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Blunt
After parting ways with Mitake, Hayato is heading to class while his mind is distracted.
(He loves Haruki, huh…)
Nikaido Haruki is a popular person.
This is what Mori taught him on his first day at new school, and in fact, from Hayato’s point of view, it is a trait that he can understand.
Everyone loved her and depended on her, and he even saw her helping out with a few things.
However, since their reunion, from Hayato’s perspective, they have always been the same as they once were.
Not only that, but they also show a vulnerable side that they would not show to others.
Although she is a handful and troublesome in many ways, she is clumsy and cannot be left alone. That is what Haruki is to Hayato.
Therefore, he never really felt that she was popular, and he even doubted the truth of Mitake’s words.
“Good morning…?”
“Yo, bo0ba maniac Kirishima.”
“Hey, give me a break already, what’s with that?”
When Hayato entered the classroom, his eyes were met by the sore sight of girls from here and there, all of them looking at each other with serious and disgusted looks on their faces.
The boys, on the other hand, were somewhat fidgety and restless, acting as they usually do.
Hayato was a bit put off by the fact that he had been teased a lot yesterday and was a bit prepared for the possibility of getting teased again today.
“Oh, well, uhh, just listen and you’ll understand.”
“Ha?”
He’s still not quite sure what Mori is talking about, so Hayato twists his head around and heads to his seat.
Inevitably, his eyes fall on Haruki’s group seated next to him, and he happens to overhear their conversation.
“I guess the scariest thing is doing a rebounding exercise.”
[ED/N: Rebounding is a type of aerobic exercise that is performed while jumping on a mini-trampoline.]
“I’d rather lose weight and then get to the real stuff.”
“Oh, the ‘just eat this and that’ type of diet is a real scam.”
“Fufufu, the intense exercise type is definitely a trap… and it’s hunger. I just found out the hard way that it’s the best spice…”
“Ahhhh, I’m definitely going to lose 5 more pounds before summer vacation…”
“Summer clothes inevitably show the lines of the body…”
“I’m sure this year, this year surely…”
“Hmmm, so moderate exercise and a good diet is the best way to get in shape.”
Surrounded by the girls, Haruki was in a serious mood, discussing diet and exercises.
Some of these women spoke from experience, and their conversation suddenly became more enthusiastic.
Since summer is just around the corner, not only did the topic of swimsuits and fashion become more prevalent, but also the desire for a boyfriend or love came up, which was found to be a factor in making the boys feel restless.
“And, well, it’s about diet alright.”
“My sister was also on a diet, is it really that popular?”
“Well, it’s summer, and isn’t it that time of year? Okay, I’ll give you one piece of advice: girls on a diet are emotionally unstable. So think of them as wounded and starving beasts or something.”
“I don’t really need to think about them like that.”
“Haha, well. they are!”
“By the way, you said both of you knew each other. For how long have you been together?”
“Hmm.. I’ve known her since the end of junior high school, so it hasn’t been that long… It’s just that we’ve known each other since childhood. We’ve known each other in that sense for a long time.”
“Hmm…?”
Mori’s words were kind of strange.
For Hayato, his childhood friend is Haruki.
Indeed, Haruki is a beautiful girl. He knows her personality, even her true nature, and they get along pretty well.
However, when asked if they want to be in a relationship or become lovers, it doesn’t feel right somehow. He thinks that something is different.
Even so, he is bothered when he is informed that a handsome man named Kaido Kazuki likes Haruki.
“…For some reason, I kinda don’t understand.”
“Maybe you’ll understand if we try it. So let’s try taking a diet.”
“I won’t!”
“I’ll give you one piece of advice. For hungry girls, it’s a good idea to fill their chest.”
“Excuse me?”
“Just praise her for trying, spoil her, and give her some skinship.”
“Ha? I can’t do that to my sister! Are you crazy?”
“Hahaha!”
After such a subtle and ill-concerted exchange with Mori, Hayato sat down in his seat.
Looking next to his seat, Hayato caught a glimpse of Haruki, who is the same as usual – He doesn’t think that she needs to lose weight very much.
However, the girls seemed to be the same ordinary girls who could be found anywhere, as they discussed with each other enthusiastically and indulged in a diet talk while laughing at each other.
Such a sight is now very common nowadays.
This should be a very good trend for Haruki, who has been wallowing in the mimicry of being a good girl… saying she has been alone until now.
But for some reason, Hayato felt that Haruki and him were different, as much as he didn’t want to admit it, his greeting was very blunt.
“…Good morning.”
“Ah, Good morning, Kirishima-kun…”
“…..”
A tender smile, as if the events from yesterday had never happened. A perfect smile of Haruki Nikaido. But when he was confronted with it, Hayato’s face became more and more frown-like.
A girl notices this and chats with Hayato in an exasperated voice. She is one of the central girls in the class who often talks to Haruki, and is a popular girl with short bob, light hair and personality.
“Kirishima-kun, are you still worried about what Nikaido-san said to you yesterday? Yes, everyone knows that boys like boobs, so no one really cares.”
“Uhm. No, not that, I mean, I’m…”
People around him would say things like, “Look, look, your face is scary”, “Smile, smile.” , “Ah hey, yesterday was just a prank” as if to follow Hayato or defend Haruki.
Then his eyes met Haruki’s, who looked apologetic.
“Um, sorry about yesterday, Kirishima-kun.”
“…It’s nothing. I’m not mad about that.”
However, Hayato scratched his head and turned away.
He heard a ridiculous laughter nearby.
*******
Afterword
TL: Sorry for a long delay. My exams came up around the end of March so I got my hands full on those craps. I shouldn’t have taken college. Oh, and I’m also translating another manga, named “Onimotsu to Yobareta Tensei Hime wa, Shoukan Yuusha ni Koi wo Shite Seijo ni Narimashita” (eng: Reborn as the Princess Known as a Burden, I Fell in Love With the Hero and Became the Saint). It’s a collaboration from my current scanlation group. We’re currently at chapter 4.1 (previous scanlation group dropped it), and I do find it hard to translate a fantasy genre. Btw WHY DO I MOSTLY GET LONG TITLES! WHAT IN THE MOTHER OF URSUS IS HAPPENING IN JAPAN?!