Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 11: Going Steady
“Okay… Himeji-san.”
“Like… this…?”
“Yeah… just like that, keep going…”
“O-okay…”
“Yes, right there… you’re really good at this…”
“R-really…? It kind of tickles a bit…”
We were on the school rooftop—just the two of us, me and Himeji-san.
A space where no one would interrupt us, a private moment together.
“Yeah, it’s really good… You look so cute, Himeji-san.”
“I’m… happy to hear that…”
Himeji-san’s cheeks flushed with a gentle pink, and she looked absolutely adorable.
“Wow, seriously, you’re such a quick learner, Himeji-san! It’s hard to gently apply blush with a brush like that, but you pulled it off perfectly!”
“Thank you…!”
I was giving Himeji-san a makeup lesson.
Yesterday, we promised to talk during lunch, and we were now spending our break together on the rooftop.
“You just learned this and you’re already so good!”
“That’s because… you’re such a good teacher, Sakasegawa-kun.”
“I don’t know about that… but I’m happy you think so… hehe.”
“…Fufu.”
A warm, peaceful moment flowed between us.
“Still, I’m surprised you wanted to learn makeup, Himeji-san. If you’d just asked, I would’ve done it for you anytime.”
“If I don’t learn it myself… I’ll end up relying on you forever, and I’d feel bad…”
After yesterday, she realized she could talk normally when I did her makeup.
But she said she wanted to be able to talk to more people, so she wanted to get better at doing makeup on her own, in a way that satisfied her.
“You don’t have to feel bad! I’d be totally fine if you relied on me forever!”
“Eh!? F-forever…?!”
(Is it weird to want a friend to rely on you forever…?)
“H-hwaa… whaaa…”
There was a soft pop from Himeji-san, and then she stopped moving entirely.
She said she could talk when wearing makeup, but sometimes, while we’re having a conversation, she still freezes up like this.
(Well, it’s only been a day since yesterday—it’s not like she can suddenly start chatting away confidently.)
We’d talk while eating lunch, and once that was done, we’d do makeup lessons.
This might become our regular routine.
“I wonder how long the cosmetic samples I got will last… I’ll need money to buy new ones. And more importantly, I need to figure out how to live going forward… Even if I start working now, I won’t get paid until next month. I’ll need to pick up some day labor just to make it through this month…”
I had my own problem to deal with.
Yes—money.
The dorm rent for the first month had been covered by the director of my previous school.
But from next month onward, I’d have to pay for it myself.
On top of that, there were food expenses and other living costs—just staying alive costs money.
For now, I had a few thousand yen in my wallet, which had covered yesterday’s and today’s meals.
But I knew it wouldn’t last much longer.
“What am I going to do…”
I looked up at the sky, troubled.
○ ●
After school, while walking home with Himeji-san, we noticed a commotion among the students.
“Wait, isn’t that Asuka Ashiya?!”
“You mean the idol?”
“Yeah, yeah! Whoa, she’s so cute—and her face is tiny!”
“Dang, celebrities really are on another level in person…”
There was a crowd in front of the school gate.
“Asuka-chan, can I get your autograph?”
“C-can we take a picture together!?”
At the center of the crowd was Asuka Ashiya, the center of the idol group Asterisk.
“Sorry, my agency doesn’t allow that. But if you want, come to our concerts or fan meetups! We’re always looking forward to seeing you!”
She finished her rejection with a playful wink, and everyone’s eyes turned into hearts.
(Wow… she managed to turn them down so smoothly without killing the mood. That’s real professionalism.)
That kind of poise is probably what makes her the perfect idol.
At the same time, people often say she feels a little unapproachable.
But she’s always so kind when she talks to me, so I don’t really see her that way…
Still, why is Asuka-san at this school?
Does she have business with someone?
Just as I was about to pass by, thinking that—
“Ah, Atsumu! I finally found you!”
“Eh—me?!”
(C-calling out to me that loudly will get everyone’s attention…)
She called out in a loud, clear voice that echoed.
All the students surrounding Asuka-san turned to look at me at once.
“Isn’t that…?”
“That’s the guy who transferred in yesterday, right?”
“Yeah, the first person to talk to the Ice Queen, isn’t he?”
“Wait, isn’t he trying to go home with the Ice Queen too?”
“And now he knows Asuka-chan too?”
“What the heck is going on?!”
As expected, the surrounding students started making a commotion about me.
(I’ve always been working behind the scenes, so being in the spotlight like this really isn’t my thing…)
As I was thinking that, someone suddenly grabbed my hand.
“Go, go out with me!”
“Wha—Whaaat?! Asuka-san?!”
(What do you mean, ‘go out with me’?!?!!)
Ignoring my shock, Asuka-san confidently dragged me along.
“Come on, just get in the car! Sorry everyone—coming through!”
“W-wait, huh? Himeji-san, I’m so sorry! See you tomorrow!!”
Asuka-san pulled me straight into a sleek black luxury car.
Right before I got in, I quickly apologized to Himeji-san.
The last image I saw of her before the car door closed was her cheeks puffed out and her eyes glaring at me in a thin squint.
○ ●
“Let’s go, Ichikawa.”
“Understood.”
Asuka-san gave the driver a cue, and the car began to move.
“Wait, wait, hold on. Asuka-san! What do you mean ‘go out with me’?!”
“I’ve got a PV shoot coming up. You’re coming with me to help. And I always tell you to just call me Asuka!”
(So that’s what she meant by ‘go out with me’…)
Ugh… I’m embarrassed I misunderstood that…
“Uh, but why me? And calling you by your name so casually—I’m just a behind-the-scenes guy, I can’t do that…”
“I don’t mind if you call me by name though…”
No, I mind, seriously!
“Anyway, let’s put that aside for now. Why did I invite you? It’s for your own good, Atsumu-kun!”
“For… me?”
“Yes! From now on, you need to earn your own money, right? Do you have any plans for that?”
“Ugh… not really…”
“Well, of course you don’t—it’s only been a day. That’s why I thought, come with me and help out on set!”
(Wait, me? Supporting Asuka-san on set!?)
“Me? As your support? I was planning to leave the entertainment world behind…”
“That would be such a waste! I’ve seen you on set before—you’re capable of so much! People like you are rare, you know?”
Asuka-san is really kind. She notices someone like me… and even praises me.
Even though my own family, who should’ve been closest to me, never once did.
“No way, there are tons of people like me.”
“No, absolutely not! In fact, I think it’s a waste for someone like you to be stuck behind the scenes…”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
“Ah—n-nothing! Anyway, let’s just go together! A-a-and… I’ll pay you in cash, right away!”
Guh… cash payment?!
That’s… an offer I can’t ignore.
“Hey, Atsumu… won’t you do it…?”
(What the—puppy dog eyes too?! You’re really pulling out all the stops?!)
Sigh… if she’s going that far, I don’t really have a choice.
Besides, I can’t exactly embarrass Asuka-san here, can I?
“If I can be of any help, I’d be honored to assist!!”
And so, I ended up accepting Asuka-san’s request to be her support.
It’s not because her pleading was cute or anything like that.
No, definitely not because of that.