I started dating a cute girlfriend I met during my eighth grade days when we reunited in high school. - Chapter 24

Translator: Galado

Editor: Matsu

Proofreader: AJ1703

24. Eriko’s Hobbies <Feast of the Residents of Rotten World>

“I don’t feel comfortable in this outfit.”

“Sorry Shinya. That character doesn’t speak in that tone, so shut up, or speak in the Tosa dialect.”

“I don’t know the *Tosa dialect.”   

[ED/N: Tosa dialect is a Japanese Shikoku spoken in central and eastern Kochi Prefecture (former Tosa Province), including Kochi City.]

“Ahaha. Don’t mind it, Shinya. I didn’t know that Saito-san also cosplays. It looks good to you.”

“I’ll choke you to death!”

“Breath of an artist, One of a kind praise killing!”

“Shinya, that’s wrong. We don’t hunt demons. Okita, I’m sorry, but explain this character to Shinya. I’ll do the final check.”

“Roger, And while you’re at it, tell me how to operate it.”

We were at a certain game-only event to help Eriko. Eriko, who is dressed in some sort of sailor outfit, was doing final checks on a book at the booth. Her tone is harsher than usual, perhaps because she is nervous. Well, I guess she can’t afford to be. She was working absurdly hard for today…

The book is about men having seggs with each other. I remembered it when I used to help with the manuscript. It was a hell of a time for me to keep repeating the same process of penning in that of a male character, correcting and erasing without a care in the world. If you’re asking me if I didn’t get into a naughty mood when I was writing a questionable story alone with her, it’s practically impossible. I had nightmares for a while about that cursed manga character in my dreams.

By the way, I am wearing a kimono today. Okita is dressed in something that looks like a white military uniform and explains in detail about today’s character. After a while, I heard the signal for us to begin. Well, Eriko is good, but not famous. So I guess she is not that busy.

“But this kind of thing doesn’t necessarily make a profit, does it? Why do you do it?”

“Well, maybe it’s because I want to share my moe with everyone…… Fufufu, far from being in black, so it’s in red. But it’s fun.”

[TL/N: The line above is an idiom. Black means accumulating money while red is the opposite (losing money or in debt). This word is commonly used in accountancy and business (I did study accountancy before lol).]

“Wow, you’re amazing.”

Eriko is giving shape to what she loves, and I honestly admired her. Then, for some reason, she looked surprised for a moment and then smiled back at me.

“Thanks, but you’re the one who gave me the courage to do it.”

“Eh… that… that thing back in middle school?”

“Yes, Because you affirmed with me back then. You told me it was okay to like my hobbies, and that made me want to share my hobbies with someone else.”

Eriko gave me a serious look. It’s kinda tingling. But I’m happy to think that my actions have changed her, although I’m a little embarrassed.

“Excuse me, may I see your new book?”

Our conversation was interrupted as our guest arrived. I hear the sound of pages being turned. Eriko’s gaze is focused on the customer in front of her. Her expression at that moment was really serious and cool.

“Thank you very much.”

“Thank you for reading!”

Unfortunately, the book was not to the customer’s taste, and she left it behind, but Eriko must have been happy that someone read it. She was smiling from beginning to end.

After that, visitors continued to drop by the booth, though sparsely. Some people bought it, and Eriko would happily thank them each time. It’s nice to be able to work so hard like that. I’m envious of her.

“I guess that’s about it. You two can take a break now.”

“Roger that! I’m off to the bathroom.”

“Saito-san, do you need a drink or something? I’ll get you some on the way.”

“Thank you. Then, you can get me something random to drink.”

I get up from our seats to go to the bathroom. It seems that we are only useful as a panda attracting customers, but just being together is reassuring. While I was thinking, I was approached by a girl.

“Excuse me, sir. May I take a picture of you two right there?”

“Eh, us?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. If you’re okay with us.”

Okita hugged my shoulder with a familiar hand. What the hell is this guy thinking? It’s disgusting. However, the person who wanted to take a picture seemed to have a different impression and took a series of pictures while saying “kyaa”. What kind of world is this?

“Uhmm, if you don’t mind, is it okay if you let me take a picture in the middle of you two?”

“Eh…?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

Unlike me, who is not sure, Okita reacts immediately. Isn’t this guy too familiar with the atmosphere? The girl took a picture between me and Okita. Too close, too close, too close!!! The touch of a soft body and the sweet smell peculiar to women, oh man, my face is smiling.

*You both look cool. Thank you so much!”

When I thanked her back, the girl probably went looking for loot. She left for the battlefield again. It’s nice to be called cool, even if it’s just a compliment.

“Hey, that cool guy over there, can I take your picture too?”

“Yeah, that’s okay… Ugh…”

I heard a voice from behind me and turned to see Beni there, looking at me with cold and unhappy eyes. Why are you here? I mean, her face is scary!　

“Don’t ugh me! Does seeing my face really that bad means that something would happen if I caught you taking a picture with someone else?”

“Uhmm… Beni, how much did you see?”

“I think it’s from the time when Shinya was smirking and making a dirty face when a girl was attached to you and taking disgusting pictures of you. Oh and also I’ve seen you making a sloppy face when she told you that you were cool.”

This is what they called heaven-sent hell on earth. I feel like a husband who was caught red-handed in the act of cheating on his wife.

*****

Afterword

Author: I will update tomorrow at about the same time. I have more buzzwords when I am weak. I am sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. Thank you very much.

If you find it interesting, I would be grateful if you could support me with bookmarks and ratings.

I posted a short story. I hope you will read this one too. I was going to write a Yandere-like heroine, but it ended up being a Tsundere. It’s a story about Ajimu-kun. I felt like writing it here was not good enough, so I posted it as a short story.

[I found a cute cosplayer of my favorite character at an event, so I approached her, but it turned out to be a nagging but beautiful classmate sitting next to me.]

Translator: New translator here. This one will be added to my new TL list. Although I’m busy irl because of goddamn exams and programs that I need to debug (I shouldn’t have taken college). I also changed Ashinin’s name, from Ashinin to Ajimu since Ashinin is a Chinese character (Kanji) but in traditional Japanese Kanji, it’s pronounced as Ajimu. Same with Shu’s name, from Zhu to Shu (Because it also sounds cuter).