Volume 2
Chapter 2: Thoughts run wild in everyday life (Part 5 of 5)
───● The Literature Girl JK Wants to Help ●○●
Saturday.
For me, Saturday has become the weekly showdown day.
“I’ve got to get home fast…!” I mutter, sprinting back after morning classes.
I need to hurry home, shower, put on cute clothes, and prepare for the Masato-sama Arrival Event.
“…Hm?” I pause as my phone vibrates in my pocket.
An SNS notification.
Could it be from Masato-san already?
【Saintly Gathering】
Miaki: “Shiori, you’re zooming home way too fast lol”
“You totally forgot the handout, didn’t you?”
Mana: “Lmao”
“Bet it’s because it’s Prince Charming Day.”
Hatsumi: “Ohhh, right, right, send pics!”
“I still don’t believe you.”
It’s the group chat.
They’re saying whatever they want, huh?! Sure, Masato-sama is a prince, but taking pictures would require his permission…
A sneaky photo? No, that feels too shady…
Shinomiya Shiori: “Sorry lol”
“Could someone snap a pic of the handout tonight? That’d help.”
It’s probably not an urgent assignment.
I’m grateful for my new friends… or so I thought, until another notification hits.
I consider ignoring it and replying once I’m home, but—
The notifications keep coming. Endlessly.
What the heck?!
Annoyed, I reluctantly open my phone again.
Miaki: “Wait lol what?! Shiori, was that your icon?? lmao”
Hatsumi: “Lmaooo hold up, your name’s full-on now??”
“It was ‘Shioricchi’ before, right?! lol”
Miaki: “Bet you swapped contacts with your prince lol”
Mana: “Wait lmao even your status changed lol”
“Stop setting BGM music lmao”
Miaki: “Pfft my stomach hurts lol”
“Yo, your status was ‘I want to plaster my crush’s face on my wall,’ change it back.”
Hatsumi: “Your icon was an anime one, right?? What’s this? Change it back.”
“Stop with the ‘shot from behind at some random beach’ icon.”
“And it’s probably not even you lol.”
Mana: “My stomach hurts lmao”
“If it’s not you, who’s this chick lol”
Miaki: “Don’t set some trendy band song as your BGM. Bet you’ve never even heard it.”
“Your status isn’t ‘I love autumn’ lol we’re not listening lol”
…
Phew.
I quietly close my phone.
Alright.
It was brief, but—
I’m done with these friends.
---
I pause reading my novel and glance at the clock on the wall.
It’s almost 3:00 p.m.
Usually, the intercom rings ten to five minutes before now, but Masato-sama still hasn’t arrived.
“…That’s unusual,” I murmur.
Masato-sama is, to me—no, probably to anyone—a perfect superhuman. He’s almost never late.
Plus, thirty minutes ago, he sent his usual message: “Almost at the station~.”
He should’ve been here by now.
I leave my room and head downstairs.
Of course, Masato-san isn’t here.
“Mom, Masato-san hasn’t come yet, right?” I ask.
“Hm? No, he hasn’t. That’s rare. He’s usually here by now,” she replies.
I check the living room clock.
It’s exactly 3:00 p.m. No notifications on my phone yet.
If he arrived at the station when he messaged, he should be here already…
A bad feeling creeps in.
“Mom, I’m going to the station,” I say.
“Huh?” she responds, surprised.
“It’s basically a straight shot, so I shouldn’t miss him. I’ll be back,” I add.
Something feels off, so I quickly slip on my shoes. If nothing’s wrong, that’s fine. But a guy as handsome as him could easily get tangled up with some weirdo.
I rush out the front door.
Clutching my phone, I hurry along.
As I told Mom, there are a few routes from my house to the station, but the simplest is a straight path.
Masato-san probably took this route.
I’m almost at the station when—
I spot a familiar figure in the distance.
His usual white T-shirt with a tan vest, looking effortlessly cool. No mistaking him.
It’s Masato-san!
He’s surrounded by two women in suits, talking about something.
Wait, is he getting hit on?!
“Please, just consider it! We won’t ask for anything unreasonable!” one says.
“Uh, like I’ve been saying, I can’t, and I’m kind of in a hurry…” Masato-san replies.
I get closer and listen.
…Not a pickup, then. Maybe they’re scouting him for modeling? He’s so good-looking, it wouldn’t be surprising…
But he’s way too defenseless! Just brush them off and keep walking!
Knowing Masato-san, he’s probably too nice to shut them down. He’s listening politely and now struggling to say no… That’s probably it.
Hold on…
A possibility flashes in my mind.
If I save him here, could this be a massive boost to his affection?!
Yes, this is it… A huge affection event! If I swoop in and save him heroically…!
“Fufu, are you alright, Masato-sama…?”
“Sh-Shiori-chan… I love you (thump).”
It’s here!! Total victory. I’ve won.
Alright, let’s do this—
…Wait a sec.
How do I swoop in heroically?
“Sorry, could you back off from my boyfriend?”
Too bold! Jumping straight to girlfriend mode is too much! Other ideas?
“Sorry~! Did I keep you waiting, Onii-chan? Come on, let’s go home! (✿)”
Too cutesy. I can’t pull off that little-sister vibe.
Come on, there’s gotta be something!
“If you could just give us your contact info!” one woman says.
“No, uh…” Masato-san stammers.
“Even just your phone number! We’ll reach out later…” the other presses.
This is bad!
I can’t just stand here.
I’ve got to save him before he gives out his contact info!! I don’t have a plan, but I have to do something!!
I sprint toward Masato-san at full speed.
Anything will do! I’ve just gotta act!
“U-Um, excuse me!!” I shout.
“…?” The two women turn to look at me.
My voice was louder than I expected, and their stares are intense.
Are they… looking at me like I’m a slug or something?
B-But I won’t back down.
I muster my courage.
“W-Well, aren’t you bold! Just who do you think this gentleman is?!” I blurt out.
“…? Who are you?” one of them asks.
Oh no. I’ve completely botched the intro.
I shouldn’t have read that period romance novel. Do I even know what “swoop in” means? Time to check the dictionary ^^.
I was supposed to be the knight saving her prince, so how did it come to this…?
Ugh, they’re totally suspicious of me! I’ve gotta do something, knight-style! Get it? (Killer pun!)
“Ahem, I, a kunoichi of Iga, born seventeen years ago, swore to use this technique only in dire moments… but I have no choice! Hah!”
“Huh?? Gross… Wait, hey!” one of them exclaims.
I’m done for.
What am I even saying?
Anyway, I grab the hand of a bewildered Masato-san and start running.
Whatever! If we escape, we win!!
“Hah…! Hah…!” I pant.
Oh, right. My stamina’s absolute trash.
I’m exhausted before we even reach my house.
But it looks like they’re not chasing us.
We managed to lose them…
“Masato-sama… are you… okay…?” I gasp.
Ugh, this is the worst.
My plan’s ruined.
I was supposed to save him coolly and make him fall for me…
And thinking back, I was so cringe.
He’s totally put off… right? How do I play this off?
That was not ladylike behavior…
“…Pfft… Hahahaha!!” Masato-san bursts out laughing.
“Masato-san…?” I say, turning to him.
He’s laughing so hard there are tears in his eyes.
I’m stunned, but after he’s done, he wipes his eyes and says,
“Thank you… Thank you, Shiori-chan! And… you can talk like that?!”
“Ugh, no, please forget that… I was just nervous, that’s all…” I mumble.
It’s over… He heard everything… Well, of course he did.
This is the worst. I was perfectly playing the refined lady… (self-assessed).
“No, really, sorry. I shouldn’t laugh. Thanks for saving me. You really helped. And sorry for being late—they were so persistent, I couldn’t shake them,” he says.
“Y-Yeah, they did seem pretty insistent…” I reply.
“But, you know…” he starts.
“…?” I look at him.
Oh, we’re still holding hands…
“I kinda want to see more of that side of you, Shiori-chan,” he says.
“…Huh?” I blink.
“I mean, you always seem to put up a wall around me. You were totally freaking out just now, sure, but… you looked like you were having fun? So… I don’t just want to see the face you show me. I want to see all your sides,” he says.
“…”
I grip his hand tightly.
I want to hide how fast my heart’s beating.
No way. That’s not okay.
If I show my true self, he’ll hate me for sure.
And yet.
Part of me wants to be real with him.
Not some storybook heroine.
I want him to like the plain, villager-B me—a selfish wish that rears its head.
“…I’ll think about it,” I say softly.
“Yeah,” he replies.
I let go of his hand.
My heart’s still pounding, and it’s not just from running.
I don’t have the courage yet.
But with him…
Maybe he’d accept me.
1 Comments
thank you so much for translating this work. i can't believe how much i enjoyed reading them. shiori just has the best friends.
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