Chapter 82: Night Road

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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“I’m tired…”

Home.

Looking at the clock, it was already night, just before 10 PM.

After tidying up various things and taking the train home—I’ve finally arrived.

Shiori: “I’m sorry for being late. Are you okay?”

Hajime Toumachi: “I just got home. Are you alright despite everything?”

Shiori: “I’m totally fine.”

Hajime Toumachi: “Is that so…?”

“Is that so…? (Fear)”

It's amazing that this isn't a lie at all.

From what I hear, while I was napping during forest bathing, she had been reading the whole time.

She was tidying up about three times more efficiently than I was.

I can't just say I was too slow.

It reminds me of those incredibly hardworking little people from fairy tales (sorry).

She didn't show any signs of fatigue until we parted, but I guess she's really not tired at all.

I realized I need to build up my stamina (a simple observation).

…Maybe I should seriously work on my pull-ups, since the meeting time with Hatsune tomorrow is at 3 PM. I don't need to wake up early.

I can swing around as much as I want (suspicious information).

---

“Scary…”

It's 10 PM, and I’m in a park at night.

The solitary streetlight illuminating the area looks like a scene from a horror game.

And the fact that no one is around just adds to the horror game vibe.

Since it's only a three-minute walk home, even if something creepy appears, I can run back (flag).

Well, with my hair color, there shouldn't be any ghosts around (flag).

It'd be dangerous to approach someone doing pull-ups; I might kick them away (flag).

…This is bad; I'm really starting to feel scared.

Whoever first thought of horror games… why are people paying for scary experiences?

Because it's fun (solved).

“——”

The reverse grip is now easy for me.

It means it's time to try a different technique.

First, I cross my arms and hook my feet onto the bar, hanging there.

Then I slip my feet out—

“…I did it.”

Swirling.

After a half turn, the “Earth Turn” is complete.

…Whoa, whoa. I did it in one shot (excitement).

I might be a genius (the guy who took an hour to do a reverse grip).

“…”

Now, I can.

[——”○○-kun, amazing!!”——]

Back in elementary school.

There was a technique done by a kid named Undōsu Gokuderu (a placeholder name because I forgot).

It was called the “Glider,” also known as the “Flying Plane.”

As the name suggests, it's a technique where you leap off the bar.

I remember it standing out, grabbing the attention of my classmates.

So, I'm going to try to do the technique of Yasugai-kun-kun (abbreviated) as a high school sophomore (a loser).

“…Phew.”

I catch my breath.

As I saw in the video, first, I bring the bar to my waist.

Swirl—swirl.

I gain momentum and place my feet on the bar!

…This is scary.

I freeze with my gaze down.

“…”

About thirty seconds must have passed like that.

I just need to dive, but that's terrifying. It's nothing compared to the reverse grip.

In my line of sight, the ground looks extremely high.

“…No… I can do this—!”

I'm not the me of the past anymore!

With that, I swirl from above and leap!!

“Whoa, whoa… Gah!”

I jumped further than I expected.

Then, the ground rushes up.

Collision. I roll and somehow manage to take a fall…

“……You. You’re the boy from the pull-up bar, aren’t you?”

That voice sends a chill down my spine.

Back then, I heard it when I successfully did a reverse grip for the first time.

“Thank you for your service…”

In front of me stands the police officer from some time ago.

…Well, that’s it (arrested).

“Did you change your hair color?”

“Y-Yes!”

---

“Hahaha, this brings back memories from my student days!!”

“Uh… (astonished)”

In front of me, the officer is spinning around on the highest pull-up bar.

“Yo——”

And now, astonishingly, he’s doing a handstand on the bar.

…Is this person even human? Maybe a machine human (explanation: a pun combining ‘mechanism’ and ‘machine’).

“Well, this is how it goes. You need to head home before 11 PM. Got it?”

“Y-Yes.”

“I’ll warn you, don't try any reckless moves; if you get hurt at this hour, no one will help you.”

“I understand…”

“Alright, do your best, kid!”

“Thanks…”

And then he just walked away.

Isn't he supposed to be on duty?

…But honestly, it was frustratingly cool.

The kind of person who stood out in class was definitely like him.

Deep down, I must have envied him.

Then I quickly gave up, convinced that I could never be like that.

“I should have tried a little harder…”

I dove into the vast sea of the internet.

There, I grasped the common lesson.

“I don't have memories, but you've come from the future to redo your life. So, what will you do?”

The answer is obvious.

But that's what being human is—no, that's me.

“…I'll go home.”

I looked up at the sky and murmured.

That line faded away into the night park.

—Forward.

“……Jiii…”

“?!”

“Ahaha. You're so surprised~”

Dressed in sportswear, she was there.

In the park, just like that day—Hatsune-san was standing next to me.

---

“……I thought the officer would interrogate me like before…”

“Hahaha…”

We walked down the illuminated night path together.

There was a bit of distance between us. I wonder what's up with that.

“I-I'm sweating right now… so please don't get too close.”

“Got it (high-speed movement).”

It seems I'm completely lacking in delicacy.

My bad! (Dohyun!).

Can’t you tell from her outfit, idiot?

“But still, you're running this late.”

“…I have a game tomorrow. I just can't sit still… or something like that?”

“I see.”

Come to think of it, she was on the basketball team.

Clubs… clubs, huh?

I almost forgot about that (a lifelong club dropout).

Is that why the meeting time was later?

“Yeah. Sorry, the game cut into our hangout time.”

“No, no, I was the one who invited you.”

“——Well, if you don't mind…”

“?”

“Uhm, I can’t do anything as impressive as the officer from earlier…”

“Eh?”

Hatsune-san, unusually fidgety.

What's this? Is she saying she can't make it tomorrow (despair)?

I guess I'll have to give up and go catch some ants…

“I-I was wondering if you'd like to come watch the game… just kidding.”

I turned to her as she stopped on the night path.

My next response was—of course, it was already decided.