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 (TN-Send me a pm for any typing/assistant/coding/scanlation commisions you can offer~ by adding me on discord  ExiaRevival#5037 now onto the last part of chapter 4~~~ ) 

The 3rd day of the school festival.

The previous day I came here at Biken before everyone else to tidy up and prepare the club room.

“Good morning…….eh-?”\nI figured no one else was here yet so I said it to no one in particular…but those expectations were soon betrayed.

“Hrrrrnrnrnnn~~~….”\n“Haaaaaaaaaa……”

Whether one held their head or crossed their arms, the two upperclassman from Biken growled in their respective poses.

“Kakihara-san, Sugimoto-san……are you ok?”\n “Oh? Is that you Kyouya-kun? ”\nKakihara-san turned around to greet me with a smile. But there were dark bags under his eyes that speak of his sleeplessness.

“Nah, it’s nothing really just a hiccup with the live show.”\n Sugimoto smiled as well, but the fatigue was also clearly evident on his face.

“By the way, is the girl doing ok?”\n“She’s making steady progress.”

“That’s good to hear! Getting in touch with other people leads to growth.”\nSugimoto-san nodded, smiling in satisfaction\n“Oh yeah, I’m taking the juicer and bowl back with me, the ones at the store aren’t enough”\n“Yeah, go ahead and take it”\n“Sorry we can’t be there. Good luck on your side of the things”\nThe two upperclassmen answering with such low spirits made me worried.\n“Well then, I’ll be going now……”\nI bowed and went out with the supplies I needed in hand. Advertently I put my ears by the door of the clubroom and listened in.\n“Can…..take…..? If we do it now………..right?”

“It’ll be ok……..But if we don’t then…………”\nI couldn’t make out what it really was but it sounded like they weren’t in a good situation.\n“…….I shouldn’t get involved.”

I feel terrible doing this but I’m already swamped with work as it is.\n\n 

“Hiyaah--! Prepare yourself Sasuke!!”

“So you want to be killed that badly Eisai!”\nDaytime of the 3rd day. On the main stage at the central square the Ninjutsu Research club Is holding a stage play. I told Hikawa I would swing by but I haven’t had a chance yet-\n“Ain’t it incredible~, They slashed each other with all their might.”

--So I went to visit with Shinoaki during a break.

“It’s surprisingly more authentic than I expected”\n One wouldn’t think it was something made by a student troupe willy-nilly. The sound effects coming from the PA System added a nice touch and the set was also fully realized. I now understand why Hikawa says that they were a bona-fide sports club. The play has reached its climax when Sasuke, a ninja who has completed his mission tries to be erased by Eisai, a swordsman of remarkable ability, but he desperately stands his ground.

“Sasuke! I have nothing against you, but this shalt be your final resting place!”

However, Eisai’s sword pierces his throat.

“Ackh…..Eisai you basard, retribution will come for ….you….”\nAlas, Sasuke returns to dust as a large tree watches over him……\n“What a sad story~”\n“Yeah, It was worth seeing it” 

For a story that’s been done so many times it was quite refined, the sword battles and performance were impressive. A sad melody played as the play was coming to an end…..

And just then, the large tree standing at the back suddenly started to move.\n“Kyouya-kun, Ain’t that Hikawa-kun?”\nWhen I looked, I saw Hikawa trying to scurry over to the dying Sasuke.”\n“H…huh?”\nI tried figuring out what he was doing.\n“Sasuke! Where’s your fighting spirit!? Get back up!”\nPuzzlingly he started shouting at the fallen Sasuke?

“Hikawa you idiot! Are you insane!?”\n“Me!? What do you think you’re doing Eisai!?”\nSomehow he forgot about his role and got too invested in the play and started cheering for the actor.\n“Get your ass over here Hikawa!”\n“This is why we can’t give you a role with lines!”\nFrom the stage wings two stagehands carried Hikawa off-stage.

“Hey! What are you doing!? Unhand me!”\nThe surrounding got noisy wondering what happened.\n“Hikawa…..I hope you get a role one day.”\nThere’s merits in being constantly fired up but if this keeps up the name of his role may change from tree to just air.\n\n 

---,<><

Coming back to the store, we found Nanako keeping watch.

“Welcome back, did you have fun with that ninja thing?\n“It was amazing~ It was so authentic and interesting~”\nShinoaki cheerfully discussed with her about what she thought of the performance.\n“Hmm? You didn’t have to wear it yet right?”\nNanako then looks at the maid outfit she herself was wearing.\n“Yeah, since I went to all that trouble wearing this so I though of keeping it on till the last minute”\nNanako was embarrassed back then but once she got used to it she seemed to like wearing it. All the clamor from the last two days was non-existent, making it all look like a lie.

[Since it’s the last day of the festival, let’s close up early and have fun.]\nIt was a suggestion that came from Kiryu-san when we opened up earlier.

[It’s the first good thing you’ve said since this whole debacle]\n---Hiyama-san chimed in, and everyone nodded in agreement.\n\n 

So we cut things short early this afternoon and hung a “Closed” sign up front.\nHowever the three of us didn’t get around the school that much so we eventually just ended up talking. I was tired so the air here is a comfortable change.\n“Oh what’s this? So this is where you guys were.”\nThen Tsurayuki showed up out of nowhere.

“A Maid! There’s a maid here! What the heck are you doing Nanako? How bold of you”\n“Can it! This is a maid café so of course I’m like this!”\nNanako was both getting bashful and seething with anger. Tsurayuki laughs saying , “What a scary maid~”, as he walked further into the store.\n“You managed to watch the movie yet?”\n“Yeah,It was a spectacular film. That was way beyond what anyone would expect from a standard college movie!”

The film “The Demon’s Banquet” was originally a graduation project for Geidai. It’s a legendary film that received a tremendous amount of praise and even won an award at the Osaka Film Festival.

“I see, I’d lke for us to make a film that great someday” 

(TN- It was a graduation thesis. College people minds are scary~~~wwwwwwww)

At my words Nanako laughed out and says-

“Me too…..It’s one heck of a dream”

And with that said

“If you don’t mind I’ll be killing time with you here.”

Tsurayki got a chair and found a place to sit with us

“Hah!? Why? I’m the one in charge of this place right now so go away”

“Shaddup! You’re not the boss of me”

He had no intention of going anywhere as Tsurayuki took out a small book and was calmly settled down.\n“Nanako fetch me coffee”\n“What did you say!?”\n“You’re a maid right? It doesn’t have to be good or anything.”\n“What kind of dumb shit are you spouting? There’s no way I’ll do it.”

And as always they initiated their conversations by fighting

“Ya’ guys want to look around some more?”

I nodded at Shinoaki’s suggestion

“Sure, let’s go.”

So we got up left the shop, and made our way back to the square.

<><><><>><><> 

We looked at the Photography Department’s exhibit, ate choco bananas at the basketball 

club’s stall, and visited the Environmental Design Department’s huge scale model of Osaka.  

By the time we finished playing pie toss at the Film Research Group’s stall the sun was

beginning to set and transitioning to dusk. After talking about where to go to next, we decided 

to just take a break in the empty club room. I sat on a tatami with Shinoaki side-by-side 

at the back of the club room.

“We had a pretty swell time”

Shinoaki was in a good mood after thoroughly enjoying the school festival.

“Everyone thought up of a lot of interesting different ideas”

Looking back on it, Shinoaki seemed to be more interested in the exhibitions themselves rather

than the food stalls.

“Where you able to learn a lot about painting?”

“In fact, I feel like I want to go right on back home and draw sum’ more”

“Itching to draw? That’s admirable.”

Shinoaki’s drive is too insatiable to the point of greed but it is an important aspect of humans to 

express themselves so.

“I think of m’self as a very selfish person, if I want ta’ get something I can’t just stop”

She replies with a smile but with conviction behind her words.

“Kyouya-kun, I want ta surprise you again~”

“Sure, I’m looking forward to it.”

“I wonder what I should paint next”

Shinoaki stared through the window at the setting sun. Her glistening face was dyed by 

the sun’s red amplifying her usual cuteness.

(W-why the heck am I staring!?”)

I rushed to look away.

As the san set, the temperature dramatically dropped. The room which had turned red at the 

Dusk was getting colder and colder. It was about this time where someone would turn on the 

heater or use the kotatsu to warm themselves up. And when I was about to get up to turn

something on---

“Huh….?”

Suddenly my vision blurred, losing focus shakily. Then, my field of vision grew narrower as my 

consciousness became fuzzy.

“Kyouya-kun…..Kyouya-kun?”

I heard Shinoaki’s voice from far far away. I felt like I had to say something. And then my 

awareness lapsed.

“Ha…….”

Perhaps it was a momentary fall as my vision returned to normal.

“Are ya okay Kyouya-kun?”

Shinoaki worriedly stared right above me. I fell that bad huh.

“Y’ve been working hard all this time so your body must be tired.”

“I think so too. It’s the last day anyway so it should be fine.”

I was about to muster a laugh but I noticed the situation was a bit odd.

(Why is Shinoaki’s face so close to me?”

In front of me was Shinoaki’s gentle smiling face. My head felt a tender touch along with a

pleasant smell. The back of my head to my neck looks to be in direct contact with 

Shinoaki’s thighs.

So in other words…………..\n(Eh…..Eh…..EEEEH”)\nIt’s a miracle I didn’t yell out in surprise.\nIt’s a lap pillow. Between the time I fell down and the time I got up, Shinoaki had given me her lap to rest my head on.\n“Shinoaki, uhmm”\n“Stay still”\nI was scolded as I raised my head.\n“Your eyes are tired. So just rest, ok?”\n“O-ok….”

I nodded and did as I was told. Shinoaki gently placed her hand by my forehead and stroked it 

gently again and again. The warmth of her hand felt like it spread from my brain to the whole 

body.

“Thanks for the other day. Kyouya-kun defending me made me happy.”

I tried to speak up but this time she stopped me with her finger.

“Don’t talk and listen. It’s a bit embarrassing for me.”

Shinoaki chuckles—

“You’ve always acted like an adult, Kyouya-kun, like a dependable older brother even when you 

protected me back then too.”

She’s said that before

“I can’t repay ye’ back in any way but I will always remember everything y’ve done for me”

After speaking her piece, she wrapped her hands around my head.

“That’s why whenever you’re tired, I’d like to at least do this much……ok?”

My vision darkened, the sounds became distant. I was on the verge of crying for no reason.

The warmth of Shinoaki’s body wrapped around me was about to dissolve and expose the

feelings of frustration and dreariness of my original self so I did my best to keep it all at 

bay.

It was about 5 minutes or maybe even 30 minutes passed. All the while Shinoaki stroked his

head.

“See~ I knew you were tired. Sweet dreams, Kyouya-kun”\n 

\n

“Eh? Did I doze off?”\nShinoaki nodded

“Yup, I’m glad that ye’ looked mighty comfortable too.”\nI looked at Shinoaki’s eyes\nGentle and warm. My existence filled with longing.\n“Shinoaki…..”\nI naturally wrapped my arms around Shinoaki’s back. I raised my body and drew closer to her face.\n“………”\nShinoaki didn’t try to avoid it.\n“………..”\nI swallow back my spit. Millimeter by millimeter I approach her at a frustratingly slow pace. Even then she doesn’t budge at all. I got even closer. It’s a distance where I can feel even the faintest of breaths. 

That’s when I noticed. She slowly closed her eyes. I lifted the hand that I tried to hold her with. I’m clearly trembling. I calm myself down by taking a breath, so I stopped shaking.

*piriririri* *pririiririri*\nMy cellphone is ringing.\n“………..Sorry”\nShinoaki chuckled.\n“It's ok, Go ahead”\n I answer the phone\n“Hello…..Ah, What’s up Nanako?”\nFrom then onwards I stood up on my own two feet and spoke on the line for a full minute.\n“Eh, He did what?”\nNanako’s tone fully conveyed she was upset. It was enough to clue me on that something happened.\n 

\n

(TN Disc- Shinoaki thighs? Where do I sign? And may all the people out there get the thighs they want XD)