Chapter 42: Slide
Translated by : Kaori Hasegawa
Sponsored and brought to you by : Alberto Mazzetto
Story and Art by : Masakazu Katsura
<108>
Youta: I hate this!!
People: Kya--.
Kya--.
No--.
Stop--.
It's okay.
I'm scared.
So high.
Eh--.
Great! Grand!
Ah--.
No kidding.
Wa.
Wa.
Bathing suit came off!
Ga--.
Ai: Kya-- oh--.
Youta: I hate this slide, it reminds me of a horrible
childhood experience!! This falling down without any
feeling seems like.
<109>
Youta: When I broke my heart. And, Gya--!!
Sound: Basha--.
Za-- Papa.
Youta: Gee. I feel horrible.
Sound: Doki.
Ba.
Ai: It was so fun!
<110>
Ai: Let's do it again!!
Sound: Suru.
Youta: Ah.
Sound: Ba.
Ai: Kya. Gobo gobo gobo.
Sound: Zaba.
Ai: Have you gone crazy!? In public!! You've gone too
far! Even though my body is so attractive.
Youta: No! No! Your pant's string was unraveling!!
Ai: Eh? Ah.
Half bum.
Sound: Puri.
Ai: Too violent. I'm a girl! Be nicer!!
<111>
Youta: I wanted to come to the pool no matter what. I
thought it wouldn't be a good idea to have fun with
Ai-chan, but. I promised to come here with
Nobuko-chan, but. We always just pass each other,
and can hardly ever come, so.
It's not exactly passing each other, I just try not
to call her. I've read, "If you start to not get
along, then don't call, just wait until her feelings
soften."
Both Takashi and Moemi-chan are gone and not at
home, so I came here with Ai-chan, but.
Ai-chan is doing some crazy things, so I can be like
her brother. It really helps me because I can evade
my shaky feelings.
Ai: Why have you been so blank?
<112>
Ai: You're thinking about Nobuko-chan, right?
Youta: It's not like that.
By the way, you were followed, right? I wonder why
you can play in such an open place.
Sound: Putsun.
Ai: I'm okay with this.
Youta: Is your enemy a vampire?
<113>
Ai: If it doesn't work, then I have you.
Youta: I don't have the confidence to beat up a vampire.
Sound: Pan.
Youta: You look like you're having fun.
Ai: Because I came to the pool for the first time.
Youta: I see. That's right. The Video Girl, Ai-chan, was
born last winter, so it's her first summer.
Ai: Even if I'm a substitute, I'm happy.
To be brought to such a fun place.
<114>
Sound: Doki.
Youta: U. So cute. Not good, not good.
So you understand that you're a substitute. It would
be a problem if you misunderstood strangely. I have
strong feelings for Nobuko-chan.
Ai: Some guy, while I'm honestly thanking you!!
Youta: Uu.
Sound: Piku piku.
Ai: Oh, I see, you're embarrassed. You talk, and have to
hide your embarrassment.
Youta: Not at all.
Ai: I see.
In truth, I wanted to come with a handsome guy!
Sound: Mu.
Youta: Oh yeah, then find some handsome guy and ask him to
play with you!!
<115>
Youta & Ai: Hah!
Sound: Geshi.
Youta: This girl!
Sound: Guwa.
Youta: Um?
Ai: Hyo--.
Sound: Ta.
Ai: Ah.
Sound: Kuki.
Ai: U.
Sound: Don.
Youta: Oh boy.
<116>
Ai: Hehehe.
Hey! Let's go on the slide again!
Youta: Sorry! I really don't like that slide. Please
forgive me.
Ai: Ohh. Fine, fine. I'll go by myself.
Youta: Sorry.
Ai: What's wrong with him? He didn't want it for the
first time either.
<117>
Youta: I don't know why I hate this slide so much. It's a
very painful feeling after I finish the slide. I
haven't been good at it since I was a child.
Specifically, that time in kindergarten.
One cola.
That's right. The time in kindergarten.
I don't know if it's called love or not, but there
was a girl in the same class I liked very much.
I always played with her. In particular, we liked to
play on the slide, and the time we spent playing on
the slide was the most fun time.
<118>
Youta: She went first, and.
I came after her. We always used this pattern.
And she always waited for me down there, and quietly
gave me her hand.
With her hand, she pulled me up. Even though I was a
child, I could always be sure, "She likes me, too."
That warmth in her hand, and the strength of her
pulling me, I still remember.
But one day, she moved. At that time, I felt lonely,
but it didn't shock me.
But when I slid on the slide myself, I was attacked
by sadness and I cried.
<119>
Youta: Because there was no kind hand to pull me up. Just
because of that.
All the things, like the greatness of her existence
and loneliness came over me, and I couldn't stand
up. From that day on, I was overcome by many
feelings, so I stopped playing on the slide.
If I think about it, my passive attitude toward
wanting to see the girls' actions might be that same
of that feeling of wanting the warm hand. I don't
have the courage to stand up, so the love where I
don't receive the hand will end.
If that small slide was my original form of love,
even not the first love, then this complicated,
triangle slide is like my love now.
<121>
Youta: Why is Nobuko-chan here?? But I guess she's thinking
the same thing.
What kind of expression in on her face? I guess
she's in trouble since she's the one who refused to
come because she said she had something to do.
If I insult her from the beginning, we'll get worse,
right. How can I start.
Nobuko: Hello.
Youta: Eh!? It's kinda very cold, isn't it? At this time,
Hello?
<122>
Youta: Did you come here by yourself?
Ooops, what am I saying, too.
Nobuko: Um-hh. Two of us, with my friend.
Youta: A friend? Guy? Girl? Could be Matsui, he got out of
the hospital.
Oh yeah.
Not good. I started to slide.
Sound: Syuuuuu. Doki doki doki doki doki.
Nobuko: I called you.
<123>
Nobuko: It was the answering machine, so just in case, I
left a message, but.
Youta: She called me. Good thing I didn't show my emotions.
So, I guess it was after I left.
Well, something like this would happen as well.
Stop! Stop!
At last, we could meet each other, so.
Sound: Niko.
Youta: .Stopped!
<124>
Nobuko: Senpai.
You're very calm. You seem not to care about me.
Don't give me a cold smile.
Youta: Oh, no!?
Sound: Gyun.
Youta: The well-thought out action resulted in the
opposite.
<125>
Sound: Zapaaan.
Ai: Burururu.
Oh! Youta!! This is wonderful, can I try it a fifth
time.
Ah.
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