Vol. 2 Chapter 8: Group. — Part 1

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you’re close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it’s cutesy and childlike.
-senpai: A common suffix and noun used to address or refer to one’s older or more senior colleagues in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club.

“So, Kurosaki, what would like as a souvenir from Kyoto?”

“…I wanna travel with my senpai.”

The next day, as I walked to school with Kurosaki, I had the sudden epiphany to ask her what she’d like as a souvenir. Well, her answer wasn’t something Mr. Kyoto and I could give.

“Uh, y’know, this is a school tip. It’s not private—”

“I know that! But Asakawa-senpai’s there too…”

“Asakawa? What’s up with her?”

“Nothing! Anyway, I wanna go sightseeing in Kyoto with my senpai!”

Kurosaki doesn’t seem to like Asakawa, and something’s bothering her. Today she’s more stubborn than usual. Well, I think it’s an adorable sight to see her walking with me while sulking, but I’d like to get her back to a good mood somehow.

“In that case, why don’t we leave for a while?”

“Eh?! Is that okay?!”

“We’re high schoolers so we can’t go that far, but a little trip to somewhere, let’s say a hot spring, would be dandy.”

“I wanna go! Oh, what should I do, I’m so happy…”

Hearing her smile through the ragged voice, I can say the proposal was well worth it. A trip to a hot spring, just the two of us, sounds like a ton of fun.

Kurosaki’s glamorous figure, soaking in the sweltering water as strands of her hidden blonde glisten against the light… Even just imagining her in a yukata afterward made me feel like I was already there taking a bath.

“Apart from that, what would you like as a souvenir from Kyoto?”

“Let’s see, hmm… I think some Yatsuhashi or something… Nah, it would go bad in no time, and you can buy it here in the first place…” (TL: Japanese sweet.)

“No, you’re not getting the full picture.”

That’s right. Whether it’s a fresh Yatsuhashi or not, you can buy as many as you want at Kyoto fairs that are held every now and then. In fact, there were countless special flavors you don’t usually find anywhere else, so I think this is a better choice in terms of efficiency.

“Oh, then I want a picture of my senpai taken at one of Kyoto’s famous spots!”

“Uh, y’know, gloomy people like me don’t take as many selfies as some sparkly girls like you.”

“Oh, then I want a picture of my senpai taken at one of Kyoto’s famous spots!” She repeated.

“…Gotcha.”

I don’t know what about me taking selfies gets your rocks off, but since she repeated the same words like some sorta machine, I reluctantly agreed. Maybe, just maybe, she’s getting good at handling me.

“So, your friend is gonna confess his feelings on the school trip, right?” She asked me.

“Right. I’d say the odds are 60-40 in his favor, but if they get closer during the trip, it could go higher.”

“Agreed… Well, still think that person has something in mind.”

“What?”

The hell does that mean? Are they a member of some secret organization? Can they use special powers and infiltrate our school to keep an eye on Katayama?

“…I can tell what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that.”

“Don’t read my mind. Also, don’t guess.”

“Well, the relationship between the two has certainly shortened, and it seems they can now hold a normal conversation. I wonder if his feelings were conveyed properly, even if a little.”

“Sure that. It sounded like she lowered her guard, at least.”

If he didn’t strike up an honest conversation then, Iwashiro would probably still be wary. I feel that it was because Katayama, usually so imposing, scurried around to explain the situation. That sudden awkwardness and desperation were enough to convey that he was being genuine.

“While that may be true, I wonder if her prejudice and/or preconceived notions have really disappeared.”

“…What do you mean?” I ask her.

“Well, liking clothes a lot isn’t something to be ashamed of, right? If she started avoiding him since he saw her enjoying her hobby, then she must have some sorta stigma or negative feeling about it.”

“I see. Well, if someone looks good they’re more approachable, so that’s true.”

This is a blind spot. In the first place, Katayama is a swell guy who treats anyone the same, as if there’s no such thing as bad people by nature in his eyes. So because of this image I have of him, I couldn’t imagine Iwashiro having any sorta bad image of Katayama.

But what if, for example, she hates “sparkly” people? That kind of individual sensitivity may be trying to separate the two.

…Despite all that, such a thing isn’t something we can do anything about. The only way, if possible, is through their involvement with each other. Only then can her supposed preconceived notions be changed.

All I can do is set the scene a bit, and the rest is up to how Katayama acts.

“Kurosaki, you’re surprisingly smart.”

“I think so too… So could you pat me?”

“You sure like being stroked, huh? Here.”

I gently slide my free hand over her head. It’s a little difficult due to our difference in height, but her hair is silky and the faint perfume of her shampoo wafted through the air pleasantly.

Even though it was her request, I was looking forward to going on a petit trip with Kurosaki in mind.