Chapter 6 Part 1 – Our Night – Part 1

Translator: Chaos

Editor: Riciel

Riko wasn’t good with thunder and couldn’t sleep alone. She would crawl into my bed in her sleep or keep me in her bedroom. After a couple of such accidents, we had talked it over and made this rule.

– On thunderstorm nights, we would sleep together in the living room with the futons lined up.

If Riko is worried, I’ll do anything I can to ease her fears.

When I suggested for us to sleep together, Riko said she would be happy to do so.

I guess she’s really scared of thunder. Since she’s so happy about that, I won’t back out.

But it’s okay.

Since I started living with Riko, I’ve gradually learned how strong my rationality is.

I’m sure it won’t betray my trust this time either.

The ancient idea that it is shameful for a man to refuse a woman’s advances is no longer in fashion. [TN: It’s a proverb reeee]

I want to be a reliable, dependable man, and be of value to Riko in any way I can.

Even though I had made up my mind to do so, the sky above Kamakura had been peaceful ever since. Despite having rained, there wasn’t any thunder. The season of spring storms must have passed before I knew it, and it was heading towards early summer.

I had been so caught off-guard that the moment I heard the weather forecast on TV that morning, I spilled my tea with a whoosh.

“Waah! Oh no, Minato-kun…! I’ll wipe it off, just sit tight.”

Riko rushed over to me with a clean cloth and carefully wiped up my mess.

“I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. It looks like the uniform didn’t get wet at all. I guess that’s because of perfect timing!”

I felt more and more embarrassed by the serious look of admiration on her face.

“More importantly, Riko. Look at the weather forecast!”

“What?”

Riko looked at the TV screen I pointed at.

The forecast for the night in eastern Kanagawa Prefecture. Strong rain with thunder.

“……! Thunder… Yeah! … Well…”

“Huh? Riko, don’t you look quite happy?”

“What? No, I’m not! I’m not happy!”

“You’re afraid of thunder, aren’t you?”

Yes… But for a moment, I forgot I’m afraid of thunder…”

“……?”

“Ah, um… what Minato-kun suggested to me before… Can I really ask you to…?”

I knew that she was talking about sleeping together. But both Riko and I were too shy to use direct words, so we could only talk in a vague way.

“Yeah… That thing, isn’t it? I know what you mean. As I said before, as long as Riko is fine, I’m totally fine with it…”

“Well then, I look forward to working with you…”

“It’s my pleasure then…”

We bowed to each other awkwardly.

Naturally, I couldn’t concentrate on my classes at all at school that day.

“Hey, Minato. Aren’t you even more listless than usual today?” [EN: Yes, Sawa doesn’t call Minato ‘Shinyama’ anymore.]

“…Huh. What?”

When I hurriedly asked him back, Sawa shrugged his shoulders as if being disappointed.

“Class is already over.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Sawa looked down at me as I put away the textbook on my desk and let out a deliberate sigh.

“Minato’s been in a daze a lot lately.”

“Is that so?”

“Is that because you’re too busy thinking about Hanae-san?”

I was startled by the sudden mention of Riko’s name.

“Wait, what? Hanae-san? What’re you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Do you seriously think you can fool me with that obvious confusion? I’m rather sad that you’re hiding things from me. I thought we were best friends, you know?”

Hidden things.

When he said that, I became even more flustered.

… Sawa, how much do you know…

“Well, it’s quite obvious. There’s no way any man would feel bad about being liked by such a cute girl.”

… What?

“Wait, wait, wait. What? She likes me…?”

“I told you to stop lying to me.”

“No, I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

When I said that with a straight face, Sawa, who had been smirking, stopped laughing.

I asked again.

“Who likes who…?”

“That’s why Princess Riko wants to know about you.”