Chapter 150: Encounter with the unknown

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

[Momo PoV]

[――”I'll go change. It should only take about ten minutes.”――]

He said that, and then disappeared into the apartment entrance.

“…Haa.”

This is only my second time coming here, right? 

Last time was before midterms, wasn't it?

Surprisingly, it's only been two times. 

Actually, it hasn't even been two months since I became close with Icchi.

Lately, I can't tell if time is passing quickly or slowly. 

…Wait, it's already been ten minutes and he's still not back?

Ping!

---

Hajime Toumachi: “Sorry, I can't find one of my ear cuffs.” 

Momo: “Ah… I think I have it.” 

Momo: (stamp of a cat raising its paw) 

Hajime Toumachi: “Oh right, I gave it to you.” 

Momo: “I left it in my room, so I'll give it back next time.” 

Hajime Toumachi: “No rush. You're the only one I'd show it to anyway.”

That exchange made me chuckle to myself. 

Even though no one was watching, I cleared my throat, trying to fix the expression that was probably softening on my face.

“…Only me.”

I know it's simple of me to think this way, but the main reason I didn't tell Akari-chan about the guy who helped me in that outfit is that I wanted him to be something only I knew about.

[――”So you can wear that without pierced ears?”――]

[――”Yeah, it's an ear cuff, not a piercing.”――]

Even conversations like that are memories only Icchi and I share. 

That single ear cuff in my room—no one but me knows it's there.

“…Sorry, Akari-chan.”

I know I'm being selfish. 

But until someone else finds out, I want to keep him all to myself. 

His family doesn't even know, and neither do any of my friends. 

The way he swooped in and saved me in that outfit—just for me.

“—Haah, finally made it!”

“Keep it down, Nina!”

“You too, Hana-san.”

“Oh, oops.”

As I was lost in thought, staring at my phone, three people showed up. 

They looked like family.

One was a tall man with black hair. 

Another was a short woman with brown hair. 

They were about the same age as my parents.

And the third one…

[——”You're really friends with my brother?”——]

She had brown, semi-long hair and big, round eyes. 

She was about the same height as Icchi.

And her voice matched.

“I'm using the spare key for the first time in a year~♪”

“Hahaha.”

“Hurry up, Mom.”

The three of them went inside the apartment building together. 

Icchi's apartment is on the 8th floor.

[——”My sister's coming home next week.”—— ]

He had told me that.

But now, it seemed that she was already there.

“…Th-this is bad.”

As I mumbled those words, a cold sweat ran down my spine.

I have to warn Icchi right away!

□

Momo: “Icchi! Your family is here!! They were just at the entrance!”

I prayed that he'd see it quickly.

This can't be happening. 

How can the timing be this terrible?

It's the worst possible moment.

The one time I don't want anyone to see him like that…

Hajime Toumachi: “What.” 

Hajime Toumachi: “Oh.”

Momo: “Huh?”

After that, there were no more messages or read receipts. 

All I could do was pray that he wouldn't run into them.

---

[Toumachi pov]

“…Huh?”

Just as I was stepping out of my apartment, I got a notification.

Momo: “Icchi! Your family is here!! They were just at the entrance!”

The moment I read that message, a chill ran down my spine. 

I didn't even finish replying before I stopped typing.

Click, click…

“!”

And then, from the elevator exit, I could hear the sound of multiple footsteps approaching.

“—Is this the right floor?”

“8th floor, apartment 806.”

“It's like a maze, huh—”

And then, there was that sight as well.

Why?

Didn't they say next week?

Why now? 

I just remembered that my mom loves surprises—what a time to recall that.

“…”

It was clear at a glance they were family. 

All three of them hadn't changed much.

I knew I shouldn't be thinking about that right now. 

But my legs wouldn't move.

I didn't have the courage to face them in this situation. 

In fact—there wasn't even time to prepare myself mentally. 

Just having rainbow-colored hair is one thing, but dressed like this…

“Um, I think it's right over there…!”

“Oh, um.”

“Let’s go… Oh, but that room is the first one…”

I'm not going to make it!

I glanced sideways at them. 

All three were clearly flustered. 

Finally, I began to move.

—I've decided.

There's no way I can show my current self to those three. 

I have nothing to be ashamed of, 

so I don't want to make them worry unnecessarily!

It can't be helped. 

It just can't. 

For now—I’ll lie to my family.

“…”

This is the right choice.

Once I made that decision, a sense of clarity washed over me. 

Hiding my eyes behind my sunglasses, I walked toward the elevator.

Five steps left. 

Four steps. 

Three steps!

“…” 

“…” 

“…”

The three of them were uncomfortably silent. 

I felt like I couldn't breathe. 

My vision was dark. I avoided eye contact. 

I just needed to make sure I didn't walk too fast.

Slowly, slowly.

Two steps. 

One step—

“…Hello (in a hoarse voice).”

“Uh, hello…”

“…Good evening~”

“Um…”

When you pass someone in the building, say hello! …Following that rule, I gave a genuine, very slight bow. 

Fortunately, my hoarse throat from karaoke with Hiiragi-san worked in my favor.

They didn't recognize me by that voice. 

And that worked on my family too.

“!”

From there, all I had to do was walk to the elevator—

“—Um, I'm sorry if I'm mistaken.”

“What!?”

But my mother wouldn't let me off the hook.

“You were standing in front of… apartment 806 just now, weren't you?”

Her voice was low. 

And it was trembling.

“Do you know someone who lives there?”

I froze for a moment, unable to react to her voice. 

After 0.1 seconds, I forcibly turned my stiff thoughts around. 

“Get through this”—by any means!

“I'm—”

At that moment, three months' worth of memories 

flashed through my mind, reminding me of two words—

---

“Good morning, Tomato☆”

“Wait, me?”

“Tomato!”

“Uh…?”

“Fufu…”

---

In the classroom. 

That voice from the past…

---

“Nice to meet you, I’m Polo.”

“““…?”””

“Sorry, Polo is my name, and my hobby is being Hajime Toumachi!” Sorry for the misunderstanding!”

---

That was a blunder. 

The grand battle at Tenka Festival replayed in my mind.

I arrived at a single answer.

“—”

Ah, really. 

I'm glad I met them. 

I'm glad we did that group date.

Thanks to Hiiragi-san, I came up with this brilliant plan. 

Because of that moment, I can get through this crisis.

“—Excuse me, my name is Polo Tomato.”

“““…?”””

I said it without stumbling. 

There’s no way they’d think I’m Hajime Toumachi (Japanese national), the eldest son of the Toumachi family.

Right now, I'm a flawless Frenchman (sorry, French people). 

Just with slightly flashy hair.

“I'm his friend. He's currently unavailable. I'll come back later (awkward Japanese).”

I continued.

“By the way, we have a discussion about the ecology of ants.”

I piled it on.

“It's not a weird relationship or anything. Also, this hair color is normal in France (laughs).”

Before they could ask any questions.

After all, I'm now Polo-kun, a Frenchman (17 years old). 

A perfect disguise (+10,000 points).

“Polo Tomato-kun…”

“You are friends?”

“I-I see… You two have grown up so well…”

“Yes (assertively). Well then.”

I had no more words—turning my back to my family, I walked away briskly.

I did it. 

I managed somehow.

So—

Thank you, my demon lord. 

I want to give you half of my territory!

Thank you, ancient people from 300 B.C. 

Thanks to you, I got through this!

Thank you, residents of the anonymous thread. 

Thank you to myself for opening that in middle school!

Thank you. Cheers to this world!!

“Adieu (French farewell)!”

Mission complete… (moved). 

“Hajime-Nii, you forgot to wear one of your earrings.”

“—Ah, this isn't an earring; it's an ear cuff, which means you don't have to pierce your ears (speaking quickly)… so…?”

Eh?

“Come here, Hajime.”

Eh…?