Chapter 34: Want to come and watch?

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

It took Sora the entirety of the afternoon classes to recover from the shock she experienced during lunch after realizing her feelings for Ginji. After school, feeling somewhat better, she headed to the student council's archive room with Ginji to take care of the few remaining chores they had.

“This stuff… How long are we gonna keep doing it?”

Ginji grumbled as he worked on the simple task of copying the minutes of the student council meetings. While it was a way to avoid interference from Aika, Ginji felt it was a waste of Sora's time to keep her stuck doing this forever.

“I actually kinda like it… _{^{when I’m with you}}.”

Her last words were barely a whisper—so quiet that Ginji didn't hear them.

“You're just used to it. We could be out having fun instead. Anyway, that's the last of it.”

“Didn't even take 30 minutes.”

“That's only because you’re amazing at pulling what's needed from the voice recorder. I'm just doing the manual part. We've got time—how about we continue what we talked about at lunch?”

“About the future?”

“Yeah. Specifically, about your art. We could enter your work into some contest or something.”

Sora had been drawing in Aika's place, but the recognition Aika was receiving should've been Sora's.

Even though Ginji spoke with excitement, Sora's reaction was less than enthusiastic.

“…I can't do that.”

The barrier Sora had once firmly kept around her was thinner now, but it reappeared here. Even so, Ginji thought [maybe—just maybe—he could step past it now.]

He recalled Sora's workspace. Fragile like glass, and as lonely as a hall of mirrors.

But just like she had stood up to the boys in class, Sora was trying to change.

In truth, it was largely because of her feelings for Ginji, though Ginji saw it as a sign of her inner strength. He could sense her locked-away talent trying to break free.

With care and a gentle tone, Ginji asked her:

“What exactly is it that you can't do?”

Silence. He didn't push—just waited. After about a minute, Sora finally spoke, still looking down.

“It was right before I graduated middle school, I think. I tried to submit one of my drawings to a local art contest. Together with Aika.”

Ginji turned toward her, listening intently.

“I was really proud of that piece. I spent like, two months on it.”

“Sounds like a masterpiece. I'd love to see it.”

“You can't. I tore it up.”

Her voice trembled slightly. Not was torn, but I tore it up. That difference was enormous.

“…What happened?”

“It's not a big deal… I finished the piece and showed it to someone, and they tore it to shreds with their words. I was so upset, I stabbed it with a knife and ripped it apart. Ever since then, I've been scared to let anyone see my drawings. That's when Aika said she’d make a space where I could keep drawing… and so I started drawing for her instead.”

“I've seen your drawings, though.”

The motorcycle painting—not directed by Aika, but truly Sora's own—was framed and hanging in Ginji's room.

“I thought I could show them to you. Or rather, I trust you. I've never even let Aika-chan into my workspace.”

Her cheerful tone sounded forced. Somewhere in this story lay a wound so deep it bled invisibly.

“…Thanks. But… did you really destroy the drawing?”

Sora turned toward Ginji, who was looking straight at her.

“Why would you say something like that?”

“Because I saw it. Someone who puts their whole heart into their work wouldn't just reject something so precious.”

“I did! I… I don't want to talk about this.”

“…You can't talk about it?”

He knew that wording was wrong the moment it came out. He regretted it instantly. But Sora didn't run away—she just lowered her head. And Ginji immediately realized what that meant.

She wanted to run. But she was forcing herself to stay—for her sake.

Sora really was trying to change. Which made Ginji want to help her all the more.

But today… this was enough.

“My bad. Let's drop it. So… we finished studying, but we can still grab dinner together, right? Wanna go out and eat?”

As he tried to shift the subject and picked up his bag, Sora reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

“…If I can talk about it someday, will you listen?”

“Yeah. And if I get tired of waiting, I'll come ask you myself.”

“Okay. Also, you have to keep studying too.”

“Eh, seriously?”

“Maybe not every day, but you can't slack off forever.”

“Tch, fine, whatever.”

“I'll give you a reward. Anything you want.”

“In that case… guess I gotta do my best, huh?”

They joked with each other, trying to return to their usual selves. It looked like nothing had changed, but together they were moving forward—step by step.

That night, Ginji sat cross-legged in front of his phone, agonizing for some time before finally sending a message.

When Misuzu, the recipient, saw it, she grinned.

[I want to talk about Sora. But I need to choose the topic myself. Sorry if it sounds weird, but I made a promise to hear it from her directly. I want to ask about other stuff.]

It was a confusing message. But in times like this, the best way to handle it is to go straight to the source.

“Hmm. Then there’s only one thing to do.”

She sent a reply to Ginji—and added one more message:

[I'm going on a date with Ginji. Wanna come watch?]

When Sora read the message, she let out a shriek.