Chapter 23

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Here is one last chapter for tonight. It ends on a cliffhanger for those who do not read the manga.

Title: The juice Satou-san received.

On the first night, I was in the hotel lobby buying juice. The only thing working in the empty lobby at night was the vending machine. Every time I pushed a button, the sound of the carton falling out of the machine echoed, and I felt very empty. Disgustingly, it was more expensive than buying one outside. I couldn’t do this for a couple of people. Vending machine your doing a good business, I thought to myself, gritting my teeth.

I carried six paper cartons and got some change from the vending machine. Then, as I pull myself up, I see a lone figure walking towards us. I recognize her by her t-shirt and familiar jersey, and I recognize her as a student at our school. But before that, it’s odd because you can tell who it is just from the way she’s leaning back and forth. Her hair was wet and moist from the hot water, and her cheeks seemed to be red. I hadn’t seen any of the girls in my class since dinner time, so that, combined with her hot water appearance, made me a little confused. If dealing with Satou-san then it makes sense.

She walked down the hallway, dazed as usual. When she stepped into the lobby, she finally noticed me and opened her mouth to say.

“Yamaguchi-kun”,(S)

Then she stared at the paper pack I was holding in surprise.

“What’s the matter, there’s so much…”(S)

“I lost at poker.”(Y)

I told her honestly. I didn’t see anyone else here, but in case the teacher heard me, it would be troublesome. I added in a little whisper.

“I did it with my roommates, and I was the only one who got trashed. Thanks to that, I had to buy juice for everyone.”(Y)

As I spoke, Sato-san looked concerned.

“It’s tough, isn’t it?”(S)

“No, no. It’s just a game I’ve been playing.”(Y)

“Yamaguchi-kun, you’re in the same room with Sasaki-kun and the others, right?”(S)

“Yes. Yes. Tonosaki and Niijima were very motivated. I was totally taken in.”(Y)

Cowering my head, I felt like I was going to drop my juice. So I just chuckled.

“We are going to have a pillow fight when its lights out. They’re too excited, those guys.”(Y)

“That’s their plan of course.”(S)

Satou-san laughed a little too. Her one-knot hair was absorbing moisture and looked heavier than usual. I don’t think it’s because of that, but Satou-san’s expression is also vaguely heavy. Her usual cheerfulness is overshadowed.

“And Satou-san? What are you doing alone?”(Y)

I asked her. Immediately, Sato-san, who tended to look happy, gave me a troubled look.

“Yes……..”(S)

She looked like she was having a hard time saying what was wrong with her. She was the opposite during the day, frolicking like a child, and it’s extremely disturbing.

After a lot of hesitation, she said.

“I’ve been calling,”(S)

“On the phone?”(Y)

After listening back, I remember the conversation we had before the school trip. Come to think of it, Satou-san was going to comply with the rules. Then she didn’t bring her cell phone with him. There were several public telephones lined up at the end of the corridor, and the teacher who led us explained that we should use them if we wanted to contact our families.

“Yeah,”(S)

I’ll let her explain. It’s as if I don’t know why Satou-san is looking so unflattering. What about the phone call? Is it because of your friend? I don’t mind talking to her like before. There is still time before lights out.

“Well…”(S)

She seemed even more reluctant to say anything, and I couldn’t help but ask,

“What’s wrong?”(Y)

Then immediately Satou-san’s eyes stared awkwardly.

“Well. I mean…..”(S)

“I can at least listen to you. I’ve got time.”(Y)

I say, and a determined look flashes across her face. She raises her eyebrows tightly, and then moves her lips again in a caring manner.

“But are you sure? Won’t the juice get too warm?”(S)

“I’d rather they get it warm.”(Y)

I confided in my deviousness.

“I don’t care how much I lost, I just don’t want to give them a cold one.”(Y)

“Okay.”(S)

Satou-san finally smiles and says to me with the same look on her face,

“Then, um, will you listen to me for a moment?”(S)

We sat next to each other on a bench in the corner of the lobby. Almost no one passes through the lobby before lights go out. It would be rare for someone to try to use a hotel rip-off vending machine.

“Do you want a drink?”(Y)

I placed the paper packets I was carrying on the bench and offered one of them to Satou-san. It is the most safe juice, orange juice. Satou-san shook her head with an exuberant force.

“Oh no, it’s fine. Yamaguchi-kun, you seem to be having a hard time buying so much…”(S)

“One more bottle won’t make much of a difference.”(Y)

I recommended it. I was going to drink it myself. I at least wanted to drink it while it was cold.

“I also got some candy from Satou-san in the afternoon. It’s payback.”(Y)

“But the price…”(S)

“Just drink it. A cold one will make you feel better.”(Y)

Finally, Satou-san took the box from me.

“Thank you.”(S)

She says thank you very clearly and starts opening straw with clumsy hands.

After I glanced sideways at the scene, I opened my own straw. I had chosen a sports drink. Not because I tired from poker, but this was what I was in the mood for. Because the vending machine didn’t have soda and the only coffee I could find was in the sports drink.

Suddenly, a sigh escaped her lips next to me.

“Yamaguchi-kun, that’s amazing.”(S)

“What?”(Y)

Doubtfully, I looked next to her. Satou-san is sitting on the bench, her single knot of hair damp as if it were freshly washed and hanging heavy on her back. The white of her neck peeking out of her school-designated t-shirt. Above it was Satou-san’s profile with flushed cheeks, an expression that didn’t seem familiar, an expression that didn’t float.

“It’s like… you can do everything so easily,”(S)

“What?”(Y)

“Yamaguchi-kun has a lot of things I don’t and can do everything I can’t. I’m jealous of you.”(S)

I don’t fit her description of me, it confuses me.

“I doubt it. I’ve never thought of myself that way.”(Y)

It’s not that I have anything particularly outstanding, nor am I a particularly good person. I’ve long since quit playing basketball, and I don’t have any future goals or aspirations at the moment. I guess you would call a guy like me an ordinary high school student. But you’re just like me, Satou-san. You are just an ordinary, high school girl.

“I can’t things as easily as Yamaguchi-kun, so I always end up making mistakes…”(S)

Looking down at the juice box with the straw in it, Satou-san is plain and brittle and unassuming, but I think she’s just a normal girl.

“I always thought you were like someone from another world.”(S)

Satou-san’s voice sounded raspy and low.Maybe it was more of a compliment, but it sounded self-mocking. Naturally, I didn’t feel very good about it. I nodded my head.

“I don’t think I am anything out of the ordinary.”(Y)

“So I’m not normal then?”(S)

Satou-san said with a sigh, and she moved on without giving me a chance to interrupt her.

“Hey, Yamaguchi-kun,”(S)

“…What?”(Y)

“Hey, I have a question. You know, you don’t have to answer me if you don’t want to.”(S)

I thought that was an unfamiliar ramble. What’s the point of not getting an answer to something you want to ask? I wonder if this has something to do with the fact that Satou-san is acting strangely. I glance at her from the side. She sips at her straw and drinks just a little bit of orange juice. Then she puts her hand holding the pack on her knee and lowers her eyes. A silence fell in the lobby where we were alone.

It feels like a long time until the next flick of her eyelashes. But I keep silent and wait for Satou-san to speak. Satou-san is staring intently at the floor. The floor of the hotel was shiny and light bounced off from the fluorescent lights. Except for the low motor rumble of the vending machine, the lobby was quiet.

Eventually she blinked once and raised her gaze. With her cheeks reddened from the hot water, Sato-san turned to me and asked slowly,

“Is there someone you like Yamaguchi-kun?”(S)

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