Chapter 149: Notification

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Translator: Soafp

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“…It’s still Monday… (near death)”

“Guess I’ll let you off the hook for now☆”

“You’ve got no stamina, Toumachi. You should eat more.”

In conclusion, my throat is dead.

I gave it my all, even though I’m bad at singing, and this is the result.

Meanwhile, the two of them aren’t fazed at all.

In fact, halfway through, it turned into me just listening to their singing.

I don’t have much of a repertoire (introvert). 

But when I switched to death metal songs, it was a hit, so all good… even though my throat died for it (final blaze of glory).

“Do you know about diaphragm breathing?”

“I-I've never been in combat…”

“Not martial arts, you idiot. It’s a singing technique.”

“Oh, I didn't know there was such a thing (voice hoarse).”

“Haha, yeah, if you’re not used to it, that’s what happens☆”

Apparently, there's something like that (no vocabulary). 

As an introvert who’s barely talked to people, I think it’s more about our natural difference in vocal strength.

“Well, see ya☆”

“Make sure to have throat lozenges when you get home.”

“Se-see ya… (in my introvert way).”

“Let's give it our best at work☆”

“Yeah.”

They’re off to their modeling jobs now. 

Their stamina is crazy… 

These girls are built differently from me, for sure.

Ping!

“Hm?”

Right then, as if perfectly timed, a notification: 

“I want to walk home with you today” — a message like that.

I stopped by a convenience store to buy some throat lozenges.

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“A-aah, aah…”

It's 7:30 PM by the time I get off at the station near home. 

I confirm once again that my voice is wrecked.

And there, sitting on a bench, I find her.

“Sorry, sorry, kept you waiting.”

“No, it's okay. I was the one who suddenly asked to walk home together… but—”

Hatsune-san's eyes widen when she looks at me.

…Next, she's definitely going to ask, ‘What happened to your voice?' (confident look).

“You went to karaoke right~.”

“Yes (defeated).”

“Ahaha.”

She's always one step ahead of me—such is the eternal champion, Momo Hatsune (not really).

Even after her club activities, she smells really nice. 

…Am I a creep for noticing that? (too late to worry now).

“Shall we head home?”

“Y-yeah.”

“So… did something happen?”

“Actually, yeah. My junior saw me when you chased off those OGs…”

“Wh-what?”

“She saw you coming out of the karaoke place… and then saw the OGs leave after, so she figured it out.”

No way. 

I had no idea. Is she a ninja or something? 

Maybe she’s like me, a master of the shadows (middle school syndrome).

“To think I'd find a comrade—(this wind, it’s crying).”

“Huh? Aren't you… upset about it?”

“Well, if she's from the basketball team, she's not gonna snitch to the OGs or anything.”

“Is that really the issue here…?”

“I mean… I actually like that outfit. Feels like a lucky charm, you know?”

It hit me right after I said it. 

Why does she look so sad all of a sudden?

“So… you wear that outfit a lot when you go out and have fun?”

“No, not at all. That was the only time I wore it.”

“Really! That's good to know!”

…Why does she look so happy now? 

Not that I mind, though.

“It's like a guardian spirit in my room right now.”

“Haha, what's that supposed to mean? Such a waste~”

“So maybe I should wear it all the time?”

“U-uhh, well… if you did that, then…”

“…?”

Something about Hatsune-san's reactions doesn't add up.

…Wait, no, could it be…?

[“…You're not like yourself today, Icchi…”]

After I pulled her out of the karaoke place. 

She looked up at me, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Just for a moment—that image lodged itself in my mind.

“It's nothing. You should wear it whenever you want to, it's your outfit, after all!”

“Huh?”

“Ugh…”

“Well then—should I put it on now? Just kidding…”

If I'm wrong, I'll just seem like a guy with a huge ego. 

Even though I thought that, the words slipped out.

“…Would that be okay?”

She asked as if she'd just found a missing sock (like me in the mornings). 

…If I don't make silly jokes in my head right now, I probably won't stay calm.

For some reason, I couldn't even bring myself to say ‘yes,' so I just nodded.

“Hurry up!”

“Alright, I'll head home and change into it.”

“Okay!”

The streetlights in the park we passed by felt strangely bright. 

At a time like this, I could really use those sunglasses!