Aren’t You Too Sweet Salt-God Sato-San? - Chapter 3.11

[Wh-What…?!]

I don’t need to say anything far-fetched, I just have to say what I feel.

I’ll definitely be given the cold shoulder but that doesn’t matter.

I don’t know what Sato-san thinks but I’m deeply in love with her.

[I have loved you since the first time we met. I’ve loved your laughing face, your angry face, your crying face, and even your face when you get a little carried away.]

Before I realized it, the lid that had been damming up my emotions till now was completely opened.

[It’s not that I’m kind, I’m always nice to Sato-san because I think of you as someone special.]

At the same time, I also realized what I just said.

I couldn’t help myself,

[—–I like Sato Koharu.]

That one word which I said with all my might was the only thing that echoed in the slumbering night of the city.

I have no regrets.

Rather, I feel like something heavy was lifted off my whole body. I only have that strange refreshing feeling.

No matter what words come back from the other side of the phone, I’m sure that I will be able to accept them now.

I heard an unfamiliar sound from the other side of the call and then silence came.

[…*Cough*]

I’m confident I can accept anything but I am still nervous.

But I have already confessed.

So I waited for her reply.

…Not yet?

[……]

No, that’s taking too long.

I take the phone away from my ear and look at the screen.

Right now, instead of the call screen, it’s displaying a chat room with Sato-san and a notification that says “Call time 12:02”.

[What?!!]

I shout on reflex.

[What happened, Souta-kun?]

[Reply, what was the reply?]

Mayo-san and Shizuku-san rush in front of me.

As I look at the smartphone, I turn toward them and say with a quivering voice,

[…The call hung up…]

❤️

[Hey Koharu, you have been noisy since a while ago. How long will you be in the bath?]

I hear the voice of my mother from the changing room.

She seems to be a little angry. But I don’t respond to her, or rather, I can’t respond to her.

Right then, as if she had finally lost her nerve, she put her hand on the handle of the sliding door and said—–

[Hey Koharu, Cut it ouuaaAAHHHH?!!]

My mother lets out the loudest scream I have ever heard.

I was wondering why she was so surprised, but apparently my mother was surprised to see me.

She saw me slumping over the edge of the bathtub, my whole body dyed red like a futon put to dry.

[Ah, what happened to you?!!]

[…ke… I too…]

I whisper dreamily, rolling my eyes.

My mother without a moment’s delay rush up to me and pull me out from the bathtub.

I was completely out.

[You stupid girl!]

My mother hurriedly dragged a soggy, boiled octopus-y me to a room with an air conditioner.

As she drags me, I mutter in a feverish tone.

[I also… like Oshio-kun…]