Chapter 11: After School
Chapter 11: After School
Its officially the time after school.
As that guy said earlier, Yuichi quickly left the classroom to head for his club meeting.
Im really sorry, but please help me explain and convince Shimada for this plan in my stead.
Im really gonna hate you.
Those were the last words I exchanged with Yuichi today.
Why do I have to talk to Sei-chan for you right now?
No, Im insanely happy to be able to talk to Sei-chan alone, but definitely not right now!
Both me and Sei-chan are feeling extremely awkward after what happened yesterday.
Well, Yuichi doesnt know that, and Im sure he didnt mean to offend us at all.
And, it is my fault that things are awkward between us.
Haah Im sure Sei-chan will be there waiting on her own.
Feeling a little depressed, I grabbed my stuff and left the classroom.
When I went to the school gate, I found Sei-chan standing there all by herself.
Her silver hair was not very long, but it was beautiful as it swayed and swept around in the wind.
I wondered why I was so fascinated just seeing her standing in front of the school gate.
Ah No, I-its Hisamura
Noticing that I was approaching, Sei-chan stammered a little as she said that.
This is the first time Ive been called by my name since yesterday, but Im still happy for my name to be called by my favorite heroine.
Im glad I was named Tsukasa Hisamura in my previous world too.
Ugh Is that time okay with you?
O-Of course, Im free then.
Sei-chan was looking at me but also not. She looked like she was looking behind me.
We-Well, whats wrong with Shigemoto
Ahh, Yuichi had a club meeting to attend to, so he couldnt find time after school to meet with you.
Haah? He said he wanted to meet me, but was it actually you calling for me?
Yuuichi himself wanted to see you.
What the hell was he thinking?
I really feel the same way about that.
Oh So that means nowits just you and me.? [TLN: This is in a mutter]
Hmm? Sei-ch Shimada, did you say something just now?
N-No, Its nothing
Dangerous, I almost called her Sei-chan again.
In this world, Hisamura usually calls Sei-chan by her last name.
If this isnt a dream, then the hurdle for me to call Sei-chan Sei-chan is indeed too high. [ED:this line is right but feels so wrong]
Well, what happened yesterday cant be helped. I cant just go back in time.
I hope Sei-chan forgets about it. Well, I guess that isnt gonna happen.
S-So, what was Shigemoto talking about? Im pretty sure it was about those two on Sunday.
Yeah, I guess so. Anyways, lets talk as we walk, Its not that safe here.
We were in front of the school gate, and it was still full of students slowly leaving the school.
If a man and a woman were to stop and talk here, they would indeed stand out in many ways.
Even if it was just her. Sei-chan is cute and would easily attract the eyes of nearby bystanders.
Ok-Okay Lets head to a cafe nearby.
Eh?
I didnt expect to receive such an invitation and couldnt help but freeze.
We-Well, Its going to be a long story, no? It would be difficult to talk about it while standing up. So lets talk about this calmly or Is it no good?
Of course its okay
I couldnt help but be formal.
Please dont look up at me with such eyes and ask me such a question, Ill do anything you ask.
Its such a powerful upward glance that I would gladly die even if you said, I want you dead, is that no good?
I-I see. Then, lets go that way..
Sei-chan started walking in the direction of the cafe, and I walked alongside her.
Cou-Could this possibly be? A AFTER SCHOOL DATE!?
What a lucky guy I am to have an after school date with my favorite character, Sei-chan
Yuichi, thank you. Im glad youre not here.
Me and Sei-chan went to the cafe.
There was an insanely awkward atmosphere on the way.
I think its quite common for people to move a short distance in silence, but theres something different about this atmosphere.
After all, Me and Sei-chan were both feeling a bit awkward.
Uh, Do you go to cafes often with Fujise?
Ah-Ahhh, Yeah. Shiho is usually a little busy with tennis club practice. But she doesnt have as much practice as Shigemotos basketball club, so whenever she doesnt have practice, we usually drop by a cafe on the way home.
Is that so? Shimadas not a part of any club, right?
Hmm Yeah. On that note, youre not part of any club too, right?
I wanted to take it easy in high school because I had a tough time with the club activities in middle school.
Fuu~. That feels like a very Hisamura like answer.
Sei-chan said that and chuckled.
Im glad to see that the atmosphere is not as awkward as before.
If I hadnt done that, I wouldnt have been able to talk about the matter when I got to the caf.
By the way, about the club activities, both Hisamura in the original story and I are not in any club for the same exact reason I just said.
I felt close to Tsukasa Hisamura because we were so similar.
Rather It wouldnt be an exaggeration to say that the character was based off of me. Well, it is an exaggeration though.
Sei-chan is not in any club, but shes very athletic.
Yuichi Shigemoto, the main character, is also good at all kinds of other sports, not just basketball. But Sei-chan is even better than him.
Shes so athletic that if she were serious about any sport she competed in, she could probably make it to the nationals.
Thats why Sei-chan is constantly being asked to participate in sports-related club activities.
Even in team sports, if Sei-chan is included, she is at the level to get a good placement in the prefectural tournament.
Thats why Sei-chan is often called upon as a helper for every sports club activity and so on.
Ive also been asked to join various clubs because I also do pretty well in such activities.
Something about this kind of athleticism, its like a setting for a manga.
Is there anyone like that in the real world? Someone who helps out in various club activities, gets results, and is constantly asked to join a club.
Ive only seen it in the world of manga.
Arent you going to join a club, Shimada? Youve been invited to a lot of clubs, right?
I appreciate it, but like Hisamura, I prefer to take it easy after school. Im not that passionate about sports, either.
Well thats a very Shimada like answer.
Shes very athletic and cool, but shes also kind and friendly.
Haah I like her so much
Wah!? What did you just say?
Eh? Ah no Its nothing
No, but just now- A-Alright.
Sei-chan tried to question me, but stopped midway and flushed red instead.
Perhaps she realized that questioning me would only hurt us both.
But that was a bit careless of me. I was thinking that I was reading a manga and said, Hah, how precious to myself.
Id better be careful. This world is already my reality now.
I was talking like this with Sei-chan, but it felt too much like it was a dream and I forgot about it for a moment.
After that, Sei-chan and I walked in silence, not looking at each other until we reached the cafe.
The caf that Sei-chan and Fujise always go to is Moon Bucks, a famous chain store often found in front of a train station.
Well, this is the world of manga, and the caf is a play on the name of a real world caf. [ED: In this case its probably Starbucks]
The menu item they serve is called Francino which is almost the same as the one served in cafes in the real world. [ED:Frachhino? Dead-san please help i dont actually have starbucks here]
We entered the store and gave our orders to the waitress.
Ill have a Drip Coffee Tall. What about you Shimada?
Ill take a grande of vanilla crme francino, change the syrup to white mocha syrup, and add more caramel sauce and whipped cream, please.
What kind of spell is that?
Her order was 3 to 4 times longer than mine??
The waitress seemed used to it and said, Okay and started making it.
Im not even sure if what I just ordered is even a drink anymore.
Do you come to Moon bucks often, Shimada?
Yeah. I come here with Shiho most of the time, but sometimes I come out to buy some for myself on my days off or something.
Oh So you like it?
I didnt know about that, even the original story hasnt released that information yet.
I dont know if its the same as the original, but I was able to see a new side of Sei-chan.
We-Well, does it not suit me? I do have a sweet tooth after all.
No, I think its totally fine. I think youre cute and precious
Is-Is that so, Thank you
Sei-chan is portrayed as a calm and cool character in the story, but shes still a normal high school girl, so whats wrong with liking sweet things?
I misspoke for a moment, but I do actually think shes cute and precious.
My drip coffee came out right away, and Sei-chans something,something Francino came out a little while later.
Its bigger than my coffee, and its got so much cream and stuff, its more of a desert than a drink.
Then, Sei-chan and I sat down facing each other on the two seats.
I put milk and sugar in it and drink it. Yep, it tastes like normal coffee. So delicious.
When Sei put the straw in her mouth and began drinking hers, the corners of her mouth lifted a little, as if it was very tasty, and she looked really happy.
Ah, to be able to see my favorite heroines smiling face so close to me, how happy am I?
Is it good? Sei-chan.
Hmm?
Oh shit! I called her Sei-chan
Her eyes widened in response to my words, and she choked a little, perhaps she inhaled it all at once by accident.
Shi-Shimada, are you okay?
Im fine, or rather Hisamura, why are you calling me like that? [TLN: OOF]
Sei-chan said after calming down.
Thats right, Im sure shell ask.
That well, thats what Ive been calling you in my mind for ages.
Rea-Really?
Yeah, so when I confessed yesterday, it was kind of a spur-of-the-moment kinda thing
When I talked about yesterdays confession, Sei-chan blushed even more.
O-Oh yea-yeah
Im sorry, Ill call you Shimada from now on.
I dont mind that, I really dont mind it at all.
Eh? Are you sure?
Ah-Ahh yeah but you know, Its embarrassing. So only do it only when were both alone.
Sei-chan said this while looking away and looking embarrassed.
Eh? But thats EH!?
Is that a roundabout way of approving my confession?
Wha-What? H-how did you reach that conclusion.
Because you said it was okay for me to call you Sei-chan whenever were alone.
N-No! I only gave you permission to call me by my name, I havent agreed to your confession!
I-I got it, dont be mad. Im sorry.
It was indeed depressing to be rejected to such an extent.
The fact that she is so adamant about denying it suggests that the answer to yesterdays confession has been decided.
Perhaps because I was so blatantly depressed, Sei-chan said, Ah- and started to speak in a hurry.
Im sorry, Hisamura. I didnt actually reject your confession, rather I havent decided on a response yet. But, you know, Im considering it positively for now
Eh?
Th-Thats enough of this talk
No, But-
You can call me Sei-chan when were alone. DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?
Ye-Yes, I understand!
And so I was given permission to call her Sei-chan whenever we were alone.
Sei-chan said some remarks that made me curious and happy. But I couldnt just go and ask her the meaning of what she said.