Vol 1 Chapter 7 (1/2)

[BOKUs.h.i.+NU V1] CUT 7 – TOMORROW, I WILL DIE. I WILL MEET YOU.

“Look up.”

“Up?”

Carrying the notebook, I look up at the ceiling.

Ah, there seems to be something written on the ceiling.

“Look right.”

“Right…”

I turn to a corner of the ceiling, and there’s a message there.

“Open the closet.”

“What does she want?”

This prank really is just like what she’ll normally do, and I can’t help but give a bitter smile.

It’s July 21, and the many days of rain finally faded.

It’s the first day of summer vacation, the shadows of rainy clouds appearing on the floor.

One of the benefits with holidays is that I’m able to leisurely wake up, and like usual, I’m forced to play along with her games. Well, whatever. I’m on vacation, so I’ll play along.

“Erm, what does it says? “My treasure? If you want it, you can have it! Everything in this world is all in that place! First, you have to go to your sister and say ‘good morning'”…Haaa.”

That girl’s still thinking about these dumbfounding games like usual.

I let out a sigh as I see the One Piece message that’s written in Hiros.h.i.+ma dialect stuck in the closet.

“Got it, got it.”

I take the note down, and head towards the bathroom, wanting to wash my face.

The wind blowing into the room ruffles my ears. I lift my head and looks out from the window, seeing a refres.h.i.+ng blue light. The chirping of the crickets outside the window is like a peaceful harmony.

“It’s summer vacation, huh?”

Thinking about this, I change my clothes, and head to my little sister’s room as Hikari Yumesaki instructed me. I tap at the door, and greets,

“Morning, Yukiko–”

“I GOT MY INSPIRATION!!!!!!!”

What was that about? She shocked me!

Don’t just scream like that!

“It’s a trance! A heavenly like feeling! I can’t stop this!! Big brother’s the best after all! This will definitely be a top-seller!”

My sister’s seated in front of the computer that’s placed on the desk, tapping away at the keyboard furiously, yelling in ecstasy.

“Brother woke up rather early today, and I felt it was very weird, so I tailed him from behind. And then, for some reason, he started arguing with Kazes.h.i.+ro, and then his tone became feminine. The relations.h.i.+p between men–WOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! It’s coming! Brother’s the best here!”

What’s going on? This girl’s being so agitated I’m feeling a little freaked out by it. It feels like she’s been at this from morning till night.

“Yo, Yukiko…morning!”

“Ah, morning, brother! Yukiko’s still good as usual today! Yukiko’s been a little weird recently though!”

Oh, so you realized that too? Great. Also, please wipe the drool off your mouth.

“Anyway, what do you want? I’m a little busy today!”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Just saying h.e.l.lo.”

“It’s rare to see you come over to greet…ah.”

My little sister seems to remember something as she pauses what she’s doing, and takes out a note from her book before handing it to me.

“Hm? What’s this?”

“What are you saying? You’re the one who prepared it. You asked me to hand it to you after you wake up. Have you forgotten?”

Ah, I see. So that’s how it is.

“Thanks.”

Once I thank her, I leave my sister’s room, and open the envelope.

There’s a letter inside.

“There’s a date at the game center after 2pm!”

After a quick meal to fill my tummy, I head to the nearby game center, well, the parking lot.

Waiting for me over there are these guys.

“Thank you very much! We shall never forget your graciousness, Sakamoto!!”

“”””THANK YOU!!!””””

The delinquent gang, led by the mohawk head, yell gruffly.

I got them to lure the media’s attention during the previous attention, and my promise to them was to get a girl to do a two-shot with them as reward. I don’t know where Hikari Yumesaki got this intel from, as she arranged a photoshoot on this day.

On a side note, it looks like the mohawk head managed to get away from the media’s pursuit. The local newspaper published an eyecatching report ‘A mysterious mohawk man failed to kill himself?’ and so, the mohawk head became a hoodlum of unknown ident.i.ty. Thanks to this, Kazes.h.i.+ro’s suicide plan was a.s.sumed to be done by this mohawk head, preventing a major ruckus from happening. Well, with his hair being so eye-catching, maybe it’s not a surprise if he’s taken away by the police for questioning one day…

“Ah, well, we’re going by order here, so line up…is that alright?”

“Y-yeah, take all you want…”

And there’s a surprising character here.

There’s a sweet-looking girl with dazzling orange hair and a hairpin, her braids swaying gently in the wind.

“Here, say cheese.”

“WOOOOWWWW! I-I finally got a two-shot with a girl!!!”

“Congratulations. I-I’m sorry to have you take photos with a girl like me…?”

Kasumi’s standing beside the mohawk head, showing a sheepish smile.

The letter Hikari Yumesaki left with my sister reads,

“I was discussing about the photo shoot with the mohawk head, wondering where I can get the girl to join in. For some reason, Kasumi said that she wanted to join in too! What’s going on? I’m not really sure, but it’s really a good chance!”

Does she want to make amends? I guess this is most likely…

“Thank you very much, Princess Kasumi! I’ll follow you for the rest of my life!”

“……Yes…please help me at all times…at all times…at all times.”

“Yes!”

I guess it’s just my imagination, but Kasumi’s smile seems a little dark to me. That mohawk head may have gone down a dangerous path.

“E-erm, Sakamoto…?”

“Hm, wh-what?”

“We-well…as thanks for this, do you mind…going on a date with me?”

“Hm, yeah, of course.”

“Ah, ehehe…I did it…”

I guess this is what I expected.

This probably is the exchange condition Kasumi talked about.

She does a little victory fist pump in front of her chest.

“I guess I can’t give up after all. I’ll continue working hard, until you devote yourself to me…”

“Haha…”

Kasumi declares to me. However, her mysterious smile is filled with realization. Looks like she’s going to be difficult to deal with.

“Sakamoto…”

‘Hm?”

She hugs her pet.i.te body as her eyes look up at me, saying,

“Erm, please think about it, after this date…which number do you want?”

“Eh!?”

I can’t help but exclaim in surprise, and Kasumi lets out a little smile.

That bashful smile of hers causes my face to sizzle, but I guess I’m just talking to myself.

I wonder this as I watch the guys beside me leave with teary eyes.

“Erm…let’s look at the mail sent to Kazes.h.i.+ro…”

The photo shoot ended without a hitch, and before we went our seperate ways, Kasumi showed me a note saying, “Send a message to Kazes.h.i.+ro!” What in the world does this girl want me to do?

I write an appropriate message to Kazes.h.i.+ro, and walk down the scalding asphalt road basked under the intense sunlight as I wait for the reply.

There’s the cross-junction in front.

The sky looks wider than before, probably because it’s higher.

It seems the blood that flowed non-stop was washed away by the rain.

“…Hm?”

I feel the cellphone vibrate, and stop in my tracks, frisking for my pocket.

That’s quite the fast response.

“Forget about what I said at the graveyard! You said some embara.s.sing things yourself too!”

“Haha.”

Sorry, Kazes.h.i.+ro. It’s your fault for saying, “I won’t lose to anyone if it’s my feelings for her.” That’s your black history, and I’ll keep it forever. From now on, I’m going to make use of it well.

“Huh? There’s more.”

There’s some more stuff below, and I continue to read on,

“Speaking of which, Sakamoto. Summer vacation’s here, so how about we go on a trip together? The three of us, with Hikari.”

“A trip, huh?”

After a second thought, I send a reply indicating my agreement,

“Got it.”

I can’t help but smile, and close my eyes.

I have no idea what she and Kazes.h.i.+ro did on that day, that rainy day.

When I woke up, I was in bed.

There’s the tattered notebook placed on the desk.

And on the last page, there’s just the word “Thanks”

I don’t know the details at all, but looking at how Kazes.h.i.+ro sent me the mail, I guess things are finally settled, sorta.

Now that the last job’s done, and just when I’m about to place the faded notebook into the desk like I’ve just finished a trip, and suddenly, I can’t help but say ‘good work’. I just feel that I’ve relaxed somewhat, and I guess I probably won’t ever forget about such things that’s worth being happy over.

“Yo, you’re here.”

The cellphone vibration interrupts my thought process.

Kazes.h.i.+ro’s reply is very simple, just a ‘I’ll contact you later’. Is this how messages between guys are like?

And just when I wonder this, I notice there’s still one line at the end,

“Because I won’t admit defeat.”

“…Haha.”

I look up at the sky, and the winds rustling from the tall buildings ruffle through my body.

I cover myself from the bright, energetic sunlight with my hands, and again look up at the sky. The tall, blue sky looks like it’s going to suck me in.

The dazzling white clouds, flicker in the air, grumbling.

That’s the sound indicating to us the arrival of summer.

“Summer, huh?”

Right, I’ve decided.

During the summer, I’m going to meet with Mdm Hinako.

I don’t care what the reason is. I want you to convey your words as it is. There’ll be terrible consequences if you continue to let her misunderstand like this. It’s alright. I’ll think of a way to amend the ruined relations.h.i.+p.

“Don’t just run away like that.”

Even if you died, you two are mother and daugher–

“Now then, I guess things will go well.”

“Eh–”

A sound suddenly pa.s.ses through my mind, and the moment my consciousness returns to the ground,

I fixate my eyes.