In the After School Library, A Refined Lady's Romantic Comedy Can't Be Compromised - Specials - Part 2
Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii
Specials Part 2
A Lover’s(Not) Envy
【Takinami Ruika’s POV】
At a certain cafe.
“Geeー, listen to this, Kirika-san.”
Hasumi Shion, who was sitting across raised her voice.
She somehow seemed happy, maybe something good happened.
“What’s the matter, Shion-chan?”
The person who responded was the manager’s wife of the cafe, Kirika-san.
Although she was older than us, she was a mysterious person that sometimes had a childish expression, so at times we mistakenly treated her as a friend. She calls herself an ally of a maiden in love and was a good adviser for us. She’s also extremely beautiful.
“Shizuru is lecherous.”
“?!”
I was taken aback by Hasumi-san’s subsequent words.
‘Shi-Shizuru… is what?!’
That guy?
“He would peek up my skirt when I was walking up the stairs, and he talked about how erotic I looked in my pajamas.”
She seemed to be complaining, but the tone of her voice said otherwise.
And it was hard to believe. I could not believe that Shizuru, who had never shown any reaction to my numerous attempts, was doing such things at home, whether for real or as a joke. It was completely unimaginable.
Is it because of the difference in our body? I, myself, don’t think I’m half-bad, but I guess for boys, they would prefer Hasumi-san’s body that rivals gravure idols.
“You should probably scold him for that.”
And, Kirika-san said.
However, she didn’t seem to think Hasumi’s condition was as strange as I saw it, and she was even grinning.
“Ah, no, it’s not like that. Half of the fault lies in me. I was going up and down the stairs defencelessly, and Shizuru didn’t do it on purpose, so it was like an accident. Also, I was wandering around with just my pajamas.”
“Then, you need to mind those things, Shion-chan.”
“Yes, I reflected on it. So this is how it feels to live with a boy.”
Hasumi sipped her iced coffee and quenched her thirst.
“If we had been together since birth and had seen each other naked, we would have been more open and not be so conscious of each other.”
“Oh. It’s not yet too late, you know.”
Then finally, I interrupted the conversation.
“Why don’t you take a bath together? Shizuru’s injury is getting much better, right? You won’t get any more chances.”
“Eh? No, that’s…”
Hasumi-san slurred her words.
“I have a bikini I bought last year, but I haven’t tried it on yet…”
“That’s the problem?!”
“Ah, so that’s the problem.”
Kirika-san and I were stunned.
I didn’t think that was her problem. And there was also the probability that it didn’t fit… somehow I’m getting quite mad.
“You know, you’ve been grinning for a while now, but haven’t you realized what you’ve just said?”
“Eh, what? OMG?!”
Hasumi put her hand on her cheek. Looks like she hadn’t realized it…
“Ah, so you’re the type that enjoys being seen? You have a style that you can show off to others. I’m sure it’s worth showing off.”
“S-stop making me out to be some kind of kink freak!!”
Hasumi-san and I leaned forward across the table and glared at each other.
“Now, now, calm down, you two.”
Then Kirika-san interrupted.
“Shion-chan is happy to have a younger brother named Shizuru-kun, right? You enjoy fooling around together, right?”
“It-it’s nothing like that…”
Hasumi-san was slumped for words yet again.
Since Kirika-san was someone who has more life experience than we do, and was an ally of a maiden in love, she was probably right. Putting aside whether or not Hasumi-san was aware of this or not. In fact, in my eyes, I have a skepticism that it could be… If so, Hasumi-san being excited about having a younger brother was cute and all―,
“For the record, I’m aiming for Shizuru. It feels like I’m being interfered with…”
“N-no, I don’t have that kind of intention.”
Hasumi-san hurriedly answered.
“I don’t know about the “seductions,” you’re doing but if that’s how Shizuru is going to be seduced, then I don’t think it’s a bad idea. Unless you stun him with a stun gun and then give him a fait accompli or something.”
“Can you stop portraying me as some crazy girl?!”
“You were the one who started it, didn’t you?!”
We glared at each other again.
“Two girls are fighting over a boy today. How peaceful.”
Kirika-san stated as she looked at us.
I wonder if this person saw sparks while we glared at each other?
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After school the next day,
Albeit a bit pushy, I went home together with Shizuru.
“Didn’t you have something to talk about?”
He asked me as if he could see right through me.
“I just want to ask―”
“Go on.”
As expected, there was no way I could dodge the topic, and as I asked my question, Shizuru took out a plastic bottle of mineral water from his bag. He opened the cap and put it in his mouth.
“Did you peek under Hasumi-san’s skirt?”
“Gulp”
Then he started coughing.
“Who… did you hear that… Oh, I guess there’s only one who knows it…”
Then, after much coughing, Shizuru finally managed to squeeze out a voice.
“Why would she blabber about that kind of stuff? I’ll tell her straight when I get home.”
It’s probably fine. I don’t think she would talk about it to anyone other than Kirika-san.
“Let me explain, it was just an accident.”
“I know. That’s what Hasumi-san also said.”
“I see…”
Shizuru, perhaps feeling awkward, only uttered briefly.
It was easy to corner him here. But since it was clear from their claims that it was an accident, it was indeed a pity.
“Men are stupid. Sometimes I see them glancing at me all the time.”
“There’s no argument there, so I guess I’ll just have to apologize on behalf of all men.”
Shizuru laughed bitterly.
“…Uh, are you also like that, Shizuru?”
I couldn’t help but be curious, so I asked in a low voice.
“I’m not going to answer that question, because that would mean I’d either be lying or opening myself up.”
“Geez.”
Shizuru’s deceptive reply made my cheeks puff up.
But it also meant that it was a lie of not wanting to see it or opening himself up on wanting to see it. In the end, Shizuru didn’t fully dodge the question. Or perhaps didn’t intend to. He was honest in a strange way.
“If you really want to see it, do it to me.”
“―And, in spite of the bravado, why are you blushing?”
“Because it’s embarrassing!”
We were not lovers who had crossed the line, even if it was the boy I like, saying that to someone was embarrassing. I’m just amazed at how daring I was. Although, it was no different than using a woman’s weapon to seduce him.
“If that’s the case, don’t say it.”
“I don’t like it when you take interest in other girls. Understand it.”
I rapidly spoke.
“Well, of course I know that Hasumi-san has a great body, but if you’re gonna look―”
“Oh, God. Can we stop this conversation?”
Shizuru suddenly interrupted me.
“What’s up, all of the sudden…”
“No, I made a horrible joke to Hasumi-senpai about that. Just thinking back on it makes me wanna crawl on the ground.”
“Ah, I see.”
I immediately realized it.
Since Shizuru, like me, can read the mood excellently, he probably made a “slightly lewd joke” in order to wrap up the conversation nicely. Sometimes that kind of joke can make the atmosphere more relaxed, and it can also make the other person trust you by giving a glimpse of your true feelings. There were even second-tier actors who were good at that kind of talk. However, it was another matter whether Shizuru understands the technique and whether he can smartly tell such a joke.
“Sounds like you’re having a hard time.”
“Shut it.”
Shizuru sulkingly replied.
‘Really. How I envy you…’
I sigh inwardly.
When I asked Hasumi if something was wrong, she said that Shizuru was being lecherous, but she seemed very happy, and when I asked Shizuru about it, it still looked like they were just playing around with each other.
But I was also thankful.
Thanks to Hasumi-san’s family, Shizuru was not left alone after his mother’s death. He also didn’t have to move or change schools, and I was able to walk alongside him as before.