Volume 13 Chapter 254-2 Shirogane Aqua, The Misunderstood Girl And The Real Reason
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Hisui-chan is trying hard to help Oto-san, but from outside, it looks like it’s not working well.
After school, I put on my disguise again and go to Oto-san’s shop.
”Welcome.”
Since the first time I came here, I have been here about ten times already.
But Oto-san’s way of serving customers has not changed at all since that day.
Usually, if you come many times, the service changes a little, but here, it stays the same—even for customers who come for years.
This must be how Oto-san always works.
Still, it feels comfortable in a way.
For someone who wants to be quiet and alone, this is the best kind of service.
As always, after I finish my act, I try to talk to her by typing on my phone.
[Thank you for today. You look a little tired. Are you okay?]
Honestly, looking at Oto-san’s face, I can’t tell if she is tired at all.
But because of the cultural festival preparations and working every day recently, I think she must be tired. So I ask carefully.
”Is that so? Maybe I look tired because I’m busy with the cultural festival at school.”
Oh!? Could this be it!?
My special line, “What’s wrong? Should I listen to you?” is coming!
”But… if anyone is tired, it might be Mom. The shops nearby have more customers lately, and Mom has been helping a lot…”
Now that I think about it, the entertainment street has more people than last time I came.
Just now, I saw a woman wearing the same clothes as Claire-san, giving out flyers.
And the foreign man who picked up the file I dropped before was there too.
He looked at me, so I thought maybe he knows me, but he didn’t come to talk.
I want to believe he doesn’t recognize me.
This kind of place doesn’t exist in foreign countries, so maybe it’s all new to him. That’s what I tell myself.
[If someone is tired, hold them and listen. That helps a lot. Everyone wants to lean on someone sometimes, right?]
So if you have a problem, come to me. Just as I type that, Oto-san speaks first.
”I see… okay. I will try that next time.”
She says this and leaves the counter to go to the back kitchen.
Damn! The timing of the hot water was perfect!
Seeing no more chance, I pay like usual and leave the shop.
”Haa… no progress today either…”
Becoming a regular customer does not help!
Becoming regular doesn’t change anything!
Her guard is so high, it’s not even a challenge anymore.
Because I can’t read her faces, I don’t know how to get close.
The next day, during lunch break, I sit alone on the roof, thinking.
”Haa…”
Oto-san’s situation in class is the same.
Some people talk to her, but her answers are short and weak.
If only she would come to Beryl Entertainment, maybe I could change things.
I tried talking to her directly before, but maybe it was the wrong time.
She just nodded a little and ignored me.
Not once, but many times she dodged me. Maybe she doesn’t like me…
”I can’t do this anymore… what does she want me to do~”
I believe Oto-san is not a bad person.
Because my Aqua sensor says so.
I slump to the ground, and nearby, I hear something fall.
”Sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop…”
I look and see Oto-san coming out, looking sorry.
No way… I wasn’t talking about her, but it’s embarrassing to show her my weak side.
”H-how long have you been there?”
”…Since the beginning.”
She was already on the roof before me.
I turn my face away because I’m embarrassed. Oto-san watches me closely.
”Are you tired?”
”Huh?”
No way. She is talking first?
I’m surprised by Oto-san’s action.
”You always look healthy, but now you seem tired.”
Huh? Maybe Oto-san is worried about me?
Maybe this is my chance?
”Ah, yeah. We are busy with the cultural festival. Both class and club work. Yesterday I had a job I couldn’t avoid, so I came here to let out my feelings alone.”
Okay! I fooled her well!
Oto-san listens without changing her face and keeps watching me.
Damn, I can’t read what she thinks… Is this what a real actress’s seriousness looks like?
”I see… then.”
Oto-san spreads her hands with no expression.
What does this mean?
I remember Kohina-senpai did the same this morning.
I thought she was being kind, but it was a trick. She just wanted me to pick her up because she didn’t want to get out of bed!
That’s not fair!
While I’m thinking, Oto-san hugs my head.
Whoaaaaaa!
What is this!?
Did a flag raise without me knowing!?
Sorry, everyone. Apparently, I raise flags just by living.
While I’m thinking these silly things, Oto-san who hugged me starts to speak.
”I heard this is good for tired people.”
That’s the advice I gave her?!
Feeling trapped by my own words, I can’t help how I feel.
”Oto-san… do you dislike me?”
Even now, Shirogane Aqua pushes forward.
I always push so hard the accelerator digs into the mat.
By the way, the brake broke after 3 minutes, so don’t worry about that.
”…I don’t dislike you. Maybe when you talked to me, I thought you might run away, but that’s not it. You never know who is watching at school.”
You never know who is watching at school?
”What do you mean?” I think about everything that happened so far.
Then I come to a conclusion.
”Um, maybe because there are rumors about me, I thought if I talk, it might cause problems, so I didn’t.”
Oto-san nods without expression.
So that’s why…
Was the reason I kept distance so troublemakers wouldn’t hurt others because of me?
Or so teachers wouldn’t notice innocent kids?
Or so gossip magazines wouldn’t write bad stories about me?
Ah, I see.
In the end, all problems come back to that.
I understand everything about Oto-san’s actions.
”Don’t worry about it.”
”No, I do. Aqua-senpai is married and has kids. I don’t want to cause trouble for Kanon-sama and her children.”
Hearing this, I can’t say anything.
Oto-san lets go of my head, turns her back, and heads to the rooftop exit.
”Staying together too long might cause trouble if someone sees us. Also… I was really happy you talked to me and invited me to the Heaven’s Sword work. That was my thank you.”
Then she goes down from the roof to the lower floor.
Phew, now I have to get ready.
Now that I know everything, I, Shirogane Aqua, must do something.
I hit my cheeks to wake up and head back to class.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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