OniAi: Volume 3 Chapter 5

April 13th, 9:00 A.M.

Student Hostel – Second Floor

In any case, there wasn’t anything that I could do.

My sister has been with Kaichou for quite a while, and she’s managed to keep her chastity until now. She should be able to handle it, even if they’re by themselves. And if the situation requires her to, she should have the courage to give Kaichou a good kick in between the legs. Despite me still feeling a tad uneasy, it would be better if I was to complete my task.

Walking past the corridor, which was still cold from the remnants of winter, I climbed up the stairs to reach the second floor.

This is the place where my good friend is carrying out her task of cleaning and tidying up the rooms.

“Yo Akito-san. You came.”

Ginbe greeted me with her usual cynical smile, while still wearing her olden cooking attire and holding on to a duster in one of her hands.

“How’s the situation with the others?”

“Well, slightly slow. Even though Akiko-san spent more time talking rather than working, I guess she’s still barely on schedule. As for Kaichou, she’s already done with her job.”

“Really. That’s great.”

“How about you, Ginbe-san?”

“Things are going smoothly over here as well. It’s just that there are too many rooms; it’s slightly tedious.”

“Mmm— is that so. Did I not plan things out well enough when I was doing the allocations?”

“Don’t worry about it. I didn’t bother going through the cleaning in great detail, since the rooms aren’t in use anyway. Even so, going at my current pace, I still won’t be able to make it in time. I did hope to finish it all before noon, so it would be great of you could help out.”

“Alright, here I go.”

I rolled up my sleeves.

“How should I help?”

“Let’s see— there’s still lots of broken junk left in the empty rooms, so please help by clearing that out. After that, throw away all the things that you, the caretaker of our hostel, think aren’t needed here. If there are things that can be of use, just leave it for later.”

“Okay.”

With that, I started on the chores.

It was a war that tested my physical strength, in carrying all the junk out, and Ginbe’s wisdom in cleaning, due to her having lived alone for so long, to their maximum.

We’ve been friends for over six years already, so we share a mutual understanding in everything we do. Adding to the fact that I’ve been in the same class as her in elementary and middle school, we cleaned the classroom together countless times already. The moment she received my help, the work efficiency was raised to a higher level.

Just like hard working ants, we focused on our individual tasks.

There was hardly any talking between us, and just like that, time silently ticked by.

—After a while.

“Hmm. At the very least, we’re starting to see the end of the road.”

We had successfully converted the empty rooms from a state of ‘wreckage’ to a state of ‘slightly dirty’.

“We made some quick progress. All thanks to Akito-san.”

“No no no, I didn’t do anything much.”

“From the looks of things, it seems like I can achieve my target of completing everything by noon. Please work hard then.”

“Alright, watch me do just that.”

What was scheduled next, was to wipe the rooms with a piece of cloth, to finish everything for the day.

This time around, it was me and Ginbe wiping the rooms together, one at a time.

“…”

“…”

Neither of us said a single word.

In the unique calming atmosphere of a wooden building with history, the only sounds that could be heard were of us wiping the floors and windows.

“—Fufu.”

After some time, Ginbe suddenly laughed softly.

“Mmm? What? Something happened?”

“No, it’s nothing. It’s just that somehow, it suddenly feels strange for me to be doing such things with you in this place.”

“Oh? Well, I don’t quite get it.”

“A few months ago, I couldn’t have imagined that things will become like this. I’d thought that at the very least, till before the graduation, you’d be in Kyoto living out your high school life, staying by my side in that familiar place. But now, I’m away from my home, cleaning an unfamiliar hostel together with you.”

“Ah— mmm. Yeah.”

“Originally, it would have been much better if we could spend our time at a more suitable place, such as the classrooms of the high schools in Kyoto. Well well, we really can’t predict what will happen in this world.”

“Mmm, that’s true. Yes. Mmm.”

“Oh, it’s not like I’m blaming you.”

The slightly nervous Ginbe flashed me a wry smile,

“In regards to the things that you did without telling me anything, that’s all in the past already. I’m also finished with the majority of my revenge, which was to move into the hostel where you and your sister are living together. All my resentment has disapeared already.”

“Haha. Indeed, that’s true.”

“… I didn’t cause any troubles for you, did I?”

Her eyebrows were slumping downwards from her uneasiness. Ginbe continued.

“Thinking back, I was forced to move into this hostel due to the circumstances. I need not look at your sister’s response to know that it isn’t something that you siblings are terribly happy about. I did give a few valid reasons, but my heart is still filled with guilt and regret. Well, as of now, it isn’t like I have much of a choice either…”

“Well, I was obviously shocked back then.”

I threw the wiping cloth into the bucket to wash it clean, then said with a smile.

“I was indeed shocked; the leisure days spent with my sister, which I’d missed out on for many years, came to a halt only after a short while. However, not everything about it is bad. For now, living together with others can be considered to be a sort of learning experience as well. The experience of living together with a group of highly capable people, will no doubt be a valuable asset in the future.”

“Really? I guess what you have just said could be considered to be good news for me.”

With that, Ginbe showed a smile.

Even though she can be slightly hard to handle due to her teasing personality, she does occasionally show her honest side; that’s one of the virtues of this good friend of mine.

“In actual fact, I was surprised by you coming over so suddenly. However, I do feel more secure knowing that Ginbe-san has transferred to St. Ririana Academy.”

“Eh? Really?”

“Of course.”

Since we met six years ago, we had always been together in whatever things we did.

We were both in the class committee; we were in the same group while travelling; we were together during sports meets and school festivals; we even argued with the same group of people.

Well, it’s not like there were absolutely no clashes between Ginbe and I (and in fact, we were both quite hostile to each other when we first met), but despite all that, we had still maintained a very good friendship over the past six years.

Good friends… no, you can even call us best friends.

To be studying together in the same school again, and for both of us to enter into the student council. There’s nothing more that I could wish for. The best situation. I have no complaints.

“… Well, I’ve never once thought we’d be in a situation where we were living under the same roof.”

“What. Doesn’t that mean you’re finding all those things troublesome?”

Ginbe puffed her cheeks.

“If that’s the case, don’t beat around the bush, and just say it straight. That it’s inconvenient to live with me, and you feel unhappy that your lovey dovey moments with your little sister are interrupted by outsiders. Just like that.”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that, right? Also, what’s with you dragging in my sister, at a juncture like this?”

“It’s a fact that Akito-san has been holding back on me all this while. Though you’ve said that we’re good friends or whatever, in reality you’ve never once relied on me.”

“Nothing of the sort. I’ve always been relying on you. Isn’t it all because of you offering me such good advice, that I could break off from the Takanomiya family to stand on my own? Also, aren’t you the one who introduced my job opportunity to me as well?”

“You hid your plans of moving away and transferring school from me, till the very last moment.”

“I had no choice, alright? Also, even if I hid it from you, I did report to you immediately after I was done settling down, right?”

“In any case, you’ve always said we’re good friends, but Akito-san is still distancing himself away from me. Even if there are advantages to you acting secretively, it’s still way too much. If you were to discuss with me about everything you do, then things would have gone much smoother. Take, for example, the case of you snatching your sister back from the Arisugawa family; if I had helped, it would have been done in a much better manner.”

“If I had gone as far as that, then wouldn’t it just be me purely acting spoiled by you? How can I get you involved, when it’s my own private matters?”

“That’s what it means to hold back.”

“Look, didn’t you just say that you no longer bearing any grudges in regards to that?”

“You’re really fussy about trivial stuff like that. It’s due to that personality of yours, that you walled yourself away from your so called ‘good friend’. I request you to reflect on it immediately, and improve it as quickly as possible.”

“Stop bringing in my personality into the argument.”

We both stopped cleaning for an instant, to stare at each other.

However, that lasted for only a few seconds.

Because both of us went *puu* in laughter at the same time.

That’s right.

This should be the ‘everyday life’ that her and I share.

Ginbe, who gets stubborn easily and hounds on things, and the me who ignores her temperament; we may not seem very compatible, and we do argue a lot, but no matter what happens, we’ll always get back together like this.

How great would it be, if such a relationship could last forever; that’s how I feel.

I’m not just thinking about it. I do plan to give in my all to maintain it.

“Well, to be honest, please continue to be my good friend, Gin. Due to my reliance on you, I hope we can maintain our friendship forever.”

“… So as per usual, things have developed into this.”

Despite me offering her my heartfelt thanks, Ginbe’s expression was immediately overshadowed by a passing cloud.

“Even though there are many things that I find unsatisfactory with you, there’s just this point of yours that I’m totally helpless against. I was confident in not losing to anyone, if we were to talk about the closeness of the relationship between us. However, as of just now, that single advantage is totally gone… My my, this is exactly what the term ‘missing the boat’ is referring to.”

“Hmm? What did you just say?”

“What’s even more unexpected, is the fact that Akito-san is actually a hopeless sis-con. To add to that, I just transferred over, and yet so many rivals have already emerged…”

“I say, Ginbe-san, can you speak louder? I can’t quite hear you.”

“It’s fine if you don’t. Because I have no intention of letting you hear me.”

Ginbe turned around and pouted.

Oh boy.

She’d said something like ‘as per usual, things have developed into this’, but that should be my line instead. It feels uncomfortable to see her grumbling to herself, and I’ve experienced that mode of hers countless times already.

“Ginbe-san, you’re really terrible.”

“What?”

“You being so secretive will cause me to be at a loss. I do hope you spare a thought for me, the victim.”

“Hmph, that’s something I don’t want to hear coming from you. Or rather, out of everyone in this world, you’re the only one who doesn’t deserve to say that to me. You’re the one who’s always saying things unknowingly, that will make me at a loss… Even if it’s just a hundredth of what you’ve always done to me, I do wish you could have a taste of that sort of feeling.”

“What do you mean by saying things unknowingly? When have I said things like that? Tell me in greater detail, so that I can try to take note of it.”

“Ah, enough, how irritating. Please just shut up. In this very instance, every single word of yours, no, your very existence itself is pissing me off to no end.”

“What’s with that? Isn’t that just going overboard?”

It was as though I was affected by Ginbe’s feelings as well. I was beginning to feel slightly irritated.

Of course, I’m used to arguing with her, but that doesn’t mean our relationship won’t be strained no matter what sort of things we say or do.

“I know I’m stepping over the line, but I still have to say it. Ginbe-san, I think it would be better if you were to fix up that stubborn attitude of yours.”

“You’re saying what?”

“The fact that you’re all pissed off, despite not expressing your thoughts and feelings to the opposite party. If you don’t tell me properly, then how will I know what went wrong, right?”

“… There’s a limit to who and where I’ll adopt that sort of attitude. In regards to that, it’s about time that you realize it as well. This is how I feel.”

“Eh? You were saying?”

“Nothing. I’m just mumbling to myself.”

“There you go again. That’s why I say, how will I know what you’re thinking?”

“Who cares. I have no intention of letting you know what I’m thinking at a place like this.”

“Isn’t that strange? You’re the one who’s angry at me for not understanding you, and now you’re angry at me for trying to understand you.”

“Ah enough! You’re really a guy who loves to dwell on the tiny details. Please just shut up.”

With that, Ginbe turned her face away, baring her animosity in full view.

Well well.

Without that fault of hers, she would have been the best friend one can ever have.

“… You’re really fuming mad. Normally, you’re someone who has a clear train of thought, but only at times like these, you become surprisingly emotional. Isn’t that just wasting away that cute face of yours?”

“What did you just say?”

Ginbe turned her head back towards me menacingly.

Her expression was very solemn, and she seemed to be in a very serious attitude. Shit, had I really caused her to be enraged?

“Urm, nothing. Nothing important.”

“Say it again, once more.”

“Ugh, I’m really sorry. You asked me to shut up, and there I was, continuing on and on. I’m sorry.”

“That no longer matters. Just repeat what you just said.”

“Ahhh, mmm… Urm, ‘You’re really fuming mad. Normally, you’re someone who has a clear train of thought’, something like that.”

“No, slightly after that.”

“‘but only at times like these, you become surprisingly emotional’; that?”

“No, not that.”

“Ugh, what I was trying to say is, if you’re angry, I hope you can at least tell me the reasons for your anger. I said something along those lines.”

“I’m not asking about the implications behind your sentence. You just said that my face was very cute, right?”

“Ahh, yeah. I said… that?”

“You aren’t trying to tell me that you’ve already forgotten what you’d just said?”

“Ah no. Come to think of it, I did say that. Yup, I said it.”

“… Is that so.”

Ginbe had tried her best to move her petite body as close to me as possible, while she was staring straight into my eyes with those green eyes of hers, leading me to think that I’d really pissed her off. However, that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Is that so. I’m cute?”

As per usual, she was mumbling something in a voice which I couldn’t hear.

“… Akito-san.”

“Hmm? Yes?”

“Am I cute?”

“Ah, hmm. I think you’re quite cute?”

“That’s you finding me cute as a boy, or am I cute as a girl?”

“What sort of weird question is that? Why would I find you cute as a guy, when you’re a girl through and through? Of course, there was a period of time when I didn’t know you were a girl…”

“I-Is that so. Mmm, that’s right. But… eh?”

For some odd reason, Ginbe began talking incoherently.

“What’s with that; so he does see me as a woman? Should I say I’m pleasantly surprised, or that it’s out of my expectations; no, but isn’t that infuriating as well? Since he does see me as a woman, then his treatment towards me up till now is really just; no, despite that, this is still an excellent gain for me. Ah, really, I never thought things would develop like this; uwaa, what’s happening? Is being praised as cute by that guy really something to be this happy about? My heart is thumping wildly, and if I’m not careful, my face will go into a relaxed state—”

“… Oi. Gin?”

“W-What?”

“Are you fine? Your face is flushed red.”

“Uh… No, nothing, I’m fine. It’s just a slight cold.”

“No no no. Even so, it’s still quite strange for your face to be that red in an instant. It still looked pretty normal, not too long ago.”

“You’re still as long winded as ever. It’s a cold alright. Look, my skin is so fair, any slight changes in my body will be shown immediately.”

“Indeed, that may be true for people with fair skin… But still, you should have told me about it earlier if you were suffering from a cold. If I’d known earlier, I wouldn’t have made you take part in the spring cleaning.”

“Ahh enough, how very irritating. Let’s finish up the cleaning quickly. If we are to continue to talk, we won’t be able to stick to the plan.”

“No no no, it won’t do. You must take a rest if you’re feeling unwell.”

“I don’t need a rest. Come on, let’s continue.”

“Look, you can’t.”

Just as I was exasperated by my strangely stubborn good friend, I grabbed onto her arm.

That was because it looked like she was planning to ignore my advice and continue working, so I wanted to stop her even if things are to get a little rough. However…

“Kyaa?!”

She violently shook off my arm which was grabbing onto her.

Sigh, she’s a really stubborn lass. She’s usually a smart person, and is normally an extremely calm person. However, there are occasions where she will do things that are unlike her personality.

Hmm? Speaking of which…

“Ginbe-san.”

“W-What?”

“Did you just scream ‘Kyaa?!’ just now?”

“… Ah.”

And then, her face began to blush. Much redder than before.

“I-It’s just an illusion. Those auditory hallucinations that we speak of frequently. Or you could say it’s a paracusia. If not, it must be something that your brain has made up.”

“Why do I’ve to do things like that… it’s not like I have a problem with it. I was just surprised that you’d let out that sort of scream. I really can’t imagine that, considering Ginbe-san’s usual manner of speech.”

“S-Sorry about that. I may not look like it, but I’m still a girl. No matter how small or how frail I am.”

“Hey, don’t put on such a willful expression… I’ve never once said that it was something bad. I think it’s good, like that sound that you made just now. Isn’t that just too cute?”

“Ugu.”

I’d thought that Ginbe’s face couldn’t be any redder, but it actually turned into an even deeper shade of red.

“This guy… his natural personality really does kick in only at times like these…”

“Huh? What are you saying?”

“N-Nothing at all! Enough of this, I shall just leave this place to Akito-san! Since more than half of the work is already done, you should be fine by yourself, right?! I’ll take a brief rest in my room!”

“Ah, hold on, Gin—”

Without waiting for my answer, Ginbe dashed out of the room like a rabbit.

“…”

Leaving me alone, feeling all lonely by myself.

“… I’ll continue on then.”

There were no other options.

In the end, I silently finished the work, which my friend entrusted to me, by myself.

Translator notes and references

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