/
T/N: This is the last chapter of the 3rd volume apparently. It’s a strange chapter to end on the volume, but this is what the author decided on, so yeah. Next volume has around 16 chapters. I haven’t read ahead because I’ve been really busy this week so I don’t know what’s gonna happen next. Look forward to it, I guess~
Chapter 54 – Date Plan
“What word do you normally associate with ‘date’?”
“Uh… Amusement park? Aquarium?”
Makoto called me out during recess.
He had a girlfriend named Mimori Ruka.
I had no idea how far their relationship progressed, but the fact that he came up to me with that question meant that they haven’t gone on a date yet.
Anyway, when speaking about dates, those two things were the only ones that came to my mind. I’ve never gone on a date before, so of course my answer would be lackluster like this. He asked the wrong person.
“As expected, that’s your answer huh, Sui? What did I expect from you anyway?”
“Oi, don’t look down on me. I’ll let you know, I’m not completely clueless when it comes to dating… Maybe…”
“Sorry, sorry. Well, where do you think I should go for a date?”
“Why are you even asking me this? Ask Ruka.”
“That’s a tall order.”
“…Is her taste too high-class for you?”
“No, that’s not what I was talking about! Asking her about it is a tall order! I mean, what should I say to her anyway? ‘Wanna go on a date? I haven’t decided where to go yet, though’, that sounds lame! I want to decide on a place before I ask, at least…”
“But won’t it be better if you two were to decide on it by yourselves? Ruka will probably be pleased if you were to discuss everything with her.”
“You’re making it sound like it isn’t your problem.”
“It is, in fact, not my problem.”
“Sui, I beg you! Please help me!”
The reserved and ladylike Ruka with the cowardly Makoto. I guess the latter was suffering from the lack of progress in their relationship.
It wasn’t like I didn’t want to help them, but the problem was, this guy was too much of a coward to make a move. But since he asked me for help, I guess I’ll lend him a hand. We were best friends after all.
“Got it, I’ll consult a specialist for you.”
“What specialist? I don’t remember you knowing someone like that… I have a bad feeling about this…”
“It’s just your imagination. Don’t worry, just leave it to me!”
I left the classroom and went to the toilet. I didn’t really have a business here, but this was a perfect place to make a call, so I pulled out my phone and called a certain someone.
You guessed it, it was her.
{Yes, this is Hiwa. Who am I speaking with?}
“It’s Sui. What’s with that question? Didn’t you see my name on the screen?”
{The screen just said ‘dead person’, how would I know?}
“I’m still alive, thank you.”
{So, what’s wrong? Last time I called you, you whined by saying that I should come directly to your class. Now, you called me instead of coming to my class, what is this double standard, hm?}
“I have my reasons! I don’t want people to hear about this conversation!”
{I see. I’ll turn the speaker on then.}
“Are you a demon?! You’ll make a certain boy cry!!”
According to Shirona, Arina had been in the classroom often ever since Rose Garden was dissolved. She was also more talkative than before. She started to talk with people other than Shirona, like Hiiragi Yuri and Miyanaka Ran.
“I have a question for you, dear romance specialist. Do you remember the Horse-Man?”
{The guy that’s always with you?}
“Yeah. So, he wanted to ask his girlfriend on a date, but he couldn’t decide on the place. Do you have any ideas?”
{Huh? He got a girlfriend? I thought he liked me.}
“He liked you, yes. Didn’t you traumatize him because of it?”
{Is that so? Well, whatever. Anyway, why are you asking me about this? You know my personality well, I don’t know about any good dating spots.}
“Right… You’ve never even gone on a date, huh?”
{You’re trying to piss me off, aren’t you? I swear one of these days, I’ll blow your house up… Anyway, Tsuru should know about this better than me, go ask her instead}
“Ah, right, I forgot that she exists. She’s quite a looker, she should know about it. Alright, I’ll kidnap and interrogate her later.”
{I shoulda recorded this conversation and turned you in to the police.}
So I ended the call. The next plan was decided, I’m going to kidnap Tsuru and drag her to Arina’s class.
I returned to the classroom and texted ‘Leave it to me’ to Makoto. He replied by saying ‘Cr*p, I asked the wrong person’. Jeez, Makoto, you shouldn’t worry too much about this. I have both the smartest girl and the most beautiful girl in our year backing me up. Everything will be fine.
During the lunch break, when I was having my lunch with Makoto, I quietly observed Tsuru’s movements. Noticing my gaze, she would occasionally turn her head to look at me, but I ignored her and continued to observe her instead. I felt like a pervert.
Anyway, thanks to that, I didn’t miss the moment when Tsuru finished eating her lunch.
“Tsuru, can I talk with you for a second?”
“H-Hii! W-What is it?”
“I want to kidnap you.”
“Eh?”
“I want to kidnap you and bring you over to the neighboring class, do you mind?”
“Is that all? Jeez, I was scared because you were staring at me without saying anything. If you wanna take me to Arina-san’s class just say so.”
“That’s my unique way of making you notice me. Then, let’s go.”
“Yes yes.”
I went to the neighboring class with Tsuru and approached Arina, who was sitting while reading a book like usual.
“Kidnapping successful. Now we can proceed to our strategy meeting.”
“You really brought her here…”
“Arina, just to make sure, this is counted as a crime, right?”
“Yes, of course. This guy is guilty just by existing, we can turn him up to the police, no problem.”
“I am the embodiment of sin itself.”
We borrowed the seats in front of and next to Arina and started our discussion in a triangle formation.
“Alright, ladies, thank you for coming here. The subject of today’s strategy meeting is ‘Makoto and Ruka’s Dating Spot’. I would like you two specialists to give out your ideas about this topic.”
“Annoying.”
“I didn’t come here, you kidnapped me.”
“Now, now, lower your hostility down, please.”
The two girls looked at each other and sighed.
“I told you to ask Tsuru about this. I know jack about this kind of thing.”
“Alright, Tsuru-san, do you have any ideas?”
“Arina-san, I thought you were on my side! …Hm… I don’t know… What kind of person is Makoto-kun anyway? Well, we should think of a place based on Ruka’s taste though.”
“Makoto is a serious and pure-hearted guy. Everything changes whenever he puts on his mask though.”
“The exact opposite of you.”
“You, toxic lady over there, shut your mouth for a second. Actually, don’t talk for another seven hundred years. Anyway, what do you think, Tsuru? Any suggestions?”
“Mmm~ Ruka isn’t really an active person, so maybe a flower garden or an aquarium?”
“…The same answer as me, I see.”
“Oh my.”
“As expected, aquarium is the correct answer! I was right, Makoto!!”
“Is that all?”
“It seems so.”
“Thank you, both of you! I’ll tell him about it as soon as I can!”
Both of them let out another sigh. Seriously, happiness will run away from you if you keep doing that, you know? (T/N: A proverb in japanese, ため息をつくと幸せが逃げる – sighing will drive away happiness/good fortune)
“Such an idiot…”
“I’m amazed you can deal with him every day, Arina-san.”
Oi, I can hear you both.
*   *   *
“Makoto. Answer. Aquarium.”
“What’s with that bot-like act?”
“The answer we came up with was the aquarium.”
“Hiwa agreed with that? …But it’s such a generic answer that even Sui could come up with…”
“Yes. Well, if you need more help, tell me. I’ll lend you a hand.”
“Why are you helping me this much?…”
“Because we’re friends, obviously!”
“Kuh! Zukyun!”
“Don’t say that SFX out loud, that’s cringe bro.”
“Anyway, since you offered your help and all, I wanna ask something. What do you do on a date anyway?”
“Figure that out on your own, young man. It wouldn’t be appropriate if I were to tell you everything about it.”
“Then, how about you follow me secretly so you can lend me a hand whenever I get into trouble?”
This guy is telling me to be a stalker. I was called a stalker, criminal and pervert so many times and he told me to act on it?
Arina will have a field day insulting me if she were to find out about this.
But sure, I’ll take her on. Everything for my friend!
“Got it. Tell me when you come up with a concrete plan.”
Time to be a stalker.
But I won’t be alone. Dear Arina, we shall fall to the dark side together.