Chaoter 163: A Fist Bump Through Gloves

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Translator: Soafp

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“So, what the heck am I supposed to do, Gin-chan?”

“…How should I know?”

During his lunch break after a morning of welding practice at the factory, Ginji was approached by a young blond guy in his twenties who worked there.

“Come on, man! You look way scarier than I do, and you've got a girlfriend! I want one too! I haven't had a girlfriend since I got dumped! And yours is super cute—like, crazy cute! I've never even seen a girl like that before! I'm jealous! And wait—don't tell me that bento's homemade by her too?! You b*****d!”

“No, I made this one myself.”

Ginji replied while sipping cold barley tea from his thermos. After intense welding practice all morning, he was feeling the heat and fatigue, and his tone was indifferent—but their relationship was casual enough that it didn't offend the guy.

“I really want a girlfriend…”

“You'll get one, Gussan. You've had one before, right?”

Laughter echoed from the older guys in the factory. A handmade wind chime someone had made tinkled nearby, and a warm breeze passed through the break area. The blond guy, nicknamed Gussan, was in his second year working there. Despite his flashy looks, Ginji knew he was a serious and reliable person.

“…Well, yeah. I messed around a bit. I had a girlfriend back in high school.”

“What happened with her?”

“She went off to college, and that was that. I didn't have the grades, so I just started working here. If the boss hadn't picked me up, I might still be a part-timer.”

Gussan chugged his barley tea and let out a deep sigh.

“…I see.”

Most people probably didn't stay with their high school partners forever. Ginji couldn't even imagine a life without Sora now, but who knew what the future held? Just thinking about that made him want to see her.

“Hey, hey, don't start spacing out on me. You've got such a cute girlfriend—enjoy life, man. I don't even have a way to meet a proper, classy girl like that. Tell me how to get close to one.”

“I told you—it was just a coincidence. And Sora's not exactly a ‘classy girl.' It just… sorta happened.”

“That's the dream! That's lucky as hell! A miracle! No fair, Gin-chan! Share some of that fortune with me! I nearly got scammed on a dating app—make me feel better!”

“Well, if you're making the effort to find someone, then I think you'll do fine, Gussan.”

“…You really think so?”

“You're always on time, you stay late when needed, and you've been getting certified properly. That's impressive.”

In this field, it wasn't uncommon for new hires to just disappear without notice. The bar for “just doing your job” was higher than you'd think. The fact that this factory had so few dropouts probably spoke to the boss's eye for good people. In that sense, Ginji genuinely respected this slightly unreliable older guy. Gussan, hearing Ginji's words, looked at him seriously.

“…You're good at cooking, too. That bento looks awesome.”

“I'm just average. What's with the compliments all of a sudden?”

“You help out at home. You've got a solid future. You've got a scary face, but you're more considerate than most adults…”

“…?”

“If only you were a girl, Gin-chan.”

And he was completely serious.

“That's harsh, even as a joke!”

“Gahaha! No wonder you've got a girlfriend. Guess I'd better step up too. First step, buy a nice bike and hit the streets!”

“You'll get a girlfriend, Gussan. Just… please don't get all close like that!”

As he pushed Gussan away, Ginji thought of Sora.

It really had been a series of coincidences that led to their relationship. Maybe “luck” or “miracle” was the right word for it. And that made him want to cherish it all the more.

“Well, I'm heading back to the shop now.”

“Yeah, tell your girl I said hi!”

He didn't know what the future held, but that's why he had to give it his all in the present. Not that he needed Gussan to tell him—just being with Sora and working on the project together was more fun than anything. Maybe he'd get a bit more practice in before she arrived. Torch and filler rod in hand, Ginji got back to focused practice.

After some time, Sora arrived in her work clothes. She wasn't running, but her quick, dog-like little steps made it clear she was hurrying over.

“Ginji!”

“Sora. You're here already?”

“No, I'm right on time. Whoa, you've been practicing a lot!”

The table in the workshop was covered with scrap-metal dice and tiny welded iron plates.

“Yep. I spent the morning on spot welding, then TIG welding all afternoon. My hands are warmed up. How about you?”

“I made friends with the gyaru senpai!”

She puffed out her chest proudly.

“O-oh? What now?”

“I'll tell you later. The fine adjustments are perfect, so don't worry. Ready to finally start welding the parts?”

Pulling out her sketchbook with confidence, Sora seemed almost hyper. Something good must've happened. Ginji, feeling lonely after just a short time apart, chuckled to himself at how smitten he was.

“Let's do it.”

They bumped fists through their gloves—and got to work, together.