Volume 13 Chapter 268 Shirogane Aqua, Drowning In Schemes Influenced By The Master
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hey, Kohina-senpai, what happened to your hair?” I asked, eyeing her messy ponytail.
She turned her face away with a little huff. Predictable.
Honestly, knowing her, she probably crashed asleep without drying it again. What a disaster. She can’t even handle her own hair without me stepping in.
”It’s fine. See? It still looks cute like this!” she said, trying to sound confident.
If I had to pick between cute or not, yeah, she nailed cute.
Putting personality aside, Kohina-senpai’s got that actress-level look—even with a messy ponytail. Small face, baby-soft features, and a petite frame. That fluffy hair actually suits her. When her ponytail sways, it looks like a soft cloud, and honestly, I’d love to just bury my face in it and chill forever.
”Yeah, yeah. Cute, cute,” I said, teasing.
”Hey! Why do you praise me like I’m a casual thing? Even if it’s me, at least praise me properly!” she spun around, mock-angry.
Maybe this was a hint to flatter her more. Before I could react, I noticed the tag still hanging from her clothes.
”Wait, Kohina-senpai! There’s a tag on your outfit,” I whispered, inching closer.
She blushed hard when she caught sight of it.
Guess we’re skipping the festival fun to hunt for scissors.
”Let’s borrow scissors from that classroom,” I said.
”Eh, yeah, okay.” She followed me inside without even checking the sign.
””””Welcome!””””
A chorus of voices greeted us.
”Aqua-kun! And Kohina Yukari!?”
A group of students gathered, whispering like we were celebrities.
”We just came to borrow scissors!”
I said, but no one was listening.
”Wait, is this some kind of Cultural Festival date?” someone whispered.
”Nah, she’s Kohina Yukari. No way.”
”If it were a date, I’d be cheering them on, but with her? Hard to tell.”
”Yeah, if it were Kanon-san or Ayana-chan, it’d be clear.”
”Kohina Yukari’s romance status? A total mystery.”
”The guy’s Aqua-kun, so everyone’s a suspect except her.”
”True. Let’s just support the rumor for now.”
”Agreed!”
I just wanted scissors, but apparently, we walked into the gossip pit.
”Alright then, Kohina Yukari, please come this way,” someone called.
”Eh? Wait!” Before I could stop her, Kohina-senpai got pulled behind a curtain by about ten students.
What kind of place is this? Not a food stall or an exhibit. As I looked around, the curtain where she vanished opened a crack.
”Oh, I thought I’d hear a voice, but it’s not Aqua-chan. What’s up with this place?”
”Ah, Mother… what?!” I froze.
There she was—my mom, decked out in the Otomezaki uniform. The sight nearly knocked me off my feet.
Her chest was so… well, it made the buttons on her shirt strain to the max. I mean, cheating on the bra? Totally unfair.
”Is it okay, Aqua-chan?” she asked, jogging over.
Why is Mom suddenly this sexy? If it weren’t me, my kid’s entire idea of ‘sexy mom’ would be ruined.
I explained that Kohina-senpai helped with the festival, so I invited her.
”About your uniform?” I asked.
”Oh, that old blazer I rented from Otomezaki? It’s too small—buttons won’t close because of my chest,” Mom said, struggling to button up.
I peeked closer—her skirt looked tiny, almost revealing her underwear. What is going on here?
”I don’t want to be seen like this! So embarrassing!”
Mom disappeared behind the curtain. Maybe she’s changing?
Sure enough, she reappeared in a sailor suit.
”Aqua-chan! I got it right this time!”
I nearly hit the floor again. The slightly see-through fabric and the lifted hem made for some… uh, ‘attacks’ on my poor brain.
Before I could recover, two more moms popped out: Kanata-san in a sailor suit and Kiyoko-san in a blazer.
Kanata gave me a warm hug—her chest practically launched my arms into the air. Kiyoko blushed and shuffled shyly beside her. This was peak mom energy.
Then two more moms appeared—Yoshimi-san and Furia-sama.
”Why am I dressed like this…” Yoshimi muttered.
”It’s fine. These chances don’t come often,” Furia-sama replied with a smirk.
My brain twisted in agony as their outfits hit me like a ton of bricks. Furia-sama’s blazer-style was perfectly tsundere-level, and Yoshimi’s sailor suit barely covered her midriff. The Student Disciplinary Committee would have a meltdown.
”Come on, Yukari, don’t be shy. Come out too!” Yoshimi grabbed Kohina-senpai’s arm and pulled her out.
I froze seeing Kohina in a sailor suit.
I thought the outfit changes took forever, but I guess everyone fixed their wild hair into cute ponytails for me. Thanks, everyone.
”Hey!? I dressed up for you, and this is the reaction I get?!” Kohina pouted.
Ah, no, Mom figures have that cosplay vibe that’s a lot to handle, but Kohina looks genuinely good. I didn’t know how to respond.
Thinking back, Kohina and my classmate Iria joined Otomezaki as first-years. Maybe she could’ve been my junior?
”Kohina-senpai… no, Yukari. For today, just call me ‘senpai.’”
”Call you what? Idiot! Don’t get cocky and use my first name! You’ll always be my junior, so call me Kohina-senpai—with love!”
Yeah, no way she’s my junior. I wouldn’t survive that.
”I’m changing again!” Kohina declared and darted behind the curtain.
She returned in a blazer uniform.
”This one’s less embarrassing.”
To me, both looked equally wild, but I kept quiet. Like my mentor says, men should say less.
”I’ll cut off the tags and keep these clothes here. Pick them up on your way home,” I said.
”Thanks,” Kohina said, puffing her cheeks and crossing her arms.
Even mad, her pout was impossible to resist. She’s definitely got some unfair charm.
”Cheer up, okay?” I offered.
”I’m not mad. I just thought, ‘Could you say something else?’”
Other things? Oh! I got it! That’s what she meant.
Sorry, Kohina-senpai. That was a low blow.
”Kohina-senpai…”
”What?”
I lightly patted her shoulder, trying to be serious.
”I’d prefer the skirt three millimeters shorter.”
”Idiot! How do you mess that up so bad?”
Huh? That wasn’t right?
”That’s not it! Just say something like ‘You look cute’ or ‘The uniform suits you’! Jeez!”
Wait, so she just wanted a normal compliment? Didn’t see that coming. No rush, me!
Meanwhile, the gossip mill back in the classroom went wild:
”Look, Yukari casually fixing her skirt…”
”Could she actually be spoiling Aqua-kun?”
”Maybe she likes him!”
”She’s fixing her skirt when Aqua-kun isn’t watching.”
”It’s a perfect tsundere moment!”
Sigh Okay, I’m calm again.
I stepped toward Kohina-senpai once more.
”Kohina-senpai, the reason I froze up earlier? Simple. You looked way too good in your school uniform, and I had no clue how to handle it,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck.
”Hmph, is that so?” Kohina-senpai turned away with her usual tsuntsun glare—but I caught this tiny shy sparkle in her eyes.
Man, she’s a pro at pretending. She should work on hiding that better! Maybe since no one usually praises her, she gets all flustered when someone actually means it.
”Kohina-senpai, how about today you pretend to be a student here and enjoy the Cultural Festival with me?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
”If that’s what you want… I guess I don’t have much choice,” she said, reaching out her hand.
Wait—hold up—is she asking me to hold hands now? I grabbed her hand before thinking.
”?!”
Crap. I accidentally locked our fingers like we were on some romantic date. Classic.
My mom and Yoshimi-san noticed and started wildly waving at us.
”Aqua-chan, good luck on your date!” Mom cheered.
”No, Mom, this isn’t a date!” I tried to explain, but honestly, it didn’t sound convincing.
”Yukari! At least kiss and come home!” Yoshimi-san called.
”I won’t! Idiot!” Kohina-senpai snapped back.
I felt my face burning red. We left the classroom, walking fast and hiding our blushing faces.
”I-I’m kinda thirsty,” I said.
”Then let’s hit a café nearby. I want something cold too,” Kohina-senpai replied.
We stepped inside a cozy coffee shop.
”Welcome! Aqua-kun! We’ve been waiting! Two for here, please!” the waitress called out like she was expecting royalty.
Wait, they were actually waiting for me? What’s going on?
They led us to a table in the center of the room.
”Here’s some water. Please wait a moment,” the waitress said.
”Thanks,” we both drank quickly.
I looked around for the menu, trying not to seem clueless.
”What is this? Some kind of Kyoto thing where you drink water and just leave?” I asked.
”No, that’s not it… Wait, you didn’t know that about bubu-zuke?” Kohina-senpai gave me a look like I was the dumb one.
When I met Yoshimi-san, she said she’d let me try bubu-zuke, so I was excited. Was it all a joke?
No way. Yoshimi-san wouldn’t prank me like that. She just wanted me to try something tasty!
”Sorry for the wait!” the waitress interrupted.
”We didn’t order yet…” I said, staring as a massive parfait landed in front of us.
”This is the couple-only menu!” the waitress announced with a grin.
Couple-only menu? Seriously?
Then I remembered—the girl who sent me that radio letter last night must’ve planned this.
The waitress caught my eye and smiled like, “Yeah, I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
No! Why is she acting like she just pulled off a prank? Didn’t I say only bring this out with Kanon or Ayana!?
”Take your time~” she said, disappearing.
I looked at Kohina-senpai, still frozen stiff.
”Uh, shall we eat it?” I asked.
”Y-yeah… But how do we even start?” she answered.
I examined the parfait like it was a puzzle. Sponge cake, whipped cream, chocolate plates, fruit, mousse, macarons piled so high they looked ready to topple.
If we just dove in, it’d be a disaster.
”So this is a couple-only parfait,” I said. “Guess we have to work together.”
”Kohina-senpai, can you hold the glass while I get this chocolate stick?” I asked.
”Got it,” she nodded.
First move is key. I carefully pried the chocolate stick loose from the whipped cream mountain.
”Hey! If you do that, I can’t eat it!” she said.
”I know, I know,” I said, holding it out to her.
”Mmm.”
Kohina-senpai parted her lips just enough. I couldn’t help noticing how naturally pink they were.
Dang it! Even though it’s her, I’m way too nervous. Why do girls’ lips always mess with me like this?
”Your turn to hold it now,” she said.
”Alright,” I said, handing her the glass.
I wasn’t sure she could do it without breaking something, but she surprised me and carefully pulled out a chocolate candy stick intact.
”Here,” she said, shoving it gently into my mouth.
Wait, could you be a little gentler? I started nibbling the chocolate she fed me.
”Hehe, feeding you like this isn’t so bad,” Kohina-senpai smiled.
She kept feeding me biscuits, wafers, macarons — everything that made my throat dry.
”Wait, if you keep feeding me, I’ll run out of spit and die!” I joked.
”Fine, fine. No choice then,” she said.
Just as she lowered her spoon, a giant juice with two straws appeared.
”This is a special service for the couple menu! Enjoy~” the waitress said.
Perfect timing. Kohina-senpai and I stared at the giant glass.
”Let’s drink it. Would be a waste not to,” I said.
”I was just thinking my throat was dry too,” Kohina-senpai said with a competitive glint.
Really? Now? Could you tone down the rivalry for like two seconds?
We both put our lips on the straws at the same time and sipped silently.
The awkwardness made it impossible to taste anything.
”See, not thirsty anymore, right? Ah~n,” Kohina-senpai teased, shoving a spoonful of parfait into my mouth.
That’s not the “Ah~n” I’m used to.
I grabbed the best piece of chocolate and held it toward her.
”Here, Kohina-senpai. Don’t be shy to eat this.”
”Hmph. You’re way too early to challenge me,” she said and bit into the nutty piece.
”Here. The considerate senpai I am will give you the rest. Be grateful,” she smirked.
Does she realize sharing this is basically an indirect kiss?
”Am I the only one worried here? Or am I the idiot?” I muttered, eating the other half.
Kohina-senpai suddenly looked away.
Kohina-senpai!? Did it just hit you? For some reason, that hurt a little.
”Hey, aren’t those two flirting over there?” someone whispered.
”No, I thought so from the start.”
”Kohina Yukari’s not against it either.”
”Oh, so she’s one of us!”
”Aqua-sama’s embarrassed face is priceless!”
”This alone made the festival worth it.”
”Hehe, I’m posting this on the board!”
Wait, everyone’s been watching us this whole time?
”Everyone, eat before the ice cream melts! And waiter, stop staring and do your job!” I blurted, feeling super embarrassed.
We hurriedly ate in silence, avoiding eye contact.
”Hey, don’t eat my share!” Kohina-senpai said with playful rivalry.
This isn’t how couples usually eat parfaits, but whatever.
We finished, drank the juice like it was a competition, paid, and left fast.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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