Saijo no Osewa ~ Takane no Hana [LN] - V3 Chp 1 part 2

[Are you scared of competitions?]

I responded to what Naruka said with a question.

It seemed strange.

She’s as good as Hinako when it comes to motor skills… So why would Narika, who’s definitely the best at the academy, say she’s afraid of competitions.

[I thought you were good at sports, Miyakojima-san?]

[Ah, no, w-w-well, yes but….]

Hinako muttered the same question as I did.

Then, Narika nodded with a nervous look on her face.

[We’ve been at tea parties and study groups together, so there’s no need to be so nervous]

[I-I think you’re right about that! Before, if Konohana-san was my opponent, I would have been this nervous!] (Recheck)

That may be true.

Knowing the actual Hinako for what she is, I’m less nervous around her.

[…Let’s go back to the topic]

Cough, Narika said with a deliberate cough.

[I was in the kendo division during the competitions last year]

Kendo, huh.

If that’s the case then—.

[You won, didn’t you? Narika is good at martial arts, right?]

[…Yes. I won]

It should be something to be proud of, but for some reason, Narika replied curtly.

Narika’s family is one of the largest sporting goods manufacturers in Japan, so she’s been well versed in sports since she was a child. In particular, she had a natural talent for martial arts.

Narika’s family also runs a dojo, and Narika was trained in all kinds of martial arts from an early age. At least she wouldn’t be beaten by someone her own age.

[I won but… there was a problem]

Narika spoke with her eyes down.

[Maybe because I won so spectacularly, people got scared of me. Looking back… now, I feel like that was the start of me becoming a loner]

So that’s what it was…

No wonder why she looks so gloomy despite her spectacular achievements.

[Well, I have a feeling that the impetus was probably different. Narika has always been a loner]

[I-I-I-I don’t think so! Even I might… have had a friend, or two… in the past!!]

It was a way of saying that there wasn’t any such thing.

[A-and anyways, that was traumatic for me! That’s why I’m afraid of competitions..! I just wanted to have fun with everyone, how did this happen…!]

Narika held her head in her hands.

She seemed to be quite troubled.

(But even if you ask me to help, what can I do..?)

What can I do to help?

[Anyways, why don’t you try something other than kendo this year?]

[….No, I’m going to be in kendo again this year. It was unanimously decided in homeroom this morning…. unanimous except for me]

It seems she gave in to peer pressure.

(After all, that’s what Narika’s worried about…)

I already guessed when I heard that she’s been pressured by people around her.

There are few people around Narika who understand her. So problems arise.

If we were in the same class, I might have been able to follow up on her, but… that wouldn’t solve the problem. It would be better to make connections with people other than us, in preparation for after we move grades and go on to higher education.

[…Alright]

I already knew that Narika was troubled.

It has been three months since I started working as a caretaker.

Now that I had spare time, I wanted to help her.

[Narika, let’s make some friends before the competition. I’ll help you]

[R-Really?]

[Yeah]

Narika’s eyes widened, and I nodded.

[In return, can you coach me and Konohana-san in tennis?]

Then Narika looked taken aback by my suggestion.

Donations are very much appreciated. (EDN: Help fuel me and Ezu’s Honkai addiction plz)

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TL: Ezu
ED: Animu
PR: Mateo