Chapter 7: Visit

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Translator: Soafp

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Summer vacation. It's supposed to be the long-awaited break for students, but…

“This school's summer vacation is way too short.”

“Yeah, it really is.”

At Kaisei High School, summer vacation lasts only about three weeks. When I first enrolled and saw the yearly curriculum schedule, I remember being a bit surprised.

During the summer break, I try to come to school as much as possible, using the air-conditioned study room to focus on studying.

“Asano, how can you come to school every day and study like this?”

“If I study at school, I can save electricity at home too.”

Around lunchtime, I've gotten into the routine of eating with Shiraki, who's at school for baseball practice. We've gotten used to chatting while eating, usually about trivial things like how long practice lasts or wanting a girlfriend.

“Asano, are you still hanging out with Endo during the summer break?”

“No, I haven't seen her at all since the break started.”

Endo left on the last day of school, saying she'd be busy with family matters during summer break, and I haven't seen her since.

“Hey… Endo… what kind of guys do you like?”

“Well, I guess… someone I can be honest with, and who I can have a casual relationship with.”

Yeah, someone like me…

Haa… I guess that's too high a hurdle for me…

“Well, just keep at it steadily.”

…What am I thinking? Acting stubborn about Endo like this…

“Alright, time's up. I'm heading back to practice. See you, Asano.”

“Yeah.”

Shiraki is a decent guy. Even though he knows what I was like in middle school, he doesn't seem to mind and talks to me anyway. He says he's interested in Endo and I want to support him, but honestly, I feel a bit conflicted.

“Endo's type of guy, huh…”

---

Mid-August.

During the Obon holiday, my dad, who took time off and came back to Japan for a short visit, and I met face-to-face for the first time in months.

It felt good to go back home and spend meaningful time with my family.

When it was just my dad and me living together, we hardly talked, but now we've started chatting and catching up on recent events.

I guess with human relationships, there needs to be a balance — not too close, not too distant.

Looking out the window at home, I can see Fukase's house across the street.

I thought maybe I might run into Fukase during the holiday, but the Obon period passed without meeting anyone.

“Studying all the time is getting stiffening…”

I don't have many close friends, and being alone so much is depressing.

I picture Endo, who used to come to my room and hang out like she owned the place.

[Are you doing okay?]

I sent a message to Endo on my phone, since we haven't seen each other recently.

Because I'm not used to chatting with people, I sent a short, blunt message.

[What's up~? You missing me or something~?]

She replied right away, and I answered back with [No, not really.]

Though it was just over messages, it felt like I was talking with Endo again, and I felt a little better.

While waiting for her next reply, my phone buzzed.

The screen showed Endo's name—it was a call.

“Uh, hello?”

“Long time no see!! Asano! How are you!?”

I quickly pulled the phone away from my ear.

Endo's ridiculously loud voice caused ringing in my ear.

“Endo! Can't you keep your voice down on the phone!?”

“Ha ha, Asano, you're loud too.”

Who do you think started yelling first…

“Asano, are you free tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? Well, I don't have anything to do besides studying.”

“Then come over to my place tomorrow.”

Endo said cheerfully.

---

The end of summer vacation was near.

I'm currently on my way to Endo's house.

She said it's about a 10-minute walk from the middle school we used to go to, so I'm heading to the address she gave me.

“Ah, it's too hot…”

It's been scorching since morning, a typical midsummer day.

Because I usually stay in my room, the heat and sunlight hit me hard.

Feeling dizzy, I spotted a convenience store along the way.

There's still some time before our meeting.

“I should buy some water…”

To hydrate and cool off, I rushed into the store.

Cool…

The air conditioning inside cooled my overheated body.

Feeling the comfortable breeze all over, I grabbed a bottle of water from the drinks section.

As I headed to the register, I hesitated for a moment.

Is it okay to visit someone's house empty-handed…?

I never really had friends growing up, so the only time I've been to someone else's house was Fukase's.

Back then, I went empty-handed without thinking, but now that I'm a high schooler, I feel I should behave more properly.

After thinking for a bit, I decided to buy some snacks that I thought Endo would like.

“Hey, you… Asano?”

A big guy called out to me while I was looking at the snacks.

“Y-yeah… who's this…!?”

At first, I didn't recognize him because his appearance had changed, but I immediately remembered the guy with equally bad eyes as mine.

“Senda…?”

Senda was a grade above me in middle school.

We once got into a fight, and because of that, I ended up completely isolated.

“How did you recognize me so well…?”

I dyed my distinctive brown hair black, so I look different than in middle school.

“I'll never forget your eyes. And the fact you're good at fighting too.”

I hated that he was commenting on my eyes.

“Hey, can I have a word, Asano?”

“I don't want any trouble…”

“Relax… I'm not a kid anymore.”

If this turns into trouble, I can't just cause a scene inside the store.

“Wait here.”

I bought a few items and left the convenience store, following Senda.

Senda led me to a plaza with a fountain, where elementary school kids were playing in the water. Surely he wouldn't start a fight here…

“Want something to drink?”

By a nearby vending machine, Senda bought a sports drink. Seems like he wanted to treat me.

“No, I'm good.”

Seeing Senda after so long, his once flashy dyed hair and wild personality from middle school had calmed down. He now gave off the air of a serious young man.

“Um… Asano. I'm sorry for what happened back in middle school.”

Unexpectedly, Senda apologized.

“I thought you might have had a hard time at school because of that.”

He wasn't wrong — because of that fight, I ended up completely isolated.

“It's fine now. I hit you too, after all.”

Though Senda had been manipulated by Fukase back then, so it wasn't all his fault…

“I caused trouble for Fukase too… If you want, tell him I apologized. You're still close, right?”

“Uh… okay.”

It was a little hard to say we were completely estranged now. Well, I didn't plan to say anything anyway.

After that, Senda opened up a little more, and our conversation continued.

---

Senda didn't go to high school and was now working as a carpenter apprentice.

Maybe entering society had been the catalyst for him to change himself.

After parting ways with Senda, I walked a bit and finally arrived in front of Endo's house.

“This is it…?”

Peering through the big gate, I saw a well-maintained, spacious garden, and beyond it stood a mansion.

Is that really Endo's house?

Stunned by its scale, I rang the intercom. A voice said, “Please come in.”

The lock was released, and I entered the garden. Waiting in front of the entrance, the door suddenly flung open.

“You're late, Asano!”

“Y-yeah, sorry.”

Endo rushed out, not in her usual casual clothes like when she visits my room, but dressed in an elegant dress, giving off the impression of a mature woman.

“You're sweating. Come on in.”

“Thanks. Sorry to intrude.”

Inside was very spacious, and several housemaids greeted me.

“Y-your place… you're rich, huh?”

“Well, it's considered that way by most people.”

Her father was the CEO of a major company and rarely came home.

During summer vacation, she was busy with many lessons like tea ceremony and piano.

Her family was basically hands-off, but during long holidays, there was no freedom, and Endo grumbled about it.

“This is my room.”

Endo showed me her room, which was far bigger than my apartment.

However… it was terribly messy.

Comics and light novels were scattered across the floor, and the low table was a cluttered mess of study materials and handouts.

“Hmm? What's up?”

“Uh… I was just thinking this is so like Endo.”

“Is that so? Well, just sit wherever you want.”

I was prompted to sit on the sofa in front of the table.

I heard a knock on the door, and a housemaid entered carrying some sweets and tea.

“What's this? Some fancy-looking sweets…?”

“These are macarons imported straight from Paris.”

“Macarons, huh… I've never tried those before.”

“What's that bag you're holding?”

Even though I was being served such fancy sweets, what I had brought was just a few cheap snacks from the convenience store, worth only a few hundred yen in total…

Wouldn't it be rude to give something like this here…?

“Well… I brought some snacks that I thought you might like…”

“Is that potato chips!? Give me some!”

Endo immediately opened the bag of chips I handed her and started eating.

“Salty and delicious! We don't have snacks like this at my place.”

I tried one of the macarons she gave me, and the delicate caramel flavor spread perfectly in my mouth—truly delicious.

“Asano, why were you late? Did you get lost?”

“I ran into Senda by chance… and we talked a bit.”

“Senda…? Did he say anything to you?”

“No, he just apologized. For what happened back in middle school.”

“I see…”

Suddenly, Endo showed me a key attached to a double ring.

“Speaking of middle school, remember this?”

“Wait, that's… the rooftop key!? You never gave it back!?”

“This is a spare key, so it's fine if I didn't return it. This key is our origin.”

It's true that the first time we met was on that rooftop.

Apparently, the troublemakers had a spare key to the well-known middle school rooftop hangout, and Endo had received it from a senior who graduated earlier.

“You should've gotten rid of that long ago… Hey, why are you sitting so close?”

Endo, who had been sitting across from me, moved beside me and got uncomfortably close.

“Here, time for your treatment.”

She said that and firmly grabbed my hand.

“You've gotten used to this by now, right?”

“Yeah, thanks to you.”

This forced “exposure therapy” continues, but I can feel it's effective, and right now, holding her hand, I'm not particularly nervous.

“Oh, by the way. I've got something for you too.”

Endo handed me a magazine wrapped in a book cover.

I opened it to check inside, but…

“A photo collection of busty high school girls naked… That's a p*rn magazine!!”

“What's wrong with that? Any healthy high school guy would love it.”

“Why do you even have something like this!?”

I tried to push the magazine back, but Endo stubbornly pressed it onto me.

“I love this kind of stuff too. I'm giving it to lonely you, who can't get close to girls, so enjoy it alone.”

“I don't want it, you pervert!”

“This magazine might also be good therapy for getting used to girls, you know?”

“Whatever you say.”

Since Endo wouldn't back down, I reluctantly accepted the magazine.

Yes… reluctantly.

“All right! Let's play some games!”

“Nothing's changed from usual.”

“What? You thought since you were invited to my house, I'd do something naughty with you? You perv.”

“I'm not a perv. So, which game are we playing?”

Endo looked as cheerful and casual as always.

But right now… I felt a distance between us.