novel-bin Page 720
Page 720
"oh oh……"
Although I answered verbally, it didn't really register in my mind. The pale pink, rounded fingernails danced merrily before my eyes, reflecting the light of the fluorescent lamp; I squinted and stared at them.
Perhaps surprised by my slow reaction, Yukino leaned forward, continuing to peer at me, her eyes asking, "Are you listening?" Ah, I am listening… I nodded in response, leaning back.
However, a floral fragrance wafted from that direction, and my body froze. Glancing to the side, I saw Yui Hama tilting her head, staring intently at the piece of paper. Our elbows bumped, but she didn't seem to notice, still saying, "Let me see too—" and extending her hand. The sound of clothes rubbing together and the sensation of her through my school uniform made me afraid to move, and I heard footsteps nearby behind me.
"Ah~ that's great──"
With that slow sound, something was placed on my shoulder. I turned my head slightly, and I saw Isshiki looking over my shoulder at the piece of paper. Isshiki shook my shoulder and grumbled, "I want to go too—", and I could smell her sweet perfume.
"Will Xiaocaiyu have a next year?"
"This is the last chance to relax before the exams. Third-year students don't have any large-scale activities like school trips."
I was surrounded by three people and couldn't move. I handed the paper forward.
"Thank you for this..."
After saying this, as if I couldn't breathe, I handed the paper back to Tomioka. Now, everyone, please look at yourselves... It's too close... and I don't think I can stand it in this air filled with the smell of perfume.
After returning the paper to Tomioka, the three of them left immediately to talk about their picnic.
I secretly sighed softly and took out my phone.
"Well, now that we've set a deadline, we can decide on alternative dates..."
I opened the calendar and confirmed the dates for the picnic. Then I jotted down a few dates that could be considered for a class reunion. I waved to Komachi and said, "Well, probably in the next few days..." pointing them out to her. Komachi gave me an OK sign to indicate that she understood.
"So, we have a rough idea of the date. Next up is the restaurant."
As I said this, I sat back down and continued the meeting to choose a restaurant.
The first to speak was Tomioka. She spread her eyebrows into a V-shape and raised her hand timidly.
"I'm not very familiar with restaurants... what kind are good?"
"Haha, do I look like someone who understands things clearly?"
I tried my best to appear cheerful and joking, but Tomioka awkwardly looked away.
"……sorry"
She lowered her eyelashes apologetically, seemingly genuinely apologizing.
"Oh no, no... I'm the one who should be apologizing! Just take what I said with a grain of salt, okay?"
"No, that's not true!"
We started nodding and apologizing to each other as we talked. Then, Komachi chimed in, "Sorry, brother said something weird." She started nodding too, and the atmosphere became strange. Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, probably unable to stand it any longer, also started agreeing.
"Tomioka-san, is it really okay to just listen to it casually? Or rather, is it okay not to listen at all?"
"Hmm, it's just a self-torture joke from Xiaoqi? And that's all it is."
However, the two people's words had completely opposite meanings. In this case, compared to Isshiki, who had no intention of speaking up for me at all, I don't know which side had put it more tactfully.
I was just speaking casually, and you could have just listened, but Tomioka seemed to be taking it seriously. Next time, please be more careful… I straightened my clothes, thinking I should say something more serious, and spoke very earnestly.
"Well, for a restaurant, Stamina Taro should be fine..." (note)
Translator's note: "Sutamina Taro" is a Japanese chain restaurant specializing in yakiniku (grilled meat) and sushi.
Since it was a high school class reunion, you could say that cheap and plentiful was the way to go. At Stamina Taro, meat was plentiful, and you could eat as much sushi, pudding, and ice cream as you wanted – it was practically a food theme park. Despite my strong advocacy, everyone's reaction was rather lukewarm.
"Huh? Is that not allowed?"
When I asked that, Yuihama laughed, looking a little troubled.
"It's not impossible..."
"Some people can't eat that much."
Yukino nodded in agreement. Well, it's clear these two don't have big appetites... Even though it's an all-you-can-eat barbecue, some girls might not be able to finish it all.
"Besides, it's even harder to go if there are boys around..."
"I'd be willing to go if it were all girls~"
Komachi and Isshiki offered their opinions from different perspectives.
Hmm, I see... Different preferences between men and women can cause this kind of problem... That's a bit troublesome. If it's just guys, I can totally recommend "Stamina Taro" regardless of anything else, but depending on the situation, I might need to consider a healthier hot pot restaurant like "Shuten-no-Ya". Ah, there's not much difference.
Translator's note: "Shabu-ha" is a Japanese chain restaurant specializing in hot pot and yakiniku (grilled meat).
"If you're talking about stores that girls can also afford, I have absolutely no idea."
I raised my hands in surrender, and everyone accepted it with looky expressions. While I appreciate your quick understanding, couldn't you at least agree a little more? Don't give up!
I don't know if I prayed as sincerely as Miki Maya did. Yuihama reached out a helping hand from her coat pocket.
Translator's Note: The original text here is "真矢みき張り" (Miki Maki Haru), while the original text for "附和" (to agree/conform) is "贴って" (to attach/conform). Both "張る" and "贴る" are pronounced "haru". Miki Maki is an actress who wrote a book titled "If You Pray, It Will Come True".
"Um, our class held its event here."
As she spoke, she rapidly navigated her phone, displaying a page for an Italian-style restaurant. The photos showed stained-glass windows adorning the walls, and the interior décor a modern style with a touch of Showa-era influence. Located not far from Chiba Station, it also offered set menus for gatherings. The scones seemed particularly popular, making it a very trendy place. A restaurant known for its scones rather than pancakes in this era was especially appealing.
"Ah, isn't this place pretty good?"
She leaned over to look at Yuihama's phone and saw that Isshiki's review was quite good. Tomioka exclaimed "Oh—" but her gaze wasn't on the phone; it was on Yuihama.
"So fashionable... Yui-san is such a fashionable person..."
She muttered to herself, her gaze towards Yuihama filled with respect. Ah, no, you mean fashionable people… Is everything alright, Ootori? The more earnest a girl is, the easier it is for her to be seduced by a scumbag. I'm a little worried… well, but most of the people I know are pretty worrying.
Among them, Yukinoshita, who ranks at the top, seems to have a different idea from Koofumi.
"If there are 20 or more people, you can rent the whole room, which also includes microphones and screens. The sound equipment is also complete, making it perfect for scripted events."
Judging from the basic setup, it really has Yukinoshita's style. ...However, as her gaze moved downwards, she saw the picture of the menu. She muttered softly, "Eh, they even have scones..."
Yuihama, Isshiki, Oofumi, and Yukinoshita moved their chairs and formed a circle to exchange opinions about the shop. However, only Komachi stood there with her arms crossed, quietly thinking about something.
"It seems the girl really likes it... What about the boy?"
Because Komachi has an older brother, she has some understanding of men's food preferences. After glancing at the menu, she seemed to notice its shortcomings.
Generally, the amount of food in a party meal should be just right. For adults, plus alcohol, it should be enough. However, boys in middle and high school can eat a lot. Just like foreign cars from a certain era that consume a lot of gas, they can eat as much as they want and still feel hungry, sometimes even consuming the entire rice cooker. And then there are students from the physical education department; judging whether their appetites can be satisfied is now a bit difficult.
However, that's not something I need to worry about right now.
"Well, as for boys, we can just leave them alone."
"Eh...you're suddenly being so ruthless...even my brother can be like this sometimes..."
I completely abandoned my stance as a boy, which surprised Komachi a little.
"That's not the case. It's impossible to satisfy everyone's needs all at once; in these situations, we need to differentiate."
"Distinguish them, oh, how do I do that?"
"We'll do it in stages. Those who are willing can organize a second meeting. Well, using the term 'second meeting' makes it sound like the staff are taking on responsibility, so let them go to places like ramen shops. Anyway, the guys are all potential 'middle-aged men,' so we can just use the methods that work for them as well."
"Oh, oh~ That's very much like my brother's sophistry, it scores a lot for Komachi..."
"Don't call it sophistry!"
Even if you applaud me, I won't be too happy. Well, that's just sophistry.
However, if you prepare these two parts, you should be able to satisfy both the girl and the boy. Boys all like ramen, so no problem, no problem.
"Then, if you can successfully guide them, or rather, incite them, there won't be any problems. There are ramen shops along the route to the station..."
"You've got it all figured out, right?" (note)
Translator's note: A chain ramen shop in Chiba. The one that Hachiman Hikigaya and Iroha Isshiki ate at in volume 10.5.
Ishiki suddenly interrupted me.
"Oh no, the Chiba branch is already closed..."
The correct way to put it is that they moved to Makuhari, well, although the fact that the Chiba branch closed down doesn't change. As soon as I said that, Isshiki lowered his head.
"Oh, I see. I was thinking of going out to eat together again."
"Well, it's not easy for a girl to go in alone."
I understand~ Didn't they say something like that before about LOHAS?
I nodded to show I understood, but Isshiki didn't react at all. Not only that, she also gave me a disappointed look.
Just as I thought Isshiki sighed speechlessly and shrugged, she secretly glanced at Yukinoshita and the others while subtly moving half a step closer.
"Let's go somewhere together next time."
She covered her mouth with her hand and whispered something to herself. Before her sweet breath had even faded, she was already back in her previous spot, casually starting to play on her phone.
"Haha, yeah, everyone together... ramen and stuff."
I can only spout nonsense that no one can hear. Yeah, it's true, we should all go out for a meal together once in a while, it's not bad, yeah.
I was talking to myself quietly when I suddenly realized it.
—My voice was the only one in the office.
The silence was chilling. I looked around; the view was like a first-person perspective from a horror movie.
The camera captures Komachi covering her forehead, saying "Oh no!"
Then there's Isshiki, humming a song while playing on his phone.
Beside us was Tomioka, who was staring at us with wide eyes.
And then there's Yuihama, squinting her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
Then, gracefully resting her hand on her cheek, her mouth slightly open, she tilted her head slightly beneath the snow.
The moment I saw those bright eyes, my stomach suddenly started growling.
A mournful cry reached its throat.
"Ah, I have to go to work..."
Despite making those pronouncements, they remained merely ethereal words in the air.
DB Bonus Chapter 3: New 5 Interlude - Komachi Hikigaya Cannot Decide the Cat's Fate.
Work is wonderful... work can nourish the soul.
—These were my brother's last words. Is this a horse race? We were just in the department office a moment ago.
However, it's true that she left the clubroom saying she was going to work. She even grabbed her bag, planning to go straight home after finishing her business. Then, perhaps because she felt responsible for supervising her brother or something, Yukino followed her out.
How strange… My brother’s boss should be Komachi now… What if he has even higher authority than a boss? What kind of relationship is that? I didn’t dare ask, because even Komachi would shrink back if the answer was something too serious. Well, even if someone holds the power of life and death over him, the eldest son should be able to handle it, right? Who knows?
So now only Komachi and Tomioka-senpai are still in the clubroom.
Yui and Aya have already gone home.
"Are you feeling hungry? Would you like to grab a bite somewhere?"
Translator's note: This sentence is from Isshiki.
"Ah, okay! We've been talking about food the whole time, and now I'm really hungry!"
Translator's note: This sentence comes from Hiramashi.
They said this while laughing and chuckling as they left.
Don't go! Just as I was thinking of relying on them, Iroha-senpai's "Hey!" laugh lingered in my mind. Like a statue in Atami. Note's initial thought was, "Iroha, you bastard!" But then she messaged me on LINE saying, "We're here," and sent a photo of the two of us, so I let it go. It's not really a big deal, but Iroha-senpai always has such perfect angles in photos... Ah, what a great woman! I sometimes have to respect her. But is she okay with her student council and soccer club duties? She's such a peculiar person...
Translator's note: This likely refers to the "Kanichi and Omiya" statue in Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, whose figures are from the famous novel *The Golden Demon*.
Well, Komachi also has her own job... After taking on a task as part of the Service Club, Komachi has to fulfill her responsibilities.
...This has to be done.
Komachi noticed this for the first time.
A year from now, no, maybe six months from now, or even three months from now, it will become a reality that I will be the only one left in this department.
Therefore, you should try to become as familiar as possible.
So, let's work!
"So, let's summarize what we've discussed today!"
"I'm sorry, I'll have to take up your time again..."