down on his knees and begged Tsukasa for forgiveness. Seeing this, Tsukasa thought for a moment and said,

"I don't want to think about forgiving you or not forgiving you. I just want to forget you. That's all. But...yes. I think I'll feel a little better...fufufu..."

Saying that, Tsukasa tossed the sheet of sleeping pills he was holding toward the sea. The sheet sank to the bottom of the sea as it was.

"Are you sure? Don't you need that thing to help you sleep?"

I asked Tsukasa. But with a somewhat radiant smile on his face, Tsukasa said,

"No, I don't. I don't need it anymore. It's strange, but thanks to you helping me, I don't have to worry about it anymore. Thank you, Kanata. I'm glad I met you."

"I see. I'm glad to hear that."

It was so nice to be thanked by the person I admired from the previous world. The past that binds Tsukasa is no more exist. He will surely create new art in his own way. It is a great honor to be a part of that.

"Me and Kubodera will go to the police like this...I will keep my promise...so please forgive me..."

"I'm not in the mood to forgive your sins or not. What you are facing is your own past. Well, good luck."

Okuwa and Kubodera walk straight from the port to the police station. Facing their sins is the best punishment. They will be judged by their karma. There's nothing I have to say there.

"Hey. Kanata."

"Yes, Tsukasa?"

"What's going to happen to the circle with the representative gone? There's still one more day of training camp left today, right? Who's going to organize it?

Tsukasa is tilting his head. Well, we've taken care of that.

"Don't worry. I'll manage it somehow."

Because I have a senior colleague to reassure me.

After breakfast, the camp members gathered in a large conference room at the training center. The first-year students looked somewhat expectant, as if it were some kind of event, but the seniors looked puzzled. Then a certain man with a microphone stood at the very front of the meeting room.

--- "Ahhhhhh, mic test! Wow! Ehehehe! .... Alright. Good morning everyone!

--- """"Good morning!?!""""

It's admirable that he can greet everyone properly. But the freshmen and the seniors were concerned about the embarrassment. Because no one knew about the man standing in front of everyone. The only ones who knew were me, Mashiba and Igarashi.

--- "I'm Naruki Kuramata, or Kekai as everyone calls me, and I'm the treasurer of a club called "Imperial Capital" at the Imperial Capital University. Nice to meet you!!"

I can hear people talking in hushed tones. It's probably because they don't know why there are heavyweights from other circles here.

--- "I'm going to go ahead because it's going to be in the news soon, but Takeru Okuwa, the head of your circle "Ronhi Javelot" was arrested this morning. And so was Genji Kubodera."

The audience went into an uproar at the bombshell.

--- "I think this is a very shocking event for everyone. For many of us here, Okuwa and his friends were good friends. But college clubs are very dangerous places. What you can do is much bigger than in high school. When you get a position in a big circle, you become a kind of authority figure. That power is easily disturbed. The mind is broken as a sense of omnipotence takes over the body and desires are satisfied by oppressing others. And a pitiful scoundrel is born. Both Ookawa and Kubodera are monsters that created by this caste in the circle. Don't be like that, everyone. Please."

Everyone listened quietly to what Kekai-senpai had to say. The university circle is a frightening world where the caste system is so severe that it makes the caste system of club activities in high school look like a child's game. While surviving there, a person's mind is easily transformed and transformed into a monster. They get drunk and rape women, demand power harassment and humiliation from their juniors, engage in violence, and force party tickets and take money from them. The university is next door to a crazy world in which every one of them is somehow in control.

--- "I just had a discussion with the remaining executives and myself, the temporary auditor. As a result, it was decided that this circle "Ronhi Javelot" is officially disbanded as of today!"

I thought there would be some shouting there, but there wasn't. I guess everyone understood somewhat. The members of this camp are the elite riajuu who were able to push aside others who wanted to join. But I guess it's not like they don't have any sense of guilt. People are always complicated.

--- "Please understand that this measure was taken to avoid suspicion and suspicion of the other members. It's also a consideration for the first-year students who have not yet officially joined us, so that their involvement here will not be a stain on them. I know it is unreasonable, but that is the way the world is made. That is the risk of those who try to enrich their youth in a group called a circle. If you don't like it, start your own group of your choice. Or you can enjoy yourself as an individual. That is what a circle is. It is an exclusive, authoritative and helpless place. Accept it. Okay?"

Kekai-senpai's cold voice echoes in the meeting room. A circle is a place of youth that everyone longs for. But when you turn the other cheek, it's nothing but a dark cage of horribly ugly egos.

--- But don't forget, you are college students. You can go anywhere you want. It's not like high school. You have the freedom to choose where you belong. Or you can create a place for yourselves. So don't give up on enjoying your youth and making it shine. That's all. I wish you all the best in the future."

With a relaxed bow of his head, Kekai-senpai's speech came to an end. I had asked Kekai-senpai to disband the circle this time. After I secured Okuwa and the others, I told Kekai-senpai about it. Kekai-senpai was really upset. It seems that Kekai-senpai has his own aesthetics of university life, and what Okuwa and the others did was out of course. When I proposed that the circle be dissolved, Kekai-senpai was willing to cooperate with me. I was so grateful that he came all the way to Hamamatsu to help me. I owe him too much. I love senior who is too dependable.

--- So! We celebrate the dissolution of the circle! To celebrate your new departure! Let's have a breakup party! Hooooooo!!!"

Kekai-senpai shouts, and at the same time, loud music starts echoing from outside the room. A temporary pizza oven and a mysterious DJ booth had somehow been set up in the courtyard facing the lake at the training center.

--- "My treat! Have fun! Youth! Kanpai!! Oooohhh!"

--- """"Kanpai!!!""""

Everyone was already desperate. They wanted to drink and make noise and at least ease the shock. It turned out to be a very, very noisy breakup party.

It's a completely shabby world, I think. I was alone, away from the hustle and bustle of the party, staring blankly at Lake Hamana.

"Ah. Why are you here? I've been looking for you, for God's sake!"

I turned around and there was Igarashi. As usual, she was dressed in a conservative, female-announcer style fashion that suited her well. She sat down next to me.

"Oh no. I'm the one who ruined the circle. It's uncomfortable, isn't it?"

I feel sorry for the other students who got caught in the middle of it, even though Okuwa and the others sucked. To be honest, I feel uncomfortable.

"If you say that, I'm one of the causes too! Yes! Here!"

Igarashi handed me a medium bottle of my favorite foreign beer.

"I heard. You like this kind of beer in a bottle, right? Maybe this is the first time you've had a beer that isn't in a can, on the contrary! Fufufu."

Igarashi also had a beer bottle in her hand. Apparently, she's going to cater to my tastes. She's usually a monster for accepting any kind of alcohol. I couldn't help but smile. We clinked our bottles and toasted. The beer was cold and very tasty.

"You know what? We were supposed to go on a family vacation. At first, I said I wanted to go to a place where we could see Mt. Fuji, but in the end, we ended up going to Izumo, which Chusho wanted to go to."

Igarashi's gaze is directed toward Mount Fuji. In my previous world, I would climb Mount Fuji alone. Mt. Fuji is serious.

"Then, the truth is. Igarashi was unhappy with the family trip?"

I'm a little hopeful. I know very well that she is capricious. But if she originally wanted to escape and has escaped. That would make me very happy. But Igarashi didn't answer that question. She smiled vaguely. She seemed to have no intention of letting me step in. I felt something like a will of rejection. That's why I couldn't help but shrug. I hugged my knees and looked down at her a little.

"I'm sorry. I'm... I'm cursed. There are so many things I can't say."

What in the world does "cursed" mean? I don't think I had ever heard such a thing in my previous world. But the way her life turned out, it was as if she was cursed by something. I raise my eyebrows and ponder.

"Haha! Don't look so testy! I'm just kidding! A joke! Just a joke! There's no such thing as a curse! You look so silly, hahaha!"

Igarashi laughs. There's no bitterness in it. So why is she clutching the amulet she's wearing around her neck so tightly...?

"That's right. Yup. Well, occultism aside. We've come all this way, we should be having fun."

I stood up and pulled Igarashi's hand. Then we walk together to the edge of the lake.

"I was surprised when I arrived here. Lake Hamana is really close to the ocean. It's more like the ocean than a lake."

"Indeed. It's like a small ocean. It's not summer yet, so it's probably just right."

We walk along the shore of the lake, holding hands. We talk about nothing, and just take a walk. I love that time more than anything.

"Oh, I'm done drinking. Here you go. You like beer, right? I'll give you a bottle!"

"I wish you'd at least hold the empty bottle yourself...well, I'll hold it..."

Igarashi pushed the finished beer bottle toward me. I would have been annoyed if someone else had done it to me, but it just tickled me strangely to have her do it to me... But it made my hands feel full.

"Come to think of it, didn't they tell you in elementary school? They told us to keep both hands open at all times! Never put both hands in your pockets! Because if something happens, you won't be able to deal with it! Ufufu."

She takes a cup of beer from her pocket and looks up at once. She blushes and smiles, making fun of me.

"That's a thing, isn't it? Well, thanks to you, I now have my hands full. Hahaha."

"That's right. That's why. So this is a force majeure. Because your hands are full. It can't be helped, right?"

Saying this, she brings her face closer to mine. She gently holds my cheeks between her hands, meditates on both eyes, and then. Her lips touch mine. There is no intense tongue twirling or anything like that. Just a touch. And yet, it was more comfortable than any kiss I have ever experienced....

"Chu...chu..."

She opens her eyes, removes her lips, and her hands as well. Then she turns back around.

"Uh. Mm... I mean...ahaha. I'll go back first...you can come back later, Tokiwa. I think you have a face you can't show to anyone right now..."

I couldn't see her face, but I could tell her ears were turning red. I'm glad I was able to do that too. Because I don't know how foolish I look right now. Igarashi walked alone toward the training camp. And as soon as she was out of sight, I collapsed onto the ground, hunched over.

"Oh no...that was foul...wow...hahaha...ahahaha...oh man...I can't stop smiling. I can't stop it.... She's too cute after all...!"

I lay on the ground, writhing in agony. I'm a college student, so why am I so thrilled and excited by a high school kiss like this? It seems I have a long way to go before I can become an adult. And after a few moments of writhing in agony, I'm back to the training camp.

The camp was over, and I returned to Tokyo by bus. Just as on the way there, I arrived at Tokyo Station on the way back. We all thanked each other for our hard work and talked about going to the launch party.

"Let's go to the launch, Tokiwa! They're renting out the whole live house! Sounds fun!"

Igarashi's mood lifted when she heard about the launch. Launch trip is really very college student-like, isn't it?

"Yeah, that's right. Talking about memories is also... ah..."

"Ah...yes. Yes, that's right. Talking about memories is good, isn't it? Yeah. Hahaha..."

Memories of this trip. Something big and memorable happened at the end of the trip that made us somewhat awkward with each other. But it's a sweet thing, not a nasty thing. And yet. It's always unreasonably ruined.

"Riri. We're here to pick you up."

We turned toward the voice. There was Hagiri with a somewhat stern face. Mashiba was lying down beside him with a somewhat apologetic look on her face.

"Chusho? Huh? Why are you here?"

Igarashi was terribly surprised, holding her mouth with both hands. Always. This guy always stepping on my shadow!

"Tomoe told me about your participation in this trip. Though... there was no report about Kanahisa Tokiwa over there, though. Huh..."

Hagiri let out a heavy sigh. Mashiba reacts to that with a bic and says.

"Because hat would make Hagiri tired, I didn't want to make you anxious! That's why I couldn't tell you..."

"I wish you would have told me right away if you could have. This is nothing short of an incident, you know. Well... it's okay."

Igarashi cringes. She had originally made a promise with Hagiri, and as long as she broke it and came here, it must be awkward.

"Riri. I'm leaving. I don't care what happened with that man. So, will you please go home with me quietly?"

There is a cold power in Hagiri's voice that makes you say whether or not he is there. So I interject on Igarashi's behalf.

"We're going to the launch party after this. So there's no need to leave now..."

"I don't care about petty, trivial conversations at this point. This is between me and Riri. Don't interrupt me, Kanahisa Tokiwa."

Without even looking at me, Hagiri ended the conversation with a snap.

"Riri. I swore to you, didn't I? I'll protect you, so just listen to what I say. I've been willing to overlook a few whims so far, but not this. If you want me to keep my promise, you have to keep yours. Am I wrong?"

"That's... but...really...it was just a coincidence that Tokiwa and I were traveling together..."

Igarashi is shaking her hands and muttering something like an excuse. Why are you frightened like that? What are you frightened of?

"That's why, isn't it? I know it too. Coincidence is the scariest thing of all. In your case. That's why we made a promise, right? That you would never take anything important from me or anyone else ever again..."

Igarashi seems to be suffering from Hagiri's words.

"Tomoe is not saying it, but you almost did something again anyway, didn't you? That's what happened because I'm not by your side ・・・・・・・・・. Come on, you have to understand."

"I understand! I know that! I know! So don't say anything in front of him anymore!"

Igarashi yelled. She looked very terrible, but soon, her face would become like a Noh mask.

"I'm sorry, Tokiwa. I think my parents are angry too, I'll go home first..."

"Wait a minute! Igarashi!"

I tried to grab Igarashi's hand. But she quickly ducked. My hand cut through the void. And she went to Hagiri and Mashiba.

"This is a sincere advice. You should stay away from Riri. It will only hurt you too."

Saying this, Hagiri took Igarashi and Mashiba and walked towards her car. And the car with Hagiri and the others was soon out of sight. There was nothing I could say to stop them. Because the hurt I felt when I got involved with Ririse Igarashi was true in my previous world....

End of Season 2

Season 3: "Too Conscious to be Stupid Charity Circle Activities! And yet, we shall not solve any real social problems." (Planned)

To be continued!

***Author's musings***

I'm going to do some extra stories for a while. I'd rather do funny stories than serious ones these days.

I want to write a story about a night pool soon (wish).

Season 3 will be a story about a group of people who deal with social problems. I want to write a story about a circle that deals with social problems and the dark side of society.

It is also a story about Kanata, who is short of staff because he has made too much money, and gets a "right-hand man" for the first time.

This season will be a "tame" season for the developments that await us in season 4 and beyond. I don't think it will be that long.