Yamabuki Karen and Fujinami Shiho

Translated by 64990022

Chapter 4: Yamabuki Karen and Fujinami Shiho

Part 4

Let’s drop the pace, I came to that conclusion, until the tension from the Yamabuki incident cooled down, but she refused, “Then we’ll never get anywhere”

Thus, I continued to observe her. If that was what she wanted, then I won’t stop her.

She had something to do after school today, so the meeting would be a short one on the rooftop. The door clicked effortlessly and Minato pulled me out, the rest was as usual. The number remained the same today. Finishing the business, we headed back down.

“Hahh…”

She went down first while I hung around. After a good time had passed, I exited the school.

Hmm, unlike at the cafe, touching her face inside school was somewhat agitating…

“Akashi-kun, right?”

From the school gate, the corner of the first block heading to the station, someone called my name.

What is this called?

Ah, yup, yup.

“Dejavu” I sighed.

“We need to talk. Important one.” Soft, yet carried through clearly and confidently.

The owner of the voice, Minato’s friend. The red rimmed Fujinami Shiho was scowling with her lovely face.

Don’t waste your cute face with me, and, that’s scary, stop please!

I managed to ask, “What would it be…”

“You knew. Minato,” she pronounced.

Of course, damn it…

Her eyes darted around cautiously before beckoning me to follow into an alley. Fortunately, it had been a while since school ended, so no students were around.

But it also meant that she had gone all the way to wait for me.

I took a final glance at the outside world. “So… What’s with Yuzuki?”

“‘Yuzuki’? How cold. You were calling her Minato earlier, no?”

I breathed in sharply.

She heard?

And by “earlier”, when?

“Rooftop. I saw you went in. You called her ‘Minato’ then”

“Why are you even there? I don’t think you’d happen to be there.” There goes my pitiful attempt at parrying.

“That girl, she was acting strange, so I’ve been keeping an eye. Besides, the same goes for you, what are you doing there?”

“I see…”

In short, she was keeping watch. And she probably kept her suspicions to herself, since Minato appeared to know nothing.

But I hadn’t expected her to go this far. Moreover, I thought she would try to glean from Minato, not from a complete stranger like me. Speaking of thinking outside the box…

“I’ve seen what you were doing. Sorry, but I can’t help it.”

“Ngh!”

My heart tightened, just like last time. A wave of nausea hit me, I slowly moved to lean onto the wall.

Hahhhh… How far had the Angel fallen?

Too much confidential intel leaked. I couldn’t care less about the Angel now, that was my problem alone.

My concern was Minato’s situation.

“Rest assured, I heard nothing after that.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, you two were quite far from the door, and I didn’t intend to listen anyway. But I saw you touching Minaot’s cheek good and clear.”

“Ugh…”

Loud and clear…

She wouldn’t think that I was activating a superpower, right?

Fijimiya’s expression was grim. On the bright side, she didn’t look like she was angry. Although it wouldn’t be strange if she told me to stay away from Minato, given what she had seen. Rather, I was pretty sure that this was the purpose of this meeting.

“Lately, you’ve been to our class on a daily basis,” she observed, “And you were looking at Minato. That itself was normal, but your gaze was different from others, you have no feelings for her.”

“You sure care about her a lot. I don’t think a normal friend would go that far.”

“Not normal ones,” she agreed, “But I’m her best friend, I’ll go that far for her.”

She faced me, unfazed. HEr eyes were menacing, as if to assimilate me.

I’d really like to avoid making this girl my enemy, but I just can’t explain everything…

Swoop in and help me, Minato-san…

[TN: The “san” here made the tone very pleading]

“I haven’t done any of the things you might be thinking about. I would never put her in any danger. So, for the time being–”

“Can I trust you?”

“Eh…”

What was that about?

When I remained silent, she looked at me contemplatively, then continued.

“You’re not harassing her. She doesn’t mind you touching her cheek, I can see it.”

“…”

“If she doesn’t tell me, then it must be something that she doesn’t want anyone to know. I respect her decision, I won’t ask her nor you.”

“If that’s so, then why come for me.”

“But if you hurt her in any way, I won’t let you off the hook. Even if she’s okay with it, I’m not. Don’t expect mercy from me… I’m here only to say that.” It was meant to be a warning, but I could only hear pleading in her voice.

And was that frustration?

I clenched my fists. She came all the way here just for that? For the sake of her friend. Fijimiya was probably worried about Minato, yet still trusted her. And so she called me out to ascertain a liability like me.

I could finally begin to understand why they get along so well.

“That’s all I have to say. Really, please. Support her in my stead…”

“I’m afraid I can’t.” I shook my head.

“Eh?”

“I will assist her, but that’s all I can. But you, you can support her feelings. You are her friend. And a good person. So, help her. If she were to act strange, or someone like me poking their nose around her, do like what you have done before, be her friend.”

She took in the words.

I only had this useless power, persistence, and experience. Angel was, in the end, a relationship advice, not the relationship itself. The one who could actually help Minato was Fujinami, not me.

Now that I have seen what kind of person Fujinami was, perhaps I could worry less about Minato.

“Yesterday, at the gym.”

“Yup”

“You were the one who jumped in, right?”

I shook my head. “Strictly speaking, I did jump in, but the one who got us out wasn’t me.”

Did Minato tell her? I couldn’t be sure. She had some idea of what happened, not the whole story, so Minato didn’t?

“Thank you. And then, sorry for this visit.”

“Nah, it’s nothing. Sorry that I have to keep secrets from you.”

“No, that’s what Minato decides, I’ll respect that.”

Now that I think about it, she sure has guts, ambushing me all by herself.

“I’ll have to get going now, see you.”

“Ah, Akashi-kun.”

“Yeah?” I turned. Fijinami stood with her hands to her hips, her legs apart.

That pose didn’t suit her at all. But somehow, she looked reliable, and a bit funny too.

[TN: Yeah, I want an illust of this ]

“I’ll take care of tha I can! The rest I’ll leave it to you!”

“Hoh…”

She gave me a thumbs up with a goofy grin. Well, I suppose the negotiations were successful.

Also, her character was a bit different from her image…

“There’s more, things happened here’s a secret to Minato, ‘kay?”

“Eh? But, really?”

“Yup, better for her this way. Besides, she’s hiding something from me too, this is only fair–” She puffed her cheeks.

“Well… whatever. Okay, got it.”

People are full of secrets. Although I’m not any better myself, so I’ll stop here.

“Ah! And about that, I don’t really understand tho!”

“Yeah?” What now…

“I won’t let you touch somewhere other than her cheeks, be warned, got it?”

Well, about that… “I won’t”

“At times like this, answer immediately, will you?” Seeing my reaction, she then giggled and waved her hand to indicate that that was a joke.

In the end, she doesn’t trust me…

I probably won’t anyway.

“Ah…”

But if it was hands, we’re holding that quite often.