MTL: Dexter, Kael
FTL(Hardest Part): KayL
TLC/Editor 1: Alisa
Editor 2: Kakarotto
Note: I used the chinese official translation to translate Chiramune, while my friends KayL and Alisa are raw readers that help me to check the hardest part of the chinese translation. Kakarrot helps me with double checking any irregularities in the sentence.
Shout out to our beta readers.
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4
After having a lot of fun in the batting cage center, we went to the nearby Hachiban Ramen for a slightly early dinner as usual. How much do Fukui’s people love Hachiban? Is there no other place to eat?
I ordered the usual large Karamen with extra scallions and double size gyoza, Yuuko had the creamy salt-flavoured vegetable ramen, Haru had the a vegetable ramen with pork bone and fried rice, and Kaito had vegetable C-set ramen with a large bowl of pork bone and fried chicken. Incidentally, I was only going to order a regular size gyoza, but changed it to a double after hearing Haru and Kaito’s order. They definitely would make me share my portion with them.
Our order arrived, and we chatted leisurely while eating. And just as I predicted, Haru and Kaito took three gyoza each from mine.
“By the way,” Haru spoke up. “Chitose, do you like Nishino-senpai?”
“”Eeeeeh!?””
—PFFFFFTTT!
“Cough, cough, cough!”
Hearing those abrupt words from someone I didn’t expect, I choked as the water I was drinking entered my bronchial tubes.
“Ack, that’s disgusting. Here, wipe your mouth clean.”
Haru scrubbed my face with a hand towel.
“Can you stop wiping me like you were removing stubborn dirt with a rag?”
“So, did I hit the nail on the head?”
“You’re unusually persistent, aren’t you?”
The situation had come to this point, of course, the other two were naturally reluctant to remain silent.
“What? What does it mean? I haven’t heard anything about that!”
Yuuko, who was sitting next to Haru, leaned forward.
Kaito who was sitting next to me saw her reaction and also leaned towards me with a serious look.
“Oi, Saku, are you serious?”
“You’re the one who acts serious here. Chill, I haven’t said a word yet.”
I took another sip of water to calm down and asked Haru. “Why are we talking about this all of a sudden?”
Haru dipped the gyoza she had snatched from me into the sauce before replied.
“I just thought it’s weird that you didn’t crack any stupid jokes when you have a beautiful senpai right in front of you.”
“You don’t need to include that ‘stupid’ part, y’know?”
“Besides, I’ve seen you two a few times over a year. You were sitting on the riverbank chatting intimately after school. I’ve never seen your face like that at any other time.”
So that’s how it was. Well, we weren’t meeting in secret, so it wasn’t surprising that anyone could spot us together.
Yuuko, who had been leaning forward, slumped her shoulders and looked down.
Kaito turned his whole body towards me. “Oi, Saku!”
“…Please calm down. Don’t make things look complicated.”
Yeah, now is a good time to explain. After all, they’re also worried about me.
“I met her by chance last year after I quit the baseball club. At that time, you guys didn’t ask me the reason out of consideration of my feelings, right?”
Yuuko finally lifted her head. Perhaps feeling relieved, Kaito returned to his seat and answered.
“Back then, you had this aura of not wanting to talk about anything.”
“That’s right. I didn’t want to show you guys how weak I was. Even if it wasn’t the case, Yuuko looked like she was about to cry every day.”
Remembering those days made me smile, but Yuuko looked a bit miffed.
“That’s because Saku at that time was totally different from usual! You didn’t tell me anything, and I didn’t know how to make you feel better…”
“I understand. I’m glad for your thoughtfulness, and I think I would still have dodged the question even if you had asked. For me, you guys are part of my everyday life. It’s just that… part of me still wants to find a place where I can shout ‘The King’s ears are donkey ears’.”
Under the table, Haru’s toes brushed against my Stan Smith.
“So, you found that place in Nishino-senpai?”
“She’s an outsider, and maybe because she’s a senpai, I’m able to show a more childish side than usual.”
To put it simply, I’ve become dependent on her.
I could tell her anything, and she would listen to my every single word, and would always respond with words that enlightened me.
Haru looked out the window, giving a somewhat wistful gaze. “I see.”
Yuuko, who was beside her, also had a complicated look on her face.
“It’s frustrating, but I’m grateful to Nishino-senpai for restoring Saku’s spirit.”
After everyone had accepted my explanation, I slurped the rest of my noodles.
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Plebian Translation 