Aren’t You Too Sweet Salt-God Sato-San? - V2 Chapter 1.4
Because he was looking at Koharu through the manga in his hand.
My heart is in pain. But I also want this time to last forever, if it is possible at all.
……….I laughed in self derision, feeling like a loser.
“Rinka-chan, thank you very much”
How long have I been out of space? At the voice of Oshio-kun, I returned to myself.
“Eh, ahh? About wh, wha, what!?”
Even though I was finally able to chat normally with Oshio-san, I once again let out a gross voice at the sudden call.
But Oshio-san didn’t seem to care about that, and smiled at me kindly like he did that day.
“This manga and the direct opinion of it’s owner, both are really good reference.Yeah, I’m starting to feel like I can do this, huh?”
My chest hurts.
“I, I see. I’m glad then”
“Though as expected, I don’t have confidence that I can look as good as protagonist of this manga”
“………O, Oshio-san is cool”
“Haha, thank you”
Oshio-san laughed shyly.
It was strange to receive such a refreshing smile and a simple thank you, but I felt irresistibly angry.
“…………”
Thinking about it carefully, why am I even flustering so much?
Well that’s indeed the kind of accident that I invited him but even though he was invited to a girl’s room moreover only us two, why Oshio-san seems like he isn’t even bothered about it.
It took a lot of courage for me to say “cool” earlier, but Oshio-san just glossed over it smoothly!
He only has Koharu in his mind.
I’m sure he only thinks of me as Koharu’s junior high school relative!
“………what does Oshio-san like about Koharu?”
“Huh?”
Oshio-san’s refreshing smile instantly stiffened.
But he quickly regained his original smile and answered jokingly.
“Ha, haha, even if you ask me that so suddenly”
“It’s an important matter so please don’t dodge the question. What does Oshio-san like about Koharu?”
I looked straight at Oshio-san’s pupil, not letting him gloss over things.
“Koharu surely is cute but if we talked only about face, there are more girls out there who are cuter and have good style then Koharu. She doesn’t have good taste, she’s not to the point, and she’s easily frightened and creepy. Is it the type of feeling where you feel like you have to protect her, care for her? Or is it simply because you were so close? Please answer”
“Uhh…….”
Oshio-san groaned slightly and showed a slight thoughtful pretense. After a while, he answered plainly, as if it was obvious.
“It’s probably because I want to know that I am so desperate currently”
……..ahh, that’s foul play.
“I see……….”
I was the first one to look away. Because I can’t win.
In response to my mean spirited question, he can reply naturally with a line which seems to be from shoujo manga.
“Oshio-san, I will give you last piece of advice”
I said, forcing out a smile.
“Please forget everything you saw today.”
“What? What does it……”
“Probably because Oshio-san will do better if you don’t do anything unnecessary, I can assure you.”
Yeah, he doesn’t even need to “study” all these things in the first place because he had so many feelings for Koharu and was so worried about her.
With those feelings, No matter how much he went in a roundabout way, he would definitely arrive at the right choice.
On the other hand, as contradictory as it may sound, there is no right answer to love, and no matter how much you love someone, there are always things you can’t control.
That’s why…….
“If you fail, then please come back here and I’ll take responsibility for it.”
“…….What!?”
As the word “responsibility” fell into Oshio-san’s ear, his face turned bright red. Seems like I was finally able to get revenge in the end.
I grinned and said,
“Huh? Did you just think about something strange? It’s regrettable if you had thought so but I meant that if Oshio-san was dumped, let’s have another consolation party here while reading manga together.”
“……….!”
Oshio-san turned away his bright red face.
As I was thinking such gestures are really cute, Oshio-san looked out of the window as if he just realised something and looked at the scenery,
“……Ah! It’s already this late!! Crap…….! If I don’t return in time….”
Oh, seems like the fun time is over now.
As I looked at his side profile who was fidgeting around hurriedly preparing to return home,
“It’s probably the last time I am seeing his face from this close”
I thought to myself.
Exactly like what I said earlier, it would be better to forget about everything that happened here.
Both Oshio-san and myself.
“I’m really sorry Rinka-chan, for occupying your time till so late…..! Thank you for the manga! It was really interesting!”
“If you experience heart break, you are feel free to come here and read with me again”
“Hey, Don’t say unlucky things…….!”
I laughed mischievously, looking at the troubled face of Oshio-san.
It’s the end of the line for love.
……….but well, the reality is probably something unexpected like this.
As I whispered in my heart and sentimental feelings began to well up, it happened.
“Ah….”
As he stood up hurriedly, Oshio-san lost his balance and tripped forward, that is toward me.
Oshio-san’s expression stiffened as if he was surprised.
It was only there that I noticed that he had somehow changed from sitting on his knees cross legged to sitting on the floor.
It’s probably because he was focusing so much…..
In the slow motion of time, despite the situation, I find myself thinking such things.
Oshio-san’s face was approaching too close. As I didn’t have any choice but to be solidified due to befuddlement, Oshio-san quickly thrust his outstretched right hand against the wall behind me to avoid colliding with me——-
*Don!*
“………..”
“………..”
The room was filled with an almost unbelievable silence.
I could no longer hear the cicadas or the air conditioner running. The ice in the glass has been completely melted.
The only thing I could hear was the sound of each other’s breathing and the rapidly beating of my heart.
We were almost nose to nose, when Oshio slowly opened his lips and said,
“………..I’m sorry, Rinka-chan………”
“….I, it’s fine”
“…..well then, I’m going home……”
“Thank you very much”
Whatever the reason for the thank you, the meeting this time ended in an unbearably awkward atmosphere.
And then after Oshio-san returned home and I was alone inside my room,
“————-!!!!”
I buried my face in my pillow and screamed like crazy.
Because that much is foul play!
Humans are troublesome! What lovely timing! Even more so when I finally made up my mind to give up on my love!
That person! That person! That person!
I’m angry! This is the last time I helped my enemy without taking advantage of their weakness! Because,
“I definitely will not give up…….! I’m going to make him fall for me one day. ……!”
The truth is stranger than shoujo manga.
In my 15 years of life, I never thought I’d be spouting off lines like a shoujo manga.
♠️
After I hurriedly rushed out of Rinka-chan home.I saw a woman crouching by the vending machine just outside the door.
If I have to say, Unlike cat-like face of Rinka-chan who gives the impression of someone frail or slender, she has a raccoon-like face with an exuding feminine body. Apparently she is the older sister of Rinka-chan, Sudo kyouka-san.
I met her for a brief moment when I visited the house, so I’ve already introduced myself and said a few words.
She was dressed roughly in a t-shirt and loose-fitting half pants, and for some reason was sipping on a can of hot cocoa in this humid weather.
“……….”
I thought I should at least say, “Sorry to bother you.”
As I approached her, kyouka-san muttered while staring at the empty space with a vacant expression,
“Is it even legal for junior high school and high school students to go out?”
The words “I’m sorry for bothering you” which I was already on the verge of saying immediately returned back to the bottom of my stomach.
As if enjoying my reaction, she twisted her mouth into a smile and said in her characteristic nasal voice…..
“What’s the matter, my little sister?”. (T/N : not sure if it’s typo or the effect from alcohol)
“………..I didn’t understand what you are saying”
“Lying once again, you face is completely red”
“…!?”
I hurriedly covered my face with my hand.
Then kyouka-san laughed and said,
“Huh? Did something really happen? I didn’t know what to expect… but good-looking people are quick…”
“I’m sorry for bothering you!”
When I was leaving, I heard Kyoka-san’s prolonged voice behind me saying,
“Come again to play, okay?”
Which I ignored.