Chikasugiru Karera no, Juunanasai no Tooi Kankei [LN] V1 Chapter 5.1

Chapter 5 - The Taste Of Rain And Sweat

The month changed and it was July.

That day, after the fourth period, Yuriko came to my classroom with a bundle of printouts.

"Here. Please check it. Circle whether you will or will not participate by the summer vacation and submit it to me or Nakata-sensei. Akari is also fine."

As we were about to open our lunch boxes, we stopped and looked at the printout we had received. The sheet of paper, titled "Information on Summer Training Camp," began with a greeting to parents, followed by the schedule of training camps during this summer vacation, with a "participate/not participate" option and a signature line for parents below the cut line.

As I was looking through it, Yuriko pulled out a nearby chair and placed a mini bag with a handle on the desk where Nagai and I were sitting together.

"What's that?"

When I asked, Yuriko replied, "lunchbox."

"Are you going to eat here, too?"

"Is it bad?"

Yuriko narrowed her eyes and replied with a pout.

"No, not at all."

Nagai and I put our prints in our own bags, and then we started eating together with Yuriko. Yuriko took out a small thermos and a lunch box wrapped in a dark blue cloth, smaller than mine and Nagai's, and began to bring the lunch to her mouth with plastic chopsticks. Her tone of voice was a little rough, perhaps because she played soccer with the boys, but her eating manners were surprisingly neat, even from when she was a child.

Like our classmates around us, we chatted and ate, talking about club activities and tests.

"How are your studies going?"

Yuriko asked as she poured barley tea (presumably because of its color) into a cup from her thermos.

"So-so," I replied.

"Whenever I have a break from club activities, I have too much time on my hands, but my pace of studying slows down."

"It's the opposite of what happened to me. How come your grades don't drop?"

When I said that, Yuriko sullenly said,

"I study every day, even when I have club activities---How about Nagai?"

When Yuriko asked him about it, he looked a little gloomy, which was unusual for Nagai, who always has a poker face.

"...If I don't do my best this time, I'm going to be sent to a summer course at a prep school."

"Seriously? Nagai, your grades aren't that bad."

"My parents only allow me to go to national universities, so if I can't make the top ten in our grade at this school, I should start preparing. But I will still participate in club activities. I heard there is a course that starts from the evening."

"That' s tough."

I said, feeling sorry for him losing his vacation time.

"Ah, I don't feel like being on summer vacation at all," Nagai said, as if complaining. Then he said, 

"Can I come over to your place the next weekend? Let's study together. Studying for exams by myself is getting a little boring. I need some stimulation."

"Eh, my house?"

I was shaken by the unexpected suggestion. Reflexively looking for a good excuse to refuse, I looked at Yuriko for help. But she immediately followed him up.

"Can I come too? The more people there are, the more we can teach each other. Isn't that good? Kenichi, please ask person at your home."

The person at home. Although she did not mention the name, this was clearly Izumi. Yuriko had called my mother "auntie" since she was in elementary school.

"Why not Nagai's house?"

When I said that, Yuriko acted in a manner that was unusual for her, saying, "Kenichi's house is closer, so I'd rather go there."

"Then why don't we just go to your place? You don't have to move."

"No, not at my place. My father would be angry if I let a boy in my room. For some reason, he's been very strict about it lately."

Here comes the girlish excuse......Da*n, what should I do? If Nagai is coming to my house, I'll have to explain about Izumi.

"Err, a relative is over at my place right now......"

"Oh, do we bother you?"

When I said this, Nagai became reserved.

"I mean, it's not like it bothers me, it's more like......"

As I clumsily mumbled, "It's okay. Kenichi's relative is a kid I know too, right, Kenichi?" Yuriko interrupted from the side.

"Kid?" Nagai said.

"Is she a child?"

"Yes, well, yeah."

I'm not lying, because she's not an adult.

Even after what had happened with Hoshino-san the other day, I could not tell him that the relative was the girl who had come to the practice match the other day.

Nagai took it as if I was taking care of a little child, and he was like,

"Well, I won't force you to."

I replied in a small voice, "Yeah."

Yuriko was staring at me with pouted lips as I repeated my vague response.

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