“Souma-kun, are you okay over there? Are you getting hit by the rain?” (Shizuka)
“I’m fine, but what about you?” (Souma)
“I’m okay! Besides, even if I get wet, it just makes me a more attractive, glistening woman.” (Shizuka)
“I don’t get it…” (Souma)
The umbrella that Shizuka had brought was relatively large for a plastic umbrella, but unfortunately, it was still too small for the two of us to fit under comfortably. As a result, we walked to the station, gradually getting one side of our shoulders wet.
Shizuka was the one holding the umbrella, but because I was taller, she had to hold it at a higher position, which seemed quite challenging for her.
“I’ll hold the umbrella.” (Souma)
“But…” (Shizuka)
“It’s fine. It must be hard for you.” (Souma)
I took hold of the handle, and Shizuka hesitantly let go.
“Thank you.” (Shizuka)
“Don’t mention it. Since you came all this way, I should at least do this much.” (Souma)
As I walked, I subtly adjusting the umbrella’s position to keep Shizuka from getting wet, I could hear her faint breathing amidst the sound of the rain. It gives off an illusion that there were only the two of us in the world.
…Well, it can’t be helped, right? It’s my first time sharing an umbrella with someone, so I’m feeling a bit nervous.
I stole a quick glance at Shizuka beside me, and she had a thoughtful expression on her face. I wished she would act like her usual self and make some noise as it would help to break the awkwardness. Why does she have to look so serious at times like this? Come on, make some noise and tease me like you always do.
“────You know…” (Shizuka)
“Hmm?” (Souma)
It was just as the pedestrian signal turned red, and we stopped walking. Shizuka, who had been silent until then, suddenly started talking while keeping her gaze forward.
“Come to think of it… This might be the first time I’ve shared an umbrella with a boy.” (Shizuka)
“…Is that so?” (Souma)
I had thought that I was the only one thinking too much about this, so I was taken aback when Shizuka uttered those words.
“What about you, Souma-kun? Have you ever shared an umbrella with a girl? For example, with Mafuyu?” (Shizuka)
Shizuka still kept her gaze fixed on the other side of the crosswalk. I wondered what could be over there. What was she looking at while having this conversation? Her profile looked refreshingly calm, and there was no sign of her being flustered at all. Meanwhile, I didn’t have the luxury to focus on what was in front of me. It felt like I was the only one getting nervous, and it all seemed a bit foolish.
This is Shizuka we’re talking about, right?
What’s there to be nervous about?
I know it in my head, but still…
“…No. This is my first time too.” (Souma)
“I see. So, it’s our first time together.” (Shizuka)
……
You’re definitely not Shizuka, right? Who on earth are you? Show your true self.
My mental state had finally reached a point where it was even difficult to turn my gaze toward Shizuka, so I found myself staring blankly at the raindrops sliding down the umbrella and dripping on my cheeks. Despite the rain and the chill in the air, my cheek on the other side felt unusually warm.
“Souma-kun, the traffic light turned green.” (Shizuka)
“……yeh” (Souma)
I found myself cursing the location of the [Virtual Real] office for the first time.
With all the money they have, couldn’t they have built it closer to the station?
This is quite troublesome….
◆
[Shizuka PoV]
Omg omg omg!
I’m actually sharing an umbrella with Souma-kun right now!?
What do I doooo? I can’t even look at him!
……
Wait, wait, this is really bad. It is way more effective than I thought. Is sharing an umbrella supposed to make me feel this close to Souma-kun!?
What should I do, what should I do?! My mind is going completely blank.
……
…No, calm down, Rinjou Shizuka. You always get flustered and mess things up, don’t you? This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance that you can’t let slip away. First, take a deep breath. And then, chant some mantras1 in your head.
(han-nya ha ra mi ta ji sho- ken go on kai ku- do is-sai ku yaku.2)
…Phew, I think I’ve managed to calm down a bit.
I’m composed enough now to steal a glance at Souma-kun’s profile, so I decided to do just that.
“Souma-kun, are you okay over there? Are you getting hit by the rain?” (Shizuka)
“I’m fine, but what about you?” (Souma)
“I’m okay! Besides, even if I get wet, it just makes me a more attractive, glistening woman.” (Shizuka)
“I don’t get it…” (Souma)
What on earth am I saying?! It seems like my head still isn’t quite in the right place.
The umbrella I brought was indeed too small for both of us, and truth be told, my shoulder was getting pelted by the rain a bit. But it was better for me to get wet than have Souma-kun get wet. I wanted to pat myself on the back for coming up with that lie on the spot.
“I’ll hold the umbrella.” (Souma)
“But…” (Shizuka)
“It’s fine. It must be hard for you.” (Souma)
When I said that, Souma-kun forcibly took hold of the umbrella handle, and I ended up letting go of it. I was surprised that our hands almost touched, even though I had held his hand quite firmly not long ago.
“Thank you.” (Shizuka)
“Don’t mention it. Since you came all this way, I should at least do this much.” (Souma)
Um, can I ask something?
…Souma-kun, aren’t you too cool!?
What’s with that manly attitude!?
What are you trying to do to me, seriously?
……
I decided to empty my mind and continue walking silently in order to calm down my heart, which felt like it was about to leap out of my chest. If I didn’t do that, my heartbeat would suffocate me.
I felt like I might lose it if I looked at Souma-kun’s face right now, so I desperately kept my gaze fixed ahead. It was as if I was deep in thought but nothing was really registering in my mind; that’s the state I was in.
……
Maybe because I was staying silent, or perhaps he had nothing to say to me, but Souma-kun remained quiet too. So, we walked to the station in silence.
However, when we got caught at a red light and couldn’t bear the awkwardness any longer, I blurted out without thinking.
“────You know…” (Shizuka)
“Hmm?” (Souma)
Souma-kun responded with a surprised-sounding short acknowledgment. What am I going to say next? I didn’t even know myself.
“Come to think of it… This might be the first time I’ve shared an umbrella with a boy.” (Shizuka)
“…Is that so?” (Souma)
Wait, what am I saying!?
I was definitely thinking about the idea of sharing an umbrella, but I couldn’t manage to clear my mind at all!
But seriously, what am I even saying!?
“What about you, Souma-kun? Have you ever shared an umbrella with a girl? For example, with Mafuyu?” (Shizuka)
Oh, I don’t even know anymore… I don’t feel like myself. It seems that I have been overwhelmed by my love so much so that it has reached a point where I could say anything. Oh well, whatever happens, happens. I decided to leave everything to this new version of me for now. After all, I can’t really change what I already said.
“…No. This is my first time too.” (Souma)
“I see. So, it’s our first time together.” (Shizuka)
…………
…Wait, does this mean… a k-k-k-kiss might happen next!?
Uh, what should I do? I’m really not mentally prepared for this!
I’m happy!
I’m happy… but!
Before I could let the other half of me that was panicking take over, the traffic light turned green.
“Souma-kun, the traffic light turned green.” (Shizuka)
“……yeh” (Souma)
The remaining half of me, which was surprisingly calm, said something I hadn’t even anticipated.
Illustration of Shizuka and Souma sharing an umbrella
Shizuka, who had been silent until then, suddenly started talking while keeping her gaze forward.
TL notes:
Thanks for reading!
Pfff as if a kiss is gonna happen. You’re gonna have to break through Souma’s denseness first before such a thing can even be considered.
Btw @Azuka, I hope you don’t mind if I used one of your comments as a screenshot for this forum post.
https://www.novelupdatesforum.com/threads/my-rookie-guide-to-making-a-wordpress-org-translation-website.169800/
You can use it, it’s my pleasure, and thanks for the chapter!
Shizuka is one heck of a delusional, huh? That makes her adorable! Though she’s equal with the others, it gives her an imouto feeling, even more than Mayufu. They’re just like a siblings at this point lol
Ive been trying to figure out why Im addicted to these kind of novels. Perhaps it’s because there’s been a complete lack of romance in my life? I had girlfriends in highschool but it was such a Wham Bam thank you ma’am kind of affair every time. I was all about dr*gs rock and roll and s*x. In that order. Perhaps if the order was different, my life would be different.