Chapter 39: Well, I’ll be conscious of that.

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Translator: Soafp

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Sora kept crying while Ginji gently rested his hand on her head. After a while, when her tears finally stopped, she sat up straighter.

The two remained side by side, wrapped in a vaguely ticklish, awkward atmosphere.

“…I feel like I'm always crying in front of you, Ginji.”

“No kidding. I thought I was the type who could make you smile.”

There were plenty of things he wanted to ask—why she had been disguising herself as a boy, for one—but Ginji figured it wasn't right to bombard Sora with questions when she'd just stopped crying. He relaxed his shoulders and returned to his usual tone.

Seeing Ginji let out an exaggerated sigh, Sora smiled softly.

“What about happy tears?”

“I take that.”

“Hehe, then I'm glad.”

“…”

“…”

“YOU TWO ARE SO FRUSTRATING!!!”

Suzu burst in from the side, holding the matcha parfait that Sora had ordered.

“I forgot! My parfait…”

“If I don't eat something sweet, I won't survive! What the heck did you make me sit through?!”

Suzu slammed her face onto the table with her eyes wide open.

“Sorry. You're the one who called Sora here, right? Thanks for everything.”

“I brought her on my own, so I guess we're even… but seriously, what was with that atmosphere?! You two totally forgot I was here!”

As the pair struggled to come up with an excuse—because yes, they had completely forgotten—an employee appeared behind Suzu.

“Excuse me. Other customers will be arriving soon, so… would you mind leaving?”

“We're sorry.”

The three of them apologized in unison. As they exited the café and walked toward the station, Suzu leaned toward Sora.

“So, Sora, what now?”

“Huh? Wh-What do you mean?”

“Don't tell me you're planning to just go home now?”

“Yeah… today's been a lot… I'm kinda emotionally full…”

Suzu narrowed her eyes like a yakuza glaring at a rival.

“That is NOT an option! Listen up. Ginji's still confused right now. If you don't take advantage of this window, what are you even doing?! Once things calm down, you'll both just fall into some weird distance again! Now's the time to strike! First impressions matter!”

“R-Really?”

Overwhelmed by Suzu's energy and thinking she might be right, Sora nodded. She lacked confidence in her own femininity, so she figured it was best to follow the advice of someone obviously girlier—like Suzu.

“Sora. Invite him to dinner. That's the opening move. A little jab to test the waters.”

Suzu stroked an imaginary goatee as she gave her instructions. Sora's eyes sparkled as she nodded eagerly.

“Got it… Master.”

“Who's Master?!”

“What are you two doing?”

Ginji turned around with a suspicious look as the two whispered to each other.

Suzu gave Sora a push. She hoped dinner, a casual restaurant, or even just grabbing a snack together would do the trick. She silently cheered her on like a romance guru.

“I just wanted to ask something… Um, Ginji.”

“What's up?”

“Would you… like to have dinner at my place tonight?”

Suzu, unaware that the two had already visited each other's homes multiple times, trembled in shock.

That's not a jab, that's a full-on Russian hook! she screamed internally in inexplicable Kansai dialect.

“Sure. Actually, I was just about to suggest that myself.”

ARE YOU FOR REAL!?

Oops. That one slipped out.

“What's wrong?”

“Wanna come too, Suzu?”

Suzu bit back the words Just start dating already! that had risen to her throat.

Given how muddled their relationship had become due to the misunderstanding about Sora's gender, she figured it was best to step back and just watch over them for now.

“Nah, I live the other way. Well then, see you later, Sora. I'll message you later, okay?”

“O-Okay, Master…”

“I'M A PERFECTLY NORMAL HIGH SCHOOL GIRL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! See ya!”

Suzu walked away, leaving the two of them looking at each other.

“Alright, let's head back.”

“Yeah. What do you feel like eating tonight?”

Being able to ask Ginji that made Sora smile.

“Feeling like something rice-based.”

Ginji replied casually, his hands behind his head.

“Then how about omurice? I'll make it fluffy and soft.”

“Sounds great. I'll handle the chicken rice part.”

Sora didn't notice.

That behind his arm, Ginji's face was blushing just a little.