Episode 9
Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094471724561/episodes/16818622174596999692
I woke up early again today. It’s only natural to wake up early when you have to start work early in the morning. Usually, the word “work” makes me feel uneasy, but not today. That’s because I have an important task to accomplish: to casually pick up the key chain I managed to find yesterday.
If I can do this, I’ll be able to proceed according to the original plan.
I’m glad I was able to sleep well yesterday. The day before yesterday, I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep.
“Alright!”
I give myself a pep talk.
Then, let’s head over to the path where Saotome goes to school and get ready.
The plan is to drop the key chain on the way to school, have Saotome pick it up, and then give the key chain to Niiro. See, it’s perfect.
If I drop it around here, Saotome will definitely pick it up.
Here we go.
I hide in the shadows and wait to see Saotome pick it up. Please, pick it up.
…Yes!
Saotome looks like she’s in slow motion. But my heart is racing. My hands are clenched in prayer so tightly they hurt.
Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please
Saotome seems to have noticed the keychain. Saotome, who noticed the keychain, stops.
Pick it up! You’re the protagonist!
Saotome crouches down and stares at the keychain up close.
Don’t tease me, pick it up already!
Saotome picks up the keychain and puts it in his pocket.
“Phew…”
The tension eased, and I sat down on the spot.
What’s with that guy? He’s messing with me! That’s why I hate popular guys!
I’ll forgive him because he’s the protagonist, but my opinion of him is about to change completely today. …Even though I say that, I know he’s a good guy because I’ve been with him in parts unrelated to the original story. So, I thought you would pick up the keychain. I was a little scared, though.
Now all he has to do is give the key chain to Niiro. I wondered what would happen when he couldn’t find the key chain, but somehow the story is progressing as it did in the original work.
I’m in a good mood, so I’ll pretend it’s a coincidence and go to school with him.
“Hey…?”
He suddenly turned a corner. There shouldn’t be a school in that direction. I couldn’t believe it, so I opened the map app and saw that there was a police box ahead.
“Damn it!”
I started running. He definitely intends to take it to the police box.
He must know what kind of key chain it is because he saw it when Niiro showed it to him, so he could have asked Niiro first before taking it to the police box!
Receiving it from the police box is not the same as receiving it directly from the person who gave it to you. Besides, if I don’t tell Niiro about this, I’m afraid I won’t be able to give her the key chain.
“Oh, uh, what are you doing there…”
“What’s wrong with you, out of breath like that?”
“Just wait a moment…”
I took a moment to catch my breath.
“…Hey, isn’t this Sarasa chan’s?”
I took advantage of a moment’s distraction to pull the keychain out of Saotome’s pocket.
“I thought so too, but she said she lost it at school.”
Yeah, now that I think about it, if I found something she lost at school here, it might be safer to take it to the police station.
“But you said you couldn’t buy this anywhere. I looked it up, and it seems to be a limited edition item. So I’m sure it’s Sarasa-chan’s.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely! 120% sure!”
To be honest, I don’t know if it’s a limited edition item. It was a lie I made up on the spot. My grandmother said that it’s okay to lie as much as you want as long as you don’t hurt anyone.
“Then I’ll deliver it to Niiro.”
“Let’s do that! That’s a good idea! Sarasa-chan will definitely be happy!”
It’s important to use a forceful lie to cover up a strange lie, because a strange lie will be found out later. By the way, it’s best to stick to a forceful lie and forget about it.
Anyway, I guess the plan was a success?
“So, why did Shota come over here?”
“Eh, uh, eh? Um, I just wanted to come over here… because there’s a new bakery that just opened.”
“That’s a lie.”
“…Yes.”
See? Well, it was exposed right away this time…
“Here you go. It’s Niiro’s right?”
“Eh… No way.”
Niiro covers her mouth with her hand.
I know this well, it’s a gesture she always makes when she cries. Her fingers are long and beautiful.
Oh, by the way, I’m watching over her from the shadows.
“Did Saotome find it?”
“Um… Well, I guess so.”
It’s more accurate to say that he picked it up
“Thank you. …Thank you so much.”
Niiro shed tears as she held the key chain in her hand.
I’m really glad. Just seeing this made all my efforts to find the key chain worthwhile.
“It was that important to you?”
“…Yes.”
Well, I’m happy that you’re so happy. But if I accidentally blurt out, “I found it!” everything will be ruined. It’s a pointless worry because she wouldn’t believe me anyway.
Well, this brings me one step closer to my grandmother.
“Hey!”
I waited for a moment when she was alone and called out
“Mm.”
Niiro replied with just one syllable. I’m happy even with just one syllable.
“Hey, you seem to be in a good mood. Did something good happen?”
I said with a grin. Niiro looked at me with a disgusted expression.
“Don’t make that disgusted face. It ruins your cute face.”
I never thought I would say something like that… I’ll be agonizing over it when I get home and am alone.
See, Niiro’s face is looking even more disgusted.
“So, what’s up?”
“Is it bad if I don’t have anything to say?”
That response is annoying. Plus, if someone I don’t even like says that, I’d want to punch them.
“No.”
“Sorry, sorry, sorry. I have something to say.”
I almost got away, but I told her I had something to say and made her stop. Man, she’s totally fed up with me now. Well, I guess that’s what I wanted.
“What?”
This girl only talks to me when absolutely necessary now.
“Well, I gave up looking for the keychain halfway through, so I’m sorry. As an apology, here, go with someone you’re close to.”
“Huh? What’s this?”
If she ask me anything else or say she doesn’t want it, it’ll be a hassle, so I quickly escape from the scene.
“Well, have fun.”
I turned around, thinking, “Run away quickly,” but Niiro was preoccupied with the all-you-can-eat dessert ticket. I’m happy if she’s preoccupied with the thing I gave her. …Really.
Well, anyway, things are going well. I won’t be involved much from here on, but I’ll keep an eye on things just in case.
Now, let’s give it our all for the final stretch.
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