Chapter 10

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TL: Single TL Translations

Chapter 10

We took a shower one after another and when I tried to go to the convenience store to buy myself dinner since I hadn’t eaten, Aoi strongly insisted on making me dinner, so I obediently asked her to. She made a simple soup and small rice ball. As usual, it was delicious and while saying ‘it’s delicious’, I finished everything. My stomach has been completely captured by her*.

*same idea as ‘the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’

After finishing the late-night snack, I brushed my teeth and used a towel to cool down Aoi’s eyes before heading to bed. Since Aoi drew in closer from the side when I was lying on my back, I turned my body towards her to which she happily placed her head near my neck and hugged me. It was ticklish, but since she seemed so happy it made me glad that I was able to make up with her. We talked a little and when I stoked Aoi’s soft hair, she called my name, so I replied with ‘what is it?’

“Thank you for saving me today.”

Aoi muttered while looking at me with upturned eyes. Oh yeah, I forgot about it because I put more importance on the fight we had.

“It’s fine. Rather than that, you need to be careful, okay? Aoi’s cute, beautiful and you have a good style… it’s really dangerous.”

“Huh? …It’s okay. I’m… not that cute or beautiful… my styles… a little good, that’s all.”

I was amazed since from the start till the end, she said so with no self-confidence. Her facial features were beautifully arranged and out of 10 people, all 10 of them would probably say she was either cute or beautiful. This girl has such a low self-evaluation of herself. I brought my face closer to her and said in a way as though to persuade her.

“What are you saying? No matter how you look at it, you’re cute, Aoi. No guy would leave you alone, even I’m a captive. You’re so cute that even I unconsciously pamper you. Try not to do anything cute, okay? I really spoil you way too much.”

“T-That’s not true… stop it, it’s really embarrassing…”

Her eyes started swimming causing me to laugh a little and then replying to her with ‘it’s the truth’ while lightly stroking her head. She responded with a bashful ‘don’t tease me.’ Geez, she did it right after I told her not to. She’s too cute there was no helping it.

“I’m not teasing you. Oh, rather than that, just in case, I’ll ask you, but was it fine to tell him to never come here again? I’m sorry if I’m wrong, but that guy was your ex-boyfriend? I’m right, right? From what I saw, it seemed like you didn’t like him, so I told him off, but…”

“I-It’s okay!! I don’t like him, and I was troubled at that time anyway. You really helped me out by coming here.”

Since Aoi’s saying it like this, it should be fine. I was a little anxious, so I’m glad. If that was an unwelcomed favor than I wouldn’t ever be able to look at her because of the guilt.

“That person, it’s true he’s my ex-boyfriend, but… we broke up soon after. We weren’t involved with each other, but from the job I’m doing this time, we’re doing it together and he’s asked me several times to go out with him again. Even though I’ve been refusing him, he’s been very persistent about it, so thank you for today.”

“So that’s what it was. It’s no problem. Rather, that’s your type? Well, it’s true he’s good-looking. Though his personality is different story…”

Aoi became flustered when she saw me slightly grinning, shook her head a little, and answered with a serious look.

“Y-You’re wrong. While it’s true he’s my ex-boyfriend, um… I, remember when I said I didn’t have any confidence in myself? … I thought I would change if I were to like someone or go out with someone… while it’s not good to do this, I tried going out with him. Thinking back on it, I did something disrespectful towards him, but… but in the end, I didn’t like him… so we broke up rather quickly.”

“I see. Hey, it’s okay if you don’t want to say it, but… why do you care so much about the way you speak?”

I asked her something I was always curious about. No matter how you look at it, this girl whose self-evaluation is too low cares way too much about her way of speaking. She doesn’t even realize that because of that, she’s lowering her own self-worth. Aoi lowered her gaze and went silent.

“Sorry, we should stop this talk.”

I was fine with stopping the conversation, so I gently stroked her hair and answered in the same tone I always use. Everyone has something they don’t want to share. Even though I wanted to be helpful, I thought that there was no helping it since she didn’t want to talk about it. When I was stroking her hair and wondering what to say next, Aoi muttered.

“You know, I… I’ve been a shy person way before and… I become really nervous and have difficulty talking when I’m at a new place or if I meet a new person. I can speak okay in front of my friends, but even with that I’m still clumsy with words… I was told that by my friend in the past. They said ‘it’s tiring… talking to Aoi’… and that ‘you don’t talk much so it’s boring talking with you.’ I was asked ‘don’t you have your own opinion?’… and that… was a big shock for me… because it was something I’ve always been worried about, I thought ‘I knew it, that’s what everyone thinks.’ … It all started from there. I’m always worried if I’m annoying when I talk to others and I start thinking about what I want to convey which, in the end, I can’t convey to them properly. I worry about it, but I can’t do anything to be better at it… I hate this.”

I felt bitter from Aoi smiling bitterly while speaking. Her strong complex came from her friend’s thoughtless remarks about her and became a trauma, something she constantly started worrying about. Since that incident, has this girl ever felt at ease next to someone? But, I think I understand a little about how she feels. You tend to remember bad memories more clearly through a strong stimulus. It’s the same for me. I wanted to say something, but I was trying to choose my words with care. I don’t want her to be hurt any more than this. While I was searching for what I wanted to say, Aoi continued with a happy ‘but you know.’

“Since I met Yuki, I haven’t been too worried about it. Well, I don’t want you to hate, but… I was so happy and relieved when you said that to me before*. I also thought it was weird how I couldn’t speak well to others. So, I’m really grateful.”

*I’m assuming this is when Yuki talked about how everyone always has trouble speaking to others and how it’s from experience that we get better at it? Not completely sure

Aoi said it as though she was truly thankful, my chest felt full and I couldn’t stay still. I hugged Aoi and brought my face towards her head. Aoi was surprised, but, while I held it in, I couldn’t see her expression well because the corners of my eyes were hot. Even though it’s not strange or anything. But, I’m happy that I was able to help Aoi.

“Yuki, what happened? It hurts…”

“Aoi said such a happy thing, so it made me want to hug you.”

“What’s that? Are you embarrassed right now?”

She grabbed my clothes a little stronger while laughing a little and hugged me. Even though you’re the one who said it hurts your action says differently, but even so, I was happy. I guess were both embarrassed.

“Yeah. I just felt happy.”

The heat in my eyes cooled down, so I parted and distanced myself from her while smiling like I always do. It’s fine now.

“You don’t need to worry about it anymore. Just like I told you last time.”

“Okay, thank you, Yuki.”

We both started smiling. It seems like we both were able to convey our feelings. My chest felt full to the point I didn’t know how to convey it, but it’s fine like this. I became sleepy as soon as I felt relieved. I forgot that it was already late at night.

“Let’s go to sleep.”

“I guess we should.”

Using that as a signal, I closed my eyes. Aoi drew near me, and when she did, I put my hand around her back and said ‘goodnight’ to which she replied ‘goodnight.’

I closed my eyes and started thinking. It was painful listening to Aoi’s stories, but I can’t leave her alone. I want to be next to her and don’t want her to feel sad anymore. I want to give her as much fun and happy memories so she’ll no longer care about whether she could talk well to others or not.

I won’t hate Aoi for being heavy or clumsy with words. With this opportunity, let’s do a lot of meddling. I resolved that while falling to sleep.

The next day, I felt something brush up against my face, so I opened my eyes and grabbed it at the same time; it was Aoi’s hand. She let out a surprised ‘ah’ and I asked her ‘what are you doing?’ while at point blank range.

“You looked pretty, so… I wanted to touch it, I unconsciously… sorry.”

She apologized bashfully. While I don’t know what part of me is pretty, since I already woke up I replied ‘it’s okay’ and got up. It’s currently 9 AM and Aoi has work from 2 PM, so there’s still some time.

“Aoi, if you’re still sleepy you can sleep, you know? You’re still good on time, right? I’m awake anyways.”

“No, it’s fine, I’m awake too! I woke up a little early so I’m not that sleepy, it’s okay.”

Aoi got up and started arranging her hair. Huh? I started wondering.

“Is that right? …Huh? Does that mean you’ve been touching my sleeping face the whole time?”

“Huh? Um, uh-huh. I did touch your face in the end, but… it was more like looking at instead of…”

Her way of speaking sounded as though she was just exposed of doing something bad. It seems like she apparently woke up way before I did. It would’ve been fine to wake me up, it looks like my idiotic looking face was played with by the cute Aoi. What a blunder.

“Geez, I want to die… if anything, I’m sorry for showing you show an ugly face. Rather, you should’ve woken me up.”

“Huh, that’s not true? Yuki has a… pretty face and I also felt bad waking you up.”

I was put off by Aoi answering seriously. What happened to you, Aoi.

“… Hey, what you just said a moment ago, about how I was pretty, what are you talking about?”

“What do you mean, it’s… the truth?”

I’m not sure why, but she started feeling embarrassed. While I’m pretty happy I was told this by such a cute girl, but, wait. Something’s wrong. My face is ordinary and not pretty at all.

“No, you see, you can only say that I look ordinary, rather, when I drink too much, I’ll become a youkai*. If I’m pretty then Aoi’s on the level of ‘you’re too cute that I can’t look at you,’ alright? If anything, comparing to your cute and prettiness, I would be too misty to the point of being fog?”

*Youkai – supernatural monster and spirits in Japanese folklore. I took this from the wiki so…

While I said this in a slight reproachful manner, as usual Aoi looked bashful and flusteredly moved her gaze from one place to another. Did she not get it?

“Y-Yuki, you keep saying… cute this and cute that, but… I’m completely… ordinary. You’re the one who’s very mature, gentle, and… p… pretty.”

“No, Aoi, you’re cute! You’re seriously too cute to the point where it doesn’t hurt when you come into view, no, more like I want you to come into view of me! I’m what you would call ordinary. Rather, what happened, Aoi. Wait, did someone tell you to say that? That’s the only possibility I can think of, I see… that’s why…”

“That’s not what happened. No one told me to!”

I tried saying the final part in a jokingly way, but Aoi panicked and started denying it. This really makes me want to tease her. It really does seem like I like teasing and messing with Aoi.

“I see, you were threatened. You poor thing. While I have a low salary, I’ll still support you. How much do you want?”

“What? I don’t need any money! Like I said, you’re wrong. I really did just say what I thought and… umm, that’s…”

Let’s stop right around here. I can’t hold in my laughter anymore, I feel sorry for Aoi.

“Fufu, I’m joking, it’s a joke. You were so cute I teased you.”

I placed my hand on her head and started gently stroking her. She had an expression as though she was relieved from the bottom of her heart and spoke.

“This reminded me of the first time we met…”

I started smiling from her murmur.

“I wasn’t joking at that time.”

“I was surprised because Yuki kept saying weird things and even handed me money.”

“I mean I felt bad. But, Aoi, you were speaking really well at that time, you even got angry.”

“It’s because you kept saying strange things, Yuki!”

Aoi said in an unusual angry tone. It seems that at that time we had a lot of thoughts about each other. I felt a little apologetic.

“Sorry, my bad.”

“Be careful about drinking too much, okay?”

Since Aoi said so angrily, I replied, ‘yes yes’ and nodded. As though she just remembered, Aoi headed to the kitchen and started to make breakfast.

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