Chapter 92: Isn't This A Shuraba (Delight)!


TL: Akabane


***


The green-eyed boy in the stuffed collar school uniform initially spoke to me in a language that sounded like Spanish. Probably, I think he was saying. "I would like to ask you a question, if you don't mind. Do you understand my language? Would it be better if I spoke in English?" so I replied in English.


"Yes, English would be great. What's your question?"


The boy was holding a Japanese classical grammar drill.


"There is a part of the grammar of the ancient language that I don't understand. It's about conjugated forms..."


"Oh, that's, uh..."


I tried once to free myself from Ayashiro to politely answer the boy's question. But for some reason, Ayashiro held my hand tightly and wouldn't let go. I looked at Ayashiro's face in wonder. Her lips were quivering and her eyes were wide open. Her gaze is fixed on the boy with the green eyes.


"Do you have something on my face?"


The green boy tilts his head with a dubious look toward Ayashiro. But Ayashiro remains silent. It seems as if he is afraid of something. Ayashiro's behavior was strange. So I called Igarashi over.


"What's wrong?"


"Ayashiro doesn't seem to be doing well. I'm sorry, but I need you to help him study."


Igarashi nodded her head in understanding when she saw Ayashiro's pale face.


"Okay. I'll teach you!"


"Yes, I'm looking forward to it."


Igarashi took the boy to a nearby table. I patted Ayashiro's shoulder and asked.


"What's wrong? Did something happen with that boy? You look terrible."


Ayashiro was holding her mouth with both hands and shaking. She looks as if she is trying to hold something back.


"...I'm sorry. Wait. I don't want to talk right now. I want to concentrate on this event right now. But why? Why oh why?"


Ayashiro crouched down and covered her face with her hands. I crouched down and patted Ayashiro's back.


"Okay. It's okay for now. But the event is not over yet. You have to be cool. It doesn't matter if you're bluffing. I'm here for you. That's why don't afraid."


"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Tokiwa. I'm really sorry. I'm sorry for showing you how pathetic I am..."


Ayashiro slowly stood up. Even so, her complexion wasn't good. She took my arm and leaned against me. She looks like she can barely stand on her own. It would be better to sit somewhere and be quiet until the event is over. That's when I decided to move.


"Ah!" "Huh?"


There was a woman I knew beside Igarashi, who was teaching a boy how to study. It was Suo. Normally, she was dressed in garish clothes or a dress, but today she was wearing jeans, shorts, and a T-shirt. Igarashi and Suo looked at each other in surprise.


"Why are you here? Don't tell me you're volunteering for this event or something?"


Suo looked around with sharp eyes. Igarashi, on the other hand, is looking nonchalant.


"Eh? No, I'm not. My friend invited me to volunteer. Why are you here, Suo?"


"That boy you're teaching is my little brother. It's almost time for him to finish, so I've come to pick him up."


"Eh? Seriously? Huh? If this kid is a foreigner, does that mean Suo is a foreigner?"


"You didn't realize I'm a foreigner? You're too plain! You could tell by my face and the eye's color!"


It seemed that the two of them knew each other at this point. Suo's face is very Yamato Nadeshiko-like, but she also has a foreigner's look. She is beautiful and has a mysterious face.


"But your name is Suo, and I thought you were Japanese?"


"That's my family name! That's enough. You are a plain. Ricardo. How did you do? Did you learn a lot?"


Suo's brother is called Ricardo. He nodded quietly.


"I see. Well, that's good."


Suo patted Rikardo's head in satisfaction.


"Well, I've been a good teacher. Please praise me too, Suo."


"Well, I'm grateful. Thank you. It's very kind of you to give people like us the opportunity to be educated for free. I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers if possible. Where are they?"


"Then, you can go over there."


Igarashi pointed in our direction. Suo looked at me. Then she looks at me and gives me a puzzled look.


"Kanata? ...Eh? No way...why..."


And Suo looked at Ayashiro next to me and looked terribly surprised. And it was the same for Ayashiro.


"Himena?!!!" "Edileza?!!!"


The two of them called each other's names. Suo's real name is apparently Edileza.


"Huh? You two know each other?"


I ask Ayashiro, who is standing next to me. But Ayashiro was just shaking with her eyes wide open. Suo, on the other hand, comes up to me and stands in front of Ayashiro. Suo was staring at Ayashiro with a sharp gaze. Ayashiro looked down at Suo.


"I told you. Don't ever come near me again."


"No, no! This is just a coincidence!"


"Coincidence? What coincidence? That's a stupid lie!"


Suo didn't yell, but she spat at Ayashiro in a very cold voice.


"If it's a coincidence, why are there two people here who know me? Why is Igarashi working with you? Why are you standing beside Kanata?"


"They're both my friends! What do you mean? Edileza knows both of them?"


"They're your friend? Your friend?! Huh?! A friend to a selfish mendacious young lady?! I'm sure you approached these two after investigating my background, right? It's so obvious!"


"It's true! I didn't know! I have always wanted to meet you, but I didn't expect your brother to be here today, I swear..."


"I can't believe it! How can I trust you? I see. So that's what today's event is about. The lady's capricious charity. I'm sure it must have been a lot of fun for you to have us all lurking around like ants."


"I've never thought of that! I! I---!"


I knew this was a bad. The two of them are getting very heated. There seems to be some kind of feud, but it has to stop for now. That's when I thought so. Igarashi tugged at my sleeve.


"Hey, Tokiwa. Are you acquainted with Suo?"


"Yeah, yeah...well..."


"Suo isn't a rental girlfriend. You don't have to rent her, Tokiwa, I can date with you anytime you want."


Igarashi looked somewhat awkward, yet seemed to be following me.


"Stop it! Don't look at her like she's some kind of pain in the ass! Yeah! Enough!!! You're distracting me too much! Listen up, all of you!"


As I said that, Ayashiro, Igarashi, and Suo turned to me.


"Hey Tokiwa! You know Edileza? What do you mean! Hey! Does Edileza like you more than me? That's unforgivable!"


"Kanata! Stay away from Himena! She's a hypocrite! She's a b*tch, she's a smug, superior woman, but when she's in trouble, she's a p*ssy!"


"I'd split the bill if I were you. Suo is paying the full amount. Wouldn't I be better off?"


Aren't all three of them talking too badly about each other?


"Shut up! Just shut up! I'm in charge! First of all, Igarashi! I'll listen to your arguments as long as you want, so just be quiet for now! The problem is you two! Please look around!"


The people around us were looking at us suspiciously. That's what happens when you're spreading a bad mood. As expected, the two of them looked somewhat ashamed of themselves. They seemed to be more mature about it.


"So, what are you two? I know you know each other, and I know something happened, but you don't just meet up and start fighting immediately, do you?"


They both look unconvinced, but I continue.


"Anyway, don't make a scene in front of me. Okay?"


"O-Okay..." "Okay."


I ordered them. They accepted my order.


"Yes... It's amazing that you can make Ayashiro and Suo do what you say."


Igarashi is smiling unconcernedly. I envy this easygoingness.


"Hey, Kanata."


Suo spoke to me with a somewhat uneasy face.


"What is it?"


"You didn't really approach me at Himena's request, did you?"


"That's not true. Ayashiro had nothing to do with it."


"I see... that's good..."


Relieved, Suo exhales and smiles. Then she said as she brushed her hair with a hand comb and somewhat mussed it up.


"I'm going out for dinner with my brother. Now that you knows my private life, so I want to introduce you to Ricardo."


Suo invited me to dinner with his brother. It seems like a tempting invitation. However. I felt Ayashiro turning over and squeezing the shirt behind my back. I can't leave Ayashiro alone right now.


"No. I'll refrain from doing that today. I'm sure Ricardo would be nervous to have dinner with a man he doesn't know out of the blue. Go enjoy yourself with your siblings alone."


"...Ah, okay. I guess so.... I'll see you next time..."


With a disappointed look on her face, Suo shook Ricardo's hand and left. I was very much impressed by the look on Ricardo's face as he bailed while giving me a somewhat concerned look as he left the room. Soon after that, the event was over. The event itself was a success, and the reaction of the officials seemed to be positive. However, Ayashiro's face didn't clear up.












The atmosphere in the car on the way home was nothing short of terrible. Ayashiro kept her face down and gloomy, while Igarashi tried her best to cheer her up by talking to her in an easygoingness manner. However, the depressed Ayashiro didn't cheer up as usual. Then I dropped them off at the Komaba campus. The plan for the day was for each of us to leave at this point, but Ayashiro remained sitting in the backseat with a downcast look on her face. Igarashi and I got out of the car and talked about Ayashiro.


"I'm sorry, but could Igarashi take Ayashiro home? I think it's better to be the same sex in a situation like this."


"That's fine too, but I think. I think it would be better if Tokiwa took her somewhere."


"Where do you mean?"


"Well, I don't know. I don't know if you put it that way. But I think the only person who can comfort Ayashiro right now is Tokiwa. In fact, she doesn't want to get out of the car, so take her somewhere."


Igarashi assured me, not jokingly but seriously.


"When I have a bad day, I often want to go somewhere far away. But girls can't go far away by themselves, can they? Tokiwa can take her there. I think a boy should lead a girl in such a situation. Yes."


"So, that's how it is."


"Yeah. Ah! But don't go to Fujiko Ultra Land! That's where we're going!"


"Okay. We'll go somewhere other than Fujiko."


The discussion ended, and Igarashi left to the station. She gave a thumbs up at the end and walked into the station building, which looked kind of reassuring. Then I went into the car. Ayashiro remained silent. But through the mirror, I met her blue eyes. Her eyes were moist and sad. They were beautiful but painful to look at. I turn the key and start the engine. After the car starts, we're going somewhere far away together.



PREV | NEXT