Chapter 27: Small Changes?

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Translator: Soafp

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Monday, Amanatsu had messaged me again.

“Are you off again today!?”

“Sakura says you're vacationing at the beach, but that means Hatsukade-kun is bedridden at home, right!?”

“Can I come visit you!?”

Having her show up for something as small as a cold would be a problem, so I told her to please stay away.

She kept asking for my address, but if I told her, she really would come, so I dodged the question.

That should buy me some more time.

So, after Friday, I ended up skipping school again, but Blue Note was so busy from morning that I didn't even have time to worry about falling behind in class.

Reservations were packed, and I, working behind the scenes, was sent running all over the place.

As usual, I washed wetsuits, but before they could even dry, I was already handling the next reservation.

“Can you take this cylinder down to the beach for me!”

“Understood.”

Since Toshie-san asked me to, I lifted the diving tank.

“Oh, you're skinny, but pretty strong, huh.”

“I'm used to heavy labor.”

“Done that before?”

“My relatives in the countryside run a watermelon farm. I help out there every summer.”

I don't really have anything to do during summer break except read books, so it's more meaningful to earn some pocket money.

I save that money every year, and with what's left over, I enjoy gourmet food.

“A farm, huh? That must be tough. I'd like to try watermelon grown by Subaru someday, so let me buy some next time.”

“It's not like I'm the one who grows it, but… sure, I'll show you next time.”

After telling Toshie-san that, I carried the tank out.

Even after that, the physical labor continued nonstop, and it was only a little after twelve when I finally got a break.

Since the weather was nice, I ate my lunch on the bench in front of the shop.

The food was made by Toshie-san's wife. She seems to be considering my physical workload, because the salty dishes really soaked into my sweat-drenched body.

“Alrighty~ Today's pretty rough, huh?”

Without asking, Sakura sat down beside me and started eating too.

“About what we were talking about earlier.”

“What part?”

“The summer vacation help thing. I heard you talking with Uncle Toshie. So… are you planning to go again this year?”

“Yeah. It pays pretty well, and I don't mind working surrounded by nature. Also, watermelon is all-you-can-eat.”

“Ugh… lucky. I'm jealous.”

Sakura poked at her rolled omelet with her chopsticks and shot me a glance.

“Are there other part-timers besides you?”

“There are. We're always short-handed there. Every time I go to help out live-in, I'm welcomed with open arms.”

“Hmm… I see.”

“You're not about to say you want to go too, are you?”

“I want to, but I'll hold back. By then we won't be dating anymore, and I need to put this feeling to rest by Sunday.”

She popped the omelet into her mouth in one bite and lit up.

“Hey, hey, let's do snorkeling together next time.”

“No thanks!”

“Ehhh? You turned down windsurfing too, why? What, can't you swim?”

“I'm good at swimming. I took lessons in elementary school.”

While we were talking like that, someone spoke to us from the side.

“Hey, hey, now that'd be a shame, kid!”

It was a slender, suited man.

He must have been one of the customers who went diving in the morning.

Why was he wearing a suit?

“The sea is great, you know. It'd be a waste not to experience it when you live in a place like this… oh, should I buy you a drink?”

“Yes, yes! I want grape soda!”

Sakura raised her hand, and with a bright smile, the man bought her a drink from the vending machine in front of the shop.

“You don't need to hold back either.”

“In that case, I'll accept.”

It felt rude to have a customer treat me, but seeing how happy Sakura looked made the man smile too, so I reconsidered and decided it might be better not to refuse.

I bought black coffee, and the man got a sports drink.

Watching him gulp down the sports drink, I opened the chilled tab on my can.

“Phew—yeah, sports drinks after the sea are the best. So, getting back to it—why don't you go into the ocean if you can swim?”

“I don't feel like surrendering myself to a place I can't control.”

Unlike a pool, the sea is full of uncertainties.

Irregular waves.

Rip currents flowing away from shore.

Jellyfish, sea snakes—the list goes on.

No matter how confident you are in your swimming, accidents can happen because of unexpected developments.

It takes courage to jump into such a dangerous place willingly.

“I see, so that's the type you are. But hey, there are views you can't see from land too. Once you dive in, you might find it surprisingly beautiful. To tell the truth, I'm one of the people who got hooked on the sea. I even squeeze in diving whenever I can between business trips—haha!”

After finishing his sports drink, the man tossed the bottle into the trash and looked at his watch, then panicked.

“Aw hell, it's already this late! Anyway, I'm off. Thanks to both of you. Diving was a blast!”

“Come again! And thanks for the grape soda!”

The man ran off while waving and smiling.

I lifted a hand in return.

I sat back on the bench and resumed eating.

“Hey, do you have plans tonight?”

“Only a photo session with Shizuka-chan and Fujimaru-kun.”

“So you're free. Then let's go on a date.”

“…”

“Thanks for yesterday. This time I picked the place.”

So, right after yesterday?

I was tired from working and wanted to take it easy.

I was about to gently turn her down with some flimsy excuse…

“Where are we going, by the way?”

“Ta-da!”

Sakura held up her phone.

On the screen was a glistening school of fish.

“Fresh shirasu—fresh raw shirasu! It's a specialty of this area.”

After I drank my coffee, I let out a breath.

“My schedule is free at any time.”

---

At night, the place Sakura took me to was a privately run izakaya.

Apparently, it was a restaurant run by someone Toshie-san knew.

There, I took one bite of the raw shirasu.

“…This is good.”

My chopsticks wouldn't stop moving.

The accent from the condiments was irresistible.

And the main dish, raw shirasu pasta with rapeseed blossoms, was also extremely delicious.

“Hehe, I'm glad you like it. I still don't like how you only smile around dogs and food, though.”

“You should think of yourself more than this shirasu…”

“Ah, no, it's fine. I'll take the loss.”

Sakura didn't touch the raw shirasu bowl she had ordered right away, and just kept watching me.

“Are you not eating?”

“I'm okay with just watching you a little longer. This kind of smile from you is rare, so I want to keep looking at it.”

“…”

“Hehe. At first I was jealous of dogs and food, but then I realized that if I can watch the person I like smile like this, that's not so bad either.”

“What a weird hobby.”

“I don't think so?”

Finally, Sakura started on her own shirasu bowl.

I watched her eat.

After a bite, she nodded several times, then met my eyes and smiled with narrowed eyes.

“It's delicious!”

“…”

Well, that was true.

Sharing the joy of eating the same raw shirasu together didn't feel bad at all.

…I'll admit that much, even if it was disappointing that Sakura was the one I was doing it with.

But I still didn't think this relationship needed to be boyfriend and girlfriend.

“Hey, I'm really not planning to date anyone.”

“Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden?”

“So when you go back to high school on Monday, why don't you just act normally with me as a classmate like you do now? You don't need to feel guilty toward Amanatsu. I don't think you need to take it that seriously.”

That was my warning.

Human beings aren't robots.

From this day on, suddenly giving something up cleanly is hard, no matter how prepared you are.

My first goal was to stop Sakura from repeating a year because of me.

But that didn't mean I thought she should spend all her time in class suffering because of it.

Once I'd dragged her into this, I wanted to take responsibility for what came after too.

“Thanks for worrying about me. But it's okay. I'll keep my promise.”

“…I see.”

After dessert, it was time to leave.

Sakura happily took out her wallet.

“Let me treat you today! You paid for everything yesterday.”

“There's no need to go that far.”

“No, it's fine, this time it's my thanks!”

“Then save it for next time.”

“Ha! I know exactly what you're thinking, Subaru. You're just going to buy some cheap candy at a convenience store and say that's enough for a thank-you, right? And call it even because I paid, right?”

“I already paid.”

“…!”

I had paid while pretending to go to the bathroom earlier.

I thought that was more boyfriend-like.

But apparently there are girls who prefer splitting the bill.

Maybe I was being thoughtless.

I should ask beforehand next time.

“Sorry. I'll accept the thought behind it. Thank you.”

“Y-Yeah…”

We left the shop and walked home.

Sakura is usually very talkative, but tonight she was quieter than usual.

“…Hey, Subaru… about summer break…”

“Yeah.”

“…I also… never mind.”

I could easily guess what was coming next, and my chest stirred faintly again.