The Happiness That The Shinigami Gave Me - V1 Chapter 14
Volume 1 Chapter 14
Just as Motoyama said, Natsuhara-san was a ‘loner.’
She didn’t hang out with other girls in her class. Actually, I’d never seen her talk to other girls at all.
Whenever I peeked into her classroom, I always found her sitting alone by the window, with her hand on her cheek, looking bored. It was as if she was in her own world, shutting out everyone around her.
‘Aloof,’ was the word I would use to describe her. It was the first time I’d ever use that word to describe anyone, but it fit her perfectly. Probably, the word itself was made for her and her only.
Since this was the same person who agreed to become my friend, I probably should be more proud of it.
* * *
“This committee sure is a sh*tty one. Ugh.”
It was late May, after the mid-term was over.
Natsuhara-san was holding a broom in her hands while looking frustrated.
Spring had long gone, replaced by the powerful sunlight that summer brought us. I could see her wet hair sticking to her forehead.
“Why do I have to do volunteer work this early in the morning? It’s f**king boiling here!”
As members of the environmental committee, we were cleaning the area around school.
“Well, this is our duty, so it can’t be helped. There isn’t much to clean up though. Ah, there’s an empty can over there.”
When I picked up and crushed the can before throwing it into a plastic bag, Natsuhara-san stared daggers at me.
“You’re actually doing this work seriously? What a weirdo…”
“Is it strange?”
“Yes, yes it is. Look at everyone around you. They’re all slacking.”
I looked around.
There was barely anyone around us. In the first place, barely anyone came here at all and the ones who came were either chatting with each other or playing around.
Natsuhara-san stretched her body.
“Ugh, if I knew, I woulda ate my melonpan slowly.” (T/N: Melonpan or melon bread, if you aren’t familiar with it, it’s just bread that shaped like melon.)
“Melonpan?”
“Yeah. I always eat them for breakfast in that park over there.”
I see. So if I were to go there every morning, I could see her. Noted.
“If you want to eat more, you can just go, Natsuhara-san. I doubt that anyone would care if you leave.”
She glared at me.
“Who do you think I am, one of those slackers? I always do my job properly, so don’t you dare lump me together with them!”
“Hahaha.”
“…What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing. I just found out that you’re a surprisingly earnest person, Natsuhara-san— Ouch!”
She hit me in the back.
“Stop saying stupid things and do your work quickly.”
“Eh…what did I do? Why did you hit me?”
“Your laugh p**sed me off.”
Jeez, what an unreasonable girl.
“Also, your smug look p**sed me off.”
“I’m just happy that I get to work together with you today— Ow, ow!”
This time, she hit me on the head.
“That answer of yours p**sed me off too.”
She turned her head away.
I didn’t understand her at all, but I apologized to her nonetheless. I lifted up the garbage bag that had grown heavier.
For some reason, she stared at my upper arm with a pouty look.
“…You’re surprisingly muscular, Yamaoka-kun. I thought you’re just a wimpy guy.”
“Ah, you can tell?”
I puffed out my chest.
“I’ve been working out since grade school, you know, strength training, marathon and stuff. Since I entered middle school, I have been working out even harder.”
“Why though? Are you trying to be a bodybuilder? That’s really out of character for you.”
“So that I could protect you, that’s why.”
Back then, I thought that it would be bad if I were to meet my fated girl, but I wasn’t strong enough to help her.
“You’re stronger than I thought though, so I decided to become even stronger than you.”
“Ha?”
She snorted.
“Disgusting. Also I’m not frail enough to be protected by you.”
“I know.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
That was why it became a problem for me.
TL: Iyo
ED: samheart564