Chapter 11

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Heres chapter 11. Another cherry blossom chapter. The author must have a thing for cherry blossoms. Enjoy

Title: Cherry Blossoms with Satou-san

The cherry blossoms in the schoolyard are coming to an end. It has been windy for the past few days, and today they are still rumbling outside. I could see the petals of the cherry blossoms blowing up and dancing in the sky from my classroom on the third floor. However, I’m not that interested in the cherry trees that bloom every year. It will be gone in the blink of an eye anyway, and even if the blossoms are more beautiful than last year, I don’t have time to look at them. Compared to me, Satou-san seems to have a lot of free time to do that.

“The cherry blossoms in the schoolyard are starting to fall.”(S)

At the end of her lunch break, she returned to the seat to her right, out of breath.

“It’s windy.”(Y)

Looking out the window, I responded as blandly as usual. Then I casually looked at Satou-san.

There was no deep meaning in putting a cushion between being called out and turning to her. It was just somewhat of a habit.The uptight-cheeked Satou-san is untying her hair in a single knot. The way she combs her fingers through her wind-disturbed hair doesn’t look so clumsy. I wonder if she can’t wear her hair in a different style.

“Are you playing tag today, Satou-san?”(Y)

“Yeah, yeah.”(S)

Satou-san answers my question without hesitation.

During lunchtime, she seems have to played tag with her classmates in the schoolyard. I was taken aback by the idea of being a high school student, but it’s strange because it’s so much more comfortable for me to do so with Satou-san. Childishness suits Satou-san well.

“Won’t you join us next time, Yamaguchi-kun?”(S)

I chuckled as she offered that to me as she retied her hair.

“I’m good.”(Y)

“It’s good exercise. You know, for a change of pace.”(S)

“I’m fine with just gym.”(Y)

I was on the basketball team until junior high school, so when it came to athletics, I was much better at it than Satou-san. But I quit when I entered high school. There were many reasons for this, but the main one was that I didn’t want to have to start all over again after entering high school, I have exams to study for and I didn’t want to spend my energy on unnecessary things. And now that I’ve moved on to the third grade, if I get worn out by playing tag, I won’t be able to focus during my afternoon classes.

“I was having so much fun.”(S)

Satou-san laughs innocently and talks about the appeal of playing tag.

“This time of year, the cherry blossom petals are flying and they are so beautiful. Some of them even get in my eyes and mouth, but that also makes them very interesting.”(S)

Oh, so that’s why, I thought. Cherry blossom petals were caught in her hair, which should have been combed by Sato-san’s fingers. They were casually peeking into the crevices like a hair ornament.

“Satou-san.”(Y)

I was a little lost, but I decided to teach her a lesson. Small acts of kindness, you know.

“You’ve got petals in your hair.”(Y)

“What? Where?”(S)

“Right, right side up.”(Y)

“This way?”(S)

Satou-san began to look for the petals with a fidgety hand.

Her hand touched her freshly tied hair. Unfortunately, it was in the wrong direction. It was just like her to start looking for the left side when I said it was the right side.

“It’s my right.”(Y)

Frustrated, I point to the right side of her hair. Satou-san traces her black hair with a clumsy-looking finger.

“Oh, there it is. Where is it?”(S)

I had no choice but to try to navigate it verbally as well.

“A little higher up.”(Y)

“Around here?”(S)

“Yeah, maybe a little more to the right.(Y)

“Here?”(S)

“Oh, you’ve gone too far. It’s a little bit up from earlier”(Y)

“Where did you mean earlier…?”(S)

Her fingertips faltered, looking in a disorientating direction, even though she had made it close. Thanks to this, she hasn’t been able to catch a single petal. Seeing the bewildered expression on her face, my frustration grows even more.

“All right.”(Y)

Finally, I can’t keep quiet and stand up with a sigh.

“Let me get it for you.(Y)

After I told her that, I felt like sticking my tongue out at me for saying something so unnecessary. Would I want a classmate I don’t even know very well, and a boy, to touch my hair? No matter how much she was Satou-san, she would probably find that unpleasant. Even though I was annoyed with her behavior, maybe I shouldn’t have made such an offer.

“Oh, could you?”(S)

“…What?”(Y)

“I didn’t even know where it was. Could you get it off me?”(S)

Satou-san bowed her head too honestly. It only takes a moment for me to be caught off guard. I decided and walked over to the seat next to her with a nonchalant attitude.

Looking down, Satou-san’s hair was almost black. She had firm, strong-looking hair that didn’t get much lighter in the afternoon sun. I wondered if it would hurt if I touched it, but it didn’t. Rather, it was much smoother than it looked, like the fabric of a kimono. And it was softer than I thought it would be. For some reason, my hand trembled at the feel of it. They didn’t move well, as if they were dry, and I let a petal from my hair escape once. I’m as clumsy as Satou-san now. I was unknowingly holding my breath. If I didn’t, my consciousness was going to take me to a different place.

“Did you get it?”(S)

Satou-san doesn’t move, waiting for me to pick up the petals. Through her thick bangs, I can see the occasional blink of her eyelashes, the vermilion-upper cheeks, the dry lips I could see everything down to the movements. I could the innocent face so close. I could even hear the sound of her breathing. Right in front of me, she was completely vulnerable.

–no, she doesn’t have to defend herself. She shouldn’t be in any kind of danger, though.

Eventually, on the second attempt, my trembling fingers took away the cherry petals.

“There you go. Got it.”(Y)

When I show it to her, her face lights up in a flash.

“Thank you, Yamaguchi-kun.”(S)

And after thanking me, she held out his palm. What is that action? I look down at her soft palm, wondering.

“Oh, petals.(Y)

Satou-san smiled.

“I’ll get rid of it. Give it to me.”(S)

The petals in her hair were thrown away without having time to look at them properly. To her childish mind, a falling cherry blossom petal would be just like that. It’s only worth throwing away. What about me? I’m not as young as Satou-san, but I can’t find a clear answer. But at the time, I thought for a moment that it was a shame to throw them away.

Notes:

When I translated this line あいにくとでたらめな方向だった。 I laughed the moment I saw the translation on deepL said this: Unfortunately, it was a bullshit direction.

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