“Muu…” (Sophia)
“Sophia-chan, I’m sorry, okay? Don’t sulk so much.” (Nadeshiko)
While we were soaking in the bath together, Nadeshiko-senpai smiled awkwardly as she apologized to me, seeing me puffing up my cheeks.
In the end, while I was feeling exhausted, she had already washed her own body, and I couldn’t help but feel like I lost.
“Senpai, you’re so mean…” (Sophia)
“No, that’s not it! I just wanted to help wash you…!” (Nadeshiko)
Lies, absolute lies.
Because she was enjoying it.
She was enjoying teasing me.
Holding a grudge, I shot Nadeshiko-senpai a glare, silently showing my displeasure.
“Ahaha…” (Nadeshiko)
When I simply gave her a silent look, Nadeshiko-senpai began to laugh and her gaze started to wander.
As I gazed at her, I made a mental note to be more careful and avoid bathing together in the future.
However, I suddenly remembered.
We still had to eat dinner, but after that, it had already been decided that we would be sleeping in the same bed.
“Please don’t do anything weird in bed, okay…? If you do, I’ll go sleep in my parents’ room…” (Sophia)
Just in case, I gave her a warning.
Honestly, I didn’t want to sleep in the bed my mom and dad usually used, but my own safety was more important.
If it came down to it, I really would run to my parents’ room.
“I won’t, so don’t worry, okay?” (Nadeshiko)
Senpai reassured me with a gentle smile, but after what had just happened, there was no way I could trust her.
“Alright, I think we can finally have an open and honest conversation now…” (Nadeshiko)
As I watched Nadeshiko-senpai cautiously, she suddenly pressed her hands together and said something ominous.
“Sophia-chan, you like Kento-kun, don’t you?” (Nadeshiko)
“—!?” (Sophia)
Out of nowhere, Nadeshiko-senpai hit me with an outrageous statement.
“Wh-Wh-What are you saying!? No, that’s not true…!” (Sophia)
I had let my guard down, thinking that topic wouldn’t come up, so I hurriedly denied it.
But—Nadeshiko-senpai simply smiled as if she had no other choice, placing her hand gently against my cheek.
“You don’t have to hide it. No one’s going to blame you or spread it around.” (Nadeshiko)
As she softly stroked my cheek, I gradually began to regain my composure.
Nadeshiko-senpai definitely wouldn’t do something like that.
If she were the type of person to spread rumors, Kento-kun wouldn’t place his trust in her.
But… I couldn’t figure out why she was bringing this up.
So, I decided to go on the offensive.
“Se-Senpai, you… like onii-chan too, don’t you…?” (Sophia)
From what I had seen so far, it was obvious that Nadeshiko-senpai had feelings for Kento-kun.
If we were going to talk openly, it wouldn’t be right for her to avoid answering honestly.
When I pointed that out, Nadeshiko-senpai’s face turned bright red.
She was probably aware of it herself.
Despite her face turning red, she didn’t seem to be that flustered.
She must have expected that I might turn the question back on her, so she had mentally prepared for this.
“Yeah… I like him. I mean, he’s kind and cool…” (Nadeshiko)
Nadeshiko-senpai, blushing, started fidgeting with her fingers but admitted it without hesitation.
I was sure she wouldn’t acknowledge it…
“A-Aren’t you worried about the rules…?” (Sophia)
She had confessed so easily that I couldn’t hide my shock.
Seeing me like that, she gazed at me gently.
“The rules only say we can’t date. They don’t forbid having romantic feelings.” (Nadeshiko)
“But… people will still look at you differently. And if onii-chan realizes it, he might distance himself from you…” (Sophia)
“Do you really think Kento-kun would do something so cold?” (Nadeshiko)
Nadeshiko-senpai tilted her head slightly and looked straight into my eyes.
That question made me freeze.
“I… don’t think he would…” (Sophia)
He was kinder than anyone.
Even if he noticed our feelings, he probably wouldn’t distance himself from us.
Because he would know that it would hurt us.
Most likely, unless we directly confessed, he would act as if he hadn’t noticed, even if he did.
“Yeah, I feel the same way. So, you don’t have to hide it too much, okay?” (Nadeshiko)
“Too much” — she must be referring to me calling him “onii-chan”.
Even though she had told me before that it was fine as long as we were okay with it, it seemed like she had been waiting for a situation where she could talk openly to me about this.
“Are you saying I should stop calling him ‘onii-chan’…?” (Sophia)
I couldn’t help but see things that way, so I decided to confirm.
“No, that’s not it. If you want to call him that, I think it’s fine, and Kento-kun might secretly be happy about it too. After all… it seems like a lot of boys have a desire to be called ‘onii-chan’ by someone.” (Nadeshiko)
She seemed to be saying that as long as it was something we truly wanted, then it was fine.
I didn’t really understand the whole “desire” thing, but it seemed that Nadeshiko-senpai was quite knowledgeable about what boys wanted.
“That’s why I only have one thing to say. I’ll respect whatever Sophia-chan decides, but I don’t want you to lie to yourself about your feelings. Because I think you’ll regret it later.” (Nadeshiko)
I had thought she was mean, but in the end, she was truly kind.
I could tell she was genuinely worried about me.
“Are you sure about this…? I mean… if I’m honest with myself, that would make me your rival, Nadeshiko-senpai…” (Sophia)
With that, I indirectly admitted my feelings for Kento-kun.
In reality, no one likes having a romantic rival.
Everyone wants to be the one who ends up with the person they love.
“Kento-kun is kind, cool… and just a wonderful person. It’s only natural to fall for him.” (Nadeshiko)
Without any hint of embarrassment, Nadeshiko-senpai showered Kento-kun with praise.
It was clear that she really loved Kento-kun, and whenever she spoke about him, she couldn’t help but gush.
“Since I fell for such a wonderful person, I always knew there would be other girls who liked him too… That’s why I try not to let it bother me. You wouldn’t want to be at odds with someone over it, right?” (Nadeshiko)
Just as she appeared, Nadeshiko-senpai seemed to have a personality that disliked conflict.
Even if it involved a love rival—that was just the kind of person she was.
“But… are you really okay with someone else taking onii-chan away from you?” (Sophia)
“Hmm, well… of course, I wouldn’t be happy about it.” (Nadeshiko)
She smiled wryly, lowering her gaze.
Then, she cupped her hands and scooped up some water—before gently pouring it over her chest.
It wasn’t a forceful splash, but a soft trickle from above.
“I’d hate it… but I want Kento-kun to be happy. And if it’s someone he chooses, then she must be a wonderful person… so I think I’d be okay with it.” (Nadeshiko)
Nadeshiko-senpai was probably the type of person who believed that as long as the one she loved was happy, it didn’t matter if she wasn’t the one by his side.
Maybe that mindset came from her desire to avoid conflict, but I knew I could never be that detached.
Still—if the one Kento-kun chose in the end was Nadeshiko-senpai, I felt like I would have to accept it.
Because when it came to personality, I couldn’t possibly compare to her.
And besides—
I lowered my gaze.
Floating gently in the bath were two large masses of fat.
Boys tend to prefer them bigger, don’t they…?
“Sophia-chan, where exactly are you looking…?” (Nadeshiko)
Nadeshiko-senpai, blushing, covered her chest with her hands.
Even though she had done whatever she wanted with mine, she was embarrassed when it was her turn to be stared at.
“No… I was just thinking that I could never be as mature as you, Nadeshiko-senpai…” (Sophia)
“Um… with the way you’re looking, I’m not sure which kind of ‘mature’ you mean…” (Nadeshiko)
Nadeshiko-senpai said with an awkward smile.
If she asked which meaning I intended, well… maybe both.
But since my mother’s chest was even bigger than Nadeshiko-senpai’s, I figured it was still too soon to give up hope.
“I meant in a romantic sense.” (Sophia)
“I see… Well, I think that’s normal. You don’t have to look at love the same way as me, I just don’t want you to lie to yourself and end up suffering because of it.” (Nadeshiko)
Even with just a few words, she seemed to understand exactly what I meant.
She really was sharp—and kind…
Etching her words into my heart, we spent the rest of our time chatting about trivial things.
And then, while we were drying ourselves off in the changing room—
“By the way, Nadeshiko-senpai, why did you choose Seijou? Was it because you liked baseball?” (Sophia)
I decided to ask something that had been on my mind.
With how smart Nadeshiko-senpai is, she could have easily gotten into the top-ranked high school in the prefecture. Even if she chose Seijou, she could have entered the Special Preparatory Course as a scholarship student and had her tuition waived.
The fact that she didn’t take that path made me think she must have come to Seijou to be the baseball team’s manager.
“…I wonder. Maybe I should stop keeping secrets from you, Sophia-chan?” (Nadeshiko)
For a moment, Nadeshiko-senpai froze, placing a hand on her chest, before turning back to me with a smile.
That “to you” meant that she was keeping this secret from everyone else.
“If it’s something you don’t want to talk about, that’s okay.” (Sophia)
“No, that’s not it. I just don’t want to use authority as a shield, so I’ve kept it a secret from everyone. I came to Seijou because… it’s my grandfather’s school.” (Nadeshiko)
“Eh…?” (Sophia)
The revelation was so unexpected that I gasped, staring at Nadeshiko-senpai in shock.
If this was her grandfather’s school, that meant…
“The chairman… is your grandfather…?” (Sophia)
“Yep, that’s right. But keep it a secret, okay?” (Nadeshiko)
Nadeshiko-senpai placed a finger in front of her nose and winked playfully.
Her adorable expression almost distracted me, but the shock of learning she was the chairman’s granddaughter was far more overwhelming.
She had never shown any sign of that before…
“But… your surname is different, isn’t it?” (Sophia)
“He’s my maternal grandfather.” (Nadeshiko)
It seemed that Nadeshiko-senpai’s last name was her father’s, not her mother’s all along.
“Since I’m the chairman’s granddaughter, both teachers and students would treat me differently.” (Nadeshiko)
“Not even Kento-kun or the coach knows…?” (Sophia)
“Nope, I haven’t told them. Well, the coach seems to get along well with my grandpa, but I’ve asked my grandpa not to say anything. I want to get along with everyone, but if people knew I was the chairman’s granddaughter, there’d be walls built around me, and some people might try to get close for the wrong reasons, you know?” (Nadeshiko)
I had always thought she was a bit unusual, but this confirmed it.
Most people would want to be in a superior position, to be admired by everyone, but Nadeshiko-senpai hated that kind of thing.
“That’s really impressive…” (Sophia)
“That’s exactly why I don’t want any of that. I just want to be friends with you as a fellow club member, nothing more, nothing less.” (Nadeshiko)
Without warning, Nadeshiko-senpai suddenly moved closer and started squishing my cheeks.
Ever since we bathed together, it felt like the distance between us had shrunk significantly.
“Then… why did you choose to tell me?” (Sophia)
“I said we should be honest with each other, right? It wouldn’t be fair if I kept secrets. Besides, I didn’t think you’d care even if you knew I was the chairman’s granddaughter, and I trusted you not to spread it around. That’s why I told you.” (Nadeshiko)
That was probably not the only reason.
By sharing a secret she hadn’t told anyone else, she was also trying to gain my trust.
She wanted me to feel like I was special to her.
Of course, it wasn’t because she had some hidden agenda—she simply wanted to be closer to me.
And since I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all while talking to her, I was certain that was the truth.
“Thank you… Of course, I won’t tell anyone…” (Sophia)
“Yeah—Ah!” (Nadeshiko)
As she resumed drying herself off, Nadeko-senpai suddenly turned toward me, as if she had just remembered something.
Then, she flashed a bright, dazzling smile.
“I said I just wanted to be your senpai, and that nothing else mattered, but… I also think of you as a little sister, you know?” (Sophia)
Her innocent smile was so pure and radiant that it almost seemed like she was shining—so much so that I found myself mesmerized.
◆
<Kento’s PoV>
“—Nn… Hah…” (?)
In a world of pure white, an oddly sultry voice echoed in my ears.
My hands felt something soft and warm, yet at the same time, my palms detected a firmer, slightly rougher texture.
What is this…?
With that thought lingering in my mind, I slowly opened my heavy eyelids.
“Fuh… nn… ah…” (Kento)
As I opened my eyes, all I could see was a large, raised expanse of fabric.
And my right hand was inside that fabric.
When I pulled my face back slightly, I saw a beautiful black-haired girl with her clothes slightly disheveled—
“What are you doing, Kujouin-san!?” (Kento)
Waking up to find the school’s Madonna sleeping right in front of me shocked me so much that I couldn’t help but raise my voice.
She was slightly sweaty, her cheeks were flushed red, and her breathing was ragged.
The sensation I had just felt in my right hand was unmistakable—
“Nn…?” (Nadeshiko)
It must have been my loud voice.
Kujouin-san slowly opened her sleepy eyes, her hazy gaze settling on me.
She slowly blinked, staring at my face.
She seemed to still be half-asleep.
However, as she continued blinking, her eyes gradually began to focus—
“Fweh!?” (Nadeshiko)
—And the moment she recognized me, her face turned bright red in an instant.
She quickly sat up, her movements abrupt, and opened her mouth in a flustered panic.
“K-K-Kento-kun!? Wh-Wh-Why!? Why are you in Sophia-chan’s bed!?” (Nadeshiko)
“Please calm down…! And lower your voice…! Sophia will hear us…!” (Kento)
If Sophia saw this situation, it would be beyond a simple misunderstanding.
Kujouin-san’s clothes and hair were still disheveled, and at a glance, it would definitely look like we did something last night.
She was supposed to be sleeping in Sophia’s room, so I needed her to get back there before Sophia woke up…!
After my warning, Kujouin-san quickly covered her mouth with both hands.
She still seemed flustered, but at least she was capable of listening.
“This is my room, so you must have sleepily mistaken it for Sophia’s… Anyway, if she sees you here, it’ll turn into a huge mess, so please hurry back.” (Kento)
She had probably gone to the bathroom during the night and, in her half-asleep state, entered my room by mistake.
Since she had mentioned sleeping in the same bed as Sophia, she likely didn’t question the presence of someone beside her.
For someone as composed as her to make such a blunder… This was completely unexpected.
“Y-Yeah, I’ll go back right away… It’s just…” (Nadeshiko)
Kujouin-san hesitated, fidgeting with a strand of her hair, looking oddly unsettled.
“What’s wrong…?” (Kento)
“Um… N-No…! It’s nothing…!” (Nadeshiko)
Kujouin-san looked like she was about to say something, but instead, she placed a hand over her chest as if to cover it and got out of bed.
“Sorry about this…!” (Nadeshiko)
With just that, she quickly padded out of my room.
She had been touching her chest earlier… which probably meant she still felt something from when I accidentally touched her.
“Ugh… Should I try to explain this properly…?” (Kento)
There was a chance she thought I had done something to her while she was sleeping.
If that was the case, it could definitely affect our relationship moving forward.
But at the same time, I might just be overthinking it. Maybe she didn’t want to talk about it at all, even if it was just an accident.
I had almost no experience dealing with situations like this, so I had no idea what the right choice was.
――Later, it turned out that as Kujouin-san was leaving my room, Sophia happened to be returning from the bathroom and saw everything.
Because of that, I ended up having to work really hard alongside Kujouin-san to clear up Sophia’s misunderstanding.
TL Notes:
Thanks for reading!
I didn’t expect that Nadeshiko would admit her love this early. It looks like she’s already aware of it for a while huh?
I think I’ll pause translation for this series for a while, until I finish the new volume of Toxic Game Streamer. I can’t translate too many things at once, and I’ve been looking forward to doing that series again for a while now.
Footnote:
- None
thanks for the translation