Takane no Hana

“Haaa …”

The car carrying Hinako pulled away.

And then Narika let out a deep breath.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just that …… I am finally able to relax”

Apparently, she was relieved to get rid of the tension. In the tea party, Narika was able to maintain a solid attitude, even if she was frightened at times. Now, she instantly became something more appropriate for a girl her age.

“You said you weren’t good at talking to people, but you were able to talk normally.”

“It’s not my own strength. It’s just that thanks to the help of various people, I managed to keep my temper in check. ……”

Well, that may be true.

In particular, Asahi-san and Tennoji-san were concerned about Naruka. Asahi-san was enlivening the place so that Naruka could be mixed in the conversation, and Tennoji-san was trying to draw Naruka into the center of the conversation by asking Naruka questions.

“Itsuki … Thank you very much”

Naruka suddenly thanked him in a formal manner.

“If it weren’t for Izuki, I’d would have probably been alone until graduation.”

“… That’s not true. I just helped a little.”

“No, I know, you are doing this because it’s me. Today was a day that will change my life.”

Naruka then looked at me.

“After all, Itsuki is …… my hero. When I was a kid, he taught me about the outside world and …… this time, he saved me from loneliness.”

A hero is …… an exaggeration, no matter how much.

Naruka has been beautifying her childhood memories, and now she is very emotional. A little time will calm her down. I don’t mean to be such a big deal.

“That’s why it’s ………… unfair.”

Naruka lowered her gaze and said.

“It’s not fair. …… cheating, cheating, cheating!　Konohana-san is cheating!”

“‘…… are you still saying that?

“Oh, I’ll say it again and again! Because I hate this very much! Well, I was able to meet you again, but why are you at Konohana-san’s house!”

“Even if I told you that it is … only for the convenience of my parents?”

When I told her that I had no choice, Naruka groaned, “Kuu …!”.

“I’m not sure what else you’re supposed to be doing as an employee. You have a job, don’t you?”

“Well, yeah, but my job is just taking care of people around me.”

“Konohana-san doesn’t need you to take care of her!　She’s always been perfect!

She’s not perfect, that’s why she’s in need of help.

I’m not sure what to say, but I can’t say anything, so I’ll keep my mouth shut.

“When will your employment end?”

“For now, it’s undecided …”

“Why don’t you come to my house when you’re done? I’m sure you miss it too!”

It’s true that I miss it, but it will be difficult because I’m going to be employed by the Konohana family until I graduate.

“Well, I’ll visit when I can.”

“It’s a false promise!?”

Naruka shouted as if she was shocked.

I’m not Tennoji-san, I have one or two social duties.

(TLN: Best translation I can give here. Raws:

「まあ、気が向けばな」

「社交辞令だ！？」

酷くショックを受けた様子で成香が叫んだ。

俺は天王寺さんではないので、社交辞令のひとつやふたつくらい言う。 )

◆

“Today’s lesson is over. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Oh, thank you for your hard work …”

At the Konohana family dojo, I said, while sweating.

The lessons will not be canceled even on the day of the tea party. Rather, it was packed with more content than usual, which made me exhausted.

“Itsukii. Bath …”

The door of the dojo opens and Hinako appears.

“… It’s that time already?”

I looked at the clock in the dojo and muttered.

The time is 10 pm . I wanted to wash my sweat off, so I headed for the bath, but…

“Miss. I have to talk with Itsuki-san about something, so can you go back to my room first?”

“Hmm … I understand. Please be quick.”

Hinako nods to Shizune-san’s words and leaves the dojo.

“Shizune-san, do you want to talk about something?”

“Yes. I’m not going to take up too much of your time.”

“I don’t want to keep the young lady waiting, so I won’t explain it in detail, but … Itsuki-san should keep an eye on her because she’s not feeling well these days.”

“Is it her physical condition?　…… She was fine at the tea party.”

I’m not sure if I made her overwork herself or not.

I thought so, but Shizune opened her mouth with a mysterious look.

“Strictly speaking, I’m afraid she’ s going to get ..out of shape in the near future.”

“…?”

I tilted my head, not understanding the meaning of the words.

“It’s a good idea to be careful. Then, Itsuki-san, please head to the young lady’s room.”

With that said, Shizune-san started cleaning the dojo.

I didn’t understand what she was talking about, but she said I should be careful, so I would be careful.

I entered Hinako’s room and headed for the bathroom.

My bathing suit was already in the changing room. I change my clothes and enter the bathroom.

“Ahhhh ……  Itsuki …….”

“Sorry to keep you waiting …….”

I walked up to Hinako, who was already exhausted, and quickly washed her hair.

“Does it itch?”

“No …”

Since it became a daily routine to wash Hinako’s hair, I was also taught by Shizune-san, how to wash her hair. Warm the scalp with hot water in the palm and wash it carefully with shampoo. After that, take a handful of conditioner and rub it into the hair.

“……But Shizune-san, you’ve created something amazing.”

As I was washing Hinako’s hair, I turned around.

There was a private shower room set up there. It was like having a bathroom within a bathroom. Shizune said, “You can’t wash your body while wearing a bathing suit,” and as a result, a private room was prepared just for washing the body.

“Hinako, may I ask you to get that tub over there?

(TLN: Tub instead of Japanese oke)

“Oke. ……”

Are you OK with the tub …?

I ask Hinako to take a tub that is likely to fall into the bathtub, probably because it was washed away by water.

However, Hinako dropped the tub on the way.

The sound echoes.

“……a”

Hinako quickly picks up the tub as if she had come up with something.

“Three seconds rule”

“…… Well, yeah, but…”

I didn’t know how to respond to Hinako’s smug look.

“This is … fun”

“If you say so, it was worth showing off.”

If possible, don’t do it in public, though.

“Today, after parting from me … what were you talking about with Miyakojima-san …?”

Hinako asks.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but we talked about having a great time at the tea party. That’s about it.”

“… Hmm”

I’m not sure if Hinako is convinced or not.　

“Itsuki is … my caretaker”

Hinako muttered in a small voice.

“…………Don’t go anywhere”

“Huh?”

I couldn’t hear what she was saying because her voice was so thin, but when I asked her back, she didn’t reply.

Hinako slowly moved her body towards me.

She was wearing only a bathing suit, which made me nervous.

“Oh, hey ……, you’ll catch a cold if you sleep in the bath.”

I said, shaking her body lightly.

But Hinako doesn’t say anything.

“Hinako……?”

Realizing that something was wrong, I looked at Hinako’s face.

Hinako was dripping with sweat and letting out a pained breath.

“–Hinako!?”