9 - The combination of a smart heroine, an ordinary protagonist, and a stupid male friend is a cliche (Patreon)

RAW

“It's okay, you can just do your best again. Cheer up, Kazuki-kun.”
“...I'm sorry Hiuri...”

My test results were the same as usual.
I boasted about how I have confidence in math, but my score was only slightly higher than usual. There were more applied problems than I expected.

“But if you hadn’t studied with me, you would have gotten a worse score, right?”
“That’s true, but...”

The fact that there were so many applied problems means that I could hardly solve them if I had studied like I did last year.
That being said, studying with Hiuri had some meaning, and I guess it became a source of encouragement for me, but I thought I would get a higher score than usual in this test, that part is what I am depressed about.

“Look, it's summer vacation after this isn’t it? Aren’t we going to the beach together?”
“...Yeah, that’s true...”

This summer, there is the beach event planned by Tadashi and others, and other than that, I plan to spend most of my time with Hiuri in this dream. It seems like my summer vacation this year will be much more fulfilling compared to last year's.

During summer vacation last year, I didn't really have anything to do, so I think I finished my assignments within a few days of the start of summer vacation, and spent the rest of the time doing random things. My parents are busy people, so I spent most of my time at home without going on any trips.

“I’m here this year, aren’t I?”
“Ahaha, that’s true.”

Hiuri said that with a playful face and upturned eyes. Cute.

But, I am worried that Hiuri's daily rhythm will be disrupted by sleeping throughout the day. I go to sleep to dream, but in real life Hiuri ends up falling asleep many times due to drowsiness.
Real life Hiuri doesn't know that she's having fun in the dream, so there is a possibility she might be mistaken for hypersomnia.

It's okay if I'm alone in this dream world, but it's definitely more fun if Hiuri is here. To begin with, I'm not that good at playing alone.

“It’ll be summer vacation in a few days, so let's do our best.”
“Yeah.”

With Hiuri's encouragement, the final exam for the first term was over.

...

The next day.

“Come on, it's summer vacation, yippeeee!”
“““Yippeeee!”””

When I arrive at school, Tadashi and several other boys are making a racket. The girls are  looking at them with cold eyes.

By the way, Tadashi's grades were bad, below average, as usual. Tadashi doesn't seem to care much though. It seems like he's fine with it as long as he can avoid supplementary lessons.

“Oh, you've come, Kazuki. Come here for a second.”

Tadashi beckons me but... I don't want to go. I'm not the type to make a racket, so I can't keep up with people who are overly excited.

“Don't be scared. It’s not like I’m going to eat you.”
“Eeh...”
“It's just contact info.”

I receive an explanation from Tadashi about the summer project. Apparently, the date and time have already been decided, all that's left to do is wait for the day.
Also, he tells me to join the SNS group when I get home. It seems that any sudden changes or notification of absence on the day will be made there.

“Kazuki too, let’s enjoy summer!”
“Yes, that’s true.”* (T/N: it’s written in katakana, implying monotone speech, like a robot.)

I quickly return to my seat.

However, although I sound bland, I'm actually looking forward to it. The reason, of course, is because Hiuri is there.
I had never gone out with Hiuri in real life, so even though Tadashi and the others will be there, this will be the first time we go out together. I guess you could say I can't help but get excited.

I have a youthful desire to see her in a swimsuit, but more than that, I'm happy to be able to go out with her.

“Ah, that's right Kazuki.”
“Huh?”

While I was looking outside, Tadashi, who was just making a racket, starts talking to me. He  was frolicking a lot, but he seems calmer than before.

“Let's play somewhere other than the sea too.”
“Aah, sure.”

I played with Tadashi last year too. Last summer I spent most of my time doing random things at home, but since I played with Tadashi, you could say I was able to have a student-like summer vacation.

“Ah, but do you have a prior appointment with the Black Thorn Princess?”

Tadashi teases me while grinning. Unfortunately, I didn’t make any promise with Hiuri in real life.

“No. Our relationship is not so good that we can meet during summer vacation.”
“Really? Well, I did think you guys have a strange sense of distance. But, isn't this the exact time to close the distance?”

Even if he said that, there's nothing I can do about it.
Even if I make a promise to Hiuri in the dream, this will only bring out unconscious actions to Hiuri in real life, so there is no way I can set up an event like going on a date.

In real life, Hiuri and I are still on the level of friends even now.
If it’s with the fluffy Hiuri, I might be able to go on a date with her in real life, but that would mean having Hiuri catch a cold again, so that’s rejected.

“Well, if you can make a promise with Black Thorn Princess, you can ignore me.”
“That's not going to happen, so it's okay.”
“You know what they say, you never know what's going to happen. Let's bet on this one chance!”

Tadashi is definitely in high spirits.
It seems that Tadashi is often taken by his parents to visit ruins during summer vacation. He is enjoying his summer vacation too much.

As you can guess from the story so far, Tadashi is the type of person who rushes to finish his assignments near the last day of summer vacation. I think he was complaining about it last year as well, but it seems like he has no intention of changing his thinking.
He seems to be aware that he is putting off the assignments, and the person himself says, “It's fine as long as I finish it.” I think he's definitely going to make a mistake somewhere and get scolded...

“Now, let the fun summer vacation begin—!”

Note that there are still a few days left until the closing ceremony.

――――

Previous | Next