Kays Translations

Chapter 30: [Suzu’s POV] If It’s in Front of You – Part ②

We were having fun at the amusement park, but there was something that had been bothering me, so I told him.

The thing that was bothering me was the way he talked.

He was supposed to be playing my boyfriend, so I thought it was weird that he kept using formal speech.

(Besides… this distant vibe feels kind of unpleasant…)

“Understood… No, I got it. I might slip back into polite speech sometimes, but sorry in advance, okay?”

We also decided to change how we addressed each other.

“Th-then… Suzu.”

“Hmm, it has a nice ring to it.”

(Nice! This is nice! There’s something about being called by name like this by a cute boy that really gets to me!)

Next, Go-kun changed how he called me.

“U-uhm… Suzu-chan.”

“Yes, that’s the one!!”

(Yes! This is it!! Being called ‘-chan’ by a small, cute boy feels like he’s being affectionate with me. Besides, I’m usually called with ‘-san’ or even ‘-sama’, so I’ve always longed to be addressed like a girl with ‘-chan’!)

“I thought about it a lot, and I’ve decided to call you Suzu-chan.”

“Yes, please do!”

Despite some voices we heard around us during the exchange, it was settled—he’d call me Suzu-chan. Wanting to hear him say it again, I called his name.

“Go-kun.”

“Yes?”

(Hmph, that’s not what I meant…)

Calling each other’s names—wasn’t that what couples do?

Ah, of course, this is all just for role preparation, okay?

“Go-kun.”

“What’s up?”

(He’s not noticing it? Hmph…)

Determined to make him notice, I called his name one more time.

“Go-kun.”

At that moment, he seemed to realize something.

“Suzu-chan.”

I hadn’t expected to feel so happy just from hearing my name called.

“Yes?”

Before I knew it, I replied in a voice even I had never heard myself use before.

For some reason, Go-kun had dropped to one knee.

“Hmm, is this how it feels to be madly in love with your girlfriend…? I still don’t get it…”

Trying to hide my embarrassment, I pretended to be deep in thought.

Then someone called out to us:

“Whew! You two over there—what a hot couple, putting on a show for us like that!”

○ ●

Even though I was terrified, I went into the haunted house.

Part of it was pride—I didn’t want anyone to see me looking pathetic.

But at the same time, I felt like Go-kun would accept me no matter what.

Inside the haunted house, as I expected, I froze with fear and couldn’t move properly. But Go-kun remained unfazed.

Even though he’s smaller than me, his back looked so big in that moment.

We somehow managed to make it through without giving up, but at the very end, I collapsed from fear.

“Th-that… that one was real, wasn’t it!? Oww… m-my back…”

“Suzu-chan, are you okay!?”

(Ugh… scary things are just scary after all… Go-kun, you can just leave me here…)

That’s what I was thinking—until:

“Sorry, I’m going to lift you up now.”

He picked me up in both arms—what’s known as a “princess carry.”

I panicked at the sudden gesture.

“W-w-what are you doing!? I’m tall and heavy!!”

(Eek—this is so embarrassing! And I don’t want Go-kun to think I’m heavy!!)

“I figured it’d be better for you to rest on a bench than just sit here at the exit. And you’re not heavy, Suzu-chan. Don’t worry, I won’t drop you. I may not look it, but I’ve been training. Carrying one girl is nothing for me.”

I remember thinking the same thing before when I touched him—he’s apparently really well-trained. He easily lifted someone even bigger than himself.

“M-m-me being carried like a princess… wh-what… is this…”

I never imagined I’d be princess-carried someday.

It felt like a dream.

“You don’t want me touching you, right? I’m sorry… just bear with it a little longer…”

“Th-that’s not it at all… Eek…”

(H-his face is so close!)

Blushing with a mix of embarrassment and happiness, I lowered my face.

Can I really be the princess instead of the prince?

Go-kun… when I’m with you, I feel like maybe I can.

○ ●

He carried me to a bench where I was able to rest and recover.

It took a while for my condition to stabilize, and I’m sure it was all Go-kun’s fault.

Once I seemed better, Go-kun looked at me with concern and asked:

“Why did you go into the haunted house even though you’re so bad with scary stuff?”

“Well… it’s not something I want to talk about here… let’s ride that instead.”

Though we could’ve kept talking on the bench, I wanted to be alone with him, so I invited him onto the Ferris wheel, where I explained the reason.

○ ●

We sat side by side in the Ferris wheel and talked.

“So that’s why…”

(This must’ve been so far from what he imagined me to be like… I bet he’s disappointed.)

“In the end, I just showed you an embarrassing side of myself… Haha, go ahead and laugh.”

I said, laughing self-deprecatingly.

“I’d never laugh at your effort. I didn’t think it was embarrassing at all. Honestly, I thought it was really cute.”

“C-cute!? After I showed you such a disgraceful scene!? A-are you mocking me!?”

“I’m not mocking you.”

Go-kun met my gaze directly as he spoke.

“Usually, Suzu-chan is always so proper, with perfect posture and a crisp demeanor, but her knees were shaking and she was pulling back. She usually speaks with such a calm and cool voice, but when the ghost appeared, she screamed loudly and her legs gave out. I thought all of that was really cute. I think anyone who saw that side of you would think it’s adorable too. It’s a new kind of charm, and I think it could really expand the range of roles you can play.”

“Expand my range, huh… Well, that is something to be happy about, but—don’t keep calling me cute over and over again like that! I-It’s too embarrassing to show this side of myself to anyone else, so… I’ll only show it to you, Gokun!”

(Hehe, when I’m with him, I feel like I can show even the parts of me I usually hide—my weaknesses, my less graceful sides. It’s like I’m under a spell… maybe it’s the atmosphere of this amusement park? Or maybe…)

“That’s a shame, though—you’re so charming. But I guess it’s hard to carry all that by yourself. So you can show those weak sides just to me, okay? I’ll take them all in… not as your pretend boyfriend next time—”

“Not as my pretend boyfriend…?”

(C-Could it be!?)

“As your friend!”

“…Huh?”

“Eh?”

That was not the answer I wanted to hear. I must’ve made the most idiotic face.

(Why is it that he always gives me more than I expect, except for times like this!?)

“S-Sorry! That was arrogant of me to even say we were friends! I’m so sorry, Takarazuka-san!!”

“T-That’s not what I meant! And stop calling me Takarazuka-san now, of all times. I don’t want to be just friends, I…!”

“You don’t want to be just friends…?”

I slowly moved closer to Gokun’s face.

(Even his confused expression is really good-looking…)

My heart was pounding like crazy. Way louder than it did in the haunted house.

(Just a little more…)

BANG! BANG! BANG BANG BANG!!

That loud noise snapped me back to reality.

(Huh!? What was I even trying to do just now!?)

I turned around to see the girls from the café earlier riding the Ferris wheel behind us. I had shared our destination after we exchanged contact info, but I didn’t think they’d actually follow us here…

After that, though Go-kun didn’t seem to notice, we had a bit of a silent clash beneath the surface—and ended up hanging out as a group of five.

(I didn’t expect to feel this way at first. I shouldn’t have told them where we were going… what a mistake. I wanted more time alone with him…)

And so, our amusement park “date” for the sake of role preparation ended on a somewhat cloudy note.

That evening on the way home.

Still feeling unsatisfied, I thought about what to do—and then, I had an idea.

“I’ve got it! If I want to spend more time with Gokun… I should transfer to his school!”

Acting on impulse is one of my strengths. Without heading home, I went straight to make the transfer arrangements.

○ ●

“Excuse me.”

Go-kun looked surprised—but even with his bangs hiding his face, I could tell how cute and cool he looked.

“Nice to meet you. I’ve transferred here from Mukogawa Music School for role preparation. My name is Takarazuka Suzu. Please take care of me, everyone.”

I could feel the class staring at me in stunned silence. But my gaze was fixed on just one person.

(His casual clothes looked great, but his uniform is nice too! That necktie makes him look so cool…)

“Okay, settle down everyone—lots of transfer students lately, but be nice, okay? Let’s see… Takarazuka, you can sit in the empty seat in front of Sakasegawa.”

(Eh? In front of Go-kun!? That means he’ll be looking at me during class the whole time!?)

After I sat down in front of Go-kun, I turned back to him.

“I’ve been thinking since then and realized I still have a long way to go in my role prep. So I figured the best thing was to stay close to you.”

(That’s not a lie. In front of you, I can show my uncool and unrefined sides. I’m even starting to like that version of myself. I want to understand this feeling more deeply… And if I do, I’m sure it’ll help my acting. I wonder—did Kakogawa-san see all of this coming?)

“I-I see? So that’s what it was…”

“Yeah. Looking forward to working with you from now on, Go-kun.”

“O-Of course… I’ll do my best again, if you’re okay with me.”

(But aside from role preparation, there’s a part of me that, as just a girl—not an actor—wants him to see the real me.)

“And I look forward to working with you two as well.”

I also greeted Himeji-san and Ashiya-san, who were sitting on either side of Gokun.

“Yes, likewise. Let’s get along, okay?”

“Y-Yes, nice to meet you…!”

They were smiling sweetly, but I could feel their burning spirit underneath.

I can’t afford to lose, either.

But still… among all these beautiful girls, could someone like me, who seems more like a boy, really capture his gaze?

For once, I felt uncertain—and found myself thinking about nothing but that.

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