Onna Doushi to ka Arienai deshou to Iiharu Onna no ko wo, Hyakunichi kan de Tetteiteki ni Otosu Yuri

Fuwa Aya looks at her watch on her left wrist.

　A week has passed since the test, and it’s Wednesday, December 19th. Two more days of school and I’ll be on winter break. Up until now, every time I went on a long vacation, I’d feel uneasy because I couldn’t see the person I love. But now, it’s different, I can see her whenever I want to. That’s the kind of relationship we have now.

Today, after parting with Marika, I dropped by a bookstore in front of the station on our way home from school. I’ve been steadily ordering yuri mangas from this store, and the selection has been getting better and better.

I’m a simple person when it comes to buying things. I pick out what I want and directly pay for it. Tonight, I’m going to spend my time reading the new releases she bought today. I’m glad to see that the number of yuri manga has increased lately. I’m looking forward to it. 

Speaking of things to look forward to, I’ve invited Matsukawa Chisaki and Mitsumine Yume to the Christmas party. Both of them are very enthusiastic and will be happy to come and play.

Chisaki and I have gotten to know each other very well. Since we started talking a lot about our common interests, we’ve been discussing our thoughts quite often. It’s surprisingly fun to listen to her lover’s gossip, blabber, and ecstasy. I also liked her split-bamboo personality. This outgoing person is Marika’s friend.. (TN: I think Split-bamboo personality refers to Chisaki’s serious and carefree personality)

I heard that Marika is planning to invite Enomoto Sae to the party. Well, I think it’s up to Marika to do what she wants.

As I was walking through the station building towards the ticket gate, I suddenly stopped to look at the mannequins displayed in front of the stores. It was a girly brand that I usually don’t pay much attention to, but it looked really cute.

(…It looks like a good fit for Marika.)

These days, I spend more time thinking about what would look good on Marika than I do on myself. I walked into a store and found myself creating a full-body model of Marika in my brain. Including the underwear, of course. That’s the most important part.

(I wonder if my dream of becoming a fashion coordinator came from this kind of place. But… am I interested in coordinating clothes other than for Marika?)

I’m sure that my image of Marika is cute. However, in reality, Marika’s body is way cuter. It was one of the seven wonders of Marika.

My phone rang, it was a phone call.

There are only a few people who call me. And the most frequent caller is Karen-san, we’re usually talking about my shifts. I moved to the end of the aisle so I wouldn’t block the way. Then, I pulled out my phone and looked at the caller.

It’s Marika.

Normally, I’d be happy to answer the phone, keeping my bouncy voice to myself… But this time, I felt an unpleasant feeling.

My sixth sense has always been very accurate. Especially when it comes to Marika. The time when I saved her from Sae’s deadly blade in a park at night was still fresh in my mind.

I was a little scared, but I fearfully put my phone close to my ear.

[Hello?]

[Ayaaa…]

I gasped as if I had been splashed with cold water.

Marika let out a tearful voice.

[Marika, what’s wrong?]

[My mother is… my mother…]

[Eh?]

I gulped and listened closely. From the noise around her and the voices calling for patients waiting to be examined, I deduced that she was in a hospital.

Marika’s words, her tearful attitude, and the hospital.

I have a bad feeling about this.

I managed to move my stiff cheeks.

[What hospital are you in? Marika, I’ll be there in a bit.]

[Eh… B-But… Aya…]

[I’m going.]

[Uhm, ok… I’m sorry]

[It’s fine, I’m your lover after all.]

When I tried my best to sound gentle, I heard a sniffling sound from Marika. I clenched my fists and whispered more.

[… I love you, Marika]

[Uhuh, Thanks… I also… love you…]

　I turned off my phone and called a cab outside of the station. The hospital Marika had told me was only three stops away, so I should be there soon. No matter how far it was, if it’s for Marika, I’d even charter a jet to get there. 

In the cab, I managed to calm down my heart. I thought I was more resilient than others. But even so, imagining the worst possible scenario made me feel nauseous. I felt as if cement had been poured into my stomach.

(But, I’m sure it’s harder for Marika… I have to stay strong.)

I desperately tried to think of something to say, but it was as difficult to find as a star in a starless night. After all, I am aware that I am just a student.

I wonder what Karen-san would do in a situation like this.

I can’t imagine how she’s going to do it, but I know what she’ll do. Akin to her shaking her shaker with meticulous and delicate technique, she’ll calm Marika down. (TN: Karen-san is a bartender, so she’s implying that she’s able to calm Marika professionally just like how she shakes the shaker professionally.)

(I can’t do that.)

The back of my eyes is burning. I was jealous when Marika didn’t talk to me at all about Enomoto Sae. I felt a sense of rivalry with Karen-san, even if it was unjustified. Because, more than anyone, it’s me who wants to help Marika.

And yet, this is what happens when I’m asked for help.

I’m not sure if I’m frustrated, pathetic, or sad. But I’m not sure what emotion is messing with my head.

(That’s no good.)

I bit down on my lips and managed to hold my tears back. I wiped my eyes with a handkerchief from my bag and slightly adjusted my eyeliner on the spot. I don’t want to look unreliable in front of Marika.

I paid 2460 yen for the taxi that stops in front of the hospital and gets off. I took a deep breath before heading in. (It’s alright…). I looked up at the big hospital and started walking.

I went through the automatic door. In front of the reception desk at the hospital, there was a girl in her sailor suit standing there looking uncomfortable. Her back was much smaller than usual and she looked frail.

For a moment, I hesitated. The thought of not being able to say anything to her scared me. I feel like I’ll lose my life’s meaning.

But still. I gathered my courage and took a step forward.

Up until now, Marika has given me so many things that I can’t count. It’s not like I owe her or anything. But I want to repay her kindness. That’s why.

[Marika]

She looked back fearfully.

[A-Aya…]

There were tears in her eyes.

I ran up to her and grabbed her hand. Her hand was cold.

[About your mother…]

[Yeah…]

She nodded her head emphatically. Her gesture made my heart skip a beat.

I tried to stay calm. I’ve always been good at reacting to the unexpected. After a lot of nervousness, when I was in a situation where I had no choice but to do something, I’d pump myself up.

On the other hand, Marika’s voice was faint as she sobbed.

[Honestly… it’s really really stupid…]

[…]

I held both of Marika’s hands and waited for her to speak.

No matter what she says, I’ll hold on to Marika’s sadness.

Because Marika needed me.

And Finally, Marika finally said something without hesitation.

[My mother… the doctors found a gallstone.]

[Umm…]

gallstone..?

[She’s going to have an operation to remove the gallstone on her gallbladder. And I’m going to be in the hospital for a week from now… I might not be able to go to the Christmas Party or Celebrate Aya’s birthday… What should I do….]

[Eh?]

I couldn’t help but ask her back.

[Gallstones? Gallbladder?]

[Yeah, I’m going to be in the hospital for a week… and I’m leaving on 26th… and my dad won’t be home, so I can’t stay at home, so….]

[…]

I made a troubled face and shut down.

It was a bit too difficult to understand what she meant. I’ll try to break it down again and sort it out.

Her mother is safe? So basically, Marika can’t go on a date because her mother will have surgery?

Ah, I see…

[Marika.]

The voice came out lower than I expected.

[Ugh… I’m sorry Aya… Even though I promised you…. I’m sorry…]

[I won’t forgive you.]

[Uwaa!]

I let out a sigh in front of a crying Marika.

A sense of futility weighs heavily on my shoulder. I want to cry out. I wondered how much preparation I had to put into coming here…

Well, I’m glad you’re okay, Mother.

When I finally calmed down, I was explaining the situation to Aya in the lobby of the hospital

[I ask my mom to pick me up at the station when I’m going to be out late at night because it’s dangerous. ……. So on days when my mom is not around, I have to go home very early, which means I can’t party or go on dates until late at all. ……]

[…]

　Aya is holding my hand and has been talking very little since just now. Ugh, I guess she’s still angry …….

[After the surgery, my father came to see me for a little while and asked if I was okay living alone. But he seems busy with his work. I can’t force him to stay for my own business]

Rather, he asked me if I wanted to come to Hokkaido for a while. But as expected, I couldn’t do that since I still  had school and a part-time job

[I’m all right, Marika, I’m all right…]

Aya sits on the couch with me and rubs my back. Ugh, I think I’m going to cry again…

[It’s nothing to cry about, Marika. Let’s go on a date in the daytime and then go back home early. It can’t be helped, right? Since it’s your family situation.]

[Okay…]

It’s true that I’m crying with my head resting on Aya’s chest…. But when I’m doing something like this, I feel like I’m doing something wrong. Moreover, this is a hospital.

[I’m sorry about all of the ruckus, I’ve been freaking out on my own.]

　I hugged my school backpack tightly in front of me, I muttered to myself in a self-mocking tone.

[Aya told me that in the 365 days in a year, every day is a treasure, but since it was my first Christmas and Birthday, I really wanted to spend the day with Aya… It can’t be helped that things turned out this way but I feel so frustrated… ]

I’m not very good at breaking promises. I’d feel bad afterward…

It’s not like I hate it, It’s just that I’m not good at it. I don’t really care if someone else changes their plans, but when I do, it makes me feel uncomfortable. I’m sure it’s because I think that “without me, everyone wouldn’t have fun!”.That’s probably the reason why.

But in reality, the school would run just fine without me, and it’s not like anything would change drastically because of my absence. But I’m the mood maker, that’s how I’ve earned my place in the school. I don’t want anyone to take that role from me. Haa… Me and my ego…

I’m such a burden… I never thought that I’d cry in front of Aya…

I think that feeling is much stronger than usual when it comes to my first girlfriend, Aya. I thought “I’m definitely going to make her happy!” Yet I was too enthusiastic and it backfired on me.

It really sucks… Even Aya is unhappy…

[As expected, I haven’t grown up at all… I thought I’d be able to deal with this type of situation somehow. But to think I’d break down this quickly..]

[That’s not true, you know.]

Aya shook her head quietly

[It’s not about whether you’ve changed or not, it’s about your desire to change. That’s also important, you know… There’s no way I can do anything when I’m in an unusual situation.]

[Ugh…]

When I pressed my chest, Aya immediately said in a gentle voice, [But you know what?]

[To think and worry over something like that… I think it’s important. Because the more you worry, the more you will be able to do things a little differently the next time something like this happens.]

Aya…

[“How pompous of me to say this” is what you’re thinking right?]

[Hmm… I never said something like that.]

I smiled a little.

[When Aya said it, it’s was very convincing.]

[Right?]

I was happy to hear that encouragement.

[That’s why… Don’t worry about me.]

[That’s a little difficult but… I’ll try my best]

No matter how many times Aya follows me, I’ll try not to worry about it! I’m sure that after a while, I’ll be reminded now and then that I didn’t get to spend time with her on her birthday.

As Aya said, I’ve been living with that intention to grow up for a long time, and I guess I can’t behave like an adult just yet. It’ll take a lot of effort to not care about it but I’ll try to stop thinking about growing up.

[I’m really sorry my parents are such worrywarts. I don’t mind going home alone at night, but it’s a rule in our house. Even if I told them that I’d take a cab with my allowance, they said that wasn’t allowed… Even though I’m a sophomore in high school… It’s so embarrassing.]

[Nope, your parents are totally right.]

Oh, no. Aya is probably more protective than my parents. Normally she’d be on my side but she would agree with anything that kept me safe.

[I knew that Aya would say that… but come on.]

I know it’s important, I’m not a little kid you know…

[I know that it’s your first Christmas with me, but it’s okay. For me, spending the rest of the year with you is way more important.]

[Mhm…]

I know that it’s not just words of comfort… But I wanted to have a long date with Aya.

[Mhm, Okay then.]

I clenched my fists and stood up.

[I’m going to talk to my mom about it again later. I’ve even stayed at a hotel before, so I’ll persevere and try my best to get her to agree.]

That’s right, I can’t give up at once. If Aya’s strength is to work hard and steadily, my strength is staying positive and not getting discouraged.

I got a good score on the test, so I should have all the weapons I need. I’ll tell her that I’ll help her and study hard.

The main problem is that my mom is a better communicator than I am, but… you never know until you try!

[We still have a week before Christmas! I’ll come to you every day, mother! I’m going to use every trick in the book!]

I’ll use whatever means I can.

Then Aya thought about it.

[You’re going to use whatever method, huh… Hey, where’s your mother’s hospital room?]

[Eh? Why?]

[I’m going to make sure of something.]

[Uhhh… In the private room, number 203 with a plate that says Sakakibara Satomi. She and I look familiar, so I’m sure you’ll recognize her at first glance.]

Aya looked as if she had been shocked. No, her expression didn’t change, but it sure looked like it to me.

[Marika’s… Future appearance… What will it look like…?]

Uh-huh… Why do you say that with such an expression…

[You won’t have a crush on someone’s mother… right?]

I said with narrowed eyes.

Well, I think if I saw Aya’s mother, I’d be like, [Oh, how beautiful… (wink)]

[Right, I have to bring some stuff from home. A change of clothes, something to do…]

It seems that my aunt will help me when she’s finished her work. But even so, there’s a memo on my smartphone that lists things that my mother wants to bring. The amount is huge and seems to be enough for a week. At these moment, I started to question how people’s minds work.

[So you’re coming back to the hospital again?]

[Yeah, I’ll be back later. Also, I’m sorry that you had to come all the way out here to see me.]

[Nah, it’s okay, I’ll come back later.]

[Oh really?]

I hope I didn’t worry her too much. Well, of course, I did if I were crying like that.

　Is this the first time I cried so hard in front of Aya? I suddenly feel embarrassed. I’m sure my makeup is a mess now! I have to go home and fix it!

[I-It’s okay, I’ve calmed down. I’m fine, I can do this myself.] (TN: I think Marika doesn’t want Aya to interfere with her plan)

[No, it’s fine, this is my problem.]

What do you mean by “my problem”? Do you have a reason to come to the hospital again? I thought the outpatient department should be closed. But I wonder… is there anyone she wants to visit in this hospital?

[Well then, see you.]

[Okay.]

I had to leave Aya, who was busy with her own business.

I thought Aya would say, “I’ll help you” and come home with me to my house… No, it’s not like I’m lonely or anything…

Being alone, I sighed again.

I’ll be living alone for a week from today, which will give me a chance to stretch my wings, but I don’t know why… Why did all of this happen at this particular time…

I’m going back and forth between my house and hospital again with a sigh of disappointment.

　It took me two hours to get the groceries, and when I came back, I found Aya in my mother’s room.

WHY?!

I hide the door and try to sneak a peek inside.

If it turns out to be something like “my lover had an affair with my mother”, I think I’m going to cry more than I did before. I’m not threatening her, but I’ll cry to the point of breaking her heart.

They were both looking into a handheld camera that looked familiar.

Hmm? I think I’ve seen this camera somewhere…

AH! It was the same Handycam as the one she used when she was recording my s*x video!

[Aya!?]

I yelled at her.

[What are you doing, Aya! I don’t get it?!]

[Just because it’s a private room, it doesn’t mean that you can make a loud noise in the hospital, Marika]

[What are you talking about?!]

[She’s right, Marika. I’m being shown something very interesting right now.]

[No, no, no, no, no!]

My mind went blank and I shivered uncontrollably.

Wait, what are you doing, looking at Tiktok while chatting with your mother? What kind of face am I going to have to face with my mother tomorrow? What sin have I committed?

I intervene between both of them. When I turned my attention to the display, what was playing on it was not a video of two girls doing lewd stuff.

[Oh…?]

It was an image of a man and a woman in a hakama, standing facing each other in a tatami-matted dojo.

I was taken aback and asked, [What is this?]

[Aya-chan is a first-degree Aikido student, she said. I heard it’s amazing for a sophomore high school student to have a first dan. And unlike normal aikido, her aikido school is a school that does a lot of ‘BANG BANG’ fighting, so she’s really strong.] (TN: dan here refers to ranks in Aikido.)

　For some reason, my mother’s boastful words slipped from my right ear to my left ear.

I noticed it late but she’s right. The woman in the video is gorgeous. Her hair is tied up in a bun, so she looks completely different.

　Is this some kind of game or…? The screen shakes every now and then as if it’s showing a DVD recording of a video game.

　Aya had told me about this before. Aikido is supposed to be a martial art where people compete in the beauty of their techniques, not in fighting. But Aya was sent to a Shura-style Aikido school. So she became a “grappler Aya”. (TN: I think grappler Aya is referring to the style where it’s focused on grappling people and throw them (CMIIW)) 

By the way, Aya at that time had almost no memory other than going to school, studying, coming home, and practicing Aikido. When I asked her what she did when she was a child, she replied [Studied and practiced.]

　I was surprised because I thought she was only interested in martial arts. She looked like a boy soldier being trained secretly in a refugee camp.

　At that time, the yuri manga she read in her spare time was her only source of comfort, and she devoted herself to that hobby. It seems that by reading yuri mangas, her human heart awakened.

When I heard that, I thought, [Is this the beginning of a movie starring an assassin?]

Well, it’s not like I have a problem with that.

[Why are showing my mom the video of the brawl directly from the Handycam? Why don’t you project it on the TV screen?]

[I was in a hurry.]

That’s an explanation of the latter, not an answer to my question, right?

Anyway, I was curious, so I looked at the small screen. With a serious look on her face, Aya was grabbing an adult man twice her size and applying a technique on him.

The man was thrown away with a thud and a bang.

　Aya kept a cool face, and soon a new guy came in as if he was a challenger, and then he was thrown away again and replaced. What? Isn’t Aya really strong?

　This is the first time I’ve seen Aya fight for real, and it’s not just cool, it’s kind of beautiful. The rough but refined movements, like wild predators in documentaries, never fail to attract my attention.

When I was staring at the screen, I was speechless.

[As you can see, I have a background in martial arts.]

Aya didn’t have that fluffy atmosphere around her. She had a crisp, distant look on her face. It makes her face beautiful.

[Right, and what about it?]

My mother laughed forcefully.

[Aya-chan is the girl who went on a hot spring trip and stayed over with Marika before, right? She must be thankful for that.]

What are they talking about? Well, it’s not like this talk is something related to me, right? But I’m a bit suspicious why Aya is talking about something that has nothing to do with my mother…

[Hey, what do you think?]

I don’t think it’s a sharp question. I think she’s nervous.

[Are you sure that you’re fine with it? It’s not going to be an easy task, you know.]

[It’s fine, I’m used to living alone.]

The two of them proceeded with their conversation, leaving me hanging. Can someone tell me what’s happening here?

[Hmm, I see. But you have to give me your parents’ contact information first, right? I’m going to have a small talk with them. It’s okay if we both agree on it. I was also worried about leaving Marika alone, too. Thank you.]

[Your welcome.]

　Aya started talking awkwardly on her phone. Since 2014, talking on the phone in the hospital room has been allowed, as long as it doesn’t disturb the general patients. We have a private room, so it should be fine.

Aya handed the phone to my mother. The conversation ended quickly. My mother gives Aya back the phone with a slightly complicated look on her face.

[Your parents are fine with it.]

[Eh really?!]

Aya’s face brightened as she leaned toward my mother. My mother sighed with a wry smile at Aya.

[But you know what Aya? Let me tell you something. No matter how confident you are in your skills, you’re still a girl. There are people in this world who do irresponsible things, so you have to be careful, okay.]

[Yes, thank you so much.]

Aya bowed her head significantly. I don’t understand what just happened, but I feel like clapping my hands to celebrate it. And then, Aya put her hands on her chest.

[But I know it by heart, Aikido wasn’t a technique to beat up opponents, but a technique to learn how to live a life with self-defense and self-respect. Fortunately, I refuse to stray from that path.]

Aya is saying something so respectable that I want to pull my cheeks to check if this is real. but I decided not to do it because it would hurt.

[Well, that’s okay. It’s a pleasure to work with you. But, I have yet to ask for Marika’s feelings.]

[Yeah, you’re right. What are you talking about? ]

[I will protect your daughter, so leave it to me.]

[As I said… What are you talking about?]

　Is she trying to propose to me? But normally, you wouldn’t start talking about your daughter when you don’t have one. It’s not like a political marriage in the Warring States period.

And then my mom said this in front of me with a frown on her face.

In a way, it gave me a shock similar to a marriage proposal.

[Aya-chan, you’re going to stay at Marika’s house for a week starting from today, I’m sure you’ll like it.]

[……………………..Eh?]

I froze up.

I look at Aya and she looks up diagonally with a sense of duty on her face. Wait a minute, Me and Aya are going to live together… for a week…. From today…?

I shouted in a voice that sounded like it was going through the roof to the earth.

[EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH?!]

　＊＊＊

[Eeh?]

Aya was standing in the doorway of our house with a composed look on her face. The sound of a Boston Bag hitting the floor brought me back to my senses. Ha… I was spacing out. I couldn’t remember anything before I came back from the hospital.

[From now on, I’m sorry for disturbing you]

Aya, carrying her school bag, bowed. I reflexively took my slippersbut inside, I couldn’t stop sweating.

What… What is this sight…

I can’t keep up with the speed of reality at all. I feel as if spring, summer, autumn, and winter have all passed in a single day.

　My mom went to the hospital and had surgery and stayed in the hospital. My dad came home and we talked for a bit and then he went back to work again. And then I went back to get some clothes and then Aya had gotten permission from my mother… then Aya came to stay over?

Isn’t it a bit much to have all these events in a single day?

And then this is the end result.

It’s a huge turnabout. Just when I thought I was going to have less time to spend with Aya for the next week, now we would be sharing food, clothing and shelter.

　Aya was standing in the doorway staring at me. I bowed my head, fuming at her gaze.

[Even though my home is not that special. I’ll be in your care.]

[Yes, I’m looking forward to working with you.]

　We bowed to each other as if we were business partners, and I invited her to come in. [Yes,] Aya said, lifting her Boston bag with a face that was still tense.

　After taking off her shoes and changing into slippers, Aya stood beside me and whispered with a healthy and compassionate smile, as if she had worked very hard to avoid a red mark.

[With this, your problem is solved, right?]

Without a doubt, I will be able to spend Christmas and my birthday with Aya.

There’s nothing to be afraid of on the way home after curfew, as long as Aya is there.

No, I’m scared of this situation.

I mean, I’m going to live with Aya for a week, right?

It’s too dangerous. It’s too dangerous, isn’t it ……?

And so, the exciting week of living together, just the two of us… began.