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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Nekorune
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It was frustrating to take public transportation after always going everywhere by car. The train was packed, with no room to step, and it felt even more so because there was a plump office worker in front of me.
I stood almost squeezed in, without moving, and then, when the train stopped at the station where the academy was, I managed to get off. Afterwards, I ambled to the academy’s main gate, walked past the bustling first-year students, and found Miyuki holding the 1-A class flag in front of a red bus.
“Oh, you’re here. The driver and guide are by the luggage compartment, so give them your bag and get on the bus.”
Miyuki’s words, as she spotted me first. I, waving one hand in the air like someone with no ambition in life, joked,
“Should I hold the flag? You’re too short for the kids to find you.”
“It seems like it’s been a long time since we talked about height? It reminds me of the old days…”
The first time I teased Miyuki about her height was probably before we went to eat kakigori, right? Memories came flooding back. I wasn’t sure if they could be called memories since it hadn’t been that long.
“Really?”
“Yeah. But did you pack warm clothes?”
“My bag’s bulging. I packed everything you told me to bring.”
“Good job. Get in quickly.”
“What’s the teacher doing to make you do this?”
“The homeroom teacher.”
“Right, the teacher. Anyway, you go in. Leave the flag.”
Did she notice my desire to switch places with her in the cold weather? Miyuki smiled brightly and patted her thick parka.
“I’m fine, you know? It’s warm.”
“Really? Then stand with me.”
“Alright. I don’t mind. You dummy.”
Miyuki’s tension seemed quite high today. Was it the excitement of the trip? Or was it the anticipation of spending time alone with me in the room I secretly booked? Perhaps it was both.
I pulled up the hood on the back of Miyuki’s neck and put it over her head, then almost snatched the flag and held it high. Afterwards, I played around with her as she bounced and tried to grab my arm, then handed the flag over to the homeroom teacher, who had returned from the restroom, and boarded the bus.
As I exchanged brief greetings with the students, who showed various expressions, and headed to the back seat, I clicked my tongue upon seeing Tetsuya sound asleep in the middle. Did he play games all night yesterday? Seeing him sleeping with his mouth open made me want to punch him.
I sat right behind the bread girl and the vice class president, then poked the bread girl’s arm as she carefully ate her bread, making sure no plastic sounds were heard.
“Hey, Bread Girl.”
“Keh—”
Now she answered with a cough. But should I say the power was weaker than last time? Her cough was somewhat uninspired. It seemed she was slowly getting used to it.
“Are you eating bread here too?”
“Gasp…! Yeah… want some…?”
The bread girl, who had spit out bread crumbs, took out a cream bun from her small portable bag and offered it to me. I had a feeling she had all kinds of bread at home. I suddenly wanted to visit.
“I’m fine. Isn’t your throat getting clogged?”
“I brought milk… want some…?”
“No. Is there anything to eat besides bread and milk?”
“Oh, no… sorry…”
“I just asked, why are you apologizing? Want some jelly and candy?”
“Cough! No… I’m fine…”
“I’ll just give it to you. Eat.”
I rummaged through my coat pocket and took out several snacks that came to hand. And then I offered them to the bread girl.
“Th-thank you…”
I grinned at the bread girl, who even bowed her head, then scoffed as the vice class president pulled her into her embrace and scolded me.
“Why are you bothering Masako? You’re truly mean.”
“Want me to show you what being mean really is?”
“What is it? I’m curious.”
“Give me your glasses.”
“Why my glasses?”
“To put a padlock in the middle.”
“Wow… that’s the worst…”
While I was exchanging light jokes with the vice class president, the homeroom teacher, who had finished checking attendance, said something to the driver and started the bus towards Tokyo Station.
The actual mode of transportation to Hokkaido was the Shinkansen. Although the travel time was longer compared to an airplane, this was also part of the charm of traveling. Especially since I could sit next to Miyuki for a long time and do various things, it was much better for me
than an airplane.
“What were you talking about?”
Miyuki’s question, as she approached me when the bus started. Watching the vice class president playfully tattling on what I had said, I sat by the window and tapped the seat next to me.
“Sit down quickly. Let’s eat snacks.”
At that, Miyuki, who had been giggling with the vice class president, sat down demurely and said,
“When we get off at the station, we’ll have about 15 minutes to go to the restroom, right? I have something to talk about with the homeroom teacher, so I can’t buy an ekiben. So, Matsuda-kun, buy one for me too.”
The highlight of a train trip was the bentos sold at the station, commonly known as “ekiben.” Eating a distinctive bento sold at terminals in each region was one of the essential courses. If you didn’t eat this, you couldn’t really say you had taken a train trip.
I suddenly felt like a child, and I answered by placing my hand on Miyuki’s leg, hidden from others. I was already excited at the thought of making another memory just for Miyuki and me, with Tetsuya completely left out.
Tokyo Station was bustling with students from various academies, not just ours, who had come for the school trip. Especially at the ekiben vendors, where many people were gathered, I managed to push through the crowded space and buy two.
One of the ekiben I bought was “kamameshi,” a Japanese-style pot rice. It had beef, quail eggs, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, chestnuts, etc. on top… it felt like a compromise between health and taste. The other one was a standard eel rice bowl.
Heading to the meeting point, I sat quietly in front of Miyuki, who was talking with the homeroom teacher, and when she approached, I offered her the two ekiben.
“Choose.”
“Hmm… I’ll have the eel.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean ‘why’…? You told me to choose. Were you perhaps planning to eat this one?”
“No. It was a joke.”
“Really? Which one will you have, Tetsuya-kun?”
Miyuki’s question, directed at Tetsuya, who had just bought his ekiben. A look of delight spread across his face as he compared his bento with Miyuki’s.
“I’ll have the same as yours, Miyuki.”
He seemed to like it because it felt like a couple’s bento… It made my stomach churn. I felt like garnishing his ekiben with byproducts from my stomach. The smell of youth rapidly turning foul… it was revolting.
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As the appointed time approached, students began to gather one after another. The homeroom teacher, seeing the ekiben in their hands, let out a chuckle. It seemed funny that all the students bought ekiben, and it also gave off a youthful vibe.
“Even though I said there’s food, you still buy ekiben, huh? Alright, everyone, form two lines.”
After taking attendance, we boarded the train.
I expected Tetsuya to whine at Miyuki to sit with him, but he was surprisingly sitting with a like-minded friend. And his expression, when Miyuki and I took our seats, instantly stiffened.
He seemed not to have expected us to sit openly next to each other. His insides were probably burning, right?
But what could he do? He didn’t even have the courage to try anything with Miyuki, and even though he harbored feelings for her, he was all smiles when Renka treated him a little nicely, so it was his own fault. He should just openly have a philandering attitude like me.
Deciding to ignore him while on the train, I asked Miyuki, who was sitting by the window and wiggling her body.
“What are you doing?”
“Matsuda-kun, you’re too big, so the seat is cramped.”
“So it’s uncomfortable?”
“No, it’s not. I can do this.”
Miyuki placed her leg on my thigh. And then, she subtly adjusted her posture while glancing at the seat next to us, which was cute. I chuckled at her particularly affectionate behavior today, then unfolded the table and placed the ekiben on it. At that, Miyuki tapped the string under the ekiben.
“Is it a self-heating bento?”
“Yeah. But let’s swap yours with mine.”
“Why?”
“Because yours looks tastier.”
“We can eat together.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. But are you telling me to eat the less tasty one?”
“Mine’s healthier, so I’m trying to take care of you.”
“You’re good with words. So…”
Miyuki, whose words trailed off, looked around. And then, she leaned her upper body slightly towards me and lowered her voice.
“Did you make the reservation…?”
“I did.”
“Yeah… good job.”
Perhaps thinking the phrase “good job” was a bit strange, Miyuki let out a small dry cough, then opened her bag, which she had placed on the floor.
“Matsuda-kun, open your bag too.”
“What for?”
“…I’m going to move your clothes and toiletries.”
“Clothes and toiletries?”
“The ones you’ll use there… quickly open your bag…”
Her voice was full of shyness, as if she knew what would happen tonight. She soon took out spare underwear, disposable shampoo, and even a pouch containing body wash, and began transferring them to my bag.
What happens when an honor student becomes lewd? The answer seemed to lie with Miyuki. It was typical of the thoroughly prepared Miyuki. After quickly moving the items, Miyuki, with a much more relieved expression, tapped my arm.
“Let’s turn the seats.”
“Now?”
“Yeah.”
“If you were going to turn them, you should have done it before sitting down.”
“Let’s turn them. Get up quickly.”
Miyuki, who repeatedly patted my thigh with an affectionate touch, stood up and rotated our seats. So, we were now facing the bread girl and the vice class president directly behind us.
“Hello?”
The vice class president greeted cheerfully, and the bread girl timidly waved one hand. And I, the protagonist, sandwiched between three girls… it was such a huge turn-on. Now the scent of youth seemed fragrant again.
The train was very quiet. But that was only for a moment. As the train started to move along the tracks, everyone became excited and began chattering, and our class’s car quickly became boisterous. Perhaps because many people hadn’t eaten breakfast, the train was filled with the aroma of food.
Our seats were no different. As soon as we started, we pulled the heating string and ate our ekiben in a cheerful atmosphere. Miyuki picked up some of her share of eel and placed it on my pot rice. And the vice class president, who frowned as if disgusted while looking at her, and the bread girl, who coughed every time she brought a spoon to her mouth. It felt somewhat peaceful.
After eating their bentos and chatting with much laughter, Miyuki and her companions soon seemed exhausted and spoke less. Afterwards, they admired the beautiful scenery outside the window according to the conductor’s announcement, then one by one began to doze off.
Most of the other students did the same. They had been chattering excitedly since morning, so it was only natural. Miyuki, who had been talking with me occasionally while watching the bread girl and the vice class president fall asleep, also let out a long yawn, then,
“I’m going to sleep for a bit…”
She blinked her blurry eyes, raised the armrest in the middle of the seat, leaned her face on my shoulder, and then fell asleep with her mouth slightly open.
Even though other students could see, I covered Miyuki’s body, which was openly borrowing my body, with my coat and looked out the window. The train was passing through a forest path where snow was gently falling, the quiet car, and Miyuki, who had fallen into slumber, exuding her unique plum scent.
It was a scene one would only see in one of those ‘healing’ anime. Taking a break like this wasn’t bad.
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Ah, it feels good to be back,
Thx for the chapter Neko ❤️
Thanks neko!