CH ss - 20

SS 20: The Type of Couple That Relentlessly Flirts During Phone Calls at Night

Translated by: chocolalaEdited by: Seiryuu

“Phew… Finally, the homework’s done. It’s only half past eight.”

Friday night, in my room. After finishing the school homework, I leaned on the chair and stretched my arms. Today, Yuzu had something to do with her friends, so I didn’t stop by the literature clubroom; I had time to spare, so I decided to quickly get all the homework done.

“Just because there’s a public holiday that makes it a three-day holiday starting tomorrow, this amount of homework is too much…”

‘Well, I already got them all settled, so I can play games all I want in these three days. If I want, not just from tomorrow, I can even start from tonight—’

I was about to reach for my latest game console—different from the retro one available in the literature clubroom—when suddenly, there was a sound of a ringtone from my smartphone.

“Who the hell would do something so strange as calling my phone?” I was saying something a loner would say, and it only made me feel pathetic.

But well, I could somehow guess who the caller was.

“Yes, hello?”

[Ah, hello. Is this Yamato-kun?]

Just as I thought, the voice from the receiver belonged to Yuzu.

“Yea. What’s the matter? Is there anything?”

[Can’t I just call my boyfriend even when there’s nothing?]

“No, not like you can’t. It’s just that I’m about to play a game now, so I’ll hang up. See ya on Tuesday at school!”

[Hey! What are you doing hanging up a call from your girlfriend so easily?! What’s more, it’s right after I said such a cringy line.]

As soon as I tried to hang up the phone, a harsh complaint came my way.

“So you’re aware that it’s indeed cringy…”

[Of course, I do. Otherwise, I wouldn’t ever say such lines normally. You should know, this is a line girls say to make them sound cute.]

“That’s so honest of you despite being that calculative. Alright, in consideration of your brazen audacity, I’ll keep you company.”

Above all, if I hung up here, she would likely sulk.

[Erm, this doesn’t sit that well with me… but anyway, what did you just do, Yamato-kun?”

“I was doing homework. Just finished.”

[Is that so? I’ve also finished just now, and am now drinking coffee.]

Perhaps delighted by our synchronized actions, Yuzu’s voice was a little bouncy.

[Say, Yamato-kun, how about you also drink coffee?]

“Why would I?”

[Hmm, wouldn’t that bring forth the feeling that we’re sharing a moment together?]

“Well, I don’t really mind… I also just happen to have a canned coffee here, if that’s okay?”

I pulled open the can of Emerald Mountain coffee that I prepared to drink during my study session.

[Thanks. What do you think? Can you feel the joy of sharing the same moment with me?]

“Yes, yes. I’m the happiest person in the world.”

I just followed along her narcissist line, and took a sip of the sweet coffee.

[Yup, yup. Then, I’ll give the happy Yamato-kun another present.]

“Huh? Present?”

I wondered what it would be, and there sounded the notification of an incoming message. I checked the phone display; a message attached with a photo was sent by Yuzu.

“What’s this…?”

[Don’t think too much. Just try opening it?]

I just did as told and opened it—a selfie by Yuzu, apparently taken just now.

She was wearing quite a rough-looking T-shirt that seemed like her roomwear and holding on to a mug filled with coffee; compared to the usual her, the photo showed the relaxed version of her.

“What’s this…?” I repeated what I just said earlier, and Yuzu on the other side of the telephone giggled.

[I told you, it’s a present. A photo of Yuzu-chan during her private time. Are you touched? If you are, you may use that for your standby screen.]

“Why…”

[Although I think it’s improbable, this is something to avoid you cheating on me!]

“Are you commanding me to appeal to others that I have a girlfriend…? Hey, you don’t have trust in me?”

I never behaved as I would cheat on her, so just what was this lack of trust?

[No-no, I properly trust in your non-popularity, but it still makes me insecure, you know.]

“Just what are you basing your trust on? You should evaluate me more on my character or something!”

[I properly do. Non-existent communication skill, no consideration towards others, no friend who would introduce you to girls; yep, this is the exact character of someone who cannot cheat!]

“I’m really amazed you actually date someone like that!” I snapped.

I was surprised at how easily I lost my temper. But for the sake of my honour, I needed to clarify that.

“Me not cheating, isn’t it more like because I’m loyal…nah, I’m not exactly infatuated with her, so there’s no loyalty here. Then, because I’m sincere…? But no, I’m not even her real boyfriend, is there even sincerity in this? Else, because there’s no one more charming than Yuzu…? No, there certainly is. There’s a lot when her personality is compared.”

[Yamato-kun? What are you muttering about?]

Yuzu found it strange, so I cheerfully answered, “Yup, when calmly I think about it, I think I’ll cheat on you when an opportunity arises.”

[HEY! What is that ridiculous conclusion you just reached!]

“I really feel sorry about this, but I’d like you to forgive me. After consideration, the fault lies with you for not being able to keep me.”

[What crooked logic you have there! How dare you ask me to assess you based on your character with that!]

I had no words of rebuttal regarding that.

“Chill, I was just joking. I didn’t even want to date you in the first place, so don’t worry.]”

[I know that, but… still, I’m still insecure, so make that your screensaver, okay?]

“Alright, alright.” I nodded with a wry smile.

It was a little embarrassing, but if doing this would make Yuzu feel better, then, by all means, why not?

[Hey Yamato-kun, you’re not giving your photo to me?]

When I thought we were over with that embarrassing deal, here came another troublesome thing.

“You don’t need it, do you? It’s just my photo…”

I had never even taken a selfie before.

[Eh? You’re not worried about me cheating on you?]

“It’s okay. I’m not going to do something terrible like pointlessly doubting the person I’m dating.”

“Your words are barbed!” Yuzu groaned at my scathing sarcasm. Haha, this really felt good.

[Hmm… If you insist not to, send the photo of your room, Yamato-kun.]

She must’ve given up on my photo, so she changed her request.

“Photo of my room?”

[Yup. I’m just wondering what kind of room you live in.]

“Well, that much is okay I guess… There’s nothing interesting in this room though. Wait a moment.”

I turned on the smartphone’s camera and took a photo of a random corner of my room. There was the game console, television set, book rack and above it, folded cranes—a very normal room for a high school boy.

I snapped a shot and sent it to Yuzu.

[Ah, it’s here. Ooh, so it’s like this. It’s really a normal room! I was imagining it’d have a replica of the legendary sword or something, there’s no trace of the embarrassing chuunibyou thingy?]

“Why would there be! I’m the type of guy who doesn’t bring the RPG worldview to my real life.”

[Then, while you’re at it, take some photos of your hidden porn stash. Just the cover is alright.]

“Who’ll show you that?!”

[Oh, so you’re not exactly denying their existence.]

“Ow… Are you a pro at asking leading questions or what?”

[That was just the absolute basics.]

Our conversation was not going in my favour, it was better for me to change it.

“By the way, how is it like in Yuzu’s room?”

[You changed the topic so bluntly. Well, it’ll trouble you if some very weird sexual preference of yours comes to light, so I’ll just go along with you.]

‘I’ve no such thing, okay! I’m a normal through and through.’ I wanted to proclaim it like that but I held it in and waited for the photo from Yuzu instead.

“Yes, here you go.” Along with her words, a photo was sent to me soon after.

I guess the photo was taken from near the entrance to her room; it showed roughly a full view of the room. It was neat and tidy, and the furnishings were in lovely pastel colours. What caught my eye was the use of mugs to hold all the small things, such as pens and knick-knacks.

“You’ve got a lot of mugs. Do you like them?”

[Yup, a lot. When I find a cute one, I can’t help but buy them.]

“Ooh… That’s unexpected.”

At least, this interest of hers was something I didn’t know about when we only met at school. By talking to her on the phone like this, I felt like I could see a new side of her.

[I guess It is nice to call each other in the evening like this. We get to know more about each other.]

Apparently, Yuzu also had the same thought as mine, she said that in a slightly ticklish tone.

“I guess so.” I also frankly admitted it, and then Yuzu slightly chuckled.

[Oh yes, why don’t we go buy mug cups together next time?]

“I don’t mind… but don’t tell me it’ll be pair-cups?!”

[Of course! I think it would be nice to talk on the phone like this again and enjoy coffee in our pair-cups!]

“Well, if you’d like to do that, I don’t mind…” I was a little embarrassed to actually do that, but Yuzu’s voice was rather enthusiastic, so I felt it would be tactless to refuse.

[Yay! Then, when should we go?]

“It’s a three-day weekend starting exactly tomorrow, so why not one of those days?”

[Oops, sorry. I already have plans with friends on all those three days.]

Yuzu’s voice lowered in an apologetic tone. Well, she was a popular Riaju, so it was not exactly unexpected.

“Then, we’ll go after school on Tuesday.”

[Um, alright. But, urm…] Yuzu was agreeing to it, yet she was somewhat lispy.

“What is it? Is there any problem?”

[Not exactly a problem, but I realized that this’ll mean since after school today, I won’t be able to meet Yamato-kun for three and half days.]

“Well, isn’t that normal?”

[Eh? …But isn’t it sad like that?] Yuzu’s tone was quite sulky. I could imagine she was pouting her mouth at the other end of the phone.

“There’s nothing we can do, our schedules just don’t match.”

[I know…] She said that and paused for a while before she softly muttered, [I want to see you.]

“…Like now?”

[No. How can a girl go out this late at night… So today’s impossible.]

“Well, that’s true.”

[…]

“…”

[…..]

“…..I got it. I’ll go to the front of your house in a moment.” I was defeated by the silent pressure and surrendered.

[Really?] In a flash, Yuzu’s voice cheered up.

“You’re being so shameless yet again… You know what, if it was somebody else and not me, you’d be marked as a girl that is a complete pain in the ass.” While perfectly knowing that she couldn’t see me, I thoughtlessly made that eye stare full of disgust.

[Yamato-kun, so it’s alright with you?]

“Hmm, I’ve been doing the homework for long hours, so I kinda want to move my body now.”

[Ahaha. Who’s the shameless one here, you darn tsundere.]

“Shut up. After I reach there, I’ll do the finger flick on your head. Be prepared.”

[Kyaa, so scary~ Then, I’ll be waiting.]

“Orite.”

I hung up the phone, heaved a sigh, and reached for my jacket and my bicycle key.

“Geez, I’ve got a hell of a girlfriend…”

After muttering to myself, I looked at the TV screen and saw my face reflected in it; surprisingly, there was a grin at the corners of my mouth.

“What are you grinning about?” Feeling a little embarrassed, I chastised myself and left the room.

chocolala: oh my, this chapter really makes me waver about how they are really feeling. In my mind, I always think that Yuzu just likes to tease Yamato while she’s not exactly into him for real (yet) and Yamato just goes along with her antics, but here… so sus! They’re enjoying so much of this play-dating. And this chapter was hella long just for phone flirting!