Chapter 14: What’s different about it?

Posted on July 18, 2022by Soafp

Translator: Soafp

[Asuka is in a very good mood!　Yesterday she didn’t take me up on it at all, but today she was very open to listening to me.]

It was after 10:00 p.m.

　I received a chat from Chinami on my phone.

After leaving the family restaurant, we did some shopping, hung out and split up.

　It was not like a date, just like going out for fun on a holiday. As for me, I was just doing my best to be a baggage handler.

　But as a result, the awkwardness with Asuka tended to dissipate.

[I think it’s because the misunderstanding was cleared up. I was out with Asuka today with my sister.]

[Oh, are you guys back together already?]

[No, it’s not like that at all.]

[I see. Well, I’m glad that misunderstanding is cleared up.]

[Yes. If Chinami hadn’t been so wicked in the first place, none of this would have happened.]

[It was Hiro who got on the bandwagon. I was serious.]

[I won’t play that game anymore.]

[Buu. Boring.]

I receive stamps of unfaithful-looking cartoon characters.

Also, it’s not worth the trouble if I’m misunderstood. ……

　No, I don’t have a problem with being misunderstood.

　And now, another person sends me a chat.

[Thanks for today. Carrying my baggage, it helped me a lot.]

What’s this Katakato-style text from ……

　The sender was Asuka.

[You’re welcome.]

　I replied simply, and the message was immediately marked as read.

A little while later, I received a message from Asuka.

[Ah, that was a typo, or rather, I was thinking about something else and couldn’t understand what I was writing.]

[The content is well put together.]

[I think it’s good that the content is clear and coherent. But]

[Hmm?]

[Can I treat Hiroto the same way I treated you today?]

[I don’t want you to worry about me.]

　I send a reply, and a little later I receive a stamp of a character imitating a cat making a circle with both arms.

Incidentally, the chat was sent again.

[Can I call you now?]

“Eh”

　I let out an unintentional sound.

　A phone call, huh?

　I had not expected that request.

However, there was no reason why we couldn’t make a call.

　I operated my phone and called Asuka.

“Ah …… h-hello?”

What I hear is a tone of voice filled with anxiety.

Until recently, I had only heard “nn,” “aiai,” “hoe,” and other such distracting things, so it was refreshing to hear ” Hello hello”

“Oh, um, what can I do for you?”

“Oh, um, there’s something I need to talk to Hiroto about.”

“You want to talk to me about it?”

“Yeah.”

She could have asked for advice when we were making the rounds of the department store.

Was it something difficult to discuss face to face?　

“Well, I mean, I’m looking for advice about my love life.”

“O-ou”

L-love advice? Well, it’s already been a week since we broke up.

　But I don’t know if it’s a good idea to talk to your ex-boyfriend about it.

“I was actually confessed to by a boy in my class yesterday.”

“Is that so.”

Well, in a closed space like a school, the word about a relationship or a breakup spreads quickly.

　As Takase said, Asuka seems to be very popular with boys.

　No wonder there are guys who confess their feelings for her.

” W-What should I do?”

“You’re asking me that?”

　I’m your ex-boyfriend.

　I don’t think I’m the right person to ask for advice.

“I’m just asking for your information. What do you think about me going out with someone?”

“I’m in no position to say anything about it.”

“…I see”

“…………”

　I am sure this is not what Asuka wants to hear.

　Not in terms of physical appearance, but in terms of feelings.

　Asuka is going out with someone, right? After all, I don’t really want to imagine it.

　I wonder if I am quite possessive …….

“However”

“Y-yes!”

“We just broke up, and I don’t think it’s right to get a new boyfriend so soon.”

“So when is it okay?”

“After a month or so?”

“One month?　…… Then, Hiroto will get his next girlfriend in a month.”

“Eh?　What?　I can’t hear what you’re saying.”

“N-Nothing!”

　Asuka says with a stronger tone.

　It was so loud that it hurt my ears.

“What about Asuka?　How long do you think it would take before you’re ready to start another relationship?”

　Since I was so curious, I asked Asuka’s opinion as well.

　Asuka groaned a little and then said, “Hmmm.”

“Thirty years, maybe?”

“Then you will be forty-six. On the verge of dying alone. ……”

“A person who can’t drag out her first love can’t protect anything, right?”

“First of all, there’s nothing to protect.”

“Protect your ex-girlfriend.”

“I wonder if that’s a pre-crime suspect. That would be a stalker, wouldn’t it?”

“I’m just kidding.”

“I’d be in trouble if it wasn’t. ……”

　I’d be surprised if she was serious.

“……….., but that’s how I feel about it. I don’t want to see Hiroto on a date, holding hands, or kissing someone.”

　A melancholy, lonely voice came from my phone.

　I looked into his eyes slightly and mumbled.

“I don’t want to see that either.”

“Eh?”

“Oh, no, forget that.”

“I-I can’t forget it. N-Not fair”

“And you’re the one saying that.”

“….Yes, but. When you say something like that, I get my hopes up.”

　Because it was over the phone, I could not see Asuka’s expression.

　But I could imagine that she was somewhat downcast.

“I’m hoping…”

“Don’t you get it if I don’t tell you?”

　My heart skips a beat.

　I know how Asuka feels.

　I could easily imagine what she was expecting.

“I’m sorry, I was careless.”

“Yeah. ……”

　If I were to say, “Well, let’s get back together,” then we could get back to being lovers again.

But is that really what I want?　

　I still haven’t sorted out my feelings.

　As Chinami said, my feelings are mixed up.　

“We’re going through quite a messy time, huh?”

“Yeah. …… for real.”

“Well, love is messy, no?”

“Uwah, you only know me, but you talk like you know others……”

” What the hell. Sorry”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m going to bed. Good night.”

“Waa, that! That’s not fair!　I mean, even elementary school kids don’t go to bed at this hour!”

　I say sulkily, and Asuka hurriedly stops me.

Can’t be helped.

I’ll just have to stay up with her for a little while longer.

“—-Well, Mami is terrible. When I told her that Hiroto and I had broken up, she said we were divorced at a ripe old age. If you use that analogy, we are still newlyweds, right? Hiroto thinks so, too, right?”

“Hey, do you know what time it is?”

“Oh, haha, the date has already changed.”

“Asuka should be more careful.”

“You told me not to be so cautious earlier!”

　We just broke up, and we’re already a mess, talking on the phone this late at night. ……

　At any rate, I’m almost at the limit of my sleepiness.

“I’m going to bed, good night.”

“Oh, wait. Just one last thing.”

“Hmm?”

“Really love you ……. That’s all. Good night, Hiroto.”

　The call is cut off with a pause.

“………….”

　I stared at the screen of my phone for a while.

　The sleepiness is completely gone, and I feel a strong sense of discomfort in my chest.

I dived into my bed.

　……It’s okay, right?　We’re just back to a relationship where we don’t care. So …… yeah.

　I buried my face in the pillow and let the fuzziness in my chest swell.