I Was Proposed To

—Even so, I’m grateful to you, you know?

Saying such, I smile.

「…」

H-huh? No response?

I was bracing myself for Asahina-san to come hug me, shouting 「Azusa-chan!」, but, on the contrary, having nothing happen is making me feel embarrassed.

…It’s as if I were expecting something to happen.

While strongly wishing for at least some sort of reaction, my shoulders are tightly grasped. Due to her force, I let out a weird voice in surprise, but it seems like Asahina-san didn’t hear it.

「Let’s get married」

「What?」

Just as I thought she finally said something, an outrageous statement was put forth.

「—Ha!? My inner thoughts just!」

「No, that’s still bad in its own way」

Her inner thoughts are to 「Get married」, huh… no, even if were are lovers, there are still legal issues with that.

She seems likely to say something like going abroad to change our family register. We’re talking about Asahina-san, after all. She’d definitely do that. …After all, we’re talking about Asahina-san.

「Azusa-chan!」

「Yes」

「I’ll definitely make you happy!」

「Thank you very much」

At this point, I’m past doubting her feelings.

Asahina-san is seriously treasuring me and treating me like her lover. …What remains is whether or not I can accept those feelings of hers.

However, I really can’t so simply accept her feelings.

Up until now, I never received love, so I’m still quite confused. That’s why I can’t respond to Asahina-san’s feelings. I appreciate it, but, as I am now, I can only offer my body—

「Are you still sorting out your thoughts, Azusa-chan?」

「…Yes. I’m sorry. I’m happy that you think of me this way, but somewhere inside me, I can’t help thinking of this as someone else’s problem, and I still… don’t have an answer」

For a moment, Asahina-san’s expression darkened.

However, it really was for only a moment.

She then immediately shows a smile and softly hugs me from the front.

「I’ll wait. Until your feelings have a chance to solidify, however long it takes… I’ll keep devoting my love to you and give you happiness forever」

「Asahina-san」

「That’s why you shouldn’t hold back a say whatever you want to, alright? I’m not omnipotent, you know. Some things we’ll only know if they’re spoken out. Of course, I also have things I want to say, things I want to ask for. So, how about we do this together? After all, we’re lovers」

「…Asahina-san」

She isn’t coercing me into an answer, nor is she hurrying me to find one.

Asahina-san is saying that she’ll wait until I can grasp my emotions. Such kindness, has saved me time, and time again.

「Thank y」

「—That all said, I have a request. I want to kiss you more」

… …Hah.

「Please save your sleep talking for after you’ve fallen asleep」

I suddenly cooled off, so I tore Asahina-san off me.

Even though we had a nice atmosphere going, due to her unnecessary comment, everything is completely ruined.

「How strange. I should have raised your love meter high enough, so I thought you wouldn’t reject me…」

Asahina-san mutters that with a serious expression.

Certainly, if she is the one approaching, I don’t think I’d refuse— what am I saying. What I want to say is just that I want her to be conscious of the mood.

I want my first time to remain as a pleasant memory.

I think that’s something normal for lovers.

「Don’t say such pointless things, and how about you go take a bath? You smell a bit」

「Eh!? No way!?」

Immediately, Asahina-san begins to panic and sniff herself.

I didn’t think she’d take this so seriously, but it is true that she still has a lingering smell of alcohol clinging to her.

「I’ll heat the bath, so go quickly take a bath. Your head still hurts, right? If you refresh yourself, won’t you feel a bit better?」

「Right, I’ll go— Ah!」

Having thought of something, Asahina-san brings her hands together.

…I’m having a bad feeling,

「Why don’t we go in together?」

See, here it is.

「No, I’ll enter later, so」

「Don’t say that, come on!」

「Listen to others’ words, ah, hey… Don’t pull me…」

Why is she suddenly so much stronger?

Aah, geez… I don’t care anymore…

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(TL note: I’m not familiar with marriage customs in general, so if there is something wrong with this chapter, please let me know~

Don’t forget to go and support the author~~!

This is the end of my stock and the Thanksgiving batch release! I don’t know when the next release is going to be, but I’ll try to have some content ready for the winter holidays… (I’m making some irresponsible promises, aren’t I…?)

Also, I should probably mention this else where and more often, but on the site’s “about” page, I have a list of web novels that I recommend reading (and are more or less readable, even on auto-translate). If you have recommendations or translation requests, head on over to that page’s comment section and let me know~ (…I suppose if you want to help out or join, you could also head over there, though I don’t know if I’m up for that…))

We Talked a Bit

「Azusa-chan, is anything going on at school?」

After eating the omurice that had been left since last night and had settled into the sofa for an after-meal break, Asahina-san abruptly asked me such.

While thinking back that I hadn’t really talked about school with her, I inadvertently convince myself why, as I struggle to find a topic to talk about.

—Day by day, I’m all by myself.

Even if I respond as such, Asahina-san would be troubled with how to respond. I can envision Asahina-san saying “I, I see…”, and I start to feel a bit apologetic.

「… …Nothing, particularly special」

「You took quite a bit of time to respond though?」

「I was pondering as to whether there was anything, but in the end, I couldn’t think of anything」

In my own way, I did my best to come up with something that would fit the conversation.

However, without being able to come up with anything interesting to talk about, I simply gave up.

「Hm-, are your classes fun?」

「Depends on the teacher」

「Certainly. I wanted to have the fun professor teach all of the classes… When I was a student, I remember thinking things like that」

That’d be too big a burden for a single teacher.

…Well, certainly, every day would be interesting like that.

「Which class is your favorite?」

「…I wonder. Maybe English?」

「Usually students would go with PE or home economics. I thought you’d say something aside from the five core subjects, so it’s a bit surprising. Are you good at English, Azusa-chan?」

「If I had to say, I lean more towards liberal arts, though I don’t particularly like it. If I had to say, the professor…」

「The professor is interesting? What are they like?」

They understand my aversion to people.

What happened with my family, the stalker incident, my treatment at school. Everything from the past accumulated and, before I knew it, I was unconsciously trying to avoid interacting with other people.

Asahina-san also understands my past.

Seeing me talk about “other people”, it seems like that caught Asahina-san’s attention. She excitedly comes closer, her eyes sparkling as she urges me to speak.

「He’s this super old man. When we’re in the listening part of class, he’ll mumble and drone on, making it impossible to make out what he’s saying, but listening to it is fun」

「That was completely different from what I was expecting…」

Sorry. Still, it really is funny.

He’s so frail that a nudge would cause him to fall over, and his persistent trembling brings it about, just by watching him.

「T-then, how about… friends?」

「I still haven’t made even a single one. Even though its still just spring of my junior year, I don’t think I’ll be able to make any friends… Somehow, it seems like there are strange rumors spreading throughout the student body」

「Rumors? What sort?」

Asahina-san’s atmosphere stiffens up.

Her clear eyes seem as though they can see through me, and I can somewhat sense a low pitched grumble mixed in.

「Stuff like I’m seducing the male students, or that my having recently become a bit luxurious is due to compensated dating. And so on and so forth. Just completely groundless stories」

「What’s with that? Isn’t that just cruel, saying such things without even knowing you, Azusa-chan!」

Sure enough, Asahina-san raised her voice and got angry for my sake.

While trying to calm her down, I tell her that I don’t particularly care about it.

「Since the stalker case, many male students gathered around me. Perhaps they were expecting something, by trying to soothe my wounded heart」

「What disgusting men」

Expressing such strait disdain, I give a wry smile.

「Even so, having someone by my side did, in fact, allow me some relief. That’s why I didn’t strongly refuse them and had them around. Well… after a bit, they might have realized that I didn’t hold any romantic feelings toward them, causing them to lose interest in me」

Rather, thinking that those boys who were aiming for that “chance” would later complain about me behind my back is slightly saddening.

Now, I don’t particularly mind, but at that time… I was certainly hurt.

「Do you remember those brats’ names and faces? I’ll crush them all」

She says so with a bright tone, which makes it unnecessarily frightening.

「I’ve already forgotten. I don’t care about what happens with them. And, Asahina-san, please don’t do dangerous things for the likes of me」

「Nng…」

Even if you show me such an unsatisfied look, I won’t give you permission.

A single word from me having the power to ruin several people, or such is just outright scary.

「However, compensated dating… I don’t want them to put my tribute to you together with such a vulgar act」

「I was on the cusp of doing so, so I can’t really complain. Perhaps deriving from the rumors, I was called a woman that would shake her hips for money, and I did indeed receive requests for that from several male students」

Being called out to after school, then suddenly being confronted with money seriously surprised me.

I did refuse, though.

「…Their names and faces」

「I won’t tell you」

Come on, drop that smile, alright?

「Hah, I don’t care about what sort of rumors are floating around about me. I’ve already given up on making even a single friend, and a part of this is my own fault, so that only leaves me to give up」

「Azusa-chan, are you really okay with that? Isn’t it sad to just give up?」

「No, I’m fine with it」

Living alone, without anyone ever extending me a hand— I probably couldn’t have dealt with it.

But, now is different.

There is someone who reached out to me. Someone who adores me. Someone who protects me. Someone who calls out to me. Even if that wasn’t a friend, what I wished for hasn’t changed.

「Asahina-san is with me. Just that, is enough for me」

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(TL note: Some heavy topics came up in this chapter~… If some of this chapter seem odd, that’s because you can emit the subject from a sentence (and only imply who the subject is), which makes reading and comprehending it tricky. (Hopefully) I got most of the subjects correct, but there are some that I’m not confident about…

Anyway, don’t forget to go and support the author~!

There’s still more to this Thanksgiving batch release, so stay tuned for more~!)

Surprised

「Azusa-cha~n… where are you~…?」

From the direction of the hallway, a pathetic voice can be heard.

Noticing the owner of the voice, the two of us smile at the same time.

「Uuh, Azusa-chan… where— Azusa-chan, there you are!」

With unsteady steps, Asahina-san enters the living room and the moment I enter her vision, a bright smile bursts upon her face.

「Good morning, Asahina-san. Quite a bit happened yesterday, but are you okay?」

「I’m not okay~. My head is throbbing, my body is sluggish, and even though it’s a day off, I can see my subordinate’s face…」

「President, I’m not a hallucination」

At Tachibana-san’s statement, Asahina-san seemed to realize that she wasn’t a hallucination or an illusion, but the person herself.

「Hold up, what are you doing in Azusa-chan and my love nest?」

Hugging me, she vigilantly glares at Tachibana-san.

What is this person saying to her trusted subordinate, I wonder.

「Last night, Azusa-san kindly offered me to stay the night, due to being late, and I gracefully accepted her offer. Truly kind isn’t she, Azusa-san」

「Of course she is! She’s my prided lover!」

Tachibana-san, amazing… She’s skilled at handling Asahina-san. Her previously gloomy atmosphere has cleared, and now she’s in such a good mood that she’s humming to herself.

So these are her skills, tempered over their long years working together.

I’d like to complain that I’m also being used in that, but… well, since Asahina-san’s happy, I guess its fine.

「Now then, I shall head home soon. If I stay any longer, the president will start treating me like a villain」

「Eh, already…? Since we have the opportunity, why not have lunch together…?」

「I’m thankful for the offer, but I’ll ask for that offer next time. I need to head home and organize some piled up documents」

「You have it rough, working on a day off」

「If someone were to work a bit harder, I’d also have it easier」

Having some light banter, Tachibana-san gathered her belongings and stood up.

「Azusa-san, thank you very much for everything. I’ll be sure to repay your kindness at a later date」

「No, you don’t really need to, for someone like me…」

「I’ve been in your care, so I won’t be satisfied until I repay you」

Like Asahina-san, Tachibana-san seems to also be a person who follows their own values.

I can somehow see a future where I’m forcibly made to accept her thanks, so I quickly give up, heaving a sigh.

「Then, please come over sometime when you’re free. …I’d like to hear more about sides of Asahina-san that I don’t know」

I heard a deeply moved voice from behind me, but I’ll ignore it.

Right now is the time to focus on Tachibana-san.

「Understood. I will make sure to come over again… that is, with the president’s permission, though」

「Azusa-chan’s saying its fine, so do as you’d like. However, meeting up when I’m not present is forbidden! I won’t give my girl to anyone!」

Saying such, I’m hugged from behind.

Tapping on her arm to tell her that her grip is tight, she finally releases me.

「I shall take that to heart… Now then, Azusa-san, see you later」

「Of course, take care」

Seeing off Tachibana-san at the doorway, I heave a heavy sigh.

Really, speaking with other people makes me tense up.

Asahina-san has a large networking, so there will likely be more times when I’ll meet various people. To prepare myself for that, I need to get used to talking with others.

「Azusa-chan」

「Yes, what is it—!」

Turning around, something soft is pressed against my lips.

「Our morning greeting, you still hadn’t done it yet, right?」

Smiling happily, Asahina-san returned to the living room.

Her steps are light.

「…That’s no fair」

While being fed up with her usual forceful tendencies, I follow after her.

At this time, the sharp beating of my heart— was still unnoticed.

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(TL note: Nothing in particular for this chapter.

I’ll also be posting tomorrow (as part of a Thanksgiving batch release), so look forward to that~!

Don’t forget to go and support the author!)

Overslept

In the middle of my doze, I could hear the sound of the shower.

「…n, hm…?」

Someone is currently in the bathroom. The only ones living here are me and Asahina-san, and since both of us have the day off, the cleaner won’t come.

Opening my eyes, there is a beautiful face up close, looking just like fine art. It’s Asahina-san.

Then, who is—

「…Ah, it’s… Tachibana-san, then」

I remember yesterday’s discourse.

Come to think of it, I was the one to offer that she stayed the night.

「Huh, it’s already… 10 O’clock?」

Looking at the digital clock’s display, I freeze.

Even if it’s a day off, so there are no alarms set, I slept in way too long.

Previously, on my days off I would have had a part-time job from the morning, and the mattress wasn’t that comfortable, so even if I didn’t want to, I woke up around 7.

Being able to sleep this much has only been possible since coming here.

Really, a lot has changed.

Thinking about it again, I really am living a blessed life.

「Asahina-san, please wake up, it’s morning」

Even as I shake her body, she’s showing no signs of waking up.

Rather, in a half-asleep state, she’s trying to hug me and use me as a pillow. She’s definitely not waking up.

Yesterday, she was quite drunk, so maybe she’s tired out from her work.

Thinking such, I slip out of bed in a way to not wake her up, then put on some appropriate clothes and headed out into the hallway.

「「—Ah」」

There, I ran into Tachibana-san, who was just coming out of the changing room.

「Good morning, Azusa-san. I borrowed your shower, thank you very much」

「Tachibana-san, good morning. …So, you’re up early」

An awkward mood envelops us.

Figuring it’d be bad to stand around and talk in the hallway, for the moment, we headed to the living room.

「Have some tea」

「Thank you very much」

I’m not very skilled at talking with people.

I never tried to involve myself with others throughout my schooling years, but now that is holding me back. I understand that Tachibana-san isn’t a bad person, but with unpleasant past memories flashing through my mind, I’m unable to break the ice.

「Is the president still sleeping?」

「…eh? Ah, right. I tried earlier to wake her up, but she didn’t seem likely to wake, so I let her be. …However, I think she’ll be up soon」

That person, it seems like she can’t sleep peacefully if I’m not nearby.

Saying as much, Tachibana-san covers her mouth with her hand, elegantly giggling.

「The president really does love you, huh」

「Of course, I feel very loved. It’s like I’m still dreaming」

「…Like a dream… The president also has it rough」

Rough. I wonder if Asahina-san is difficult feeling because of me.

Because we’re living together, because she is giving me love, I want to not trouble her as much as possible.

If she’s feeling burdened by me, I’d feel guilty.

…However, I doubt that Asahina-san would tell me.

I know that she’s trying now to worry me, and thinking about how kind she is, I feel happy. Even so, her not talking with me about it makes me feel sad.

I know.

This is simply my selfishness.

Despite not trusting Asahina-san, asking for her to trust me… Such a selfish desire wouldn’t be forgiven.

That’s why I’m thinking about this unilaterally.

This isn’t something to force onto her.

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(TL note: I’m back again~! There’s more to come as part of a Thanksgiving batch release (so give me lots~ of thanks (you don’t have to, I jest)), so stay tuned for more!

Also, don’t forget to go and support the author!

In other news, I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to work on after I finish this series (after all, I’m just about 2/3 done). Recently, I’ve been on a pretty good roll, so I’ve been considering whether or not to try taking on my favorite web novel (which doesn’t have a translation yet!) as my next main project. In fact, I’ve already translated 1.5 chapters of it, so maybe…?

I think that’s it, no special translation notes (although I could go on a tangent about asachun)… ah, check the TL notes for the previous chapter if you want to know more about Japanese apartment architecture, specifically about bathrooms.)