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Chapter 80
Shizuna’s Not Very Worrying Concern
Translated by HamletJr
Edited by HamletJr
The cultural festival was just a few days away. Ryuichi and Shizuna were actively participating and sharing their opinions about the class’ exhibit, namely the butler and maid cafe, along with its setup and operation.
It seemed that the whole class working together on a single event had inspired the other classes as well, and it was clear that the whole school was trying to make the coming festival a good one.
“…Muu.”
In the meantime, Shizuna, who was leading a fulfilling life both in school and in her personal life, was pondering something in her living room at home. She was intently staring at the TV while thinking about Ryuichi and the box that he had been desperate to get back.
“…I’ve never seen Ryuichi-kun so desperate to get something back like that. He clearly didn’t want me to see what was inside.”
Ryuichi was usually very open and upfront a person, something she’d learnt from having dated him until now, but she had never seen him hide something to that extent. It didn’t seem like he was hiding anything serious, but it really made her a little concerned about his behavior.
“What’s wrong?”
“You see…”
Shizuna proceeded to explain her thoughts to Sakie.
“Hmm, so Ryuichi-kun did that, huh.”
“…I’m definitely reading too much into this. Phew, I’m all right now.”
It wasn’t like she didn’t trust him, but Shizuna thought it would be better to wait for Ryuichi to tell her before jumping to conclusions. It was a pretty strange thought to come to, but it didn’t bother her too much, and it was almost as if all the worrying she’d done earlier was a lie.
“Fufu, you know, Shizuna, it is your birthday next month, so maybe it has something to do with that.”
“…Ah.”
Indeed, Shizuna’s birthday was coming up next month. If it was related to that, as Sakie said, and he had prepared the box for her as a surprise, it was understandable that he’d tried so hard to get it back.
“…I still can’t say for sure, but maybe you’re right.”
Although the thought warmed her heart, at the same time she laughed at the fact that she was a troublesome woman for having worried so much over it. But speaking of which, Shizuna wanted to know when Ryuichi’s birthday was, too. Normally, she would have known this information a little earlier, but she’d been so happy spending her days with Ryuichi that it had completely slipped her mind.
“I might as well ask Chisa-san, since it would be a bad idea to ask Ryuichi-kun himself in this situation.”
With this objective in mind, Shizuna returned to her room in a pleasant, relieved mood. Once she got to her room, she climbed into her bed and, with her back against the wall, operated her phone and opened a folder of photos.
“…Fufu. ♪”
She’d recently gotten to looking at her pictures with Ryuichi like this before going to bed. By preserving the days she had spent with Ryuichi in the form of photographs, she would always be able to remember everything they did through each individual picture. Of course, there was still that certain embarrassing photo from way back, but…now, she could laugh at them as one of her memories.
“…I feel so fulfilled. I never would’ve imagined that just by having a boyfriend, my days would become so much more enjoyable.”
To Shizuna, everything she felt now was all thanks to Ryuichi being there with her. She had never really loved a person as much as she did now, and could have never imagined that she would love someone so much that even if she gave her entire being to them, it would still not be enough.
“I wonder what Ryuichi-kun is doing now?”
Then, while looking at the pictures, she began to imagine what Ryuichi was doing.
“…A boy at night, alone. That could only mean… Nah, I don’t see that happening.”
A man at night, alone, watching lewd things while… was something she’d imagined, but she couldn’t see Ryuichi doing that. Well, she knew it was unlikely that he’d never done it before, and she was sure he’d seen his fair share of adult content too, but…she couldn’t see the present Ryuichi doing that.
“I’ll try calling him.”
Well, it was one thing to look back on her memories with Ryuichi before going to bed, but hearing his voice in person was, after all, the best way to end the day. It was just before ten o’clock, so Ryuichi was probably still awake. Shizuna called Ryuichi, thinking that it would be okay since he did not have his part-time job today.
“…He’s not picking up.”
She tried again several more times, but Ryuichi did not pick up the phone. Thinking that he might be busy or already in bed, Shizuna put her phone down on her bedside…when suddenly, her ringtone for incoming calls played. Shizuna quickly picked up her phone again.
“Ah… Fufu. ♪”
Of course, it was Ryuichi.
“Hello, Ryuichi-kun?”
“Hey. Sorry I didn’t pick up.”
“No, there’s no need to apologize.”
Shizuna then chatted with Ryuichi. Sitting on the floor, she closed her eyes and listened to Ryuichi’s voice carefully as they talked, and she could feel her mouth naturally relax as she did.
“I can’t wait to see you dressed as a butler, Ryuichi-kun.”
“Really? That kinda gives me mixed feelings, y’know?”
“Does it now? But you know, I’m going to be wearing a maid’s outfit too, so we’re even.”
“Well, true that. Speaking of which, it’s not often I see you in a maid’s uniform, so how about we slip away later and have some fun?”
Of course, the ‘fun’ Ryuichi was referring to in this case was sex.
“Try not to dirty the uniform, okay?”
She, too, was pretty much on board with his idea.
Of course, it wasn’t like they would only talk about school and the festival, so naturally, the topic shifted to something else entirely.
“Hey, Shizuna. Are you interested in hot springs?”
“Hmm, well, I’m interested in any place so long as you’re by my side, Ryuichi-kun.”
“I see,” Ryuichi remarked and laughed. Then, he continued.
“You see, I actually went out to eat with Satsuki today, and there happened to be a raffle drawing at the restaurant. So, Satsuki just drew one for fun and ended up winning a voucher for a stay at a hot spring inn.”
“Huh? Really?”
Apparently, he’d had dinner with Satsuki today and won a voucher for a stay at an inn then. When he asked Shizuna if she wanted to go to the hot spring inn together with him, she immediately said yes.
“Of course I want to go. It’s a trip with just you and me, Ryuichi-kun!”
“That was fast. Well, timing-wise, the trip’ll happen in winter, so it’ll be a while until we go.”
No matter how long she had to wait, from Shizuna’s point of view, she felt no other emotion than joy. It would be even more fun if Chisa, Satsuki, and Sakie were there with them, but alas, the voucher was only good for two people, so that was not an option.
“Let’s take some other opportunity and go on a trip with everyone together. I want to have fun with everyone, too.”
“Right. I feel the same way, too.”
But for now, Shizuna was excited that she and Ryuichi would be having fun together. After that, she and Ryuichi talked about a variety of topics, and before she knew it, the clock hands showed 12:00 AM… In other words, the moment the date changed.
“We were really immersed in our conversation, huh?”
“Yeah. I can’t stop listening to your voice… I love you, Shizuna.”
“Ah… I love you too.”
While she wished he would stop with his abrupt blows, it was also in her nature as a woman to wish for him to say more to her.
“They do say staying up late is the skin’s natural enemy. Let’s call it a day.”
“Alright. See you tomorrow, Ryuichi-kun.”
“Yeah. G’night.”
“Good night.”
Thus, their call ended there. Shizuna felt sadness at no longer being able to hear his voice, but smiled bitterly because, just as she’d said with her own mouth, she’d be able to see him again when she went to school, so all she had to do was be patient for a little bit.
“Good night… Ryuichi-kun.”
With his words still lingering in her head, Shizuna drifted off to sleep. Then, that night, she dreamt about traveling with Ryuichi as quickly as possible.
“Ryuichi-kun! Let’s go to the hot springs!”
“Slow down. The hot spring’s not gonna go anywhere.”
“But my time together with you is slipping away!!”
Shizuna tugged on Ryuichi’s arm as if she were a child, perhaps a sign that she couldn’t wait for the planned trip. There were many other guests besides Ryuichi and Shizuna, including three women who were so beautiful that Ryuichi turned his attention to them, even if only for a moment… That was the kind of dream she had.
But, nevertheless, their trip to the hot springs would still be a long ways away. The first event they had to face was the cultural festival, for which preparations steadily progressed until finally, the day of the festival arrived.
“Lookin’ good, you two!”
“…Man, you look cool, Ryuichi.”
Ryuichi was dressed in a butler’s uniform with his hair swept back. Meanwhile, Shizuna, dressed in a mini-skirted maid’s outfit, monopolized the gazes of their surroundings.
“…I wanna go home.”
“No can do, Ryuichi-kun. ♪”
And so, with their classmates gathered around them, the curtains raised on their cultural festival as second-year students.
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