Chapter 6
A few days have passed since I went to Toraya's house. On Friday after school, I was taking out the things I needed from my desk and packing them into my bag when Ichika spoke to me.
Mariko, are you free from now on?
I thought about whether I had anything to do in my head, but then I remembered that I had no plans so I didn't need time to think about it.
What's wrong?
I'm going to karaoke with Ichinose and Maeno-kun, do you want to go?
Karaoke after school! How very high school! And not just with girls, but with boys too! I'm so full of myself right now!
But…I got in trouble with Toramasa for sharing an umbrella with Maeno-kun the other day… I wonder if it's okay if we go to karaoke…. I told him the other day that it's just the four of us and there's nothing going on between us…so I guess it's okay? I mean, what am I thinking? There's no way Toraga would say that much about me. Don't get carried away just because Toraga has been nice to me lately and probably jealous of me. The other party is Toraga-sama, the high-born. He doesn't care that much about the behavior of a woman like me. I'm going.
Let's go!
Okay! Let's go then.
Ichika looked down the hallway and saw Ichinose-kun and Maeno-kun standing near the door.
I bowed to them, put my things in my bag, put it on my shoulder and went to them with Ichika.
When we arrived at the karaoke bar, there were already several groups of high school students there, as it was Friday and close to the school.
Fortunately, the room was empty, so we were able to get in right away.
After we entered the room and sat down on the sofa, the natural seating order was Ichinose, Ichika, me, and Maeno from the right.
Seeing that seating order, I thought that Ichinose-kun must really like Ichika. I think it's a good idea to have a romance between childhood friends. Ichika is cute, strong, kind, and has nothing but good qualities, so I can see why she would fall in love with you. I don't think Ichika is conscious of Ichinose-kun, but I think she can go for it if she tries hard. She said she wants a boyfriend this year. …I'll tell Ichinose secretly later.
As I watched them while sipping a melon soda I brought from the drink bar, Maeno-kun, who was standing next to me, spoke to me.
He said, “Takahashi-san, I read the manga you mentioned the other day.”
What he said the other day was about a rainy day. When we had a lively discussion about manga, I introduced a manga I recommended to Maeno-kun, and it seems Maeno-kun remembered it, so he dutifully read it to me. Maeno-kun is a very nice boy, isn't he?
Really? How was it?
It was fun! The part where the main character fights with his rival really got to me.
I know! That was a hot development! I read that scene over and over again.
I read it over and over, too! I've lost my life if I didn't know that interesting manga.
I've always wanted to talk about it with someone, because no one else reads it.
I'm always up for it!”
“Wow, I'm so happy! Talk, talk, talk!
As the two of us were having a great time, before I knew it, Ichika put on a song and the music started playing.
We talked in low voices while listening to Ichika's song, and since we were at a karaoke place, we also chose a song and spent time singing songs in rotation.
It had been a long time since I had been to karaoke.
I'm not a great singer, but it's a good stress reliever to sing as loud as I can. I'm hardly stressed at all, though!
I wonder if Toraga goes to karaoke too…. I don't know because the game didn't depict him going to karaoke, but in my fantasy, I made him go many times. In my fantasy, Toramasa is a good singer. Because I am a maiden who dreams about her favorite singer.
I wonder what songs she would sing if she went to karaoke…. A popular song? Or my favorite song? Bright songs? But Toraga is suited to moist ballads, so maybe a ballad. Rap music? Western music? Do they sing love songs or something? Or maybe he doesn't sing because he's not good at singing.
It's fun to fantasize about Toramasa. Besides, Toraga is alive in this world. What I couldn't understand officially is that now that Toraya is alive, it becomes official information about Toraya…well, not official information, but information about the real Toraya, and that is so unbelievable and yet so true that it fills my heart with happiness. I feel happy because I know that everything Toramasa himself is doing is true, no matter how trivial it is.
Ah, I am happy to be alive. I am so happy just because Toraya is alive.
Moreover, the song Ichika is singing right now is a love song, and the lyrics, “I'm happy just to have you here. I feel like crying because I can relate to the lyrics of the song. Yes, I am happy just by being here. I love this world when I think that while I'm living like this, somewhere Toraga is also alive and doing what he wants to do. I feel enlightened.
It's a wonderful thing to have someone you love with all your heart.
I wonder if everyone feels this way. Just meeting someone's eyes makes me happy. Just the touch of a hand makes you happy or makes you embarrassed. It's almost a miracle that you can be in love with someone. Because the person you really like likes you also likes you. That's an amazing thing. I didn't know how much I love someone until I fell in love with Toraga, but there are many people who love someone else with the same feelings as I do, and they have been in love with someone else or had their heart broken. Humans are amazing. Emotions are amazing. Wait, I really think I'm going to be enlightened.
Takahashi-san seems to be having fun.
I was thinking about Toraga in my head when Maeno-kun, who was standing next to me, spoke to me like that.
I'm having fun! I'm having fun!
Takahashi-san always seems to be having fun. It makes me happy to see it.
Those words made me happy.
Because I think about Toramasa every day, and it is because of him that I look happy, and it is because of him that other people can see that I am having a good time.
I spend every day having fun and every day thinking I'm happy!”
I naturally smile as I say this. Yes, I am happy every day. I am happy because Toraga is alive. That's why every day is so bright and happy and I'm glad to be alive.
Holding the empty cup, I tell Maeno-kun, “I'll get you something to drink. I told Maeno-kun and quietly left the room so as not to disturb Ichika who was singing.
Listening to the stranger's song leaking from the other rooms, I walked down the hallway to the drink bar I wanted.
There were already customers at the drink bar. Three high school girls were happily chatting and choosing drinks. After a while, they finished choosing their drinks and left, and I, like the girls in front of me, wondered what I should drink next.
A melon soda would be nice, but I felt like I wanted something hot to drink next….
So, instead of using the cup I had brought with me, I picked up a cup with a new handle and pressed the button for cocoa.
As I waited, watching the cocoa fall into the cup, I was suddenly poked in the back.
I screamed “Gee! and my body trembled.
My back! You're so weak! I told you no!
I was the only one who would do such a thing. I turned around while holding her back with my hand and said, “Ichika! I tried to get angry. But that voice didn't come out. Because there was a familiar wall in front of me.
I was so shocked that I couldn't speak, and all I could do was open my eyes wide and shift my gaze upward.
Yo.
The person in front of me smiled at me as if he had just pulled a prank.
“Taiga-san…?”
Why is this person here? I mean, it's karaoke, so it doesn't matter who comes, but I didn't expect to see you here. You stutter. You stutter so much that your brain can't keep up.
No matter how many times I look at it, the person in front of me is Toraga. There was no mistake. There was no way I could have made a mistake. And there is no one else. That means it was Toramasa who poked me on my back…! Oh, you're so mischievous! He's too cute! It's so shocking that even my anger is blown away!
Cute, what's so cute about her? I mean, is it such a coincidence that Toraga is at the karaoke bar we happened to go to? Isn't it amazing? Isn't it a coincidence on par with the heroine's? How is this possible?
You're here too, aren't you?
“Yes, I was here with Ichika and the others. You were here with Ichika and the others, and Toraga-san came to karaoke!
I'm here with Huang Ya. I was talking to Mr. Hanamiya the other day.
You're the guy who was talking to Hanamiya-san the other day, right?
Yeah, that guy.
I see. So you were here with Ki-kun. I'm not sure what to do with the money, but I'm sure it's a good idea. I'm sure the girls wouldn't leave me alone. If I had been born a beautiful woman, I would have hit on Toramiya too.
I knew they were childhood friends. You and Ki-kun are good friends, aren't you? In the game, they were together a lot during the love triangle events, and I remember some of the Takarabuto people were very excited about it. I was also looking for illustrations.
I never thought I'd see you again, so I'm really excited. If I had a dog's tail, I'd be wagging it so fast it would break into a thousand pieces. Wow, I love it. I love it. Toramasa is here! Toramasa is at karaoke!
Toramasa walked past me in a fit of excitement and filled my cup with Coke. Seeing this reminded me of my own drink. I hold the cup in my hand and stare at Toramasa as he fills it with Coke. I thought I had to go back to my room because I was in the way, but I wanted to stay with Toramasa for as long as possible, so I couldn't move my body. Then Toramasa spoke to me.
''…Maeno is there too?”
……E-Uh…”
I was speechless at the sudden mention of Maeno-kun's name.
The way I was behaving, Toraga took his hand off the button of his Coke and glared at me. Oh, I'm dead…. I salute myself saying that with a dumb face in my head. Wait, don't give up so easily. Live.
Toraga turned to face me with his eyes as they were and pinched my cheek with his right hand.
Hee! Toraya! Toraga is pinching my cheek! His fingers! His fingers are touching me! His thumb and forefinger are pinching my like cheek! It hurts! I'm not dreaming! It's not a dream and it hurts like hell!
I want to flail about, but the cocoa in my hand overflows, so I can't. I just stand there and endure Toraga's pinch on my cheek. I just stand there and endure Toraga's pinch on my cheek.
I just stand there and endure Toraga's pinch on my cheek. (Ouch! Ouch!)”
Did you forget what I said the other day?
“A-hyo, hi-yi-no-he-ho-ho-ho-mafu!”
I don't know what you're talking about.
I pointed at Toraga's finger that was pinching my cheek and pleaded with him with my eyes to take it off.
Still staring at me, Toraya clicked his tongue and removed his hand from my cheek. Oh, that hurt.
As I stroked my cheek with my left hand, Toraya's brow wrinkled deeper and he said, “I'll listen to your excuses.” He crossed his arms. I was so impressed with Toramasa's coolness that I couldn't help but admire him even though he was angry. His angry face is cool too… and the way he folds his arms is picturesque… not!
Oh, and Ichinose-kun is here too!
The guys from the other day?
Yes, I think Ichinose-kun didn't have the courage to invite only Ichika, so he invited Maeno-kun and me together.
“……….”
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for thinking that an angry face is cool or something. I was an idiot to come to karaoke thinking it would be okay. I'm so scared. It's hard to be angry at your guess…. I was so scared of Toramasa that I shrank my body and said, “I'm sorry. I looked down and said, “I'm sorry.
Toramasa clicked his tongue again and said, “Try seeing Maeno alone with me, and you won't get away with this. He then began to pour Coke into my drink again. Oh, my gosh…. I was scared…. I was scared. I will never be alone with Maeno-kun…. I hereby declare….
I'll call you later, so pick up the phone.
“Yes, I will. I'll answer no matter what.
See you later.
I'm sorry about today…
…….
You looked great today.
I see.
I know it's my fault, but I'm really scared that Toraga is mad at me. The most important thing to remember is that the best way to get the most out of your money is to make sure that your money is well-spent.
The actual a lot more you are able to do, the more you will be able to do.
I let the cocoa cool and took a sip, holding it in both hands.
I made cocoa this time,” she said. Is it good?
I moved my head vertically and answered, “It's delicious. I answered, “It's delicious.
I couldn't look at Maeno-kun's face because of my apology for what had just happened….
Maeno-kun said to me with a cute smile, “I see. He said to me with a cute smile and pulled out his cell phone, saying, “Hey, you know what?
Do you want to exchange numbers?
Maeno-kun is really cute, tilting his head. Isn't he cuter than me as a woman? I lose confidence in myself as a woman. Be careful not to be attacked by predatory girls. I'm very worried about you, Auntie.
I'm sure you'll get angry with my cell phone number or …… Tiger Masa. …… I just got pissed off a while ago, and if I exchange phone numbers here, I'll cause him to get pissed off again… I don't want Toramasa to get mad at me anymore. I'm sorry Maeno-kun, I want your number so badly. But I still don't want my guess to get mad at me… I'm really sorry… I really want to give you the number of this mob girl. I know it won't do me any good….
I'm sorry, Maeno-kun, but there are some circumstances…”
Maeno-kun looked a little sad and asked, “Do you have a boyfriend? He asked me. I said, “Wow, your face is cute, too. Tell me the secret to your cuteness. Oh, you were born with it? Oh, that's impossible! I'll be born again and come back.
No way, I don't have a boyfriend!
Then why?
Well, I'm sorry, it's just…
I'm sorry.” “Yeah, that's too bad.”
Maeno-kun smiled at me with a sad face.
Damn, you're an angel. …… Watch out…I almost moved my mouth to exchange numbers when I was hit by the angel's halo… Maeno-kun is so bad…I mean, it's an Otome game, so everyone's face is pretty much perfect. It's not fair that even mobs are so cute…… hey god…why do I have a normal face…? Why is there such a difference in face even among the mob? I shed tears inside my heart.
Then I apologized to Maeno-kun in front of me.
After such a short time, it was time for karaoke to end. We paid the bill and went outside where the sky was dimly lit. It was almost July, but it was still chilly and my shoulders shivered.
Ichinose asked me if we had time to go out to eat somewhere afterwards. I said, “Sorry,” and declined. I said no. The three of them looked disappointed. The three of them looked disappointed, but I knew that if I didn't say no, my life would be in danger, so I couldn't do it.
Let's play together again,” Maeno-kun said.
Maeno-kun said. I responded vaguely to his words.
I don't think the four of us will ever play together again. I am really sorry. I'm so sorry that such a mob girl would refuse to go out with them. It was a lot of fun to invite me like this. If everyone is okay with it, please invite me again when I'm a senior in high school. I'll gladly jump on that invitation.
I left the three of them and went home alone.
When I got home, I took a bath first thing, and after I got out of the bath quickly, I had dinner with my family for the first time in a while without letting go of my cell phone.
The father was concerned about his baldness, and the mother was calm. We sat around the table watching TV, talking about what we had done at school and what we had been doing with Ichika and the kids while worrying about our cell phones, and then we proceeded to eat the dinner on the table.
I'm sorry I didn't get to spend much time with my family. I'm sorry I'm such a bad daughter.
In my room, I sat on my bed with a cushion and put my cell phone on the table next to me.
Still no call from Toramasa on my cell phone… Is he still at karaoke with Ki-kun? Is he spending time with his beautiful sisters after being rejected? Or are they fighting? No matter how much I think about it, I can't get an answer.
I took a manga from the bookshelf and began reading it, a manga I had read many times before. I started reading the first volume and was on the seventh when I heard an incoming call on my cell phone.
I put the manga down and hurriedly picked up my cell phone.
After checking the name of the person on the other end of the line, I pressed the call button.
Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry!”
Before Toraga could say anything, I apologized profusely. He bowed his head with the phone in one hand, looking like a businessman apologizing to his business partner.
He must really feel bad.
I hear Toramasa's voice, lower than usual, coming from the other end of the phone.
Yes! I really feel bad. I won't do anything that will make Toramasa-san angry anymore!
What do you mean, things that would make me angry?
“……, don't you want to play with Maeno-kun…?”
I'm not mad at Maeno. I'm not mad at Maeno, I'm mad at you for playing with a guy.
I don't want to play with guys anymore! I won't play with guys anymore! I promise!
Seriously, no next time.
“Yes! I'll make sure nothing like this ever happens again! Thank you for your generosity.
“Then that's good.”
I let out a sigh of relief and put my hand on my chest.
I'm glad Toraga doesn't hate me…I'm really glad… If Toraga hates me, I won't be able to live.
I repeated deep breaths to calm my heart, which was racing with nervousness and fear. Then I heard Toraga's voice again from the phone, which had been silent for a while.
You're free tomorrow, right?
I'm free.
Naturally, I answered immediately. I am free because I don't usually have plans on my days off, but if it was an invitation from Toramasa, I would be free no matter what. I will be free. Absolutely.
Meet me at my place tomorrow after noon.”
I felt as if my heart was being squeezed as I realized that he was saying these words gently, as if he was talking to me, rather than in the angry tone he had used earlier.
I felt as if my heart was being squeezed. I am so happy. I can't express in words how happy I am….
I've heard that mobs are so easy to fall in love with when they're treated kindly.
I really love you. I'm so happy to be able to talk like this with someone I love so much. I'm so happy to be able to talk to someone I like so much. The more I get to know him, the more I like him. I can't stop the feeling of liking him. What a sinful man.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I love you more than anything in the world, Toraga-san.
See you tomorrow.
“See you tomorrow.”
With that, we hung up.
I looked at my phone for a while and thought back to our earlier conversation. Toramasa didn't seem to be angry anymore, but I had made him angry twice in such a short period of time….
And this time, it was my naive idea ……. I feel like punching myself….
I'll apologize properly when I see him tomorrow.
With this in mind, I crawled into bed and fell asleep while looking at Toramasa's name in my incoming call history.
