CH 10

Episode 10: “For Tomorrow”

Having somehow survived today, I was now at a variety shop that sells household goods with Nanami-san on the way home.

To be precise, I had managed to escape from the swarming boys… but… I felt a little gloomy about going to school tomorrow.

No, with Nanami-san by my side, I should be able to brush away any gloominess. Just thinking about the warmth of our connected hands, there’s no way I could feel gloomy.

The purpose of coming to the store, of course, was to buy a large lunchbox for myself… While selecting the lunchbox, we were discussing it back and forth, and it felt like… how should I put it… we were just naturally doing it, like a newlywed couple. I indulged in such fantasies.

Right after I thought that…

“You know, we look like a newlywed couple. It’s dangerous, isn’t it?”

Nanami-san said that, and I thought I was going to die. The combination of blushing cheeks and a shy face was incredibly powerful. Thank you very much.

“I… I was thinking the same thing.”

I weakly retaliated with a trembling voice, and Nanami-san blushed even more and tapped my back. What a pleasant pain… No, not in a sadomasochistic way, but it really made me feel somehow happy…

In the midst of all that, while I was aware that we were being lovey-dovey, we finally finished selecting the lunchbox…

“This one is perfect. Alright, I’ll go buy it.”

Nanami-san headed towards the cash register, and I panicked and stopped her.

I wanted to buy my own lunchbox, and if possible, I even wanted to cover the cost of the ingredients for today’s lunch.

But I was refused the money for the ingredients… She insisted that it was something she did willingly.

If that’s the case, then at least I should buy my own lunchbox, I told her, and handed her the lunchbox I had bought.

Well, it’s only natural, though. She’s making it for me, and yet I let her buy the lunchbox. What kind of boyfriend am I?

Certainly, even I understand that it’s not right.

But when Nanami-san received the lunchbox from me, her face brightened up.

“It feels like I received a present.”

Upon receiving the lunchbox, she held it dear, and I thought that a handsome guy would be able to come up with a clever response in a situation like this… Unfortunately, that was beyond my capabilities.

The best I could say was a meek “Thank you for tomorrow as well,” while bowing my head.

She responded to my words with a smile, without any unpleasant expression, saying, “I’m counting on you.”

Then, she asked me what I would like for tomorrow’s lunch.

I thought anything Nanami-san made would be fine, but I had heard somewhere that saying “anything is fine” is the most troublesome response, so I requested a dish that came to mind.

“Um… maybe a hamburger?”

“I see, a hamburger, got it. Oh, can you eat bell peppers?”

“I can eat them… I can eat anything except for strong-smelling herbs like cilantro.”

“I’m not a fan of cilantro either. But, in that case, I wanted you to say that you can eat anything when it comes to my cooking. Or something like that?”

…I see, so I should answer like that in these situations. It’s a learning experience.

Despite knowing that it’s too late, I tried repeating those words, but she ended up laughing out loud. Well, I’ll take it as a good response.

After that, we walked home together while chatting. Of course, our hands were still held together.

And then, we parted at the station where we had arranged to meet in the morning.

As we said goodbye, she told me that she would contact me again at night, so I nodded and agreed. It’s frustrating that I can’t come up with clever lines, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

Because I become aware of it in unexpected moments.

Because it’s a punishment game, she’s dating me.

“Well… that’s the summary of what happened today.”

“Hey, you’re giving off a negative monologue, but isn’t it already unrelated to the punishment game in her mind? She’s definitely head over heels for you now.”

After coming home and starting up a mobile game, I consulted with Baron-san and he immediately responded as if to say that my dilemma was pointless. I denied his words, thinking he was being foolish.

“I thought it would be impossible within this week… Holding hands and clearing the hurdle of going to school together, receiving a homemade lunchbox, and even feeding each other ‘aah’? Didn’t she confess to you just yesterday? That’s not something that normally happens.”

You thought it would be impossible within this week…

Well… let’s not dwell on that. I’m the one seeking advice, so let’s just assume that he set high goals for me.

“Is that so? Well, even though it’s called a punishment game, she’s dating me to get used to being with guys, right? So maybe she’s just simulating being in a relationship with me?”

“No, when it comes to confessing as part of a punishment game and then starting a relationship, it’s more like a professional arrangement… I actually expected her to say something like, ‘I’m dating you, so don’t get carried away and don’t talk to me at school.'” ( TL notes: yeah most of the times.)

“She’s not that kind of person.”

Even though I’m the one seeking advice, I couldn’t help but feel a bit irritated by Baron-san’s choice of words and countered him.

Since it’s just text, my discomfort might not come across, but even though it’s just imagination, I feel slightly uncomfortable when she’s spoken of in a negative way.

Well, that’s probably the nuance that doesn’t come across in text. I know that Baron-san doesn’t mean any harm.

“Anyway, let’s consider the following possibilities regarding her current state.”

With that, Baron-san starts discussing her situation.

“Possible scenario 1: She finds pleasure in playing with men, like a seductive type… Is it called a femme fatale?”. ( TL notes: femme fatale – an attractive or seductive woman who causes distress to the man involved with her.

“I don’t think so. She’s not used to being with men… Her friend mentioned that when they decided on the punishment game.”

That’s why I, who was considered to be herbivorous or even fasting, was chosen. And if she were that kind of person, she would have actively dated numerous handsome guys who confessed to her in the past without hesitation.

I can confidently assert that there is a one-in-a-million chance for possibility 1.

“Possible scenario 2: Since she knows that she’ll break up with you in a month anyway, she doesn’t mind being disliked and is using you to create her ideal girlfriend image and testing it out.”

I see… so that was acting out her ideal girlfriend image for Nanami-san… Even though she’s not used to dealing with guys, she came on quite strongly, so I found it strange. But if she was forcing herself to act, then it makes sense.

…If that was really acting, women are terrifying. I’ve thought about it before, but she could definitely make a living as an actress.

She’s beautiful, cute, has a great figure, and a good personality… she’s just adorable.

“Possible scenario 3: On the day she confessed, she fell head over heels for you because you helped her. She’s already smitten with you.”

“That’s the least likely, I think. I mean, all I did was shield her from getting wet with water. To be smitten with someone because of something like that… Is it even possible?”

Well, setting aside the outdated expression… It’s something anyone could have done, not just me. Can someone really fall in love with someone that easily over something like that?

Well, it’s not really my place to say, considering I’ve been completely manipulated by her all day… But still, as a motivation for her to like me… it feels unbelievable.

“Possible scenario 4: You actually reincarnated from another world as a cheat character with the ability to make women fall head over heels when they confess to you.” ( TL notes: all isekai’s I watched till now flashed in my mind)

“Isn’t that too specific of an ability?”

If making women fall head over heels when they confess is the ability, it’s pointless since they would already be head over heels when they confess… Baron-san, you’ve come up with a strange twist.

“Well, personally, I think possibility 3 is the most likely.”

“I think it’s possibility 1. It would be better to break up quickly.”

Peach-san joins the conversation but quickly disappears after saying that. She consistently criticizes Nanami-san. She must have a strong sense of justice and can’t tolerate playing with people’s hearts.

“For me, I lean towards possibility 2. I’m probably just a practice partner who she doesn’t mind being disliked. That’s why I can do various things and act without worrying about others.”

“Well, whether it’s 2 or 3, it doesn’t make much of a difference in what you should do from now on.”

Earlier, Peach-san advised me to break up quickly. It was probably due to her sense of justice, but in terms of playing with people’s hearts, there isn’t much difference between me and her.

During this punishment game, she started to like me… and what will I do after she starts to like me?

“So, Canyon-kun, did you make her lunch and thank her in any way?”

“Oh, no… I thanked her, but… due to various reasons, I didn’t do anything to repay her…”

That’s right, she made me lunch, and I even had her feed me fried chicken, but I only said words of thanks to her. Since she declined the ingredient costs, there was no way for me to repay her.

When I conveyed that, Baron-san responded with a somewhat exasperated answer.

“Ingredient costs… You, you’re not dealing with a bento shop… Instead of that, you should thank her by treating her to some sweets or something, in that kind of form.”

Ah, I see… there was that way too… I didn’t think of it at all… Or rather, my mind was too scattered to come up with it…

No, we walked home together, so there were plenty of chances… This was my mistake.

“Well, wait a moment, Canyon-kun. Your lack of action today gave me an idea for the next mission. This Saturday, you’re going to ask her out on a date.”

“A date?!”

Suddenly faced with this command, I panic. Asking her out on a date is a leap that’s too sudden, and I can’t possibly imagine myself doing it… And yet, that’s the instruction given to me by Baron-san.

She mentioned after school that today’s events were like a date, but she was the one who initiated it, and it was an extension of walking home together… But if I were to ask her out on a date myself… the difficulty level would skyrocket.

“You don’t need to overthink it. She probably wants an equal relationship, so it’s necessary to offer a moderate return as thanks for the lunch… Yes, going to the movies together would be a good idea. It’s a classic.”

A movie date… what is that unknown sound? I can’t possibly do it, but Baron-san is telling me to do it.

“It might seem a bit old-fashioned, but it would be good if you cover all the expenses for that day’s date. As thanks for making you lunch, she would probably accept it smoothly, don’t you think? You said you receive lunch money from your parents… if you save that, you should have enough, right?”

Certainly, she said she would make me lunch from now on. To simply accept that without offering anything in return… it feels unfair and far from the idea of an equal relationship she mentioned.

In order to continue dating her from now on, I’m sure I have to follow Baron-san’s advice and give her a reasonable gesture of gratitude. Otherwise, I will continue to feel indebted to her.

Because it’s a punishment game, I want to at least maintain an equal footing. Regardless of what happens in the future.

“Today, you only talked about yourself… maybe it’s because she’s a good listener… From tomorrow, you should make an effort to properly understand her hobbies and preferences. Ask her about the kind of movies she likes, and get an idea of her preferences.”

“…It’s a bit challenging, but I’ll do my best.”

“When you decide which movie to watch, it’s good to pre-book the tickets. It can get hectic if you buy them on the day, and she might even offer to pay for her own ticket, so if you buy them in advance, you won’t have to worry about that.”

“Understood… By the way… the information about that…?”

“Of course, it’s all secondhand information from the internet. It seems smart to do it that way for a movie date. For things like paying for lunch, it’s better to take care of the bill discreetly when you leave the table.”

…Although it’s secondhand information from the internet, I want to take it as a reference. I’ll keep it in mind for now.

“Listen, it’s important that you ask her out on the date. Don’t keep waiting forever. Show her that you’re very interested in her. Otherwise, I don’t think she’ll ever develop feelings for you… Well, I already think she’s head over heels for you, though.”

“Thank you, Baron-san.”

“No problem. I’m just hoping things go well for you. And… Canyon-kun, it’s important for her to like you, but you should also make an effort to like her. If you continue to date her and have a good time, it would make me happy, as someone who didn’t have a fulfilling youth during school days.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll do my best to develop feelings for her as well.”

I replied that I’ll do my best, but in reality, I was confident about that aspect.

After all, in just one day, I’ve started to be drawn to her, even while recognizing that this is a punishment game relationship.

Well, to be honest… I really like her. I have that level of self-awareness… It’s quite evident.

…I can’t help but think I’m a bit shallow.

Just as I had that thought, a message arrives on my smartphone. The sender is… Nanami-san. And it says the following:

“…Is it okay to have a call right now?”

Interlude: Nanami-san before sending the message

I’ve been staring at my smartphone screen for a while. I’m hesitating about contacting Youshin…

I wonder if it would be bothersome? But I want to hear his voice… What should I do…

…Enough, I’ll go for it! I don’t have the courage to call him directly… so I’ll take an intermediary step for now!