Traveling With a Beautiful Girl - Chapter 9: LJK

“Oh, looks like you’re back to life, Ka-kun!”

When I opened my eyes to the sound of the gal’s voice, I saw Nanase’s scowling face.

The ground felt soft.

Is this heaven?

“If you’re awake, would you please lift your head?”

“Whoa!?”

The soft ground shook, and my upper body was forcibly lifted. It seemed I had been resting my head on Nanase’s lap. My head couldn’t keep up. At some point, my feet had been taken out of the hot water.

“I was surprised when you suddenly fainted!”

The gal, now speaking, was directing a small fan (a handy fan, perhaps?) at me. Ah, it’s cool. This feels great for my overheated head… but wait.

“How long was I out?”

“About 10 minutes. I’m surprised you got dizzy in a footbath, that’s so weak.”

There were definitely other reasons for my dizziness besides the footbath, but I’ll never tell. I put on my socks and shoes on my fluffy feet.

“Sorry, Ka-kun! I’ve intruded on your trip!”

“Ka-kun?”

“Ka-kun! I heard it from Ri-chan!”

I see, Riho = Ri-chan, huh?

Calling each other by nicknames so soon after meeting, the gal’s communication skills are impressive. Someone who had claimed that only bacouples call each other by nicknames should learn from her.

“That’s way too friendly.”

Someone, crossing her arms and looking displeased, spoke. As usual, her words had a sting to them, but it seemed she had made peace with the gal while I was asleep.

“So, who are you?”

“I’m Tsukino Ruka! A 20-year-old LJK attending Atami Public High School!”

The gal, now known as Ruka-san, struck a pose with a “kapin☆” sound effect.

(T/N: Here: Kapin)

“LJK?”

“Didn’t you know? LAST, as in the last high school girl! In other words, a third-year high school student!”

“Ah, I see…”

Words from the land of the sun… wait, what?

“A 20-year-old third-year high school student…?”

I’m 17 and in my second year of high school.

Being 20 means a 3-year age difference, and being a third-year high school student is…

“I hate smart kids like you, Ka-kun.”

“Ah…”

“Don’t react like that!”

Ruka-san puffed up her cheeks and playfully slapped me.

I was simply surprised. I never expected someone three years older to have such a childish… ahem, youthful spirit.

“Hmph, Ka-kun, you’re thinking, ‘why is she so childish even though she’s three years older,’ aren’t you?”

Who’s the one with the keen intuition here?

“Well, if you skip school on a weekday afternoon to go to a footbath, it’s not surprising that you’ve been held back three times.”

“Ri-chan, you’re so mean! Just because you have a temporary school closure, that’s not fair!”

Ruka-san stomped her foot angrily.

Meanwhile, I tilted my head and asked, “Temporary school closure?”

I whispered to Nanase.

(That’s what we’re going with. It’s best to avoid any trouble, right?)

(Ah, I see…)

She’s really quick on her feet.

“Well, that being said!”

Ruka-san put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest.

“I’m older than both of you, but you don’t have to be formal with me! Oh, but I still want to maintain the dignity of an older sister, so call me Ruka-san-nee-san, okay?”

“Shall we get going, Takahashi-kun?”

“Wait, wait, don’t go, Ri-chan!”

Ruka-san clung to Nanase, shaking her head in protest.

Where did the dignity of an older sister go?

“You’re suffocating me, let go right now, or I’ll dunk you in the footbath.”

“Then it’ll become a full-body bath! Please! As a favor since we just met, I want you to listen to my story!”

Ruka-san pleaded with teary eyes.

“Story?”

Nanase let out a massive sigh, as if her soul was being drained.