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

Just when I was thinking about it, that happened.

一一一Because one of the boys from the basketball team was pedalling while looking on the other side, his foot caught on one of the flowerpots in front of the “Hidamari” store.

[Ah!?]

The only thing I could do was scream, unable to do anything.

The pot, which was filled with a lovely houseplant, toppled over and rolled out into the street.

[…..ah, not good…..!]

[….what are you doing Ryohei…!]

[……Hahaha….!]

The sound of Basketball club member’s laughter arrived through the window.

Instead of picking up the flower pot, they accelerated their bicycles’ speed even more as if they were trying to escape.

[Those guys!]

I hurriedly rushed of “Hidamari” as if springs has been attached into my feet.

[W-Wait a minute Rinka-chan! it’s alright so……..]

I heard Mayo-san’s voice behind me to stop but there wasn’t any way I could stop.

I know! Mayo-san will definitely not say herself but that was something she has raised herself very carefully!

Right before I ran out onto the road, I caught a glimpse of Koharu and Oshio-kun looking at me with a surprised look on their faces, but there was no time to stop.

I swiftly picked up the flower pot that rolled on the roadway, and一一

[一一Rinka-chan!!]

Koharu shouted in a way that resembled the scream and I finally noticed it

[Huh…….]

Sound of a loud headlight filled my vision.

[Lie…….]

The flower pot I had picked up dropped from my hand making a dull sound and rolled on the asphalt.

My body stiffens as if it were not my own, and the temperature drops rapidly.

I had heard that a revolving lantern would appear in such situations, but it seems like it was too sudden for it to appear and as the time slowly passed, all I could think of was a stupid sentence, “What a cliched ending for me”.

And just as the intense light was about to catch my whole body一一

[…………!!]

My body, that had become as heavy as a stone, jumped.

It wasn’t that I was hit but that my body jumped in side.

一一一I was hugged by “Oshio-kun” who jumped from the side.

The intense light went away with a loud horn sound.

I thought I heard a man who seemed to be the driver shouting in anger from far away, but I was no longer aware of that.

I was now lying on my back on the opposite sidewalk, covered by him.

The reason why I was not injured even though I was flung away with such force was because he haf put his arm around the back of my head and used them as a cushion to reduce the impact.

So, naturally instead of my place, “Oshio-kun” whose arm scraped off from the asphalt was now

So naturally instead of me, it was “Oshio-kun” arms that were scrapped by asphalt.

[Are you ok?]

I gulped down at the sound of his voice.

Then He, “Oshio-kun”, looked down at me and asked however I still hasn’t yet gathered my thoughts.

[I-I’m okay.]

When I answered, He smiled kindly and said,

[I’m glad一一 can you stand up?]

He just said this and extend out his hands to me.

His hand was white, thin and pale, like a girl’s, but if you looked closer you could clearly see the hidden masculinity in it, asserting that it was a Man’s hand.

[Y-Yes…]

I took hold of hands that were held out to me while not knowing what’s what anymore.

一一一That’s when I noticed the sorry state of his arm scraped by asphalt.

It was really painful to see blood oozing out and the thin skin curled up like lint was also painful to see.

But as if he didn’t even seem to feel the pain in the first place………

[Sorry, I pushed you too hard,……are you injured anywhere?]

[Huh? No…..rather than me……..that]

I didn’t expect him to be worried about me, so I slurred my words, but my eyes were glued to his arm.

He slowly looked down and to my surprise, that’s when he finally seemed to realize the injury of his own arm.

[Uwaa, that’s gross……..ah, but it’s okay, it’s not as painful as it looks.]

Saying so, He smiled at me.

There’s no way it wouldn’t hurt, seems like he’s also good at bluffing.

In truth he must not have leeway to care about other person but he’s smiling just to reassure me一ー

[一一Rinka-channn!]

[Waah!]

I was suddenly embraced from behind.

When I looked back hurriedly, koharu was pushing her tear drenched face on my back.

“K-Koharu….!?”

[Sorry, I’m sorry……….I was too scared to move…. I’m so gladdddd…. Thank you Ojio gun]

[T/N – she’s trying to say Oshio-kun but incongruous way of speaking as she is crying]

[No, wait……. Koharu! Rather than me, He……]

[一一一I’m really glad, thankfully she’s not Hur either]

However before I could complete my word, He cut between my words.

When I looked at him with surprise, he hide his right arm secretly behind his back smiled as if there wasn’t anything wrong.

With that series of actions, I immediately understood his intentions and just as I was about to speak that he shouldn’t do itー一

[Are you both okay!?]

Mayo-san, who was lagging behind, hurriedly rushed over.

Mayo-san was the only one who was able to calmly overlook the place.

She glanced at me to affirm that I wasn’t injured and soon looked toward him.

While hiding his injured arm in the last moment, he just smiled and said,

[I am okay.]

When Mayo-san saw him like that, she seemed to freeze for a moment, but soon she smiled softly as usual and said

[一一I’m glad you are okay, but your face is dirty from the dust, there is a store I work at so how about you go in the back and clean yourself at least?]

[……..Thank you very much, then I will took upon your words]

[Good, then let’s go, Rinka-chan and koharu should also go]

[Higu…..*sob*…y-yess….!]

[Ara Ara, Koharu-chan how about you also return back and wash your face, ok? I will lend you the towel]

“It’s fine, it’s fine”, saying so Mayo-san slowly caress the head of a crying Koharu, picked up the flower pot and guided the way to Hidamari.

As we began to walk, fuzzy emotions build up in my heart. I don’t know what should I do and felt like crying like a child.

[What’s wrong, Rinka-chan? Come here quickly.]

“……. M-Mayo-san…..I…”

When I finally couldn’t take it anymore, I tried to speak out but Mayo-san put her face to my ear and said,

[……….consider his feelings too.]

Smiling at me.

[……!]

After all, Mayo-san knows everything.

[Thank you really very much Rinka-chan]

She looked at the flowerpot she was holding on her right hand after saying so.

一一一Wrong, that was not me, Ijust ran off without thinking and caused him trouble! It was my fault that Koharu’s first love was hurt so badly……!

I’d much rather be criticized for this……! I’d much rather be yelled at……!

Even though I know it’s useless, a sob leaks out. The uncontrollable whirlpool of emotions makes me realize that I am a child, even if I try to be an adult.

My vision slowly blurs, and an inexplicable feeling of helplessness fills my chest, making me feel like I’m going to burst.

Ah, I can’t take it anymore, I’m at my limit一一

Just then, a hand was placed on my shoulder.

[Ehh……..?]

A beautiful hand and when I turned around to look, there he was.

Different from earlier, he says without a hint of smile,

[Was it Rinka-chan? Perhaps Satou-san’s little sister? Well….thank you for not telling Sato-san about my arm injury]

Receiving those words made me feel really miserable.

Because it’s like that, you know? I don’t deserve to be thanked because of troubling him.

[N-No, it’s different, I’m really sorry, I just….]

In front of his painful right arm, I couldn’t even speak properly anymore.

I feel like a mess, pathetic, pathetic…

At first he looked at me strangely then showed a broad smile and asked,

[What do you do time someone does something for you?]

[Huh?]

The sudden question froze my thoughts.

He slowly bent down to be at eye level with me, and repeated again.

[What do you say when someone does something for you?]

His smile is strange. I don’t know why, but I feel strangely at ease when I see it.

[Ehr;…..thank you very much?]

[Yes, you are welcome and same here, You also helped me.]

[What are you…….]

[Thank you for making me look good, I never wanted to look bad in front of Satou-san.]

He then patted me on the head as if he is doing it to a child.

Usually, it should be a scene where I would spit out one ir two curses,a such [what are you doing with rubbing dirt on my hair I have set after so much trouble? you blockhead].

……It should’ve been like that……even though it should have been like that….

[I’m going ahead…….thank you]

Finally, he said this, and headed for the “hidamari” with Mayo leading him. In the end, he didn’t break his smile even once.

I should also return back to hidamari right away too, but I couldn’t move my legs.

Instead of it, I become aware of my heart beating loudly for quite some time now……..

[Sigh…….]

And I touched my cheek. They were awfully hot.

[No, it must be a lie. Lie-Lie-Lie]

This palpitating feeling is strange, I couldn’t think clearly and the smile from earlier has been latched into my mind.

[It’s different, it’s different, it’s different, because!!]

I squat down there to calm down the palpitation of my body.

I can’t admit it, I definitely couldn’t admit it.

Because……

[I couldn’t admit that I to Koharu’s first love……….]

“uggggh!!’, I groaned, feeling like I wouldn’t be able to return back once I said it and ruffled my hair as if to overwrite the feeling I had just experienced.

“Oh my”

At the time I was doing it, Mayo-san turned around to look at me and flashed a smile with some kind of implication hidden in it but that’s not the point right now.

Sudou Rinka.

This is the first page of the beginning of my unrequited love that will never be accomplished.