Volume 2 - CH 1.5

Minato interlude

Translated by 64990022

Minato Interlude

[TN: to weekly readers, I add a few pages to the last chapter, so you might wanna check that first]

The night of the same day I gave Io the letter.

–“Say, Minato, you like Akashi-kun?” Over the phone, my best friend said such a thing.

“Eh?!”

With a soft crack, the thin lead of my mechanical pencil snapped mid sentence. I clicked the button for more lead.

After quelling my beating heart, I parried. “What are you saying, Shiho? I don’t have Falling-in-love Peculiarity anymore.”

“Yup, last I checked. So, you like him?”

“Fumya!” I shouted.

[TN: Dunno what this is supposed to mean. A muffled “Fujimiya”?]

Then I realized how loud I was, and that the new lead broke, again.

Really… this girl…

–“This has nothing to do with the Peculiarity. No more excuses, please,” she said mockingly.

“Ah! It’s time for a bath.”

–“If I reckon, I gave you a waterproof phone case,” said Shiho innocently.

“Shihooo…” I moaned.

With a sigh, I closed my notebook and took my phone. On the call screen, Shiho was wearing yellow Gelato Pique pajamas. My best friend was still as cute as ever.

[TN: Gelato Pique, Japanese clothing brand, known for those comfy-looking pajamas.]

Although she was very mean on the inside.

–“Come on, come on, Minato-san, there’s only ‘yes’ and ‘no’. If you would?” 

I took the phone to the bath. The camera was, obviously, turned off on my side. Just for today, I set the temperature a little higher.

Yes, or no…

That I… and Io… l-lik—

“How could I know…”

–“Hmm. I see, I see.”

I had expected a pursuit from Shiho, but her soft response was anything but anticipated.

–“Repeat, not a ‘no’ but ‘not sure’ right, miss contestant?”

“T-that’s…”

[TN: warning, NSFW illust coming up]

Now that I thought of it, there was a difference between the two.

I suck in a deep breath and let my head spin. I dipped my face into the water and said.

“Du–blop, blop, blop” I gurgled. 

–“Eh? What did you say?”

I lifted my face. “I don’t know…” I thought I heard a faint giggle from Shiho’s side…

“S-see…!”

–“Right, see?”

“See… it’s completely different from the ones up until now.”

Different from my past crushes.

Ever-present anxiety, impatience, I had never felt something like this before.

–“Right, raight, serr” she drawled.

“You seem to be enjoying this.”

–“How can I? Just appreciating your cuteness, ehehe”

“Shiho”

I gave my smartphone a glare, but of course, to no effect, the camera was turned off.

–”fufufu” her amused giggle leaked through the speaker.

Hmph, while I’m struggling with this feeling…

–“Weeelll, to you, it’s always been like that, that must be a sudden change, I get it.”

“How kind of you, considering the moment before…”

–“Hey, I’ve always been kind.”

“I don’t think you are a few seconds back.”

–“Wha? Really?” She deadpanned, then burst out laughing when I didn’t react. “But you’ve got to find out for yourself whether it’s love or not, yeah?”

“Right…”

–“The Peculiarity that has plage you since forever’s cured, there’s no need to rush things this time around, got it?”

“Shiho…”

–“Hmph, if you have any worries, let me help you,” said Shiho smugly.

I take that back, Shiho’s always kind.

–“Ah, and you two are my main ship, and I intend to stay that way, thanks～”

“‘Main ship’…?” What’s with that smutty word choice…

–“Why not? Akashi-kun’s actually kind under his cold exterior, if there’s anyone I would trust to take care of my Minato, it’d be him. I think he’d be a good match for you.”

“G-good match…”

Shiho’s voice was oddly serious.

Then, the picture of me walking side-by-side with Io came to my mind. My chest tightened while the corners of my mouth twitched up.

The tepid bathwater was suddenly scalding.

“I-I don’t think it’s like that…”

–“Reaaally? Your height difference is just perfect though. Not to mention your hobby.”

“S-stop! Enough of that! That’s all for this talk!”

–“Ehhh, thought we’re getting lively.”

Haah… Oh, dear.

I cut my call with her at that, and took a long shower. I stepped out and dried my body with  a towel, put on a light loungewear and went to dry my hair. The low, dry roar of the dryer and the surging heat directed at my head made me a little fuzzy. While enduring the process, I recalled.

—“I said no!! That’s all for today! I’m going! Dummy!”

That was what I said. And then…

—“I’ll check, give me your cheek”

—“N-never!! Don’t you ever!!”

I mean, if he touched, his power would have activated. And the only thing he’d see would be…

“Haahh…”

Whether this feeling is love or not, I can’t understand. What I said to Shoho was my honest thoughts.

But if it wasn’t love, then what could it be, how did I get rid of the Peculiarity?

“…”

To be madly in love with someone, that was what Io–no, Io’s cousin, Akashi Yukito’s, theory. It would’ve meant that his theory was incorrect, and my Peculiarity was gone by pure chance, without any supporting reason, just precisely that timing.

That was, of course, too absurd.

I shook my head, turned off the hair dryer, and combed my hair with my fingers. When all was done, I staggered to the living room, then fell straight to bed, buried my face into the soft pillow, and groaned.

If this is love.

If Io knows of this.

I’d be causing him even more trouble.

“No good.”

I flipped and faced the ceiling. I closed my eyes and sighed.

That’s enough for today.

Like Shiho said, I can now finally take it slow, right?