READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 45 - Daily Life
“Yo, mornin’~”
“…Good morning.”
The one who appeared before me as I was heading to school in the morning was my childhood friend, Shinjo Aoi.
Last time it was Akane who was waiting for me, but this time it’s Aoi-san… Both sisters seem to do the same thing.
“What do you need so early in the morning?”
“Hmm? I just thought we could go to school together. Here. This is a gift from your sister.”
Aoi-san handed me a hot coffee with a smile.
Ah, suspicious…
“…This isn’t one of those things where if I drink this, I have to do something for you, is it?”
“What do you take me for?”
Handing over a reward first and then making a request. It’s a common trick.
“Hmm,” I take a sip of the hot coffee she handed me.
“Oh… this is…”
The coffee Aoi-san had bought for me was just to my taste.
“Two sticks of sugar. How about it? Did I get it right?”
“Spot on. You know my preferences well.”
“Hmm? Oh, I just used the same amount as when we went to eat tart the other time.”
“…You’re very observant.”
“Hehe~ You can praise me more, you know?”
“You know, I really like that you remember even the little things.”
“Right? When you were in elementary school, you forced yourself to drink coffee with tears in your eyes.”
“You know, I really hate that you remember even the little things.”
I wish she wouldn’t dig up my dark past so casually.
No, I mean. You know how when you’re a kid, there are times when you want to act grown up!!
“Eh? But Itsuki-kun back then was quite cute, you know?”
Being patted on the head while she’s grinning, all I can think is that she’s teasing me!
“By the way, Itsuki-kun. Today is finally the day we introduce the new student council members, isn’t it?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right.”
As Aoi-san said, today there will be an announcement of the new student council members in the morning, and the members will be replaced. That means, it’s Aoi-san’s last duty as the student council president.
“Make sure to witness my final moment of glory, okay?”
“Leave it to me. I’ll burn your final image firmly into my eyes.”
“You… you don’t have to go that far…”
As we were talking, the school gate came into view.
“Ah, that’s right. Itsuki-kun. My sister is really angry right now. Do you know why?”
Just a little more and we’ll be at school, but the world’s most troublesome question has been thrown at me…
Now, contrary to her words, I’m not used to seeing her angry, but if I answer casually, she’ll get seriously mad.
However, it seems to be a fact that Aoi-san has some kind of “discontent” towards me.
If that’s the case, I have to accurately read Aoi-san’s “discontent” here and now.
Get your brain working at full capacity, Kando Itsuki. You should be able to overcome this level of difficulty.
…………………
“I give up. Sorry.”
“Eh, that’s quick! Think a little more!”
“Eh?”
“Don’t make such a troubled face!”
“Wow, we’re really connecting right now.”
“I don’t want to connect in this way!?”
Aoi-san pouts like a child while blocking the school gate.
Oh no, she’s seriously sulking.
In fact, I really tried hard to think but I couldn’t figure it out. In fact, the last time I spoke to Aoi-san was after the Akane disappearance incident.
No, is that why? Is she upset because we haven’t talked recently?
“…Um, could it be because we haven’t called each other recently…?”
“…Hmph”
It seems I was wrong… I’m starting to feel like dying from self-consciousness.
“Well, that’s part of it… but the main thing is different.”
What… so that’s part of it? (confused)
“…I get it. I will definitely improve any concerns that Aoi-san has about me, so please tell me.”
I realized that it’s faster to simply bow my head than to think about it.
“…It’s about Akane-chan. You started calling her Akane, right?”
“Eh? Well… yes, that’s right.”
“Even though I’m Aoi-san, Akane-chan is just Akane.”
How was I supposed to figure that out…
I wanted to ask how she knew about that, but I can easily imagine that Akane must have told Aoi-san.
“Plus, you use formal language… it feels like you’re distancing yourself from me.”
“Isn’t that inevitable because you’re older?”
“Well, yes, but… it’s still lonely. I wish you’d treat me like you used to.”
“Well, about that…”
“Please do improve any concerns that Aoi-san has about me.”
Aoi-san’s smartphone played back my own voice.
When did she start recording that?
“Please do improve any concerns that Aoi-san has about me.”
She played back my voice again with a silent smile.
“Ah, ah, ah, I will definitely improve any concerns that Aoi-san has about me.”
“Okay, okay! If it’s just between us, I’ll interact with you like before, so stop playing with my voice…!!”
“Yay, it’s settled.”
Aoi-san turned off the voice recording with a satisfied expression.
That’s good. It seems I can avoid any further embarrassment.
But what she meant by ‘like before’… Ah, I see.
“Hey, Ah-chan.”
“Ah!? Ah, ah, ah-chan!?”
“Why are you so flustered? I used to call you Ah-chan, didn’t I?”
“Ah, ah, that’s right… I had forgotten… Ahahaha!!”
Ah-chan’s cheeks were getting redder and redder.
“…So? Of course, you’re going to call me ‘Ikkun’, right?”
“…Eh?”
Aoi… Ah-chan’s expression froze.
“That’s how it should be, right? It’s unfair if only I’m calling you Ah-chan like in the old times.”
“Eh, ah, yes… Yeah… Ikkun.”
She was trembling slightly, perhaps from the sheer embarrassment. If it’s that embarrassing, she doesn’t have to say it. Perhaps she couldn’t back down because she was the one who suggested it?
“Ah, those were the days. I remember you saying ‘I’m going to marry Ikkun in the future’ when we were playing house.”
“W-what!? What are you suddenly bringing up!?”
Since she had just dug up my embarrassing past, I decided to return the favor by digging up her embarrassing past.
“Yeah, thinking back, that was my first ever proposal.”
“Enough, don’t say anything more, it’s embarrassing!!”
I walked through the school gate, teasing Ah-chan, who was on the verge of tears.