V4Ch5: Time to Thaw part 1

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Translator: Soafp

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“Waah! It’s a bunny-san! Bunny-saan!”

“No, no! I’m known as Bunnyman.”

“Informed bunny. A promising bunny for the future. Pet, pet.”

Surrounded by excited children, I got tangled up and mussed. Ha, how about that? This is the popularity of Bunnyman. The vitality of children is incredible, truly amazing. They seem to have an excess of energy.

“Sorry for bothering you. Thank you for granting our request.”

“No, no. I apologize for suddenly asking something unreasonable.”

Bowing my head, a kind-looking nursery teacher approached and joined in entertaining the children.

“Onee-chan, play with us!”

“Uh, well, let’s see. What would be good?”

Himiyama-san is also very popular among the children. Himiyama-san is a gentle and embracing older sister, and that atmosphere seems to convey well to the children. I wouldn’t mind playing with her myself.

“Um… would you read us a story, please?”

A timid girl with braids asked me shyly. I lifted her onto my knee.

“Of course usa. Let’s see… Once upon a time, there was a bunny usa, in a certain place usa, grandpa bunny usa, grandma bunny usa, mountain bunny usa, brush bunny usa, cutting wood with a bunny usa, and hopping around with a bunny usa, hopping around with a bunny usa.”

“Yukito-kun, you are experiencing Gestalt breakdown!”

“Usa?”

“I have absolutely no idea.”

“I-I see.”

There’s no need to explain it again, but Himiyama-san and I are volunteering at the nursery.

The influencer Yukito’s SNS is inundated with various requests on a daily basis, and one of those requests is to participate in an event like this. One of the requests was to participate in an event like this. It was a short notice, but the children were happy to participate, and we were happy if we could relieve some of the burden on the childcare staff.

Unlike corporate requests that come with compensation, these volunteer activities are solely based on our conscience. But in the first place, these aren’t the kind of things you do for the sake of a reward. Volunteering during summer vacation is a common activity for high school students. Just like the insincere words spoken during interviews to raise one’s academic scores, even if someone participates solely to boost their report card, it’s still better than not doing any good. At least, being welcomed like this is enough, I think. Yeah, yeah.

“Now, everyone, here are some presents! Which one do you want?”

“Yay, yay!”

“I want this towel!”

“Then, I want this pen!”

We generously distribute the Bunnyman goods I brought along, and the nursery teachers’ enthusiastic reactions only intensify. However, please don’t worry about it.

“Is it really okay to receive so much?”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s part of inventory management.”

Samples, giveaways, Bunnyman goods keep pouring in relentlessly, but unfortunately, there’s no specific use for them. Clearing out the accumulating goods like this is a double win for me. The smiles of the children serve as nourishment for Bunnyman (I play the role of a good person).

“Hey, hey, Onee-chan, are you Bunny-san’s friend?”

“M-me? Well, I am Bunny-san’s…”

Himiyama-san looks troubled as she glances towards me. Are we friends? No!

“This Onee-chan is Bunny’s mate.”

“Yukito!?”

My answer leaves the children looking puzzled. Oh no, the concept of mates might be a bit too complicated.

“Mate? What’s a mate?”

“It’s Bunny-san’s wife. Bunnyman-sama wants to impregnate his wife, increase his power, and eventually turn this Earth into Bunnyman’s paradise. Usa-ssa-ssa-ssa-ssa-ssa!”

Hahaha, no, Usa-ssa-ssa-ssa-ssa.

“It’s like a wife! Yay, just like mom!”

“Impregnate!”

“Impregnate, impregnate!”

“Um, teaching strange words like that might be a bit… Parents might get angry too.”

A complaint comes in with an apologetic tone. I’m truly sorry. I bow deeply.

And so, we throw ourselves into volunteer activities, engrossed in the experience.

“I’m sorry for asking you to accompany me.”

“What are you saying? It’s for my sake. I should be the one thanking you.”

After finishing the volunteer work, we took a break at a family restaurant. It consumed quite a bit of energy, but there’s a sense of fulfillment. The nursery teachers who do this every day are, modestly put, amazing.

“But still, why a nursery?”

“Oh, about that. I asked Rishu-san. Himiyama-san once aspired to be a nursery teacher. And the reason she gave up…”

Himiyama-san’s expression darkens. It seems to be a past she doesn’t want to dwell on.

“…Yes, indeed. I’ve loved children since a long time ago. After giving up on being a teacher, I thought about becoming a nursery teacher. But when I actually faced the children, it didn’t work out. I had a kind of rejection, a fear. They were purer than elementary school kids, and it scared me. The innocent gaze they had towards me…”

Himiyama-san’s hands tremble. It might not be just because the air conditioning is too strong.

“Now that I think about it, the failure in fertility treatments might be because of that. While saying I wanted a baby, deep down, I was afraid. Maybe I wasn’t truly blessing it, hoping in my heart that it wouldn’t be born. I held contradictory feelings, praying for something opposite to my wish. That’s probably why I couldn’t conceive. It’s my own doing. Even so, at this age…”

She laughs with a self-deprecating tone. I felt a twinge at Himiyama-san’s words.

“Muu.”

“What’s wrong? You seem really bothered…”

“I’m embarrassed to say she’s already this old, but my mom seems like she can afford to have a third child, so I think it’s too early to give up. If anything, isn’t it within the right age range? You’re quite alluring, aren’t you?”

In your late twenties is not an age to give up on having children. Barely in your forties is still fine.

“In the case of Ouka-san, if there’s a possibility of a third child, it might be because of you…”

“Oya, do you happen to have some insight into Mom’s love life?”

“N-no, it’s nothing. Absolutely nothing. Really, it’s nothing!”

Why are you desperately denying, Himiyama-san? Could it be that Mom is secretly dating someone, and you’re keeping it a secret about that person? This is intriguing. I’m curious!

“Alright, when I get home, I’ll ask Mom about it.”

“Why do you have no sense of crisis!? It’s absolutely a bad idea because you’ll get involved in unnecessary trouble. Yukito-kun, you must not ask with such a cute face!”

“Yes.”

“Stop with the unreliable replies! You, this child…”

Setting aside Mom’s questioning for later, now it’s about Himiyama-san.

“But isn’t it strange? Even today, Himiyama-san seemed fine.”

It doesn’t mean she was okay. I observed her, and she was putting on a strong front, but her complexion wasn’t good.

Even so, during the volunteer work, Himiyama-san handled it well.

“That’s easy. —It’s because you, Yukito-kun, were next to me. I felt very reassured. I believed I’d be fine. That’s the reason. If I were alone, I think I would have collapsed.”

“However, you successfully overcame it. It’s okay. Let’s aim to overcome it together through volunteering for a week starting today. You’ll get used to it quickly.”

What Himiyama-san lacks is confidence. The self-assurance that she can accomplish it. It’s necessary to steadily accumulate from small things. Today is the first step for that. A step for Himiyama-san to move forward.

“But wasting your summer vacation like this, Yukito-kun…”

“I believe it’s worth it for Himiyama-san, so that’s why I’m doing it.”

Himiyama-san softly muttered a “thank you.”

“…Yes, you promised to save me. Then, I’ll ask again. Yukito-kun, help me. So that I won’t be scared again and can stand in front of the children.”

“Leave it to me.”

It’s not just volunteering. Arrows two and three need to be shot. Preparations and adjustments are challenging, but it seems we can manage it. All thanks to Rishu-san.

“Himiyama-san, your voice is very beautiful. It’s like a voice actor’s.”

“Is that so? I’ve never been told that before.”

Changing oneself is not easy, but it’s necessary to overturn the current situation.

“People are scary. To overcome that, you need to deliberately attract attention.”

I firmly held Himiyama-san’s hands and declared.

“Let’s do it. Idol.”

“………………………………….Eh?”

A drop of sweat trickled down Himiyama-san’s forehead.

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“Ahh, I’m so tired!”

“But seriously, how did so many people gather? Yukito always rushes things.”

I lie down on the asphalt, feeling like my back is going to get sunburned. Ouch!

The refreshing handsome guy casually wipes away sweat. Just that action makes female students from other schools scream with joy. Now, this guy has become quite famous.

In a corner of Unabara Inn, part of the parking lot is borrowed, and a basketball hoop is set up for the street basketball event. High school students, college students, and circle members from various fields have gathered in large numbers.

We’re not occupying the space illegally. Of course, negotiations with the inn’s president, Unabara-san, have already been settled. Although it’s called a parking lot, it’s not for regular cars but for tourist buses. Currently, Unabara Inn doesn’t have so many tourist buses stopping by in a day. We’ve borrowed the space for one bus.

You might wonder what benefit Unabara Inn gets from this arrangement.

They won’t cause any losses. Due to the arrival of the third basketball boom, the street basketball fever is rising nationwide. The troublemakers who caused it all, we, decided to go on a summer training camp, or rather, a Kyoto expedition.

We recruited opponents through social media, and applications poured in from neighboring prefectures like Nara, Hyogo, Shiga, Osaka, as well as from all corners of the country. By the way, I posted the recruitment message right after having a conversation with Rishu-san in the hospital parking lot. A risky summer camp. It was a last-minute preparation.

So, officially, we’ll be playing against twenty teams chosen by drawing lots.

The venue and our accommodation are both Unabara Inn. By securing accommodations, we considerately made it easier for participants from distant places, but this turned out to be more effective than expected.

It’s a one-night, two-day schedule, but I’m covering the accommodation fees for all twenty teams. Even though it’s an expense, there’s no problem. In the first place, this summer camp also serves as a promotion.

The footage of our matches is being live-streamed on SNS, and viewers are excitedly watching the intense battles against teams representing various schools and regions. Superchats are also flying around.

Considering advertising expenses, it’s a win-win situation without turning into a loss.

Unabara Inn, which was quiet before, is now lively and welcoming the hustle and bustle. The large reservations from big groups are motivating them even more.

“Now then, it’s finally time for the feast!”

With that declaration, cheers erupted from the teams that had gathered.

Even though it’s called a summer training camp, only three of us are participating: me, the refreshing handsome guy, and Seido-san.

Shiori won’t be joining. It’s unrelated to the club, and I hope you understand.

A one-night, two-day camp with hot springs. And only a few guys. Shiori’s parents would never allow such a trip. They would surely think it’s just a wild o*gy. It’s too early for something like that for underage people.

Even though I said I’m a PG (Point Guard), I can’t make a 3P (Three-Point) shot in the night.

For some reason, I am trusted by Shiori’s parents. Although Shiori said it’s okay, causing anxiety or worry for the family is not my intention. I’ll make up for this at some point.

The grand banquet hall is filled with energy. Since there are many underage participants, alcohol is strictly prohibited.

While enjoying the dishes, new encounters and friendships are being formed here and there.

“Hey, Yukito. This kind of thing is nice, isn’t it?”

Expressing deep emotions, Kouki joyfully mutters such words. He did mention wanting to do something typical of summer break.

“Are you satisfied?”

“Hmm? Idiot. We’re just getting started, right?”

His smile was more dazzling than the school principal’s bald head reflected under a paperweight.

“I apologize for getting you involved in this, Seido-Senpai.”

“Nah, I’ve always admired this kind of thing. Besides, we’re chosen heroes!”

Mischievously, Seido laughs. He inherited the title of hero from the energetic Senpai and the god who passed it on.

Since the passionate Senpai retired due to exams, the hero of the ‘Snow rabbits’ team was vacant. So, the new member of the basketball club, Seido, inherited the role.

“Is it about time? How’s the progress, Kouki-kun?”

Checking the time, the atmosphere warms up nicely, and the party is in full swing. It’s the perfect moment!

“It’s come together at least, but seriously, are we really doing this?”

“I don’t want to end up like those sunshine guys forming a band for a live performance at the cultural festival, but we still need this kind of visually appealing performance. You know, character songs and stuff.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Think of it as an anime episode with a randomly inserted beach scene without any connection to the main plot.

“And you, Seido-Senpai? At worst, even just pretending is fine. We’re not the main characters anyway.”

“W-well, I’ll do my best to perfect it before the actual performance…”

“Poor Seido-Senpai, unaware of everything.”

Seido-Senpai is worried about Shiori, but he’ll surely be surprised, hehe.

Imagining Shiori’s ponytail bouncing like a wild horse, the scene is vividly playing in his mind.

However, Shiori is not here. The main character from here on is—.

Leaving the banquet hall, I approach Himiyama-san, who is waiting in the hallway.

“It suits you very well. You look like a real idol!”

Wrapped in a glamorous outfit, Himiyama-san is nervously tensed.

“Y-Yukito-kun. Isn’t it weird for me? Won’t people think, ‘What is that middle-aged woman forcing herself to do’?”

“Why are you saying that when you look so cute? It seems like I’m about to fall madly in love any moment now.”

“While it’s fine if you do that…”

Peeking inside, the room goes dark, and an explanation about the upcoming performance starts playing.

The origin of this all was an offer to create a CM song. As the production of songs for the second and third CMs progressed, we decided to form a band within Snow Rabbits. The vocalist is Shiori, the only girl.

There was also the option of my sister, but I wasn’t too keen on it, so I decided on Shiori.

By the way, just for the reason that it would be more interesting, this project has been progressing secretly without Shiori’s knowledge. The official unveiling of the song is planned for autumn, but we decided to secretly showcase it during this summer training camp. The problem is the absent vocalist, Shiori.

So, I thought, why not entrust it to Himiyama-san, who fears the gaze of others?

For the past week, Himiyama-san and I have been spending time together doing volunteer work. We’re inseparable.

At first, Himiyama-san was quite cautious when interacting with the children, but after a few days, she seemed to have naturally adjusted and started behaving more naturally. Her genuine love for children was becoming evident. However, it’s still not enough.

So, we decided to take a rather forceful approach. This is a gamble. The Kokonoe family strictly prohibits gambling, but I have no intention of losing. I’m going all in with Himiyama-san.

“Never thought I’d become an idol in my late twenties…”

I encourage the uneasy Himiyama-san. Honestly, it’s a bit of a bitter and harsh tactic, but a bit of coercion is necessary.

After finishing volunteering work with Himiyama-san, we practiced at the karaoke for hours.

“… Age doesn’t matter. I always think it’s never too late to start something. For example, this summer is the first time I’ve experienced a family trip at my age.”

I enjoyed the hot springs, had an air hockey showdown, and applied massage oil. Encountered yokai, and the smartphone met its untimely end. All of these were just fun memories.

“The week spent with Himiyama-san is also a precious memory for me.”

I got to know a side of Himiyama-san that I hadn’t known before. Despairing at the brink, still smiling, clinging to possibilities. A gentle expression towards the children, enduring pain, trying to overcome the past despite being wounded. I won’t let the tears shed by Himiyama-san go to waste.

“… Yukito-kun. Yes, this stage you prepared for me…”

“Shall we give it a go?”

A refreshingly handsome man sat at the drum seat and tried hitting the sticks a few times. Seido-senpai checked the tuning of the guitar, and the lighting was all ready. I also play bass.

“Yukito-kun, wait!”

I’m pulled aside and stopped in the hallway. A space just for the two of us.

“Age truly doesn’t matter. … Right, do you think so?”

“No. A five-hundred-year-old loli with a granny-like speech pattern is still a granny, you know.”

“I don’t quite understand that…”

It’s romantic, and I can’t help it. A loli granny is a missing attribute around me. Urgently recruiting!

“I want you to tell me one thing. Why do you go this far for me?”

Like waiting for a court judgment, a frighteningly serious expression. Himiyama-san’s question. There’s no need to think about such a thing. Because—.

“Because you were kind to me. Because you said you liked me. … That’s all.”

Reasons are unnecessary; that’s enough.

“… Is that so? Match malice with malice. Well, match kindness with kindness. Match love with—… You still have a heart as clear as glass even now.”

I’m embraced by Himiyama-san.

“Hey, Yukito-kun. If I can come back, will you give me a reward?”

“A reward? Anything is fine.”

I agree without learning my lesson. If Himiyama-san becomes motivated because of it, it’s a good deal. Himiyama-san is a sensible adult and wouldn’t ask for something absurd like a quadrillion yen.

“Thank you. Then, I have to make it a success for sure!”

Himiyama-san’s warmth gently leaves.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

We step into the banquet hall during the blackout. Greeted by loud applause. Spotlights shine on Himiyama-san. This is only the second arrow.

In the dark room, the expressions of the audience shouldn’t be visible. There’s no need to be afraid of their gazes. Perhaps nervous, Himiyama-san’s shoulders are shaking.

“—Misaki, do your best!”

“… Mikiya-san?”

The company president, Mikiya Unabara, who took time off from work to attend, waves a glowstick.

“Come on, you guys, cheer too!”

“Made it in time, Gramps!”

Rishu-san, who I called for, brought more audience members. It’s his granddaughter’s shining moment. The support is full of passion.

Ah, calling him Gramps was just a playful spur-of-the-moment thing, so don’t mind it.

“Papa, over there! Yukito-kun looks cool!”

“Crazy guy, honored to attend the invitation. I’ll enjoy the vacation. In my younger days, I once gave a pickaxe to a boy who wished for a trumpet displayed in a shop window and said, ‘If you dig coal, you’ll be able to buy an instrument in no time.'”

“Not even drinking, yet why do you seem drunk? Just be quiet and listen.”

The talkative American old man was scolded by his wife.

It seems the Tristy family has also come. Leon and Mio are here too. I invited them one after another, and it seems my efforts paid off.

“I can’t see, but there’s no hostility in the looks directed at Himiyama-san now.”

“Yeah, I get it… It’s warm.”

To pump ourselves up, I pat Himiyama-san on the back.

“Now, let’s show them!”

“What, the hook of the bra!? Mou, Yukito-kun!”

I immediately went into a prostration. It’s an irresistible force! Seriously!

“No matter when, you’re always the same, huh? But, I feel more relaxed now. Thank you.”

Himiyama-san chuckles. She seems fine now.

The count begins, and the music starts playing. I also focus on the bass.

—And so, with just that one short live performance, the curtain opens.