NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 385
Honestly, at this point, even I’m feeling a bit anxious.
It’s not like I’m the protagonist of a novel, and just when I hope something good will happen, an accident seems to pop up.
You see, despite how it looks, I’m a person who aims for a peaceful life. That’s why I’m trying to get close to the protagonist’s party.
Once I get through the biggest hurdle, I mean, if I can somehow get past the gigantic hurdle that came straight out of a “Light Novel,” wouldn’t I be able to live a normal life too?
Of course, that’s not going to be easy.
…And, honestly, getting close to Shii isn’t just for that reason.
Shii is kind and earnest. Plus, she’s cute. I often get the feeling she’s like a little animal.
Seeing that, I can understand why Harumi thought I was so cute despite the age difference.
With a girl like that by my side, would I really choose not to be close to her? After all, I’m in a situation where I also don’t have any friends my age, and since we met like this, I just want to enjoy our time together as much as possible.
“By the way, Shii, Sota is really okay, right?”
I asked with a hint of concern.
“Yes, O-nii-chan is with his friends!”
Well, thank goodness for that. At least Shii didn’t lie to me about her older brother.
…In the original story, she would occasionally lie to create misunderstandings. But you know, even if that’s the case, was it fate that brought them together—oops, I should say it was the ‘plot’ pulling them together? The heroine and the protagonist would end up meeting eventually, go through all sorts of events.
Sota is a friend of mine, but Shii has never really met Yuka. Yuka is the type who might find it slightly uncomfortable if new people suddenly appear.
The reason Shii chose to follow me instead of her older brother is likely because if she goes there, Sota and his friends might feel uncomfortable too, including Shii herself.
Still, considering all of that, I feel a bit proud. It’s nice that Shii could choose me over Sota.
“And we walked around together yesterday!”
That does make sense, though.
“Yuka.”
“……What?”
Yuka responded when I called her name.
Yuka was dressed in plain clothes. Not that I minded. After all, showing off in a yukata wouldn’t add much for her anyway.
Right now is the first festival too.
However, I was wearing a yukata. My mom, Kagami, hoped I’d stand out wherever I went.
It was a black-themed yukata, but it wasn’t overly dark. Plus, it had some pretty flower patterns, so it didn’t ruin the festive atmosphere too much.
For a moment, Yuka seemed at a loss for words when she saw my outfit.
“Let’s go.”
When I said that with a smile, Yuka nodded.
Still, her face was much softer now than when she first heard about the festival.
“By the way, I have a strange feeling.”
“Strange?”
I was a bit surprised that Yuka opened her mouth first, but I tried to hide my surprise as much as possible and asked.
“Well, there are festivals at home too.”
“At home?”
I already had a hunch, but Shii seemed a bit surprised when she asked.
“Yeah. Our house is a shrine.”
Right. Well, since Yuka is an exorcist. In the story, she wore shrine maiden attire as well.
Though the place we’re at now isn’t a shrine, typically during this season, festivals occur all over Japan. There are huge festivals where people come from all over the country, even from overseas, as well as smaller festivals that gather locals, but everyone has their own unique charm, and I love that.
In fact, simply going to a festival and doing things like shopping and watching doesn’t change much. Most of the snacks sold are more or less the same, and the games remind one of typical festival fun.
But the fact that it’s all there, just in different places, is special. I’ll probably stroll through festival streets in the far future, reminiscing about the past and delighting in it.
Who knows who will be walking with me then.
“Wow…”
Shii’s eyes sparkled.
No matter how tough Yuka acts with others, she couldn’t help but be kind when she received Shii’s shining gaze.
In fact, it seemed more that she struggled to hold back a smile. It’s hard to resist when a pretty girl who looks kind and is smaller than you beams up at you.
“Want to come over later?”
“Is that okay? Then, I’ll go with you, senpai.”
“……Not with Sota?”
Seeing my name pop up out of nowhere left me a bit bewildered, and for a moment, Shii’s expression darkened.
“Um, well, my brother doesn’t know Yuuki-san yet…”
…
No, it’s more that she just doesn’t like the idea of Sota and Yuka meeting, right? It doesn’t mean Shii dislikes Yuka either. She probably worries about Yuka falling for Sota.
In Shii’s eyes, Sota is the ideal ‘older brother.’
It’s a story that would make anyone else chuckle in disbelief. Sota’s handsome, and that’s pretty much canon in the novel.
He claims he’s ordinary, but his friends often express light jealousy and resentment toward him, plus he’s portrayed as being somewhat popular with girls.
Most importantly, the illustrations depicted him as a strikingly handsome boy.
Now that he’s just passed elementary school, he still shows signs of being a kid, but once he becomes a high school student, it would be strange not to hear any confessions directed at him.
In reality, there were plenty of girls swooning around him, right? It’s a “Harem genre” after all. What a lucky guy.
Considering that Yuka was also a part of that harem, it’s amusing how valid Shii’s worries are.
“Isn’t it fine to find out later? We might even end up enrolling in the same high school!”
“Is that so?”
Right away, Shii’s eyes showed a glimmer of caution to my words. Yuka, who’s sensitive to others’ feelings, seemed slightly flustered at Shii’s expression.
“No, I live quite far from here.”
That being far yet somehow leading to the same high school sounds odd. I’m not sure if the education system in Japan has this broad of a setup or if it’s just fine because it’s a private school.
Or maybe it’s just the quirks of a “Light Novel.”
Seeing Shii visibly relax, Yuka looked at me with a dumbfounded expression. That gaze seemed to ask, “Who even are you?”
I just chuckled and smiled, leading the two into the bustling festival streets.
Delicious aromas wafted through the humid summer air, reaching my nose. Deciding to hold off on eating for a bit, I suggested we do some sightseeing, and then—no, I suddenly stopped at a game stall I spotted.
“What’s this, goldfish scooping? Do you like it?”
Yuka asked casually, but it was a game from my memories that I couldn’t pass by easily.
The go I had fished out years ago had been carefully raised by me. Even in our cramped house, the go took up more space than I anticipated and lived leisurely.
I ended up staring blankly at the go as it swam around, waving its fins as if it had no care in the world.
Then, there was also the go I had raised myself and gifted to Mako.
“Want me to fish out one for you?”
Yuka asked, catching me off guard.
Not only me but even Shii beside me blinked at Yuka, and seeing our reaction, Yuka smiled slightly.
That smile was beautiful. It was an innocent grin that showed no hidden agendas, retaining a childlike essence.
…Even though we’re talking about hunting yōkai and exorcism, Yuka is still just a child. She’s only just entered middle school, after all.
Now that she’s in such a delightful playground, how could she not smile?
Realizing Yuka was indeed smiling, before she could wipe it away, I quickly turned to Shii.
“What about you, Shii?”
“Me?”
“Can I keep a goldfish at home?”
Though it’s a game, just tossing back the goldfish wouldn’t sit right with me. It wouldn’t be kind to leave it trapped in a tank just because I was oblivious either.
Kagami had instilled in me the need to take care of even a goldfish properly.
Mako has her dad at home, but Sota and Shii are just kids. So I thought it would be better to ask if they could take care of it properly.
“Have you raised one, senpai?”
“I have! When I was little. Due to certain circumstances… I currently have someone else looking after it.”
Honestly, I’m not sure how true that is. I just can’t bring myself to say it was because I ran away and left it behind.
“Are you thinking of raising one?”
“……”
Should I run again? Is it possible I’d have to escape again this time without even telling Shii and Sota?
If that’s the case—raising something might turn out to be an unbelievably light undertaking—
“Here.”
But before I could finish my thoughts, Yuka handed the plastic bag containing the goldfish to Shii.
…Wait.
“Did you already—”
“Well, this is a piece of cake for me.”
Yuka smiled like a true child.
“…I didn’t see that.”
As I grumbled, she asked, “Should I get another one?”
Seeing her excitement made me decide not to refuse.
Sure thing. This time, let’s raise it until the end.
Yuka scooped up another goldfish. Her skills were way better than mine; perhaps she rivaled Harumi from my childhood.
As Shii and I admired her expertise, Yuka caught yet another goldfish, and before we knew it, the three of us were walking side by side, proudly holding our goldfish in hand.