CH 8

Episode 8 – “First Day of School, and an Invitation”

I hadn’t thought about it. The meaning of holding hands with her on the way to school.

No, I understood it, but… I got too excited… I was so flustered that I forgot its significance. Nanami-san has rejected countless handsome men before.

The sight of me, a plain and introverted guy who doesn’t stand out in the classroom, holding hands with such a girl, drew curious, surprised, jealous, and hateful gazes from those around us, accompanied by various emotions.

…Fortunately, there are fewer students coming to school early in the morning. Still, a few people were definitely watching us.

Nobody approached us, but those who knew about Nanami-san were whispering to each other.

It doesn’t feel great… but I have to accept it. Nanami-san, on the other hand, glanced at me and said…

“…It might become a rumor, you know?”

As expected of Nanami-san… she was enjoying this situation and teasing me… She had a smile on her face, baring her beautiful teeth. Her pearly white teeth sparkled.

By the way, during the journey so far, she had been talking to me non-stop, unlike yesterday.

“What are your hobbies?” or “What do you do on your days off?” or “Do you have any other girlfriends?” We walked along the way while having such conversations.

Yesterday, Baron-san advised me, “Don’t talk too much about yourself and listen to her. You need to be a good listener.” But all of that was meaningless.

I ended up talking about myself excessively.

And her way of speaking is really clever… or rather, the way she expands the conversation is impressive. When she asked about my hobbies and I answered “video games,” she immediately saw through that the character in my avatar was a game character. Then she smoothly connected it to the question of whether she also plays this game, even though she has never played it herself…

I mean, the way she seamlessly connects questions during the conversation is remarkable. I realized that I had forgotten about the advice Baron-san gave me yesterday, and I ended up talking mostly about myself.

Is this what being a good listener is all about…? It’s completely different from me.

I talked about myself too much, and I apologize if she finds it boring… But for now, I want to believe that it was alright since she seemed to be enjoying it.

“Yeah, you’re right. It might become a rumor… I feel sorry for Nanami-san.”

As soon as I said that, she puffed up her cheeks.

“What’s that? That’s not the reaction I wanted, you know? We’re dating, so it’s fine, right?”

I had the impulse to poke her puffy cheeks. I wonder what would have been the correct reaction? This part might be difficult without understanding Nanami-san’s preferences…

“Besides, stop saying ‘might become a rumor.’ Right now, Youshin is my boyfriend… He helped me yesterday, and he was cool. So… let’s have an equal relationship, okay?”

…This is supposed to be a punishment game relationship, right?

Ah, I see. That’s what she means. An equal relationship. That’s the ideal form of a relationship for her, and I’m simulating it.

I understand.

“Sure, I got it… Nanami-san.”

When I replied, she smiled back at me, but her smile clouded slightly. Her previous radiant smile suddenly turned into a sad smile.

“…I should be the one apologizing… I’m sorry.”

I wonder what that apology meant. Was it an apology for the possibility of it becoming a rumor… or perhaps an apology for this being a punishment game relationship?

If I were to tell her that I knew it was a punishment game, I wonder what kind of expression she would make?

Feeling tempted to see her reaction when I reveal it, I resisted the urge and instead poked her cheek with my index finger.

In response to my sudden action, she widened her eyes and looked at me in surprise. It was meant as a playful gesture, but her unexpected reaction surprised me as well.

“W-Wha… Wha… What was that?!”

“Oh, sorry… You mentioned wanting an equal relationship, and I suddenly apologized, so… Did you not like it? I’m sorry.”

“I… I… I didn’t dislike it, but… it just surprised me… Yeah, I was just surprised…”

Emphasizing her surprise, her face turned bright red, and her eyes were a bit unfocused. It seems like I really surprised her… I feel sorry for that.

She remained silent for a short while, and by the time I noticed, we had apparently arrived at school. We let go of each other’s hands and changed into our indoor shoes from the outdoor ones.

The classroom was the same as always… I thought that holding hands was the end of it, but after she changed her shoes, she reached out her hand again. Even in this short amount of time, can we call it holding hands? Is that so?

“Isn’t it… a little embarrassing?”

“It’s fine. It’s morning, and there aren’t many people around… Just a little longer…”

With her words, I resigned myself and took her hand. The moment we entered the classroom, there was a commotion. Except for the two friends of Nanami, the classroom became lively as soon as we walked in… It seems like her friends arrived quite early.

Amidst the commotion in the classroom, the two of them approached us with smiles.

…Um, what were their names again?

“…Nanami, you’re quite bold. I never expected you to come in holding hands.”

“Harumi… Yeah, well, a little… I guess.”

Her friend with long hair, Harumi, seemed surprised by Nanami’s actions, but her tone was very gentle and gave off a sense of relief. Nanami responded with a shy smile.

“Congratulations! Congratulations!”

“Ayumi, thanks.”

Ayumi, the girl with short hair and a relaxed smile, clapped her hands innocently. It seemed like they were genuinely celebrating our relationship. I thought they would have more strained smiles, but if this smile is fake, I might become distrustful of women.

“Misumai-kun, can I borrow your girlfriend? I want to talk to her about various things.”

“Yeah, sure… Don’t mind me. Nanami, see you later.”

After I let go of her hand, she made a slightly disappointed expression, but she was soon led away by her two friends. Well, it’s difficult to have a conversation about the punishment game when I’m around.

After she left, I looked at my empty hand. And with a lingering feeling, I opened and closed it, still feeling the warmth of her hand.

“I wonder if this is what they mean by ‘punching above my weight’?”

For now, I sat down at my desk… I placed my bag down… Now, what should I do from here?

I subtly looked around the room.

Several people who had been watching us before were fidgeting as if they wanted to ask something. It wouldn’t take long before they gathered around me, probably within a few minutes.

I can imagine the content of the questions from those few people… Now, how should I respond? And more importantly, will I survive until Nanami-san returns… That’s the problem.

And then, one by one, my classmates whose faces and names didn’t match gathered around me, shooting arrows of questions at me.

The question they all asked in unison was, “Why were you holding hands with Nanami-san and entering the classroom?” Everyone wanted to know the answer and swarmed around me.

Honestly… I’m the one who wants to know the answer the most. But for now, I honestly tell them.

“Nanami-san and I are dating. That’s why…”

“Liar!!”

…They didn’t believe me. Well, it sounded more like a scream of disbelief. It’s hard to believe that someone like me, an introvert, would be dating her, right?

Ah, I used “なんか” ( TL notes: Nanka,which can be translated as ‘something’ or ‘kind of’ depending on the text) again… Even though Nanami-san told me not to. Well, it’s impossible to change all at once… I’ll gradually improve on that.

From then on, I was bombarded with questions until Nanami-san and the others returned. The classroom gradually filled up with people, and as a result, the number of people around me increased… The questions were all the same.

As I struggled to answer the questions, the crowd suddenly split.

Like a scene from the Ten Commandments with Moses, the crowd parted… And there stood Nanami-san, Hatsumi-san, and Ayumi-san.

Wow, they walked through the split crowd so confidently, like a scene from a movie… I couldn’t help but be mesmerized. And when the three of them stood in front of me, everyone’s questions shifted from me to Nanami-san.

“Hey, hey, why did you hold hands with Misumai? Is it some kind of game?”

“Hmm? It’s because I confessed to Youshin yesterday and we started dating. Isn’t it normal for couples to hold hands?”

Nanami-san said it so casually that everyone around was wide-eyed. The boys had a look of despair, and some even fell to their knees. The girls, on the other hand, looked at me and Nanami-san alternately with faces of disbelief.

…Just a while ago, they wouldn’t believe anything I said, but when it comes from Nanami-san, they easily believe it… It’s amazing, the influence of being high up in the social hierarchy.

“Come on, come on, disperse, disperse. They’re a couple who just started dating, so let’s watch over them.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Come on, let them be.”

“Ah, thank you… Um… Hatsumi-san and Ayumi-san, right?”

As I thanked them, Nanami-san puffed out her cheeks again.

Huh, did I say something to make her angry?

“Why are you suddenly calling Hatsumi and Ayumi by their first names? You called me by my last name at first…”

“Oh, no… That’s because… um…”

…Nanami-san is sulking.

No, it’s just that I didn’t know their names before, and I just said the names I learned earlier. I don’t have any ulterior motives. But being sulked at in such a cute way, I’m not sure how to react…

“Ahahahaha, it can’t be helped, Nanami. Misumai didn’t have any connection with Hatsumi and Ayumi before, so he just didn’t know their names. I’m Hatsumi Otofuke , nice to meet you, Misumai.”

“I’m Mimitsu Ayumi Kagone. Nice to meet you, Nanami’s boyfriend.”

“Ah, yeah, I see… Thank you. Nice to meet you too, Otofuke-san, Kagone-san.”

While expressing my gratitude to the two people who came to my rescue, I called them by their last names again. As a result, the sullen expression on Nanami’s face seemed to have improved, and she smiled at me. Then she took a deep breath.

“Youshin, what are you going to do for lunch today?”

“Lunch? I usually just eat at the school cafeteria… Maybe I’ll have some bread or something.”

“I made a bento for you, Youshin… So, um, if you’d like… Would you mind eating it together?”

“…I’d be delighted.”

Amidst the attention of the entire classroom, I responded with all my might to the unexpected lunch invitation. At the same time, I finally understood why she was carrying a slightly larger bag than usual…

Is this still part of the punishment game confession? Nanami, are you being too serious?

Interlude : Nanami’s Inner Thoughts

Phew, I’m relieved! It wasn’t Youshin’s bento after all! I’m glad! ( TL notes: maybe she is happy cause Youshin didn’t bring his lunch i guess)

Oh, I wonder if there’s anything he dislikes? Is he okay with homemade food?

Hmm… I’m such an idiot. Why didn’t I ask him properly in advance? I invited him, but now I’m getting nervous…