Chapter 42 A Rare Date and Changing Seasons꞉ Inamori and Miyama’s Secret Outing
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
October had arrived, bringing with it the realization that a mere five months remained of our high school lives.
The results of the mock exams I had sat in September returned an A-rank evaluation. The report was quite emphatic; provided I did not grow complacent, my acceptance into my university of choice was all but guaranteed. However, I still harbored a lingering grain of doubt regarding the listening portion of the University Entrance Common Test. When I sought counsel from Aizawa-sensei, she took it upon herself to negotiate with the school. Consequently, a supplementary listening clinic was established once a week after hours for any interested students.
Since then, Aizawa-sensei seemed to have blossomed, appearing more radiant and spirited than ever before. This newfound vitality had an unintended side effect: her supplementary sessions became so immensely popular that the audio-visual room could scarcely contain the crowd. The schedule was subsequently doubled to twice a week. I felt a pang of guilt, fearing I had placed an undue burden upon her shoulders.
”I have finally realized what it is my students require of me, so please, do not trouble yourself over it,” Aizawa-sensei said. She leaned in slightly, a playful glint in her eyes. “In return, however, I should quite like a reward.”
It seemed that our previous intimate encounter had restored her self-worth, though she was now prone to casting suggestive glances my way. She was clearly mindful of her promise to Manami—that it would be a one-time occurrence—yet the temptation remained.
Meanwhile, on the first of October, it was officially announced that Manami and Miyama-san had both secured their spots through the designated school recommendation system. Their futures at the affiliated university were now set in stone.
”Now I can devote my entire heart and soul to supporting you, Hirokazu-san,” Manami said, her face beaming with pure, unadulterated joy.
”There is something else,” she continued, though she looked a bit hesitant. “I hope it won’t be a bother, but would it be alright if I enrolled in driving school? Things should be relatively quiet there this time of year.”
I saw no reason to refuse. Manami had been tireless in her domestic duties, sacrificing much of her own time for the sake of our home.
”Of course,” I replied. “And I shall cover the expenses.”
”Are you quite sure? I had planned to ask my mother to pay for it,” Manami said, her eyes widening in surprise.
”You are my wife, Manami. It is only right that I take care of it,” I said firmly.
Shortly thereafter, Manami’s mother contacted me to ensure I was truly comfortable with the arrangement. When we had first sought her blessing for our marriage, I had discreetly disclosed the extent of my inheritance to ease her anxieties about our future; her call was merely a diligent follow-up to that conversation.
Miyama-san, for her part, had begun training for the upcoming ekiden¹ race. I had always perceived her as a hundred-meter sprinter, but she merely laughed when I mentioned it.
”I ran it last year as well,” she explained with a modest smile. “And I am considered one of the faster members of the club.”
One Saturday afternoon, Miyama-san arrived at our house just as I was returning from my prep school. Manami was out, likely still occupied at the driving school.
”Manami is at her lessons, but I expect she will be back shortly,” I said.
”In that case, perhaps I shall wait for her, if you don’t mind,” Miyama-san replied.
I showed her into the living room, feeling a prickle of nervous energy. I retreated briefly to leave my belongings in my room before returning. It was the first time I had ever been truly alone with her, and the silence felt heavy with a sort of awkward tension. I struggled to find a topic of conversation.
”I wanted to thank you properly,” Miyama-san said, breaking the silence. “It was thanks to you that I received my recommendation.”
”It was your own hard work, Miyama-san. I did very little indeed,” I replied.
”I like that about you, Inamori-kun. Your humility,” she said softly.
The word “like” sent a sudden, frantic thrumming through my chest.
”As a friend, I mean…” Miyama-san added hastily.
Her face had flushed a brilliant shade of crimson, and she looked quite flustered. I found the sight of it incredibly endearing. While Manami was the embodiment of cuteness, Miyama-san was undoubtedly a beauty. As I sat across from her, watching her try to regain her composure, the drumming in my heart only intensified.
It was at that moment the front door opened, and Manami returned.
”I’m home! Oh, Yuzuki, you’re here,” Manami said, appearing in the doorway. She handed me a reusable shopping bag. “Hirokazu-san, I need to put my things away. Would you mind tucking these into the refrigerator for me?”
I took the bag and headed for the kitchen. By the time I returned, Manami had reappeared and was heading toward the fridge herself, returning a moment later with glasses of oolong tea.
”So,” Manami said, settling in. “What brings you by today?”
”I realized I hadn’t thanked Inamori-kun properly,” Miyama-san explained.
”Is that all?” Manami asked, her intuition clearly picking up on something beneath the surface.
”Well… um…” Miyama-san trailed off, appearing uncharacteristically shy.
”Yuzuki, you’ve never actually been on a date, have you?” Manami asked.
”No… I had hoped to experience it at least once before graduation, but… there was never anyone… I’ve mostly given up on the idea,” Miyama-san confessed.
”In that case,” Manami said, her tone bright and decisive, “why don’t you go on a date with Hirokazu-san? It would be a lovely high school memory.”
I sat there, blinking in surprise as the conversation moved forward without my input.
”If Inamori-kun is willing, I should very much like to,” Miyama-san said quietly.
”Between school, the house, and now my driving lessons, I’ve been so busy,” Manami added, looking at me. “I haven’t been able to give Hirokazu-san the relaxation he deserves. You should go, Yuzuki.”
While Manami and I certainly had our own ways of “relaxing” behind closed doors, I sensed she had a specific reason for this suggestion. And so, it was decided that I would go on a date with Yuzuki.
We settled on the Saturday following our mid-term exams. Since I had prep school and she had club activities in the morning, we arranged to meet at the ticket gates of the prefectural capital station. At Miyama-san’s request, our destination was the aquarium.
When the day arrived, I found her waiting at the gates. She was dressed in a dusty pink one-piece dress, paired with a soft greige cardigan. She had applied a touch of makeup, making her look far more mature than usual. My heart gave a sharp, sudden tug at the sight of her.
Since we had both already eaten, we made our way straight to the aquarium.
The transformation in her was nothing short of staggering. The “cool beauty” who was usually so composed and serene vanished, replaced by a girl who gasped in delight at everything she saw.
”Oh! Look!” she exclaimed, pointing at the dolphins, the penguins, and the belugas.
She would let out little cries of wonder, frequently looking back at me with her hand pressed to her mouth in excitement. She was, quite simply, adorable. I realized then that if Manami did not exist, I would have undoubtedly fallen for her. It served as a stark reminder of just how much space Manami occupied in my heart.
”You were just thinking about Manami, weren’t you?” Miyama-san asked, her gaze surprisingly piercing. “I am the one on a date with you right now. Forget about her for a moment.”
Before I could respond, she reached out and took my hand. I tried to justify it to myself—surely, simply holding hands did not constitute infidelity.
However, the sensation of her soft palm against mine, and the occasional, fleeting pressure of her chest against my arm as we walked, made my heart race uncontrollably. By the time we reached the jellyfish exhibits, I could hardly tell one species of fish from another. We eventually stopped for a rest at the food court, but I was so dazzled by her radiant smile that I couldn’t even recall what I had ordered to drink.
”I had a wonderful time today. Thank you,” Miyama-san said when we reached her station.
She stepped off the train, leaving me with a parting smile that seemed… somewhat strained. It was a strange, lingering sensation that followed me all the way home.
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Summary:
Hirokazu navigates the busy month of October, funding Manami’s driving school while agreeing to a ‘memory-making’ date with Yuzuki Miyama. The date at the aquarium reveals a bubbly side of the ‘cool beauty’ Yuzuki, ending with a lingering sense of romantic tension.
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Character Insight:
Manami demonstrates incredible security and perhaps a bit of matchmaking meddling by encouraging the date, while Yuzuki’s ‘strained smile’ at the end suggests she is struggling with her growing feelings for a man who is already ‘taken.’
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Behind the Scene:
This chapter marks a shift from the academic focus of the previous arc to the emotional complexities of the ‘harem’ dynamic, highlighting the contrast between the girls’ public personas and private feelings.
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T/L:
¹ [Ekiden] A long-distance relay running race, extremely popular in Japan, often involving school or corporate teams. ↩
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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