Since autumn can be warm or chilly, it is easy to catch a cold. Ritsu, who was very energetic, went out in short sleeves and shorts even in such a season. I, of course, wore long sleeves.
That’s why Ritsu had caught a cold. Thinking back on it now, I feel like a stupid little grade schooler.
Before he had caught a cold, Ritsu said he just couldn’t give up on me and confessed his feelings for the second time.
“Give me some time to think about it.”
I replied, not giving him an immediate response. So, I went to visit Ritsu on that beautiful autumn day, even though I was a little embarrassed.
“Ritsu-kun. You okay?”
“*Cough cough*. Uuu…”
Ritsu-kun is lying on the bed.
He seems to be too sick to respond to my words.
Ritsu’s mother and father are out shopping right now, so there is no one else at his house.
The “tick, tock” of the clock was the only sound that filled the silence.
Hidden within the privacy of his room, I decided to give my response to Ritsu’s feelings.
I gave serious thought to Ritsu’s confession and came up with an answer. That’s why I have to say it now.
I’m sure I would be too embarrassed to properly express my feelings when Ritsu-kun is full of energy. So, now is the only time.
“Ritsu-kun. Can I reply… to your confession the other day?
“…”
There was no reply from Ritsu-kun. But he seemed to be awake just now, so he should still be, right?
Besides, it was convenient for me that he didn’t respond to me, and I’m sure I could be as straightforward as I was when I was practicing at home.
So I kept on talking.
“I’ve been thinking about… Ritsu and me. And, there’s one thing I want to say…:
‘Proposal’.”
“…”
I wonder if Ritsu-kun is awake.
Though I was curious about that, I didn’t have the time to check now.
So I put my feelings into words, just as I had practiced.
“So, I want you to wait until we’re old enough to be ‘married’ to become ‘lovers’. Is that okay with you?”
I-I said it!
I feel my cheeks relax from the joy of it.
But it’s not over yet. Ritsu-kun isn’t feeling well, so it’s best to leave him alone.
“So―”
But I wanted to touch Ritsu’s body and tell him how I felt… So I took Ritsu’s blistered left hand and began to write with my non-dominant hand.
I don’t know the kanji for this word, and I’m sure Ritsu-kun doesn’t either.
So I’m going to make sure that Ritsu-kun and I both understand―
“’Promise’, right?”
***
“Okaa-san, why’d you let Ritsu into my room? And you even called it a room tour! You really have to stop doing that!”
“It’s fine, isn’t it? In any case, Karen and Ritsu are going to be sharing a room from now on―”
“Please, stop saying that! Mou!”
I held in my anger, which had nowhere else to go, and went into my room.
I don’t like it when people enter my room because it’s incredibly embarrassing… The two of them don’t understand the feelings of a maiden at all.
I walked into the room and immediately dove into my bed.
I hugged the heart cushion I bought for its girlishness and buried my face.
I dump my pent up anger on the heart cushion.
“Why can’t he remember ‘Promise’? He looked so confused!”
Firstly, I’m mad at Ritsu.
Ritsu didn’t remember the “Promise” I had exchanged with him as a child. Or rather, from the looks of it, he probably never knew about it.
I knew there was something wrong!
Ritsu confessed to me right after our ‘Promise’, and I angrily said, “Not (old) enough!”, he replied, “Not enough (confession?)” and then proceeded to confess even more.
But―
“Maybe he really was… asleep at that time…?”
No, I can only assume so.
Everything he’s ever said or done to me after the ‘Promise’ is resolved. It’s highly likely that he really was asleep.
That’s what his actions tell me.
I’m angry at him for being asleep, but I’m more angry at myself for making such a mistake.
“Really, what am I even doing!!!! Aaaah!!!!”
“Quiet down, Karen!”
“…Sorry…”
No good, no good.
If I make too much noise in this room, Ritsu will hear me.
Okay, I’m cool and calm. I’m a cool person who can do everything relatively well. Okay, okay.
That’s what I tell myself.
But Ritsu, you’ve given up on me…
Why have I said “no” ten thousand times? Am I really that stupid? No, I’ll admit it now. I’m a huge idiot. And Ritsu is also a big idiot. I’m taking this out on him.
(TL: Yeah, you really are.)
Nevertheless, today I understood everything.
With this, my love life has been reduced to zero.
What love had been pointed at me was gone, and now I was―
“T-That’s so embarrassing!!!”
Being a maiden in love is troubling.
(TL: yeah enjoy the releases while it lasts, btw feel free to send errors in #feedback on the discord)