Chapter 4: Ginji is at fault

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Translator: Soafp

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After crying for a while, Sora, still looking down, began to speak quietly.

“…Hey.”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

Without turning, Ginji replied.

“Will you make me happy?”

The trembling voice still held some fear.

“Yeah.”

“That’s impossible.”

“It's not impossible. But there's just one obstacle.”

“It's not just one, there's a lot.”

“No, there's just one. Sora, are your done crying?”

“…Yeah.”

Ginji moved away from the chair, gently grabbing Sora's shoulder to turn him around and face him.

“The only wall is whether or not you can be brave enough. If you have that, you don't actually need my help.”

Sora thought, “Is this guy really an idiot?” He almost laughed self-deprecatingly, wanting to run away.

But this idiot said something so seriously, with such a serious expression, like it was a storybook. Having been ridiculed for years, Sora could tell. People who mock others don't need to say things like this to someone like him. Ginji, with his long bangs and black-rimmed glasses, looked straight at Sora.

“…Are you serious?”

The trembling voice no longer came from fear.

“Of course. I'll lend you what you're missing.”

Ah, this person is really an idiot.

“Yeah. Lend it to me, because I'm not enough by myself. Lend me your courage, Ginji.”

It had been so long since he'd relied on someone, and Sora thought it was easier than he expected. If you can trust someone, it really is easy.

“Yeah, on interest.”

“Haha… I can't pay you back. I'll borrow all I can.”

Ah, he was crying again. But this time, it was tears of happiness. It was Ginji's fault, so it was okay.

Wiping his tears with his sleeve, Sora raised his head.

“Now that that's settled, let's have a strategy meeting. Oh, it's already past the time to go home. Let's exchange contact information before the patrol comes.”

Looking at the friend request code Ginji had offered, Sora took out his smartphone with awkward movements.

“Uh, where do I scan it?”

“Eh? Where was it? Here, here.”

As Ginji peered over his screen, his shoulder brushed against Sora's, causing his face to turn red.

“Ah… Uhm. Thanks.”

“I'm not great at this kind of thing either. Hey, Sora, you got time today? Do you have a curfew?”

“Uh, no. Actually, my dad's overseas, so I basically live alone.”

“Living alone, huh? You're like an adult.”

“…I don't think it's that unusual.”

“Well, then, let's have our strategy meeting either at my place or yours.”

“I-I’m not having it at my place. I've left my art supplies lying around, and my room is… absolutely not! There's laundry, too!”

As Sora shook his head, Ginji gently patted his head to calm him down.

“Laundry? Well, if you don't want to, I won't force you. Then, come to my place. I'm on dinner duty today, so I'll treat you to dinner.”

“Huh? Go to Ginji's place?”

Sora, still with Ginji's hand on his head, looked up at him.

“Do you not want to?”

“It's not that I don't want to…”

“Then, it's settled. It'll take some time to lock my room, so you keep watch. If a teacher comes by, let me know.”

“Got it.”

“Okay, thread this through here…”

After leaving the room and glancing around the hallway, Sora looked back secretly.

Ginji, focused on locking the door, didn't notice him.

A little nervous because they were doing something they weren't supposed to, Sora thought it was Ginji's fault.

While thinking this, Sora hugged his bag tightly.