Escape Galge - Chapter 7.1

Chapter7 The True Heart[Part 1]

When I open the front door, the slightly damp air brushes against my skin.
The sky is cloudy today.
I think the weather forecast yesterday did mention itll rain from noon onwards.
Perhaps I should bringan umbrella.

While it isnt arefreshing morning, it isnt blindingly bright either, and fits my current mood perfectly.
Perhaps they are reflecting my listlessness; the soft curls that I should have curled properly[1] are limp.

I was unable to sleep well last night.
Because I repeatedly slept and woke, my head hurts.
This is all Kagurazaka Aois fault.
Anyhow, hes probably here today too.
With these thoughts in my mind, I turn the door knob.

Gmorning, Kii.

See, I knew it.
He has his usual gentle smile on.
Thank goodness.

Nn?

What did I mean byThank goodness?
I reflexively make a comeback at myself.
Its no good; my head may have turned strange because I didnt get proper sleep.
I have to get myself together.

Just as I was thinking that, my gaze stops at his foot and I recall.
His foot was sprained yesterday but

Senpai, your foot
Un, its fine. Thanks for the concern.
Is that so. I wasnt concerned at all, but thank goodness.

I purposely speak in a disinterested manner and walk pass him.
I start walking in a quick pace that simply shoutsI want to walk alone, but for some reason, he has a happy-looking expression as he walks beside me.
My anger bubbles at both how my intention wasnt transmitted and at that grin on his face.

Sigh.

I dont like thisnaturally, well head to school togetherfeeling.
I unknowingly let out a sigh.

I have a favour to ask you, Kii.
Do allow me to reject it.
There isnt an issue when I walk, but I doubt Im able to chase after you if you escape. Thats why, can you give escaping a rest today? Besides, todays the Friday that I tend to spend with you. I want to be together with you.

I want to say, First of all, listen to what people have to say.
Its tiring to retort every single time, so I wont say it though.

Friday, he says.
It seems like Id unconsciously sayIsnt it because its the day the favourability rating raises easily?so I swallowed those words.
I dont want to think about it. I dont want my mood to turn even gloomier than this.
It will rain.

Shall we go somewhere after school?
I am not going.
Ill pick you up when class is over.
Like I said can you hear me? Are your ears working properly?I am not going!
Ill come and pick you up.

He shoots me a smile the same time his words are fired. This smile that charms a large number of girls is nothing but a threat to me now.
My classroom has completely transformed into the opposing teams turf.
If I ignore this guy when he comes to pick me up, the favourability rating people have of me will be reduced again.

Ah but, I wonder if the guys will cheer for me.
Nah, even so, female friends are more important to me than male ones.
Moreover, if I continue ignoring him as he pursues me throughout the day, it feels like Ill get stabbed by the girls at some point.

If you stay quiet during the other break times, Ill accompany you if its just after school
Kii! Yes, I promise!
Its just for today.

Lets treat it as thanks for shielding me from my fall off the stairs yesterday and endure it.
Well probably go out of school when school ends so lets take it that Ive managed to protect schools peace yep.

How serene.

The weather forecast is still off its mark at this point; it hasnt rained.
I stretch and loosen my body as I gaze at the cloudy sky beyond the window.

The morning classes are over and it is now the long break time:lunch break.
As that guy promised, he has yet to appear today.
Its been a while since I can spend my time in school undisturbed at the instant I was thinking so.

Whoa.

The moment I relaxed, I encountered that guy in a totally unexpected place.

Perhaps its due to the lack of sleep; my heads a blank. Hence I decided to take a nap and went to the backyard.
An iron bench sits there, its coat of paint peeling off slightly.
The bench isnt exactly pretty, but its perfect when you want to lay down horizontally.
Moreover, theres a large tree by the bench. On top of the shade provided by the tree, its a little-known place people rarely drop by.
I thought that there wont be anyone here with the weather being so unpredictable today, but someone beat me to it.
Itsthatguy.
What is he doing in a place like this?
I hid myself and stealthily peeked out. Hes engrossed in reading a book.
Im curious about the book hes reading so I strain my eyes but I still cant see it clearly.
I think its some kind of magazine

Understanding her preferenceswill give you a high evaluation. Your choice of the shop and your choice of the present is key

Hes scanning the page pensively while muttering about something.
Does that magazine contains such complicated content?

Present nuh huh, what I have to take note is that depending on her mood when she receives it, it may feel oppressive or shallow so the timing is important too. If its the previous Kii-tan, shed like cute-ish and girlish things, but the current Kii-tan seems like she prefers pretty and fashionable things, huh.

I heard something about me from his mutterings?
Or rather is it me or it sounds like hes thinking about what to give me for a present?

Watcha doing, to the extent of hiding in such a place!?
For some reason, I grew embarrassed; my face turned hot.

No, this isnt due to bashfulness nor happiness.
Its because I was calledKii-tanagain, such an embarrassing way of calling my name!

Moreover, she seems to admire Shiori should I ask Shiori for suggestions? I wonder if she doesnt like accessories anymore I didnt manage to get her to accept it after all. Also, where should we go today? Its so hard ahhh, what should I do-jaaaa!

Ja!? [2]
Eh is he actually a grandpa who reincarnated on the inside, or something!?
I wonder if hes going all brouhaha because his body became young.
If so I think its forgivable.
If I treat it like daycare, Im not too unwilling to go for just a 1-day date yknow.

Wait, its not the time for that.
It was the same when he was murmuring by himself previously too, but this gives a different impression from the normal Kagurazaka Aoi.
Is this thetrue Kagurazaka Aoi?

I realize the moment that came to my mind.
Perhaps I wasnt looking at senpai either.
Just as how he wasnt looking at my true self, I, too, wasnt looking at the true Kagurazaka Aoi?

Isnt this harder than the bar exams!?

Even though I was reflecting on myself seriously.
I heard a line that completely cut the tension.
Lets give up on napping and go back.

To think itll be so tough without the capturing data I really had been enjoying myself so far, huh.

Hes still muttering away, but I bet its something foolish.
I think Im starting to want to escape after school

[1] Shes talking about her hair.
[2] Some Japanese add stuff to the end of their sentences (think Narutos -dattebayo). -jaa is a suffix associated with the older generation