I’ve been translating like crazy these past few days. As usual, if there is something wrong with the grammar, sorry! (^_^)v
One day after work was finished, I opened the door of our house and there were unfamiliar shoes at the entrance.
But I somehow understood it with one glance. I'm pretty sure that it is my uncle……
Uncle who lives in the same district as us and my father are quite close to each other. Therefore it is not unusual for Uncle to come to our house. However, because he said so many things to me regarding marriage during the memorial service, my mood sank a little.
When I entered the living room with a heavy steps, somehow the merry Uncle stood up and greeted me.
“Oh!! Kano! I have been waiting for you."
"Uncle…… Wel-Welcome……"
I only have a bad feeling that Uncle is "waiting". It seems like a faint blush appeared on his cheeks as he sipped tea and talked to my mother. When Uncle saw my face, he gleefully took out something like an envelope out of his bag.
"Look, like I've told you during the memorial service, I want to introduce some young men from my company!"
As I thought! But I definitely turned it down at that time!
The bad feeling was right and my facial muscles inadvertently stiffened.
"No, Uncle…… Didn't I already refused? There is no need for you to introduce anyone."
I felt apologetic to Uncle, but I truly do not want to meet them.
After expressing my flat refusal, I turned on my heel. Then I heard Uncle's impatient voice from behind.
"W-Wait! Kano, wait! Well, you see, when I showed your picture to that young man, he really liked it—"
"Picture?!"
I turned around with force upon hearing Uncle's surprising words. Unlce became frightened of my menacing look and ducked his head in an apologetic manner.
"No, while I was talking about my cute niece, he told me that he would like to see your picture…… Because he said that enthusiastically, I have no choice but to show your picture that I borrowed from your mother. When he saw it, he seems to like you very much. He would tell me to introduce him to you every time I meet him, and I'm also fed up with him, you know? That's why, please, just meet him for once. I'm begging you. Please."
Even if he put both of his hands together to beg, I cannot just agree to his request. Besides, my anger shifted from Uncle to Mother.
"Mother!! Why did you give my picture to Uncle?!"
"It's fine, right? You don't have a boyfriend."
Mother continued drinking her tea and was not affected at all by my loud accusing tone.
Really—!! Why are you always doing things behind my back?!
As if drained of my strength, I slowly put my bag on the floor.
"I will never go!! If I go even just once, Uncle will keep on urging me!"
"Do not say such a thing~ look at picture of him. He is quite a handsome man~"
Uncle took some pictures from the envelope in his hand and something like a family chart. Then Mother got up from the sofa, immediately took pictures and family chart and examined it seriously.
"Oh, what a nice man. Even his background is perfect. This person is wasted on Kano."
Mother nodded as she examined it with intense concentration and admired it. Looking at the two of them, I can only stare in amazement.
"No matter how good he is, I will not meet him."
"Do not easily dismiss it~ Who knows, you might like him when you meet him, hm?"
Uncle's tone sounds like he is a little pleased. However, the pressure is heavier than usual. This, perhaps…..
"Uncle, does this person have a weakness?"
When I tried to test him, Uncle obviously panicked.
"No, nothing like that! Nothing!" [T/N: I bet he is a psycho!]
Uncle's eyes kept on darting…… There is . . . no doubt . . .
I deeply sighed and looked at Mother and Uncle alternately.
"Whatever, I refuse! I will not see him."
"Kano~"
Uncle pleaded with a sad expression and rubbed his palms together. Seeing him like that, Mother mutttered, "Oh, dear." and cast me a fleeting glance.
"Kano, why don't you just meet him? If you keep it as it is, you'll just get older without having an encounter. Isn't it nice to have a person you like? I think that this is also an opportunity."
Mother approached me and told me this.
"Mother, you too? But I really do not like it!!"
"I'm not saying that you marry immediately soon after meeting, you can just meet him casually. Look, he's handsome."
My mother is flitted the picture in front of me, but I do not feel like looking at it at all. Casually . . . Mother indeed said that but Uncle is a person who readily chimes in with others. Without knowing it, he went on and kept on matchmaking. That's why I will not consent to an omiai.
Besides, I am already dating someone.
However, if I will expose that I am dating someone right now, Mother will definitely urge me to get married. I want to avoid it.
Mother, who was silently regarding me, asked to confirm.
"Then, it's okay, right? This matchmaking—"
"St-… Please stop!! I'm already dating someone right now……"
Noticing my slip of tongue, I pressed my mouth with my hands.
When I looked at Mother and Uncle, they were staring at me with surprise.
"……What are you saying? I just heard it now, since when did you start dating?"
Mother strikes at me with a dubious look.
Ugh, this is . . . a sad expression of disbelief of the existence of my boyfriend. I sighed.
"It's true that I have a boyfriend. We only got together just recently…… But as for his identity, it is a secret……"
"What the heck. If that is so, then stop it. I don't believe—"
Mother pouted her lips and turned away. Ku, are you a child…… Mother! There is no other way but to honestly give his name!
I clenched my fist and resolved myself.
"The other person is a m-monk……" [T/N: Mother = 1 point, Kano = 0]
"Huh?"
Mother and Uncle, who both asked in a hysterical voice, watched me and stiffened.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you tonight."
Afterwards, Mother and Uncle asked me, "Who was the other person?", making me totally exhausted, but I had to contact Hazekursan.
Luckily Hazekursan, who immediately answered his phone, told me that he would head here as soon as his work was over.
Since it's already night, I've expected to him to politely refuse that he could not come, however he told me that he will absolutely come, and was amused with my words.
"Hazekursan, I'm sorry!!"
I bowed deeply at Hazekursan, who came in his priest's robes. Then he placed his hands on my head, and Fufu, he laughed.
"What are you saying? On the contrary, I cannot help it but be happy. It is my wish that Kano-san will rely on me and introduce me to her family as her boyfriend."
Because Hazekursan said so with a smile, I don't feel guilty anymore.
Anyway, why is Hazekursan more cheerful than usual?
Confused, I led Hazekursan to our living room. Seeing him, Mother got up excitedly.
"Oh, my, Hazekursan!! When I was informed that Hazekursan and my daughter are truly dating, I was very surprised!!"
Hazekursan gently smiled at Mother's surprised reaction.
"I apologize. I was delayed in saying my greetings. I just started dating Kano-san."
"No, no, it's okay~ Oh, Hazekursan, have you eaten dinner yet? I will prepare it immediately."
When I called, I heard he did not have dinner yet, so Mother, who was waiting for him to come, delightedly headed to the kitchen.
"……During the memorial service, I saw a handsome monk in front of me but……. I can't believe, with Kano……"
Uncle stared at Hazekursan, who was sitting on the sofa, unable to hide his surprise.
"When I visited here during the Bon festival, I fell with Kano-san at first sight. Then I asked her to date me on countless occasion."
"Eh——!? Is that true, Kano!?"
"Do not ask me!!"
What the heck, this is sooo embarrassing……!
"But…… Hazekursan. As a handsome man, I am certain that there are women who approach you, right? Are you really okay with Kano?"
When Uncle questioned Hazekursan anxiously, he said with a graceful smile.
"For me, there are no women other than Kano-san."
Though he said it in a calm voice, he delivered it with sincerity.
"……"
"……"
"……"
Uncle and I, even Mother who was preparing dinner, stiffened at Hazekursan's words and blushed.
Em-Embarrassing……!! Come on, stop it……!
I dropped my head and covered my face with a hand.
"……Well, this is…… Kano, no wonder you've fallen in love with him."
"My, I also want to say that."
Both Uncle and Mother were stunned at Hazekursan's words.
"It's simple, but please take a meal."
That's what Mother placed in front of Hazekursan, a hot wild vegetable udon.
"Then I won't hesitate. Itadakimasu."
Hazekursan, who sat on the floor, bowed with his his palms pressed together, and began to eat quietly. Everyone's eyes were concentrated on Hazekursan.
After all, his movements were graceful. And then, my eyes were drawn at his beautiful hands that was holding his chopsticks.
……So I am going out with this person…… While I was deep in my thought, Mother spoke.
"As what I said the other day, Hazekursan is going to succeed your family's temple, right?"
Towards Mother's question, Hazekursan replied with resolute attitude after putting down his chopsticks.
"Yes. My father is currently the chief priest, but I will eventually succeed him."
"I am sorry to say this since you just started dating, but Kano is at a mature age. If you are dating from here onwards, I want to know if marriage comes into your mind."
—There, she said it. The moment definitely came like I thought.
I peered at Hazekursan's face, wondering how he will answer mother’s frank question.
"When it comes to marriage, it is not just my will that will make it happen…… but if there's a chance, then by all means."
Hazekursan answered well, without changing his facial expression. When she heard that, Mother smiled as though she was a little relieved.
"I wonder if my daughter will be able to serve as a wife of the temple. This child is silly as usual."
Mother…… Silly is kind of rude……
"My mother was also a laywoman. She had a hard time at the beginning of their marriage, but now her management of the temple is admirable. Regarding marriage, my parents respect my will and are cooperative. But if that was the case, anything that Kano-san worries about, Kano-san will be able to manage somehow……."
Hazekursan's answer took the burden off her shoulder and Mother felt relieved.
—As for marriage, I thought it was better if I will not interrupt their conversation and just shut my mouth…… Unexpectedly, Mother and Hazekursan were very aware about my considerations regarding the future, and I was a little surprised.
Hazekursan also suddenly proposed, and when I thought how my life will be after marriage, I have no idea at all.
I haven't thought of anything about the future……
Of course, I do not want to be assertive about marriage, I knew that it is truly fine to be just the way I am, but I would feel like a useless woman with a mature age…….
Uncle, who was listening to that conversation, seemed to have a different idea.
"Well, t can't be helped. This guy can politely refuse. But then I will feel disappointed.
Uncle sighed dejectedly, leaning on the sofa.
"I-I'm sorry, Uncle."
Although I said that, I felt relieved and relaxed. Ah~ Thank goodness.
"By the way, Hazekursan, cna monks really see ghosts?"
Uncle started to think with keen interest, changing his facial expression.
"No, I am not special . . . like those people . . ."
Hazekursan replied kindly to Uncle.
"Well then…… Well then……"
In the end, he became a victim of Uncle's relentless barrage of questioning.
Oh, Hazekursan, I'm sorry……
"I'm really, really sorry!!"
Leaving the house to send off Hazekursan, I lowered my head to him. It was already very late because he got detained by Uncle.
Uncle, who was conversing with Hazekursan, got drunk, and Aunt went to pick him up and went home ahead of us.
I felt apologetic for Hazekursan for being detained for a long time. Hazekursan smiled tenderly to me, who was earnestly apologizing.
"Don't mention it. I had lots of fun. More than anything, spending my time with you is my greatest happiness."
……He said embarrassing words as usual, but I forcefully returned the topic.
"But monks get up early in the morning, right?"
"Well, I get up at 5 o'clock every morning."
—I-I know, right……?!
It is currently close to midnight. Sincerely apologizing, I lowered my head deeply again.
"……I'm sorry……"
—As always, I do things in half measures……. So pathetic.
When I bowed my head, Hazekursan touched my shoulders gently.
"I said it's okay."
When I raised my head after hearing those kind words, Hazekursan gazed at me with his usual gentle smile. My heart felt warmer when he said that from the bottom of his heart in this kind of situation.
"All you did today was apologize."
"Speaking of which, you're right……"
Hazekursan burst out laughing. He then looked at me with a mysterious expression.
"Although you did this to avoid an omiai, but introducing me to your family this way, is it okay for me to think that you have fallen a little for me?"
"Huh!?"
"Can I . . . hope for more?"
As Hazekursan search for my true feelings, he gazed at me. Being stared with such eyes, I couldn't bring myself to lie.
I decided to honestly tell him my feelings.
"……It's true, that my impression on you has changed a lot."
"So what you're saying?"
"I think you are a nice person . . . And, err, I don't . . . like you . . . What I'm saying is……"
I gave him a strange, choppy reply, but this is my honest feelings right now.
Hazekursan, who was silently listening to my reply, averted his eyes for a moment then quietly took a step.
And when he reached out his hand to me, I found myself being covered with his priest's robes.
"HHazekursan……"
Hazekursan hugged me gently and whispered in my ear.
"I'm happy."
"Eh?"
"You told me never to appear in front of you again, so I tried hard to improve my image to you."
"P-Please forget that already……"
Hearing his low voice, my face quickly blushed.
Unable to endure it, I tried to distance myself from Hazekursan by pushing him away, but he did not budge.
"Hazekursan……!"
"Let's stay like this for a while. Please give me my reward today."
Telling me this, since I felt obliged to him, I could not refuse him.
"Just a little, okay……?"
The edge of Hazekursan's mouth raised, and let out an unusual bashful laugh, adding strength to the arm that hugs me. The fragrance of the incense surrounded me and strangely, it felt nostalgic.
I heard the faster heartbeat on his chest, and for some reason, my heart also throbbed.
After some time, Hazekursan moved away from me.
"I am reluctant but I have to excuse myself because of the time. Could you make time for me again, Kano-san? Let's go somewhere together."
I gently smiled and nodded while looking at his eyes.
"Yes……"
Seeing that I agreed, Hazekursan smiled happily.
"Thank you. I will contact you again. Well then…… Good night."
"Good night……"
Straightening his back, Hazekursan went home. I kept watching him until I could not see his back.
Translator’s comments:
As I translate this novel, I can’t help but relate myself to the female lead, Kano. Our temperament and personality are around 85% similar. Meeting our Hazekursan, it makes me feel envious, so much that my heart aches. Not that I fell in love with him myself, but because she finally met someone who loves and treasures her. Even though this is just a fictional reenactment of romance, still I feel happy for her and . . . this is silly but, I am rooting for her! (T^T) I am very, very fortunate that I stumbled upon this novel. 🙂
Anyway, I just read all the comments just now. LOL With all the backlog, I was translating like crazy last month. Thank you, guys!