https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9531ga/80/
Episode 80: Whiskey Bonbons
It was a boring Monday with only classroom lessons to occupy my attention until school was over. The girls and I gathered in the club room to escape the drab sky and dark clouds that were hanging overhead, and we lazily spent our time together. It’s only going to get colder outside the longer we wait to leave, but all of us seemed to want to relax and unwind from Monday’s lethargy together.
Well, during the breaks I did receive a little yuri time with girls clinging onto me….but going by that measurement, Yuzuriha is the yuri queen.
“I’m so tired from studyingー Yuzurin, soothe my tired, broken body”
“You used that line, all day…. Please….don’t”
“Don’t say that…..five minutes. Just give me five minutes, and I’ll be good!”
Honoka immediately resorted to begging while hanging on to Yuzuriha’s sleeve, but even that mild-mannered girl has gotten tired of being snuggled up to during every single break. I curiously watched the two as they went.
“Uheheー I’ll get embarrassed if you stare at me like thatー”
“…..You mean you’re able to….?”
Yuzurin shook her head and let out a loud, deliberate sigh. Honoka’s excessive physical contact has had a dramatic effect on her personality. She’s so honest.
“Ufufu~, Yuzu-chan’s cheeks are like marshmallows~”
“Guuh….the sexual harassment spirit has possessed someone else? Begone evil spirit, you damn demon!”
What happened next was something akin to an exorcism as Saki took the opportunity to take advantage of Honoka. Ranko and I both watched over the three of them, feeling like a couple of parents watching their kids fall into a cuddling pile that feels almost formulaic at this point. Whenever these three start playing together, it always goes with Honoka acting silly, Yuzuriha being toyed with, and Saki acting as a sort of older sister for them both. It’s nice to see them get along so well with each other.
But like Yuzuriha asked, wouldn’t you get tired of doing the same thing over and over again? No. No one could ever get tired of yuri. Yuri is the best. Lilies are a symbol of peace and love. Everyone in the world should be yuri.
Now to get to the matter at hand. I was really looking forward to this after school time. Yes it’s my time to restore my yuri batteries, but for today in particular, I have prepared a special item. With everyone settling in, it was my time to take out the mysterious, sparkling box I had been keeping in my bag. It’s a familiar looking box most people would recognize…..most people who read romantic comedy manga at least. A slightly bittersweet, adult candy. I turned the box upside first so none of the others could see what it was….
“I bought some chocolate today as a snack, so let’s all share one.”
I placed a case containing twenty-five chocolates on the table as I spoke. They’re whiskey bonbons, but the chocolates wrapped in stylish aluminium foil are not shaped like they usually are. Rather than the iconic bottle shapes you usually see them in, these ones are more egg-shaped, so even the more perceptive Saki and Ranko shouldn’t notice anything right away.
“Hmm!? Oh. My. Goshhhhh――!!! Why do they look so beautiful!? And one of us can have five of these!? I can eat some!? I’m going to eat some! Let’s go!”
Honoka was so excited, my ears started to hurt from her banging on the table. In contrast, Yuzuriha grimaced, and for a moment, she had started looking downright sickly. Shoot, I hope the smell from the desk isn’t already getting to her? No, there’s no way that’s possible.
More importantly, I’m surprised to see Honoka was able to do that quick mental math in her head. Looks like those study sessions we’ve been doing has been a help after all.
“My parents gave them to me. No need for anyone to hold back, so dig right in.”
“Hehe~, in that case, how about I prepare something to drink?”
Saki, as it turns out, had already made some preparations of her own as she got to work filling an already prepared teapot with some hot water she had boiling in the corner of the room.
“Great. Then let’s wait until the tea is done.”
“UGh…..even though there’s a feast sitting right in front of me….”
Ranko held Hanako back when she was told to wait, so Hanako started whimpering like a sad puppy.
Even for a bunch of girls from well-off families, these chocolates worth several thousand yen should be quite the treat….not that I bought them though. Still, for me personally these are going to be a high luxury item.1
I already knew Honoka loved spicy food, so it’s a little surprising to see her so excited for something sweet as well. For now let’s assume she’ll eat anything as long as it tastes good. This is actually quite lucky for me. If her palate were more refined, I’d have a harder time enjoying food together with her.
Unlike the usual, Saki didn’t wait for the tea leaves to steam in the boiling water. She also didn’t add any sugar replacements like honey or artificial sweeteners like she usually does. Instead we had a light purple lavender tea poured directly into our cups, all to better compliment the chocolate we were about to eat. Marry me now please.
“And, tea is served~”
“Go ahead and enjoy!”
Saki and I worked together to hand everyone a cup of tea and a couple of the chocolates. Honoka was having a hard time staying in her seat, and “Hahahaーーー!!! They’re all mine!!” celebrated when she finally got hers.
She tore away at the chocolate wrapper as if it were her own personal enemy.
“You’re being too noisy Honoka. Try unwrapping it a little more calmly, please. Thank you for this, and here, let me pass you yours Yuzuriha.”
“A miraculous treasure born here from Ghana, South America….I, happily accept….”
“I will have some too~”
After Honoka got hers, Ranko, Yuzuriha, and Saki started on their own chocolates as well. Ghana is actually in Africa and not South America…..but I’m not so tactless as to point that out right now. Seeing them all already enjoy themselves removing the wrappers without having taken a single bite yet, I realized that now was my moment to move.
“Oh, I think I should use the bathroom before I take a bite. I’ll be right back.”
“Oh! It has a strange taste to it, but they are wonderful!”
“Sweet~ Right?”2
“Sweet…..”
“Oh yeah! These sweets are totally sweet!”
Bit of dated slang there, but don’t let that stop you.
“Here here, you have some too!”
“You’re going to pick flowers right? Have a nice trip”
Honoka and Yuzuriha tried to keep me there by waving some of their chocolates at my face, but Saki came to my rescue and helped me escape….although saying I’m going to “pick some flowers” felt incredibly embarrassing…..
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”
- For comparison, a box of 25 whiskey bonbons I found were seventy US dollars.
- They’re doing a pun right here, combining the Japanese word for delicious, oishi, with the English word ‘sweet’. “Oisuito”
Experimental Translations 