https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9531ga/73/
Drink Time Before Studying
“Now that I think about it, I am in so much trouble!”
Those were the words to kick off our lunch break. I can’t even say where exactly it came from. We had only just finished a quick meal and sat down at our desks.
“You mean….the retests….?”
“I haven’t studied for it at all~!”
How are you only getting worried about the test now?
“Calm down, it’ll be fine. I’ll tutor you.”
“OOOOOOOOOOH no no no no! What do I need to study which should I study first!? How soon’s the test!?”
“The teacher said….next week….Friday….”
“Huh!? Then you have almost no time at all!”
“No no, if it’s next week, you’ll be able to make it in time. But, didn’t she say you had two weeks to study one week ago…. Or am I just misremembering because of the noise?”
“Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no!”
“So it took a full week for the danger to finally set in….”
For her sake, let’s just say a space-time distortion ate up the time.
♠
Then and there, we finished up whatever was left of our lunch and moved back to the classroom to start studying.
“Saki, Ranko, sorry you had to wolf down your food like that. You didn’t make yourselves sick did you?”
“Not a problem. I am good at eating quickly.”
“And I didn’t have that much to eat to begin with.”
“If the two of them are in a pinch….”
“Right. It only makes sense that we’d get quickly started~”
What a relief it is to have such a cooperative couple on my side.
On the other hand….
“Ah, let’s get some juice before we start.”
The one raising their hand with that proposal was, of course, Honoka-chan. It couldn’t be more obvious that she doesn’t want to study. This is the girl we’re supposed to be helping.
“You really think that best?”
“It’ll be fine! In and out! We’ll be right back!”
“You had some tea after lunch, so you can’t be that thirsty right?”
“That’s not what I mean! If you’re going to use your brain, you need to feed it with sugar. So wouldn’t it be important to get something to drink before you start studying~?”
“Sugar is important….for concentration….”
While Ranko and Saki are against it, Yuzuriha is agreeing with Honoka whose motives are entirely suspect.
So now it’s two on two. My opinion will decide what the outcome will be.
“Hmm….”
Everyone’s eyes were on me, so I put some real thought into it while fighting back the growing uneasiness in me. As if sensing this, Honoka moved next to me, rubbing her hand against my thigh.
“Hey~. It’s fine, isn’t it Onee-chan~?
“Don’t just casually sexually harass me.”
“Uhee-!”
I pinched her cheek, taking in the high-pitched whine she let slip as a result. Her expression twisted, but the huge grin on her face told me she wasn’t feeling any remorse. She’s a girl you can’t let your guard down around.
“We’re not going to spend any real time on this all right? We’re already wasting time just talking about it, so I’ll do it with you.”
“Really? You’ll really do it with me for 50,000 yen?”
“And you just keep making it worse!”
“Uehehe~!”
I tried slapping her, but Honoka ran away on her own before I could, laughing all the way to the door. I dropped my empty hand down in vain. Damn you you sexual harassment girl….
“Should we go ahead and get started first then?”
“We’ll be teaching Yuzu-chan~”
“Yes….please!”
“Okay~ Just leave it to us.”
Yuzurin raised both her pens to the sky, showing how excited she was to start. At least this one feels like she’s full of motivation….
“I wonder what we should buy~. Strawberry milk? Sparkling water? An energy drink? Or maybe I should just buy them all~!?”
This feels like it’s going to take a long time.
♠
Whether she just doesn’t care about the mouth-to-mouth Hi-Chew incident or she’s just pretending, Honoka walked down the hall with me with her usual upbeat enthusiasm. There are thankfully a set of red vending machines at the end of each floor which conveniently let you buy whatever you want with either cash or electronic money.
“No no~! Soz~! You have to follow my selfishness~.”
“I don’t need to study, so it’s all the same to me.”
“Hmm? Was that sarcasm~!?”
“….aren’t you just reaping what you’ve sown?”
I’m already used to her over-the-top responses.
“Boo~ Boo~ I promise; I’ll learn tons from you. I’m ready….”
I sighed as she grinned suspiciously at me. Shibuya-sensei, our homeroom teacher and club advisor, asked me to help Honoka study. It’s something I would’ve done anyway since we’re friends, but she’s the reason why we were able to easily get our club started. I’d like to make her job easier if I can….although at this rate I might be the one who needs help.
That’s when we arrived at the vending machine in front of the stairs. I glanced towards Honoka, wondering what she’d say next since she’s been treating this whole little jaunt as a holiday.
“What should I buy~”
“No~, that’d be no good”
“Red bean soup maybe?”
“No way!”
Predictably, she’s started on her own one-woman play….
After a moment of fun on her own, Honoka pulled her finger from all the options she was fingering and moved her hand to her pocket…..hm? She started shoving her hands into all the pockets of her blazer.
“Ah-! Uuuuh~! I forgot my wallet~! Yuu-chan~, buy me something~”
Like I thought….
“Your electronic money too?”
“Sorry. I keep my student ID in my wallet~”
“Well, you did treat me last time,” I muttered to myself while pulling out my wallet….no? Last time Honoka and I went out, she didn’t end up spending a single yen did she? ….Well, not that I mind…. It doesn’t seem like she’s going out of her way to have other people pamper her on purpose.
“It can’t be helped. What would you like to drink?”
“Yuu-chan’s choice!”
“Yeah yeah. Cola it is.”
I opened up the zipper of my own wallet and looked inside. Oh, I’m almost out of coins. Honestly, I’m fine just getting something for Honoka, so I palmed the few coins left inside and pressed the button on the vending machine. There was a nice *Clunk* as the bottle hit the bottom, but Honoka didn’t move to pull it out. I glanced towards her wondering what she was waiting for.
“Y-Yuu-chan. Was that the last of your money?”
“What have I done…?” Honoka looked incredibly apologetic as she whispered that aloud. More importantly though, don’t go looking in other people’s wallets! That thought was shaking around in my head, but that childish concern in her expression stopped me from saying it out loud. I wonder if this is some kind of technique that came from her carefree personality.
“Stop. I just didn’t want to break a bill.”
“The jangling does get in the way….”
My thoughts exactly. I believe it’s almost common sense that people hate having to pay in coins nowadays.
But if this is how things are going to be, I decide to pick up the bottle of cola and watch as Honoka stares at the bottle. She must’ve been legitimately thirsty after all, and even though I could hear her gulp, she doesn’t seem able to straightforwardly say, “Give it to me.” And so….
“Ah!”
I popped open the lid and slowly began drinking the pop. *Glug* *Glug* I prepared myself mentally for when the bubbles would burn my throat….but this really hurts! And chugging it like I am is just making it worse! This is why I hate pop.
After draining three long sips, I made a deliberately long sigh and handed the bottle over to Honoka.
“So, how about we split it half and half then?”
“….That, was kind of cool”
Her anxious look from before had completely changed. Since it was different from the usual grin she gives me, I’m going to call this small little prank a success.
“How about we get Yuzu a refreshing cider too while we’re here?”
“You’re right~. She didn’t eat much for lunch today, so she’ll definitely like it.”
“And she doesn’t seem the type to drink pop.”
“The taste is too strong for her.”
We chatted a little bit as I inserted the bill and pressed the button. I pulled out the bottle of cider when it finally fell down….but….
“Ah….”
“Dang….”
“You broke the bill anyway.”
We both shared a look between us before sharing a laugh.
Experimental Translations 