Translator: White Lotus
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After the official start of the rainy season, the club room was filled with humidity. The bread that was left behind by someone had gone moldy, and it was all because there were no girls in the club, so the seniors started to suggest recruiting some girls into the club, but no one dared to put it into action.
“Why is it that there are so many girls in the university, but not a single girl here?”
“Isn’t it because there are no handsome guys in our club?”
A senior poked a first-year student in the head after hearing his calm analysis.
“Ah~ if only you were girls.”
“Do you want to persuade the female version of us?”
“No way.”
Everyone kept chatting about these silly topics.
“Our club is really casual, huh?”
Koyama, who was flipping through a photography magazine on the side, laughed.
“That’s what I like about our club,” said Hira.
“Indeed. Oh, Hira, are you coming to my house today? I’ll cook dinner.”
“Have you received another attack from your family?”
Hira showed a troubled expression on his face as Koyama made a pleading gesture with his hands clasped in front of his chest. Koyama’s parents were farmers who grew vegetables, and they frequently delivered tons of them to their only son, who lived alone in Tokyo. Hira was called upon to help him consume these vegetables.
“Okay, but…I don’t want to eat a hot pot with just vegetables anymore. It’s so hot today.”
“Then let’s make teppanyaki and add some chicken in it. I have chicken breasts at home.”
“I don’t like chicken breasts because they’re dry. It’s better to have sausage.”
“Then let’s go to the supermarket on our way back.”
While they were conversing as usual, someone behind them struck them on the head with a rolled-up magazine, yelling, “Kora-Kora-Kora!”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
They turned around only to see their senior looking at them with an angry face.
“You guys! While we’re sitting here mourning about the lack of women in our club, you’re conversing about how we men should be self-sufficient with each other. And also, what’s with that ‘chicken breasts are dry. It’s better to have sausage. Accompany me to the supermarket when we go back’? Are you guys newlyweds? Even though we’re not envious of you at all, it sounds like we are, so you better restrain yourself!”
Hira and Koyama were hit on the head like wooden fish. It’s too much to take it out on others for no reason.
“Seniors are all discontented.”
“It’s a complete false accusation.”
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This kind of relationship was comfortable for Hira, but it was certainly not pleasant for Koyama. Hira was aware that by taking advantage of the circumstance, he was simply avoiding it, but he was still maintaining a friendship with the other person, which was a bit unfair. But then again, the other person didn’t say anything, so it would’ve been pretentious and embarrassing for him to actively reject the other person by saying “I’m sorry” and keeping his distance. While feeling sorry for Koyama, Hira also had the suffocating feeling of having his way out cut off.
It appeared as though he was suspended in midair, not knowing what to do.
While he was watching the TV absentmindedly, suddenly a commercial started to play on the TV, and Hira’s thoughts switched over at once. In that commercial for a soft drink, four young men and women of about the same age as Hira were running along the beach.
The second from the left was Kiyoi.
When he saw this commercial for the first time, Hira felt as though his heart would stop beating.
That day, as he was lying on the couch in the living room of his house playing a game, he felt as though he had suddenly been stabbed by a killer in the middle of his peaceful daily life. Not knowing what was happening, he could only stare at the TV screen with his mouth half open like a fool, and by that point the game he was playing had already been lost.
“Hira, you like this commercial, right?” Koyama said.
“Maybe so…”
Hira replied absentmindedly as he still stared at the screen. The commercial had long since finished, but Kiyoi’s figure was still glowing in his pupils and in his heart, like a child waving a firework stick in midsummer.
“Do you like Kiyoi Sou?”
As if he had been hit by something, Hira turned around.
“Eh? W-Why do you mention Kiyoi—”
How did Koyama know about Kiyoi?
“Isn’t he the actor who appeared in the commercial just now?”
“Actor? Isn’t he a model?”
“I do remember it being stated that he was an actor, though.”
Koyama took out a thin magazine from his bag.
“This is a free magazine published by the theater group that my brother helps out with, and I remember seeing the article in it…… Ah, here. It’s not that famous yet, but it has gradually begun to gain popularity.”
The page Koyama pointed to had a photo of Kiyoi with the word “actor” written next to his name.
—Ah, it’s true, that’s amazing…….
While he was still exulting over making friends, Kiyoi had progressed to a higher level. The feeling in Hira’s heart was the same as it was back in high school. Commercials and magazines. Hira had been trying so hard to avoid seeing Kiyoi, but now this had happened. Like water dripping from a tip-over plastic bottle, Hira’s feelings welled up and spilled out.
“You can have it.”
Hira looked up from the magazine in surprise.
“No, it’s okay. It’s your brother’s, isn’t it?”
“It’s just a free magazine, so it’s fine. And anyway, you seem to really like Kiyoi-kun.”
Koyama laughed teasingly, and somehow Hira found it really hard to tell him that Kiyoi was “that person.” Instead, he could only foolishly try to brush it off with a vague denial by saying that it wasn’t like that, but then they interrupted by another freshman: “Guys, we’re all going to have all-you-can-eat yakiniku together, but do you want to join us?”
“Ah, we’re going to have vegetable teppanyaki today.”
As Koyama answered, everyone grumbled, “Are you guys herbivores?!”
“Remember to lock the door. See you tomorrow.”
“Okay, got it, see yaー” Koyama and the others wave their hands to each other.
“Goodbye,” said Hira.
After sending everyone off, Koyama tilted his head to look at Hira.
“What?”
“I’ve noticed it before too, but Hira has a funny way of saying bye. People don’t usually say “goodbye,” do they? Normally it’s “bye” or “see you,” right? You, however, never say that.”
Koyama inquired as to whether there was anything he had against these words, and Hira reflexively thought of Kiyoi.
――Then, see you.
The words that felt as though Hira was being thrown away, and the kiss that felt like having a knife thrust into his chest, warning him that it was the end. The fact that the memory still hurt so much might have caused Hira to simply subconsciously avoid using those words.
“There’s no particular reason, but 'bye' and 'see you' feel too sad because these are like farewells.”
Hira made it sound like he was merely stating a general fact, which left Koyama puzzled.
“If you ask me, I think that ‘Goodbye’ sounds even sadder. ‘Bye’ and ‘See you’ are the shortened forms of ‘See you tomorrow’ or ‘See you later.’ These imply that we’ll see each other again.”
This time, it was Hira’s turn to be puzzled. ‘Bye’ and ‘See you’ were the shortened forms of ‘See you tomorrow’ or ‘See you later’. Yes indeed; when Koyama said this, Hira immediately realized it. Even he, himself, had initially understood these two words in the same way. However, he was unable to interpret Kiyoi’s words, ‘See you later,’ in this way.
It was impossible for Kiyoi to say “see you later” to a guy like him.
Nevertheless, Hira couldn’t help but have doubts. He subconsciously took out his cell phone from his pocket and remembered that he had lost Kiyoi’s contact information. And he had changed his own phone number too, so even if Kiyoi contacted him, he wouldn’t be aware of it. He wondered what to do. An unspeakable anxiety swelled up in Hira’s heart.
“Hira, let’s go back too. Looks like it’s gonna rain pretty heavily.”
As soon as he heard a voice calling out to him, Hira came back to his senses.
“We’ll stop by the supermarket, but do you want to buy some chuhai and beer?”
“Yeah…” Hira replied casually, putting his cell phone back in his pocket. He felt ashamed of himself for having such an absurd dream even now.
“Ah… Oh no, it’s already raining heavily.”
At the entrance of the school building, Koyama stretched out his hand in the pouring rain. Koyama’s hands were too slim for a boy.
Kiyoi’s hands were similarly slender. Moreover, there was an indescribable beauty. A slight movement caused the small, rounded wrist bones to protrude from the joints. Hira had restrained himself from thinking about the skin under Kiyoi’s sleeves countless times.
While walking, Hira stepped into the puddle of water and heard the sound of water splashing.
As Hira observed the numerous puddles that had accumulated on the road, he couldn’t help but recall the one that Kiyoi had trodden in that day, and the reality of losing Kiyoi struck him in the chest once again.
Holding back the excruciating pain in his heart, Hira acted as if nothing had happened and walked while talking about trivial matters with Koyama. Now, each day was filled with joy. Life was so peaceful and pleasant now compared to how lonely it had been in high school days. But even so, why was he feeling like this? he wondered.
The memories of Kiyoi seized him at once, grabbing him by the nape of his neck.
In the midst of the daily routine of being washed away by the sewage, he met Kiyoi. He used cruel words like “gross” and “annoying” to Hira while gazing at him with cold eyes. Occasionally, he would smile at him. Let himself be touched by Hira. Kiyoi was not a kind person. Nevertheless, everything about Kiyoi was so distinct and brilliant.
Even now, Kiyoi was still entrenched in Hira’s heart, in a sanctuary that Hira himself could not touch.
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Estoy capítulo desde la perspectiva de Kiyoi
Estoy deseando capítulo desde la perspectiva de Kiyoi
No se por que aveces se me borran palabras
We’ll read Kiyoi’s perspective starting in chapter 3. ❤️❤️❤️
I’m sorry I don’t know Spanish.🥺 So I didn’t get this line “No se por que aveces se me borran palabras.” Can you please tell me in English what’s the meaning of this line? ❤️
Btw Thanks for reading ❤️
oh it’s nothing, sometimes when i write in the comment area some of the words get rubbed out
Its a Google traslation
Oh.. understood. Thank you ❤️
Aww, this story is really wholesome in its own way. It’s not your usual love story, but their affection and intimacy seems real and deeper to me. I just hope the friendship between Hira and Koyama will last. I feel sorry for both of them but they also deserve to be happy.
What you said is true, so I agree with you… They all deserve to be happy 😊
Thanks for reading ❤️
Thank you for your hard work, lovely. 💕
Awww 🥰 poor kid.
Thanks for the chapter
Thanks for reading ❤️
hira is just AKSJKAHDKSHSKSHS
tysm for translating this ❤️❤️ i’ve read the drama cd that also follows the novel but novel just hits different 🥲👍 ill be waiting for kiyoi’s pov cuz its hilarious in the drama cd lmaoo 🥹
Thank you for reading ❤️❤️
In both the drama and the novel I feel bad for koyama, he is a great guy I hope in Nayamashii kare he finds someone. I can’t thank you enough for translating this great novel, in my native language (Spanish) there is a translation but it is nowhere near as good as yours, I’m looking forward to the chapter where Hira and kiyoi meet again.
I’m glad to learn that you’re enjoying my translation..❤️❤️❤️❤️ Thanks for reading ❤️ ❤️
Thank you for the chapter ❤️
Why i feel bad for kiyoi ?? Lololol