Since I had nothing better to do, and this part was pretty short, I figured I might as well work on it already, and here it is. I was running out of words in my head while working on this, so excuse the translation if it seems too repetitive.
This is the last part of chapter 2 which continues on from the BBQ event. With this, I’m two-thirds done with volume 3. Coming up next is the ‘Boss Rush until you pass out’ event and then we continue on with the hotel. I remember people putting up a lot of fake spoilers about there being actual NTR in the hotel part, but who really believed that anyway?
So, there’s still no estimate on the release of the next chapter as I can’t remember how long it was, but I’ll work on it when I have the time. I really want to get to volume 5 myself so that it would at least get some hype, but I know that won’t be happening for a while.
All that aside, here’s the final part of chapter 2.
Chapter 2 Part 4Translation: Yamaking
After all that ruckus, the BBQ turned out to be somewhat of a success… I think.
It was delicious after all. And we all had fun.
However.
"I'm tired—"
"I know right…"
As Ako and I sat down side by side on the sandy beach at night, we both let out a sigh.
We had to meet up really early and then we spent the whole day messing around that we all of our energy is gone, at least, that's how it is for me. I'm already way past my limit.
"I wonder, how can those normies have all that stamina? I just don't get it at all."
"I hope we could've at least broken down the events today over the course of the week."
This is not an event in-game you know?
But in contrast to the two of us, who were both pretty spent, Segawa and the others still seem to have more kick in them left. They're over there by the beach playing around with fireworks.
"Oh, Segawa's gathering up all those fireworks and lighting them up in one go."
"Have a taste of my bad self's Burning Edge—!"
She seems to be pretty proud of her skill, but it hurts just hearing her say that out loud.
"Is she acting out a greatsword skill?"
"She's really swinging it around, isn't she—"
Sure, seeing all the colors of those fireworks all mixed was a sight to behold, but isn't that a bit dangerous?
"Hey youuuuuuuuu!"
"Ah, Nekohime-san caught her."
"She holding her by her legs isn't she?"
She hurriedly grabbed the fireworks Segawa was holding and plunged them into the bucket. Then, Nekohime-san grabbed Segawa, who just fell down, by her legs.
"Soooooryaaaaaa!"
"She's spinning her round and round—"
"That's Giant Swing…"
She's pretty small and light so she really spinning a lot over there.
After magnificently spinning her around, Segawa was then brilliantly sent off to space.
"Nooooooooo—bfft!"
"Coaching complete!"
Segawa was sent flying towards the sand with great momentum that it knocked her out. For some reason, Nekohime-san was in a triumphant pose after doing just that.
Are you really sure you should be doing that as our adviser?
"I'm going to go rest for now Rusian. It's fine if you go join them you know?"
"Nah, I'll stay here too."
It feels like the night breeze has gotten a bit colder as I can feel Ako's body heat permeating my body.
If you look up, there's the starry night sky. And if you strain your ears, you can hear the sound of the waves flowing back and forth.
"It feels like the starry night sky could come crashing down any moment doesn't it?"
"Are you talking about Master's skill?"
"I'm not talking about Meteor Strike right now."
It was a response completely devoid of any emotion. That remark's just going to leave a crater and deal a lot of damage to me you know.
"I kind of want to see a shooting star but it's not like the game where we can just use a premium item to have that suddenly appear right—"
"A shooting star that you can see just by paying money doesn't have any feeling behind it."
It's precisely because it's outside the reach of human capabilities that it's considered precious.
And I also consider you to be way outside of my reach, that's why I think of you the same.
"I've finished the preparations! Behold! My fireworks kit!"
Is what I just heard. Master then proceeded to light up the skyrocket-type fireworks she had been messing with.
Starting from the corner, the rockets began to light up in order, spewing fire from their containers.
These seem to be a lot weaker compared to the usual ones that I know of.
They're not too flashy, but if you look from it up this close, you should be able to clearly see it.
"They're pretty well made for something that's commercially available."
"Fuwaaa…"
After Ako's eyes were done gleaming from gazing at the fireworks, she muttered out,
"It won't show exactly how high it is, would it?"
"This is not a game after all."
TL note: This is probably a reference to FFXI where using the fireworks would log the usage in chat. I cannot remember if it actually displays the height in meters of a fountain type though.
Though there's a fireworks event like that in-game though.
One after the other, the fireworks began to shoot up in succession.
And from the embers falling from them, a wave of numerous colors shone upon Ako's face.
Her eyes had a distant faraway look like she was staring far into the sky, being attracted by something even greater than the fireworks.
"……"
"……?"
She still kept staring at it, as if she was being drawn in. And then suddenly, a single teardrop streaked across her face.
…Ako, are you crying?
"Hey, what's the matter!?"
"Oh, huh?"
It looks like Ako just realized as I pointed it out as she alarmingly wiped away her tears.
It seems like she doesn't even understand it herself as she looked pretty confused.
"It's like, uhm… I'm probably happy, I guess?"
"Why do you sound so unsure about that?"
"That's… I didn't think that I would ever get to spend a day like this. So I'm so happy, it doesn't seem real… but at the same time, it also feels kind of sad."
"Ako…"
True to her words, Ako's voice had a hint of happiness and loneliness mixed in.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cry."
Ako was rubbing her eyes so much trying to wipe away her tears, so I thought of giving her a handkerchief. I tried searching around my pockets, but as fate would have it, I didn't have any on me. Darn it, why must I always be like this?
"Uhm… Thank you very much."
"What for?"
"I mean…"
Ako tightly clutched my arm.
I then went to grasp her trembling hands in mine. I'm a bit anxious that I might be shaking a bit as well.
"I would never be here if it weren't for you, Rusian."
"Aren't you overestimating me a… No, that's not it."
As I thought about what to say, I gazed towards Master and the others, who were frolicking around looking at the fireworks.
"It's the same for me too. If you weren't here then I would never be here either."
"That's not true at all."
"I'm telling you it's true. If you weren't here, then even if I happened to meet Schwein and Ako in real life, then I probably wouldn't be getting along with them as good as I am now."
For better or for worse, it's because Ako, our little troublemaker, is here that we're all getting along like this together.
"Then it's a good thing the two of us are together, isn't it?"
"…I guess so."
Just then, a huge firework shot up into the sky sending along a shockwave that resounded through my whole body.
Ako's eyes, which were still wet with tears, began to sparkling under the light of the fireworks.
Now is the perfect timing. That's what my sense were naturally telling me.
If this fails, then I'll just give up on it all.
"…Ako…"
"Yes?"
I grasped Ako's hand, which was still holding on to my arm, and took it in both of my hands.
It was so soft, warm, and tiny.
"Ako… I… uhm…"
I firmly took a deep breath.
The image of Ako saying 'No way' from back then suddenly crossed my mind.
But I've gotten past that now. What I'm seeing right now, at this very moment, is Ako's gentle face.
"I love you."
I said it so simply that even I myself find it pathetic.
But there's no other way to put it is there? I don't have anything else to say but these words.
"Ah…"
Ako looked a bit surprised, but she didn't have the troubled look she had back then.
She looked kind of happy, though a bit embarrassed, as she firmly gripped my hand back in response.
It's the exact opposite of what happened that day.
I'm so anxious that I just can't wait for her to reply.
"Me too—"
Ako kept still for a moment, and then unleashed everything in what she had to say next.
"Me too. I love you too, Rusian."
Her fluffy expression looked so happy that it seemed like she was going to melt.
Thank goodness… Thank goodness!
Uwaaaaaaaaaa, that was soooo scaryyyyyy!
As for me, I felt like I was going to cry so hard that I kept looking down to not make her see me break down in tears.
"…Haaaaa."
"What's the matter?"
Nothing's the matter at all.
"Ah no… it's just… I was really nervous there."
All the strength in my body has literally left me that it had Ako giggling her heart out.
"It's because you don't normally say it, that's why you get so nervous on the rare chances that you do—"
"Like heck I can say this to you every time!"
"I'll say it anytime you want me to though? I love you very much Rusian—"
"Stop— That—!"
"Ehehehe—"
What's with this normie-like situation.
It feels like we're kind of flirting with each other. No wait, we ARE!
In your face normies! Me! I, myself, am finally part of the winning team now!
There's no mistaking it! Right now, I'm currently the happiest guy in the world!
"Uhehehe…"
I can't help that I'm laughing like this.
Even though I think it's pretty disgusting, I just can't myself laughing like this.
Hehe, hehehehe.
This cute girl is my girlfriend you know! I'd really like to show her off like that to everyone I know.
"Even so, Rusian…"
"Yeah?"
While Ako was looking at me in wonder, she then said,
"Suddenly telling me 'I love you' like that, did something happen?"
"Something, you ask? That's question's a little…"
Out of line don't you think? What I just did was clearly a confession— Actually, if you just look at the atmosphere we had going and everything, it's not really all that sudden is it?
Err, hold on.
Just what is this feeling?
I have this bad feeling slowly taking over me.
"E, err, Ako? Did you understand what I just said? Aren't you misunderstanding something?"
"Yes?"
Ako was staring at me in puzzlement, while she was still holding on to my hand.
There's nothing strange about this scenario. This is just how we usually are.
But the fact that this is too close to how we usually are is what's scaring me.
Aren't you acting way too normal for someone who just got confessed to? Isn't that strange?
"Ah, I get it now!"
Ako clasped her hands together.
"Rusian, you saw that thread didn't you! The one that said 'Go tell your wife I love you, post results'. You saw it, didn't you!"
TL note: Threads like this appeared in boards back then. 4chan usually had hug X, post results threads back then, from which I remember usually turns into feels threads, but this was about a decade ago. Right now, it just isn't the same.
"……"
"I thought it would be kind of nice if that happened to me too. But now that you actually said it to me, my chest just feels all fluffy and warm that I just think 'Ah— this is true happiness' and then… Rusian? What's the matter?"
"Ha, hahaha…"
Of course right? If you're a married couple then it's just normal to say 'I love you' and the liek right?
Damn it… I don't really care about anything anymore…
Just like that, I collapsed where I sat.