How to lose a girl with a poisonous tongue, starting from 100% likability (Volume 3) - 6 - Epilogue

 

Epilogue

 

（Nice job, Aito!　I see, so you think.)

 

It was just before I was about to take him back to the festival, when I heard a familiar bright voice.

 

I heard a familiar bright voice and looked around.

 

（Oh, Nanna-san isn’t here. I’m sending a thought directly into Aito’s brain right now. If you imagine what you want to say in your mind, you can send it to me.)

 

（Is that so? (I see…) But did you get what I just said?

 

（Yes. Yes, perfectly.)

 

Oh, it’s true. Amazing.

 

（And Aito’s idea on how to disable Koirai’s warding… Yes, it was a very good decision. I didn’t know there was such a way. I didn’t know there was such a way.)

 

（Oh, that means you can do something about it, right?)

 

（Yes!　Thanks to Aito’s efforts, we now have a good reason to move the old b******s above, just as Aito had predicted. Now, with the intervention of the gods, whose power is much stronger than Nanna’s, I’ve had the wards’ defects removed and they’ve been rebuilt to work properly. Well, Nanna-san was also saved by the fact that the troublesome problem that had been left unattended was cleared up in a flash. You know, it’s like killing two birds with one stone. So, Aito and others, please continue to enjoy my festival as it is.)

 

(Oh, thank you ……)

 

(Oh, thank you …….) (Oh, thank you ……) (Oh, thank you ……) (Oh, thank you …….) (Oh, thank you …….) (Oh, thank you …….) (Oh, thank you …….)

 

(Well, thanks to that, my superiors found out that I had neglected a flaw in the warding of the Koirai Festival for many years, and I ended up having to write a letter of apology. …… Well, Nanna did a lot of things this time, too, and I honestly feel remorse for that. ……)

 

(Oh, I see. ……)

 

（I’m not going to make Aito and Ryoha wait any longer. (I’ll go now.)

 

After those words, Nanna’s voice was not heard anymore.

 

It seems that the warding of the Koisai Festival has really been taken care of.

 

I’m so relieved!

 

“─ ─ Tajima-kun, what are you doing so slowly?　If you want me to leave you, I will.

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m coming.”

 

I rush to the front and get in line with Himuro.

 

And then..,

 

“Speaking of which…”

 

“What is it?”

 

“After all, how exactly is this lover different from a girlfriend?”

 

I asked him casually.

 

“Of course it’s different from a friend, isn’t it?”

 

“No, it’s not, not at all.”

 

His words were more forceful than ever.

 

“…… I guess so. A lover, if you will. In short, you can think of it as a provisional driver’s license.

 

“A provisional license. ……

 

“Well, Tajima-kun is now in the testing stage to see if he can get that provisional license or not, so I don’t want you to misunderstand me on that point. It’s too early to tell.” (Actually, I’m not just his girlfriend, I’m his wife…) Sorry, Tajima-kun. I’m a loser. ……)

 

“I think a provisional driver’s license allows you to drive a car as long as you have a supervisor. Then what, if my fiancée has a supervisor, does that mean we can temporarily be lovers when she gets her license?”

 

Himuro looked at me as if to say, “You’re very perceptive.

 

“Yes, that’s right. With the supervisor’s permission, we can become lovers, but only temporarily. You can be my lover.

 

He restates it twice, as if it’s important.

 

“Well, it’s very unpleasant to be in love with you at the moment.　It’s the best specification. After all, once you’re in a committed relationship, you can remain lovers as long as your supervisor allows it. (Heh heh heh).

 

“So, who is this supervisor going to be? My mother?”

 

(I guess so, considering the way Himuro proposed his girlfriend.

 

“Yes, but me?”

 

Himuro tilts his head curiously.

 

“Is it Himuro himself?”

 

“Of course it is. It’s my own business. Besides, I can’t have Tajima-kun acting like my boyfriend at my discretion. It’s horrifying.”

 

“Yeah, you’re right. ……”

 

(If Tajima-kun insists, I’ll give you permission to become his girlfriend right now. (A glance…) I’ll give you permission. (glances)

 

Himuro is looking at me as if he wants to be my lover (with his mind’s eye). If I could, I would say “yes” right now. …….

 

“……Well, okay. Today, for your hard work and that 50,000 yen, I’ll make a very special effort to show you what it’s like to be a fiancee. It’s so hot today, isn’t it?” (It’s a festival, so it’s okay if it’s only for a little while. Even if it’s just for a little while.)

 

What?　What do you mean by “practice”?

“So that’s what this is about.”

 

Suddenly, Himuro slows down and grabs me by the sleeve of my dress,

 

“You know, if we were lovers, we would walk holding hands, right?”

 

Himuro said to me with some nervousness.

 

Suddenly I remembered what Himuro had said to me in the coffee shop after we had become friends.

 

Friends don’t walk hand in hand. I’m sorry to hear that.”

 

I think that’s what he said to me.

 

“Well, what do you think?”

 

Himuro asks me with a supercilious look.

 

“Ah, ah. That …… makes me really nervous …….”

 

“…… so. By the way, if this were my fiancee, of course she could hold hands with me. But it’s just a trial, so that’s all for now. Well, this scene where only one of us is reaching out to the other is a true representation of our relationship right now. Well, our positions are reversed, but” (………… let’s definitely go around together holding hands next year. …… I love you, Tajima-kun)

 

Himuro is trying to act calm as usual, but his cheeks are a little red.

 

Oh, by all means!

 

With Himuro holding our sleeves, we head toward the storefront for now. But at this full speed, maybe I shouldn’t force him to meet my mom today.

 

Our steps are still little by little. But our relationship is making steady progress.

 

I was so happy to be able to truly feel that at this moment.

 

Yeah, I don’t need anyone to tell me what to do.

 

This is our life together.

 

 

After Days

 

“What? …………?”

 

With a muffled voice, the bandana I had taken out to tie around my head leaves my hand and falls to the ground.

 

After the conversation with Atashi, the islander turns away with a wry smile and goes to start preparing the food stalls.

 

I don’t understand.

 

That was Atashi’s impression after hearing the report of yesterday’s Koisai Festival from Otashima.

 

Right before my part-time job started, I had been worried about it since last night, and I was sleep deprived after all, so I asked him about it…

 

What awaited me was a far more shocking report than I had expected.

 

What’s the test to become a fiancee? …….

 

It’s crazy, it’s crazy, this is wrong. Yes, it’s absolutely wrong.

 

Because, because, because…

 

Himuro-san, didn’t you say you’re getting along with someone you like, that you’re going out with him?

 

That’s right, isn’t it? Himuro-san himself has been declaring since their trip to the hot springs that their relationship was just seconds away.

 

When I bumped into him on the train last Sunday, it seemed that the situation had not changed, and he even said that going to the festival with Otashima was meant to get her to give up on the relationship.

 

And yet, here we are, and now this reversal.

 

This doesn’t make any sense.

 

Could it be that she was rejected?

 

By the guy you like?

 

As I recall, he said he had a rival who was as beautiful as Himuro-san, and all his previous infatuations were based on his imagination, and he chose her… …….

 

This is possible. He has a really bad personality.

 

That doesn’t explain why he suddenly chose Otashima as his partner.

 

He hasn’t even shown any interest in her until now.

 

And now he’s going to give her a trial period to test out his love life…

 

And then they test it out… or something. …….

 

This is a dare. Is this a dare?

 

This is just Himuro’s way of getting back at this unknown guy, to make him regret not turning his back on me. She’s using Otajima’s love for her to get back at him.

 

If that’s true, it’s beyond unforgivable!

 

No, no. No, that’s not it. That’s not what I’m saying.

 

Why are you so distraught?

 

Why am I feeling so much anger?

 

You have a good idea of the main reason.

 

Simply, you don’t want Otakujima to be taken away from you… from the people you love…

 

I won’t let Himuro-san… or anyone else… take this happy time away from me.

 

Yes, I don’t care about the unnecessary pretexts and fences about Otashima’s love for me anymore.

 

I…Sunashiro Masashi…want to be with Tajima Aito forever!

 

If I don’t make a move now, I will definitely regret it.

 

Convinced of this, Atashi unconsciously took action.

 

I grabbed the power stone on my wallet that I had left by my side and opened my mouth with a look of determination.

 

“Hey, Otakujima, you know… ……”

 

What’s wrong?

 

“I’ll do it for you. ……

 

“Hmm?” I’m sorry.　I’m sorry, can you repeat that?

 

Atashima looked back at me, and I gathered all the courage I could muster, and spat out a few words.

 

“That’s why I said I’m going to test you to see if you’re worthy of being his girlfriend!

 

It was a completely impetuous statement.

 

Otashima was stunned by the sudden loud voice.

 

I took advantage of this opportunity to close the distance between us…

 

“This is …… the seal of temporary contract!”

 

And as I said that…

 

I kissed him on the left cheek.

 

 

Atashima was stunned as he put his hand on the kissed cheek.

 

Feeling a lot of sweat all over my body, I continued.

 

“And on the other hand, I’m going to get Otajima’s love interest!　You’d better be prepared for that ……!

 

Yes,” she said, smiling winningly.

 

He can’t and won’t stop now.

 

Postscript

 

Thank you very much for picking up the third volume of Himuro-san. My name is Yoshito Hirono.

 

Now, in this story, I used the word “jinx” a little bit, but do you have any jinx that you believe in or are careful about?

 

I do.

 

A senior person in my life once said to me, “Listen, you should have a nice wallet, even if it’s a little overpriced. Don’t you think money will come in more willingly if you have a beautiful and big wallet?　And don’t get one that’s too old. I have been trying to change my wallet every three years, following the three-year cycle. By the way, this older guy was not only rich, but he was using a worn-out old wallet and he said to me, “Hmmm, me?　I’m not good enough because I’m like this. I wonder why I was so determined to believe it. ……

 

Finally, I would like to make a brief acknowledgement.

 

I would like to thank O-san, the illustrator, Nasaka-san, and all the other people who were involved in this work. Thank you very much for every time.

 

Volume 4 will be available at ……, and I will do my best to get it out before it gets too cold. See you soon.

 

E-book bonus: a newly written short story

 

<Himuro-san’s preparation for his trip

 

Ugh……I knew this was a problem I couldn’t handle on my own…….

 

“Oh…… what should I do……?”

 

With a deep sigh, I sit down on a bench that catches my eye.

 

It was late one afternoon, close to the student council’s trip to the beach for the preview of the forest school.

 

I had just visited a large retail store in front of the station to buy something very important for the trip, but… I had run into a big wall that was beyond my control. …….

 

What the h**l is the right swimsuit to buy?

 

I asked myself, shouting loudly in my mind.

 

Yes, I have just given up on my swimsuit selection and have made a strategic retreat from the swimsuit section.

 

The reason for this is that I was hoping that Tajima-kun would give me a compliment of the highest quality (yes, “You’re beautiful…”). Marry me now! I’ll marry you right now! I’m going for it! I had no idea what the answer to this conundrum would be. …….

 

I was so shallow that I ran out of the house thinking that I would find a better answer by actually thinking about it in front of the swimsuit instead of worrying about it at home.

 

Why, why are there so many swimsuits?

 

My mind went blank as soon as I saw the colorful swimsuits displayed on the floor. Recommendations were posted here and there in red. Which ones are the recommended ones?

 

Thinking back, it was my first time to choose a swimsuit with someone’s eyes on me.

 

And because it’s my first trip with the person I love, which I never want to fail, I’m cowering my legs like this, unable to rely on the recommendations and wondering what I should do.

 

Yes, I don’t want another disaster like the first date I had with Tajima-kun.

 

I also have a girlish and mischievous heart inside of me that wants to make Tajima-kun as nervous as possible with a big surprise…hehehe…

 

Well, I guess this is where Dr. Google comes in. I’ll find it for you in no time. Like tips and tricks for choosing a swimsuit.

 

I pull out my phone and put a lot of pressure on my hand.

 

By the way, it was summer vacation, and many of the customers who came to buy swimsuits were girls my age. Most of them were with their friends, and they were having fun as well.

 

“…………”

 

That’s it!

 

I have a friend who I can rely on for advice at times like this.

 

I nodded silently and immediately stopped relying on Dr. Google and activated my phone line.

 

Then, I briefly explained the situation to my friend – Aizawa-san, and sent him a message saying, <<If you have time to spare right now, please help me choose a swimsuit>>.

 

The reply came immediately,

 

<<Yes, handsome>>.

 

“What? ……”

 

I was mortified, but a smiling panda stamp was added to the message.

 

I find myself making a phone call to Aizawa-san.

 

<<──Oyo?　What’s wrong, Himuro-san? >>

 

What’s wrong? What about the reply you just gave ……? I think there was a better way to reply to him, even if you were going to refuse him, you could have told him you had something to do or something.

 

<Not that I’m free, but… I didn’t want to go, so I decided to decline clearly.

 

Aizawa-san smiles broadly. I’ll be honest, but it’s much more bearable than being lied to in a weird way. …….

 

“So, what’s the reason?　It’s a little disconcerting to have someone turn you down unilaterally without telling you.

 

<<I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. The real reason for inviting me to pick out a swimsuit is because she seems to have trouble picking out a swimsuit because she doesn’t have b*****s, so she seems to know a lot of things…

 

“Heh?”

 

<<This time of year, there are a lot of them.  I wish I would die …… just because I’m a good complement with my poor b*****s.

 

Aizawa-san lowers his voice at the end and throws in a few words.

 

“Well ……, I guess that’s enough of this farce…you know very clearly that I have no such intentions, don’t you?”

 

I asked, half in disgust.

 

Yes, there was no need to put up walls of pretense or pretext between us now that we had become friends. I could talk frankly with Aizawa-san and he could talk frankly with me.

 

Then, for some reason, I felt as if Aizawa-san was smiling lightly over the phone,

 

<Hey, that’s right!　Because only Himuro-san is the only person I can vent out my daily frustrations like this. Besides, I’m so happy that Himuro-san is genuinely relying on me…

 

Aizawa-san’s bubbly voice.

 

My friends are such a bunch of wusses……. Hmmm…

 

<<So, jokes aside, I’ll go out with you if you’re okay with me picking out a bathing suit. I’ll take you out to pick out a swimsuit if you want. I’m on my way to you now.

 

“Yes, thank you. I’ll be waiting for you.

 

<<<Yes. …… But if Tajima-kun is a lover of unparalleled poor t**s, then I’ll win no matter what I choose. What a surprise!

 

“Oh, that’s not true. Tajima-kun prefers normal, normal girls with large b*****s.

Yes, isn’t that right?　Isn’t that right, Tajima-kun?

 

<<Oh, so Sunashiro-san wins hands down.

 

“Don’t talk about people who aren’t on the trip!”

 

To tell you the truth, I’m really glad Sunashiro-san wasn’t on this trip. Yes, that overwhelming difference in strength was a problem before the swimsuit. …….

 

I then exchanged some details with Aizawa-san about the meeting place and arrival time, and hung up the phone.

 

“Phew. ……”

 

It’s about an hour until Aizawa-san arrives. I’m free, what should I do?

 

…… Well, I don’t have any particular store I want to stop by, maybe I’ll browse at a bookstore.

 

♡♡♡

 

Wow,…… what an unflattering book she’s reading,…….

 

I was just wandering around window shopping to kill some time until Aki’s part-time job ended, when an unexpected sight caught my eye and I froze with my mouth gaping open.

 

What a surprise! Himuro-san has published a special issue of “Swimsuits to get your boyfriend this summer. You definitely don’t want to make a mistake! written in large pop letters on the cover of a teen’s magazine, which she was browsing through with a serious expression on her face.

 

She was probably reading a special issue of the magazine. He seemed to be reading it very intently, and fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice me.

 

Is that it, is that it, that Himuro-san has promised to go to the beach or the swimming pool with his crush?

 

……The guy from Otaku Island is really impatient.

 

I don’t know which one comes first, but I’m sure that the swimsuit you’re going to see on your trip has the worst background that Himuro-san bought for the purpose of showing it to another guy… well, regardless of that, Otashima is going to be looking down his nose at Himuro-san in a swimsuit anyway, but… mmm… that kind of pisses me off.

 

Anyway……..well, let’s pretend we didn’t see it.

 

Shaking my head, I quickly turned on my heel.

 

Well, it’s okay. Himuro-san is free to be in love with his own love.

 

Besides, I’m planning to do my best this summer.

 

I bought a new swimsuit just for this occasion, and I’m going to make Otaku Island fall in love with me!