Clannad VN:SEEN7500
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// Resources for SEEN7500.TXT #character 'Misae' #character 'Voice' #character '*B' #character 'Sunohara' #character 'Tsujimoto' #character 'Tomoyo' #character 'Furukawa' #character 'Ryou' #character 'Girl' #character 'Girl 1' #character 'Girl 2' #character 'Female Student' #character 'Male Student' #character 'Igaarashi' #character 'Me' #character 'Shima' #character 'Female Student A' #character 'Female Student B' #character 'Saki' #character 'Yuki' #character 'Person' #character 'Female Teacher' #character 'Mother' <0000> // Tap, tap, tap... so Misae-san runs inside. <0001> // She stops in front of a single door. <0002> // \{Misae} "Here, right?!" <0003> // She opens the door and pushes in. <0004> // ......... <0005> // \{Voice} "Divine punish---ment!" <0006> // \{Voice} "Woaahhh----!" <0007> // \{Voice} "I give up, I give up!" <0008> // \{Voice} "You won't do that ever again?!" <0009> // \{Voice} "I won't!" <0010> // \{Voice} "You swear?!" <0011> // \{Voice} "I swear!" <0012> // \{Voice} "All right!" <0013> // \{Voice} "Next time, I'll end your career as a rugby player..." <0014> // \{Misae} "Who's next?!" <0015> // With wild breathing, she leaves the room. <0016> // \{Misae} "........." <0017> // And she finds me. <0018> // \{Misae} "Oh my, it's you, \m{A}-kun. What's wrong?" <0019> // Composing herself, she asks me. <0020> // \{\m{B}} "You're already busted, so keep going as much as you like." <0021> // \{Misae} "Okay, no more Bad Girl-----!" <0022> // \{Misae} "Hey, what kind of image am I giving?!" <0023> // She begins holding her head with her arms. <0024> // \{Misae} "Sigh..." <0025> // \{Misae} "I didn't really do this in the past..." <0026> // \{Misae} "Even though I look like this, I was a pretty girl back then." <0027> // \{\m{B}} "You serious...?" <0028> // \{Misae} "You don't believe me..." <0029> // \{\m{B}} "You have such good reflexes, so I thought you might have been doing some physical education then." <0030> // \{Misae} "Not at all, that was because of the guys here..." <0031> // \{Misae} "And besides, I was an innocent girl." <0032> // \{Misae} "I was nothing violent or anything." <0033> // \{\m{B}} "That seems seriously interesting." <0034> // \{Misae} "Your eyes are making fun of me..." <0035> // \{\m{B}} "Because I can't really imagine it." <0036> // \{Misae} "Ahh, I want to take you back in time there." <0037> // \{Misae} "If I did that, you'd fall in love for sure." <0038> // \{\m{B}} "Oh, really?" <0039> // I finish the conversation with a blunt response. <0040> // \{Misae} "Oh, by the way, \m{A}." <0041> // As I leave that place, Misae-san remembers something and stops me. <0042> // \{\m{B}} "Hmm?" <0043> // \{Misae} "Did you see my cat?" <0044> // \{\m{B}} "Cat? You have something like that in this dorm?" <0045> // \{Misae} "Well, it's always been in my room. Although you haven't really gotten a good look, it's here." <0046> // \{\m{B}} "What kind of cat is it?" <0047> // \{Misae} "A tiger cat. It's got stripes on the back." <0048> // \{Misae} "He really stands out, so it's hard to miss him." <0049> // \{\m{B}} "All right. If I see him, I'll let you know." <0050> // \{Misae} "Yeah, thanks." <0051> // I leave Misae-san and enter Sunohara's room. <0052> // \{Sunohara} "Hey, look here, \m{A}!" <0053> // In his hand were gymnasium shoes in a fabric bag. <0054> // \{Sunohara} "I caught a cat with a pretty nice tiger design. If I skin him, I might get some good money!" <0055> // I heard the voice of a crying cat inside the bag. <0056> // \{\m{B}} "Wait a second, stay right there!" <0057> // \{\m{B}} "Hey, Misae-sa----n!" <0058> // I yell down the hallway. <0059> // \{Misae} "You found him?" <0060> // \{\m{B}} "In there." <0061> // \{Sunohara} "Ah, Misae-san, you want to help me skin him?" <0062> // \{Sunohara} "He's being violent, so you can hold him down." <0063> // \{Misae} "Hmph..." <0064> // \{Misae} "I'd rather peel your skin off..." <0065> // \{Sunohara} "Eh...?" <0066> // \{Voice} "Gyaaaaaaaaahhhhh----!" <0067> // As the mayhem begins in the room, I head down the hallway. <0068> // And I save the cat, having the fabric bag in hand. <0069> // \{\m{B}} "Being caught by that sort of idiot..." <0070> // The cat looks around its surroundings, then rolls up in my arm, relieved. <0071> // \{Misae} "Whew... geez, that idiot..." <0072> // \{Misae} "So, is he okay?" <0073> // Closing the room door, Misae-san asks me. <0074> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah, he's fine." <0075> // Letting him onto the floor, he runs towards Misae-san. <0076> // And she holds him up in her arms. <0077> // \{\m{B}} "He's attached to you." <0078> // \{Misae} "Well, we've been around for so long." <0079> // \{Misae} "Oh yeah, \m{A}. Should I thank you by giving you tea in my room?" <0080> // I couldn't compare that to spending time in Sunohara's room. <0081> // \{\m{B}} "Then, I shall take you up on that offer." <0082> // \{Misae} "Please come in." <0083> // \{\m{B}} "Excuse me." <0084> // \{Misae} "Though there's nothing much in this room, feel free." <0085> // \{Misae} "Ah, sit over there." <0086> // I sit down at the place she mentions. <0087> // Misae-san takes off her apron and sits in front, holding two sets of cups. <0088> // This is the first time I've seen Misae-san without her apron. Even more, she's lightly dressed. Somehow, I find it difficult to take my eyes off her chest. <0089> // \{\m{B}} "Does he have a name?" <0090> // Asking that, I touch the chin of the cat rolled up on top of the table, trying to understand him.* <0091> // \{Misae} "Nope. I thought he might disappear from this place, so I didn't give him one." <0092> // I heard the sound of the electric pot steaming. <0093> // \{Misae} "Even now, I still wonder if he might disappear tomorrow." <0094> // \{Misae} "Here you go." <0095> // She places a steaming cup in front of me. <0096> // It was black coffee. I begin drinking it. <0097> // \{\m{B}} "Since when has he been here?" <0098> // \{Misae} "Well, let's see. I picked him up during high school." <0099> // \{\m{B}} "That's a long time ago." <0100> // \{Misae} "Do you know how long you're talking about?" <0101> // Considering Sunohara's wishful thinking, she might be about twenty-three... so maybe five years? <0102> // \{\m{B}} "Five years ago?" <0103> // \{Misae} "Oh my, you can tell?" <0104> // \{\m{B}} "Somewhat." <0105> // \{Misae} "Here, have some sweets as well." <0106> // \{\m{B}} "Thanks." <0107> // Seems I'm good at pleasing her. <0108> // \{Misae} "I guess it's as I thought, you aren't such a bad guy, \m{A}." <0109> // \{Misae} "Even though I heard some pretty interesting rumors." <0110> // \{Misae} "Even with the guys who are in here, if they were as honest as you, that'd be nice." <0111> // \{Misae} "Those guys are really kids..." <0112> // \{Misae} "It's like I'm saying I'm thirty years old or something by saying that, no?" <0113> // \{Misae} "I'm much younger than that." <0114> // \{Misae} "Right?" <0115> // \{\m{B}} "Eh? Ah, yeah, I guess so. You're young, Misae-san." <0116> // To be honest, I don't really care too much about her age. <0117> // The cat yawned, stretching out. <0118> // \{\m{B}} "Isn't it a problem?" <0119> // \{Misae} "Eh?" <0120> // \{\m{B}} "Basically when you retire?" <0121> // I get right to the point. <0122> // \{Misae} "Well... I dunno... that might be true..." <0123> // \{Misae} "Or maybe... what might it be..." <0124> // \{Misae} "I thought about going towards this kind of job." <0125> // \{Misae} "I might like helping out other people." <0126> // \{Misae} "And besides, I'm quite attached to this place." <0127> // \{Misae} "I don't want to leave it." <0128> // \{\m{B}} "Why? Are you waiting for a guy?" <0129> // \{Misae} "Eh?!" <0130> // Misae-san's words shorten, a bit shaken up. <0131> // \{\m{B}} "Was that a bullseye?" <0132> // Something like this is a common theme for a girls' manga to develop, but... <0133> // \{Misae} "Huh...you really want to know?" <0134> // \{\m{B}} "Well, in a way." <0135> // \{Misae} "Idiot, like I would tell you." <0136> // \{\m{B}} "Well, it's fine. Seems pretty long." <0137> // \{Misae} "It's short... it really was." <0138> // She gives a rare, depressing face. <0139> // Something that would make younger guys skip a beat. <0140> // That would be me, wouldn't it? <0141> // ... knock, knock. <0142> // And there, the sound of knocking on the door. <0143> // \{Misae} "Sigh... the rugby guys again...?" <0144> // \{\m{B}} "Eh? You serious?" <0145> // I remember the guys called me out the other night. <0146> // If they pin down the image of me and her like this, I'll be stuffed in like Sunohara. <0147> // \{\m{B}} "... they won't be coming in the room, will they?" <0148> // \{Misae} "Eh? If they've come to consult me, then I think they will." <0149> // \{\m{B}} "I'm going to hide!" <0150> // \{Misae} "Where?" <0151> // I crawl under the blanket that's spread out on top of the bed. <0152> // \{Misae} "Uwaah, that's where I sleep every day..." <0153> // Knock, knock. <0154> // \{Voice} "Misae-sa----n!" <0155> // \{Misae} "Ah, yeah, yeah." <0156> // Clatter. <0157> // \{Voice} "It's Tsujimoto." <0158> // \{Misae} "You don't have to say it every single time. I remember you pretty well." <0159> // \{Misae} "So, what is it?" <0160> // \{Tsujimoto} "Umm... there's something that's been troubling me, so I thought I might consult you." <0161> // \{Misae} "Sigh... you guys are still going through puberty." <0162> // \{Misae} "Come in, help yourself." <0163> // \{Tsujimoto} "I'm sorry, please excuse me!" <0164> // Misae-san seems to be pretty good at consulting boarding students. <0165> // Especially in troubles concerning puberty... <0166> // It couldn't be... girls? <0167> // Being enveloped in Misae-san's feminine aroma, imagining something like that grew, strangely turning me on. <0168> // Ahh, right now, surely the lesson in front of me (?) is about to begin... <0169> // \{Misae} "So...?" <0170> // \{Tsujimoto} "Truth is... it's been building up recently, so it seems..." <0171> // Guaah... so it is about girls, isn't it...? <0172> // \{Tsujimoto} "It hasn't really come out easily... and it's been bothering me over time..." <0173> // \{Misae} "That's a problem. You feeling ill?" <0174> // \{Tsujimoto} "Yeah, something like that." <0175> // \{Misae} "Can't be helped..." <0176> // Misae-san looks at the side of the blanket that's risen up, leaving an opening. <0177> // \{Misae} "Well then, I'll..." <0178> // \{\m{B}} (Ehh?! She's going to do it?!) <0179> // \{Misae} "... give you something you can use for your constipation." <0180> // Slip! I roll over in the blanket. <0181> // \{Tsujimoto} "Hmm? Did something move behind you?" <0182> // \{Misae} "Eh? Yeah, maybe it's the cat?" <0183> // \{Tsujimoto} "A pretty big one at that." <0184> // \{Misae} "Here. Use this, and if still nothing comes out, you should probably go to a hospital." <0185> // \{Tsujimoto} "Thank you very much." <0186> // \{Tsujimoto} "This isn't really something I can ask my friends about..." <0187> // \{Misae} "I've never helped anyone with constipation problems before." <0188> // \{Tsujimoto} "But, Misae-san, in one way or another, you look after that sort of problem." <0189> // \{Misae} "Sigh... so that's why he said I'm too easy on you guys..." <0190> // \{Tsujimoto} "Who's he?" <0191> // \{Misae} "Oh, right, a friend." <0192> // \{Tsujimoto} "I see. I think that although you're strict, Misae-san, you're all right." <0193> // \{Tsujimoto} "What do they call this, the 'carrot and stick' policy?" <0194> // \{Misae} "I never planned on using that sort of thing..." <0195> // \{Tsujimoto} "Well then, I'll be going." <0196> // \{Misae} "Okay, take care." <0197> // I hear the sound of the door closing, going "clatter". <0198> // \{Misae} "It's fine now." <0199> // \{\m{B}} "Whew... that was pretty good." <0200> // I crawl out of the blanket and sit on top there. <0201> // \{Misae} "What is?" <0202> // \{\m{B}} "Not coming out easily, and troubled with puberty; certainly one would think in that way..." <0203> // \{\m{B}} "Haha, constipation?" <0204> // \{Misae} "Sigh... well, I would actually prefer helping people with that sort of problem." <0205> // \{\m{B}} "Eh?" <0206> // \{Misae} "Constipation...it's like they're a bunch of kids." <0207> // \{Misae} "It'd be like I were their mother or something." <0208> // \{\m{B}} "........." <0209> // \{\m{B}} "You know..." <0210> // \{Misae} "... what?" <0211> // My head might still be reeling from the smell roaming inside the blanket. <0212> // \{\m{B}} "I see you as a woman, Misae-san." <0213> // \{Misae} "........." <0214> // I keep my pose, sitting down on the bed... <0215> // And noticed that Misae-san's knees were open. <0216> // Hey... this posture is... <0217> // \{Misae} "Why you..." <0218> // \{Misae} "You're thinking of something strange, aren't you...?" <0219> // \{\m{B}} "That's just a coincidence!" <0220> // \{Misae} "Sigh, I can't believe you, \m{A}." <0221> // I end up looking the other way. Somehow, her behavior was charming in one way or another. <0222> // \{Misae} "But, well... like this dorm, I hold those words dear."* <0223> // \{Misae} "I'll accept that gratitude. So leave the bad thoughts aside." <0224> // Looking up at the table, the empty coffee mug was cleaned up. <0225> // \{\m{B}} "Well, I should be going soon. Thanks for everything." <0226> // I stand up. <0227> // \{Misae} "Yeah, okay. Later then." <0228> // Ask if it's okay to come again <0229> // Don't come again <0230> // \{\m{B}} "Umm..." <0231> // \{Misae} "Hmm?" <0232> // \{\m{B}} "Is it okay to come again?" <0233> // \{Misae} "Why?" <0234> // \{\m{B}} "I found your cat, right?" <0235> // \{Misae} "You only get one thanks." <0236> // \{\m{B}} "Then I'll come asking for advice." <0237> // \{\m{B}} "If I did that, you couldn't refuse, could you?" <0238> // \{Misae} "Sigh..." <0239> // \{Misae} "Though if you have nothing to do, that's fine..." <0240> // \{Misae} "You're not thinking anything strange, are you?" <0241> // \{\m{B}} "I'm sure I'm not, it's fine." <0242> // \{\m{B}} "Later." <0243> // I probably won't get another chance to come again. <0244> // Giving her only a farewell, I leave the room. <0245> // \{\m{B}} "Yo, you fine?" <0246> // \{Sunohara} "I was about to faint from that..." <0247> // Sunohara's body straddles away from where he once was. <0248> // \{Sunohara} "Hmm...?" <0249> // \{\m{B}} "What is it?" <0250> // \{Sunohara} "I smell the scent of a girl." <0251> // ... why is it that he has such a damned good nose? <0252> // \{Sunohara} "Even more, it's a smell I know..." <0253> // \{Sunohara} "It seems to be pretty recent..." <0254> // \{Sunohara} "That's right, it's Misae-san's!" <0255> // Exactly how does he remember that? <0256> // \{Sunohara} "Hmph, so you had that kind of relationship without me knowing..." <0257> // \{Sunohara} "Well, certainly, for someone like you, an older person would be suitable." <0258> // \{\m{B}} "Idiot, don't get the wrong idea. It's not just me." <0259> // \{\m{B}} "Even the rugby members go into Misae-san's room." <0260> // \{Sunohara} "Oh, is that so?" <0261> // \{\m{B}} "The guys seem to be interested in her." <0262> // \{\m{B}} "Asking her for help on a lot of things." <0263> // \{Sunohara} "Heh, that I didn't know." <0264> // \{\m{B}} "Misae-san does seem ill-mannered, but she takes care of people when they need it." <0265> // \{Sunohara} "Hmm..." <0266> // \{Sunohara} "Then, maybe I should also drop in and ask for help." <0267> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah, if it's her, you could probably ask for anything." <0268> // \{Sunohara} "You serious?!" <0269> // \{\m{B}} "Hey, what exactly are you going to ask Misae-san for help with?" <0270> // \{Sunohara} "T... \wait{500}to have her show me her breasts..." <0271> // \{\m{B}} "That's not asking for help, that's simply doing something obscene." <0272> // \{Sunohara} "Then, let her show her breasts as a result of helping me out. That's fine, right?" <0273> // \{\m{B}} "Like hell she'll do that." <0274> // \{Sunohara} "Sigh... if I were a sweet talker, people would already be swinging them at me!" <0275> // \{Sunohara} "Anyways, I'll just fill you in on the details later." <0276> // \{\m{B}} "I'll be looking forward to it. What kind of stupid stuff will I hear?" <0277> // \{Sunohara} "Heh, you've said it." <0278> // \{Sunohara} "All right, time to eat some lunch!" <0279> // I lie down on the ground and begin to read a book. <0280> // If I'm here, this is all I can do. <0281> // Like this, I spent the break doing nothing... <0282> // \{\m{B}} "Misae-sa--n!" <0283> // Opening the door, I yell her name. <0284> // \{Misae} "... eh?" <0285> // Inside the room, Misae-san standing looks behind her.* <0286> // \{Misae} "What? Oh it's you, \m{A}." <0287> // \{Misae} "You should at least knock before entering a woman's room." <0288> // \{Misae} "So, what? You have something?" <0289> // \{\m{B}} "Didn't you say it'd be fine if I came without anything in particular?" <0290> // \{Misae} "And then, you really \bdid\u come with nothing in mind." <0291> // \{Misae} "Well I am a bit tired, so you have to hold yourself back." <0292> // \{\m{B}} "You're tired?" <0293> // \{Misae} "I just finished cleaning up after those slobs ate dinner." <0294> // \{\m{B}} "Then, I guess I must be bothering you." <0295> // \{Misae} "No, it's not really a problem..." <0296> // \{\m{B}} "Is it a problem? Or is it not?" <0297> // \{Misae} "Sigh... fine, come in. You're not going to be staying long, will you?" <0298> // \{\m{B}} "Please excuse me." <0299> // I sit down at the same spot as yesterday. <0300> // In front of me, Misae-san is pouring some tea. <0301> // When she was finally done with that, her hair was in disarray, all over her cheek. <0302> // Somehow, I think she looks beautiful that way. <0303> // \{Misae} "Here, help yourself." <0304> // \{\m{B}} "Thanks." <0305> // \{Misae} "Ahh, why am I being so kind giving you tea and all...?" <0306> // She gives the teacup to me like that, regretting it. <0307> // \{Misae} "Now you're already done?"* <0308> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah, yeah."* <0309> // Knock, knock, the sound of the door. <0310> // \{Misae} "What'll you do? Hide?" <0311> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah, I'll do that." <0312> // Again, I crawl under the blanket. <0313> // \{Misae} "Ahhh, there again... don't smell all of that, all right?" <0314> // Knock, knock. <0315> // \{Misae} "Coming!" <0316> // Clatter. <0317> // \{Voice} "Yo." <0318> // \{Misae} "Hmm? It's rare for you to come here, Sunohara." <0319> // ... he... actually came? <0320> // \{Misae} "What is it?" <0321> // \{Sunohara} "I came for some advice. You mind if I step in?" <0322> // \{Misae} "Somehow, it \bfeels\u like you heard some plan from someone and came here." <0323> // \{Sunohara} "Eh? What do you mean? I don't really know what that means." <0324> // \{Misae} "It's written all over your face..." <0325> // \{Misae} "Well, I can't just send you off like that..." <0326> // \{Misae} "Just for a bit, then?" <0327> // \{Sunohara} "All right!" <0328> // Thud, the sound of the door closing, and Sunohara's footsteps as he walks around the room. <0329> // \{Sunohara} "Heh... this is the first time I've been in Misae-san's room." <0330> // \{Misae} "This isn't a young girl's room... were you interested in something in the first place?" <0331> // \{Sunohara} "I am." <0332> // \{Sunohara} "Like breasts maybe." <0333> // \{Misae} "........." <0334> // The atmosphere changes. <0335> // \{Misae} "... what was \bthat\u just now?" <0336> // A murderous voice with a hint of divine wrath. <0337> // \{Sunohara} "Ah, nothing, nothing at all, haha!" <0338> // \{Misae} "I see... well, have a seat, or you won't be calm, right?" <0339> // \{Sunohara} "Yeah, thanks. Excuse me there, hey!" <0340> // Patter, patter, patter~ <0341> // \{Misae} "Here, have some tea." <0342> // \{Sunohara} "Ahh, don't worry about it." <0343> // \{Misae} "So, what did you want advice with?" <0344> // \{Sunohara} "Yeah, well..." <0345> // \{Sunohara} "How should I say it... I'm a bit shy about it." <0346> // \{Misae} "Are you saying you're shy about what you blurted so freely just now?" <0347> // \{Sunohara} "Eh? What do you mean?" <0348> // \{Sunohara} "Ah, that's right. I'm good at fortune-telling." <0349> // \{Misae} "So you didn't come for advice?" <0350> // \{Sunohara} "No, that's after. First is the fortune telling. Girls like that, right?" <0351> // \{Misae} "I don't believe in that sort of stuff." <0352> // \{Sunohara} "Ehh~, no way..." <0353> // \{Misae} "Don't make a crying face like that, geez..." <0354> // \{Misae} "I get it already, so if you want to, then let's do it." <0355> // \{Misae} "So what'll you be reading? A constellation? Or is it a palm reading?" <0356> // \{Sunohara} "Breasts." <0357> // \{Misae} "........." <0358> // The atmosphere freezes. <0359> // \{Misae} "... what was \bthat\u just now?" <0360> // Her hands twitched, as though aching to unleash the wrath of the gods. <0361> // \{Sunohara} "Ahh, palm reading, I said palm reading just now!" <0362> // \{Misae} "Sigh... all right, hurry up and read them." <0363> // \{Sunohara} "Uwaah, Misae-san, your fingers are so nice, I could almost lick them!" <0364> // \{Misae} "Don't say stuff that gives the goosebumps." <0365> // \{Sunohara} "Yeah, you'll have a long life, Misae-san. Your lifeline's long. That's it." <0366> // \{Misae} "Thanks for that exaggerated fortune telling." <0367> // \{Sunohara} "You're welcome." <0368> // \{Misae} "Hurry up and tell me what's your problem, and then head back." <0369> // \{Sunohara} "Misae-san, you're cold..." <0370> // \{Misae} "If you didn't act so strange, I would be a bit more gentle." <0371> // \{Sunohara} "There's nothing, nothing at all!" <0372> // \{Misae} "I wonder about that..." <0373> // \{Sunohara} "Ah, Misae-san, are you sitting all right? If you fix yourself up, you might feel comfortable." <0374> // \{Misae} "Why is a guest telling me something like this...?" <0375> // \{Sunohara} "Ah, Misae-san, are you gonna keep your clothes on? If you show your breasts, you might feel comfortable." <0376> // \{Misae} "Ohh?" <0377> // A bloodthirsty smile. <0378> // \{Misae} "\size{30}GET. OUT. NOW!!!----------!!\size{}"\shake{3} <0379> // She roars at him to get out, her voice shaking the walls of the dorm.* <0380> // \{Sunohara} "Uwaah, \m{A}, you liar!" <0381> // With just those words left, Sunohara scrambles out the door. <0382> // \{Misae} "........." <0383> // \{Misae} "Did you put him up to this, \m{A}...?" <0384> // I come out of the blanket, sitting up. <0385> // \{\m{B}} "All I told Sunohara was 'Yeah, whatever'." <0386> // \{\m{B}} "His head's all messed up." <0387> // \{Misae} "Sigh... I guess that's true." <0388> // \{\m{B}} "But, seriously, I don't really get tired of this place." <0389> // \{Misae} "Don't you think that like that, I'd be really bothered?" <0390> // \{\m{B}} "But you like it, don't you?" <0391> // \{Misae} "Sigh... if you put it that way, I can't really deny it..." <0392> // \{Misae} "But, constipation and breasts... it's just so..."* <0393> // \{\m{B}} "Then, should I seriously ask you for advice?" <0394> // \{Misae} "You're thinking of something strange again, aren't you?" <0395> // \{\m{B}} "If it was about love, would that be fine?" <0396> // \{Misae} "Idiot, don't fool around." <0397> // \{\m{B}} "Well, such feelings could change at some point." <0398> // \{Misae} "... eh?" <0399> // \{\m{B}} "Because I like the type of personality you have, Misae-san." <0400> // \{Misae} "Though you having said that, I'm interested in knowing exactly what you like about me." <0401> // \{\m{B}} "Well, I can't just say one thing here." <0402> // \{Misae} "That's fine, say as many as you like." <0403> // That you scold <0404> // That you're kind <0405> // That you have fighting spirit <0406> // Another would be... <0407> // That you worry <0408> // That you're kind <0409> // That you have fighting spirit <0410> // Another would be... <0411> // That you have a nice blanket odor <0412> // That you're kind <0413> // That you have fighting spirit <0414> // \{\m{B}} "That you scold," <0415> // \{\m{B}} "that you worry," <0416> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have a nice blanket odor." <0417> // \{\m{B}} "That you scold." <0418> // \{\m{B}} "that you worry," <0419> // \{\m{B}} "and that you're kind." <0420> // \{\m{B}} "That you scold." <0421> // \{\m{B}} "that you worry," <0422> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have fighting spirit." <0423> // Another would be... <0424> // That you worry <0425> // That you have a nice blanket odor <0426> // That you have fighting spirit <0427> // \{\m{B}} "That you scold," <0428> // \{\m{B}} "that you're kind," <0429> // \{\m{B}} "and that you worry." <0430> // \{\m{B}} "That you scold," <0431> // \{\m{B}} "that you're kind," <0432> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have a nice blanket odor." <0433> // \{\m{B}} "That you scold," <0434> // \{\m{B}} "that you're kind," <0435> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have fighting spirit." <0436> // Another would be... <0437> // That you worry <0438> // That you're kind <0439> // That you have a nice blanket odor <0440> // \{\m{B}} "That you scold," <0441> // \{\m{B}} "that you have fighting spirit," <0442> // \{\m{B}} "and that you worry." <0443> // \{\m{B}} "That you scold," <0444> // \{\m{B}} "that you have fighting spirit," <0445> // \{\m{B}} "and that you're kind." <0446> // \{\m{B}} "That you scold," <0447> // \{\m{B}} "that you have fighting spirit," <0448> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have a nice blanket odor." <0449> // Another would be... <0450> // That you worry <0451> // That you scold <0452> // That you have fighting spirit <0453> // Another would be... <0454> // That you have a nice blanket odor <0455> // That you scold <0456> // That you have fighting spirit <0457> // \{\m{B}} "That you're kind," <0458> // \{\m{B}} "that you worry," <0459> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have a nice blanket odor." <0460> // \{\m{B}} "That you're kind," <0461> // \{\m{B}} "that you worry," <0462> // \{\m{B}} "and that you scold." <0463> // \{\m{B}} "That you're kind," <0464> // \{\m{B}} "that you worry," <0465> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have fighting spirit." <0466> // Another would be... <0467> // That you worry <0468> // That you have a nice blanket odor <0469> // That you have fighting spirit <0470> // \{\m{B}} "That you're kind," <0471> // \{\m{B}} "that you scold," <0472> // \{\m{B}} "and that you worry." <0473> // \{\m{B}} "That you're kind," <0474> // \{\m{B}} "that you scold," <0475> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have a nice blanket odor." <0476> // \{\m{B}} "That you're kind," <0477> // \{\m{B}} "that you scold," <0478> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have fighting spirit." <0479> // Another would be... <0480> // That you worry <0481> // That you scold <0482> // That you have a nice blanket odor <0483> // \{\m{B}} "That you're kind," <0484> // \{\m{B}} "that you have fighting spirit," <0485> // \{\m{B}} "and that you worry." <0486> // \{\m{B}} "That you're kind," <0487> // \{\m{B}} "that you have fighting spirit," <0488> // \{\m{B}} "and that you scold." <0489> // \{\m{B}} "That you're kind," <0490> // \{\m{B}} "that you have fighting spirit," <0491> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have a nice blanket odor." <0492> // Another would be... <0493> // That you scold <0494> // That you're kind <0495> // That you worry <0496> // Another would be... <0497> // That you have a nice blanket odor <0498> // That you're kind <0499> // That you worry <0500> // \{\m{B}} "That you have fighting spirit," <0501> // \{\m{B}} "that you scold," <0502> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have a nice blanket odor." <0503> // \{\m{B}} "That you have fighting spirit," <0504> // \{\m{B}} "that you scold," <0505> // \{\m{B}} "that you're kind," <0506> // \{\m{B}} "That you have fighting spirit," <0507> // \{\m{B}} "that you scold," <0508> // \{\m{B}} "and that you worry." <0509> // Another would be... <0510> // That you scold <0511> // That you have a nice blanket odor <0512> // That you worry <0513> // \{\m{B}} "That you have fighting spirit," <0514> // \{\m{B}} "that you're kind," <0515> // \{\m{B}} "and that you scold." <0516> // \{\m{B}} "That you have fighting spirit," <0517> // \{\m{B}} "that you're kind," <0518> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have a nice blanket odor." <0519> // \{\m{B}} "That you have fighting spirit," <0520> // \{\m{B}} "that you're kind," <0521> // \{\m{B}} "and that you worry." <0522> // Another would be... <0523> // That you scold <0524> // That you're kind <0525> // That you have a nice blanket odor <0526> // \{\m{B}} "That you have fighting spirit," <0527> // \{\m{B}} "that you worry," <0528> // \{\m{B}} "and that you scold." <0529> // \{\m{B}} "That you have fighting spirit," <0530> // \{\m{B}} "that you worry," <0531> // \{\m{B}} "and that you're kind." <0532> // \{\m{B}} "That you have fighting spirit," <0533> // \{\m{B}} "that you worry," <0534> // \{\m{B}} "and that you have a nice blanket odor." <0535> // \{Misae} "........." <0536> // \{\m{B}} "Also, you're beautiful." <0537> // \{Misae} "........." <0538> // \{Misae} "I see..." <0539> // Misae-san, as if tired, leans her back against my legs. <0540> // Her back is quite warm. <0541> // \{Misae} "If you like those sorts of things, then we might be a match..." <0542> // She sighed, saying that. <0543> // Was she telling the truth? Or was she fooling around? I didn't really know. <0544> // \{Misae} "........." <0545> // \{Misae} "I see..." <0546> // Her reaction was weak. <0547> // \{Misae} "Sigh... what's this 'fighting spirit'...?" <0548> // Looks like none of it echoed in her mind. <0549> // \{\m{B}} "Hey." <0550> // \{Misae} "Hmm?" <0551> // \{\m{B}} "You won't talk about that guy you mentioned from your past?" <0552> // \{Misae} "Nope, I won't." <0553> // \{\m{B}} "Even though I was this open?" <0554> // \{Misae} "Didn't you suggest that it might happen at some point?" <0555> // \{Misae} "Or do you want me to take that as a serious confession?" <0556> // \{Misae} "Should I answer that?" <0557> // \{\m{B}} "Sigh..." <0558> // \{\m{B}} "It's fine... it didn't mean much right now." <0559> // \{Misae} "Indeed." <0560> // Misae <0561> // And after that, I continued to go to Misae-san's room. <0562> // Causing her to grumble and moan about it. <0563> // I begin to feel rather comfortable around her. <0564> // It's fun hiding myself under the blanket, listening to other people's problems. <0565> // \{\m{B}} "Somehow, this looks like illicit lovers coming and meeting together, doesn't it?" <0566> // \{\m{B}} "Something like that. Like Romeo and Juliet." <0567> // \{Misae} "Idiot, as if something like that's fine." <0568> // Knock, knock. <0569> // \{Misae} "Ahh, they came again today...? Today's pretty busy." <0570> // \{Misae} "You've been under the blanket for a long while now, haven't you?"* <0571> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah, I feel the same way." <0572> // I again head under the blanket. <0573> // Knock, knock. <0574> // \{Misae} "Coming!" <0575> // Clatter. <0576> // \{Misae} "Oh my, a girl from the girls' dormitory?" <0577> // \{Voice} "No, an outsider. Is this a bad time to come in?" <0578> // \{Misae} "Well... there aren't any rules keeping a girl from entering the guys' dormitory, so I guess it's fine?" <0579> // \{Voice} "Yeah, I'm glad you understand." <0580> // I think I've heard that tone before. <0581> // \{Voice} "I forgot to introduce myself." <0582> // \{Voice} "I'm Sakagami Tomoyo, a second year." <0583> // ... I knew it. <0584> // \{Voice} "My introduction's late." <0585> // \{Voice} "I'm Sakagami Tomoyo, a second year." <0586> // Sakagami Tomoyo... several days ago, she was the female student who took care of those delinquents. <0587> // \{Voice} "My introduction's late." <0588> // \{Voice} "I'm Sakagami Tomoyo, a second year." <0589> // Someone I don't know. <0590> // \{Misae} "I'm Sagara Misae, the landlady here." <0591> // \{Tomoyo} "Yup, I know of you." <0592> // \{Misae} "So, what's wrong?" <0593> // \{Tomoyo} "You were formerly the first female student to be the student council president..." <0594> // \{Tomoyo} "And I heard you achieved the legendary 'Perfect Student Attendance Week' record." <0595> // \{Tomoyo} "Is that true?" <0596> // \{Misae} "Yeah, that's quite an old story..." <0597> // \{Misae} "That really happened, didn't it?" <0598> // \{Tomoyo} "Amazing..." <0599> // \{Misae} "Eh?" <0600> // \{Tomoyo} "Also amazing that a girl managed to become the council president."* <0601> // \{Tomoyo} "But, to make the entire school not be late for an entire week..." <0602> // \{Tomoyo} "I couldn't pull something like that off." <0603> // \{Tomoyo} "That's why I said it's amazing." <0604> // \{Misae} "Well, it was by chance." <0605> // \{Tomoyo} "That's humble of you." <0606> // \{Tomoyo} "If you were in the same year as I am, we would have been rivals..." <0607> // \{Misae} "What? You're announcing candidacy for the student council president?" <0608> // \{Tomoyo} "Yup, that's right." <0609> // \{Tomoyo} "I heard much of your achievements. You were the ideal council president." <0610> // \{Tomoyo} "I'd like you to tell me a lot of things, so I can have a guide." <0611> // \{Tomoyo} "That's why I've come to meet you like this." <0612> // \{Tomoyo} "But this is a bother, isn't it?" <0613> // \{Misae} "Nope, not at all. I'm fine with it. Though I don't think it's as exaggerated as being ideal." <0614> // \{Misae} "Hmm..." <0615> // \{Misae} "In any case, you want to come in?" <0616> // After all, she asked in that way, probably because she's a bit concerned about me being here. <0617> // \{Tomoyo} "It's not a problem, is it?" <0618> // \{Misae} "Ah, yeah. It's fine, I think..." <0619> // \{Tomoyo} "Then, I'll do that. I want to talk a little more." <0620> // \{Misae} "Ah, yeah, sure. Please do." <0621> // ......... <0622> // \{Misae} "Have some tea." <0623> // \{Tomoyo} "Thank you." <0624> // \{Misae} "So, what would you like to ask?" <0625> // \{Tomoyo} "Hmm, I guess, how to end up becoming the council president." <0626> // \{Tomoyo} "You didn't do anything like unlawful extortion or something?" <0627> // \{Misae} "Yeah, like I said, it happened by chance." <0628> // \{Tomoyo} "And by chance, seven hundred students had perfect attendance for a week." <0629> // \{Tomoyo} "That's quite amazing." <0630> // \{Misae} "Well, I guess something like that is a bit amazing." <0631> // \{Tomoyo} "You showed yourself in the school assembly?" <0632> // \{Misae} "Hmm, well, something like that." <0633> // \{Tomoyo} "You were quite popular." <0634> // \{Misae} "The juniors liked me, after all." <0635> // \{Tomoyo} "I see..." <0636> // \{Tomoyo} "I just entered the school this spring." <0637> // \{Tomoyo} "So no one really knows my face." <0638> // You're already quite popular, you know. <0639> // \{Tomoyo} "I wonder if this is a handicap?" <0640> // And you're saying you want to "stand out" a lot more than you should. <0641> // \{Misae} "Even you're the type that younger ones would like. The same as me." <0642> // \{Tomoyo} "Yeah, I was aware of that before I came here." <0643> // \{Misae} "Then, if you try hard, you should be fine." <0644> // \{Tomoyo} "But, it seems that some people are sometimes late in this school." <0645> // \{Misae} "Ahh, those guys..." <0646> // \{Tomoyo} "You know?" <0647> // \{Misae} "Well, those students are a bit famous for that." <0648> // \{Tomoyo} "If it were you, what would you do?" <0649> // \{Misae} "Hmm, I guess..." <0650> // \{Misae} "Probably I wouldn't do anything special at all." <0651> // \{Tomoyo} "Eh...?" <0652> // \{Misae} "To begin with, that one week of perfect attendance was only a result." <0653> // \{Tomoyo} "Hmm." <0654> // \{Misae} "All I did was raise my voice in front of everyone and say that the whole next week, everyone should work hard." <0655> // \{Misae} "That's really all I did." <0656> // \{Misae} "And, as a result, I achieved that." <0657> // \{Misae} "You know what I'm trying to say?" <0658> // \{Misae} "It has nothing to do with working hard or anything." <0659> // \{Misae} "That's why I said that for me, it happened by chance." <0660> // \{Tomoyo} "But, the council presidents after you didn't do that." <0661> // \{Tomoyo} "The chances of it happening were too small." <0662> // \{Tomoyo} "I wonder if something else was the cause of that?" <0663> // \{Misae} "Hmm, I guess..." <0664> // \{Misae} "If I had to say one thing..." <0665> // \{Misae} "Probably something like not recklessly working hard, aiming towards that goal." <0666> // \{Tomoyo} "?" <0667> // \{Misae} "Everyone seems to be so eager about it, no?" <0668> // \{Misae} "That'll just make people oppose you, right?"* <0669> // \{Tomoyo} "I see..." <0670> // \{Tomoyo} "... that's quite true." <0671> // \{Tomoyo} "I should thank you. Much appreciated." <0672> // \{Tomoyo} "Well, I should be giving my farewell." <0673> // \{Misae} "Oh my, is that so?" <0674> // Their cue for them to both stand up. <0675> // \{Misae} "Work hard. First off, you have to become the council president, though." <0676> // \{Tomoyo} "Yeah." <0677> // \{Tomoyo} "If I become president..." <0678> // \{Tomoyo} "I'll just be myself." <0679> // \{Tomoyo} "That's what I've learned today." <0680> // \{Tomoyo} "That's what I've learned from you." <0681> // \{Tomoyo} "Well then, farewell." <0682> // \{Misae} "Yeah, you're welcome at any time." <0683> // ......... <0684> // Clatter, the sound of the closing door. <0685> // \{\m{B}} "Whew..." <0686> // My moist head comes into the open air. <0687> // \{Misae} "That girl's a warrior..." <0688> // \{\m{B}} "........." <0689> // \{Misae} "Too bad you didn't see her. She looked quite beautiful." <0690> // \{\m{B}} "... I never knew." <0691> // \{Misae} "What?" <0692> // \{\m{B}} "That you were a council president, Misae-san." <0693> // \{Misae} "Yeah..." <0694> // \{Misae} "I never told you about such an old story, did I?" <0695> // \{\m{B}} "I guess..." <0696> // \{\m{B}} "But you see, I know absolutely nothing about your past, Misae-san." <0697> // \{Misae} "Is that so?" <0698> // \{Misae} "I never told you how beautiful of a girl I was?" <0699> // \{\m{B}} "That's a bit fishy, isn't it?" <0700> // \{Misae} "Well, you do have the freedom to think however you like about it." <0701> // \{\m{B}} "Besides, when I asked, you wouldn't tell me, right?" <0702> // \{Misae} "Is it about the guy from my past again...?" <0703> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah." <0704> // \{Misae} "Sigh... what does it matter about that?" <0705> // Why is it that Misae-san won't talk to me about that? <0706> // But, if someone asked her for advice with love, on how to win over the one they like, she just might talk about him. <0707> // At least, Misae-san would have to think about her own romance. <0708> // But what exactly am I going to do hearing a story about that? <0709> // I guess this is really for... what if? <0710> // If I have to know no matter what, then it's because I'm starting to like Misae-san...* <0711> // That's what this feels like. <0712> // \{\m{B}} "Furukawa!" <0713> // I say that to her back, as I rise up the hill. <0714> // \{Furukawa} "Eh, ah, yes?!" <0715> // Surprised, she jumps and turns around. <0716> // \{Furukawa} "Ah, \m{A}-san!" <0717> // \{Furukawa} "Hello there!" <0718> // \{\m{B}} "Umm, sorry to be rude, but there's something I'd like to ask." <0719> // \{Furukawa} "Yes, what might it be?" <0720> // \{\m{B}} "Umm, Furukawa..." <0721> // \{Furukawa} "Yes?" <0722> // \{\m{B}} "Do you know what love is...?" <0723> // \{Furukawa} "Eh...?" <0724> // \{Furukawa} "What are you... asking suddenly...?" <0725> // \{\m{B}} "It's a bit embarrassing, so I don't want to say it another time." <0726> // \{Furukawa} "Sorry, please do so. This time I'll listen." <0727> // \{\m{B}} "Furukawa... do you know what love is?" <0728> // \{Furukawa} "........." <0729> // \{Furukawa} "Umm..." <0730> // \{Furukawa} "I don't really know..." <0731> // \{\m{B}} "You probably don't really know, but you're a little aware of guys that are there, right?" <0732> // \{Furukawa} "........." <0733> // \{Furukawa} "I guess it's something like that... truth is, I really don't know..." <0734> // \{Furukawa} "I'm sorry I can't properly answer your question." <0735> // \{\m{B}} "It's fine. Being like that's fine." <0736> // \{Furukawa} "Huh?" <0737> // \{\m{B}} "That was to check if you somehow didn't really know what that feeling was..." <0738> // \{\m{B}} "You want to ask someone about it?" <0739> // \{Furukawa} "Someone... who would this be...?" <0740> // \{\m{B}} "There's a student dormitory at the bottom of the hill, right?" <0741> // \{Furukawa} "Yes, there is." <0742> // \{\m{B}} "The landlady there's been a big help to the people there, and everyone's come to consult her." <0743> // \{Furukawa} "Is that so?" <0744> // \{\m{B}} "Just a while ago, a female student who's aiming to be council president came to consult her." <0745> // \{Furukawa} "That's amazing." <0746> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah. When they leave, they're cleared of their troubles, feeling refreshed."* <0747> // \{\m{B}} "Would you like to go and clear up those feelings you don't really know about?" <0748> // \{Furukawa} "Ah, but... if that person's there, then there's a lot of others consulting then." <0749> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah, you could consult about other things. But that person's really good with love. You wanna try asking about that?" <0750> // \{Furukawa} "Sure... if I remember, I'll try it..." <0751> // \{\m{B}} "Uhh, to begin with, you should try to go as soon as possible." <0752> // \{Furukawa} "Eh? Ah, okay..." <0753> // \{\m{B}} "All right, her name's Sagara Misae. She's in the first room." <0754> // \{\m{B}} "Ah, it's a guy's dormitory, though." <0755> // \{Furukawa} "... ehh?" <0756> // \{\m{B}} "It's fine. I told you, right? They rely on her." <0757> // \{\m{B}} "You wouldn't be the only girl either." <0758> // \{Furukawa} "Ah, okay." <0759> // \{Furukawa} "Then, when I get a chance, I'll drop in." <0760> // \{\m{B}} "No, not when you get a chance, do it as soon as you can." <0761> // \{Furukawa} "Ehh?" <0762> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah. Today after school. Are you busy?" <0763> // \{Furukawa} "No... nothing really worth mentioning." <0764> // \{\m{B}} "Then, today. I'll tell her that you're coming." <0765> // \{Furukawa} "Ah, sigh... I'm sorry for putting you through so much trouble." <0766> // \{\m{B}} "Later then." <0767> // \{Furukawa} "Okay... thank you very much." <0768> // And then, that day after school. <0769> // I'm waiting for the visitor in Misae-san's room. <0770> // \{Misae} "Hey now... I'd like to say something." <0771> // \{\m{B}} "Hmm?" <0772> // \{Misae} "I don't have that much free time, you know?" <0773> // \{Misae} "After I give you tea, it's already evening, see." <0774> // \{\m{B}} "Well, sorry about that." <0775> // \{Misae} "In that case, maybe you should be a little more thoughtful?" <0776> // \{\m{B}} "Now, now, just a little bit longer." <0777> // \{Misae} "If you helped out a bit, then I wouldn't have any complaints..." <0778> // \{\m{B}} "Well, you should tell me that too." <0779> // \{Misae} "You definitely wouldn't answer that..." <0780> // Knock, knock. <0781> // The knocking sound draws us in. She's finally come. <0782> // \{Misae} "They come at the busiest time, don't they..." <0783> // \{\m{B}} "Well, I'll be hiding now, so have fun." <0784> // I crawl under the blanket at the same time Misae-san gets up. <0785> // There's an occupant here before me, giving me a mysterious look. <0786> // I hug him close, curling up inside together. <0787> // I silently stroke his back as he made a surprised meow. <0788> // Clatter. <0789> // \{Misae} "Ah, another girl I don't know." <0790> // \{Furukawa} "Ah, excuse me... I'm Furukawa Nagisa!" <0791> // \{Furukawa} "I came to consult you about something!" <0792> // \{Misae} "Sigh... there's been a lot of that..." <0793> // \{Misae} "I guess I have that kind of talent, don't I?" <0794> // \{Misae} "I wonder if I should change jobs...?" <0795> // \{Furukawa} "Umm... am I bothering you?" <0796> // \{Misae} "No, no, it's fine. I'm just talking to myself, so don't mind me." <0797> // \{Misae} "Come on, let's not talk while standing, so please, come in." <0798> // \{Furukawa} "Please excuse me, then, I'll do that." <0799> // My field of vision is bounded by the small gap in the blanket, with Misae-san's back blocking it. <0800> // \{Misae} "So, what would you like help with?" <0801> // \{Furukawa} "Umm..." <0802> // \{Furukawa} "A sort of feeling I don't really know." <0803> // \{Misae} "That's quite difficult, isn't it?" <0804> // \{Furukawa} "What might this strange feeling I'm having be...?" <0805> // \{Misae} "I dunno, is it love?" <0806> // \{Furukawa} "It really is love then?!" <0807> // \{Misae} "Eh, I was right on?! Though the situation made it seem okay to say so." <0808> // \{Furukawa} "Umm, I don't really know myself, and then I came here..." <0809> // \{Misae} "Ahh, so that's how it is." <0810> // \{Misae} "In other words, there's a guy that's been on your mind." <0811> // \{Furukawa} "Yeah..." <0812> // \{Misae} "But, you don't really know if that feeling's love or not." <0813> // \{Furukawa} "Yeah..." <0814> // \{Misae} "Still in puberty, aren't you?" <0815> // \{Furukawa} "Yeah..." <0816> // \{Misae} "That the first time you felt like this? Even though it's just being worried about a guy." <0817> // \{Furukawa} "That's... yes... something like that." <0818> // \{Misae} "You seem quite shy..." <0819> // \{Furukawa} "Yes... I'm sorry..." <0820> // \{Misae} "Don't apologize. It's a wonderful thing." <0821> // \{Furukawa} "Is... that so...?" <0822> // \{Misae} "The guy's a classmate of yours?" <0823> // \{Furukawa} "No, he's in a different class. But we're the same year." <0824> // \{Misae} "How long has it been since you met?" <0825> // \{Furukawa} "Just a little bit, even though we just met last month..." <0826> // \{Misae} "I see, and you're still fumbling over that..." <0827> // \{Misae} "So, was there something that caused you to start feeling this way?" <0828> // \{Furukawa} "Umm... there was." <0829> // \{Misae} "What exactly?" <0830> // \{Furukawa} "Yes. When we first met, he gave me a push." <0831> // \{Furukawa} "I spent a long break from school due to being ill, so I had to repeat my third year..." <0832> // \{Furukawa} "I didn't know anyone in the school, really..." <0833> // \{Furukawa} "He pushed me forward, telling me to step through the school gates and find something else that was fun." <0834> // ... wait. \pThat's me, isn't it? <0835> // \{Furukawa} "And then, I went to school like that." <0836> // \{Misae} "Hmm, nice guy." <0837> // \{Furukawa} "Ah, yes. He's quite a good person." <0838> // \{Misae} "What's he look like? Is he really cool?" <0839> // \{Furukawa} "Yes... he's really cool." <0840> // \{Furukawa} "Though he's... someone I'm completely not suited to, at the very least..." <0841> // \{Misae} "You know..." <0842> // \{Furukawa} "Yes... what is it...?" <0843> // \{Misae} "That's love, without a doubt." <0844> // \{Furukawa} "Eh? Is that... really what it is...?" <0845> // \{Misae} "Not that I've heard something else like that, but that was just something I thought, right?" <0846> // \{Misae} "Seeing you as you said that, that's what I thought." <0847> // \{Misae} "You've always been shy about it, haven't you?" <0848> // \{Furukawa} "Ah, that's... always been a habit of mine..." <0849> // \{Misae} "That's not a habit at all." <0850> // \{Misae} "Ahh, isn't it nice to be still young." <0851> // \{Furukawa} "I'm sorry..." <0852> // \{Misae} "I'm telling you, it's beautiful. So don't apologize." <0853> // \{Furukawa} "Okay..." <0854> // \{Misae} "I'll ask just once, but the guy isn't a rugby member, is he?" <0855> // \{Furukawa} "I don't think so." <0856> // \{Misae} "If he's... Sunohara, then forget it." <0857> // \{Furukawa} "Not at all." <0858> // \{Misae} "I see, that's good then." <0859> // \{Furukawa} "Yes..." <0860> // \{Misae} "Ah, one more. If it's \m{A}, then forget it." <0861> // \{Furukawa} "Eh..." <0862> // \{Misae} "He's always late to school, going into someone's room afterward... and he's not really that attractive." <0863> // \{Furukawa} "Um..." <0864> // \{Furukawa} "........." <0865> // \{Misae} "Eh...?" <0866> // \{Misae} "It can't be..." <0867> // \{Misae} "Is it \m{A}?" <0868> // \{Misae} "Is it him? Umm, his first name is \m{B}." <0869> // \{Furukawa} "Ah... yes..." <0870> // \{Misae} "........." <0871> // \{Misae} "Ahh, why is it that this girl's fallen for such a guy?" <0872> // \{Furukawa} "Umm... \m{A}-san's a good person..." <0873> // \{Misae} "Well, at the root he isn't a bad person... that much I know..." <0874> // \{Misae} "Of all guys, him..." <0875> // \{Furukawa} "Thanks for today." <0876> // \{Furukawa} "Well then, I'll be going." <0877> // \{Misae} "Okay, do your best." <0878> // Clatter, the door closes. It becomes silent. <0879> // Puff, Misae-san sits on the bed. <0880> // \{Misae} "So, what? You didn't know?" <0881> // \{\m{B}} "About?" <0882> // I peek out of the blanket. <0883> // \{Misae} "About that girl being interested in you." <0884> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah, I didn't know." <0885> // To begin with, if I knew, I wouldn't have instigated her into this. <0886> // \{Misae} "She's a good one." <0887> // \{Misae} "There aren't a lot of girls who are as innocent as her at this time." <0888> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah." <0889> // \{Misae} "You don't really feel anything about it?" <0890> // \{\m{B}} "I think she's a cute person." <0891> // \{\m{B}} "But really thinking about it, I wonder?" <0892> // \{Misae} "You should seriously think about it. You did listen in after all." <0893> // \{\m{B}} "Then, I can't meet her." <0894> // \{\m{B}} "For someone as diligent as her, someone as insincere like me isn't good for her." <0895> // \{Misae} "It's fine if you're honest about it, right?" <0896> // \{\m{B}} "Nothing will come of it right now." <0897> // \{Misae} "Ahh, what a poor girl. Even though it's her first love." <0898> // \{Misae} "I feel that you're going to have a different future if you keep dilly-dallying like that." <0899> // \{Misae} "It's for your own good." <0900> // \{\m{B}} "........." <0901> // \{Misae} "Even then, you still want to be here?" <0902> // \{\m{B}} "Is it a problem?" <0903> // \{Misae} "How does this look like it's not a problem?" <0904> // \{\m{B}} "You did say you were okay with it, didn't you?" <0905> // \{Misae} "Sigh..." <0906> // \{Misae} "Why am I so worried about you anyway...?" <0907> // \{\m{B}} "Didn't you also say that was wonderful?" <0908> // \{Misae} "It's definitely not wonderful when you say it." <0909> // My plan to instigate Furukawa into hearing about Misae-san's past failed. <0910> // A bunch of girls were gathered around Fujibayashi's seat at lunch. <0911> // \{Ryou} "The queen of hearts and the king of spades... along with the seven of diamonds..." <0912> // \{Ryou} "It's amazing. You're really compatible with him." <0913> // \{Ryou} "Strengthening your bonds, no matter what problems come up, if it's you two, you'll be able to surpass it." <0914> // \{Girl} "Uwaaaaahhhh!!" <0915> // The girl cries, running out of the room at the results of the fortune telling. <0916> // \{Ryou} "Ah... what happened...?" <0917> // \{Girl 1} "Ahh... how sad..." <0918> // \{Girl 2} "Can't be helped. It's fate, after all..." <0919> // \{Ryou} "... love fortunes are difficult..." <0920> // A bell rings in my head. <0921> // Her, then. <0922> // I slowly approach her seat. <0923> // The girls notice, each taking a step back, creating a path for me to get to Fujibayashi. <0924> // She watches as I come in front of her... <0925> // \{\m{B}} "... hey, Fujibayashi." <0926> // \{Ryou} "Eh? Y-yes?!" <0927> // \{\m{B}} "What do you think about love?" <0928> // \{Ryou} "... eh...?" <0929> // Fujibayashi looks at me with a stupid face. <0930> // The girls around whisper into each others' ears, giving me suspicious looks. <0931> // \{\m{B}} "What do you think about love?" <0932> // I say it again. <0933> // Fujibayashi blushes red. <0934> // \{Ryou} "Uu... eh... ah... umm... w-well... asking me... all of a sudden like that... umm..." <0935> // \{\m{B}} "You don't know?" <0936> // \{Ryou} "Uaah... t... that's... uh... well... what should I say... umm..." <0937> // \{\m{B}} "Don't you think it's bad to be telling love fortunes without knowing what love is?" <0938> // \{Ryou} "Eh...? Ah... uu... well... y-yes." <0939> // \{\m{B}} "Indeed. You wouldn't be really convincing when giving such fortunes to other people." <0940> // \{Ryou} "B-but... um... fortune telling is fortune telling after all..." <0941> // \{\m{B}} "Is it okay to remain that vague about it?" <0942> // \{Ryou} "Ah... uu..." <0943> // \{\m{B}} "Even though you're guiding people for that moment?" <0944> // \{\m{B}} "Especially love fortunes. Building such a bond between two people, it's really important stuff, isn't it?" <0945> // \{\m{B}} "If you had just one or two experiences with love, you'd be able to come up with more accurate fortunes, wouldn't you?" <0946> // \{Ryou} "Eh... umm... I... think so..." <0947> // \{Ryou} "But... for you... to tell me something like that all of a sudden... I..." <0948> // \{\m{B}} "It's fine, I'll tell you something good." <0949> // \{Ryou} "... something... good?" <0950> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah. There's a student dorm at the bottom of the hill, right?" <0951> // \{Ryou} "Ah... y-yes." <0952> // \{\m{B}} "There, the people have been relying on the landlady." <0953> // \{Ryou} "Is that so?" <0954> // \{\m{B}} "She's amazing. Even a female student planning on becoming council president came to ask her advice." <0955> // \{Ryou} "T-that's amazing." <0956> // \{\m{B}} "If you consult her, she'll certainly answer with something beneficial." <0957> // \{\m{B}} "So go and visit her." <0958> // \{Ryou} "I guess so... when I'm close by, I'll visit." <0959> // \{\m{B}} "Well, the sooner the better. She has time right now, but a little later she tells me she'll be busy." <0960> // \{\m{B}} "Oh, right, how about today? You free after school?" <0961> // \{Ryou} "Eh? Today...? Well... I don't really have anything to do..." <0962> // \{\m{B}} "All right, it's decided then. I'll tell her you'll be coming." <0963> // \{Ryou} "... eh?" <0964> // \{\m{B}} "The counselor's name is Sagara Misae. She's in the first room." <0965> // \{Ryou} "Eh?" <0966> // \{\m{B}} "By the way, it's a guy's dormitory." <0967> // \{Ryou} "Ehh?!" <0968> // \{\m{B}} "It's fine, I told you already, right? Even girls come to ask her for advice." <0969> // \{Ryou} "Sigh..." <0970> // \{\m{B}} "So don't be late after school." <0971> // \{Ryou} "Eh, ah, o-okay, thank you... very much." <0972> // \{Misae} "So, what exactly are you doing?" <0973> // \{\m{B}} "Welcome back." <0974> // I'm pouring a cup of coffee just as Misae-san comes back. <0975> // \{\m{B}} "You okay with black?" <0976> // \{Misae} "Sigh..." <0977> // Misae-san gave a sigh as if tired, taking off her apron and sitting in front of the table. <0978> // I place a steaming cup in front of Misae-san, facing her as I sit down. <0979> // \{Misae} "Thanks." <0980> // \{\m{B}} "You're welcome." <0981> // \{Misae} "Hey, how do you know where the coffee beans are?!" <0982> // \{\m{B}} "Point is that I got an idea of where things were in this room." <0983> // \{Misae} "You couldn't have been looking around while I wasn't around, were you?" <0984> // \{\m{B}} "Is it fine?" <0985> // \{Misae} "Just that the underwear's in the second shelf." <0986> // \{\m{B}} "Eh? Really?" <0987> // Without thinking, I look at the drawers. <0988> // \{Misae} "Seem's like you haven't, huh." <0989> // \{\m{B}} "That's a pretty extreme way to get me to say something..." <0990> // \{Misae} "Not really..." <0991> // \{\m{B}} "Is it really in the second shelf?" <0992> // \{Misae} "Do you want to check?" <0993> // \{\m{B}} "Is that fine?" <0994> // \{Misae} "Actually it's on the first. The second's the socks." <0995> // \{\m{B}} "That's fine as well." <0996> // \{Misae} "You know what, don't. You're a pervert if you're okay with doing that." <0997> // She controls me with her sigh as I stand up. <0998> // \{Misae} "So, what is it this time? I don't really have that much free time." <0999> // \{\m{B}} "Now, now, that's fine, isn't it?" <1000> // \{Misae} "Of course it isn't." <1001> // Knock... knock... <1002> // A reluctant knock. She's here. <1003> // \{Misae} "Sigh... I don't even have time to take a break..." <1004> // \{\m{B}} "Well then, I'll be hiding." <1005> // I crawl under the blanket at the same time Misae-san gets up. <1006> // There's an occupant here before me, giving me a mysterious look. <1007> // I hug him, curling up inside together. <1008> // I silently stroke his back as he makes a surprised meow. <1009> // Clatter. <1010> // \{Misae} "Ah, another girl I don't know." <1011> // \{Ryou} "U... umm... are you Sagara Misae-san...?" <1012> // \{Misae} "Yeah, I am." <1013> // \{Ryou} "U-umm, n-nice to meet you, I-I, I'm, Fujibayashi Ryou." <1014> // \{Ryou} "Well... u-umm, I came today to... ask you for advice." <1015> // \{Misae} "Sigh... there's been a lot of that..." <1016> // \{Misae} "I guess I have that kind of talent, don't I?" <1017> // \{Misae} "I wonder if I should change jobs...?" <1018> // \{Ryou} "Ah... uu... I-I'm sorry, coming on such short notice... well... it's a bit of a bother." <1019> // \{Misae} "No, it's fine, it's fine. Don't worry." <1020> // \{Misae} "Well, please come in." <1021> // \{Ryou} "Umm... is it okay...?" <1022> // \{Misae} "You seem the type of girl that's really bothered by coming to a guy's dorm, aren't you?" <1023> // \{Misae} "I don't know how I might answer you, but for now, come in and talk." <1024> // \{Ryou} "O-okay, thank you very much." <1025> // My field of vision is bounded by the small gap in the blanket, with Misae-san's back blocking it. <1026> // \{Misae} "So, what would you like help with?" <1027> // \{Ryou} "Y-yes... umm... truth is... uh..." <1028> // \{Ryou} "W... well..." <1029> // \{Ryou} "My chest's been feeling really fuzzy or something." <1030> // \{Misae} "Huh." <1031> // \{Ryou} "What might this be...?" <1032> // \{Misae} "I dunno, is it love?" <1033> // \{Ryou} "S... so it is love?!" <1034> // \{Misae} "Eh, I was right on?! Though the situation made it seem okay to say so." <1035> // \{Ryou} "No... well... somehow I don't... really notice it myself, but..." <1036> // \{Ryou} "I don't really have any confidence, I guess... so much that I started having these feelings..." <1037> // \{Misae} "Sigh, you're so young. I'm envious." <1038> // \{Ryou} "Ah... uu..." <1039> // \{Ryou} "Ahm... umm... well... but besides that..." <1040> // \{Ryou} "........." <1041> // \{Ryou} "... what is love...?" <1042> // \{Misae} "Huh...?" <1043> // \{Ryou} "A guy in my class asked me... umm... and I didn't answer..." <1044> // \{Misae} "Huh." <1045> // \{Ryou} "I like giving fortunes, so I've been doing a lot of love fortune telling." <1046> // \{Ryou} "But... h-he told me that someone who told love fortunes without knowing love wouldn't be too convincing..." <1047> // \{Misae} "Sounds like someone who says stuff to sound important."* <1048> // \{Ryou} "N-no, I don't think it's like that at all." <1049> // \{Ryou} "I-I think that he gave me some very important advice." <1050> // \{Ryou} "It's quite true that I haven't been quite thoughtful of other people when giving them fortunes, which is a bit rude." <1051> // \{Ryou} "That's why, well, he's not saying anything that makes him sound important." <1052> // \{Misae} "... you're really supporting him, aren't you?" <1053> // \{Ryou} "Eh? Ah... uu... i-it's nothing like that at all... umm..." <1054> // \{Misae} "It couldn't be that when you talked to that classmate, your heart was beating hard?" <1055> // \{Ryou} "Bea--eh? How do you know??" <1056> // \{Misae} "When you're talking to him with other girls watching you, your chest feels tight, right?"* <1057> // \{Ryou} "O-of course..." <1058> // \{Misae} "Even more, they turn their eyes away quickly, right?"* <1059> // \{Ryou} "Ah... wawa..." <1060> // \{Misae} "That's love." <1061> // \{Ryou} "Eh?" <1062> // \{Misae} "It's fine for you to be like this at this age. I also went through the same thing." <1063> // \{Ryou} "Umm..." <1064> // \{Misae} "Hmm?" <1065> // \{Ryou} "Your heart beating fast... feeling tight... and turning your eyes away... that's... love...?" <1066> // \{Misae} "You don't feel that way normally with friends, right?" <1067> // \{Ryou} "R-right." <1068> // \{Misae} "Especially that tight feeling, that's most important." <1069> // \{Ryou} "Is that so...?" <1070> // \{Misae} "You might get the wrong idea with your heart beating fast, but certainly not with the tightening feeling." <1071> // \{Misae} "Of course, that's just speaking from experience." <1072> // \{Misae} "You can't go wrong with that." <1073> // \{Ryou} "Is that so..." <1074> // \{Ryou} "Thank you very much. That was of much help." <1075> // \{Misae} "Yeah... by the way, there's one thing I'd like to ask." <1076> // \{Misae} "About the guy who gave you that advice." <1077> // \{Misae} "I could be wrong but, it isn't \m{A}, is it?" <1078> // \{Ryou} "Au..." <1079> // \{Misae} "No way, you serious?" <1080> // \{Ryou} "Uuu~..." <1081> // \{Misae} "What's so good about him?" <1082> // \{Ryou} "Umm... umm... au... well..." <1083> // \{Ryou} "B... back from second year... my sister had fun talking about him every day..." <1084> // \{Ryou} "In the beginning, what I heard seemed quite attractive..."* <1085> // \{Ryou} "When we were in the same class in third year, I saw him close by... and..." <1086> // \{Ryou} "I thought that... he was quite cool..." <1087> // \{Misae} "Ahh... devoted, and young... I'm somehow quite envious." <1088> // \{Misae} "But, it's better not to deal with him." <1089> // \{Misae} "He's always late to school, going into someone's room, sticking around, and getting in the way..." <1090> // \{Misae} "He's not attractive at all. For a girl like you, you should find someone else better." <1091> // \{Ryou} "Umm... sticking around... which means... umm... would it be, here?" <1092> // \{Misae} "Yeah, indeed. You shouldn't go after such relentless guys. You'll definitely have problems later." <1093> // \{Ryou} "Has \m{A}-kun been... with you here a lot...?" <1094> // \{Misae} "Not now, but he was." <1095> // \{Ryou} "........." <1096> // \{Misae} "Eh?" <1097> // \{Ryou} "... umm... just now, I... felt tight..." <1098> // \{Misae} "That's, hmm." <1099> // \{Ryou} "... what should I do?" <1100> // \{Misae} "Let's see. For now, you should treasure those feelings right now, right?" <1101> // \{Misae} "Nothing's going on between me and \m{A}, anyway." <1102> // \{Misae} "Or rather, if you work hard to turn him around, then he won't get in the way of my work anymore." <1103> // \{Ryou} "Is, that so...?" <1104> // \{Misae} "If you don't do anything, the one thing you'll feel left is regret. Do what you can while you're young." <1105> // \{Ryou} "Umm, thanks for everything today." <1106> // \{Misae} "Sure, if you feel that it's helped you, then I'm happy." <1107> // \{Ryou} "Yeah. Well then, I'll be going." <1108> // Clatter... the door closes. It becomes silent. <1109> // Puff, Misae-san sits on the bed. <1110> // \{Misae} "Did you suggest her to come here? Or rather, you didn't know?" <1111> // \{\m{B}} "About?" <1112> // I peek out of the blanket. <1113> // \{Misae} "That girl just now likes you." <1114> // \{\m{B}} "I never knew at all. We haven't been in the same class long enough, so we didn't really talk much." <1115> // Actually, if I knew, I wouldn't have instigated her into this. <1116> // \{Misae} "And so, what'll you do?" <1117> // \{\m{B}} "What do you mean?" <1118> // \{Misae} "You heard her feelings, didn't you?" <1119> // \{\m{B}} "She doesn't know I was here when I heard it, so nothing will really change." <1120> // \{Misae} "That's such a waste." <1121> // \{\m{B}} "Besides, I don't know about her at all." <1122> // \{Misae} "Isn't it okay to know from now on?" <1123> // \{\m{B}} "She's my class' representative, you know? She completely doesn't suit me." <1124> // \{Misae} "If you're honest about it, that isn't a problem." <1125> // \{\m{B}} "Nothing will come of it right now." <1126> // \{Misae} "Sigh, what a poor girl." <1127> // \{Misae} "So, in other words, you instigated her to get me to say something?" <1128> // \{\m{B}} "You know what I'm going to ask, don't you?" <1129> // \{Misae} "You're still not giving up on that...?" <1130> // \{\m{B}} "Yeah." <1131> // \{Misae} "Sigh..." <1132> // She gives a tired sigh. <1133> // \{\m{B}} "I'm at least here, aren't I?" <1134> // \{\m{B}} "Even I..." <1135> // \{\m{B}} "Feel my chest tightening when I think about it." <1136> // \{Misae} "You've had way too much coffee." <1137> // \{\m{B}} "........." <1138> // \{Misae} "Ahh, I feel that you're going to have a different future if you keep dilly-dallying like that." <1139> // \{Misae} "It's for your own good." <1140> // \{\m{B}} "........." <1141> // \{Misae} "Even then, you still want to be here?" <1142> // \{\m{B}} "Is it a problem?" <1143> // \{Misae} "Even though it doesn't look like it?" <1144> // \{\m{B}} "You did say you were okay with it, didn't you?" <1145> // \{Misae} "Sigh..." <1146> // \{Misae} "Why am I so worried about you, anyway...?" <1147> // My plan to instigate Fujibayashi into hearing about Misae-san's past failed. <1148> // But, not once was I discouraged. <1149> // Knock, knock. <1150> // \{Misae} "Coming..." <1151> // Clatter. <1152> // \{Female Student} "Umm, I'm here to ask for help on love..." <1153> // \{Misae} "How many of you will come before you're satisfied--?!" <1154> // \{Misae} "You're the tenth person today, you know?!" <1155> // \{Misae} "I haven't had any free time all day to myself, I'm at my limit!" <1156> // \{Female Student} "Ah, you take appointments... I'll leave a note then..."* <1157> // \{Misae} "There's even notes---?!" <1158> // \{Female Student} "I'm sorry... I'll come by again." <1159> // \{Misae} "Ahh... it's fine... come in..." <1160> // \{Female Student} "Is that okay...?" <1161> // \{Misae} "I can't just refuse you, can I...?" <1162> // \{Female Student} "Sorry, thank you so much." <1163> // \{Misae} "Well, that's just how it is. Be more confident." <1164> // \{Female Student} "Is that so. That was quite helpful. Thank you very much." <1165> // \{Female Student} "I really don't have any confidence myself." <1166> // \{Female Student} "How were you during your school days, Misae-san?" <1167> // \{Female Student} "You must have been pretty popular to be the first female student council president, huh?" <1168> // \{Misae} "Sigh... why is it that you know that much...?" <1169> // Because I've been distributing flyers all over the place. <1170> // \{Female Student} "Even now, you're quite beautiful and popular, unlike me..." <1171> // \{Misae} "Who knows... I don't recall being all that popular." <1172> // \{Female Student} "Do you have a boyfriend?" <1173> // Grip, I tighten my fist. I've been waiting for such an active girl to come ask about that. <1174> // \{Misae} "What, now... I don't have to answer that, do I?" <1175> // \{Female Student} "I was wondering what kind of guy a beautiful young woman like you would pick." <1176> // \{Misae} "Exactly how the kids here are thinking of me as beautiful..." <1177> // \{Female Student} "I heard the guys here love you." <1178> // \{Misae} "Oh geez, so they call that an expression of love? That's popular..." <1179> // \{Female Student} "Even then, I want to know. Please tell me." <1180> // \{Misae} "Sigh... I don't have one." <1181> // \{Misae} "I've just been taking care of the kids here the whole time." <1182> // \{Female Student} "Is that so... that's quite a waste." <1183> // \{Misae} "Go tell that to the other guys." <1184> // \{Female Student} "Then, what kind of guy was your boyfriend?" <1185> // \{Misae} "Sigh..." <1186> // \{Misae} "... you really want to know?" <1187> // \{Female Student} "I do." <1188> // \{Misae} "Don't look at me with such glittering eyes, geez..." <1189> // \{Misae} "What kind of guy was he, huh..." <1190> // \{Female Student} "Was it that long ago?" <1191> // \{Misae} "It was... back during my school days." <1192> // \{Female Student} "Then, you really were popular when you were council president." <1193> // \{Misae} "That was before I became president, actually..." <1194> // \{Misae} "I don't recall it all too well, though." <1195> // \{Female Student} "Was he handsome? What kind of club activities did he take part in?" <1196> // \{Misae} "Sigh... one thing after another..." <1197> // \{Female Student} "Ah, I'm sorry..." <1198> // \{Misae} "It's okay... that's all right..." <1199> // \{Misae} "He wasn't handsome at all, nor was he in any clubs." <1200> // \{Female Student} "Eh? So he was just a nice, normal guy then?" <1201> // \{Misae} "I guess..." <1202> // \{Female Student} "I'm sure he had a good personality." <1203> // \{Misae} "Who knows..." <1204> // \{Female Student} "Then, why did you like him?" <1205> // \{Misae} "Hmm, I dunno, really." <1206> // \{Female Student} "But, you did like him, right?" <1207> // \{Misae} "... yeah." <1208> // \{Female Student} "Which one of you confessed?" <1209> // \{Misae} "Umm..." <1210> // \{Female Student} "Yes?" <1211> // \{Misae} "I guess, I really don't want to talk about this... I'm sorry." <1212> // \{Female Student} "No, it's my fault, for prying a bit too much..." <1213> // \{Female Student} "But, seriously, you're quite the idol, Misae-san. That's why I wanted to know your philosophy on love." <1214> // \{Misae} "You shouldn't idolize such an ordinary woman as myself." <1215> // \{Female Student} "You're not ordinary at all." <1216> // \{Misae} "But I guess... you could say I was kind of at my prime back in those days." <1217> // \{Misae} "Especially among the juniors." <1218> // \{Female Student} "I knew it." <1219> // \{Misae} "But, it was mostly among the girls." <1220> // \{Female Student} "Even then, that's amazing." <1221> // \{Misae} "I wonder about that..." <1222> // \{Misae} "And, I..." <1223> // \{Misae} "Wasted those precious days for the sake of that guy..." <1224> // \{Misae} "Even though those times won't come back." <1225> // \{Female Student} "Eh...?" <1226> // \{Female Student} "Did something happen?" <1227> // \{Misae} "Nothing particularly important or anything." <1228> // \{Misae} "I was just rejected." <1229> // \{Misae} "That's all." <1230> // \{Female Student} "Ah... is that so?" <1231> // \{Misae} "You also have time to shine from now on as well, so be serious about it." <1232> // \{Female Student} "Ah, okay!" <1233> // \{Female Student} "Thank you for everything today!" <1234> // Clatter. <1235> // ......... <1236> // \{Misae} "... are you satisfied?" <1237> // \{\m{B}} "........." <1238> // I hide my breath inside the blanket with the cat. <1239> // \{Misae} "Geez, you're quite the businessman." <1240> // \{\m{B}} "... you figured it out?" <1241> // Bringing only my head out, I ask that. <1242> // \{Misae} "Ten people did come all at once asking about love." <1243> // \{Misae} "So..." <1244> // \{Misae} "What are you going to do with hearing about my old boyfriend?" <1245> // \{Misae} "You think you can make one forget about some if you hold them tightly enough?"* <1246> // \{\m{B}} "I can't do something like that." <1247> // \{Misae} "What I said just now would be troubling, that's why." <1248> // \{\m{B}} "Then, that's fine. It's a hobby of mine to trouble older women." <1249> // \{Misae} "I've had enough of it, then. Isn't that great~" <1250> // \{\m{B}} "Though I have to say it's not enough." <1251> // \{Misae} "Then do what you want." <1252> // \{Misae} "If you do, it'll mean you like making older women cry." <1253> // \{\m{B}} "........." <1254> // \{\m{B}} "Sigh..." <1255> // My defeat. I crawl out of the blanket, scratching my head. <1256> // \{\m{B}} "... I'm jealous of him." <1257> // \{\m{B}} "He seems like an amazing guy." <1258> // Misae-san sits down beside me. <1259> // The cat jumped from my arm to her lap, curling up. <1260> // Misae-san strokes his back. <1261> // \{Misae} "Nothing amazing or anything." <1262> // \{Misae} "He was just too ordinary." <1263> // \{Misae} "Somehow I didn't really suit him at all." <1264> // \{\m{B}} "Sigh... guess it really didn't go all too well..." <1265> // Walking over Sunohara's body, I find a place to sit down at. <1266> // \{Sunohara} "What didn't? Her breasts?" <1267> // \{\m{B}} "Don't put me together with you." <1268> // \{Sunohara} "Eh? I thought you were trying hard to see Misae-san's breasts?" <1269> // \{\m{B}} "I'm not doing anything like that." <1270> // \{Sunohara} "Then, what? She's really drawing you in?" <1271> // \{\m{B}} "Somehow, it feels like that... I wonder why?" <1272> // \{Sunohara} "Like hell I'd know." <1273> // \{Sunohara} "Thinking about it, it's probably the breasts." <1274> // \{\m{B}} "Breasts, breasts, shut up with the breasts!" <1275> // \{Sunohara} "If you make light of breasts, you'll be crying over breasts." <1276> // \{\m{B}} "There isn't a situation to cry over breasts." <1277> // \{Sunohara} "There probably is." <1278> // \{Sunohara} "When that happens, you'll shout, <1279> // \b'Breast Sho----ck!'\u, <1280> // Holding your head for being so idiotic, right?" <1281> // \{\m{B}} "I wouldn't scream something stupid like that, it would split my mouth.." <1282> // \{Sunohara} "Well, whatever floats your boat, but... you'll regret it later." <1283> // \{\m{B}} "This discussion's really all over the place anyway." <1284> // \{\m{B}} "Sigh, I was an idiot for asking you..." <1285> // \{Sunohara} "What man, you seem to be quite worried and stuff." <1286> // \{Sunohara} "Is it about the breasts?" <1287> // \{\m{B}} "Just cool off on that. \bPlease.\u" <1288> // \{Sunohara} "Sorry dude. No matter what, Misae-san = breasts for me!" <1289> // \{\m{B}} "If I hear it again, I'm going to hit you." <1290> // \{Sunohara} "That's for certain. Then, from now on I'll just randomly say tits then."* <1291> // \{Sunohara} "Misae-san, has nice tits! Like that." <1292> // \{\m{B}} "That's so obvious, you know." <1293> // \{Sunohara} "I won't get found out!" <1294> // \{Sunohara} "I'll just slip into the conversation, 'Show us yer tits!---!' whenever I get a chance---!"* <1295> // \{Sunohara} "I'm sure that'll work!" <1296> // \{\m{B}} "Sigh..." <1297> // I offered no more resistance than a sigh. <1298> // It seems that I've caught onto Misae-san's habit. <1299> // That's right, she is constantly sighing. <1300> // And then she'd forgive the person she talked to. I smile involuntarily, remembering that figure. <1301> // Yeah, now I understand. <1302> // I've always been beside her, seeing that figure. <1303> // I wanted to give a sigh like she did. <1304> // And then, selfishly continue to forgive other people like she does. <1305> // \{Sunohara} "What are you doing, smiling by yourself?" <1306> // \{Sunohara} "If it's something funny, tell me too." <1307> // \{\m{B}} "You'd never, ever understand." <1308> // \{Sunohara} "Huh...?" <1309> // The next day, I again visit the dorm. <1310> // Knock, knock. <1311> // \{Misae} "Coming!" <1312> // Clatter. The door opens, and Misae-san's face peeps out. <1313> // \{Misae} "What, it's you, \m{A}. What is it, it's not like you to knock like this." <1314> // \{\m{B}} "I thought it'd be polite." <1315> // \{Misae} "Of course it is. What would you do if I was in the middle of changing my clothes?" <1316> // \{\m{B}} "Well, I was hoping for that though." <1317> // \{Misae} "Idiot, if I were changing my clothes I'd lock the door." <1318> // \{Misae} "Come on, don't just stand there, come in." <1319> // \{\m{B}} "Umm, Misae-san," <1320> // \{\m{B}} "Today, I've come as a guest." <1321> // \{Misae} "What are you talking about? I don't really get what you mean." <1322> // \{\m{B}} "As a guest, I said, a guest. This time, for advice." <1323> // \{Misae} "You know, although I'm a counselor, I'm no expert at love." <1324> // \{Misae} "You've just been making me look like one." <1325> // \{Misae} "That's why, I won't be taking guests." <1326> // \{\m{B}} "Then, helping someone you know with their troubles." <1327> // \{Misae} "You don't seem to have that much of a problem, so no." <1328> // \{\m{B}} "I'm serious. At the very least, I won't be telling you to show me your breasts." <1329> // \{Misae} "Of course." <1330> // \{\m{B}} "If I did, that's okay?" <1331> // \{Misae} "Sigh... so helpless..." <1332> // \{Misae} "Here, come on in." <1333> // \{\m{B}} "Please excuse me." <1334> // \{Misae} "So, tell me just how much of a problem you really have." <1335> // \{\m{B}} "I need advice on love." <1336> // \{Misae} "Oh, so you've finally found someone you like. Congratulations." <1337> // \{Misae} "I'm also happy, too. Now you won't be coming here anymore." <1338> // \{Misae} "It's better for you not to waste a lot of time together with a mature woman such as myself~" <1339> // \{\m{B}} "Umm, the one I'm talking about is..." <1340> // \{Misae} "Oh, that girl from before? It was Furukawa, right?" <1341> // \{Misae} "Oh, that girl from before? It was Fujibayashi, right?" <1342> // \{\m{B}} "No it isn't." <1343> // \{Misae} "A girl in the same class? Or maybe a junior student?" <1344> // \{\m{B}} "No. Someone older." <1345> // \{Misae} "Older? Then, a teacher." <1346> // \{Misae} "Oh, you shouldn't try Fukushima-sensei at all. She already has a fiancée." <1347> // \{\m{B}} "It isn't." <1348> // \{Misae} "Then, Sengoku-sensei from PE? Ah, don't bother with her. She has a guy too." <1349> // \{Misae} "That'd still be way off." <1350> // \{\m{B}} "It isn't them." <1351> // \{Misae} "Oh, is that so." <1352> // \{Misae} "Then, that's a relief." <1353> // \{Misae} "Oh yeah, there's one more thing." <1354> // \{Misae} "You shouldn't bother with the student dorm landlady." <1355> // \{Misae} "There's someone she's been continuing to wait for, after all." <1356> // \{Misae} "Someone that she loved for a short time, meeting in school..." <1357> // \{Misae} "And, those feelings continue even now, even though he disappeared..." <1358> // \{Misae} "That's why, she won't like anyone else." <1359> // \{Misae} "Her shining days are already past..." <1360> // \{Misae} "They're already gone to a place she can't reach..." <1361> // \{Misae} "After that, she's only going to grow old, alone." <1362> // \{Misae} "That's the kind of person she is..." <1363> // \{Misae} "So, don't bother." <1364> // \{Misae} "You're more suited for a much more beautiful girl." <1365> // \{\m{B}} "... umm, Misae-san." <1366> // \{Misae} "Sorry but, the consultation's over now." <1367> // \{\m{B}} "It's not over yet..." <1368> // \{Misae} "I won't hear it. My ears won't listen." <1369> // \{Misae} "So..." <1370> // \{Misae} "So don't continue... okay?" <1371> // Saying that, she lowers her face. <1372> // \{Misae} "Sorry..." <1373> // \{\m{B}} "........." <1374> // I realize. <1375> // That I have been rejected by Misae-san. <1376> // All that is left... \pis to leave quietly. <1377> // \{\m{B}} "........." <1378> // Getting up silently, I take the doorknob. <1379> // Something goes around my feet. <1380> // It's the cat. <1381> // \{\m{B}} (You want to come?) <1382> // \{\m{B}} (No way you could...) <1383> // Opening the door, I enter the hallway. <1384> // The cat looks up at me, remaining in the room. <1385> // It seems like he wants to see me off. <1386> // \{\m{B}} "Later." <1387> // Giving him my farewell, I leave that place. <1388> // Looking back, the amusing figure of me trying hard was there. <1389> // Even though I did everything I could. <1390> // I think it's a bit much. <1391> // \{\m{B}} (I'm just tired though...) <1392> // Well, time to get back to those normal days. <1393> // ... wasting time with that idiot. <1394> // \{Misae} "Hmm?" <1395> // \{\m{B}} "The one I like isn't the Misae-san from the past." <1396> // \{\m{B}} "It's the Misae-san now." <1397> // \{\m{B}} "It's the Misae-san that I met here, spending time in this room that I ended up liking." <1398> // \{\m{B}} "Even though you're going to grow old, or shined back in those days..." <1399> // \{\m{B}} "I still like that sort of person." <1400> // \{\m{B}} "That's the Misae-san I like." <1401> // \{Misae} "You..." <1402> // \{Misae} "Really... do like making women cry." <1403> // And then... <1404> // Misae-san cried, like a girl. <1405> // She stayed close by me for the longest time. <1406> // While I held the cat in my hand. <1407> // And then, that night. <1408> // I saw a long dream. <1409> // I finally meet the girl, standing beside the school gates. <1410> // She stands on her tiptoes within the crowd of students heading home, as if always looking for someone. <1411> // I get closer to where she stands. <1412> // \{Misae} "........." <1413> // Her face and eyes fall left and right, return, and go left and right yet again.* <1414> // When she looks towards me as I wave my hand in front of her, she looks away, completely ignoring me.* <1415> // ......... <1416> // Before long... <1417> // She opens her eyes wide as she finds the person she was looking for. <1418> // She rushes over. <1419> // I also follow her. <1420> // \{Misae} "Ah, Igaarashi-kun, you're also heading home?" <1421> // So she asks the male student. <1422> // \{Male Student} "Yeah. You too, Sagara?" <1423> // \{Misae} "Well, just by chance." <1424> // \{Misae} "If, you don't mind..." <1425> // \{Male Student} "What about that kid there?" <1426> // \{Male Student} "He looks like he's from a different school but... perhaps he's your boyfriend?" <1427> // \{Misae} "Eh...?" <1428> // \{Male Student} "Sorry for getting in the way." <1429> // \{Voice} "Hey, Igaarashi, hurry up, let's go!" <1430> // A voice calling from below. <1431> // \{Igaarashi} "Okay!" <1432> // The male student named Igaarashi gives a loud response, hurrying down the hill. <1433> // \{Misae} "........." <1434> // Sagara-san stands there, dumbfounded. <1435> // That face turns towards me like a robot. <1436> // \{Misae} "... hey, who are you?" <1437> // \{Me} "Ah, you've finally noticed me." <1438> // \{Shima} "I'm Shima Katsuki. You remember me, right? Before, you helped me out. Do you remember?" <1439> // \{Misae} "... I don't remember you, nor do I remember helping you." <1440> // \{Shima} "Oh, I see. Then, let's talk for a bit." <1441> // \{Misae} "... why you..." <1442> // \{Shima} "Yes?" <1443> // \{Misae} "Because of your flirting around..." <1444> // \{Misae} "He got the wrong idea----!!" <1445> // She tightens her arm around me from behind. <1446> // \{Shima} "It hurts, it hurts!" <1447> // The students heading home look our way, smiling. <1448> // \{Misae} "Sigh, whatever, I'm going home!" <1449> // \{Shima} "No, wait, cough!" <1450> // \{Misae} "What, you feel like sticking around?" <1451> // \{Shima} "Tell me your wish." <1452> // \{Misae} "Huh?" <1453> // \{Shima} "I came to grant your wish. So I won't be able to return until I grant it." <1454> // \{Misae} "Then, hurry up and disappear from my sight." <1455> // \{Shima} "........." <1456> // \{Shima} "... are you fine with that wish?" <1457> // \{Misae} "No good?" <1458> // \{Shima} "... well, if that's your wish, I'll disappear." <1459> // \{Shima} "But, something like that, to call it satisfactory is..." <1460> // \{Shima} "Because you helped me out that much..." <1461> // \{Misae} "........." <1462> // \{Misae} "... you said you were Shima-kun?" <1463> // \{Shima} "That's right. You remembered?" <1464> // \{Misae} "Not one bit." <1465> // \{Misae} "But, I thought I might try my best to remember." <1466> // \{Misae} "There's a lot of people here, come on, let's go." <1467> // \{Misae} "So... where did we meet?" <1468> // \{Shima} "While you were in middle school." <1469> // \{Shima} "During that time, I was still in grade school." <1470> // \{Shima} "I think your mother was in the hospital in the neighboring town." <1471> // \{Misae} "........." <1472> // \{Shima} "I was in the courtyard in that hospital." <1473> // \{Shima} "In a wheelchair..." <1474> // \{Shima} "And..." <1475> // \{Misae} "You held a cat." <1476> // So the girl said. <1477> // \{Shima} "That's right. You remembered?" <1478> // I feel a sudden burst of happiness within my chest. <1479> // \{Misae} "I do..." <1480> // \{Misae} "So you're Shima-kun... but I don't remember you giving me your name?" <1481> // \{Shima} "Eh? Is that so?" <1482> // \{Misae} "But..." <1483> // \{Misae} "You became better, didn't you?" <1484> // \{Shima} "Ah, yeah. Now I can move freely like this." <1485> // \{Misae} "I'm glad for you. Congratulations." <1486> // She said that with a smile. I'm happy. <1487> // \{Shima} "Yup. Thanks to you." <1488> // \{Misae} "........." <1489> // \{Misae} "Hey, Shima-kun." <1490> // Suddenly, she gives me a serious face. <1491> // \{Shima} "Hmm, what is it?" <1492> // \{Misae} "I... didn't do anything at that time." <1493> // \{Misae} "We only talked." <1494> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <1495> // \{Misae} "I'm glad to see you got better." <1496> // \{Misae} "I'm really glad for you." <1497> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <1498> // \{Misae} "But... I didn't do anything that deserved your gratitude." <1499> // \{Misae} "You know what I mean?" <1500> // \{Shima} "Well... see... during that time... you gave me the courage to hang on." <1501> // \{Shima} "That's why after that, I was able to try hard." <1502> // \{Shima} "And like this, I became better." <1503> // \{Misae} "I'm happy that you think so." <1504> // \{Misae} "I think that it's enough," <1505> // \{Misae} "that you came to see me." <1506> // \{Shima} "Well... see, that's what I wanted to do." <1507> // \{Shima} "I wanted to do that." <1508> // \{Misae} "........." <1509> // \{Misae} "... the wish?" <1510> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <1511> // \{Misae} "Sigh..." <1512> // Sighing like that and finally beginning to give it some thought, maybe she finally gets how insistent I am with my feelings. <1513> // \{Misae} "Then, go and get me some juice." <1514> // \{Shima} "Ehh?" <1515> // \{Misae} "Juice. You have at least a hundred yen, right?" <1516> // \{Shima} "Something like that's fine?" <1517> // \{Misae} "It is." <1518> // \{Shima} "You could give a more serious wish, you know..." <1519> // \{Misae} "It's serious. My throat's dry." <1520> // \{Shima} "Well, maybe that is a bit serious, but... how should I put it..." <1521> // \{Shima} "You know what I mean?" <1522> // I put my finger up so as to make sure she listens carefully. <1523> // \{Shima} "I can grant any wish you desire." <1524> // \{Shima} "I'm holding onto something like that." <1525> // \{Shima} "That's why, you should tell me a wish that you really want without holding back." <1526> // \{Misae} "That's what you're holding...?" <1527> // \{Misae} "What's that? A magic lamp or something?" <1528> // \{Shima} "It's not a lamp or anything... but, something like that." <1529> // \{Shima} "I can grant any wish." <1530> // \{Misae} "You're quite the romanticist, Shima-kun." <1531> // \{Misae} "I don't really believe in any of that." <1532> // \{Shima} "No, I'm telling the truth. So, believe me." <1533> // \{Misae} "Hmm... then, make snow fall right now." <1534> // \{Shima} "Ehh?" <1535> // \{Misae} "Now what is it?" <1536> // \{Shima} "If it became winter like that, it'd be seen." <1537> // \{Misae} "Though if it fell in the spring, wouldn't that be nice?" <1538> // \{Shima} "Well, it might be beautiful, but... for it to end so soon..." <1539> // \{Shima} "Are you okay with such a wish?" <1540> // \{Misae} "It's fine." <1541> // \{Shima} "That's such a waste. Come up with something else." <1542> // \{Misae} "I thought you said you could grant whatever, and now you complain..." <1543> // \{Shima} "Because, even though I can grant anything, a wish like that is worthless..." <1544> // \{Misae} "........." <1545> // Her facial expression changes looking the other way, maybe because I hurt her feelings by calling it worthless? <1546> // \{Shima} "Ahh, I'm sorry..." <1547> // \{Misae} "You're that kind of person?" <1548> // \{Shima} "Eh?" <1549> // \{Shima} "Is something strange...?" <1550> // \{Misae} "You're quite timid." <1551> // \{Misae} "Back then, you were more, what..." <1552> // \{Misae} "You seemed quite resigned to your fate..." <1553> // \{Misae} "You're a lot more mature than back then." <1554> // \{Misae} "Even your looks kinda changed." <1555> // \{Shima} "I see..." <1556> // \{Misae} "I'm sorry, I must have said something quite rude." <1557> // \{Shima} "Not at all." <1558> // \{Misae} "I'll try to... think about it a bit more. Mind giving me time?" <1559> // \{Shima} "Yeah, of course." <1560> // \{Shima} "But, if possible, try to be quick about it." <1561> // \{Misae} "Sure." <1562> // \{Shima} "Good morning." <1563> // \{Misae} "........." <1564> // \{Female Student A} "Misae, who's this kid? Someone you know?" <1565> // \{Female Student B} "He seems like quite the cute type. Did you give up on Igaarashi-kun, and went for this kid?" <1566> // \{Misae} "........." <1567> // Sagara-san's fist's shaking. Somehow... I sense danger. <1568> // \{Misae} "You shouldn't be..." <1569> // \{Misae} "Waiting at the school gates, you know---!" <1570> // Again, she strangles my neck from behind. <1571> // \{Shima} "It hurts!" <1572> // \{Female Student A} "Misae, you should stop that. It's pitiful." <1573> // \{Shima} "Cough!" <1574> // \{Shima} "Pant... pant..." <1575> // \{Shima} "Isn't it obvious... that I came by you to hear your wish?" <1576> // \{Misae} "........." <1577> // \{Misae} "Saki, Yuki, sorry, but go on ahead." <1578> // \{Saki} "Sure, enjoy yourself~" <1579> // \{Yuki} "Tell us all about it afterwards~" <1580> // The two friends with Sagara-san go down the hill. <1581> // \{Misae} "........." <1582> // \{Misae} "Then, my wish will be that you don't do stuff that will make people get the wrong idea. Is that fine?" <1583> // \{Shima} "Wrong idea?" <1584> // \{Misae} "You just did so, didn't you...?!" <1585> // \{Misae} "You're a guy, and I'm a girl." <1586> // \{Misae} "Can't you figure it out?" <1587> // \{Shima} "Oh... that's how it is." <1588> // \{Shima} "You have a boyfriend, don't you, Sagara-san?" <1589> // \{Misae} "... could you not ask me like that so directly?" <1590> // \{Misae} "I don't..." <1591> // \{Shima} "Oh, is that so? Then, you do mind it?" <1592> // \{Misae} "I do mind it." <1593> // \{Misae} "Even if I don't have a boyfriend, I have someone I like." <1594> // \{Misae} "Hey, why am I telling you something like this?!" <1595> // \{Shima} "Ah, that's right." <1596> // \{Shima} "You're a beautiful person, Sagara-san, so it should work out." <1597> // \{Misae} "... what should?" <1598> // \{Shima} "When you confess. I'll go with you too." <1599> // \{Misae} "... why?" <1600> // \{Shima} "Eh?" <1601> // \{Misae} "Why do I have to confess in front of your face---?!" <1602> // \{Shima} "Uwaah, that hurts!" <1603> // She strangles me again. <1604> // \{Shima} "Cough, cough!" <1605> // \{Shima} "I felt as if I was going to fall unconscious..." <1606> // \{Misae} "... don't you know you're already in the way?" <1607> // \{Shima} "Eh? I was?" <1608> // \{Misae} "Sigh..." <1609> // \{Shima} "But, I'm here because I'm supposed to grant your wish, so you should use it really well." <1610> // \{Misae} "Guess so." <1611> // \{Shima} "Then, your wish would be to get married to that guy and have a lot of kids, is that fine?" <1612> // \{Misae} "How can you..." <1613> // \{Misae} "Think of something so far off in the future------!" <1614> // \{Shima} "That hurts!" <1615> // \{Misae} "I'm a high school student..." <1616> // \{Shima} "Yeah, it's a bit too early..." <1617> // \{Shima} "Then, what else? How about having that guy like you? Is that fine?" <1618> // \{Misae} "You can't do that..." <1619> // \{Misae} "That's playing with people's hearts..." <1620> // \{Shima} "I see... sorry." <1621> // \{Misae} "Well, that power you have to grant wishes probably can't do that, I think." <1622> // \{Shima} "I can." <1623> // \{Misae} "........." <1624> // She scowls at me. <1625> // \{Shima} "Ah, sorry. I, \bmight\u be able to." <1626> // \{Misae} "........." <1627> // \{Shima} "Uh, well, it'd be nice, if I could, haha..." <1628> // \{Misae} "Sigh... if I don't hurry and pick my wish, you're going to continue to stick around..." <1629> // \{Shima} "Don't say it in such a cruel way." <1630> // \{Shima} "Welcome back." <1631> // \{Misae} "Drop ki--------------ck!" <1632> // Thwack!\shake{4} <1633> // \{Shima} "That's cruel, all of a sudden!" <1634> // \{Misae} "I told you not to wait at the gate, didn't I?!" <1635> // \{Shima} "If I don't wait at the gate, you won't see me." <1636> // \{Misae} "If I don't see you at the gate, that's fine." <1637> // \{Shima} "Eh? You'll come and find me?" <1638> // \{Misae} "........." <1639> // \{Shima} "Haha, I guess you wouldn't..." <1640> // \{Saki} "Misae, this kid really does seem attached to you." <1641> // \{Misae} "Ah, yeah... as you can see." <1642> // Sagara-san's friends are Saki-san and Yuki-san. <1643> // \{Yuki} "But, he's quite cute, so maybe it's not too bad?" <1644> // \{Misae} "That's not the problem at all!" <1645> // \{Saki} "Well, you can see that Misae right now is quite troubled~" <1646> // \{Saki} "No matter what though, she's on her way towards our school idol, Igaarashi-kun." <1647> // \{Shima} "Oh, the guy she likes is Igaarashi." <1648> // \{Misae} "Ahh! Why are you telling him?!" <1649> // \{Saki} "You gave up on him, didn't you?" <1650> // \{Saki} "Hey, what's your name?" <1651> // \{Shima} "Shima Katsuki." <1652> // \{Saki} "Shima-kun, Misae's not the type of girl suited for you." <1653> // \{Saki} "You're not really a guy like Igaarashi-kun." <1654> // \{Yuki} "But, I like this type of kid though. It's such a waste, Misae." <1655> // \{Saki} "Yuki!" <1656> // \{Yuki} "Ah, sorry." <1657> // \{Saki} "So that's how it is, Shima-kun. You don't have any hope at all. So don't get attached to her, okay?" <1658> // \{Shima} "That's not the problem at all..." <1659> // \{Voice} "Yo, you guys, what are you doing?" <1660> // Sagara-san's shoulders twitch. <1661> // \{Yuki} "Oh, Igaarashi-kun!" <1662> // A tall man stands there. I'm sure I saw him two days ago. <1663> // \{Igaarashi} "Oh, you Sagara's boyfriend? Are you introducing him to everyone?" <1664> // \{Misae} "I... it's not like that!" <1665> // \{Igaarashi} "You don't have to deny it like that." <1666> // \{Misae} "I'm telling you, it's not like that!" <1667> // \{Saki} "That's right. He's been bothering Misae after all." <1668> // \{Igaarashi} "What? Sagara's stalker?" <1669> // \{Saki} "Something like that." <1670> // \{Igaarashi} "Then, mind if I strangle him?" <1671> // Even though Sagara-san's done that to me many times... <1672> // \{Igaarashi} "But, he seems kinda weak, so Sagara can handle him herself." <1673> // \{Misae} "What's that mean?!" <1674> // \{Igaarashi} "Just kidding. If he's really giving you a problem, just let me know." <1675> // \{Misae} "Ah, okay. Thanks." <1676> // Like that, Igaarashi-san goes down the hill. <1677> // \{Yuki} "He's definitely attracted to you." <1678> // \{Saki} "You've got it going on, Misae." <1679> // \{Misae} "I wonder..." <1680> // \{Shima} "Seems like even if I don't do anything, it'll go well with Igaarashi-kun." <1681> // \{Misae} "... I don't know that for sure. Only Saki and Yuki said that." <1682> // \{Misae} "Besides, I don't want you to say all sorts of things about Igaarashi-kun." <1683> // \{Misae} "Could you be a little more quiet?" <1684> // \{Shima} "Eh?" <1685> // \{Misae} "........." <1686> // \{Shima} "Ah, sure... all right." <1687> // \{Misae} "But, Shima-kun, you're quite strange." <1688> // \{Shima} "About?" <1689> // \{Misae} "Even though I like another guy... when I bring up the topic, you certainly don't frown about it." <1690> // \{Shima} "Why is it that I have to frown?" <1691> // \{Misae} "Because you should be jealous about it, or something." <1692> // \{Shima} "Jealous?" <1693> // \{Misae} "Do you know what I mean?" <1694> // \{Shima} "Ah, sure... I think..." <1695> // \{Shima} "I'm not really interested in that sort of thing." <1696> // \{Misae} "Yeah, neither am I." <1697> // \{Misae} "But, every day you've been coming to meet me in order to grant my wish, haven't you?" <1698> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <1699> // \{Misae} "That's why it's strange." <1700> // \{Shima} "Really?" <1701> // \{Shima} "I don't really know it myself." <1702> // \{Misae} "But, I guess I really don't hate that about you." <1703> // \{Shima} "Why is that?" <1704> // \{Misae} "You really are a curious kid, aren't you..." <1705> // \{Shima} "Sorry..." <1706> // \{Misae} "It's fine." <1707> // \{Misae} "Usually, when men and women are in a relationship, there's a time when you can't help but think about love." <1708> // \{Misae} "Especially for people like us at our age." <1709> // \{Shima} "I wonder about that." <1710> // \{Misae} "It happens around me." <1711> // \{Misae} "That's why what you're saying is quite pure, you know." <1712> // \{Shima} "I see..." <1713> // \{Shima} "I just want to not be a problem though." <1714> // \{Misae} "Haha... you're already quite enough of one." <1715> // \{Shima} "Eh?!" <1716> // \{Misae} "Well, that's also proof you're pure, so it's fine." <1717> // \{Misae} "Surely there aren't a lot of people like you at your age." <1718> // \{Misae} "Be proud of that." <1719> // The next day, it was raining. <1720> // Rain that is still yet to become cold. <1721> // The rain hits on the sakura petals, scattering them across the ground. <1722> // I hold my body with both my hands, continuing to wait. <1723> // \{Voice} "Hey, do you want to catch a cold?" <1724> // \{Shima} "... eh?" <1725> // The rain stops. <1726> // No... Sagara-san brought an umbrella over to me. <1727> // Beyond that, the rain continues to fall. <1728> // \{Misae} "You should at least have an umbrella, so get one!" <1729> // \{Misae} "And, you should take days off on rainy days." <1730> // \{Misae} "Ahhh, do you really have to keep on waiting?" <1731> // \{Misae} "It's not like you'll disappear if you're not here, nothing can change that." \\ * <3 Kinny :D - Ripdog <1732> // \{Misae} "It's just that, aren't you worried about catching a cold, waiting while soaked like this?"* <1733> // Speaking of which... today, no one else has come out of the school gates. <1734> // \{Misae} "Fifth period isn't over yet." <1735> // Strangely looking around, she tells me that. <1736> // \{Misae} "Here, I'll lend you this umbrella, then you'll be able to wait." <1737> // \{Misae} "And here's a towel." <1738> // \{Misae} "Ahhh... why am I helping a guy like this?" <1739> // \{Shima} "I'm sorry..." <1740> // \{Misae} "If you're going to at least apologize, you shouldn't be helping me." <1741> // \{Shima} "Yeah, sorry..." <1742> // \{Misae} "........." <1743> // \{Misae} "Here, dry yourself up properly." <1744> // \{Misae} "If you're going to be waiting for me, make the girls around feel envious of you as a guy." <1745> // \{Shima} "I can't do that..." <1746> // \{Misae} "Really? I thought that was part of your qualities, though." <1747> // \{Shima} "Eh? Is that so..." <1748> // \{Misae} "Even though that's not really my hobby." <1749> // \{Shima} "What...?" <1750> // \{Misae} "It'd be a shame to give up."* <1751> // \{Shima} "Eh?" <1752> // \{Misae} "Nothing. It's just that I don't really have an interest in my wish." <1753> // \{Shima} "Ah, is that so. Have you decided your wish?" <1754> // \{Misae} "Sigh... in the end, that's how it is..." <1755> // \{Misae} "Then, stop the rain." <1756> // \{Shima} "If you wait for that, it'll end sometime soon." <1757> // \{Misae} "Then, when it ends, you'll have granted my wish, and then you can return home, not having to come here again." <1758> // \{Misae} "Is that fine?" <1759> // \{Shima} "It isn't..." <1760> // \{Shima} "You see, Sagara-san... I'm serious about this." <1761> // \{Misae} "Sigh... so it seems." <1762> // \{Misae} "Exactly what was it that I said that had such a major impact on you?" <1763> // \{Shima} "Eh...?" <1764> // \{Misae} "I'm talking about the hospital." <1765> // \{Misae} "Tell me, because I've forgotten." <1766> // \{Shima} "I... also don't remember about that too well." <1767> // \{Misae} "Huh? That's not good..." <1768> // \{Misae} "Didn't you hear something from me that made you work hard during your sickness?" <1769> // \{Shima} "Yeah, that's true." <1770> // \{Misae} "To forget such important advice such as that..." <1771> // She said that, as if shocked. <1772> // \{Shima} "Umm..." <1773> // \{Misae} "What is it?" <1774> // \{Shima} "I'm sure it wasn't about the contents, but about the meaning of talking with you, Sagara-san." <1775> // \{Misae} "Why?" <1776> // \{Shima} "Because you're facing forward and all, Sagara-san." <1777> // \{Misae} "I guess so... you seem to point it out well." <1778> // \{Misae} "Ahh, you shouldn't be talking to random people you don't know." <1779> // \{Shima} "Sorry..." <1780> // \{Misae} "I'm telling you, if you're just going to apologize, then don't bother talking." <1781> // \{Shima} "Then, I won't apologize." <1782> // \{Misae} "Sigh..." <1783> // \{Misae} "Lessons are going to start, so I'm going to go. You can hold out for a period, right?" <1784> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <1785> // On that same day, I waited for Sagara-san to come back to the school gates. <1786> // This became the usual way the days played out. <1787> // And then every day like that, she'd strangle me and kick me. <1788> // Even today, she'll probably do that. <1789> // But, somehow, it felt kind of nice. <1790> // \{Voice} "Oh." <1791> // There was a guy who has seen me, and decided to come over. <1792> // \{Igaarashi} "You're the stalker boy from before?" <1793> // It's Igaarashi-san. <1794> // \{Igaarashi} "You're still waiting for Sagara-san?" <1795> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <1796> // \{Igaarashi} "You don't seem like a kind of pervert or something." <1797> // \{Shima} "I'm not at all." <1798> // \{Igaarashi} "Oh, is that so?" <1799> // \{Igaarashi} "But, you're waiting because you like Sagara-san, right?" <1800> // \{Shima} "No, it's nothing like that at all." <1801> // \{Igaarashi} "Eh?" <1802> // \{Shima} "I thought of Sagara-san as a person who really helped me out, so I thought I might return the favor." <1803> // \{Igaarashi} "Oh? And so, you've gotten attached to her?" <1804> // \{Igaarashi} "And yet you don't actually like her...?" <1805> // \{Igaarashi} "Well, I have something to ask of you, so do you mind coming for a bit?" <1806> // \{Shima} "Eh?" <1807> // Over there, a female student in a school uniform from another school waited. <1808> // \{Igaarashi} "I'm a bit shy to ask the girls that she hangs out with..." <1809> // \{Igaarashi} "I thought that asking a guy might be good." <1810> // I don't understand what he means in the least bit. <1811> // \{Igaarashi} "I know that Sagara-san's been attracted to me." <1812> // \{Igaarashi} "But, I have a girlfriend right now." <1813> // \{Igaarashi} "Recently, Sagara-san's even becoming active... I think it'll be a problem soon." <1814> // \{Igaarashi} "So I thought I should indirectly tell her while I still can." <1815> // \{Igaarashi} "I won't know how she'll respond if I told her directly..." <1816> // \{Female Student} "Igaarashi-kun, don't be so cold, tell her up front."* <1817> // So the girl said. <1818> // \{Igaarashi} "That's my nature, so forgive me." <1819> // \{Igaarashi} "So... please." <1820> // Igaarashi-san pats my shoulders. <1821> // \{Shima} "You want me to tell her that you have a girlfriend?" <1822> // \{Igaarashi} "Yup." <1823> // \{Igaarashi} "But, don't let it go wild. I don't want her to get hurt or anything." <1824> // \{Shima} "I'm not that good at this." <1825> // \{Shima} "I'm sure I'm going to end up telling her the truth, word for word." <1826> // \{Igaarashi} "Well... that's a problem." <1827> // \{Female Student} "That can't be helped, can it?" <1828> // She said. <1829> // \{Igaarashi} "But, surely... this way is better?" <1830> // Igaarashi-kun checks with her. <1831> // \{Female Student} "Yeah." <1832> // \{Female Student} "From now on, we'll be going to school together, right?" <1833> // \{Igaarashi} "Indeed." <1834> // \{Igaarashi} "So, you... umm, what was your name again?" <1835> // \{Shima} "It's Shima." <1836> // \{Igaarashi} "Shima-kun, I'm really sorry, but I'm counting on you." <1837> // I return to the school gates to wait for Sagara-san. <1838> // \{Shima} "Sigh..." <1839> // I let out a breath. <1840> // Though I'm supposed to be granting her wish... <1841> // It's almost as if I am a jinx, bringing her unhappiness. <1842> // If it's going to be like this, I would be better off not hearing from the person known as Igaarashi. <1843> // But, because he has asked that of me, I have to tell her. <1844> // The person known as Igaarashi had enough faith in me to ask for my help. Then, there's no question about keeping that faith and telling her. <1845> // Yeah, but... <1846> // \{Shima} "Sigh..." <1847> // \{Misae} "Hey, what's with that glum look of yours?" <1848> // Sagara-san's voice. <1849> // My heart should spring along as usual, but right now I seem to be quite burdened. <1850> // \{Misae} "No matter how many times I tell you, you'll always come every day." <1851> // \{Misae} "Ahh, how helpless..." <1852> // \{Misae} "I have to decide my wish, don't I?" <1853> // \{Shima} "I guess so..." <1854> // \{Misae} "You really don't seem all that happy." <1855> // \{Misae} "It may be a bit hard at times, but you are trying to help me, right? Cheer up." <1856> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <1857> // \{Misae} "But... I guess that's an unreasonable order, sometimes." <1858> // \{Misae} "Everyone has a time when they feel down, after all." <1859> // \{Misae} "Well, why don't you tell your big sis here, then?" <1860> // \{Misae} "I'll help you out." <1861> // Saying that, she beats her chest. <1862> // \{Shima} "........." <1863> // \{Misae} "Come on, say it." <1864> // \{Misae} "Is it about love?" <1865> // \{Shima} "Maybe..." <1866> // \{Misae} "Eh, I was right on?!" <1867> // \{Misae} "Though the situation made it seem okay to say so..." <1868> // \{Misae} "But for you to have claimed it to be not so interesting, whatever happened must've been big, no?" <1869> // \{Misae} "But, why are you feeling down about that?" <1870> // \{Shima} "That's because..." <1871> // \{Shima} "I have to tell her... something sad." <1872> // \{Misae} "Why's that?" <1873> // \{Shima} "... because I was asked to." <1874> // \{Misae} "Do you have an obligation to do so?" <1875> // \{Shima} "I don't..." <1876> // \{Shima} "But, that person told me it was better to say so now..." <1877> // \{Misae} "Hmm... let me take a guess." <1878> // \{Misae} "The person you like has a person that she likes." <1879> // \{Misae} "And, the person she likes doesn't like her back, or rather, already has a girlfriend." <1880> // \{Misae} "And you were asked to convey this." <1881> // \{Shima} "You... know pretty well..." <1882> // \{Misae} "I can tell with that sort of thing." <1883> // \{Misae} "But you're... quite a pure person, aren't you?" <1884> // \{Shima} "I wonder about that..." <1885> // \{Misae} "On the other hand, normal guys would be happy about that." <1886> // \{Shima} "Why?" <1887> // \{Misae} "Because, the one they like got rejected, right?" <1888> // \{Shima} "That's too sad." <1889> // \{Misae} "You haven't been rejected. You've always been looking at her, right?" <1890> // \{Shima} "Eh...?" <1891> // \{Misae} "In other words, it's a chance for you to grab this opportunity, isn't it?" <1892> // \{Misae} "The person the girl likes is gone now, right?" <1893> // \{Misae} "Feeling unrequited love." <1894> // \{Misae} "And at that time, when you comfort her, she might choose you." <1895> // \{Misae} "Well, thinking of it that way, it's not too low, is it?" <1896> // \{Shima} "There's no way I could think of doing something like that!!" <1897> // \{Misae} "Eh...?" <1898> // Her words were so lost... <1899> // That's how much I have raised my voice. <1900> // \{Shima} "There's no way I could..." <1901> // \{Shima} "Is that what you think of my position, Sagara-san? Really?" <1902> // \{Shima} "Even though she liked that person... liked that person..." <1903> // \{Misae} "I'm sorry..." <1904> // Sagara-san apologized. <1905> // \{Misae} "The people around me were... Yuki and Saki, see..." <1906> // \{Misae} "Those were the type of guys who think in that way, facing forward..." <1907> // \{Misae} "So I put you together with them..." <1908> // \{Misae} "But, you're different." <1909> // \{Misae} "Sorry." <1910> // \{Shima} "No, I should also apologize, for getting angry..." <1911> // \{Misae} "It's fine." <1912> // \{Misae} "You should hold that pureness of yourself dear." <1913> // \{Misae} "And always, always hold it." <1914> // \{Misae} "See, I..." <1915> // \{Misae} "Don't hate that." <1916> // \{Misae} "I like that, actually." <1917> // \{Misae} "........." <1918> // \{Shima} "........." <1919> // We end up saying nothing more. <1920> // And there... <1921> // \{Voice} "He----y, you tw---o!" <1922> // A yell from down the hill. <1923> // We turn around. <1924> // Over there was Igaarashi-san with... the girl from the other school. <1925> // \{Igaarashi} "Wanna go on a double date---?" <1926> // The girl's elbow is already tied with his. <1927> // \{Igaarashi} "Just kidding---! Later----!" <1928> // They run down the hill, side by side. <1929> // \{Shima} "........." <1930> // Igaarashi-san has already planned for this sort of thing from the start. <1931> // Waiting for the moment I was telling Sagara-san, and then the two would appear and make off. <1932> // If he did that, then from tomorrow onward, he feels like he could talk with Sagara-san normally with a smile. <1933> // But... <1934> // I still haven't said anything. <1935> // \{Misae} "Ah..." <1936> // \{Misae} "I'm an idiot..." <1937> // Sagara-san stands there dumbfounded, saying that. <1938> // \{Misae} "I... was talking about myself just then... wasn't I...?" <1939> // \{Misae} "........." <1940> // And then... <1941> // She runs down the hill. <1942> // Far down so that I wouldn't catch up with her. <1943> // The next day, I didn't meet Sagara-san. <1944> // In place of her, I got to talk with Yuki-san and Saki-san. <1945> // \{Saki} "It's not usual for her to be taking a break." <1946> // Saki-san said. <1947> // \{Saki} "Did something happen?" <1948> // \{Shima} "Ah... yeah." <1949> // \{Saki} "You're such an honest person, good boy." <1950> // She pats my head. <1951> // \{Saki} "Well, tell us." <1952> // I tell them about what happened yesterday. <1953> // I don't know if that was a good or bad thing. <1954> // It might have been embarrassing for Sagara-san to do this on her own. <1955> // But, for me, these are the only two people I can rely on. <1956> // I just want to meet Sagara-san and talk with her. That's why I told the truth. <1957> // \{Saki} "I see... so Misae got rejected, didn't she?" <1958> // \{Yuki} "That's the worst thing to happen, yeah. Good place to volunteer to give advice." <1959> // I begin to feel uneasy. <1960> // \{Shima} "Did I..." <1961> // \{Saki} "Hmm?" <1962> // \{Shima} "Make Sagara-san hate me...?" <1963> // \{Yuki} "Uwaah, Shima-kun, you're so cute. Could you be my boyfriend?" <1964> // \{Saki} "Yuki!" <1965> // \{Yuki} "Ahaha, sorry, sorry." <--- Definitely a certified shotacon. - Kinny Riddle <1966> // \{Saki} "It's fine." <1967> // \{Saki} "The problem's not as exaggerated as it looks." <1968> // \{Saki} "Misae must like you, without a doubt." <1969> // \{Yuki} "That's right. Since you started waiting at the school gates, she's somehow become lively." <1970> // \{Saki} "Yup, by anyone's standards, that's so true." <1971> // \{Yuki} "I thought from the start that Igaarashi-kun was the type of person that would match Misae, though." <1972> // \{Saki} "In the end, that girl likes doing stuff for others. She can take care of really bothered people." \\ * <1973> // \{Saki} "That's why, day after day, she'd smile, saying she'd take it out on you if you were still there, as she headed towards the school gates." \\ * <1974> // \{Shima} "........." <1975> // Is that true? I don't believe it. <1976> // But, I'm glad I got to talk to these two. I feel a little better. <1977> // \{Saki} "But, from now on it'll be important, Shima-kun." <1978> // \{Yuki} "That's right?" <1979> // \{Shima} "Eh? About what?" <1980> // \{Saki} "To be with the girl who has a broken heart." <1981> // \{Shima} "I want to do that... but, what should I do...?" <1982> // \{Saki} "Don't worry. We'll come up with a plan for you!" <1983> // \{Yuki} "We'll call her out." <1984> // \{Saki} "Yup. Be sure to comfort her plenty." <1985> // \{Yuki} "Look handsome, since you're a guy." <1986> // \{Saki} "What should be his words from the start?" <1987> // \{Yuki} "'Misae-san, love's like fireworks from a day long ago...' or something?" <1988> // \{Saki} "Uwaah, that's so dreamy!" <1989> // \{Shima} "I don't really know what it means though." <1990> // \{Yuki} "Means, being all smashed up is beautiful." <1991> // \{Saki} "Aren't you getting a bit off-track there?" <1992> // \{Yuki} "We'll need props or something." <1993> // \{Saki} "What kind?" <1994> // \{Yuki} "How about a handkerchief? Say 'Dry your tears with this', while showing it." <1995> // \{Saki} "But, Misae didn't cry over that, did she?" <1996> // \{Yuki} "Since she hasn't cried, it should be okay to follow up with 'So, please use this when there's no paper around'." <1997> // \{Saki} "Following up with that won't mean anything, will it?" <1998> // \{Yuki} "It will. Totally!" <1999> // \{Yuki} "All right, let's begin the Romantic Evening Opportunity mission!" <2000> // They are going this far for me.* <2001> // I'm really glad I talked to those two. <2002> // The designated park. <2003> // Sagara-san is seated down at the swings there. <2004> // In her school uniform. <2005> // She probably didn't feel like going to school since the morning. <2006> // Her face is covered up... I can't see her expression. <2007> // My heart's thumping hard. <2008> // But I have to talk to her. <2009> // I have to go and comfort Sagara-san. <2010> // That's my responsibility. <2011> // ... as a man who likes Sagara-san. <2012> // I slowly get close, standing beside her. <2013> // ......... <2014> // ... I silently walk up to her. <2015> // Looks like I have to talk first... <2016> // \{Shima} "Umm...!" <2017> // \{Misae} "Uwaah! Is someone there?!" <2018> // ... she just didn't notice me, that's all. <2019> // \{Misae} "You scared me... Shima-kun..." <2020> // \{Misae} "Don't stand there so silently like a ghost..." <2021> // \{Shima} "Umm... Sagara-san... no, Misae-san..." <2022> // \{Misae} "What is it...?" <2023> // \{Shima} "Love's like fireworks from a day long ago..." <2024> // \{Misae} "Huh? What's that mean?" <2025> // \{Shima} "Means, being all smashed up is beautiful." <2026> // \{Misae} "Are you trying to start a fight?!" <2027> // She jolts me back and forth, grabbing me by the neck. <2028> // \{Shima} "S-sorry!" <2029> // \{Misae} "Sigh..." <2030> // She again sighs while sitting down. <2031> // \{Shima} "Umm..." <2032> // \{Misae} "What is it..." <2033> // I bring out the handkerchief that Saki-san gave to me. <2034> // \{Shima} "Use this." <2035> // I present it to her. <2036> // \{Misae} "I'm not really crying or anything..." <2037> // \{Shima} "Then, when you don't have a tissue." <2038> // \{Misae} "Are you trying to be nice or mean to me, which is it?!" <2039> // \{Shima} "O-of course... to be nice..." <2040> // \{Shima} "Eh? That's strange..." <2041> // \{Misae} "Sigh..." <2042> // \{Misae} "You wouldn't be saying something like this yourself..." <2043> // \{Misae} "Advice from Yuki and Saki, is it?" <2044> // \{Shima} "Ah... what should I do... I've been found out..." <2045> // \{Misae} "It's fine to be found out about that..." <2046> // \{Misae} "You'd look bad in my eyes if you thought of saying that yourself." <2047> // \{Shima} "Sorry... it was Yuki-san and Saki-san's idea..." <2048> // \{Misae} "Indeed... it's too stupid..." <2049> // \{Misae} "Say your own words, okay?" <2050> // \{Shima} "Ah, okay, all right." <2051> // \{Shima} "Umm..." <2052> // \{Shima} "........." <2053> // I want to comfort her, but I can't come up with any words to do so. <2054> // All that I ended up with is... <2055> // \{Shima} "Sorry..." <2056> // Some sort of excuse. <2057> // \{Misae} "Why are you apologizing?" <2058> // \{Shima} "I wonder why...?" <2059> // \{Shima} "I was sure that I might have been at fault somewhere..." <2060> // \{Misae} "Somewhere where you might be at fault..." <2061> // \{Misae} "Thinking back, I feel as if there might have been a lot of things." <2062> // \{Shima} "I'm... really sorry!" <2063> // \{Misae} "But, what with me being down like this is a different matter." <2064> // \{Misae} "It's not related." <2065> // \{Shima} "Is that so..." <2066> // \{Misae} "But, you also have good things about you, don't you?" <2067> // \{Misae} "You came right now to comfort me, didn't you?" <2068> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <2069> // \{Misae} "Or you thought of coming to take this chance like I said?" <2070> // \{Shima} "No, of course not!" <2071> // \{Misae} "I see, so that's how it is... so you like me, don't you?" <2072> // \{Shima} "Uh, t-that's not..." <2073> // \{Misae} "Yeah, that's not how it is." <2074> // \{Shima} "Uu... well... that's..." <2075> // \{Shima} "How it is..." <2076> // \{Misae} "It's fine to be honest." <2077> // \{Shima} "........." <2078> // \{Misae} "Don't stand there, sit beside me." <2079> // \{Shima} "Ah, okay... excuse me..." <2080> // \{Misae} "What, loosen up..." <2081> // I sit down on the swing beside her. <2082> // \{Misae} "You look pretty good, orderly, and if we fix that weak personality of yours, I think you'll be popular." <2083> // \{Shima} "I wonder... I don't know myself..." <2084> // \{Misae} "Yuki likes younger ones, so she seems to be worried about you." <2085> // \{Shima} "Umm..." <2086> // \{Misae} "What is it?" <2087> // \{Shima} "Certainly, I don't hate Yuki-san or Saki-san." <2088> // \{Shima} "You could say I like both of them." <2089> // \{Shima} "But, I guess you're the one I like the most, Misae-san..." <2090> // \{Shima} "I... like you, Misae-san." <2091> // \{Shima} "Not Yuki-san, or Saki-san." <2092> // \{Misae} "I, see..." <2093> // \{Misae} "Thanks." <2094> // \{Misae} "I never thought I'd hear those words from you." <2095> // Misae-san smiles towards me. <2096> // \{Misae} "That was pretty cool." <2097> // \{Shima} "R-really...?" <2098> // \{Misae} "... exactly what is it that you like about me?" <2099> // \{Shima} "I wonder..." <2100> // \{Misae} "Is it because I gave you courage with whatever I said before?" <2101> // \{Shima} "I... dunno about that..." <2102> // \{Shima} "I'm sure it's not..." <2103> // \{Shima} "I, like the Misae-san now as I am now, I think." <2104> // \{Shima} "In that you scold..." <2105> // \{Shima} "In that you worry..." <2106> // \{Shima} "And in that when you strangle my neck, I liked your smell..." <2107> // \{Misae} "I, see." <2108> // \{Shima} "You're a beautiful person because of that, Misae-san." <2109> // \{Misae} "You wanted to say that so upfront, didn't you?" <2110> // \{Shima} "Ah, I didn't really notice..." <2111> // \{Misae} "Well, that's you. You couldn't really act in such a calculating manner." <2112> // \{Shima} "I'm weak at that sort of thing..." <2113> // \{Misae} "Ahh, though I've said it myself, it sounds completely fake coming from you..." <2114> // \{Shima} "Eh?" <2115> // \{Misae} "For you to be with someone when they've been rejected like this..." <2116> // \{Misae} "Even if I don't like it, I've come to like it." <2117> // \{Shima} "If you don't like it, that's fine... you don't have to force yourself." <2118> // \{Misae} "Ahaha, I'm lying." <2119> // \{Misae} "I've ended up liking that pureness of yours." <2120> // \{Shima} "Eh, really...?" <2121> // \{Misae} "Yup, really." <2122> // \{Misae} "I've wanted to say it for a while, but I like your personality." <2123> // \{Shima} "Haha... I wonder what's exactly good about me..." <2124> // \{Misae} "Have some confidence." <2125> // \{Shima} "Then, Misae-san... there's something I'd like to ask..." <2126> // \{Misae} "What exactly? More stuff Yuki-san and Saki-san told you to do?" <2127> // \{Shima} "That might be true, but... I'd like to." <2128> // \{Shima} "Is that fine?" <2129> // \{Misae} "You shouldn't ask a woman that." <2130> // \{Shima} "It seems forcing, but is that fine...?" <2131> // \{Misae} "Yeah... I think it's fine..." <2132> // \{Shima} "Then... excuse me..." <2133> // \{Misae} "If you think it's rude, then don't do it." <2134> // \{Shima} "Ah, sorry..." <2135> // \{Shima} "Then, if you will..." <2136> // \{Misae} "That's also strange!" <2137> // \{Shima} "Ah, sorry..." <2138> // \{Shima} "Then..." <2139> // I take Misae-san from the swing... <2140> // And kiss her. <2141> // \{Yuki} "So, where did you guys go off to?" <2142> // \{Shima} "Eh...?" <2143> // \{Saki} "Come on, come on, spit it out. It's thanks to us that it went well, right?" <2144> // On that day after meeting with Misae-san, I was caught by Saki-san and Yuki-san. <2145> // \{Yuki} "Seems she's an A." <2146> // \{Shima} "Y-you saw?!" <2147> // \{Yuki} "Haha, even the innocent Shima-kun would know what A means, right?" <2148> // \{Saki} "You heard from Misae, didn't you?" <2149> // \{Yuki} "Misae's stubborn like that, though." <2150> // \{Saki} "This is... quite the unexpected development, isn't it?"* <2151> // \{Yuki} "What about B?" <2152> // \{Shima} "B-B, you say though but... I don't really know what you mean..." <2153> // \{Saki} "Ah, your face is all red... seems like you've known recently..." <2154> // \{Yuki} "So perverted~" <2155> // \{Shima} "I told you I don't know!" <2156> // \{Shima} "Ah, geez, if it was going to become like this, I would have been better off not asking your advice, Yuki-san, Saki-san..." <2157> // \{Saki} "Hahaha, it's already past the point of no return." <2158> // \{Misae} "What the hell, you guys?!" <2159> // \{Shima} "Ah, Misae-san!" <2160> // \{Misae} "Cleaning duty was such a good time, to hear from Shima-kun!" <2161> // \{Saki} "Ain't it fine, we don't have boyfriends, so we're sad~" <2162> // \{Yuki} "We want to hear happy things~" <2163> // \{Misae} "Get away from me! Spit, spit!" <2164> // \{Shima} "Ah... Misae-san... that's dirty..." <2165> // \{Misae} "You shouldn't get too attached to talking with them, okay?" <2166> // \{Shima} "Yeah, okay..." <2167> // \{Misae} "Come on, stand tall." <2168> // \{Shima} "Okay!" <2169> // \{Misae} "Good boy." <2170> // During that time, I, who had been waiting for Misae-san at the school gates, became rather famous among the students. <2171> // You could say our relationship had become well known in the school. I was known as Misae-san's boyfriend. <2172> // That was very embarrassing, yet at the same time, something to be proud of. <2173> // Because Misae-san was well liked. <2174> // The juniors loved her, whether they were guys or girls. <2175> // Then, that popularity of hers became an influence, and on the day of the elections, she became the student council president. <2176> // She would be the first female student in this school to be the president. <2177> // \{Misae} "It's so busy..." <2178> // Just that I think Misae didn't really bother with that sort of thing.* <2179> // \{Saki} "Come on, come on, you were recommended, so don't complain." <2180> // \{Misae} "Isn't it your fault?!" <2181> // \{Saki} "If you spend a long period of time away, the love will burn that much better. Shouldn't you be grateful?" <2182> // \{Misae} "Don't say such useless junk." <2183> // \{Shima} "Our council president's pretty splendid, isn't she?" <2184> // \{Misae} "Well, I wonder." <2185> // \{Shima} "I'd like to see Misae-san while she's at work." <2186> // \{Misae} "No way you could see that. You're not even from our own school." <2187> // \{Misae} "If you want to, then enter our school next year." <2188> // \{Saki} "Well, the more he doesn't see, the more he'll feel like seeing, right Yuki-san?" <2189> // \{Yuki} "The word 'Impossible' does not exist in our dictionaries!" <2190> // \{Misae} "Defective merchandise." <2191> // \{Yuki} "You can't just take the meaning at face value!" <2192> // On another day... <2193> // \{Shima} "Umm..." <2194> // \{Saki} "Oh wow, he really does have a girl's face." <2195> // \{Yuki} "Though he's a little bit angry..." <2196> // They made me wear female clothing. <2197> // ... the school uniform that Misae-san wears while commuting to school. <2198> // \{Saki} "It couldn't be helped that these clothes weren't in good condition, so bear with it." <2199> // \{Saki} "Besides, we're keeping this secret from Misae, so you can see her while you're hiding." <2200> // \{Shima} "O-okay..." <2201> // \{Shima} "Oh man, I'm really going to do this, aren't I?" <2202> // \{Saki} "It'll be fine, you won't get caught." <2203> // \{Yuki} "We'll support you." <2204> // I pass through the gates of Misae-san's school for the first time. <2205> // I pass through the place I usually wait at. <2206> // It's profound. <2207> // \{Shima} "Ah, this feels good..." <2208> // \{Saki} "Uwaah, you're in \bthat\u mood?!" <2209> // \{Shima} "That's not it! I'm just so moved by going to Misae-san's school for the first time!" <2210> // \{Saki} "All right already, just try to talk with a higher-pitched tone in your voice." <2211> // \{Shima} "O-okay..." <2212> // \{Saki} "Well, usually your voice is that of a girl's, so we don't have to worry, I think." <2213> // We pass by a group of male students. <2214> // Everyone's eyes look at me. <2215> // \{Yuki} "Uwaah... this kid'll be easy to spot..." <2216> // \{Saki} "Now, now, our lives have always been supporting characters..." <2217> // \{Saki} "Come on, give it your best, main character!" <2218> // Saying that, she pushes my back. <2219> // \{Shima} "O-okay!" <2220> // I wonder if this was another prank by the Saki & Yuki team... <2221> // As I gaze out the window at the streets below, those girls have disappeared. <2222> // \{Shima} "Oh, geez, where did they go...?" <2223> // They've definitely confused me with sports equipment in one way or another. <2224> // I have to make this complaint as a guy. <2225> // \{Voice} "\shake{2}\size{30}\bOHHHHH--------!\u\size{}" <2226> // I suddenly heard a roar coming from within the classroom. <2227> // \{Voice} "I'm softly sending this love to you, \shake{2}drag and rock and roll----------! \shake{2}Ah!" <2228> // Seems like he's singing. <2229> // It's scary, so I pass by in front as soon as I could.* <2230> // \{Male Student} "Oh, which class are you from, girl?" <2231> // And then, in front of me the male student called with a voice.* <2232> // \{Shima} "Ah, no... no class really..." <2233> // Ahh, what a stupid answer... <2234> // \{Male Student} "You don't have to hide like that. Come and hang out with us!" <2235> // \{Shima} "No, please leave me alone!" <2236> // \{Voice} "\shake{2}Rock and roll--------!\shake{2} Uh!" <2237> // I run off. <2238> // The guy doesn't chase me. <2239> // Ahh, but I used to do something similar, didn't I...? <2240> // Constantly waiting, and then suddenly calling out... <2241> // I began to remember those things long ago.* <2242> // While thinking about that, thump!\shake{3} I bump into the person in front of me. <2243> // I fell. I check to make sure my wig hasn't fallen off. <2244> // It hasn't... but that was dangerous. <2245> // \{Shima} "Umm... I'm sorry..." <2246> // The person also fell. <2247> // \{Person} "It's okay, I'm fine." <2248> // We both get up at the same time, dusting ourselves off. <2249> // \{Person} "Are you all right, though?" <2250> // It's a young female teacher. <2251> // \{Shima} "Yes, I'm quite fine." <2252> // \{Female Teacher} "That was quite a rush. Is something the matter?" <2253> // \{Shima} "Ah, some guys, umm..." <2254> // \{Female Teacher} "Some guys, did what?" <2255> // \{Shima} "It's nothing..." <2256> // \{Shima} "Umm... where might Sagara-san be?" <2257> // I asked without thinking. <2258> // \{Female Teacher} "Eh? Sagara-san, the council president?" <2259> // \{Shima} "Yes, that's right!" <2260> // \{Female Teacher} "Isn't she in the council room?" <2261> // \{Shima} "Where is that?" <2262> // \{Female Teacher} "You don't know where that is?" <2263> // \{Shima} "Ah, haha... something like that's a bit distant..." <2264> // \{Female Teacher} "Shouldn't it be a better idea for you to find out?" <2265> // \{Shima} "Sigh..." <2266> // \{Female Teacher} "Come, let's go." <2267> // \{Shima} "Eh?" <2268> // \{Female Teacher} "I'll lead you there." <2269> // \{Female Teacher} "Ah, looks like we're just in time for a meeting to finish up." <2270> // \{Female Teacher} "Here, she's coming out." <2271> // \{Shima} "Eh?!" <2272> // Oh man... if we go like this, we're going to meet... <2273> // \{Female Teacher} "What's wrong? You have business with Sagara-san, don't you?" <2274> // I stop a little behind, as the teacher turns around, giving me a strange face. <2275> // \{Shima} "Well... not really business but..." <2276> // \{Female Teacher} "Sagara-sa----n!" <2277> // The teacher waves her hand, calling Misae-san. <2278> // Ahh, I won't be able to run away now... <2279> // \{Misae} "Yes, what is it?" <2280> // I hide behind the teacher. <2281> // \{Female Teacher} "This girl's been looking for you, Sagara-san." <2282> // \{Female Teacher} "Uh, why are you hiding behind me?" <2283> // \{Shima} "Well..." <2284> // \{Misae} "Hmm~?" <2285> // Misae-san comes around, and stands beside me. <2286> // \{Misae} "Who are you?" <2287> // \{Shima} "N... nice to meet you." <2288> // \{Misae} "Nice to meet you." <2289> // ... she doesn't recognize me. <2290> // \{Misae} "You're such a cute girl, to be in the same year as me." <2291> // \{Shima} "Thank you very much..." <2292> // \{Female Teacher} "This is the first time you've met? Then, I wonder what exactly she wants to talk to the council about?" <2293> // \{Misae} "Really?" <2294> // \{Shima} "Ah, yes... that's right..." <2295> // \{Misae} "What exactly?" <2296> // \{Female Teacher} "This person is the council president, so if you have something to say, feel free." <2297> // \{Female Teacher} "She'll discuss it with the council." <2298> // \{Misae} "Yup. So what is it?" <2299> // And there is the Misae-san I don't know. <2300> // Listening to this one student, in her position as the council president. <2301> // Somehow, I really... love it. <2302> // That's why, I say, with blood rushing to my head, <2303> // \{Shima} "Always... \wait{500}forever... love me." <2304> // \{Female Teacher} "........." <2305> // The teacher pulls back. <2306> // \{Female Teacher} "Eh? Eh?" <2307> // She points a finger at both of us. <2308> // \{Female Teacher} "What kind of relationship do you two have??" <2309> // \{Shima} "Ah, haha..." <2310> // My mouth slips. <2311> // \{Shima} "I'm sorry--!" <2312> // Saying that, I run away. <2313> // Beyond that, the Saki & Yuki pair are peeping in from the side as we meet up, heading outside the school building. <2314> // \{Shima} "Pant... pant..." <2315> // \{Yuki} "That was totally funny!" <2316> // \{Shima} "This isn't a joke...!" <2317> // \{Saki} "So you really did have \bthat\u feeling?" <2318> // \{Shima} "I don't!" <2319> // \{Shima} "Oh, man, this is so perverted!" <2320> // \{Shima} "Ahh... Misae-san..." <2321> // \{Shima} "For her to not hate someone like me..." <2322> // \{Saki} "She'll love you either way." <2323> // \{Shima} "One way is fine!" <2324> // \{Shima} "Oh, whatever!" <2325> // \{Shima} "Where's my clothes?" <2326> // \{Yuki} "Here, here, take them." <2327> // I take my own clothes, entering the storage room and changing into them. <2328> // There, something fell onto the floor from my coat pocket, making a clanging sound. <2329> // A charm. <2330> // \{Shima} "Ah..." <2331> // How much of an idiot am I? <2332> // I've forgotten this for so long. <2333> // \{Misae} "My wish? Quite a nostalgic phrase." <2334> // \{Shima} "I'm sorry, I had forgotten it." <2335> // \{Shima} "Did you forget as well?" <2336> // \{Misae} "Yeah." <2337> // \{Shima} "I see... well, hurry up and decide." <2338> // \{Misae} "Come on, I don't really have to, do I?" <2339> // \{Shima} "But, this is really important to me." <2340> // \{Misae} "Me being happy right now is fine, isn't it? Isn't something like that important?" <2341> // \{Shima} "Of course. Of course, that's important." <2342> // \{Shima} "But, this is important as well." <2343> // \{Misae} "Why?" <2344> // \{Shima} "Well... how should I put it..." <2345> // \{Shima} "It's my obligation. An important one." <2346> // \{Misae} "I dunno really but..." <2347> // \{Misae} "Is there someone you made this promise with?" <2348> // Someone... <2349> // That's right... there was someone else. <2350> // I must have come here because of talking to that person. <2351> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <2352> // I nod. <2353> // \{Misae} "But, isn't that strange? Because you feel you have an obligation, it's your problem, isn't it?" <2354> // \{Shima} "Yeah, it is... sadly." <2355> // \{Misae} "But, that's odd." <2356> // \{Shima} "Yeah... I'm also confused... sorry..." <2357> // \{Misae} "Who is it? Did your parents tell you to? Something like a favor?" <2358> // \{Shima} "I don't think so..." <2359> // \{Misae} "Then, who...?" <2360> // \{Shima} "I wonder..." <2361> // Who was it that was there...? <2362> // I can't remember... <2363> // \{Shima} "But, certainly someone told me to come here." <2364> // \{Misae} "What'd they say?" <2365> // \{Shima} "In this charm is a light that can grant someone's wish, so go and grant it, or something." <2366> // \{Misae} "Mine?" <2367> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <2368> // \{Misae} "Then, show me this light." <2369> // \{Shima} "Eh? Ah, okay..." <2370> // \{Shima} "It's inside this charm." <2371> // I open up the charm and look inside. <2372> // \{Shima} "... eh?" <2373> // It's empty. <2374> // \{Misae} "Nothing?" <2375> // \{Shima} "Yeah... strange..." <2376> // \{Shima} "Certainly something entered this." <2377> // \{Shima} "I saw it with my own eyes." <2378> // \{Shima} "That means I can't grant any wish at all..." <2379> // \{Shima} "What should I do..." <2380> // \{Misae} "Though you ask me what to do but..." <2381> // \{Misae} "Well, ain't it fine?" <2382> // Misae-san smiles comfortably, saying that. <2383> // Seeing that smile, I can't calm down. <2384> // For what reason was it that I came here? <2385> // This is confusing, wasn't I sent here with a purpose? <2386> // But... who was it that sent me here? <2387> // Ahh, something must be missing. <2388> // I'm so worthless. <2389> // Like this, Misae-san will hate me. <2390> // I have to be firm... <2391> // But, as the days pass by, my feelings for this duty grow ever stronger. <2392> // The person who burdened me with such a task was the most important person, after all. <2393> // A person that I had spent quite a long time with. <2394> // That is, definitely... something that I have to accomplish, even if it kills me. <2395> // The whole time I've been fooling around. <2396> // For me to forget something so important... <2397> // \{Shima} "Hey, please, just decide your wish." <2398> // I continue to bother Misae-san with those words while she attends school. <2399> // \{Misae} "But you don't have that light that's needed to grant it, do you?" <2400> // \{Shima} "I don't but... whatever I can do, I'll do it." <2401> // \{Misae} "You don't have to do anything." <2402> // \{Shima} "Why?" <2403> // \{Misae} "It's not like I hate that sort of request. It seems more like something that'd be used on a woman's standpoint." <2404> // \{Shima} "I don't get it." <2405> // \{Misae} "You don't have to get it." <2406> // \{Shima} "Maybe I don't have to, but decide your wish." <2407> // \{Misae} "Yeah, all right... I'll give it some thought..." <2408> // \{Shima} "Really?" <2409> // \{Misae} "Yeah, yeah, I promise." <2410> // In one way or another, I have managed to calm down. <2411> // \{Voice} "Guess who!" <2412> // Suddenly my world disappears. <2413> // \{Shima} "Saki-san." <2414> // \{Saki} "Ahh, why didn't you say Misae? I could have tricked you, geez!" <2415> // The world returns. There, Saki-san and Yuki-san stand. <2416> // \{Shima} "But your voice was different." <2417> // \{Saki} "That's true, but couldn't you say love is blind?" <2418> // \{Yuki} "Come on, Saki, Shima-kun isn't so naive anymore." <2419> // \{Saki} "That's no fun... can't tease him now." <2420> // \{Shima} "Besides that, where's Misae-san?" <2421> // \{Saki} "It's a shame, but she looks busy. She said to go back on your own." <2422> // \{Shima} "Student council?" <2423> // \{Saki} "Yup. Founder's Day is pretty soon." <2424> // \{Shima} "Founder's Day?" <2425> // \{Yuki} "In short, a school festival, you know." <2426> // \{Yuki} "It's the first important task that a newly elected council has to deal with. They're busy during this time." <2427> // \{Saki} "There's a unique event in our school festival that's really causing a stir." <2428> // \{Yuki} "If that senior comes out again, Misae will have trouble." <2429> // \{Saki} "The person from the Light Music Club that went on stage alone, right?" <2430> // \{Yuki} "But, if you leave them be it'll get pretty crazy. The person from the Light Music Club's so cool and really good!" <2431> // \{Saki} "You can say that again." <2432> // \{Yuki} "So, Shima-kun," <2433> // Both their faces look toward me. <2434> // \{Yuki} "Today Misae isn't around. Let's play together, the three of us!" <2435> // \{Shima} "........." <2436> // \{Yuki} "Ah, you have a complaint~" <2437> // \{Shima} "No, it's fine, no really... let's play." <2438> // \{Saki} "Let's do. If you have any complaints about Misae every once in a while, you can let out the stress, right?" <2439> // \{Shima} "I don't really have any stress built up..." <2440> // \{Saki} "Eh, serious...?" <2441> // \{Saki} "If you say so, then there really isn't anything..." <2442> // \{Saki} "Ahh, then, we should bring up a topic..." <2443> // \{Saki} "What'll we do?" <2444> // \{Saki} "Well not the tea house, but maybe another place?" <2445> // \{Yuki} "Hmm..." <2446> // \{Yuki} "Ah, I've come up with a brilliant idea!" <2447> // Definitely not brilliant at all. <2448> // \{Yuki} "Let's go to Shima-kun's house!" <2449> // Hey. <2450> // \{Saki} "Yuki, you're a genius!" <2451> // \{Shima} "Something like that's not that fun." <2452> // \{Yuki} "It definitely will." <2453> // \{Saki} "Has Misae gone there?" <2454> // \{Shima} "No, not yet." <2455> // \{Saki} "Yeah, the feeling of superiority of entering his house before his girlfriend does. Yuki, you're a genius!" <2456> // \{Yuki} "Having said that, it's decided~" <2457> // \{Saki} "Come on, let's go!" <2458> // I couldn't match how pushy these two were, even now... <2459> // The Saki and Yuki pair had gone to a supermarket to buy a lot of sweets and juice. <2460> // I dunno what'll happen from here on out, but... thinking about it is quite depressing. <2461> // I think about going to my house. <2462> // ......... <2463> // Eh...? <2464> // I don't remember too well. <2465> // My family structure...? <2466> // ......... <2467> // The faces of my family barely float up and disappear... <2468> // There should have been someone important in that. <2469> // And... who was it? <2470> // ......... <2471> // \{Saki} "What's wrong, standing there like that?" <2472> // Thump, she hits my back. <2473> // I end up squatting from that. <2474> // \{Saki} "Ah, sorry, did that hurt?" <2475> // \{Shima} "No... not really..." <2476> // \{Saki} "What's wrong? You look pale." <2477> // \{Yuki} "You don't like this?" <2478> // \{Shima} "No... don't worry..." <2479> // I hurry to my house to make sure of a feeling. <2480> // ... that feeling of unease about this. <2481> // I stand in front of my house. <2482> // There, my feet stopped. <2483> // I'm so scared, I can't pass through the gates. <2484> // \{Saki} "What's wrong? It's your own house isn't it?" <2485> // \{Saki} "Your name's on the plate there." <2486> // \{Shima} "Yeah..." <2487> // \{Yuki} "Come on, let's head in." <2488> // \{Shima} "........." <2489> // I'm brought to a standstill... <2490> // I open the door to the lobby. <2491> // Over there, a face showed up... a familiar face. <2492> // ... my mother. <2493> // \{Mother} "What business do you have here?" <2494> // So she asks. <2495> // \{Yuki} "Good afternoon!" <2496> // \{Saki} "Come on, say that you're back." <2497> // \{Shima} "........." <2498> // \{Mother} "Umm, are you Katsuki's friends?" <2499> // \{Saki} "Yes!" <2500> // \{Yuki} "You seem so young." <2501> // \{Mother} "As always, I must apologize." <2502> // \{Mother} "Well then, please come in. Please take an incense stick over there." <2503> // Everything in front of me turns black. <2504> // I remember. <2505> // The face of the most important person to me. <2506> // And that person... <2507> // is no longer in this world. <2508> // I run away, as if escaping. <2509> // Ahh, I should never have remembered. <2510> // It would have been better if I didn't remember and just granted that wish. <2511> // I'm not Shima Katsuki. <2512> // I'm only pretending to be Shima Katsuki. <2513> // The mother didn't raise a single eyebrow, seeing my face. <2514> // There was no one else that knew that person. <2515> // Like Saki-san and Yuki-san, I was the only friend Katsuki could ever have. <2516> // Yeah, that's it... <2517> // The most important person to me... <2518> // Was the person known as Shima Katsuki. <2519> // I spent a long time with that person. <2520> // And then in the end, he entrusted me with this wish. <2521> // I came all the way here just to grant that wish. <2522> // The person he first liked... <2523> // To grant the wish of Misae-san. <2524> // \{Saki} "Hey, Shima-kun." <2525> // Saki-san's voice. <2526> // \{Yuki} "Shima-kun!" <2527> // Yuki-san's voice continued. <2528> // Even though I ran recklessly, those two caught up. <2529> // \{Yuki} "Hey... Shima-kun, you're Shima-kun, right?" <2530> // \{Saki} "Idiot!" <2531> // \{Saki} "Sorry, Shima-kun... somehow, we started up some kind of mess..." <2532> // \{Saki} "Looks like there's a lot of reasons..." <2533> // \{Saki} "Certainly, it's better for us not to know about it." <2534> // \{Saki} "Do you want to leave us out of it?" <2535> // \{Saki} "Or..." <2536> // \{Saki} "Is it better to let us know...?" <2537> // \{Yuki} "We don't mind which it is." <2538> // \{Shima} "........." <2539> // I strain my face towards them. <2540> // \{Shima} "Saki-san, Yuki-san..." <2541> // \{Shima} "Thank you so much." <2542> // \{Shima} "Really..." <2543> // \{Saki} "It's okay." <2544> // \{Shima} "I..." <2545> // \{Shima} "Have something that I have to do." <2546> // \{Saki} "Yeah..." <2547> // \{Saki} "We kinda felt that way." <2548> // \{Shima} "........." <2549> // \{Yuki} "We'll leave the sweets and juice here, okay?" <2550> // \{Yuki} "So, eat up." <2551> // \{Shima} "Thank you so much..." <2552> // I... <2553> // ... never knew this warmth at all. <2554> // Because... <2555> // ... I'm not a person. <2556> // Someday, my existence will return because... <2557> // The light inside the charm had started to grant a wish long ago... <2558> // And like that, I began to exist as a person... <2559> // And then... <2560> // When I grant her wish, my duty will be fulfilled. <2561> // \{Saki} "Shima-kun!" <2562> // \{Saki} "No matter what, we'll always be friends, okay?!" <2563> // Just as Founder's Day started, I was pushed around by a large number of students from inside the school. <2564> // But, I came to meet her. <2565> // \{Misae} "You did well not to get caught by the teachers." <2566> // \{Shima} "I guess so." <2567> // \{Misae} "Sorry, I'm so busy, so I could only talk to you here." <2568> // \{Shima} "It's fine." <2569> // \{Misae} "I got the okay for you to be the first guest in Founder's Day, after all..." <2570> // \{Misae} "Let's have fun." <2571> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <2572> // \{Misae} "My job's really busy, so I can't get away from it." <2573> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <2574> // \{Misae} "Well, even if I disappear, Yuki and Saki have free time, so go with them." <2575> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <2576> // \{Misae} "Those girls seem to really like you, Shima-kun." <2577> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <2578> // \{Misae} "I'm jealous because of them." <2579> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <2580> // \{Misae} "If it were another girl, I wouldn't allow it." <2581> // \{Shima} "Yeah." <2582> // \{Misae} "........." <2583> // The talk... \wait{500}seems to be over. <2584> // All I did was nod. <2585> // \{Misae} "Well, what you've been waiting for, Shima-kun..." <2586> // \{Misae} "I'll tell you my wish." <2587> // \{Shima} "Okay..." <2588> // \{Shima} "Umm... I'd like to ask, but..." <2589> // \{Misae} "What is it?" <2590> // \{Shima} "What you're about to say isn't worthless or anything, is it?" <2591> // \{Misae} "You mean having rain or snow fall?" <2592> // \{Shima} "Yeah..." <2593> // \{Misae} "Don't worry, it's nothing like that." <2594> // \{Shima} "I see... that's good." <2595> // \{Misae} "Yup." <2596> // \{Misae} "Well then, I'll announce my wish." <2597> // \{Shima} "Okay..." <2598> // \{Misae} "Shima-kun," <2599> // \{Misae} "Please, forever always... \wait{1000}love me." <2600> // Yeah... <2601> // I guess I really did like this person. <2602> // I really did. <2603> // Our time was short, but the time we spent together was priceless. <2604> // I liked Yuki-san and Saki-san. <2605> // I liked spending time, the four of us. <2606> // And... \pI was happy. <2607> // \{Misae} "... Shima-kun?" <2608> // Because... <2609> // \{Misae} "Why are you crying?" <2610> // For me to cry out a lifetime like this surely is because... I never knew this warmth. <2611> // \{Shima} "It's nothing..." <2612> // \{Misae} "You really are such a helpless kid..." <2613> // \{Misae} "Come on, dry yourself up." <2614> // \{Shima} "Okay..." <2615> // \{Shima} "Misae-san..." <2616> // \{Misae} "Hmm?" <2617> // \{Shima} "Thank you... thank you so much." <2618> // \{Misae} "Sure." <2619> // \{Misae} "Well, I'm heading off." <2620> // \{Shima} "Okay." <2621> // While watching the back of the person I really liked... <2622> // I continued, continued to keep on crying. <2623> // Farewell, Misae-san. <2624> // I will continue to like you for all your life. <2625> // "He isn't here today either..." <2626> // "I..." <2627> // "Maybe you've been rejected again." <2628> // "It's not like that! He's not like that!" <2629> // "He was deeply into Misae, wasn't he?" <2630> // "I'm sure there must have been a reason." <2631> // "Or maybe, there must be a really deep reason that it can't be helped..." <2632> // "He's been working hard to meet Misae up until now, hasn't he...?" <2633> // "So, maybe by chance, he'll appear again by surprise." <2634> // "........." <2635> // "Ah, the cat from yesterday's here again!" <2636> // "Really. Hey, Misae, it's the cat from yesterday." <2637> // "Is it a domestic cat? He has such nice fur." <2638> // "Uwaah, he has such a cute face~" <2639> // "Come on, Misae, hold it." <2640> // "Eh? Why..." <2641> // "I don't really like cats..." <2642> // ......... <2643> // ...... <2644> // ... <2645> // "Hello?" <2646> // "You're far away?" <2647> // "Yeah... I've gone back." <2648> // "Yeah, well it's not like it's for any reason." <2649> // "Yeah, sure. Though it's a guy's dormitory." <2650> // "... I guess so." <2651> // "Ahh, that's just how I am, aren't I?" <2652> // "Hahaha, that's too bad for you, Yuki." <2653> // "How's Saki?" <2654> // "Hmm... seems like a good match." <2655> // "I'm serious." <2656> // "I think so, but I haven't said anything." <2657> // "Yeah... yeah..." <2658> // ......... <2659> // "Let's see..." <2660> // "Yup. The price of phone calls is going up." <2661> // "Yeah, when you come next time, let's play." <2662> // "Yeah, I'm sure it'll be fine." <2663> // "Ah, that's right." <2664> // "Remember that cat?" <2665> // "Yeah, yeah." <2666> // "When I came back, he appeared again." <2667> // "Yup, in this house." <2668> // "Maybe because he followed me." <2669> // "Yup. He seems strangely attached to me." <2670> // "How can he like someone like me who doesn't like cats, I wonder?" <2671> // "Haha... I wonder." <2672> // "Yup, we'll play again someday." <2673> // "I'm hanging up then." <2674> // "Okay." <2675> // "Okay, good night." <2676> // ......... <2677> // "Whew..." <2678> // "Ah, you're here?" <2679> // "Oh yeah, head up onto the kotatsu." <2680> // "Since you're a cat, you like it, right?" <2681> // "The Cat Rolls Up On the Kotatsu~ right?" <2682> // "Come on, come here." <2683> // ......... <2684> // ...... <2685> // ... <2686> // ......... <2687> // The morning light passes through the curtains. <2688> // \{\m{B}} (I see... I fell asleep here like this last night...) <2689> // My head's heavy... <2690> // Right beside me was Misae-san, whose face was leaning onto me. <2691> // \{Misae} "... mm......" <2692> // Her mouth slowly moves. <2693> // \{Misae} "... \wait{800}Shima\wait{600}-kun......" <2694> // \{Misae} "... why did you disappear......" <2695> // Hearing her sleeptalking, I remember. <2696> // That is the name of the cat still curled up in my arm. <2697> // \{\m{B}} "So you do have a name, don't you..." <2698> // \{\m{B}} "Hey, you were the one who showed me..." <2699> // \{\m{B}} "What it was you wanted to tell... this person..." <2700> // \{\m{B}} "The person who's continued to always wait..." <2701> // \{\m{B}} "Who's side you've been by all this time." <2702> // Misae Epilogue
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Đã hoàn thành và cập nhật lên patch. Đã hoàn thành nhưng chưa cập nhật lên patch.