Chapter 5

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This is my first time translating and will be translating with mtl. Since the manga is almost over i really wanted to know what will happen next and seeing that the previous group has not updated in a while I have decided to give it a shot.

Title: Sunday with that girl sits next to me

I put the magazine I was reading back on the shelf just as the store’s background music changed. On Sundays, I get into the habit of stopping by the convenience store while I’m out. It’s not that there’s anything interesting to do, but I just browse around and buy some gum to pass the time. And yet, every time I have a day off, I end up dropping by.

I’m still looking at the magazine shelves, thinking that I’ve developed a bad habit. Just then, out of the corner of my eye, an automatic door opened.

“…..Ah”(S)

A girl comes in and makes a small noise.

I recognized her too. Why do I see her here too? I heard that she lived near East High School – I diverted my attention away from her, so our eyes never met. Let’s just pretend we don’t know each other. And yet the sound of sneakers approaching. I hurriedly picked up a movie magazine that was close at hand and ran my eyes over the information on the new movie, which I wasn’t really interested in.

The footsteps stopped right next to me, and my efforts were hollowed out by a familiar voice.

“Is it….is it possible that it’s Yamaguchi-kun?”(S)

I couldn’t ignore her when she called my name.

I looked up and reluctantly responded to the familiar face.

“Satou-san.”(Y)

It was Sato-san, sitting next to me.

She was wearing a beige dress made of a fabric that looked like work clothes. Her hair was tied in a single, colourless knot as usual, and she wore unadorned sneakers on her feet. Like her school uniform, her private clothes are not cute at all. If I met a girl in my class outside of school, I’d be a little thrown off by how cute she was in her normal clothes. With Satou-san, it wasn’t like that, it was just awkward.

“I knew it was Yamaguchi-kun.”(S)

Despite my thoughts, Satou-san’s face lights up with a smile.

“It’s such a coincidence that we meet outside of school.”(S)

“Yeah.”(Y)

I closed the magazine and smiled back vaguely. I don’t want people to think I’m happy about a chance encounter. And I’m not happy about it. Besides, Satou-san would be happy to meet any of her classmates, of course.

“Does Yamaguchi-kun live around here?”(S)

“It’s a 15-minute walk.”(Y)

“Oh, yeah, I didn’t know that.”(S)

Satou-san was still smiling happily.

“I’m meeting a friend. I took the bus down here.”(S)

“Oh,yeah?”(Y)

What was so good about it? Even Satou-san would feel lonely waiting around all alone. That’s a bit surprising. I thought she was fine with being alone and carefree. If I was having trouble reacting, she stood next to me and looked at me sullenly.

“Yamaguchi-kun, you look different in plain clothes.”(S)

I get more and more uncomfortable when he says that she’s surprised to see me.

“I don’t know. That’s normal.”(Y)

“No, you look very mature. You are like an older guy. I thought that when I first saw you.”(S)

Sato-san clasped her hands together and praised me.

“Yamaguchi-kun has a great taste in clothes.”(S)

“Not really.”(Y)

I didn’t ask for a compliment, but she was persistent. I wonder if she thinks that ‘anyone will be happy’ if she praises them. Unfortunately, I’m not happy about being praised by the plain and meek Satou-san. The dress she is wearing is a light, fuzzy beige color with a plain design that falls sleekly. The knee-length dress makes her look like a junior high school student. Her hairstyle is exactly the same as usual and there is nothing to compliment about it. But after being praised so much, I can’t just go through with it.

“That’s just the way it is with Satou-san.”(Y)

In the end, I couldn’t find any praise. So I say things that aren’t on my mind.

“You look pretty in that dress.”(Y)

“Eh?”(S)

Immediately, Satou-san’s eyes widened.

“So, the clothes you’re wearing. I think it’s a cute design that suits you, Satou-san.”(Y)

In fact, it’s the perfect fit for Satou-san. I don’t think she has good taste, but when I say she’s childish and cute, I mean she’s cute. Let’s just call it that.

“Really?”(S)

“Yes.”(Y)

She asked me back, so I had no choice but to nod. Then Sato-san grinned shyly.

“Oh, thank you.”(S)

“No, no.”(Y)

It’s not something to be thanked for. Before I can say that, Satou-san’s cheeks are slightly blushed.

“I don’t get complimented very often, so…. I’m a little embarrassed, but I’m happy.”(S)

The slight blush of a smile reminded me of a face after hot water.I had never seen that look of embarrassment at being praised, and I had never seen that expression at school.

Come to think of it, this was the first time I’d met Satou-san outside of school. Maybe it was also the first time I had ever praised her. I can’t find anything to praise about her, and I’m not obligated to do so because I’m just a classmate sitting next to her. But I feel like I want to regret my earlier comment. Satou-san is an honest person. I’m sure she is happy no matter who praises her, even if it’s a liar’s flattery, and she’s happy to hear it. Even if the only compliment she received was a compliment on her clothes, even if it was blatantly obvious. But it’s a lie. The clothes she wears aren’t pretty. Her clothes aren’t pretty.

“Ah.”(S)

Suddenly, Satou-san spoke up. Behind the single pane of glass that the magazine section is against, an unknown girl is waving at us. Looks like a rendezvous.

“My friends here, so I’ll be leaving. I’ll see you tomorrow, Yamaguchi-kun.”(S)

After saying that, Satou-san ran to the doorway of the convenience store. She exchanged a few words with a girl who had just entered the store and then, without even looking at me, the two of them began to shop side by side. Her and her friend’s excited voices can be heard over the convenience store’s background music.

I sigh and then I remember now that I’m holding the movie magazine in my hand. I’m not going to buy it anyway, and I’m not interested in it, so I put it back on the shelf and pretend I don’t know about it. Satou-san and the convenience store seemed a bit similar. Maybe it was a habit. There are only a few hours in a day when I talk to her while I’m doing something else. Naturally, I waste pointless time thinking about her. I wonder how much I will think about Sato-san in the week starting tomorrow. I wonder how much I will think about Sato-san in the week that begins tomorrow, and how many mindless things she will say to me, puzzling me with her boring habits.

And so this Sunday, too, will be crushed with an unfamiliar regret.

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