Metoya Translation

UPDATE TERBARU

Ensemble Youth Drama Action-Adventure Adachi
and Shimamura

Come to think of it, we did exchange phone numbers, I remembered.

It was a story from back when we first became second-year students. The fact that such a thing happened makes even a year ago feel nostalgic now. Since then, I've only associated with Adachi; it's Adachi, Adachi, Adachi—that is my high school life.

Just as summer vacation was reaching its climax, I was a little surprised to receive a sudden phone call from Pancho. Speaking of phones, usually means Adachi, so despite picking it up with that mindset, a completely different name appeared, leaving me unable to think of what the business could be, but I decided to answer it for the time being.

There was also the aspect of escaping a little from studying for entrance exams.

『Ya, Shimamura-san. Surprised by the sudden call?』

"Yeah, quite a bit."

For some reason, I got off my chair and sat on the floor. It seems I am shaken, albeit shallowly.

When I exhale slowly, that too flows quietly onto the floor and disappears.

『Can I state my business right away?』

"Go ahead."

So there is business. Though it might be strange if there wasn't.

『Shimamura-san, are you coming to prepare for the cultural festival?』

"Bunkasai."

Even if I knew the word, it was a ring I wasn't used to hearing.

"We had a cultural festival?"

『Apparently so.』

"I have no memory of participating in a cultural festival last year."

『What a coincidence, me neither.』

"Ah, as I thought?"

Setting aside such conversation.

"Is something the matter with the cultural festival?"

『To make something the matter, we're preparing. I thought Shimamura-san might participate too.』

"Haa…… Ah, like a class attraction or something?"

『That's right. We discussed it before summer vacation, did you forget?』

"I have no recollection."

『Right there, actually me too.』

"I figured."

Setting aside such conversation as well.

"Is it voluntary?"

『Left to your autonomy. Since there are exams, I suppose some people won't come.』

"Pan…… You intend to go?"

I nearly said Pancho normally. It would be rude to suddenly call her by a nickname I gave her on my own.

However, I can't remember Pancho's real name. Here, I had no choice but to gloss over it skillfully.

『I'm a committee member, after all.』

"That's a major role."

Information I didn't know was coming out one after another.

『So, come if you're free.』

"Hmm……"

Staring intently at the state of my studies on the desk.

"Well, alright. It doesn't mean I have to participate every day, right?"

『You can if you want. Like I said earlier, it's voluntary.』

"No, since not a single cultural festival remains in my memory, I might as well go for at least one day since it's a rare occasion."

『By a strange coincidence, I don't have any either.』

"Right."

Hahaha, after getting lively.

"Ah, I forgot to ask. What is our class attraction?"

『Fruit candy stall.』

"That is……" An opinion on fruit candy doesn't come out instantly. "Feels yumm~y."

『Ha?』

"Should I go now?"

Ignoring the other party's doubt, I sweep it away with my own question. Since I received a reply saying yes, I decided to start getting ready immediately. First, I have to change out of this worn-out shirt with holes in it.

If I'm going as part of a school event, surely plain clothes won't do and it has to be the uniform? I pick up the uniform that had been a wall decoration without a turn for a while. I'll borrow its summer vacation today too.

Phone and…… anything else to bring? Thinking that, I put just that in my bag and leave the room.

"Oh, remedial class?"

My mother, spotting her daughter trying to go out in uniform, teases.

"They said come help prepare for the cultural festival."

"Cultural festival? We had something like that?"

"Did we?" I waved roughly to my mother seeing me off and left the house.

It would be awkward if only Pancho and I showed up, I think while bathing in the sunlight. Since I was cooped up in my room, I wasn't used to the light and couldn't open my eyes right away. Creating a visor with my hand on my forehead, I start walking, tossed about by the dazzling brightness. A lazy idea floats up that I want to move the whole house.

Just walking makes sweat seep out immediately, and I start regretting leaving the house. Diving into the midst of a youth ensemble cast is not an easy task. It's like walking towards the sun.

Thinking that this will be every day once summer vacation ends, just thinking about next week made me feel like drying up.

"Otto."

My phone vibrates. In times like this, the first candidate is always Adachi. This time, the next candidate.

It was an email from Grandma.

Taking one look at the attached image, my lips ripple.

"……Fu, ffu."

My cheeks loosen unintentionally, and a strange voice leaks out.

It was an image of the tanuki, crushed together with a cushion, laughing happily while being laid upon like a rug by Gon. It seems Gon is also getting used to the tanuki's existence quite a bit.

That is to be expected. After all, that guy looks exactly like a young me.

"Going today too, huh."

Aside from Gon, the tanuki appears in the photos sent by Grandma increasingly often, as if it were a rare creature. Since I see it every day at home too, it's not strange at all. However, realizing she is truly casually shuttling that distance back and forth, I think anew that it's beyond just suspicious.

Summer vacation, which should have been piled high at the beginning, has melted, and now only a handful remains. However, summer shows no sign of passing yet, burning the atmosphere as if swirling a fierce fire.

The cicadas' voices reach me accompanied by wave-like fluctuations.

Summer was raging enough to distort sound.

 

Thinking about how I used to commute during summer vacation for club activities back in middle school, I arrive at school while praising Middle School Shimachan's fight. Incidentally, tracing back further, Elementary School Shimachan was running around with arms thrust out even in the intense heat. It is somewhat suspicious whether she is truly the same lifeform as the current one.

I guess I should just go to the classroom for now, probably, and enter the school building. Come to think of it, I took my indoor shoes home before the break so they aren't here, I recall, putting my shoes in the empty shoe locker. Although the hallway is unmanned, sounds echoing kotsu kotsu like the work sounds of dwarves can be heard from inside the school building.

Listening to that sound while staring at the hallway, I somehow take off my socks.

I felt like the holiday school told me to try it.

Becoming barefoot, I tried walking petta petta down the hallway. Because no one is there, I end up spreading my arms. The elation brought by the extraordinary urged such innocence in me. While knowing that the school floor isn't a clean thing, I still climb the stairs making footsteps like Yashiro.

Since the noise increased when I came in front of the classroom, I entered with the simple impression that they were at it.

"Oh, you came, you came."

Pancho welcomes me immediately. Pancho, who feels nostalgic even with just the summer vacation in between, bursts out laughing seeing the socks held in my hands.

"What is that naughtiness?"

"I just felt like trying it."

"Ah, but, I might kinda understand."

The edges of each other's "kinda" touched, deepening understanding.

That Pancho was wearing indoor shoes properly. The other two, Sancho and Delos, are crouching in another place engaged in some kind of work. Straining my eyes from afar, it looked like they were creating paper strips with the menu contents written on them. Glancing at the state of such work, I realize.

"It doesn't mean preparations started today."

"Yeah. I remembered Shimamura-san suddenly."

"My, my."

You didn't have to try so hard to remember me, though.

There were more classmates in the classroom than I thought. Perhaps it was just right for everyone to escape from exam studying. The fruit candy signboard had already had its frame built and leaned against the wall, just waiting to be painted. According to Pancho's explanation, first and second years do exhibits, and it's decided that third years set up mock stalls.

"That's a setting appearing for the first time."

"Because I just thought of it."

"Eh."

"Come to think of it, where is Adachi-san?"

Where, where, Pancho stretches her neck and peeks behind me. Adachi?

Ah, Adachi, right.

"I haven't contacted her though."

I don't think she'll come anyway.

"Seriously?"

"No…… I thought contact would go from your end."

I can't remember her name yet, but since we talk reasonably familiarly, I can't ask what her name is at this late stage. Don't tell me I actually registered her name as Pancho in my phone.

"Only Shimamura-san can contact her, probably. No one knows Adachi-san's number or anything."

"True."

I underestimated the width of Adachi's social circle. I wonder if the people she has conversed properly with inside the school can be counted on one hand. Naturally, Pancho is not included in that. That Pancho is staring at me as if creating a flow.

Feeling that kind of atmosphere in the place with my cheeks, I ask.

"Shall I call her?"

"It's awkward if we don't ask everyone just in case."

"I see."

It was a dazzlingly sound argument.

Pancho's say had common sense and harmony. All things absent in my association with Adachi.

How should I say, Adachi is quite special, so it's not limited that those apply.

Adachi mixing in this place and working. Looking around the classroom, I frankly thought, unlikely.

Still, saying "Then, just in case," I step out into the hallway for a moment. And, like putting a hand into a narrow burrow, I look at the phone's call history. The history is filled with nothing but calls with Adachi. Somehow, looking at this, it looks like I love Adachi, hahaha, I avert my eyes.

When away from school, I dote on Adachi as a good girl, good girl, and my eyes go only to the wonderful parts, but in a place of group living, quite difficult parts also become visible. But it's not like Adachi has absolutely no sociability; she handles obligatory exchanges flawlessly. Simply, she has no interest in the emotions of others besides that. I think it's amazing how she can compartmentalize that much. I want to experience Adachi's field of vision once.

How does everyone besides me look? And, how am I seen?

"………………………………………"

When I think about Adachi, somehow, it gets long.

I started to lose track of whether I was praising her or what, so I cut it off and tried calling.

Immediately after calling, it connects.

When I call from my end, she really answers in an instant. What kind of action is she taking at home? Enough to make me wonder. I am given a certain kind of emotion by the speed of Adachi's reaction, but in various meanings, after all, she is no ordinary person.

『H-Hello.』

"Mornin'~"

『Mornin'……』

It seems her leaning forward has calmed down a little. A calm Adachi is wonderful too.

"I always think this, but it's just a phone call so you don't have to be so guarded, you know?"

I think Adachi's suspicious behavior has a nice flavor, but if it's always like this, even I won't be able to settle down. It feels like we have to start running together. Since summer vacation is short remaining, I want to go with reluctance to part.

『Because the phone happens to ring when I'm thinking about Shimamura……』

You're always fast though, I scratch my cheek. That means, you see, my tongue wanders.

"Adachi, do you have times when you think about things other than me?"

I end up asking something where embarrassment seems likely to gather regardless of the answer.

What lights up in Adachi's cheeks is conveyed just by her breathing. Adachi's complexion is always a red signal.

But I'm a bad girl who charges in regardless.

『None, I think.』

"Ahaa."

The reality of being super loved sweeps me away like a wave. A heat wave impossible to sense indoors made my cheeks and the nape of my neck rustle. A voice like melted ice leaked out unintentionally, so I adjust my lips.

『Yeah…… Always, all the time, I'm thinking about Shimamura……』

"……I see~"

I knew though.

Thinking only about me that much, doesn't she get bored? Or rather, her concentration is amazing.

Possibly, Adachi might be a much greater figure than I imagine. An ordinary person cannot stare at one thing to that extent. Adachi is pouring all that aptitude into me. I feel honored, and somewhat, slightly unworthy.

That aside, I feel like I've been told this kind of story before too. How many times have we had similar exchanges?

But, I thought, it's fine.

For example, saying I love you, or I like you, it's probably fine to say those things many times.

"It might sound like a lie, but I think about you, qui~te a bit."

I start walking aimlessly while talking. Towards the place with few sounds, unpopular, my feet move.

As I move away from someone, ah, I feel like I am getting closer to Adachi.

Setting aside the good and bad of that, Adachi would be happy.

I am…… that is also an important thing, but, becomes the answer. I can't pretend everything didn't happen. Will Adachi forgive a me like that? I hope she does, I wish.

『Qui~te a bit, huh……』

"Not enough?"

『No.』

It's the voice of when it's not enough. What kind of voice is it.

"Then starting tomorrow I'll think a lot."

『……Um, I didn't mean to, like, demand it……』

It's the voice of being happy while holding back. Even if Adachi has ten colors of voice, I can distinguish all of them.

Not long…… right, it's not an association long enough to be called long yet.

It's only been two years since I met Adachi.

It feels like about ten years already.

"Ah, so about the business, we're preparing for the cultural festival, so this is an invitation asking how about Adachi too."

I derailed a little, but I enter the main topic. Adachi mutters in a tone like rolling a candy she mentions for the first time, 『Bunkasai』, on her tongue.

『Did our school have a cultural festival?』

"Actually, apparently we had one every year."

『I didn't know……』

In the way she accepts it honestly, Adachi's goodness can be glimpsed.

"They say we're making fruit candy in class. Do they have it at your workplace, Adachi? Fruit candy."

『They do. Strawberry, and Muscat.』

"Oh, that's good. Since it's on the menu, it's worth Adachi showing off her skills too."

『I don't make them……』

"You'll become able to make them, yay."

If thinking about sales, Adachi seems likely to be sent to customer service though.

"Won't Adachi come to feel some youth too?"

I recruit a beautiful girl for a scene in a youth ensemble story. The beautiful girl was noncommittal.

『Uun…… Cultural festival…………………………』

The silence after the mutter is long. Rather than pondering participation, it was a length indicating interest in something else. What kind of magnificent speculation is circulating inside Adachi?

Eventually, Adachi gives the answer to her long conflict.

『I have a part-time job too, so until that time.』

"Oya?"

『E, eh, what?』

"No, because I didn't think you would come."

At the unexpected reply, I unintentionally turn around with strange footwork. As if my knee joints melted like candy in the intense heat, moving gunya gunya. Standing still, the heat clings to me and is suffocating.

"I thought Adachi would hate this kind of thing."

『……Well, I don't like it either but.』

"Figured."

But, Adachi continues.

『Shimamura seems to be, like, misunderstanding something but.』

"What, what?"

『I will go…… anywhere, if it's a place where Shimamura is?』

Those were words that made my heart skip. I thought it was already like a confession. Unless viewing it objectively, the embarrassment was to the extent I couldn't handle it fully.

But being told that, I want to resist a little and draw a line.

"Even the ends of the universe?"

『I'll go.』

"…………………Aha."

That she can reply without hesitation there, ah, it must be enticing, I close my eyes.

Then, seeing off the thing passing through the inside of my heart, I open my eyes and am surprised, wa.

Before I noticed, I had come to the end of the hallway. There is only a wall at the terminus.

"No, no, right now we're talking about the cultural festival…… Then I'll be waiting, Adachi."

If I listened to all of Adachi's passionate narration, my phone seems likely to run out of battery.

『I should just go to school?』

"Yeah. Everyone is doing work in the classroom."

『Understood. I'll go immediately.』

Wait for Adachi in a place easier to aim for than the ends of the universe.

However, I think once again that it is unexpected after all.

Adachi might have some purpose in her own way. She doesn't seem likely to have awakened to youth ensemble drama, I imagine while turning my back to the wall at the end and starting to walk. Since she seems likely to come immediately as per her words, I decided to go to the front of the shoe lockers to welcome her.

Making footsteps that sound carefree in the school as usual, petta petta, I go in front of Adachi's shoe locker. Leaning my back, I quietly gaze at the dim hallway where neither sun nor light reaches.

It is rare for me to wait for Adachi outside. Because when meeting up, Adachi is always ahead. While waiting, I face my own heart trying to experience Adachi's feelings. But in my case, my vision bounces roughly and my thoughts are complicated. This is surely not becoming Adachi's feelings.

No one can trace Adachi's way of life. Even me, who is probably the closest.

Then, around the time the cicadas' voices stopped, cried again, and finished one chorus.

Adachi peeks into the school building with a gait like taking a detour, finds me at the shoe lockers, and runs over immediately. That gesture is somewhat heartwarming.

Being constantly trying one's best, like Adachi, has something that appeals to people's hearts.

Thinking I should learn from that, I walk and approach.

"Ya."

When I greet raising my hand small, she attempts to return the greeting lightly, forcedly, "Ya, ya."

This expression including something sticky, trying to make a smile consciously, isn't bad either. Or rather, since her original features are too good, even if a thousand points are subtracted somewhat, it only becomes about nine hundred ninety points, so basically she had no enemies. In short, simply put, I might be fine with anything if it's Adachi.

I felt like I couldn't laugh at Adachi unexpectedly.

Well, setting that aside.

"Adachi's uniform look is also been a while."

"I-Is that so?"

I welcome the clean uniform look I haven't seen since summer vacation started.

Handing a handkerchief saying here you go, thinking is it okay, I wipe the sweat on her forehead directly. Adachi colors her skin with something other than sweat or summer, and her shoulders stiffen slightly. Adachi is forever nervous about contact from me.

"T-Thank you."

"Then shall we go help. However, I'll say it again but you did well coming."

I had arbitrarily misunderstood her as a human who wouldn't harbor a dewdrop of interest in this kind of event. Even if I am here. Since she mutters the reason, "Because I wanted to see Shimamura……", I let it slide with "Fumu."

It's not good to be conceited that it's the usual thing, but it can also be said that I trust Adachi.

"Besides……"

"Oh, besides, besides."

When I press closer, Adachi leans back while the top of her nose turns red.

"R-Right now is a secret."

"Mu. I'm not impressed with secrets."

Where are you hiding it, if we were alone I would start an interrogation, but remembering it's school right now, I restrain myself. If I relax, I seem likely to unintentionally kyakkya (frolic), so I admonish myself that it's no good.

Since Adachi doesn't resist if anything, it's just right if I become strict.

Yeah.

"Also, when it's finished, I'll say."

"Finished?"

"The idea or……"

"Huun."

Surely because it's Adachi, it must be a plan to do something with me.

If so, isn't it a little exciting?

Rather than doing something with Adachi, there was a sense that I was looking forward to what Adachi would say.

Heading to the classroom while expecting Adachi's mysterious plan.

"Oh, Adachi-san came too."

Because Pancho greets mentioning her name familiarly, gazes from other classmates also gather.

Perhaps disliking receiving such attention, Adachi's eyebrows knit slightly.

"Yeah," Adachi fiddles with her hair restlessly and averts her eyes.

Pancho, perhaps sensing the meaning of that reaction, gave me a glance. Why look at me?

"Then first, I'll have you two finish the signboard."

This, she introduces the signboard that was leaning against the teacher's podium.

Fruit Candy, only the pop outline is finished inside the signboard.

"I made it up to here."

"That's amazing."

While praising, however, if so, I point at the signboard.

"Isn't it better to do it until the end?"

"I have to do material ordering and such, so I leave the rest to you."

Seeming busy, Pancho leaves immediately after giving instructions.

"It's fine, but don't expect anything from my color sense."

Shimachan's art grade is at best a 3. Or rather, it was always 3.

Neither good nor bad.

"Adachi, art grade?"

"Eh, 4……"

"Everything depends on you."

I place my hand on her shoulder pon. Adachi shows confusion while staring at the placed hand.

I try holding the colorful pens borrowed from Pancho between my fingers.

Immediately, I felt like I was working. Sometimes I realize I have a simple structure.

"I've never done coloring or such."

"You should just, like, express the colors of Adachi's heart."

I tried to say it artistically, but I feel like it just became a detour.

Was the master painter impressed by those words…… I wonder?

"The colors of my heart."

Adachi's eyes stare intently at me from top to bottom.

"Brown, kite color (tobiiro), dark brown, pale pink, white, light brown…… barefoot."

The last one isn't a color.

"Adachi, you know……"

It's a classroom, I end up feeling embarrassed. No, even if they were listening nearby, they probably wouldn't understand what it's about. But it seems there is only me in Adachi's heart. I know. I know, but I'm shy.

"It is, probably, not about that."

However, if she paints my colors, wouldn't it be somehow plain? For a fruit candy signboard.

Tracing the colors Adachi just listed, it lacks fruitiness somehow.

"Let's forget about me for a moment and color."

"Eh, no……"

"……What a troublesome child."

I hand all the pens I was holding to Adachi. There is not a single one among them that is in the colors depicted in Adachi's heart.

That there are no sought colors in things prepared by others, it's somehow philosophical.

Pushing it like that, Adachi, having given up on various things, starts painting colors on the signboard. After pondering at first, Adachi fills the emptiness with colors basically without hesitation. The signboard being drawn gradually became more festive based on yellow and red.

"This is like the colors of Adachi's workplace."

"Ah, might be……"

Was she painting unconsciously?

Even with a part-time job without significant motivation, it seems there are things that become part of Adachi.

"Adachi-san is good."

Sancho, passing behind, peeks and evaluates that skill.

"Really?"

Even praised by another girl, it seems it doesn't even become a breeze to Adachi's cheeks. Reacting indifferently, she doesn't even check the other party's state. Sancho, perhaps not particularly minding either, left immediately.

Certainly, looking only here, Adachi has an atmosphere of expressionless, cold, and aloof.

There wasn't a single Adachi I knew there.

The Adachi I see daily is, like this.

"Adachi wonderful. Adachi psych~"

"W-What, suddenly."

When I praise her roughly, Adachi relaxes her cheeks, seeming not entirely displeased while confused.

Umu, this, this.

Reacting reasonably even to such haphazard praise, I almost harbored a sense of superiority.

But since such a beautiful girl says she is crazy about me, isn't it unavoidable to become somewhat proud? ……Why does she like me so much?

I don't doubt that she likes me, but no, is it that much, I unintentionally pinch my own cheek.

While I am worrying about my own value like that, Adachi finishes the painting.

Without any hesitation, or perhaps because there is no attachment, she doesn't look back; the work was rapid, and there was no room to doubt the workmanship. Contrary to the person's attitude, the signboard became lively, gorgeous, and had a fun face.

"Isn't it good."

"I wonder."

Adachi tilts her head while putting away the pens. But that tilted head looked down intently at my hand. Wondering what it is, checking my own hand, Adachi drew a short line on the back of my hand with the red pen and yellow pen kyu.

"……What?"

Adachi, applying mysterious scribbles to a person's hand, makes her face tremble puru puru.

"S-Shimamura too…… dye in my, colors……"

Failing to finish saying it, her tongue struggles mogo mogo mogo.

But since what she wanted to do was conveyed, Adachi failing to be playful was funny, and I shook my shoulders and cheeks finely.

"We painted the signboard."

When I report to Pancho after finishing cleaning up, she stops by to peek at the result while moving around the classroom.

"Oh, well done. Then next……"

Make flowers with ribbons, I am instructed. Leave it to me! The one who wasn't very active had a first-rate reply only. And as expected before starting, the flowers created by Adachi are more uniform and shine, and furthermore faster. If Adachi is ten, my work would be between four and five.

I remember being laughed at by my mother for being surprisingly clumsy.

"Do you have experience with this kind of thing?"

"Eh, I'm just doing it normally……"

Not humility or anything, she really seemed to be doing it without being conscious of anything.

Or rather, head and below that are separated cleanly and active. Because it conveys that Adachi is directing attention only to me even while working. Although her usual attitude and expressions are clumsy, I can't even reach her dexterity in strange places and fingertips.

Working flawlessly like that, Adachi is recognized as capable, and work is thrown in poi poi. Watching Adachi receive them indifferently and finish them silently, I watch over with a feeling of an assistant. I help too, but I end up thinking Adachi alone might be more efficient. But Adachi wouldn't work if I wasn't nearby. In other words, I am like Adachi's external battery.

"Charge."

"Eh, what, what what."

When I grab Adachi's wrist, her cheeks turned red so I think the charging was successful.

Like that, although Adachi's reaction is remarkable in the exchanges with me in between, the workmanship or progress of the work she performs solemnly, that side really seemed like she didn't care.

She doesn't make me feel either positive or negative like fun or troublesome.

Can people compartmentalize that much? Adachi's ecology is truly interesting.

Like that, we spend time helping while moving around inside the classroom.

That it came to a temporary suspension was, after all, from Pancho's remark.

"It's almost lunch break~. Therefore I wa~nt someone to go buy lunch."

"………………………………"

Staring blankly at Pancho who is returned with "You go~" and refuses happily "No way~!".

"Adachi came riding a bicycle, so shall we go buy it?"

I propose even though I am not Adachi. "Eh," the Adachi next to me turned this way but I dare to ignore it.

"Really? Then let's ask. E~h taking orders and money from each individual."

Pancho swallows that offer immediately, and goes around among classmates with a memo in one hand. Or rather than skillful, she is good at mediating between people. It was certainly Pancho who invited me to the school trip group too.

Summarizing in a word, surely she is a good guy.

"Rough money, this. If it's not enough, stare at the receipt and pay or don't pay."

"Don't pay is an option?"

Pancho who collected laughs and entrusted the memo and money.

"Your handwriting is pretty."

Looking through the series of orders and stating my impression, she was proud saying "I did penmanship, you see."

I am suddenly made to think that people I don't usually interact with are also properly living their respective times.

"Let's go."

When I urge Adachi, she followed "Yeah……" not seeming very enthusiastic.

When I tried trotting saying let's go patting her back, Adachi also trotted properly, so I laughed.

On the way to the bicycle parking lot leaving the school building, having undertaken it lightly but drinks also come with lunch, so I regret belatedly that this might be tough. Well, if it's two people we'll manage somehow, immediately brushing away the regret, I ride double on the back of the bicycle.

Double riding is forbidden, and we are no longer delinquents, but youth pushes our backs saying ride.

Only time worn out enough to tear remains, for our eighteen years old too.

It's been a while since I rode double on a bicycle with Adachi too.

"I thought going out together would be more to Adachi's preference than working in the classroom."

"That is, true."

While starting to run, Adachi gives me a glance. Looking away is also practiced. She shouldn't get used to it.

Leaving from the main gate, we aim for the nearest convenience store. Since it's just across the roadway, the distance itself is nothing much. But I have thoughts on the situation itself of going out to buy like this.

"Isn't this kind of thing nice occasionally."

"This kind of thing means, what kind of thing?"

"Youth ensemble graffiti."

Receiving the lukewarm wind on my cheeks, I narrow my eyes at the sunlight.

Gathering for a goal, making noise together, aiming for a moment like a sparkler.

That we are here like this as a part of that.

I think it's not that bad.

But for Adachi, it might be nothing but a detour.

For a little while, there is no reply and only the sound of wheels sliding on the ground can be heard.

The sound of the bicycle running earnestly through youth is a little far because I am in a high place.

"When I'm at school, I think a little."

Adachi gives a reply hard to tell what it relates to, while strengthening the force pedaling the bicycle.

"About what?"

"That maybe, I don't like humans."

Adachi's voice is unchanged, but is it the receiver's problem that it feels a little cold?

When people other than me receive Adachi's voice, maybe they always remember coldness like winter in this way.

Maybe, is Adachi's own humility.

"You say quite a dark thing."

I feel from various parts that it's probably so though. It is unmistakable that she is indifferent, then if probing where that lack of interest originates, in the end, isn't she negative towards humans as a living creature?

Adachi's reaction itself of not getting close to what she dislikes is healthy.

Though the target being the same species seems a little hard to live with.

However, was she thinking about such things while working with everyone in the classroom?

No wonder I felt the atmosphere of the classroom and Adachi's steps were uneven and didn't mesh at all.

"Ah, Shimamura is separate, separate okay."

She adds as if flustered. I laugh saying I know.

"Because I'm not human~"

"U, un. Yeah."

"Um, I'm troubled if you affirm it though."

I thought at first it was Adachi's own joke. But Adachi continues with the same tone of voice.

"To me Shimamura is, in the frame of Shimamura…… is human, but different again, or rather."

"……I suppose so."

I'm honored to be invited to the special frame, but.

When I am with Adachi, it seems I have to stop being human. It's quite heavy just to associate with her. Well since Adachi is heavy, if pulled there, it will crush me more than the earth's gravity.

On this earth, become a unique lifeform.

Become Shimamura.

That seems to be the condition to live with Adachi.

Being with Adachi is natural for me too, meaning there are things I gain.

If there weren't, we wouldn't be together. I wouldn't think of going somewhere together.

So, that itself doesn't matter, but.

But there is just a little loneliness in gradually distancing from the way of being as a person.

That's why I might cherish memories and recollections of when I was human.

We arrive at the convenience store parking lot. While getting off the bicycle as if flying, I exhale.

No matter which group she flows into, Adachi doesn't blend in. Doesn't dilute.

Adachi continues to be Adachi.

There are various ways to say it like firm or stubborn, but.

Because I call that single-minded, I thought I am probably with Adachi.

 

The shopping became a large amount as expected, and on the way back my hands were also occupied so we couldn't do double riding. Walking under the intense heat without a refreshing feeling, I realize it's summer. Since I feel it daily, I didn't feel like treating it specially just because of the sweat running down my skin anymore.

Leaving the sensation of plastic bags biting into my fingers firmly, we manage to finish delivering to the classroom.

Finishing payment and various fine parts, since Pancho declared lunch break, we also took our own lunch, left the school building and naturally, our feet headed towards the gymnasium.

I think Adachi just followed me without thinking particularly.

The appearance of following toko toko like a child bigger than myself yearning for a parent is somewhat cute.

Unable to understand the meaning of that gaze, Adachi was tilting her head.

Taking off shoes at the entrance, we peek into the gymnasium. Since there are sounds, it seems there are previous visitors.

"Oh, Hino and Nagafuji."

Beyond the club members jumping on the basketball court and the ball, there were the figures of two familiar people on the stage.

Big one and small one are frolicking with something in one hand. You could say it's the usual Hino and company. Hino seemed to notice us over there too, and jumped down from the stage saying "Yo~". Perhaps because Nagafuji has her glasses off, she doesn't seem to pin us down immediately. Seeing Hino's back, she came down saying "Toa~".

Both had changed into gym clothes that looked easy to move in, and were sweating on their foreheads.

Nagafuji, while leaning forward, confirms our faces.

"Isn't it Shimamama and Chichitchi."

"You recognized faces well even though you aren't wearing glasses."

"Don't praise me too much."

I don't feel like mentioning the names anymore.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like we're doing?"

Hino waves what looks like a script held in her hand pata pata like a fan.

"The usual recreation."

"Don~ don~"

Hearing 'the usual', Nagafuji starts body slamming Hino. While being pushed by that saying "I'll hit you," Hino continues conversation with us as is.

"It was decided we'll do a play in class. It's practice for that."

"Heeh."

Even though she's not in the drama club. No, did our school have a drama club in the first place?

Since I haven't been involved, my consciousness towards club activities is too thin.

"What are you guys doing?"

Hino asks Adachi who pulled back a step taking distance, and me.

"Helping with the class attraction. Now is lunch break."

"Ah, it's already noon."

Hino looks up at the clock hanging on the gymnasium wall. Then, says to Nagafuji who is still bumping.

"What to do for lunch."

"Ou I'll have cutlet sandwich."

"Don't underestimate me."

Since they started frolicking kyakkya together again, I leave them to take their time and move away.

"Those guys are truly…… close, aren't they."

Other descriptions seemed possible, but I dared to choose that expression.

"W-We are also close friends, right."

To the competing Adachi, I laughed "Of course."

On the way up the stairs to the second floor of the gymnasium sandwiching a detour, Adachi touched softly with her fingertips. I feel warm and fuzzy that she has grown enough not to suddenly crush my fingers.

Holding hands loosely, with a sensation of wrapping each other's fingers, we finished climbing the stairs.

"Isn't here nostalgic too?"

"That's right."

I feel the languid heat, like being trapped on the second floor, on the tip of my nose. Air that I don't feel warmth enough to say it's like my parents' home. No, it's too hot. We used to be in a place like this every day.

"Ah, tired……"

With the wall to my back, sitting on the floor, I even feel like I accomplished something.

Even though I just helped with work a little and went back and forth to the convenience store.

"Here, Adachi's."

I hand over the side dish bread that Adachi chose with just a glance, seemingly not caring about the taste.

Adachi who received it tears the wrapper immediately and starts eating while sitting. There is no emotion or pause in the meal.

While feeling that Adachi-ness, sitting together by the wall like this and stretching legs, it was like repeating the same summer forever.

Staring at my bare feet, Adachi also takes off her socks.

Together, we show each other opening our toes wide. I laughed, and Adachi looked shy.

"Only two years have passed since then, isn't it short?"

Conveying to Adachi what I thought earlier too, she affirms "Yeah" while biting the bread.

"I feel like I've been with Shimamura for much longer."

"That's right~, maybe about ten years indeed."

Or maybe more. That much, there are many things that happened between Adachi and me.

Especially Adachi really faces only me, so it must be even denser.

"High school student, apparently ends in half a year."

This is the last time we welcome summer wearing uniforms, and there is no next.

"Is that so."

Adachi spills a reaction like it's someone else's affair, and picks at the sleeve of her uniform.

"Does Adachi want to continue being a high school student forever?"

After asking, I can imagine Adachi's answer will be mostly the same.

But, conversation is important even if I know, and if it's the expected reply, isn't that fine, I think.

"If Shimamura stays there, I'll stay; if you move forward, I'll follow."

See, it's the Adachi I know. Hearts stick perfectly like palms pressed together.

"Adachi, you know, like…… how to say……"

It's quite tough to say it myself, my tongue is heavy.

"Me?"

Eyes and mouth open wide while dry.

"Like, you totally, like me, don't you."

It became a defenseless pointing out, unadorned, like spreading limbs in a big letter Dai (大).

Like being slapped by air resistance, my cheeks are itchy.

Adachi also chokes and rolls her eyes at the unreserved blow.

Both tilt plastic bottles and take a breath while adjusting breathing.

Adachi, who took a deep breath of the heat that doesn't calm one down much even if inhaled, says while slightly crushing the bread.

"Totally, -tally, like."

"Ah, it's that much."

While pretending to be calm, I was pushed enough that I couldn't look directly at Adachi's expression.

Why, I wanted to continue but I can't run that far well.

Why does she like me that much, I often wonder.

I don't hate myself at least for now, but I can't affirm unconditionally either.

It was ticklish wondering how I look to Adachi.

When conversation cuts off and I face front, ah, I become strongly conscious that it's a place for just the two of us.

This sensation like swaying on a quiet water surface is comfortable, and we might have gathered here naturally. But being able to slip out before completely sinking there was surely good luck.

"First, let's rejoice that we both seem likely to manage to graduate."

I change the topic a little.

Without ending school life here, we were able to return to the classroom.

We celebrate such a natural thing under the illusion that we accomplished something.

Clinking respective half-drunk plastic bottles, we played toast.

Moso moso, watching sideways Adachi's meal that seems completely uninterested in taste, I also bite into my rice ball.

There are guys who seem interested only in eating, and there are the opposite too.

Since I am about in the middle, I felt balanced.

What balance is it, I wash down the lump of rice grains likely to get stuck in my throat with tea.

Thinking if I eat too much I'll get sleepy and it seems likely to hinder the afternoon work, I ended up eating two rice balls. It's because I'm already a little restless with the festival mood.

There was a me expecting reasonably of the cultural festival. It's practically my first participation.

After finishing eating, n-, I groan as if immersed in the afterglow.

Stand up.

While moving in a trot, I gaze at the basketball downstairs through the net.

I ended up thinking like it's someone else's affair, wondering if Middle School Shimachan liked basketball.

On the other hand, High School Shimamura takes that, which hasn't changed anything since the last time used, to Adachi.

"How about it? Lightly."

Borrowing a racket and ping pong ball from the box in the back, I show them to Adachi.

It is our origin. Everything really started from here…… now we have completely stopped visiting. But sometimes I want to look back too. Adachi also looked at the racket and pushed the floor with her hand saying "Yeah."

Preparing the net, I bounce the ping pong ball on the table. Mimicking the gesture often done by people playing table tennis, I stare at the confronting Adachi. Adachi showed no sign of being eager, standing upright with racket in one hand.

"Here I go~"

It was too loose, but I couldn't think of any other call.

"Y-Ye~s."

Adachi accepting the challenge is also moderately loose. Conscious of an angle that applies a feeling of rotation, I hit the ping pong ball. Adachi chased that trajectory with her eyes, and hit it back accurately.

I judge instantly the return course of the ball that comes back effortlessly. Conscious of aiming for a position difficult for the left-handed Adachi to hit, I hit back as if folding my arm.

Splendidly swinging late, the ball rolled outside the table.

"Fu."

I go to pick up the ball running quietly. Thinking back, I mostly lost to Adachi even when playing in the past, and I have memories of running around picking up balls like this. Adachi comes to win steadily, and I am putting on airs despite being bad, that is.

In contrast to me who is already covered in sweat, Adachi is still looking cool.

"It's hot, isn't it."

"Yeah."

Even that encircling heat is nostalgic.

When I hand the ping pong ball to Adachi, after bouncing it on the racket several times, she hit it casually. However, that angle was sharper than mine, and attacked my hand accompanied by a unique rotation.

Kashu, with a sound grazing the racket, the ping pong ball produces further rotation.

Splendidly failing to hit, the ball rolled outside the table.

"Fufu."

"Fu, fu?"

Adachi also accepts with a social smile. While responding maa maa maa, I go to pick up the ball running.

Time that hasn't changed anything flows.

Because this is play to immerse in reminiscence, it's fine to stay as the past.

But I decide to learn one breaking ball by the next time we play and surprise Adachi.

A good goal was made, and the arm swinging the racket is also light.

The spirit of fulfillment heightens the will to live. Naturally, I can aim for someday.

The present shapes the future.

That was probably, people's ideal way of life.

Interlude

"Tonkan tonkan!"

"I'll hit you, you know."

When I grabbed the idiot's hand that was chopping my head, we ended up jumping and dancing together just like that. With the difference in our physiques, it was practically equal to me being swung around. After spinning round and round for a while, Nagafuji got bored and let go of me. Nagafuji's carefree footsteps echo on the stage of the gymnasium.

"Even though I was heightening my acting ability."

"There is no carpenter scene."

When I threw the script at her, Nagafuji nodded as if convinced anew, saying "Indeed."

The class attraction for the cultural festival became a play, and that's fine, but by some karma, we ended up becoming the leading actors. Apparently, it's because the two main characters of the novel used as subject matter resemble us.

The content of the novel is that a petite hitman protagonist is asked by an actress she meets by chance to kill people, including herself. Regarding the casting, naturally, at the point of being petite, the hitman is me. And as for the actress.

"In order to acquire the dignity of a great actress, I am swimming in the Hino family's bath every day."

"Don't come every day."

She really is coming, except for during the customary family trip to Hawaii.

Inside the gymnasium, basketball members in the middle of club activities are also running around, and occasionally gazes are directed this way. Rehearsing a play in that midst is accompanied by slight embarrassment, but since the real performance will be held in front of a much larger crowd, it's probably just right for getting used to it.

Unable to refuse completely, I ended up becoming the lead actress, and as a result, I ended up rehearsing for the stage play giving up my summer vacation. Since we aren't the drama club either, there is a limit to the scope of what we can do, but since we are doing it, I wanted to make it into a decent shape. Perhaps the class bunch has a similar stance, days continue where everyone diligently handles preparations. When the surroundings are motivated, well, a desire to do my best sprouts.

"I'm not advancing to higher education so studying is whatever, but what are you doing?"

"I'm getting a job, though."

"At your place?"

"Fufu…… I wonder about that."

"Annoying."

Nagafuji laughs while staring at the view covered by green netting on the second floor of the gymnasium.

It was eyes looking into the distance. The current Nagafuji doesn't have glasses, but even so, it conveys that she is easily capturing that scenery.

"Doing a play together is since nursery school, isn't it."

"Ah…… there was such a thing."

I'm pretending to just remember, but I remembered even without being told. At that time neither of us was a lead role, but we were frolicking and enthusiastic with each other to an extent unthinkable now.

That Nagafuji is unexpectedly enthusiastic might be because there is that memory.

Memories like jewels are indispensable to life.

That radiance is dazzling, and even if I depart far away, if I look back I can find it immediately.

Of course, I also have many such memories.

But no matter how much I can find that light, touching it alone will not come true…… so it is also a tiny bit wretched.

……Well, for now, I suppose I should just take in hand the things that are shining in their own way for now.

I don't feel like the self-proclaimed great actress is shining at all, but pulling that hand, I return to the center of the stage.

"Here, we're practicing again."

"Leave it to me-a!"

Her tongue is rolling unnecessarily since before practice.

"We don't need ad-libs, okay."

"I can do i-it!"

Which is it.

 

Prev

Next

❤️

Dukung Translator

Support the Translator

Traktir kopi agar update makin ngebut!

Buy us a coffee to speed up updates!

Trakteer Ko-Fi