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Vol. 1 Chapter 9.1
SS: The Correct Way to End a Hug
Translated by 64990022
SS: The Correct Way to End a Hug
[TN: after the broadcast at the end of vol 1]
“Um… Minato?”
When I called her name, the girl in my arm replied with a  discontented grunt.
Long after our conversation ended, she still clung to me. And I too, couldn’t bring myself to uncoil the arms that looped her back.
“Isn’t this like, the time to let go…?”
She didn’t respond this time, letting my brilliant suggestion be in vain.
“Hey! We’re not supposed to… like, if anyone sees…yeah?”
It might be a bit late, but we were hugging each other, a real, genuine hug. Not that I object to us hugging, it was a natural development of things. I get it that she wanted support after an ordeal with Yamabuki…
But, I could no longer ignore her smell, her subsiding sobs, her softness and so on. I have done my best, but after being practically glued to her, this was my limit.
So, let’s not go further.
“M-Minato…see…”
“Don’t wanna.”
“Why?! You’re already done crying, right?”
“Yes! But…” She buried her face deeper. “It’s kinda.. Embarrassing”
“…”
“Don’t wanna look at your face… nor you looking mine”
“Uh… right, me too.”
This was my first time hugging someone outside my family. The same probably goes for her…
So, what kind of face should I be doing when we part.
Smile? Should I smile?
“But, we can’t stay like this forever…”
“Right, but…”
After the broadcast ruckus, the neighboring residents might come out to see what happened. If they happened to stumble here… Disengaging now was for the best.
“C-close your eyes.”
“Hm?”
“We both close our eyes, step back, then turn away immediately. Understood?”
If it was this way, it wouldn’t be— maybe a little embarrassing, but not as much.
“R-right… then, at your signal.”
“‘Kay.”
I felt her nod then I squeezed my eyes shut. I slowly pull my arms away from her. It was an awkward posture, but at the moment, I didn’t care.
“You free now?”
“Yup.”
“Good, then—”
“W-wait!”
Hm?
“Io… are your eyes really shut?”
“Of course, why would I look…”
“P-proof? Right! Let me check!”
“Huh…” What is she… “Then you’d see my face! Not fair!”
“That can’t be helped! I need to check!”
“Can’t you trust me?!”
“How can I be sure! Are you planning on watching me!”
“As if I’d do it!”
I don’t think we can get anywhere with this. I mean, this was a hopeless situation. She should have known that she was asking for too much.
“Give up… there’s no choice but to trust each other.”
She sighed
“Don’t sigh” Please don’t, your hot breath fell on my neck, and…
“Eyes closed?”
“Yup, okay, here we go.”
“Hn…” She nodded.
Good grief, why are we still in this position?
“Back away at once, then turn around immediately… Three, two, one!”
But right after, a thought occurred to me.
Supposedly, she was indeed closing her eyes, then she’d neve know, right? A glimpse wouldn’t hurt.
I don’t know why but–
“…”
Our bodies parted from each other. Before she could turn away, I opened my eyes.
Naturally, I felt guilty.
But
“Ah…”
“Ah.”
Our eyes met.
Her eyes shot wide, her mouth like a goldfish gulping for air.
“Y-y-you…!”
“You too! That’s because you did too! If you don’t then this wouldn’t happen!”
I quickly said my defense. Because I don’t think she’d listen to me anymore.
“I say don’t loooooook!!”
Really, what are we doing…
[TN: Actually, this is one of the four SS (cutscenes), the others are limited to bookstores in Japan, so this is the only one I could get my hands on. If anyone happen to have the others, you can send it to my discord and I’d gladly translate.]