https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9531ga/96/
Episode 13: The Setting Sun
Wednesday. After school. After a hectic day filled with a trip to the nurse’s office, solicitations, and confessions, this was the first time I had a chance to be alone. And yet, I still wished there was a beautiful girl there with me as I plodded along.
Saki had something she had to take care of at home and left early. Honoka and Yuzuriha had their own errands to run for their dorm and also left together. Meanwhile Ranko had her library committee duties today…..
Maybe it’s wrong to describe what I’m doing as ‘plodding’. I had decided earlier to head to the library where the cool, beautiful Ranko would be ecstatic to talk to me――is how I thought this would go.
“I’m on key duty and have to stay until the very end. I am going to be very busy today, so please grab a book and wait for me.”
That was the answer I got when I made it to the library and called out to Ranko. And so, I’m randomly ‘plodding’ through the rows of books lining our school’s library.
I’ve been able to chat with her at the counter before. But it sounds like my timing was off today. So fighting against the overwhelming loneliness eating away at me, I absentmindedly looked through the shelves, picking out and putting back any books that caught my eye.
Hm……? I’ve heard rumors about this collection of short stories.
Finally finding a book that was able to catch my interest, I wandered over to a nearby table and allowed myself to be absorbed in the words.
“Yuriha. Turn around for a bit.”
“Eh, what?”
I ended up getting so engrossed in the book I never noticed anyone coming up on me. Shocked into attention by the voice, I set the open book down on the table while spinning around to find Ranko’s face incredibly close to my own. It was close enough that our lips were almost touching, but the shock meant my mouth was wide open. I could only sit there, stunned.
“It’s me.”
“……What did you need?”
What is this!? It feels like it should be scientifically impossible to be this cute! No but, she’s showing off her smug narcissism as well as she always does, but it’s gone beyond the pale somehow to reach full cute status. Ranko-chan is a mysterious cutie!
“I had some free time, so I thought I’d give Yuriha some attention. Doesn’t it make your heart beat faster to have a beautiful woman right in front of you?”
“No, I do but…..”
Crap! I slipped up!
“Huh……? So your heart is beating faster even though it’s someone of the same sex who’s this close to you? I wonder what that says about you.”
“Well, no….. Ranko’s just really cute. ……Is it, wrong to stare?”
“I-I see”
Oh…..what’s with that kind of reaction from Ranko-chan? Let’s push it a little further.
“I’ve always known Ranko is a cool beauty, but you have a cute side to you too.”
“O-Of course. And if Yuriha is the one saying it, it must be true.”
A small red blush was bleeding into Ranko’s cheeks. Just as I suspected, she isn’t used to being called cute. This might be my chance to turn the tables on her.
“Oh jeez. You are so cute. There there—”
I broke away from that almost kissing position Ranko had put us in, instead taking hold of her head with my arms and patting the top of it.
“S-Stop. Knock it off…..”
She was super embarrassed by what I was doing and forcefully shook me off of her. Once she got a little distance she took a deep breath to compose herself and straightened out her clothes.
“Phew…..I should get back. I still have work to do. Will you wait for me?”
“Yeah, I’ll be right here for you.”
I waved goodbye to her.
Even just by looking at her cool back, I can tell she was still emotionally perturbed by my attack, and that just makes her all the cuter.
♠
I shut the mysterious paperback with a dull thud. Hah, a yandere yuri story between a young lady and her servant. The servant you thought had turned traitor suddenly acts out at the very end to save the young lady…… Wow, I can’t believe I’ve never read such a wonderful novel before. I blame myself for slacking on my research, but before chiding myself too harshly, I allow my heart to sink into the bright afterglow of satisfaction.
It was then that I felt a tap on my shoulder.
“Yuriha. Hey Yuriha”
“Huh…..what?”
“We’re closing”
Woah, that much time’s already gone by?
“Sorry about that. Should I leave and wait in the hall?”
I stood up and put the book back where I found it while talking.
“I’m on key duty, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
She opened up her hand to show me the key she was holding.
“But, there’s one more thing I need to do…..would you mind lending me a hand?”
Ranko then pointed to the very back of the library. After a certain point, the rows of bookshelves block the view though, so I couldn’t see what exactly she was pointing at.
“Sure. If it’s just that.”
“Thank you. You really are kind.”
It’s a request from a beautiful girl, of course I’m going to accept. I mean, no matter what the favor is, is there going to be any reason for me to refuse? No, of course not. At least, that’s what I thought to myself.
“Kind…..if it’s something small, it’s really not a problem.”
“Of course”
Even though she’s smiling, Ranko’s expression and tone of voice were somewhat apathetic. Perhaps this is the true her, and she’s a dispassionate woman……would it be crazy to think like that? It can’t be helped if that was the impression I got when our knowledge of each other was surface level, but I’ve gotten to see her cute side time and time again since. It’s true that recently she’s been all-in on the sexual harassment jokes, but all it takes is a little push from me, and her facade crumbles in an instant. That’s what makes her so much fun to watch.
I did as Ranko asked and followed after her, weaving through the bookshelves to the very back of the library. The warm, wooden setting soon transformed into a romantic spot where the setting sun shining through the windows dyed the area in an orange hue. I was being engulfed in the atmosphere without having to think about it.
“So, what is it you needed help with?”
The final spot we stopped at was an ordinary, nondescript shelf. It was a little dark here because of how far back we were, but I couldn’t find anything that would’ve needed our attention. Unless we’re just organizing some final books?
“We’re alone together again.”
“Eh…..?”
Ranko whispered in my ear before grabbing both my wrists and secured my body against the bookshelf. The wood creaked under our combined weight, yet of course we weren’t enough to bring the whole thing down. Thus, I found myself in a spot where I was essentially pinned against a wall.
“……you lied about there being a final job?”
“That’s right. I just wanted to lead you somewhere quiet and out of sight.”
“Because of why…..?”
Why would I ask that? I think I’ve realized something about myself today. I’m an idiot. I was attacked in the nurse’s office just this morning. Of course there’s no guarantee of safety here in an empty library.
“Now. Let me steal away those beautiful lips.”
“J-Just a second Ranko…..”
My eyes widened at the sudden progress. I can’t see what exactly I look like right now, but I have a pretty good guess. There was a second where my brain couldn’t comprehend what was happening, so I just stood there dumbfounded with wide open eyes.
“If you hate it, I’ll stop.”
“That’s…..”
Ignoring my hesitation, Ranko’s face lit by the setting sun gradually filled up more and more of my vision. She was right in front of me. Even understanding that she’s looking for a full, shared kiss, I couldn’t bring myself to turn her down.
“See, you aren’t against it. In a school like this, girls kissing might not be an everyday occurence, but there’s nothing strange about it either. What is holding you back from being honest?”
I didn’t think there was anything strange about this. If anything, I’m ecstatic about the progress, but if I let her push forward with a kiss like this, she’s going to want to keep developing a physical relationship between us, similar to what she did this morning――and, the fear from that is making my whole body numb.
Calm down me. This is no time to be getting scared. I’m being tested right now, but unlike Saki, Ranko isn’t that sensitive to someone’s romantic feelings. After all, she’s a girl who makes the wrong assumptions all the time, and she has shown her lack of common sense with romance time and time again. To get out of this, I just need to think up some words to obscure the truth and lead her away…..let’s do it.
“Ranko…..are you looking to be pampered?”
“…….huh?”
Thrown off by what probably felt like a complete change of topic, Ranko was left dumbfounded with her mouth slightly agape. I felt the strength in her grip give way a little, and she gave a little distance from me. I can do this, just got to keep pushing.
“I figure people who want their friends to kiss them are looking to be spoiled. I was wondering if that was true about you too.”
“…..Well, I’m not sure. I just wanted to kiss you….but, is that wrong?”
So she’s just running off her desires. That’s…..shocking to say the least, but at least I’ve managed to regain my composure. This is something I’m just going to have to accept.
“Then, go ahead and do it. I was surprised at first, but I don’t have a problem with it.”
“You….don’t….? I see, you don’t…..”
Ranko’s voice was little more than a mutter, and coupled with her downcast eyes, it was as if she had fallen into a daydream. I had ignored what she said earlier, but given the chance, I picked it back up and gave her an answer.
“And, wouldn’t it be too harsh for me to say I hated it in the first place? It’s like you are asking if it will physically repulse me to even consider touching you. I’m more open than that.”
“You mean….?”
“Come on. If you’re doing this, let’s do it.”
I teased and provoked her. It’ll be easier to joke about this later if we’re more easy-going about it now――it’s how I handle most situations in my life now that I think about it. We might as well call it my signature move.
“Go…..?”
“It’s not something we need to be stubborn over. Let’s hurry up and get going—.”
Her left hand which had been used to keep my wrists in place now lifted up my chin.
Ah~, it isn’t so bad being the one on the receiving end. My heart’s been pounding this whole time, but now it’s working itself up into a frenzy. Still, I tried to hold it back as much as I could to urge her forward.
“Come on, quickly—”
“…….”
My cheap provocation got a frustrated sigh out of Ranko. Her lips were only a short ways away from mine, but they had stalled there. She wasn’t moving nor saying anything at all.
After a time, all the tension that had kept me frozen snapped.
“Ahahahah! Hahahahahahahahah!”
And, half on purpose, I burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“Pardon. It’s just, even a forceful Ranko has a cute side to her.”
“Cu-….”
Ohh, she’s embarrassed. And the way her gaze is wandering all over the room just makes her all the cuter.
“You’re not used to this kind of thing, are you?”
Not that I am either. I don’t even know if being used to this kind of thing is considered normal for high school girls or not in the first place.
However, in order to ascertain her true feelings, I put myself in the superior position.
“I….no.”
“But it’s just a kiss right? It’s not something you need to be worried about.”
I patted her shoulder. She must’ve felt something from my words. Ranko had been taking the lead so forcefully, but now she was backing away with a stiff expression, and her cheeks were dyed redder than the setting sun.
“I always thought of a kiss as just two pairs of lips touching each other….. I never expected to get this emotional about one…..”
I got closer to Ranko, a distance that I had retreated from not that long ago, and after hugging her tightly, I ran my hand through her hair. I could feel her body temperature rising.
“Is it okay to have you spoil me?”
“Of course. I’ll accept almost anything if it’s from you.”
The sexual harassment will be tough though. But the atmosphere is kind of serious right now, so I’ll lie and act strong.
“Then, while we’re here, can I tell you something?”
“What is it?”
While still resting in my arms, Ranko took a deep breath to gather herself up.
I wonder what kind of confession she is going to make. And, how should I end up evading it――I can’t allow myself to be caught unaware, so I prepared myself mentally while she looked for the words she wanted to use.
“Lately……I’ve been thinking, and I might be a lesbian. And I know what you’re going to say, and no, it’s not a joke this time.”
“Eh….? Oh…..”
I mean, after everything’s she’s done, c’mon…..obviously I’m going to have already figured that out, but I still pretended to be a little surprised. I let her go and put a little distance between us in order to have a proper, serious conversation.
“You’ve called me a perverted lesbian before, and that was the joke at the time, but….I think those are my real feelings. Touching you, sexually harassing you…..just being with you every day, it’s all enough to make my heart flutter.”
And there we receive words that are a borderline confession.
“So I tried getting physically close to you like I did this morning…..but it feels off. I started thinking about it, and the more I thought about it, the more embarrassed I got. Like I’m an absolute fool. And yet, it feels like even if in my head, I know it’s something stupid, I just can’t help myself, and…..I don’t know what to do…..”
Such pure, adorable confusion.
Well okay, I was wondering what had convinced her to come out like she did and thought it might just be something she felt she needed to share. Going by her words and expression though, I can be delighted to see her become a maiden in love…..I can’t help but love her back.
But, that doesn’t mean now is the time for me to accept those feelings. If I were to press her on whether it’s just me making her heart ache, it would make for the perfect confession, so I’ll hold back on that. We are both gay. Plus, lesbian play is relatively common between girl friends. It’s a lot easier to hide compared to relationships between two guys, and there are all kinds of different methods available to us.
“You still aren’t sure about how you feel though right? I’ve heard of people who flirt and even have a more physical relationship while still considering themselves to just be friends. I think you should take your time to really think it through and sort out your feelings.”
So I gave Ranko a vague answer, neither turning her down nor accepting her.
“If I am a lesbian, will you grow to hate me?”
“Shouldn’t the answer be obvious? Who do you think I am?”
I put my hands on my hips and proudly stuck out my chest.
“We’ve already got Honoka, and you know what she’s like. I’m sure everyone will accept you, so don’t try to hide it. Just be honest with them.”
“Then….I don’t need to push myself or think of myself as weird…..”
I don’t think any of the other girls are going to be surprised if Ranko comes out to them as it is. But, Saki isn’t going to get more serious unless Ranko keeps trying her best. Seeing how jealous she’s been recently, I can say it’s already been good stimulus for her. It’s not like I want to see these two fight; it’s more that I want the two of them to strengthen their feelings for me even if it means they fight every now and then.
“And if you ever want to test yourself, you can always use me as a smooching test subject. Just think of me as your personal litmus paper.”
So I tried provoking her a little with a joking tone.
“I can’t tell if your choice in analogy is good or bad.”
Ranko responded to my joke with a light chuckle.
“You’re right— I’m bad at being clever. Do something about it Ranko”
I kept acting silly to further lighten the mood. If things were to stay serious, who knows what kind of bombshell she would drop.
“All right, then I’ll be the funny man, and you can keep playing the part of the straight man, okay?”
“Sounds good, but no lesbian jokes okay?”
“Ahaha. I wonder about that”
Was that the end of our talk? Frankly, she didn’t say anything that important. All she did was confirm what I already figured: that she is probably into girls.
Yet somehow, I am indescribably happy. I’m aware of her feelings, and yes, I am half-deceiving her, however my head feels light from the joy. If she were to full-on confess to me right now, I might just soar to the roof. Then there was Saki’s jealousy from the earlier unexpected confession. With so many happy things happening one after another, I might just develop heart problems.
With Ranko having regained her composure, we made our way out of the library. Together, we made our way home with her serving a few light lesbian jokes as the indigo color of the sky began to melt into an evening twilight.
Whether or not the discomfort I feel is lovesickness or a physical illness, I still can’t say.
Experimental Translations 