Onna Doushi to ka Arienai deshou to Iiharu Onna no ko wo, Hyakunichi kan de Tetteiteki ni Otosu Yuri

[What? Nishida? Why are you here?]

[Because that’s the bar where Fuwa works, right? How could anyone at school not know that? I asked a few people, and they told me about it.]

When I, who was at the counter, puzzled over the question, Nishida let out a chuckle.

Nishida, wearing seven-centimeter heels, was in perfect mode. She was looking down at me from a higher perspective than usual.

Nishida walked past my wary face and went to the bar counter. He ordered a non-alcoholic drink and came to me with the glass.

[Wow, isn’t this place nice?　It’s relaxing, comfortable and cozy. But it doesn’t look like a place that fits Fuwa.]

[That’s not true. You just don’t know much about Aya. Hold up Nishida, didn’t you say that you were going to join someone else’s party?]

[Haha, no. It’s a pain in the ass.]

Nishida denied it with a laugh. I furrowed my brows. There’s something about Nishida’s atmosphere that’s different from the one at school. At best, she’s relaxed, at worst, she’s a bit of a jerk.

[Nishida..?]

[Hm?]

[Is there anything that happened?]

[Nothing?]

As we were having a conversation, my friend, Chisaki, came over with her eyes perked up at Nishida’s appearance. Geez, this is bad

[Ha? Why are you here?]

[Eh, I just thought it sounded fun, you know?]

[You feel like a stalker. Can you please leave?]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. ……. Hey, stop at once! This is not good.

I have to get the miniskirt damsel. Oh, she’s not here. She didn’t take anyone home with you, did she? But there are no police eyes here. Is it time to unleash Aya’s Aikido power? No, no, no, Aya is not here either. Oh right, she’s changing her clothes.

[Hey, hey, Chisaki, where’s Yume? What’s wrong with Yume?]

[She’s talking with a nice bartender. For real, where is she?]

That’s why you’re frustrated, Chisaki! What’s wrong with you people! You can’t cheat on each other!

I’m getting panicked here.

Nishida then calmed Chisaki out of the situation.

[Hey,  Chi. We’re in the middle of a fun party, aren’t we? Why don’t you stop that kind of thing? Reina-san isn’t stupid enough to make a move in someone’s territory, you know?]

Chisaki, who was called Chi by Nishida, gulped.

[… haa, What in the world was that?. You can call it Chi or call me like you used to. Why are you acting as if nothing happened between us?]

[Because this isn’t school. And don’t I have to follow the atmosphere?]

Nishida said as she laugh.

I looked at Chisaki. She was poking as poison had been removed from her. What’s with her?

[I’m sorry, Marika. I invited you to a joint party because I want to invite anyone else who is free, I thought Marika has no plans for Christmas.” ]

… Ha? What’s with that?

[Oh, wait, you asked me out because you thought I’d say no? No, I mean, did you actually want me to say no?]

[Well, something like that]

I narrowed my eyes. I don’t understand what’s going on with Nishida

[Do you usually act this cat-like?]

[It’s not like that. Many things were happening. I really don’t care about men. I went out with him because he asked me to, and I thought it would be good for my career, but nothing came of it. So I thought it was okay to go with it for a while, but a promise is a promise, right?]

[Y-Yeah]

[I’ve been invited to hundreds of parties and blind dates. But it’s annoying!]

Nishida smirked and traced the rim of the glass with her finger.

[So back to Christmas Eve, Marika. As I said, I got invited to hundreds of parties, didn’t I? Thanks to you, I didn’t get involved in anything troublesome. Thank you.]

[Why?]

[Hmm? I don’t know why I told you this. The other day, you made me listen to something embarrassing, so I guess I should thank you for that. Also, you like Reina, right?]

No, I’m not, you’re missing the point.

[… Aren’t those girls your friends? Why are you lying to them like that, making promises you don’t intend to keep from the beginning and stuff like that… Isn’t that cheating?]

I thought I was asking seriously, but Nishida laughed again as if to make fun of me.

[You’re a really nice girl, Marika. I see why you are so popular]

She was unresponsive as if she were talking to lukewarm air.

I wonder what’s going on. The Nishida I’ve seen up until now and the Nishida in front of me seem to be two different people.

[Well, they’re that kind of people, Mari. There’s nothing real about their feelings towards me]

Chisaki grumbled bitterly.

[In the first year of high school, Reina and I were very good friends. At least that’s what I thought. We got along well, but then Reina betrayed me.]

[“You betrayed me.”, You’re exaggerating, Chi]

[You! She said that friends are just like snack foods that you enjoy on the spot! She told me not to talk to me outside of school because I have a modelling job and it’s a pain in the ass!　That’s what you told me! I thought you were my friend!]

Chisaki’s voice is drowned out in the bar where the volume of jazz music is turned up, her voice can only be heard just around us.

Chisaki loves her friends more than anyone else. When I didn’t tell her about my relationship with Aya, Chisaki’s words moved me. But that was only because of what happened with Nishida.

[What Reina-san failed was that she didn’t get to say it properly. I think that I should have phrased it better. That’s why I decided to lie to you this time, using Marika. I’m improving, right?]

Nishida’s mood changed again as she sighed. She looks like a mother who is tired of her child not listening to her.

[You’re too hot, Chi. Don’t you get it yet? You can’t have friends with other students, you can’t have love, you can’t have anything like that, as long as you have fun at the moment, right? Tell her, Marika.]

Chisaki gnashed her teeth. Nishida’s words stung me.

[School is a small place. Especially in class, there’s no way that thirty people who happen to be squeezed together can become lifelong friends or even lovers. There’s no way we can understand each other anyway.]

Nishida looked at me as if I were her prey.

[You know what I mean, right? Since you’re Marika. That’s why Reina-san likes you, Marika.]

[That kind of thing…]

[It’s true]

Nishida grinned with a smile that saw right through people.

[Reina-san works as a model. I’m serious there, although I can’t become a full-time model yet, I’m sure I’ll make a living this way. I’m very serious about my feelings]

[… That’s, to even think about me that far, it’s amazing]

[Right? That’s why I really don’t care about School. Even more so, I can’t stand to be around men, but that’s just part of the deal, isn’t it? I don’t care about Chi, either. I haven’t talked to her since she was taken, but she’s always welcome.]

I look at Nishida. Finally, I understood. This guy…

I open my mouth.

[You said I was arrogant and conceited, but that’s just Nishida herself. You roll people around in the palm of your hand and don’t give a damn. You just get along with the atmosphere of the moment and don’t care about people’s feelings.]

[Who knows. Because Reina-san is a person who can do that kind of thing.]

She’s so easy. Nishida nodded.

[ I was happy to know that someone else was thinking the same thing I was. Hey, Marika, you can call me Reina.]

[No way. Nishida is good enough for you.]

「Why~ You’re so boring.」

[Because I’m not like you.]

I glared at Nishida.

Well yes, I always go with the flow, but I’ve never thought of school as an unimportant place. Chisaki and Yume are my dearest friends. Even if Nishida was right and I saw a new society, there was no way that school would become an unimportant place.

Of course, she is also different from Aya, who has her own place in the world. She’s not as clumsy as Nishida and she doesn’t get along well with friends. Even so, she never gives up, even when she hits a wall, and she always does the best she can.

So, as I said earlier, I was celebrated and loved by so many people, which is completely different… from Nishida.

Ah, I understand.

I think I’ve figured something out, about Nishida.

[Hey, Nishida]

[What is it?]

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.

[I think I misunderstood Nishida until now.]

[Is that so?]

I answered Nishida, who seemed interested.

「I thought Nishida was a much cooler girl.」

For a moment, Nishida fell silent.

[Eh?]

Those words seemed to work.

[Nishida, you said you’re serious about modelling. If someone who is modelling with a different attitude says, “Modelling is just like this,” don’t you think that person is an idiot? I think there are things you can’t understand unless you take it seriously.]

[What are you trying to imply?]

[I realized that I and Nishida are totally different.]

I point to the center of Nishida’s chest and go on and on with my accusations. I tried to mimic the way Aya always does it to me on the bed as if she insists that this is the truth.

[Nishida, you’ve been rejecting all the fun you had at school from the start, right?]

[Haa?]

[I understand if you’re too busy modelling to devote much energy to school, you can’t help it. But since you just give up on it, you don’t know where the fun is, you don’t know how to have relationships, throw it all away midway, and then talk to me as if you’re right. Well… isn’t that kind of lame?]

Nishida’s smile tightened.

[You are my friend, Marika]

[“We can’t understand each other”? Have you ever tried it? With the whole class? How could you possibly know her if you’ve only known her on the surface? I’ve only recently discovered how good you are, Chisaki. We’ve been friends for a year, but there’s so much I don’t understand.]

I smiled at Chisaki and she said, [… Well, I guess so?] as she raised one of her eyebrows.

Nishida sighs unhappily. she sounded serious.

[Well you see, it’s not that I’m throwing it away, it’s just that I don’t want it. I don’t need that kind of hassle. I just want things that are easy and fun. You understand that, don’t you  Marika?]

[I don’t know. Because my friends are annoying people. Aya’s a hassle, Chisaki’s a hassle, Yume’s a hassle, and of course, I’m a hassle as well! But that’s the fun part of being human. Well, that’s just a little girl’s opinion.]

Nishida stared at me.

[Marika said that you only wanted to have fun, right? Was that a lie?]

[I did say that, but don’t lump me with you, Nishida. My ‘fun’ doesn’t involve lying to make people conform to my convenience. My ‘fun’ is about making things fun for both of us.]

I smiled as I pointed my hands in front of his chest.

[I don’t care if Nishida said that school is unimportant, it’s your life. I don’t mean to impose on you, but if you said that I’m a boring girl who is really enjoying school or is really trying hard to enjoy it, that’s cold.]

Nishida slammed the counter with the glass. The sound made everyone around her turn to look at her. Nishida huffed and shook his head. Nishida, you’re getting on my nerves, aren’t you? Why don’t you just leave it here?

But Nishida didn’t back down and came at me.

[So you’re saying that Marika’s going to make lifelong friends in high school?]

[I never said that you could. But who knows? If you give up and don’t take the first step even though you might be able to, you’ll never make a friend for life.]

Nishida then glanced at Chisaki.

[Well, Reina-san and Chi couldn’t be friends for life!]

[Well, that’s inevitable, isn’t it? Just try another one, you said that there are thirty people in the class. You still have another twenty-nine.]

[Are you nuts?]

Nishida came close to me. She was so big that I had to look up at her. She’s so strong.

[Moreover, Marika’s a weirdo, right? Why are you going out with another girl? I don’t get it. I don’t like the idea of having classmates to keep things simple.]

[Wh- What?]

Why are you jumping on other’s relationships? Is that even relevant?

I don’t understand, but Nishida seemed to be really pissed off.

[That’s the way of thinking of people who are just randomly enjoying the moment! You can’t get married, you can’t have children, and you can’t be with other women. If you were serious about that, you wouldn’t be in a relationship with someone like that! You’re all talk, Marika!]

I thought for a moment, “What in the world is this girl saying in such a place?”

The next thing I knew was me shouting with such passion that it overshadowed my concern.

[That’s wrong!]

Nishida stopped moving.

[I don’t really think about the future, nor do I know what the future holds, but I love Aya! Are girls only supposed to be with each other during school? That’s not true! Even if Nishida is right and Aya and I end up breaking up, that would be really painful and it would be really bad, but… I’m not going to lie about the fact that I fell in love with Aya and my feelings for her is real!]

I glared back at Nishida, She gritted.

That’s right, I’m sure I don’t want to be told these things, that’s why I can’t hold back.

Before I knew it, tears were rolling down from my eyes.

I’m so embarrassed and ashamed that just thinking about the possibility of breaking up with Aya makes me feel this way… I think I need to be stronger.

Nishida looked down at me awkwardly for a while, as if she thought that she had said too much. But that didn’t last long.

[… I won’t apologize. If I wanted to apologize, then I wouldn’t have said something like that in the first place.]

[That’s fine. You piss me off.]

[I don’t understand why you’re being so stubborn and clumsy when you really can do so much better. Why are you doing that? I thought Marika is the same as me, but I don’t understand. That’s what I thought, and as I’m trying to understand it… How stupid.]

[Well I also think that Nishida is also lame]

Just what in the world is she thinking, Nishida won’t fight an all-out war with someone she thinks is worth using? I thought I understood Nishida just by looking at her surface. I thought she was a friend of mine and felt sympathy for her.

But here I am crying, and Nishida was getting teary-eyed. Both of us cracked, no matter how you look at it. When I was with Sae, I also thought I could fix things.

Not this time, I guess…

I wiped away the tears with my handkerchief and relaxed my eyes as if to wipe away the mess of emotions in my head.

We were arguing our points of view and clashing head-on, and it was really tough for both of us.

It’s not worth it, and it’s not necessary if you’re just going through the flow at school.

I also have a girl right beside me who always spoke to me honestly, and she taught me that it was important to have the strength to walk forward step by step, even when I was hurt or when I’m at my worse.

That’s why I too…

[Finally, I get to make you talk, so I’m okay with that.]

Nishida looked at me as if she was taken aback.

I haven’t forgiven her, and it still pisses me off, but Nishida did her best to convey her feelings to me. She told me that we were completely different. I just want to acknowledge that.

Consider it as my gratitude.

[Thank you for telling me, Reina]

Her face contorted in disgust.

[Seriously… just shouting something that doesn’t make sense… Is this what you call seriously, Marika?]

[Well, That’s how I feel.]

[Then all of that, you were serious…]

Reina put her hand on her cheek.

I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes with my fingers and shrugged my shoulders.

[Honestly… You’re such a pain huh…]

Ah, yeah.

[… I guess so]

At that moment, for the first time, I felt like I could understand Reina.

We stare at each other in a strange atmosphere. Then Karen and Aya, who had changed clothes, came back.

Karen seemed to have understood the situation in an instant, without asking anything, and she led the way, saying to the reluctant regulars, [Okay, okay, then, let’s get ready to end the party]. Is she some kind of monster who can read people’s minds?

On the other hand, Aya, who doesn’t have such abilities, looked at us alternately and tilted her head.

[… Did she do something terrible to you? Should I throw her?]

Reina and I looked at each other. I laugh along with her.

[It’s okay, Aya. You don’t have to do that, we’re fine.]

Somehow, I was sure that Reina wouldn’t be blabbing about our secrets anymore. If school was just a place for fake fun, Reina would never do anything that would make her feel uncomfortable.

Reina also sighed loudly and then drank her non-alcoholic cocktail. She held out her glass to Aya.

[It was delicious. This place is really good. You have good taste, Fuwa.]

[… Is that so?]

Aya looked at me and Reina alternately and then smiled a little.

[I’m glad to hear that. Thank you, Nishida-san. I think I misunderstood you, Nishida-san. You must be a really nice person to come all the way to the store.]

This time, Reina and I blew out at the same time.

Oh no, Aya. You really don’t know anything about her. There’s no way Reina is a good person. I laughed so hard.

[This is what I like about you, you know? Reina.]

[I understand, Marika. On the other hand, I know that Reina-san doesn’t understand you at all.]

TL: Hyou

ED: Grammarly

… How did I get Chapter 4 done in 3 days…? Oh well, anyway, Thank you for reading!

As always, you can share your thoughts on the comments section, tell your degenerate friends about the novel. and as always, if you enjoy my translations, consider donating through the links below.

Also, 4-koma update will be posted… after I finish the whole novel, I guess. Damn, 2 chapters left.
Okay, I’m out~