Chapter 126: Sushi Party (Second Time)

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Translator: Soafp

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Just before 8 p.m.

Usually, I'd be at home by now, but this time, I'm at Kisaragi-san's place.

“And with that, let's toast to celebrate the end of the dance performance!”

“Cheers!!” 

“Fufu.” 

“C-Cheers… (introvert mode)”

On the table, there's sushi that both I and the Kisaragi sisters have “made” (more like just placed together). 

We clinked our glasses—everyone with a light ‘clink’. Inside is that ice-cold drink. 

Alright, down the hatch!

“This is barley tea!”

“Toumachi-kun?”

“S-sorry, I acted on impulse (speaking fast).”

“Hahaha~.” 

“Sushi! Sushi!”

Kanon-chan quickly grabbed some salmon. 

I've always thought that girls tend to like that.

“Wow, this one's falling apart! It's the one Icchi made!” 

“…”

“You're worse at this than Kanon-chan!” 

“Yeah, I guess so (defeated by a five-year-old).”

The fish was too oily and kept slipping, making it hard to stay on the rice. 

I can relate to those bits of sushi you see falling off the rice at conveyor belt sushi places.

In the end, I had to clumsily stuff the fish onto some roughly shaped rice, and that's how we ended up here.

“You're clumsy in the weirdest ways, Icchi.” 

“I won't lose when it comes to curry, though (different category entirely).” 

“It's like comparing a Japanese movie to Hollywood.” 

“Yeah, you're right (such a perfect analogy, I can't say anything).”

“Fufu. But you're taking only his pieces, though.” 

“Momo, you're so strange.” 

“Am I really?” 

“Kanon wants some too!!” 

“Whoa!”

The poorly shaped sushi I made kept disappearing, leaving only the pretty ones on the table. 

Ah… Maybe my presentation score was higher (smug look). 

As I sipped the heavenly miso soup that Kisaragi-san made (a compliment), I glanced at the table.

“There's a lot of salmon.” 

“Tuna isn't as popular as you'd think.” 

“Buri! Yellowtail!”

The three of them looked like they were having fun. 

I don't really understand their true feelings, but—if they're making faces like this, I guess it's okay for me to stay close.

“Oh no, Icchi's sushi is all gone…” 

“Eat your cucumber rolls too.” 

“Nooo!” 

“You've got to eat your vegetables too!” 

“Momo, you're just eating scallops!” 

Forgetting about the sushi, I just watched the scene in front of me.

The sound of their laughter filled my vision, and the flounder I had my eye on was eaten by Kanon-chan (not that I'm sad about it).

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“That was delicious!” 

“Yeah!” 

“I'm so full.” 

“Put your bowls in the water.” 

“I'll wash them… (sneaking away).”

Just like last time, I headed toward the sink, where the plates had piled up. 

I felt restless, and this was the least I could do.

“TV!” 

“Oh, Kanon-chan wants to watch anime?”

Hearing the voices behind me gave me peace (in a totally non-creepy way). 

I grabbed the sponge, applied the detergent, and started scrubbing when Kisaragi-san came up to me.

“Hey, you don't have to. You did it last time too.”

“Consider it my way of apologizing for worrying you… and you gave me dinner too.”

“But you bought the sushi rice.”

“I didn't buy the fish, though.”

“Oh, come on.”

Kisaragi-san puffed out her cheeks. 

The impact was immense. I felt like I could be blown away 50 meters. But I won't do that, since it would destroy the house.

“Are you guys fighting?” 

“Ah! (frozen)” 

“No, it's nothing like that.” 

“Here, I'll dry the dishes. Ayanon, go be with Kanon-chan.”

“Are you sure?” 

“Yeah, I'm intruding here too.”

“Okay then…”

Just as I thought that, Hatsune-san came in too. 

Kisaragi-san then went to the living room with the TV. 

The bond between sisters is precious (super creepy).

“I can do this by myself, you know?”

“I'll help!”

“O-okay (shrinking under her cheerful aura).”

She spread out a towel and smiled. 

I handed over the dishes I'd washed one by one.

―― “Ayano, be a chair!” 

―― “What are you saying?”

―― “Icchi does it for me.” 

―― “What are you doing?!”

The voices of the Kisaragi sisters in the distance. 

Mixed with the TV, they weren’t drowned out.

“…”

“Is that really what's been going on?”

Cold sweat was pouring down my face. 

Not that I had done anything wrong (really).

“…Last week, Kanon-chan asked me to dance a bit, and one of the moves involved holding a wall-sit position.”

“Huh?”

“And then Kanon-chan saw that, and she climbed onto my lap… or something like that…”

“Haha, I can totally picture that.”

“I thought I was going to collapse, but I somehow managed to hold on.”

Well, because I held on, I basically ended up becoming a human chair (hellish). 

But Kanon-chan looked like she was having a great time, so I couldn't let myself fall apart. 

Hajime Toumachi-chair (priceless), known for its high quality and durability.

“Icchi, you're amazing.”

“Oh, uh, thanks (flustered).”

“But don't overdo it.”

“Huh?”

“Icchi, you tend to neglect yourself.”

“R-really…?”

“Yeah!”

When she nodded with such confidence, I couldn't help but think she was right. 

Even though I didn't really feel it myself.

“It’s like you’re a little kid, running off to dangerous places before you even realize it.”

“I-I see (adult on the outside, child on the inside).”

“And in times like these, you don't talk back much.”

“(Silence is the answer).”

“If someone told you to go buy juice, you'd probably run off and do it right away…”

“Yeah, I probably would (errand boy level 3).”

Of course. 

I don't talk back because… I'm afraid of being disliked.

“No one would dislike you for something like that.”

“(Speechless).”

“Someone like that… isn't really your friend.”

“Is… that so?”

“Yep. Anyway—good job today.”

When I handed her the last plate, Hatsune-san smiled again. 

Because she's an important friend—I realized I should probably take a step forward.

I don't want to be disliked. 

And because of that fear, I think I ended up distancing myself from them last week.

If I want to talk, I need to get closer. 

I shouldn't just sit back and wait, I need to make the first move. 

If something's wrong, I need to say so.

It's natural to be scared of being rejected. 

It's only human to fear being hated.

But you won't know until you face it. 

Yes. For example—

“Hatsune-san.”

“Eh? W-what is it?”

I finished rinsing the sink, wiped my hands, and turned to face her. 

To give her my answer properly.

“I want to talk about… that rumor.”