Chapter 55: I don’t care anymore, so I’ll at least raise my voice
Translator: Soafp
“Shu is ……”
“What’s wrong?”
I almost asked Shu what was happening to his …… family, but I stopped myself from saying it.
Shu tilts his head when he sees me stop speaking, and Ayana doesn’t seem to understand what I’m thinking, but she still looks at me with some concern.
“It’s nothing. Actually, I forgot what I was going to say… Maybe it’s my age.”
“What are you talking about…”
Shu gave me a skeptical look, and I chuckled awkwardly, trying to divert the conversation.
I have Ayana and my mother here… Even if it’s just one parent, having someone from the family watching over you is the most joyful thing. But wherever I look, Shu’s family… in other words, the presence of his remaining father and others is nowhere to be found.
(Even after all that happened,……, I still can’t help but wonder…)
His parents got divorced, but it seems like Shu’s father can’t stop his job relocation even though he worries about Shu and Kotone. And I heard from Shu that Kotone is scared after what happened.
From my perspective, I do feel sorry for Shu’s father, but as for Kotone… Honestly, I don’t think thoughts like “serve you right” or anything like that. In fact, I’m relieved that things didn’t turn out like in the original story.
(Hatsune-san couldn’t do anything about it…)
To sum up, Shu’s family is in shambles.
Although it’s much better compared to the future that was supposed to happen, it’s still lonely for Shu to have no family present on the sports festival, especially considering his position.
“We will now have a 15-minute break until the next event.”
Since it’s a good time for a break, I quietly left the scene. Ayana and Shu are having a friendly conversation, so it should be fine to slip away… Well, it’s not like I have any specific purpose for being alone.
“Ara, Yukishiro-kun?”
“President?”
Recognizing her voice, I turned around and saw Iori there. I almost let my eyes wander towards her large chest that swayed during the bread-eating contest, but I restrained myself and focused on what she wanted.
“I don’t have anything to say in particular. I just called out because I saw an acquaintance.”
“I see.”
“Where is Shu?”
“Shu is in the tent. I think he’s with Ayana.”
“Why aren’t you with them?”
“Don’t you sometimes want to be alone?”
“I do, actually.”
I smiled wryly at that and tried to end the conversation casually. However, for some reason, she started following me.
If I stopped, she would stop too. If I moved, she would move as well… Um… What is she doing?
“President?”
“I’m sorry. I’m just a little curious.”
“…Is that so?”
“That is so.”
That is so? That’s new… I was tempted to ask if she’s actually an airhead, but I decided against it.
Since it’s a break and there’s nothing else to do, it might be nice to chat with Iori, just the two of us.
“Can we talk for a bit?”
“Sure. I’d appreciate it.”
So, I decided to spend this break with Iori.
However, there wasn’t really anything to do. Iori, being the student council president, seemed to feel the need to check if any problems had arisen, glancing around and nodding with relief.
(Iori is a workaholic at heart, isn’t she…… beautiful female boss, or the type you’d see in a comic book like that.)
It was interesting to imagine that it would be surprisingly …… like that, like she had joined the company that Shu started before, and they would meet again there and start a new relationship.
“Lately, Shu seems a little down. I know there have been various things happening, but it still worries me.”
“……Well, that’s certainly true.”
It seems Iori is also quite concerned about Shu. Since that incident, she has been making an effort to talk and show consideration… But still, it’s like everyone has moved forward.
Just like me and Ayana, Shu and Iori are also moving forward… In that sense, I guess Mari is the same?
“Please keep an eye on him.”
“Even if you didn’t say it, I would’ve done that. I still have half a year until graduation… And there’s an infinite amount of time beyond that.”
…I shouldn’t be worried… but just to be safe, I should try to change my mindset. Even though at our school, Iori always gives off a cold impression, she seems like she wouldn’t be able to firmly refuse someone who is even slightly assertive.
(That’s probably not because Iori finds the other person troublesome, but rather because she genuinely feels bad and respects the other person’s will.)
It’s a troublesome personality trait, but with Ayana’s help, we can probably change it… I hope. If that happens, I’ll have to explain the situation to Ayana a bit, but I think it’ll be fine.
“By the way, Yukishiro-kun is truly a mysterious boy. When we’re having a conversation like this, it feels like I’m talking to someone older.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I don’t quite understand it, but… I feel like I can rely on you.”
It’s nice to be told that by a woman.
As I continued to chat with Iori, passing the time, something caught my eye in the corner of my vision.
“…Ah.”
“What’s wrong?”
The girl seemed a bit suspicious, looking around nervously. She was petite, but her appearance was very well put together, and it seemed like some of our current students noticed her and were trying to approach her.
If it were the girl from a little while ago, she would have stood confidently and maybe even uttered some offensive remarks. But I didn’t see that behavior from her now. She seemed timid and lacking in confidence.
“Why… is she here?”
“Who is that girl?”
“That’s Shu’s little sister.”
“…..Eh!?”
Yes, there she was, Kotone, Shu’s younger sister.
I wondered why she was here, and as I approached her to ask, several words from her echoed in my mind, but I wasn’t at all intimidated.