Chapter 3 Part 5 – My wife who gets excited when being praised is very precious

Translator: Chaos

Editor: Riciel

The area on the southeast side of Yokohama, facing Tokyo Bay, had been opened to the public early in the late Edo period, and many western-style historical buildings still existed. It was one of the most popular excursion routes for students in Kanagawa Prefecture. I also remembered hearing that the area was popular among architecture enthusiasts as well.

For example, the Kanagawa Prefectural Government Building, the Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall, and the Yokohama Customs House were known as the “Three Towers of Yokohama” and were commonly referred to as King, Queen, and Jack. The three towers were all in the Western architectural style, and their imposing and majestic appearance attracted the attention of passersby. [TN: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yokohama_Three_Towers]

Except for Jack, I had visited the three towers on a field trip in junior high school.

However, that was the extent of the information I knew, I didn’t know anything about each building’s attractions or anecdotes. I’m sure most of my classmates had a similar level of knowledge, not just me. Sawa and Asakura too, of course.

So I was expecting to end up looking at the place in a daze anyway. It was like that in Yokosuka, where we had gone on a field trip last year. Important buildings were just old buildings to those who didn’t know anything about them.

Riko shattered my boring assumption.

“This building was built in 1931 as the British Consulate, and has been used as the Yokohama Port Opening Museum since 1981.”

I looked up at the Western-style building with its impressive white walls and latticed windows and let out a sigh. The entire site was covered in greenery, and the walls of the building were covered in ivy. At the entrance of the building, there was a stone statue of a lion with its mouth open, reminding me of the time when it was used as a water supply. It was as if I had traveled back in time to another dimension, which was somehow romantic.

“Look at the courtyard. – Do you see the very large tabunoki tree growing here? That tree has been planted here since Yokohama was still a small fishing village, and it is depicted in Heine’s painting of the arrival of Commodore Perry.”

Amazing…

Only that my group was accompanied by a very cute guide…

“There is a strange anecdote about this tree. It was badly damaged in a big fire in the second year of the Keiou Era and in the Great Kanto Earthquake [TN: 1923], and people were worried that it would die, but it sprouted new leaves and came back to life.”

The tree was so magnificent that I couldn’t believe it had almost died in a fire or an earthquake, and its lush leaves were still swaying pleasantly.

“It’s kind of amazing…”

These words spilled out naturally as I looked up at the tree.

But it wasn’t just the anecdotes about the tree that surprised me.

“I’m surprised. Riko, how do you know so much!?”

Asakura put into words what I was thinking right now. Sawa was next to me, his eyes wide and nodding his head.

“I did some research, actually. Minato-kun told me, ‘We can’t help it because it’s a field trip, but we wouldn’t be able to enjoy going to a place we don’t know much about’.”

“Did you actually say that, Minato? Did you …voluntarily talk to Hanae-san?”

I felt so flustered when Sawa cornered me. It was true that I did. But that was the conversation I had had with Riko over dinner on the night we had decided on the route for the excursion.

At that time, after I said those words, I was thinking in my mind, “But this time, I’m in the same group as Riko, so that alone makes me look forward to the field trip.” Or rather, the latter part of the thought occupied my emotions by far. I couldn’t tell Riko what I was thinking, so she misunderstood me as someone who thought field trips were tedious.

Right now, the situation wasn’t good. Sawa began to look a little suspicious because of my stammering.

Oh no…

Riko seemed to think she made a mistake too, and turned quiet and pale. When our eyes met, she mouthed the words “I’m sorry” so that only I could understand, and I also replied in the same way, “It’s okay.”

The only thing I could do was to cover it up so that Riko wouldn’t feel guilty.

“W-what, you forgot? I told you.”

“I don’t remember… at all. So you’ve been sneaking around talking to me. You traitor.”

“No, it wasn’t a conversation. I was just mumbling to myself in my usual way.”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

Sawa must have been convinced because something like that had  happened all the time. I was relieved to see that Sawa’s suspicious expression had disappeared from his face.

“But isn’t it really amazing? I’m impressed with you, Riko. I would never be able to remember that. It’s so funny that the tree is an absolute survivor~!”

“Oh, I agree with Asakura-san…!”

“Yeah. Me too.”

But that’s just another repeat of Sawa’s words. As Asakura said, thanks to Riko’s memory, I’ve been able to develop an interest in these trees and buildings.

“Um, thanks for going and looking that up. It was interesting… what you explained to me. …”

“……! I am so glad I did…”

Riko put her hands on her chest and inhaled as if she was trying to savor the sound of the words.

It wasn’t just me, but Sawa and Asakura as well, who blushed because of how cute Riko was.

I understand. I understand.

Something so precious and pretty can give you joy regardless of your gender…

After that, Riko acted as our guide for the rest of the day, and we were able to enjoy our time at the museum to the fullest.

“Now, let’s go see Kustom-kun!”

“What’s a Kustom-kun?”

Again, Asakura put the question I had into words.

“You’ll have to wait until you get there to find out…!”

Riko, who had seemed to be following Asakura’s lead until we arrived here, started walking very happily. Come to think of it, even inside the museum, her steps were lively.

Could it be that Riko… is a little excited?

It’s true that being recognized for the hard work you’ve put into your studies will lift your spirits. Even if it’s just my opinion, maybe it can also be considered as a fact. It makes people happy when they are praised for their efforts.

…But it’s too cute that it makes you like this.

I’m definitely going to praise Riko more and more.

I made up my mind now.

There are so many good things about Riko that can be found easily, and if I can view her with my updated perception of her again, I can handle the embarrassment of saying that she’s amazing.

I really thought so.