NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34
“Hmm?”
“Oh?”
It was after school. Ryuichi was walking down the streets with Shizuna when they spotted an old woman up ahead who’d dropped her groceries—some apples and oranges—on the ground. She was slowly picking up the fruits, but of course, being an elderly person, there was no way she could pick them all up right away.
“I’ll be back in a bit.”
Without waiting for Shizuna’s response, Ryuichi headed for the old lady. Shizuna looked at his back with a smile, and quickly followed suit.
“Oh, hello there, kids.”
“‘Sup, granny. Looks like you’re in a pinch.”
“Fufu, let us help you.”
With the addition of Ryuichi and Shizuna, the fruits dropped by the old lady were quickly picked up. Naturally, they were the only ones who tried to help the old lady; the other passersby only spared a glance at them and left without doing anything.
“Thank you, you two.”
The old lady had a laid-back tone and a somewhat soft atmosphere about her that made her seem like she’d be well-liked if she had grandchildren. She seemed to be on her way to a nearby bus stop, so Ryuichi and Shizuna decided to accompany her.
“Putting you aside, young girl, you don’t look like the kind person who would be helping others, young man.”
“Yeah, well, I do look like a delinquent.”
“Oh, are you saying you’re different on the inside?”
“Nope, I’m a total delinquent on the inside too.”
“Hahaha, I see, I see. You’re one kind delinquent, aren’tcha?”
The old lady beckoned Ryuichi toward her. He cocked his head in confusion, but nonetheless made his way toward her. Once he got close, the old lady told him to sit next to her. He did as he was told and sat down, and the old lady started patting him on the head.
“Good boy, good boy.”
“…I’m not at the age for these kinds of things anymore, y’know.”
“…Fufu.”
Ryuichi didn’t have the heart to tell off an old lady and force her to stop, so he let her do as she pleased. Shizuna looked at him and muttered how cute he was. The old lady then took out her wallet and offered him a 1,000 yen bill as a token of gratitude.
“This is my thanks for you.”
The old lady must’ve offered him the money with good intentions. However, he had no intention of accepting it from her, so he returned it and asked her to keep it for herself. Otherwise, the scene would have been a little bad. Seen from a distance, an old lady offering money to Ryuichi would look a whole lot like extortion.
“Alright, granny, take care on your way home.”
“Take care, ma’am.”
“Thank you, you two. Oh, right, are you two lovers perhaps?”
Ryuichi and Shizuna looked at each other. They had a sexual relationship with each other, but that was clearly distinct from being lovers, and the most appropriate term at the moment that could be used to describe their relationship was “sex friends”. But there was no way they could straight up say that to the old lady, so they both shook their heads no.
“That’s a shame. I think you two suit each other very well. Well, if you do become lovers, make sure to let this old granny know.”
And with that, the old lady got onto the bus. As she sat down and the bus started moving, the old lady waved her hand at Ryuichi and Shizuna. They waved back in response, and soon, the bus disappeared from sight.
“Even if she tells us to let her know, I don’t think we’ll be seeing her ever again.”
“In a way, she’s a really strong old lady. Hey, Ryuichi, if we do meet her again, should we tell her we’ve become lovers?”
“Well, even if it’s a lie, I guess it would make that old lady happy to hear.”
“…Geez, that’s where you’re supposed to say, ‘Yes, we should.’”
“Yes, yes.”
Ryuichi started walking before she could pursue the strange topic any further. Soon, Shizuna caught up with him and hugged his arm. Walking like this had become normal for Shizuna, and she no longer held the initial innocence she had had in the beginning. It was simply because being together like this had become the norm for her.
“…Huh?”
“What’s wrong?”
This time it was Shizuna’s turn to happen upon something. She stopped in her tracks, and when Ryuichi turned to where she was looking, he saw a woman walking with a shopping bag in her hand. The woman noticed Shizuna’s gaze, then she looked at Ryuichi and her eyes widened in surprise.
“Who’s that?”
“That’s Sohei-kun’s mother.”
“…Huh.”
Apparently, the woman was Sohei’s mother. He had a feeling Sohei’s mother had made a brief appearance in the manga, but the fact that he didn’t remember her may have meant that she didn’t have much of a role in the story. The woman slowly walked toward them.
“Hello, Shizuna-chan.”
“Good day to you, Natsume-san.”
That would make this woman’s full name Shinozaki Natsume. With a slightly chubby figure and kind eyes, her face certainly bore a slight resemblance to Sohei’s. It was quite novel for Ryuichi to see the protagonist’s family like this.
“It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Shizuna-chan.”
“Yes, it does. I haven’t been coming over to your home these days, after all.”
“It does make me a little sad…but I guess you’re past that age now, huh.”
Natsume then turned her attention to Ryuichi. Unlike the affectionate look she had given Shizuna, the look she gave Ryuichi was somewhat suspicious.
“And who is this man?”
“He’s my beloved person. You can even say he’s the person I hold dearest to me.”
Natsume’s suspicious gaze grew even more intense. As Sohei’s mother, she was one of the people who had watched Shizuna grow up. She couldn’t believe that that same Shizuna was now together with a man like Ryuichi. However, Natsume said absolutely nothing against Ryuichi, nor did she deny her words like the teachers at school.
Natsume returned her gaze to Shizuna and continued speaking.
“Sohei hasn’t been looking too well these days. Might you have any ideas as to why, Shizuna-chan?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t really know. We haven’t been talking much at school lately.”
“I…see. I thought you might’ve known something since he always seems to be in a daze and spaced out, even at home.”
The two people who represented the biggest causes for his condition were right there, but since Natsume didn’t know the specifics of the situation, there was no need to explain to her in detail. Putting Ryuichi aside, Sohei was no longer anything but a childhood friend to Shizuna.
“If that’s all, Natsume-san, we’re gonna get going now.”
“Alright. See you later, Shizuna-chan.”
Thus, the two of them parted with Natsume. As Shizuna and Natsume talked, he could sense an aura of not wanting to get too involved with Ryuichi from Natsume, but that was normal. Ryuichi started walking again with Shizuna, but he no longer thought anything of Natsume.
“Oh, yeah. I’m gonna be going to Satsuki’s place this weekend. Wanna come too, Shizuna?”
“Is it okay? I’ve never really met Satsuki-san, though…”
“Nah, I think it’s totally fine. Satsuki’s been talking about how she wants to meet you for a while now; plus, Chisa doesn’t mind having you over, either.”
“I see. Alright, I’ll come with you.”
Thus, it was decided that Shizuna would be participating as well. Ryuichi immediately contacted Satsuki, who replied that she would love to have her come. Chisa would also be happy to know that Shizuna was coming, but he put his phone away, deciding that he would make it as a surprise for her on that day.
“You know what, I think I’ll have a nice helping of you and Sakie today.”
“Kyaa… Oh, you. ♪”
Shizuna shrewdly made a troubled yet happy face when he hugged her shoulders a little tightly. Whenever she was touched by Ryuichi, her body would react by seeking him out. She would end up releasing pheromones that even wafted to those around her. Beautiful as she was, she would attract many gazes, and when her eyes became like they were now, that meant she could only see Ryuichi and Ryuichi alone.
“Ryuichi-kun, can we try out something new today?”
“Something new?”
“Yes. ♪”
What she meant by ‘new’ was something he would find out when he arrived at her house. He had been leisurely relaxing with Shizuna until Sakie came home. That was when she abruptly asked him to take a bath at their house today. He found it a hassle to heat up the water whenever he got home to shower, so he readily assented…however, he wasn’t the only one who would be in the bathroom.
“Fufu, taking a bath together with Ryuichi-kun is a new experience, isn’t it?”
“Indeed it is. His body is so muscular. No matter how many times I gaze upon it, I find my heart beating furiously.”
Shizuna and Sakie were with him, naked, with him right in the middle of the two. It seemed that the ‘new’ thing Shizuna was referring to was her entering the bath together with Ryuichi. Also, Sakie had been there when Shizuna made the proposal, so they ended up taking a bath along with her since she said she didn’t want to be left out.
Of course, it went without saying that it was impossible nothing would happen between them when they were like this…and it would be some time until the three eventually left the bath.
“Ryuichi-kun, did something happen between you and Shizuna?”
“Huh? Why’re you asking that so suddenly?”
Sakie asked Ryuichi this question after they got out of the bath. However, even if he was asked that, he could only say that nothing special happened between them.
“I feel like the way you’re looking at Shizuna today is kinder than usual. I can’t really describe it well, but I just feel like it’s different.”
“…Hmm?”
“So that’s why I got curious to know if something happened between you two.”
Again, he couldn’t think of anything special, or so he thought, but what came back to his mind was the memory of the incident that took place during lunch break at school.
“Especially if it’s a person I care about.”
“……”
His heart raced as he recalled Shizuna’s words. He cocked his head at the unusual feeling that had been plaguing him ever since said lunch break. He was still unable to clearly recognize the feeling, but the time when he would was steadily growing closer.