Chapter 36: Let’s Play in the night pool

“So, this is what it means….” (Yuki)

　It’s summer and the sun is setting much later in the day now. When I looked up at the sky, it was a bright indigo color, like Yohen Tenmoku, as it transitioned from dusk to the darkness of night.

　I’m in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just by being here, my identity as a negative person is about to go through the roof. My mind was cloudy, despite the cheerful noise around me.

“Yukito, thank you for waiting.” (Tristy)

“Hey, don’t be in such a hurry. He won’t run away.” (Mio)

“As far as I’m concerned, I just want to get out of here.” (Yuki)

Crap, it’s happening! The two of them come out of the changing room. I had been invited to the night pool by Mio-san and Tristy-san. It’s a spell that can do a lot of damage to a gloomy person. The only thing I do in the summer is watch B-grade shark movies, so this is not a place I can relate to. It’s a low priority. I’m not sure how I ended up in such a place of all places, but the man who can’t be put down in the shadowy world is me, Yukito Kokonoe.

　I took a glance at Mio-san and Tristy-san, and naturally my thoughts spilled out of my mouth.

“Ehhhhhh!” (Yuki)

“Wai—, isn’t that too straightforward!?” (Tristy)

“I’m embarrassed to be seen so much.……” (Mio)

“You don’t have enough cloth to cover yourself?” (Yuki)

“Was it too flashy?  I put a lot of thought into it!” (Tristy)

“Ha. It’s what you get when you have style. I envy you.” (Mio)

“I guess it goes both ways.” (Yuki)

Tristy asked me to go out and play with her as a way of apologizing, but I didn’t expect to go to a swimming pool at night. It might be more comfortable than during the day, but I’m more suited to the dark and gloomy caves or wind tunnels. However, I didn’t know anyone who would invite me to such a place. Well, I don’t have many acquaintances myself! As I was making such a self-deprecating remark, I was immediately lined up on both sides and my way out was blocked.

“Let’s play as much as we can tonight!” (Tristy)

“How do I look in it, Yukito?” (Mio)

“It’s lovely. Just like the Rococo style.” (Yuki)

“Can I take that as a compliment?” (Mio)

“Totally.” (Yuki)

　I was asked what I thought of her swimsuit, and I told the truth. There was no way I could give a negative opinion in this situation. Mio was wearing an off-the-shoulder bikini, and Tristy was also wearing a bikini, but Tristy, who has a great figure and is half-Japanese, looked like a model in a bikini. She was already attracting a lot of attention from the people around her. But they are all wearing swimsuits now. In this state, if they come into contact with each other, their skin will be in direct contact with each other.

“You have a flower in each hand, Yukito” (Mio)

“It’s too much for me.” (Yuki)

“Let’s take a selfie!” (Tristy)

“Is that okay? Won’t it cause a social media firestorm?” (Yuki) 

“Don’t worry! Only my friends will see it.” (Tristy) 

“I don’t want to be identified.……” (Yuki) 

“I think you already have.” (Tristy) 

“When do I get a free pass on my human rights?” (Yuki) 

Yare Yare. I shrugged my shoulders. I couldn’t help but try to act the part of the hero, but to be honest, I had a lot of fun. It seems I’m not cut out to be the hero. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a pool.

“Yukito, do you want something to drink?” (Tristy)

“I’d like a sports drink.” (Yuki)

　After all the fun we had, we took a break to change clothes. We felt a pleasant sense of fatigue. Swimming is a full-body exercise. It consumes more energy than you think. I’m sure I’ll fall asleep as soon as I get home. The time was past 9pm.

“I had a good time today. What are you going to do after this, Yukito-kun” (Mio)

“I’m going home. I’m underage, so I can’t stay up so late playing.” (Yuki)

“Oh, that’s right. Can I invite you again?” (Mio)

“Yes. Well, I had a lot of fun.” (Yuki)

　When I told my mom and sister that I was going out, they were very unhappy. I don’t know what will happen if I go home late at night.

“Um, Yukito-kun, would you like to come over to my house sometime?” (Tristy)

“Tristy’s house? I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that. ……” (Yuki)

“Is it not good?” (Tristy)

Tristy’s eyes were sad and downcast, but if truth be told, there was something that was bothering me while we were playing like this today.

“Your boyfriend won’t like it.” (Yuki) 

“Boyfriend? Who?” (Tristy) 

“Heh~, Tristy, you have a boyfriend?” (Mio)

“N-no I don’t. Someone like that!” (Tristy) 

“Eh, but the other day I happened to see you two hugging in front of the mall.” (Yuki) 

“What’s going on, Tristy?” (Mio) 

“I really don’t have one! The mall…… Do you mean my brother, by any chance?” (Tristy) 

“That was your brother?” (Yuki) 

“Yes. When we went to buy swimsuits the other day, Leon was finally able to come over here, so we just met up, but he’s not my boyfriend or anything!” (Tristy) 

“I was worried if it was okay for you to be playing with me when you have a boyfriend.” (Yuki) 

“That’s not it! Absolutely, absolutely not! If you want, Leon also wants to meet Yukito-kun. My mom and dad want to meet you too as well, so can you come to my house sometime?” (Tristy) 

“Well, if that’s the case…” (Yuki) 

　Before I knew it, the number of people wanting to meet with me had increased, So that was Leon-san. I thought he and Tristy were a beautiful couple, but if he’s Tristy’s brother, it’s only natural that he’s handsome. It seems that my fears were unfounded. It looks like I’ve avoided a crisis.

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　Sorry, I lied, it wasn’t avoided at all, Shura².

“What’s this all about?” (Yuri)

　As soon as I got home, I was made to sit on the floor. My sister is still beautiful today, but now her thorny eyes are piercing me. My phone was showing a selfie that Tristy had sent me.

“It’s just a picture…” (Yuki)

“You look like you were having a great time. You’re so flirtatious.” (Yuri) 

“Ha. I’ve gotten a reputation for being too straight-faced and scary, but I’m not flirtatious.” (Yuki)

“You’re bragging, but you’re not making a big deal out of this at all.” (Yuri) 

“You’re lying.……” (Yuki) 

“What’s going on with your self-awareness? What kind of relationship do you have?” (Yuri) 

“Victim and perpetrator….” (Yuki) 

“Wha?” (Yuri) 

“Hiii” (Yuki) 

Earlier, Tristy came to our house to apologize with her family. Thanks to her, my mom knows who Tristy is, but my sister, who was not there at the time, does not. When I explained the situation to her, she was taken aback. I think so too. At first glance, it makes no sense that the victim and the perpetrator are playing together.

“Do you have an aura around you that older people like?” (Yuri)

　My sister is muttering to herself, which is no laughing matter to me, as I have a reputation for bad luck with women. I have a strong impression that women are a nuisance to me, but even so, I’ve stopped dismissing everything like that and stepped forward. In the past, I wouldn’t have accepted an invitation like the one I got today.

　It was because I wanted to build a relationship with others. In order for me to change, I needed someone else to help me. I didn’t want to just let the feelings that were being directed at me be. I realized that this was a cowardly and sinful act. No matter what the answer was, if I didn’t respond, it would end in misery for everyone. I have had enough of stagnation.

　I can’t act like a harem protagonist and be unaware.

“I guess I’ll have to wear a micro bikini now.” (Yuri) 

“I want to see it! Huh!? I can’t believe I’m saying this.……” (Yuki) 

“You’re being very honest.” (Yuri) 

No, this is a kind of conditioned reflex, a Pavlov’s Yukito Kokonoe, not a real feeling.

“Don’t you want to see it?” (Yuri) 

“I do.” (Yuki) 

“Alright” (Yuri) 

“A-are you sure?” (Yuki) 

　I have my doubts, but my sister says it’s okay, so I guess it’s okay. If you care about it, you lose.

“Bu-don’t you have someone you’re in love with……?” (Yuri) 

“Normally, sisters and brothers don’t talk about such things?” (Yuki) 

“We’ve had an unusual relationship up until now, haven’t we? It’s fine.” (Yuri) 

“That’s true, but……” (Yuki) 

“And it’s not just me. We’re having a family meeting with Mom too.” (Yuri) 

“Stop, stop it and Clemens¹ it.” (Yuki) 

“Come on, let’s go.” (Yuri) 

　After this, they interrogated me like crazy.

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1. This is Internet slang for “please do something” and “Clemens” for former professional baseball player Roger Clemens. … When asking for something, as in “image clemens,” the “__ do” part is sometimes omitted. It is almost the same as “kibonne,” a famous 2chan word meaning “to hope.
2. Shura 修羅 or Ashura 阿修羅 is a Japanese way to call the Buddhism demigod of war Asura. In Japanese, we sometimes use it to describe a person who fell into a situation in which they have to fight an endless war against something, in a relentless and inhumane manner.

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TL: This is the last chapter of volume 4. As always we take a break for like a week. Next volume is going to be good.

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