Chapter 125: The Smell of Sweat

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Translator: Soafp

On the way back from a meeting at the factory, a sweaty Ginji was lying down on the tatami floor at home, feeling the breeze from the electric fan.

“Tired…”

“Good job. I'll make lunch, so why don't you take a shower first?”

Sora poured some barley tea from the kitchen and brought it over. Ginji drank it all at once.

“Man, Gen-san really doesn't cut you any slack. Watching me weld, and going that far…”

“Ahaha, I actually thought it was pretty interesting.”

After confirming the direction of the project at the factory, Ginji had been receiving welding instruction from Genjirou.

Under the sweltering heat, Ginji had been working hard for about three hours straight making a 3D shape out of iron plates until the lunch break. Sora, on the other hand, had quickly reached her limit with the heat and took a break in the office while cheering Ginji on.

“More than the heat, I was sweating cold because I wasn't as good as I thought. Got blackened, couldn't get the rod in—showed a pretty uncool side of myself.”

In truth, the early mistakes during the training were partly because Ginji was nervous with Sora there, but he couldn't say that—his pride as a man was at stake.

“…I don't really know what the right way is. But even though they said a lot at first, didn't Gen-san say at the end, ‘It's pretty decent'?”

Ginji laughed out loud watching Sora imitate Genjirou's frown.

“Haha, yeah, Gen-san's ‘pretty decent' is actually a pretty high score. I'll practice some more before the metal plates for the project arrive. Alright, I'm gonna hit the bath.”

“Okay, see you.”

After Ginji disappeared into the bathroom, Sora thought back on their conversation.

“…That kind of sounded like a newlywed couple. Hehe.”

Feeling cheerful, she headed to the kitchen to prepare lunch for Ginji.

When Ginji came back to the living room wiping his head with a towel, Sora appeared from the kitchen wearing an apron.

“You're quick. The food will take a bit more time.”

“I'll help.”

“No, you worked hard today. It's my turn now.”

She stopped Ginji from going into the kitchen and sent him back to the living room. Since he looked happy, Ginji sat down in front of the fan to cool off.

“It's ready! Though it's a simple dish.”

“Looks anything but simple…”

What she brought out was pork shabu-shabu laid on top of fried eggplant. Around it were thinly sliced onions and cucumber. In a small bowl, tofu was topped with a garnish made from eggplant skin.

“This is eggplant pork in sweet-and-spicy nanban vinegar sauce. And cold tofu.”

“You're a goddess.”

After seeing this meal, Ginji felt it was exactly what he wanted to eat right now—nothing else would satisfy him more.

“I am your girlfriend.”

“Well, then I am a lucky guy.”

“Even if you say that, you won't get anything. Here, barley tea.”

“Hey, you already gave me some.”

They laughed together and talked about the project.

Munch munch “I got a rough idea, but since it's summer vacation, I want to really capture that memory in the work.”

“Then let's go to the beach first. The metal plate processing should take about five days, so let's factor in some time to make CAD drawings—a software for blueprints. …This is delicious. Teach me how to make this sauce later.”

Dipping the pork and eggplant generously into the spicy-sweet vinegar, Ginji ate heartily. The flavor was strong and went perfectly with rice, but the vinegar's tang made it refreshing and easy to eat in large amounts.

“Sure! Since you like spicy food, I've been really into making stuff like this lately. I can handle CAD—both 2D and 3D—so I'll take care of the data directly.”

“…Seriously?”

Since it was somewhat specialized software, Ginji was planning to ask someone else for help.

“I also made the design for this. I just tweaked the template from the company that made it.”

Sora took out her phone and showed it. They both had matching metal phone covers designed by Sora and custom modeled in CAD.

“Oh man, that makes the schedule so much easier. Wait, how can you even use that software?”

“I often get crazy requests from Aika-chan and DIY them myself. I like stuff like this, too. I've got things I designed myself in the workshop. I want a 3D printer too…”

“Impressive. That really helps.”

“Eheheh.”

Sora puffed out her chest proudly. When Ginji reached out to pat her head, she pulled away a little.

“Hm, did you not like that?”

“…Not really, but I also worked up a sweat. I might smell.”

She held the collar of his shirt and sniffed carefully.

“I don't think you smell.”

“Huh?”

Ginji leaned in and sniffed Sora's hair. The soap scent from Ginji made Sora freeze.

“See? No weird smells… Sora?”

Sora's face turned bright red, and she trembled. Ginji broke out into a cold sweat.

“Ginji? Don't you think you're a bit insensitive?”

“…My bad.”

Because of the “crime” of trying to smell a girl's sweat, Sora decided to become the devoted type to Ginji from then on.

After finishing the meal, they washed the dishes together. Ginji then rode his bike to take Sora home.

“Even though you just took a bath, you're sweating again. You must be tired today.”

“Nah, I'll just shower again when I get back.”

When they arrived at Sora's house, Ginji tried to leave, but Sora stopped him.

“You must be thirsty. Stay and have some tea.”

“Alright, I'll take you up on that.”

They went upstairs, and Sora switched on the kettle.

“I'm gonna take a shower while the water heats. I have a tea I recommend.”

“Ah, hot tea?”

“No, I brew it with hot water, then cool it with ice.”

Saying that, Sora headed for the bathroom.

“You don't have to go that far.”

Despite her words, Ginji loved the tea Sora made, so he looked forward to it while sitting on the sofa.

When Sora came out in her room clothes after showering, Ginji's posture on the sofa looked awkward.

“Ginji?”

“…”

Ginji was asleep on the sofa.

“So he really was tired.”

Sora gently placed her hand on his head and softly stroked his hair, imagining how he'd react when he woke up, while letting him rest his head on her lap.