Kaiwa mo shinai tsurekko no imouto ga, naganen issho ni baka yatte-kita Netoge no friend datta

Chapter 8: An Usual Event

Translated by: White Fanatic

Edited by: SevenTails

(Part 2)

“Haah, haah, haah…”

The sound of gasping voices spread through the early morning residential area, and a much cooler breeze caressed my cheeks.

The streets had a peculiar tranquillity at early dawn. The sound of my footsteps echoed well. I just wanted to do something to change myself, and running was a simple and easy way. It’s simple, even for me.

‘—Well, it’s good for my health, too,’ I muttered to myself while breathing heavily and letting out the embarrassment I felt inside.

“I’m back.”

The round trip to the park at the next station took about 30 minutes. It makes me sweat a lot, but not to the point of reaching exhaustion.

Looking at the entrance, I realized Yaeko-san had already left for work.

At any rate, I had to wash my sweat off. I don’t have the courage to go to school smelling like sweat.

“…!”

“I didn’t know you were using it.”

When I opened the door to the bathroom to take a shower, I ran into Shiyori.

Wondering if something was wrong, I saw a blazer with strips in some places as accents and a blue checkered skirt shorter than the one I had seen earlier in the spring.

——Ah, so did she decide to change her hairstyle to go with the winter attire?

Despite all that, there seems to be a shadow on her expression.

“Shiyori.”

“!?”

Before I knew it, my hand gently reached out to Shiyori’s right cheek.

Caught by surprise, she stiffened, and as if in shock, her long hair, which she had been holding, unfurled down her back. I do not know what happened yesterday, but I wanted to say this.

“This uniform looks even better on you than the one before.”

“That’s why you should be puffing out your chest in pride,” I said while gently patting her cheeks.

“…”

“Shiyori?”

“!!”

“Ah..”

Just when I saw her face turn red for the first time in forever, Shiyori returned to her room and shut the door with a loud thud.

“It’s been a long time since she ran away like this…”

It was a complicated feeling; kind of nostalgic, kind of lonely.

“Haa… Her summer clothes were quite good, but this one also, in its own way, has an enchanting feel to it…”

“… Probably on spot.”

I’ve lately been in the habit of showing up in Kotoura’s class.

And when you follow the gaze of the enraptured Kotora, you would see Shiyori, who now had a different attire, with Nanjo Rin, who also dressed in a blazer instead of the previous knitted summer vest.

The two were as eye-catching as ever.

It seemed they were discussing their weekend shopping trip. I could hear them talk about which stores were the best in terms of cost and quality, as well as stores they would like to check out at least once on their trip together.

“Here you go again, the so-called unusual items you always bring up in the conversation——”

I couldn’t figure out why from a while ago, but my eyes would occasionally see Nanjo Rin’s while she talked with Shiyori. Moreover, sometimes it felt like she was staring at me continuously. It felt like Nanjo Rin was worried about something, but I just couldn’t ascertain what that something was.

Then there’s also the matter of yesterday’s incident. With that in my mind, I started looking at my surroundings. Doing so, a specific group of girls caught my attention. It was a group of girls who used to be under Nanjo Rin’s direct attention before.

Returning my gaze, I realized that Shiyori and Nanjo Rin were probably a new group altogether. A group consisting of just two girls, while the girls who used to be with them now looked like they were left out of the group.

Shiyori and Nanjo Rin now looked like both gorgeous girls. So, unlike before, coming in between their conversation probably would feel like a little too big of a hurdle for them. Since if they were compared to Nanjo Rin or Shiyori, they would look and feel inferior. And I may sound pathetic, but I don’t think I have the courage to come in between their conversation at all, either.

But— I see now. So this is one of the roots of the problem.

While the person in question, Nanjo Rin, seems unaware of this situation, either because she is engrossed in conversation with Shiyori or willingly oblivious to that fact. This is absolutely not good… I took out my phone and typed a message to Nanjo Rin.

“I prefer the white one, though.『♪』Ah, sorry, a minute.”

“U~un.”

Nanjo Rin’s eyebrows twitched after checking her phone and met my gaze. Confirming it, I shifted my gaze toward the group of girls in question. Nanjo Rin looked somewhat understanding on looking at that.

《 Since they were the ones I used to hang out with a lot before…》

That was the only thing she sent in the message, but it seems my point got conveyed.

… The look was enough to make me know that she was planning to do something. And as my observations were being met, Nanjo Rin walked into the group of girls with Shiyori alongside her.

Although the boldness of that move surprised me, I don’t think she would do anything against Shiyori in the long run without thinking about it.