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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Nekorune
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“Matsuda-kun, did you happen to have egg rice with soy sauce for breakfast this morning?”
Miyuki asked as she returned from putting the fruit bowl in the sink.
I was sitting on the veranda with Tetsuya, taking a break.
“Yeah.”
“How many bowls?”
“One.”
“There are two bowls in the sink.”
“That one’s from last night.”
“So, you had egg rice for both dinner last night and breakfast this morning?”
For some reason, I felt like something good was about to happen.
I had a good feeling.
“That’s right.”
“Why?”
“Why… Well, a lot of people eat egg rice. It’s easy to make and tastes good.”
“But it’s not nutritious. Don’t you care about your health?”
“Hey, didn’t you hear what the doctor said yesterday? He said I’m healthy.”
“That’s completely irrelevant to nutrition.”
I sprawled out on the engawa and grumbled at Tetsuya.
“Miura, your mom’s nagging again.”
“She’s saying that for your own good, so you should listen.”
As expected, blood is thicker than water. Tetsuya always sided with Miyuki.
For my own good, huh… We’ll see if you can still say that later.
Emboldened by her backup, Miyuki said,
“I saw a pile of instant lunch boxes in the trash a few days ago. Eating like that will make you sick. From now on, try to eat a balanced diet.”
I was hoping she would offer to pack me lunch boxes… How disappointing.
I’m not feeling so good anymore… Looks like I got my hopes up for nothing.
No, I was the idiot for expecting lunch boxes after only knowing her for less than two months.
After a moment of self-reflection, I replied flatly,
“Yeah, okay.”
“You said ‘okay’?”
“Yeah, okay.”
Miyuki chuckled at my lifeless repetition and said,
“Matsuda-kun, give me ten million yen.”
“Yeah, okay… Are you kidding me… Is this funny to you?”
“Kind of.”
“Ha… This is why I’ll die young.”
“Not because of your diet?”
“Hey, hey…! I’ll eat properly. Let’s stop talking about food.”
“Alright. So, shall we get back to studying?”
Miyuki sat down at the round table and opened her textbook.
Tetsuya and I exchanged tired glances and shuffled towards her like zombies.
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Five peaceful days had passed since I was beaten up by Shimoyama.
My relationship with Miyuki had progressed a little further, to the point where we exchanged personal messages every few days.
We weren’t getting significantly closer because our time together was limited and Tetsuya was always there, but we were gradually making progress, so there was no need to rush.
I looked in the mirror after getting back from the barbershop and taking a shower.
The swelling had almost completely subsided.
There were still some bruises, but they were faint.
I smiled in satisfaction and put on a yukata.
I was going to the summer festival at the shrine.
It was a must-do event in Japanese romantic comedies.
And I would get to see Miyuki in a yukata. There was no way I was missing this opportunity.
In the original story, Tetsuya, who had gone to the festival with his family, would run into Miyuki, who was helping her father run a stall at the shrine.
They would complete an event together and then go on a date.
But this time, I was going to steal his thunder.
I put on the yukata with the collar crossed the wrong way and put on my wooden sandals.
As I stepped outside, the distinctive sound of the wooden clogs echoed on the ground.
My toes were already starting to hurt from the straps rubbing against them.
I resisted the urge to switch to sneakers and took a taxi to the shrine near Miyuki’s neighborhood.
The shrine entrance was lined with paper lanterns.
It was already bustling with people, even though the festival had just started.
‘Miyuki… she’s in the middle.’
She must be helping her father at the takoyaki stall.
Tetsuya should be arriving soon.
I had to make my move before he got there.
Enduring the discomfort of the wooden sandals, I walked towards a stall near the entrance and bought two yakitori.
I wasn’t buying them for myself; they were for Miyuki.
Thigh meat, her favorite.
She might not drool at the sight of them, but she would appreciate the gesture.
I reached the middle of the street lined with stalls and finally spotted Miyuki.
Her hair was beautifully styled, with a few strands framing her face and the rest tied up in a bun.
She was diligently serving customers next to her kind-looking father.
Her bright smile made me happy.
I glanced at the sign above the stall. It said, ‘Super Delicious! Giant Tako Balls!’
It was a classic, old-school Japanese sign.
I cleared my throat a few times and approached the stall when there were no customers.
I looked at the takoyaki sizzling on the griddle and the menu and said,
“Six takoyaki, please.”
Miyuki’s clear voice rang out,
“Welcome! Six takoyaki, that’ll be 300 yen… Huh?”
I looked up at the sound of her surprised exclamation and saw Miyuki staring at me with wide eyes. I feigned a surprised expression.
“Huh? Hanazawa?”
We stared at each other in silence for a moment.
Miyuki, her father, and I just blinked at each other.
It was getting difficult to pretend that our encounter was a coincidence, so I tried to act natural and say something.
At that moment, a little boy with a dirty face darted towards the stall, grabbed a box of takoyaki, and ran away.
“Hey…!”
Miyuki’s father exclaimed in surprise.
I cheered internally.
Just like at the bookstore and the playground, an event occurred at the perfect timing.
I was truly the protagonist of Doki Doki Academy.
I placed the plastic container with the yakitori on the stall, kicked my sandals off, and ran after the boy with all my might.
The boy was fast, but he was still a child, and I managed to catch him a short distance away from the shrine.
“L-Let go of me!”
The boy struggled in my grasp, but he held onto the takoyaki box tightly. It seemed like he wasn’t stealing it for himself, but for his younger siblings at the orphanage.
The surrounding area was deserted, so it was a good place to talk.
I caught my breath and asked,
“Who were you stealing this for?”
The boy, perhaps reassured by my somewhat gentle tone, stopped struggling and replied defiantly,
“My brothers! Huh…”
But he immediately cowered when he saw my frown.
My expression wasn’t that scary… how hurtful.
Don’t make me want to flick your forehead.
“What brothers? Are they here?”
“No! I mean my brothers at the orphanage.”
“Orphanage? Explain yourself properly. If you make a fuss again, I’m taking this back.”
I pointed at the takoyaki box and threatened him. The boy’s bravado vanished, and he mumbled,
“I… wanted to come to the festival… but the orphanage couldn’t afford it… and my brothers wanted to eat takoyaki…”
The boy hesitated.
I clicked my tongue and said,
“So you snuck out, stole some takoyaki, and were planning to go back, huh?”
“…”
“You little brat, learning all the wrong things… I’ll…”
“Eek!”
The boy flinched as I raised my hand, pretending to hit him.
My feet ached from chasing him, but I had no intention of actually hitting him, so I lowered my hand.
This event had three options.
First, take the takoyaki back.
Second, bring the boy back and make him apologize.
Third, let the boy go and pay for the takoyaki myself.
The amount of affection points gained go up in the order of first, third, and second option.
To maximize my gains, I would need to choose option number 2.
If I did that, Miyuki’s father would understand the boy’s situation and donate 20 boxes of takoyaki to the orphanage for free.
Miyuki would be happy that I had made it possible for them to do a good deed.
But I had no intention of choosing option number 2.
It was like I was playing an open-world game with high freedom of choice.
Why should I settle for a predetermined option when there was a chance to gain even more affection points?
I grinned at the fidgeting boy and said,
“Hey.”
“…What.”
“Where’s the orphanage?”
“It’s nearby.”
“Give me the address and go on ahead.”
“No! You’ll tell them I snuck out!”
“Do I look like a petty jerk like you? Do you want to give your brothers only six takoyaki? Or 180?”
“…Huh?”
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“Matsuda-kun! Did you lose the boy?”
“I caught him, but… hold on… Sorry for the late introduction. My name is Matsuda Ken.”
I returned to the stall and bowed to Miyuki’s father. He smiled back.
“I’m Hanazawa Wataru. Nice to meet you. Matsuda Ken, you said?”
“Yes.”
“So you’re the delinquent student Miyuki was talking about. You’ve turned over a new leaf, haven’t you?”
Miyuki glared at her father and gestured for him to stop.
So she had been talking about me to her parents.
I hoped she hadn’t mentioned my delinquent past.
“Well… I’m trying my best. Ah, and I’m sorry for the sudden request, but could you possibly pack 30 boxes of takoyaki right now?”
“Huh…? 30 boxes…? Now?”
Wataru looked dumbfounded at the large quantity.
Miyuki also stared at me in surprise.
I scratched my head awkwardly.
“Is it too much trouble?”
“It’s possible, but… why do you need 30 boxes all of a sudden?”
“Well, you see…”
I briefly explained the boy’s situation and my intention to help him.
By the time I finished, Wataru was looking at me very favorably.
“I see. So you’re going to buy 30 boxes and take them to the orphanage?”
“Yes.”
“Then I better start making them quickly.”
Wataru looked at Miyuki.
“Miyuki, lower the awning.”
“Ah, okay…”
The awning was made of solid-colored fabric that blocked the view from outside.
So even if Tetsuya came, he wouldn’t be able to see Miyuki.
Thank you for helping me, father-in-law.
By the way, do you happen to have a soft spot for losers?
As Miyuki lowered the rolled-up awning, I took out a ten-thousand-yen bill.
“Thank you. Let me pay for those.”
“It’s fine. You’re doing a good deed, and Miyuki is indebted to you for the tutoring. I’ll make these for free.”
“Indebted? I’m the one who asked her to tutor me. Please, just take it.”
“I said it’s fine.”
Wataru was Miyuki’s father, so he was bound to be kindhearted like her.
The fact that he readily agreed to make the takoyaki was proof enough.
He would definitely refuse if I kept insisting on paying, so I had to try a different approach.
“Then I’ll help you make them.”
“You will? Then come over here and help me with the fillings.”
“Yes.”
I rolled up my yukata sleeves and entered the stall. Miyuki held out the yakitori I had bought earlier.
“Matsuda-kun, aren’t these yours…?”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“You eat them. I’ve got work to do.”
“…Matsuda-kun, are you feeling alright today?”
She seemed confused by my sudden change in attitude.
Couldn’t she understand this scenario as me doing a good deed because I felt a connection with the boy, being an orphan myself?
Well, it was actually for affection points, but in the end, both the boy and the orphanage kids got a happy ending, so it was a win-win situation.
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