Chapter 1

Fuwa Aya looks at her watch on her left wrist.

A week has passed since the test, and it’s Wednesday, December 19th. Two more days of school and I’ll be on winter break. Up until now, every time I went on a long vacation, I’d feel uneasy because I couldn’t see the person I love. But now, it’s different, I can see her whenever I want to. That’s the kind of relationship we have now.

Today, after parting with Marika, I dropped by a bookstore in front of the station on our way home from school. I’ve been steadily ordering yuri mangas from this store, and the selection has been getting better and better.

I’m a simple person when it comes to buying things. I pick out what I want and directly pay for it. Tonight, I’m going to spend my time reading the new releases she bought today. I’m glad to see that the number of yuri manga has increased lately. I’m looking forward to it.

Speaking of things to look forward to, I’ve invited Matsukawa Chisaki and Mitsumine Yume to the Christmas party. Both of them are very enthusiastic and will be happy to come and play.

Chisaki and I have gotten to know each other very well. Since we started talking a lot about our common interests, we’ve been discussing our thoughts quite often. It’s surprisingly fun to listen to her lover’s gossip, blabber, and ecstasy. I also liked her split-bamboo personality. This outgoing person is Marika’s friend.. (TN: I think Split-bamboo personality refers to Chisaki’s serious and carefree personality)

I heard that Marika is planning to invite Enomoto Sae to the party. Well, I think it’s up to Marika to do what she wants.

As I was walking through the station building towards the ticket gate, I suddenly stopped to look at the mannequins displayed in front of the stores. It was a girly brand that I usually don’t pay much attention to, but it looked really cute.

(…It looks like a good fit for Marika.)

These days, I spend more time thinking about what would look good on Marika than I do on myself. I walked into a store and found myself creating a full-body model of Marika in my brain. Including the underwear, of course. That’s the most important part.

(I wonder if my dream of becoming a fashion coordinator came from this kind of place. But… am I interested in coordinating clothes other than for Marika?)

I’m sure that my image of Marika is cute. However, in reality, Marika’s body is way cuter. It was one of the seven wonders of Marika.

My phone rang, it was a phone call.

There are only a few people who call me. And the most frequent caller is Karen-san, we’re usually talking about my shifts. I moved to the end of the aisle so I wouldn’t block the way. Then, I pulled out my phone and looked at the caller.

It’s Marika.

Normally, I’d be happy to answer the phone, keeping my bouncy voice to myself… But this time, I felt an unpleasant feeling.

My sixth sense has always been very accurate. Especially when it comes to Marika. The time when I saved her from Sae’s deadly blade in a park at night was still fresh in my mind.

I was a little scared, but I fearfully put my phone close to my ear.

[Hello?]

[Ayaaa…]

I gasped as if I had been splashed with cold water.

Marika let out a tearful voice.

[Marika, what’s wrong?]

[My mother is… my mother…]

[Eh?]

I gulped and listened closely. From the noise around her and the voices calling for patients waiting to be examined, I deduced that she was in a hospital.

Marika’s words, her tearful attitude, and the hospital.

I have a bad feeling about this.

I managed to move my stiff cheeks.

[What hospital are you in? Marika, I’ll be there in a bit.]

[Eh… B-But… Aya…]

[I’m going.]

[Uhm, ok… I’m sorry]

[It’s fine, I’m your lover after all.]

When I tried my best to sound gentle, I heard a sniffling sound from Marika. I clenched my fists and whispered more.

[… I love you, Marika]

[Uhuh, Thanks… I also… love you…]

I turned off my phone and called a cab outside of the station. The hospital Marika had told me was only three stops away, so I should be there soon. No matter how far it was, if it’s for Marika, I’d even charter a jet to get there.

In the cab, I managed to calm down my heart. I thought I was more resilient than others. But even so, imagining the worst possible scenario made me feel nauseous. I felt as if cement had been poured into my stomach.

(But, I’m sure it’s harder for Marika… I have to stay strong.)

I desperately tried to think of something to say, but it was as difficult to find as a star in a starless night. After all, I am aware that I am just a student.

I wonder what Karen-san would do in a situation like this.

I can’t imagine how she’s going to do it, but I know what she’ll do. Akin to her shaking her shaker with meticulous and delicate technique, she’ll calm Marika down. (TN: Karen-san is a bartender, so she’s implying that she’s able to calm Marika professionally just like how she shakes the shaker professionally.)

(I can’t do that.)

The back of my eyes is burning. I was jealous when Marika didn’t talk to me at all about Enomoto Sae. I felt a sense of rivalry with Karen-san, even if it was unjustified. Because, more than anyone, it’s me who wants to help Marika.

And yet, this is what happens when I’m asked for help.

I’m not sure if I’m frustrated, pathetic, or sad. But I’m not sure what emotion is messing with my head.

(That’s no good.)

I bit down on my lips and managed to hold my tears back. I wiped my eyes with a handkerchief from my bag and slightly adjusted my eyeliner on the spot. I don’t want to look unreliable in front of Marika.

I paid 2460 yen for the taxi that stops in front of the hospital and gets off. I took a deep breath before heading in. (It’s alright…). I looked up at the big hospital and started walking.

I went through the automatic door. In front of the reception desk at the hospital, there was a girl in her sailor suit standing there looking uncomfortable. Her back was much smaller than usual and she looked frail.

For a moment, I hesitated. The thought of not being able to say anything to her scared me. I feel like I’ll lose my life’s meaning.

But still. I gathered my courage and took a step forward.

Up until now, Marika has given me so many things that I can’t count. It’s not like I owe her or anything. But I want to repay her kindness. That’s why.

[Marika]

She looked back fearfully.

[A-Aya…]

There were tears in her eyes.

I ran up to her and grabbed her hand. Her hand was cold.

[About your mother…]

[Yeah…]

She nodded her head emphatically. Her gesture made my heart skip a beat.

I tried to stay calm. I’ve always been good at reacting to the unexpected. After a lot of nervousness, when I was in a situation where I had no choice but to do something, I’d pump myself up.

On the other hand, Marika’s voice was faint as she sobbed.

[Honestly… it’s really really stupid…]

[…]

I held both of Marika’s hands and waited for her to speak.

No matter what she says, I’ll hold on to Marika’s sadness.

Because Marika needed me.

And Finally, Marika finally said something without hesitation.

[My mother… the doctors found a gallstone.]

[Umm…]

gallstone..?

[She’s going to have an operation to remove the gallstone on her gallbladder. And I’m going to be in the hospital for a week from now… I might not be able to go to the Christmas Party or Celebrate Aya’s birthday… What should I do….]

[Eh?]

I couldn’t help but ask her back.

[Gallstones? Gallbladder?]

[Yeah, I’m going to be in the hospital for a week… and I’m leaving on 26th… and my dad won’t be home, so I can’t stay at home, so….]

[…]

I made a troubled face and shut down.

It was a bit too difficult to understand what she meant. I’ll try to break it down again and sort it out.

Her mother is safe? So basically, Marika can’t go on a date because her mother will have surgery?

Ah, I see…

[Marika.]

The voice came out lower than I expected.

[Ugh… I’m sorry Aya… Even though I promised you…. I’m sorry…]

[I won’t forgive you.]

[Uwaa!]

I let out a sigh in front of a crying Marika.

A sense of futility weighs heavily on my shoulder. I want to cry out. I wondered how much preparation I had to put into coming here…

Well, I’m glad you’re okay, Mother.

]

Is she trying to propose to me? But normally, you wouldn’t start talking about your daughter when you don’t have one. It’s not like a political marriage in the Warring States period.

And then my mom said this in front of me with a frown on her face.

In a way, it gave me a shock similar to a marriage proposal.

[Aya-chan, you’re going to stay at Marika’s house for a week starting from today, I’m sure you’ll like it.]

[……………………..Eh?]

I froze up.

I look at Aya and she looks up diagonally with a sense of duty on her face. Wait a minute, Me and Aya are going to live together… for a week…. From today…?

I shouted in a voice that sounded like it was going through the roof to the earth.

[EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH?!]

＊＊＊

[Eeh?]

Aya was standing in the doorway of our house with a composed look on her face. The sound of a Boston Bag hitting the floor brought me back to my senses. Ha… I was spacing out. I couldn’t remember anything before I came back from the hospital.

[From now on, I’m sorry for disturbing you]

Aya, carrying her school bag, bowed. I reflexively took my slippersbut inside, I couldn’t stop sweating.

What… What is this sight…

I can’t keep up with the speed of reality at all. I feel as if spring, summer, autumn, and winter have all passed in a single day.

My mom went to the hospital and had surgery and stayed in the hospital. My dad came home and we talked for a bit and then he went back to work again. And then I went back to get some clothes and then Aya had gotten permission from my mother… then Aya came to stay over?

Isn’t it a bit much to have all these events in a single day?

And then this is the end result.

It’s a huge turnabout. Just when I thought I was going to have less time to spend with Aya for the next week, now we would be sharing food, clothing and shelter.

Aya was standing in the doorway staring at me. I bowed my head, fuming at her gaze.

[Even though my home is not that special. I’ll be in your care.]

[Yes, I’m looking forward to working with you.]

We bowed to each other as if we were business partners, and I invited her to come in. [Yes,] Aya said, lifting her Boston bag with a face that was still tense.

After taking off her shoes and changing into slippers, Aya stood beside me and whispered with a healthy and compassionate smile, as if she had worked very hard to avoid a red mark.

[With this, your problem is solved, right?]

Without a doubt, I will be able to spend Christmas and my birthday with Aya.

There’s nothing to be afraid of on the way home after curfew, as long as Aya is there.

No, I’m scared of this situation.

I mean, I’m going to live with Aya for a week, right?

It’s too dangerous. It’s too dangerous, isn’t it ……?

And so, the exciting week of living together, just the two of us… began.

TL: Hyou

Editor: MPK

Hello everyone, TL-san is here! And as usual, thank you for reading the new chapter of Arioto! Translating this chapter was… confusing, I guess. There’re some words that are hard to interpret. So if you guys spotted a TL error, please do tell me in the comment section below!

Also, I’ve made a ko-fi account, so please consider supporting me through ko-fi!

Lastly, if you want to have early notifications on future updates, why not join our discord ?