Volume 3 Chapter 8 (2/2)

…Hmm, it was probably since I worry about her all the ti a little too worried

Without takingeach step, made her way down the stairs

There wasn't anybody frouessing that the girls had alreadyroom

Instead, what I found in front of the hts on our class' dance

It was roup that people were talking about

The first group was quite good too - said a feroup, since was hearing nothing but good reviews, it h I didn't dance, quite happy

Then, as if to replace the previous crowd, the people who have coram poured into the venue in droves

”Well, that was fun!” said A the venue, as she stretched

…To hear such unreserved praise from my upperclassman also made h the praise wasn't directed atit still made me feel a little embarrassed

”Now then - now that we've had our fun with that, where to next?”

”Huh? You're leaving already?”

”Yep We're off to search for so”

”…By yourself?”

”Well, yeah Since apparently, kumin has some stuff to do for her class To start off with, we'll be alone by ourself for now”

…Alone, huh

H I can do?

Still, as expected I couldn't help but say soo around the festival together? We'll be joined by Rikka, of course”

”Ahaha, no no, it's fine Wouldn't it be better if it were just you and DevTru Rikkchan going around the festival together? We'd just be getting in the way of you two”

”Soh…”

”No no, and besides, we do feel like wandering around by ourself for a bit After all there are nu performed at the festival, and our play is in competition with the out the enemy Well then, if you do see us around, make sure to say hi, okay?”

As she said that, and without waiting for my response, Amaniji-senpai waved both of her hands at me as she walked into the crowd

Soain

Naturally, I was feeling quite bad about it

Since I assumed that Rikka probably wouldn't haveus would be an issue at all Then again, it was also quite possible that Aone over ith Rikka If I were in Amaniji-senpai's position, I too would have definitely refused

- …Or more precisely

Perhaps this was that part oftoo kind can also be poisonous - was it?”

As I muttered that toscreen

I scrolled down to the 'other' line of my address book

†User of the Devilish Truth Stare, Rikka Takanashi+ †

As I scrolled over her naain recalled the things that Ao

That I was unaware of how others perceived my kindness

She pointed that part of me out totoo kind could also be poisonous

Theby the way Amaniji-senpai talked about it, it see had an eleot the impression that she was seriously worried for me when she said all that

Iabout yet

But that's why

More andabout it

Properly, as her contractor

And - as her boyfriend

As I vowed inabout it, I sent a text

To irl who still continues to be afflicted with chuunibyou - to Rikka

◆

Woohoo~! A cultural festival with Rikka~!

…Was hoas feeling Although I was by otten what I had just vowed to myself)

However, reality wasn't so kind

Life didn't seeo the way I wanted

After I texted her, I e evil (at least inwith her to thwart o around the cultural festival with Rikka collapsed

In addition, Kazari-chan was holding hands with Rikka as if they were super close with each other

”Eh heh heh, sorry, Yuutkun Rikkchan's mine for today~She promised me earlier to spend today with uess it can't be helped…”

Apparently, it see to be considerate

Then again, it's not like I ether…

I was under the iiven that the two of us were in resonance, or rather able to understand each other without words, but it see on one as planned if I had o around with her o around the cultural festival together to consoled by Rikka…”

In order to console me, Rikka stood on her toes in order to strokethat miserable just now…?

It was quite the shock

”Still, recently I've been worried that Kazari-chan is a lesbian, and is seriously airounds[4] to that false accusation!”

”It's because of lines like that that I think there's truth behind that sentirounds!

”Well, well, well, please rest assured! Not worry do, not worry do, not worry do[5] After all, it'll just be two girls playing around having a good ti up all those ”do not worry” wasn't just a big mistake on your part…”

”Yuuta, relax My lady and I are siether by an eternal connection”

Kazari-chan grinned as she heard Rikka say those words

It see 'hilarious!' or so… I wonder if Nibutani will lose her ht, it's since the two of us have an eternal connection with each other! Then, Yuutkun, I'll be borrowing Rikkchan now, okay? See you around!”

”Yuuta, later!”

And with that, the two of the each others' hands intimately

I was left in the classrooh the classroo used for the cultural festival and were, for the ti treated as rest areas, since the cultural festival had only just begun, as well as the fact that it was still wasn't noon yet, there was no sign of anyone returning to the classroom

Currently, the classroos

The fact that I was alone bythe cultural festival ht, there's him[7] To distract me from this inexpressible sense of emotional turmoil, I pulled out my cellphone from my pocket and called my close friend, Isshi+ki

Two seconds later

”Oh, Togashi+ What is it, I'ht now”

”With what?”

”Naturally, I'irls have changed into”

…As expected of hireat that that aspect of hi if you'd like to go around the cultural festival witharound with Takanashi+-san?”

”She was stolen by Kazari-chan”

”H to hear ”Sure!” is what I'd like to say, but… sorry The truth is, I'ht now”

Isshi+ki lowered his voice It seeful

”Just noas undercover by myself at a place that could be called the staple of the cultural festival, a ate the costu to me!”

Since Isshi+ki suddenly lowered his voice, I thought that so had happened and orried for hiall suspicious

”I see, right Got it, good luck with chatting with the ashi+! Thanks for supporting et a polaroid with a maid, I'llforward to it~”

You're probably not going to be able to get one though

”Anyway, I'd appreciate it if you'd give ot it”

With my call in vain, I returned my cellphone back toup, it was ive up on having him accompany me

Now then, what now?

The cultural festival - to be alone during it was lonelier than I iined Or rather than lonelier, perhaps it would be better to say that it was harsher than I i by themselves - did not exist

Back when I was in h I said stuff like, ”H a defiant attitude when the cultural festival hit, and would go play by myself… despite appearances, the me back then was still lonely…

Ah, if only someone could save ht that, the cellphone that I had just placed in ain took the cellphone from my pocket - it was a phone call

…It was the real deal! A hero ould come to save you if you prayed for help in your heart!

”Oh, Hero? Right now, it's ! I' the ”fr” part of ”free”, I already answered back with, ”Co to the rest of what shi+chi up I then immediately started to dash To hell with it, if itable to run a little on this day, I was even willing to disobey the instructions of the members of the disciplinary council

The ti - was about 3 seconds

Before I was even able to think about it, I began …' hat I thought as I ran, which made me a little sad, but I was okay with it

I was fine with geting teary over ordinary happiness

Scra, I made my way towards where shi+chilad that I checked where it was in advance I arrived at the first floor in no time at all

On the first floor, near the hoular school building, where all the special classroorams set up next to each other in a line And in this section was class 1-3's prograranboard had the words 'Parfait Shop' written on it

It seemed that you could eat in the tent where the food was made I could see several people here and there inside the tent who looked like custoet the i, thanks to the people inside the tent who looked extre their parfait,by stopped by the shop to buy a parfait before theytheir parfait as they walked

And just like shi+chi there as a shop assistant

There stood my hero, shi+chi Style Instead, her hair was in a ponytail

I didn't have a fascination with ponytails or anything (of the two, I prefer twintails more), but I was mesmerised by how fresh that hairstyle looked on shi+chimiya

To borrow fros as of late: her hair was ”looking good, OK~☆”

Likewise, her outfit was not her usual Demon duchess-like attire Ita casual t-shi+rt with a skirt Combined with an apron, this costume of hers also felt fresh

As hts like that, shi+chimiya came up tohappy to see me, shi+chimiya, whose checks were soesture of hers was so cute that it

”O-oh Yeah, I'm alone for now”

”Where's Rikkchan?”

”She's been kidnapped by the hidden boss Kazari-chan”

”Nyahaha, Rikkchan's a girl who's kidnapped quite often, isn't she?”

It was a little aard to hear shi+chi that shi+chi

”Well, since it's just Hero, it'll be my treat! Nohat would you like?”

”There's no need, it's fine I'll pay for myself”

”No, no, it's fine I've ht? ☆”

Saying that, shi+chimiya forcefully pushed my back and directedto put it like that, I guess I'll take advantage of your kind offer then

”Excuse me, two chocolate banana parfaits please!”

After telling that to the people in the kitchenthe parfaits, shi+chimiya then sat down in the seat in front of me

Wait, what? The seat in front of me?

”Is this okay? Don't you have your work as a shop assistant?

”Yeah, I've already infor a break once Hero arrived”

Oh…?

H-how ed all this for me!

She's now a kindred spirit of mine! Who is this Isshi+ki person? My best friend's shi+chi ti shi+chimiya in a way that close friend should be treated

”shi+chi I'm able to do for you, just say it! No otten into you, Hero!?”

”…Well, look, I'd feel quite bad if I just had you treatfor you in return”

”By just treating you to so for me!? Don't, Hero - after all, you're able to collect money even fro them into money”

”I don't think I'd accept that sort ofover the last boss… Well, I ardless, I's For instance, I still owe you for you agreeing for ht?”

”Hht to invitelike that, please! I'll do anything toto her with e position

shi+chie this was and replied to!? Hmm, understood I'll think about it ☆”

”Yeah, just let !”

”…That proh I wasn't aware of it at that ti about a disaster -”

”Eh!? Wait, what!? The thing that you were planning on havinglike that!?”

”Nyahahaha, I' for- ah, there's that …Yeah, that would be perfect My request is that you'd allow to ask you about so?”

”Yeah, to ask you so Is there a problem?”

”No, but there wasn't a need for you to be soI'll anshatever question you have to the best of my ability”

In response to my words, shi+chimiya muttered ”Nyahaha, it feels wonderful to know that even secrets aren't off-lih I didn'tto hide from shi+chimiya In fact, since shi+chi about the pastfro that, shi+chi,

”During summer vacation - you went to the beach, didn't you? Why did you not invite ination, but shi+chiination With each breath, shi+chiot more and more puffed up until eventually, she had a completely sullen look on her face

Her cheeks had swelled up like an angered pufferfish

It was an expression that was rare for shi+chimiya

”…No, that… Wait, huh? How did you know about that?”

”Eh? Didn't you go with Mori-sama and her friends? Mori-sama carelessly let that fact slip fro the topic!”

”ah…”

By the way, about what shi+chiether to the beach as a group

Rather, when Rikka and I went to the sea for a date during suroup of friends

Guess you could say that I was out of luck running across Nibutani and her friends, as, sure enough, I was toyed with by Nibutani Although I intended for it to just be the two of us having fun on the beach, for soroup (shi+nka・Chinatsu・Natsuno were known collectively as the Suer a date

Well, but since I still had a good tiood memory for me

I wonder if shi+chiht she was the only one that wasn't invited

H out how to reply to her, since so like that wasn't the case at all After a short while, and as I was still at a loss as to how I should be replying to her, shi+chi, opened herout to have fun, I would like to be invited to co as well”

”Ah, yeah Of course! Ah, and it's aWe only o to the beach together with her”

”Eh? Ah, is that so? So that's what it was… What a relief”

”Exactly, and you're definitely invited if we're going out to play with everyone”

”Really? Hmm, I'm definitely invited~ ☆

shi+chihed, ”Nyahaha”

Phew… Somehow or other, it seems the misunderstand was resolved

It see, our parfaits were steadily being made (of course it was), as the new shop assistant - she was probably shi+chimiya's replacement - carried over two parfaits to our table

Two chocolate banana parfaits that gave the i sloppily plated

Although this place was indeed just a stall at a cultural festival, contrary to expectations the parfait looked extremely tasty

Since I didn't want the icecrea my parfait immediately

”Yue flavour to it That flavouring, what is it?”

”Heh heh, as expected of Hero The poison didn't work -”

”There's poison in it!?”

”A lie, a lie, it's just a secret ingredient As to what the ingredient is, that's a trade secret~”

…I'm worried

Well, if shi+chi its job, as the parfait was so delicious that I finished it all off

It was the sa off as well

”Regardless of what that secret ingredient was, the parfait itself was extremely delicious Thanks for the meal”

”There's no need for thanks By the way, Hero, what are you planning on doing after this?”

”Let's see… I guess for now, it would be to wander around the culture festival alone How about you, shi+chiht now, after this it'll be back to work for me If I it was the case that I was free, I would have joined Hero's party Sorry!”

”I' a little bad… Not only did you treat , you even spent your break tilad that you ca~ ☆ Now then, it's tiical Deain, please contact er ☆”

As shi+chimiya said that, she had a very happy cherubic s of loneliness of knowing that I'll be by oodbye to shi+chi back to work, I too also left the place that ere sitting at

Now then, where should I head to alone next?

◆

Person Person Person Person Person Person Person

The school building was overfloith so ht that the school itself was a person

Since I could see quite a few people wearing casual clothes, I' that a lot of for too was completely different from usual - the classrooms were decorated with multicoloured ornaments Many of the orna pass and looking at theh to make you feel happy

In the midst of such a disorderly and crowded place I was alone - walking slowly through the building while looking at the list of programs written in the pa to visit - as I thought that, I had a quick glance at the list in the pa to s I wanted to visit As I was, for the ti, a member of the Eccentric Drama Club, I wanted to see the other plays Plays such as 'Katsudon Girl' and 'Meow VS Meow' caught my eye

In addition, some of the a Research Club's a, and the Astronomy Club's planetarium also seemed like it would be quite enjoyable I also wanted to conquer all the food stalls, and to enjoy allery

I would be doing it all alone, though

daht that, I felt a sense of euess that it was inevitable that I'd feel like that

And with thoughts like that in , I headed to the closest place for me to warm myself up - a classroon

For some reason, the interior of the classroom was decorated very prettily However, as I expected, the prograaets with the nuoal is to hit each of the targets in succession with a ball

Naturally, I would not have come here if I did not have any confidence in myself

Heh heh heh, why back when I was alone ina miracle pitch[9]!

…Not that I was a baseball boy or anything

As I was moved to the Struck Out line that was the least crowded of the three - a voice called out to me

”Ah! Yuu-chan! Did you co over to the source of the voice - it was kuht red uniforaphone were also red - she had the complete set

Since this was the first ti asleep, I was a little astonished

”H-hello No, it's just a coincidence that I'm here - I just came here to enjoy myself for a bit…”

”Is that so? I see, but even so I'm still happy It sort of feels like fate, doesn't it?”

To have words like that said to theuy feel completely bewildered…

What destructive power this upperclassman of mine has…!

”Ah - err, it seeht?”

”Yeah, I love it! It's my dream to be displayed on the back screen of Mazda Stadium!”

”That sounds just like you but hoould you even achieve so aphone she had in her hand

That non-athletic swing of hers was also quite cute

””That's a, kumin - how did you do that?” If I was asked that, I would reply by saying it was just a swing that any regular fan would be able to do”

”If it was a swing that any regular fan could do, would it really get projected onto the back screen…?”

”Well, more importantly, I'd like to see Yuu-chan's pitch as soon as possible Here, this is the ball Since the ball is soft, it's okay to throith all your ht”

As kumin-senpai said that, she deftly handed a ball over to ile

H as well, I'll need to display a good performance

In my mind, it was a live broadcast My life… I'll burn it all[10]!

Togashi+ Yuuta - His first pitch, he's winding up - and it's thrown!

The ball flew straight - and as luck would have it, it hit the target marked '5' (dead in the centre), which was approximately five metres away

In my mind, I fist pumped!

”Ooh Yuu-chan did it”

”No, that… I just got lucky, it wasn't intentional”

”You were lucky: I see, it was just the ball[11] Alright, next ball~”

…I wonder if it had beco face

Before I could ain handed over to ood luck was limited to only my first pitch

Aside from my first pitch, the rest of et In my mind, I teared up! Where did all o!

”Ah, that's too bad With pitches like that, it looks like the Yuu-chan won't be experiencing the pro baseball chapter of his life”

”But never inpro in baseball!?”

To begin with, I hadn't even ih school baseball player

Just what sort of person did you think I aet a consolation prize Here's your ‘blowy thing'”

”Blowy thing!?”

”Huh? Did you want so? And, there's also the bangy thing too”

”…The blowy thing is fine…”

Or rather, the way you described those prizes ay too literal

I had no idea of what any of the prizes were at all

Ah, but expect for that, I guess… it's an aside, but the official na is party horn

”With this, Yuu-chan's cultural festival will feel evencould be considered a festival-like prize This blowy thing”

”Ahaha, it suits you quite well, Yuu-chan By the way, it's been bothering me - are you by yourself, Yuu-chan?”

”Yeah, it seeht now”

”I see; for the ti the person on duty here today If I were free, I would have liked to go around the cultural festival with Hideri-chan and Yuu-chan”

”Ahaha, it lad that you feel that way”

”I'Since nobody I knew had co a little lonely”

”In that case, I'll make sure to direct Aain”

”Really? Gee, thanks~ Well then, I'll be waiting then~”

As she said that, kumin-senpai had a sht s of loneliness of knowing that I'll be by ain bloay

After being sent off by kumin-senpai, I left the place

Nohere to next?

◆

”If I walked around properly for a bit, I would be able to join up with soht in ht fro Club's stall, I watched many plays and visited various food stalls to pass the tiood time All the plays I watched, in

In particular, I couldn't stop thinking about 'Katsudon Girl' It was a hts of the lead katsudon

I hope to

The food at the stalls were nothing but delicious Not only were there the parfaits from shi+chimiya's place, but there was also the superb brownie froht just a while back, as well as the delicious takoyaki that I brought from one of the stalls When I join up with Rikka, I'd like to co

Which brings us to the present I was currently at the very back of a crowd, listening to a band's live outdoor perforht I was by

However

I still had yet to see someone I knew What's this? Perhaps I'hts'[12]

Since there were so many people, it may have been the case that we just passed by and missed each other If that really was the case, it'd be better to just use et in touch with someone - at that moment, when my unease started to overflow

”Ah~, it's Rikkchan's boyfriend~”

”It's true, it is Rikkchan's boyfriend And he's by himself”

”Wow, he really is by himself”

I didn't know if it was since I was their acquaintance, or if it was since they were the sort of people who abused those enjoying the cultural festival by themselves, but over flew their voices froh there was no need to turn around, as it was quite obvious as to whoed to, I still turned towards the direction of the voices

The Su delicious-looking crepes

As the three of them looked at me: one had eyes full of disinterest, one had eyes full of bemusement, and one had eyes full of pity All three of theazes were particularly kind

”Wh-what about it? I'”

”Heh heh”

In response to h it It was a someicked smile

”It's fine You can tell the truth After all, we played together during suht? If you're lonely, you could join us?”

”Hey hey, don't tempt another person's boyfriend More i just like he did the other day, aren't you? I think it's time you quit”

”Noo, it's not like thaaat”

”Darn it~, I wanted to get treated to so today as well~ Like the tireat~”

…Miyoshi+-san's scary!

More important, back then, did this person think that I was just sos!? How scary - or rather, how unbelievable

Although it seems that I avoided her trap this tierous woman From now on, I'll have to be careful And I'll need to inform Isshi+ki of this too Perhaps he's already been ensnared

”I ht?”

”No, well, I ht, but…”

”See And so that's why, treat us?”

”How did you end up with that conclusion!?”

Where's the connection between the two!?

Her ords was scary As well as her devilish s, ”But well, sure, fine”

”Tch, how disappointing Still, if you'd like, you could join us? shi+nka would be delighted, right?”

”Eh!?”

The voice came from the startled Nibutani

It looked like her half-eaten crepe was about to spill out from her mouth as a result of her surprise, but it seeed to avoid that outco all of a sudden!?”

”Huh? It's since a all the boys, shi+nka see with Rikkchan's boyfriend”

”Hah!? No way no way, that with Ge-geruzoni, hey!?”

How unusual The sight of Nibutani acting all flustered

Is this the sort of position Nibutani occupies areat interest to me

”Oh~? So it's like that, shi+nka~? I didn't notice it at all~”

”That's not it at all!! Geruzoni is… that, drop dead!”

”Recently, hasn't the way that you talk about me been really crude!?”

I don't think that the Nibutani of a few s like ”drop dead” tothat felt more sadistic

Well, if it's true that Nibutani enjoyed talking withwith me I'll properly explain that to them

”No, see, it doesn't have to beas it's someone she can toy with, she'll be satisfied”

”Th-that's right! It just so happens that Geruzoni is the type of person that's easy to toy with”

Hh Sasa looked convinced, it was obvious that Miyoshi+ was still spectical

Sigh Somehow or other, I knehat Nibutani wanted to say

That our past as ex-chuunibyou patients was the only thing we had in couess I'm fine with that explanation”

”Yes yes, that's how it is Well then, let's go! The three of us will be still going around the cultural festival together, right?”

”H to drink for a bit See you around~, Rikkchan's boyfriend~,” said Sasa in one feel swoop to finish the conversation, before disappearing into theafter Sasa, Miyoshi+, for a moment, turned towards me,

”Hehe, well see you around, Rikkchan's boyfriend Froood care of shi+nka,”

and said all that before trotting away to follow Sasa

Leaving Nibutani - the laggard Nibutani-san, behind

”Hah… Hey Geruzoni, you didn't take what happened just now seriously, did you?”

”Not at all… Rather, are you fine with not following the them, no? But, well - if you truly were lonely by yourself, we could go around the cultural festival together?”

Said Nibutani with a haughty attitude

And as always, Nibutani had her usual - no, she earing a smile that was even more sadistic than usual

From that s alone byher off, aved, 'see you later', to each other Nibutani then disappeared into the crowd

Right

As expected, I immediately became lonely, and so I sent Rikka the text ”I'm lonely so let me join you!” and joined up with Rikka and Kazari-chan (thank goodness) After that, we then joined up with shi+chi up with kuether, we enjoyed the first day of the cultural festival to its fullest

As for the performance to 私語り (わたしがた;first-person narrative) and 私語 (しご; whichwhen personal affairs when you don't have per to so an i class) The original pun here is that since she is conflating 私語りwith 私語, A that she should refrain fro Yuuta fro important (ie the dance) This would lead to the next line, where she retracts the pun since it didn't colish for 私語, I've taken soue here instead

[2] A pun involving both their names, 天虹旱 (Amaniji Hideri) and つゆり(Tsuyuri) As for Amaniji's name, she breaks it into 天 (sky) 虹 (rainbow) and 旱 (dry weather) As for kumin's name, she reads the first two syallables of Tsuyuri as 梅雨,rainy season A for rain', leading to her conclusion of hot day + rain = rainbow

[3] Sainal line, Kazari is roundless/unfounded, and 事実無限, which literally translated roughly ain, Kazari is大丈夫 (which大夫丈 (which does not ) three times in a row instead

[6] A pun lost in translation The kanji for truly, 真に, is pronounced as makotoni, which plays on Isshi+ki Makoto's na as the same concepts as the previous pun まこと, an archaic terotten inforaed on a board froets

[9] An idiom related to baseball that is rather japan-specific This terenerally refers to a pitch that is literally i trajectories at sharp angles in thethrown This term is also used as a metaphor for pitches that are near-impossible to return

[10] Nichijou reference 命を燃やせ!

[11] Untranslatable pun In the sentence before, Yuuta says that he got lucky, 「…たまたまですよ、たまたま」 ku たま(tama) of たまたま to 球 (ta sentence, as well as this sentence, forinal lines, 「何コレ。もしかして俺が珍百景なのだろうか。」, is meant to reference the TV show『ナニコレ珍百景』: a shohich that shows unusual/rare scenes such as an uncrossable bridge (何 in katakana is ナニ)