V3...

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

*****

I walked to the meeting point, which was the park near my house. When I arrived, it wasn’t just Ajisai-san waiting for me. Mai was also there.

I wondered what had happened.

It was already dark out, and if the other person wasn’t Ajisai-san, the setting would totally seem like a place where a crime would happen.

Huh. She didn’t call me out here because she was angry, right…? I had thrown on a sweater and came here directly.

I carefully asked about her intentions, “Errr...what are you and Mai doing here?”

They exchanged a look with each other at my question.

I had no idea what was going on, but this was pretty distressing.

Ajisai-san took a step forward.

It was a summer night, but the air still felt a bit chilly in this season.

“Um, listen.”

“Okay.”

Ajisai-san placed her hands on top of her chest, and then took a deep breath.

“Rena-chan, I—”

“U-uh huh?”

Somehow, the mood made me nervous.

“For a long time, I've been really bad at taking other people's things.”

“I-I see.”

“Yeah… for example, swings being used by other kids, even though it was time to switch, I couldn’t bring myself to ask them. I thought that as long as they were having fun while using it, I was satisfied, since I couldn’t have fun by forcing my will on others for my own convenience.”

I glanced at Mai, my gaze saying, “What’s this about?”

But Mai only responded with a slight shrug.

...so she was saying that I just need to listen to her, right…?

Ajisai-san continued talking slowly.

“When I started to look after my brothers, these thoughts only got stronger. That seeing others’ happiness was enough to make me happy.”

It was the same thing that she had said before.

“When someone from my class invited me to hang out, it meant that they invited me since they wanted to spend time with me, right? If so, as long as they were having fun, that was okay. That’s what I had always thought up until now. Since I’m a ‘good person’ who always prioritizes others.”

Ajisai-san chuckled. Fufu.

“A real ‘good person’ wouldn’t say something like that, though. I’m really a fool. The way I never said what I really thought—my selfishness—it only strained myself.”

She settled her gaze on me.

“The one who taught me that was Rena-chan. It’s you.”

I had entirely no idea what sort of emotions and thoughts she was currently channeling towards me, but I could understand well that these emotions weren’t something ordinary. They were strong enough to reach me.

“M-me?”

“Yeah… for me, you always shine so bright, showing me the path whenever I am lost. You see, Rena-chan, you really gave me the strength to keep moving forward.”

Suu. Ajisai-san took a deep breath again.

“That’s why—”

Below the night sky, Ajisai-san weaved her words together into one tender statement.

“Rena-chan, I like you. Please go out with me.”

For a while, I couldn’t say anything.

I could only stare at Ajisai-san’s face that had gotten redder than before. The sound of my heart beating was very loud.

I really.

Couldn’t think about anything.

“—o-okay…” I said, and then just nodded.

“.............................................................huh?”

The one who responded to my answer was none other than Mai, her voice echoing in the empty park at night.

*****

Sena Ajisai's Story - Epilogue

Ajisai sat before the front door and put on her shoes. It had been a while since she had last worn her uniform. Her outfit was proof that she was a high-schooler, which made her look more mature than her middle school self. It really boosted her mood.

Today was the beginning of the second term.

Ajisai had lots of trouble waking up in the morning, but she was happy that she could finally meet her friends. Life was something where fortunes and misfortunes acted as two sides of the same coin after all.

Stuff like the delicious food that would disappear once you ate it, or the fear of losing someone once they’ve become dear to you. But that didn’t mean you should live behind locked doors. What you could do was open that door, and keep moving forward.

As she was just about to leave her house, her mother called her, handing her an envelope. “This has your name on it.”.

Puzzled, Ajisai studied the front of the envelope, where the sender’s identity could be found. The one who had sent it was Suzuki Photo Studio.

“Waa.”

Feeling excitement brimming inside, she opened the envelope. Inside, there was a photo of her and Mai standing next to each other, among other photos.

Looking at herself who had taken a picture with a supermodel, she felt like she was holding a photo with an idol during a fan meet-and-greet.

“Should I just bring this photograph and ask her to sign it later?”

Ajisai broke into a wide smile, and then she noticed another photograph.

It was a picture of the three of them. It hadn’t been taken inside the studio. It was a candid shot taken while they were walking around the gallery.

Mai, Renako, and Ajisai were standing next to one another. Renako who stood in the middle had noticed the camera and flashed a conservative peace sign. She had a smile on her face.

“...this picture is really nice.”

Let's show the others, Ajisai thought while stowing it away in her bag. Then she left her house. “I’m going now.”

The weather was great, the skies clear. Ajisai’s steps were light. A breeze that brought the gentle scent of autumn passed by her.

As Ajisai waited on the platform for her train, someone called out to her. “Good morning, Prez.”

She turned around. The girl in uniform was one of her middle school friends she had hung out with over the summer break.

“Ah, Yuuri-chan. Yup, good morning.”

“Your school also starts today, Prez?”

“Yup. It’s been a while since I had to wake up this early. I’m so sleepy~”

“Me too.”

Fufu. They giggled together.

The girl walked forwards to stand beside Ajisai. She lowered her eyes.

“Umm, Prez. Sorry for that last time. We kind of teased you a lot.”

“Eh? No problem, I don’t mind it at all.”

“Nah, it’s just, we were kinda sticking our noses too deeply into your life when you said something about the one you like. And so I wondered if we kind of crossed the line. All of us have reflected on our behaviour from then.”

“I see, so I made everyone considerate of me.”

“Like, Prez is always smiling in any situation after all, so we often get ahead of ourselves. We really are sorry. Ah I know, as an apology, do you want my bento for lunch?”

“I can’t finish two bento boxes, you know?”

Ajisai laughed, shaking her head.

Her train was arriving soon.

“Umm you see, Yuuri-chan.”

“What is it, what is it?”

With a happy voice, as if she was simply talking about the colour of the blooming flowers she had seen on her walk, Ajisai told her.

“I finally confessed my feelings.”

A loud shriek could be heard on the platform.

“Eeeh, you, Prez?! W-what kind of person…?! Someone who’s fit to be with you...could it be, Oozuka Mai?!”

“Fufu. You’re wrong.”

Ajisai lips curved into a smile.

She placed her finger on top of her lips, and moving her tongue like she had a candy in her mouth, she whispered.

“Someone who always takes my hand and protects me. A very adorable angel.”

Your happiness was also my happiness.

But—I should also grasp my own happiness.

When she tried to shape these thoughts into words, she finally understood that it was also her wish.

But she hadn’t realized that before. The one who had made her realize that was Renako. It was thanks to her that she had begun to chase after her own happiness.

The summer break had ended, and Ajisai’s love was now starting. The hands of the clock were already moving.

She prayed that the tracks she was currently running on would continue—and bring her towards her own happiness.

*****

Translator's Note:Honestly I couldn't say much about third volume's ending since it screams "bait" for the fourth volume, but for now let me say thank you for sticking with me and don't forget to buy the copies to support the author (who knows, it might get more popular, enough to get something like an anime adaptation.)

And so, I think I will also work the fourth volume...it would be another four-five months but we only can wait. Since I don't have anything to work on right now, I wonder if I should pick another Mikami Teren's work (Maretsumi) but if I really pick it up I would release it on a more relaxed pace since it only some sort of a killing-time side project.

For those who's wondering the author's afterword, it basically went like this:

Mikami Teren couldn't keep doing their Ring-Fit which was probably the main reason they could safely deliver this volume.It is inevitable for rom-com between girls being twice harmonious than usual. (TL Note: Agree)Horror story? During writing this volume, the author kept seeing Ajisai who was wearing hat and the white one-piece but she gone the moment they finished writing it.This volume has a different air than the previous two so it would be great if the readers are enjoying it.The fourth volume will have Koyanagi Kaho as the main focus.The author intended to show Kaho's true power that was suppressed up until now and they were hoping it could make 20% of the readers get hooked to her.

Special thanks to Lyra who stuck with me and my terrible TL draft (you guys also better...no, you should thank her for make everything better.)

Well then, see you on the next volume.

For more detailed info about the novel, click

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