Saijo no Osewa ~ Takane no Hana [LN] - V1 Chp 1 part 7

The next morning.

 

We gathered before the homeroom once again.

 

[Now for strategy 3. Make yourself look more folksy and friendly] 

 

We meet up in a shady, inconspicuous corner of the school yard.

 

[In short, let’s show that Narika is a normal person like everyone else. Nowadays, people tend to think of her as a martial artist, or extremely cool, or whatever]

 

[But, we haven’t decided what exactly we’re going to do this time yet…?]

 

[I guess so. Anyway, I hope I can do something to soften Narika’s rigid expressions…]

 

Unlike number 1 and 2, strategy number 3 has not yet been fully worked out.

 

I’ll have to see what I can come up with.

 

Differing from a makeover, this time, I want to change Narika’s aura not by appearance, but by action.

 

[It’s nice to have something people can relate to quickly. Like reading manga, or talking about a show you watched the other day…]

 

[…I don’t watch a lot of shows, or TV, for that matter]

 

Then it would be better to go with another plan.

 

Even if you pretend to be someone different than you normally are and expand your social circle, it will only make it harder to maintain those connections.

 

[…Sweets]

 

Hinako said, muttering.

 

[How about eating candy? I think it would come off as friendly]

 

[…I see]

 

I thought it was a good idea.

 

Eating sweets wouldn’t look impudent, and it would be able to alleviate part of the strict aura that Narika has around her in class.

 

[Itsuki, I have a great idea!]

 

At that moment, Narika suddenly told me.

 

[A great idea?]

 

[A candy bar!]

 

Narika said confidently.

 

[I think I told you this before, but I kept going to the candy store even after we separated! Because of that, I’m confident that I know more about candy than anyone else!]

 

Narika strongly displayed her motivation.

 

I could honestly respect her attitude of not giving up after failing twice.

 

[…Come to think of it, there was a candy store near the academy]

 

I remembered the candy store I found on my way to school the other day.

 

I know that store is popular for nearby elementary students, not for students of the academy, but that store looks like a possible solution.

 

[How about we try eating some candy on the way home from school today? Maybe then someone will call out to me!]

 

[Being called out just because you’re eating candy is….]

 

I didn’t think it would work, but after thinking about it, I changed my mind.

 

[No…. if there’s someone else besides Narika, maybe they’ll call out to you]

 

A student at Kiou Academy and a candy bar would be a rare combination by any means. However, there might be someone with similar tastes.

 

Because it was an unusual hobby, the connections between people who share it would be strong.

 

(Well, even if that doesn’t get anyone to talk to her, at least it will give a different image than what she has now)

 

Hopefully she can make a new exquisitely kindred best friend.

 

Even if it didn’t work, it might change her image somewhat.

 

It was worth a try.

 

[Well, let’s give it a shot]

 

[Yeah! We’ll meet up after school!]

 

This time, Narika went back into the school buildings in high spirits.

 

[Hinako, thanks for coming up with that idea]

 

[…Nnn]

 

Hinako nodded.

 

Come to think of it, this is probably the first time I’ve ever done something like this with Hinako, who’s currently in Ojou-sama mode. Usually, Hinako would go back to the mansion and try to slack off whenever she had the chance.

 

[I’m sorry to drag you into this with me. Like I said before, you don’t have to push yourself, okay Hinako?]

 

[…It’s fine. I’ll also help]

 

Hinako shook her head, and said,

 

[It’s easier with Itsuki, and besides….]

 

[….Besides?]

 

I asked Hinako, who had become slightly brusque.

 

[…Itsuki is surprisingly naughty. …I’ll have to keep an eye on you] 

 

[Ehhh]

 

I feel like I’m being strangely misunderstood.

 

But Hinako refused to elaborate.

 

After that, we had class normally… and school ended.

 

[I-It-It’s finally time!]

 

Narika said nervously.

 

[We’re here to watch]

 

[I-I got it. …I’m going!]

 

Narika headed for the candy store with the typical nervous person’s movements, her hands and feet were moving at the same time. All of us had an hour or so to spare, since we told Shizune-san we would be home late. Hopefully we can get something done in this timeframe…

 

Narika purchased candy with a practiced hand and promptly began eating it on the side of the road.

 

(It seems surreal…)

 

A high school girl eating a candy bar alone after school.

 

My only concern was that she might look like a delinquent, but Narika was holding a stick —an umaibo— with both hands and eating it in a hamster-like way. It couldn’t be considered a delinquent gesture. (TN: Umaibo is a japanese snack that’s shaped as a stick and has a vast number of flavors, usually consists of puffed corn as a main ingredient)

 

Eventually, students of the academy began to notice Narika eating candy.

 

Most of the students at the academy are driven to and from the school, but there is limited space for cars to park. Hinako, Tennouji-san, and Narika are from one of the most prestigious families in the academy, so their cars can park right by the school gate, but other students often walk down and get in their cats a short distance away… naturally, I’m one of them.

 

Such students walk a little to and from their way to school.

 

Narika was properly seen by the other students, but….

 

[…She’s not getting called out to]

 

[I can see that]

 

Hinako was right, no one was talking to her.

 

It seems that just by silently eating a candy bar outside, you can’t suddenly get closer to someone.

 

I wasn’t too disappointed with the outcome though.

 

(You don’t have to be approached if you want to change your image. …Just being seen by someone like this is already a success isn’t it?)

 

The sight of Narika eating candy on her way after school must have seemed more than a little unusual to students who knew her.

 

If things build up like this, I think Narika’s image will gradually change.

 

If that’s the case, there may be no need to be in a hurry right now.

 

(Is that Chupa Chupa Chups? …I haven’t had any lately)

 

Narika was bored with her umaibo and now licked a candy pop. Fingering the white stick that had been in her mouth, Narika fidgeted, waiting for someone to speak to her. (TN: This sounds so wrong)

 

I’ll keep an eye on it for a while longer.

 

That’s when…

 

[Mi-Miyakojima-san…?]

 

A female student leaving the school saw Narika and dropped her bag on the ground with a thud.

 

When called, Narika turns around, but immediately looks at me strangely.

 

The student was, for some reason, uncommonly surprised.

 

[T-That… you’re… smoking, right…?]

 

[Eh?]

 

The female student pointed to the white stick extending from Narika’s mouth and said so. (TN: I have no idea how bad of an eyesight you have to mistake a thin ass stick from a candy to a thick cigarette)

 

[W-Wait! No, it’s not! It’s not a cigarette!]

 

Narika then shows the candy out of her mouth. 

 

[This is Chupa Chupa Chups!]

 

[I-I don’t know what brand those are…]

 

[No, that’s just the reason why it’s not a cigarette!!]

 

[It’s not… Then, is it… no way… a drug!?]

 

That’s quite the imagination she has.

 

I felt like escaping reality when I saw that there are many different kinds of young ladies in the academy…

 

[This is candy!]

 

[Candy… Is that jargon? I-I didn’t hear anything!]

 

[Ahh!? W-Wait!!]

 

The female student hurriedly ran away from Narika.

 

(Come to think of it, there was a rumor that Narika was from a yakuza family…)

 

Maybe that rumor is creating bigger misunderstandings.

 

Either way—This was a problem.

 

If this continued, Narika could be mistaken for a broker who sells drugs called Candy.

 

[…I’ll go to clear up the misunderstanding[

 

I immediately chased after the schoolgirl who ran off.

 

Since the other side was running, I had no choice but to run too, but that led to the mistake of her believing she was being chased and she tried to run away as fast as possible. (EDN: reminds me of that one tweet that was like “if you see a girl on a dark street, walk loudly and fast to alert her that you aren’t a bad person, then start running”)

 

After somehow catching up to her and getting her to listen, I successfully cleared up the misunderstanding.

 

Back near the candy store, Narika was sitting on the ground, looking dejected.

 

[…Is this… Is it all my fault?]

 

I felt helpless.

 

[….I have to admit, I underestimated you]

 

I said as I caught my breath.

 

[I never thought Narika’s image would be this bad…]

 

[Don’t remind me…]

 

Narika held her head.

 

This… was going to be more complicated than I thought.

 

◆

 

We made a big commotion, so we moved locations first.

 

When we were back at the academy, we talked in a heavy mood.

 

[So all three operations failed…]

 

I said with a sigh.

 

[….What do I do?]

 

What should I really do?

 

It was not so much that I had run out of ideas, but the results were more horrific than I had expected them to be.

 

I was at a loss for words as to what to do next.

 

[I’m the one who asked for your help… so don’t get worked up about it. I don’t care that much]

 

I was surprised when Narika told me this.

 

[…You’re surprisingly positive]

 

[Pfft, I’m used to making mistakes. Fufu… Fufufu~]

 

It was clear that wasn’t the case.

 

[If the problem was something that could be solved in just a few days, I wouldn’t be so distressed. So I’m a bit depressed, but this is to be expected]

 

I see, so that’s why she’s able to maintain a positive attitude.

 

[….If Narika hasn’t given up, why should I?]

 

As long as she’s willing to continue, I can’t give up either.

 

[Today is Friday, so let’s come up with a new idea next Monday. We’ll make the most of the mistakes we made this time]

 

Narika and Hinako nodded.

 

[By the way, Itsuki. When am I supposed to teach you two tennis?]

 

[That’s supposed to only be when you’re available though…]

 

I looked at Hinako as I said this.

 

Hinako nodded too. This is the conclusion we came to after all our discussions with Narika.

 

But Narika didn’t nod.

 

[It’s about time I returned the favor to both of you]

 

[Return… but we weren’t successful yet]

 

[No, I couldn’t have acted on my own in the first place. The two of you have already helped me enough]

 

Narika smiled happily as she said this.

 

…I wonder if we can show this smile to people other than us.

 

It’s a shame.

 

Narika is someone with a pure and innocent nature.

 

[Are you free on your day off tomorrow? I can teach you if you want to?]

 

I looked at Hinako in response to Narika’s question.

 

I’m sure Hinako has nothing on tomorrow’s agenda.

 

[Then, can I ask you to?]

 

[Yeah!]

 

Narika puffed her chest out proudly.

 

[This is my area of expertise! I’m good at what I do!!]

 

---

Had this in the backlog for a while (3 months) and finally out. Chp 2 is almost done and we move on

Donations are very much appreciated. (EDN: Help fuel me and Ezu’s Honkai addiction plz) (TN: I need the VCT champions skin pls)

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TL: Ezu
ED: Animu
PR: Mateo