Chapter 3 Part 6 – My wife who wants to casually match with me

Translator: Chaos

Editor: Riciel

During lunch break, it was quite noisy. As soon as Asakura and Sawa took a bite of the bento made by Riko, they raved about how delicious it was. There’s almost nothing I could have added to their praises.

… I really think it’s delicious too, but I wonder if I should convey my feelings to Riko more by saying it out loud like this.

But Riko has been red-faced for a while now, “I’m so embarrassed, I’ll just leave it at that…! … I made this with an ulterior motive, so I’m sorry…”, she mumbled.

… Apparently, joy in moderation is better in Riko’s eyes.

Thank goodness …

More importantly, what do you mean by ulterior motives?

◇◇◇

After eating our lunch at Yamashita Park, we headed to Chinatown.

Normally, we should go back the way we came, but Asakura insisted on having a steamed bun for a snack, and Riko said she wanted to take a detour to work up an appetite. Of course, we boys had no objection. We walked along the seaside path in Yamashita Park for a while, then went out to the main street, and after passing through a side street, we saw the gate of Chinatown.

A tourist attraction indeed. The main street was crowded with not only students but also groups of elderly people, women on a girls’ trip, and lovers on a date.

Riko led us to the Yokohama Mazu Temple.

The octagonal hallway was richly colored and worth seeing. The red lanterns hanging from the top of the hall gave it a very Chinese style. It was interesting to feel as if you were in a foreign country despite being in Japan.

“This temple was just opened in 2006, and it’s a power spot that has quickly become famous for its good luck in love.”

“Wow! Then I have to worship it seriously!”

Asakura exclaimed, and rolled up her arms.

Girls really like matchmaking, don’t they?

Asakura and Riko were laughing happily together as they walked down the path to the hallway. Sawa and I followed suit.

Other than us, there were also students from our high school, and all the groups had the same composition of excited girls and uninterested boys. Following the lead of other worshippers, we decided to buy some incense and offer it to the gods.

“I heard the smoke is also good for your health.”

“Then I’m going to be covered! Come on, Riko, spray me with smoke. Yeah, yeah! … Gosh, gosh, gosh.”

“Oh, Rei-chan, are you okay?”

“Not at all! If you don’t get enough smoke, it might not work.”

“I don’t want to spend all my time studying for exams just because I’m in the third year of high school, and I want to fall in love at every chance I get,” Asakura ranted.

I questioned myself if Riko had the same strong interest in love as Asakura.

My heart sank at the thought of Riko asking God to have her fall in love with someone else.

I had no right to think of such a thing, but…

After offering the incense, I felt more and more depressed when I saw Riko with her hands clasped together in supplication. Maybe Riko already had someone she loved.

“Look! They’re selling good luck charms! Wow! Cute! It’s a good marriage set! I’m buying this! Why don’t you buy one too?”

“Hai, hai!”

Sawa was seriously replying to Asakura’s not-so-sincere suggestion.

Asakura didn’t hear Sawa’s reply at all and ran off saying, “I want a fortune too!” Benevolently, Sawa followed her as Asakura’s sidekick.

… Even though Sawa is more of a buffoonish character when it’s just me and him…

Well, not many people can have the same attitude when dealing with the same sex as when dealing with the opposite sex.

Anyway, what’s a good marriage set…?

A good luck charm, a red thread, a prayer card, or a good marriage card?

As I tilted my head, Riko giggled next to me.

“The pink one is pretty. I think I’ll buy one too. … What about Minato-kun?”

“Oh…, I’m …”

I couldn’t quite bring myself to ask God for help because I was still reeling from my depressing thoughts earlier. I was the kind of person who couldn’t even tell if my feelings were romantic or not. There was no way God would listen to me if I wished for something with such vague thoughts.

The timing of Riko saying, “They have matching items for men and women”, and me saying, “I’m not buying it”, were almost simultaneous.

“Oh, you’re not buying it? Oh, I see.”

Huh.

Riko, don’t you look kind of sad?

… Did I make you think that it was your fault for choosing this destination because of my unenthusiastic attitude?

Oh no, I have to make it seem like I’m having fun anyway…!

“I think I’ll go ahead and buy the one that prays for good health…!”

“What? … Good health?”

“Or maybe that’s not so good for us…”

“… No! I think it’s fine!”

“Oh, there are two kinds of health prayers, blue and red.”

Well, I guess I’ll go for the blue one.

I took the blue amulet thinking so.

“… Can I get the same one?”

“I don’t mind at all, but don’t you think Riko would have preferred to have good luck in love?”

“No, no, no! I just wanted to wish you good health too! You’re so…”

“What? Are you feeling sick? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine…”

I hope everything’s okay…

Riko was very fidgety and picked up the different colored amulet from me and paid for it. I bought the same thing, just in blue.

“…I’m glad I could buy a good luck charm. I love field trips…!”

“Yeah? I guess so.”

Did you really want a health charm that badly?

But I agreed with her opinion on field trips. It was the first time I had ever spent time like this with Riko, and it gave me a lot of fun memories.

Riko was holding the bag of good luck charms tightly to her chest, smiling happily. It was thanks to the field trip that I was able to see her smile like this.

When you’re with a girl you’re in love with, an ordinary moment becomes so much more special…

I was so depressed that Riko might be in love with someone else, but just her smile directed at me turned my feelings into happiness.

In total, I’m glad that I can end this day on a happy note.

[TN: screeching]