One most interesting review I just recently got would be:
"Now on to hachi's gender. Me and my religious beliefs may not agree with it. But I tend to keep an open mind." - EmberCore
I love that attitude. To be honest, you and me share the same stance on this topic. I am a devout Religious person and people who know me in Spacebattles forum recognize me as such.
However, that's all the more reason why I wrote this story. From what I can see in this site, LGBT fiction tend to be either too shallow (Sex scene and yaoi/yuri and readers fapping) or too preachy (gay agenda #24564, insert bigot antagonist here), because my very own stance on the topic, I want to portray the issue as neutral and respectful as possible.
Challenging your own personal values through writing, isn't that kind of interesting?
This is a story about Hikigaya Hachi, who just happen to spend fifteen years living as a boy, and get a second chance to make High School Debut as a girl. And that's what important, and it's up to readers whether they want to keep reading or stop.
So feel free to share your opinion through reviews, and please keep it civil.
"Now then!" Zaimokuza dropped himself into a chair with a loud thud, facing the three other members of the Juvenile Literature Club, as well as the helper, Yukinoshita Yukino. "Shall we hear your opinions?"
"Well, I'm not sure if I'm familiar with these things. So I should apologize in advance that it might not be sufficiently detailed. Still, I've tried to address the issues as much as I could, given the time-frame."
So said Yukino, while having her bundle marked with dozens upon dozens of indexing tab stickers. The three other girls could only laugh wryly in response to her almost contradictory humble statement.
"You could be an honorary British citizen with that level of understatement," Hachi commented, referring to the stereotypical British behavior of reacting to unexpected situations with a calm assessment. "Senpai."
"Doesn't matter! I'd like to hear the opinion of the common man as well."
"Well, it's complete trash." Yukino said without mincing words, "Worse than everything I've read before, I think I felt physical pain just from reading it."
Christ, she's not pulling any punches. Hachi gleefully looked at her, and then at the shocked and stunned Zaimokuza.
"C-could you elaborate as to why it was trash? In what way was it trashy? For ... future reference." Zaimokuza said between raspy breaths.
"Well for starters ... It's really super hard to read." Sawako said, "I find myself tired and confused not even halfway into the draft."
"You need to work on your grammar, the subject should come at the beginning of a sentence. Didn't you learn that in elementary school?" Yukino sharply glared at him.
"Uh, it's to keep the writing simple and easy to understand-" Zaimokuza clutched his chest dramatically and mustered what was left of his dignity to speak in his writing's defense.
"I could hardly believe how much you abused the Japanese language with your writing." Yukino's gaze grew even sharper, "Reliance on alternate readings is bad enough, like reading 'Power' as 'Abilities'. You also put kanji but used the English word 'Nightmare' for Furigana*."
"That ... but alternate reading is the staple of a modern battle scene!" Zaimokuza said.
"I can safely say that is not true," Hachi said while uncharacteristically picking her ears, "Take this from an avid shounen LN reader. You're not writing a poem, you're writing a story."
"Senpai, if you want it easy to read you'd use less kanji in general," Sawako told him with an angelic, harmless smile "Light novel readers are mostly twelve to seventeen years old."
"Furigana could be a hassle for the publishers as well. So keep that in mind, because any writer worth their salt also wants their work to be printed and sold." Ebina added, "Isn't that true for you as well?"
"Well, yes." Zaimokuza pouted.
"And why is the heroine taking her clothes off here? It's sickening." Yukino pointed at the page in question, clearly furious and losing her cool.
"In defense of Zaimokuza-senpai, some fanservice is needed. The battle manga audience is mostly teenage boys, so some sexiness here and there would be necessary." Hachi said with a no-nonsense tone.
This made Zaimokuza grin, "Hikigaya-dono, you understand?!"
However, Zaimokuza's hope for salvation was destroyed when Hachi continued, "However, you put in too much fanservice, that's why it's complete shit."
"Wuha?! Do you agree with me or not?!" Zaimokuza snapped.
"Some of the fanservice scenes in this draft can be really inappropriate and break the established mood. While your intent was to write a serious battle story, you could very easily give up and turn it into an ecchi love comedy with what you actually produced." Hachi slammed the draft on the table, annoyed.
Ebina was the one to deliver the finisher and smiled innocuously as she mercilessly told Zaimokuza, "And besides, the interaction between the hero and heroine is weak. Instead, it was overshadowed strongly by the rivalry between the hero and his best friend. You should write a BL novel instead of a fantasy adventure like this."
Zaimokuza fell off his chair and dropped unconscious. This caused the room to grow a lot colder and quieter than before.
"Is he alright?" Sawako asked with worry.
"Don't worry, if he can't recover from that one he should rescind his pride as a man." Hachi snorted, "Now, shall we decide what book we should review next? This one will be published on the school board so let's choose carefully."
"Book reviews?" Yukino perked up at the mention.
"Well, that was basically the main activity of this literature club. We take a book aimed at a younger audience, then we review it as objectively as we can." Sawako enthusiastically answered.
"Of course, everyone is biased so we should put a personal blurb on the review section as well." Ebina clapped her hands and smiled.
"But everyone's book collection could be different, wouldn't it be difficult to do that simultaneously?" Yukino inquired, "Since you have no official designation, you don't get your share of a club budget."
"Well, for starters, we could use whatever is in the school library. Take turns reading and writing our reviews separately, then compare notes and opinions before publishing it. The club meeting is done three days a week, and only during lunchtime anyway." Hachi raised a paper with an outlined chart-flow, "Because of this we're likely to review a single book weekly."
"Still, everyone only has two days to read. Isn't that a bit tough?" Zaimokuza recovered and then crawled his way back to his seat, "I'm a fast reader so I don't mind but still-"
"Alright then, Zaimokuza-senpai has Friday and Saturday for himself to review the book." Hachi decided and then added his name to the schedule.
"Wait, what? Why me?" Zaimokuza balked, already regretting his senseless boasting.
"Then you shouldn't open your mouth." Hachi said without care, "Who's in to spend their weekend reading?"
"I am~!" Ebina waved her hand excitedly.
"Alright, Zaimokuza-senpai to pass the book to Ebina-senpai Saturday after school." Hachi nodded, "Fujisawa, you're the last one, you want to pick Monday or Wednesday?"
"I-I'm fine with either," Sawako replied, awkward but without hesitation.
"Alright, that concludes our activity today. Tomorrow we'll go to the library together and compile the book titles we're likely to read starting next week. Any questions?"
There were none.
"I see. Then we shall conclude our meeting today." Hachi said, "And Zaimokuza-senpai, please take our advice seriously."
"You don't have to be so angry," Zaimokuza whined, but compared to Yukino, Hachi's annoyance, in comparison, seemed gentle.
"Zaimokuza-senpai." Sawako handed him an essay paper where she had written the full transcript of everyone's reviews and criticisms as well as an outlined list to make things easier for him to follow. "Here's the complete summary of your novel's review. It might be a little hard, but please don't give up on improving your work."
"As for more detailed reviews, I have made the notes here." Yukino gave him the indexed draft as well as a small notebook. "Please use it well, or else I'll charge you for the financial cost."
"Fujisawa-san, you're too nice." Zaimokuza looked at the outline with a river of tears gushing out of his eyes. "Would you ... read my writing again, Yukinoshita-san?" He asked.
"No offense, but are you some kind of masochist?" Yukino asked bluntly.
"You still got balls to write again after that?" Hachi teasingly pointed out as well.
"It may be a fact that you three condemned it, but still, I was happy." He crossed his arms proudly, "Having someone read something I wrote, and hearing their opinions ... it is a nice thing."
For a moment, Zaimokuza didn't appear to be the cocky and deluded man-child he always was, but rather, an earnest high school boy chasing his aspirations without even a bit of doubt.
"Sure enough, but please be mindful of common sense next time." Yukino huffed. And then, she smiled in amusement, "Still, is this really a school club? I personally like the way it worked. It's efficient and smooth."
"Well, the teachers actually thought we were role-playing an editorial department." Hachi sneered, having a small flashback to the moment she handed in the proposal. "In a sense, it could be true. Still, that's why it's interesting, isn't it?"
"That's true, the short meetings make it all the more productive." Yukino nodded in agreement, "I suppose my job here is done."
"Domo!" The collective members of the literature club bowed their heads gratefully.
"Ah, Senpai, would you like to join us for lunch as well?" Hachi offered.
"U-unless you have a previous arrangement so..." Sawako furiously added. It seemed like Hachi wasn't the only one who liked having Yukino around.
"I don't have one." Yukino blinked, "Then I shall retrieve my lunchbox and return here post haste."
"Well, then I should go. Yumiko is waiting!" Ebina cheerfully waved her hand shortly before she left too.
"I shall go as well." Zaimokuza fixed the positioning of his glasses, "It's a man romance to enjoy his lunch in solitude."
"Shut up and keep your ass in the seat." Hachi chided, "It's because you have no friends to eat with, don't you?
Zaimokuza wanted to cry again. Everyone aside from Fujisawa didn't seem to know what it meant to hold back. Hachi was right though, he absolutely had no friends to hang out with. At all.
Still, part of him was happy that someone cared enough to tell him to stay in the first place.
やはり, 俺の 女子高生 デビュー はまちがっている。
As Expected, My High-School Girl Debut is Wrong.
Disclaimer:
Original Story by Watari Wataru
Chapter 10: Tension
Hachi handed over a wrapped box. It was simple, straightforward, and didn't even LOOK like it was a birthday present, what with the lack of colorful patterns, ribbons, and all that jazz.
Still, she still quietly said, "Happy birthday."
"Eh?" Iroha blinked, "How did you know, Hacchan?"
"Orimoto told me." Hachi looked aside, "That said, I guess you're one of the oldest in the class**, maybe only second to me."
"Hehe, don't remind me of that." Iroha stuck her tongue out, "Can I open it?"
"Sure."
When Iroha ripped open the package, she found herself staring at a neatly arranged set containing a cellphone case, parts, and even rubber buttons.
"Huh, this is ... the same model as mine?" Iroha blinked, "How did you even get this, Hacchan? It's been out of production since a long time ago."
"Simple, I bought a secondhand unit online and cleaned its parts." Hachi grinned, "You like it?"
"Thank you so much!" Iroha was so happy that she held the taller girl in place with a bone-crushing hug, "With this, my phone will be reborn!"
"Hahaha, impossible," Hachi said as she pushed the younger girl away.
"Tehehehe." Iroha nodded, "So how do you put them together?"
"Let me do it." Hachi pulled out a set of small screwdrivers from her wallet. How and why she had them was for anyone to guess. Still, it wasn't exactly a hard job to remove the casing and put on a new one.
"It's done."
The silvery finish on the phone looked so much better than the pale, scratched puke green of the old casing. And the buttons now had letters once again, even though Iroha had basically memorized everything already.
"It looks like new!" Iroha raised it high and proud.
"Good for you."
She wondered what kind of present the others would give Iroha, most especially Hayato.
"...For you." Saki suddenly came up with a small baking tray with its cover, which she shoved on Iroha.
"Huh? Where did you come from, Senpai?"
"The home economics room." Saki opened the tray to show that she had just baked some brownies.
"For me? Thank you so much!" Iroha was about to hug Saki as well, but the pale blue haired girl dodged aside nonchalantly.
"What are you guys doing?" Saika suddenly arrived, curious.
"Ah, Isshiki is having her birthday celebration." Hachi pointed.
"Really? Congratulations." Saika smiled, "I'm sorry I didn't bring any presents though."
"Don't worry, it's the thought that counts." Iroha waved dismissively, "Speaking of which, when is your birthday, Totsuka-senpai?"
"Me? It's May 9th." Saika said.
"Have some too." Saki offered the tray.
"Thank you." Hachi and Saika both took one premade slice and ate them.
"This is really good." Hachi drily commented, if somewhat jealous. Hachi doubted she could make something as delicious as this even if she seriously tried.
"Mmmhhhmmm," Iroha muttered as her cheeks bulged from all the brownies she shoved in.
"Don't talk while you eat, there's still plenty." Saki chastised her.
"MMMHHHMMMNNNN!"
Saki just gave up trying to shut-up Iroha, and quietly sat down. All in all, it was a small moment of pure, undiluted happiness for everyone involved.
Hachi, in particular, would never DREAM to ever celebrate someone's birthday like this, especially someone she had known for just a bit over two weeks.
And it was all because of Orimoto.
To be honest, Hachi still wasn't sure how to deal with that wench. She was ready to avoid and reject her at every opportunity. She had even prepared her mind and body for the task.
And yet, Orimoto outwitted her at every turn. Every time Orimoto appeared, the distance between them shrank.
And it gave Hachi nightmares.
What was her objective?
To be Hachi's friend? She was the type to befriend literally everyone she met. Why would she put so much effort to walk across all the distance between Kaihin Sohgoh and Soubu High just so she could befriend Hachi?
Did she feel guilty? Unlikely. Orimoto wasn't even aware of the torment she experienced in junior high. If she had known, she would have done something back then. She had always been thoughtless like that.
Or did she get worse and come here just to haunt Hachi with her past? If she was, Hachi wouldn't know. There was absolutely no indication that Orimoto had told anyone about Hachi's past identity.
Orimoto ... had changed.
Hachi liked to think that she had mastered the art of youthful high school life, that she could see past pretenses and lies to find the bitter and awful truth within the interactions of the people around her.
And yet, with Orimoto, she couldn't find any gaps.
Or maybe, Hachi herself was wrong, thinking that Orimoto was just a thoughtless bimbo with no brain to mouth filter. Looking at the sheer amount of friends and connections Orimoto had, she must have mastered social skills in her own twisted way.
Was this some kind of a mind game? Just as planned***?
"Moshi-Moshi, Iroha desu!" Iroha raised her cell phone and answered a call, "Ah, Orimoto-san! How are you doing? Yes, thank you, no you don't have to give anything. Did you tell Hachan about it? Oh..."
"Thank you, I owe you a favor. Huh? Wha? Hayama-senpai? No, he didn't have one."
"I see, I'll sort that out don't worry!"
"That was Orimoto-san." Iroha mischievously grinned, "She's really a sly one, asking such tall order from me."
"I don't want to hear that from you." Saki sighed.
Honestly, Hachi wanted to ask, but she was afraid she was putting her nose too much into someone else's business.
...ah, to hell with it.
"So, what did that cunt want?" Hachi accidentally slipped out, much to Iroha and Saika's shock. Saki just raised her eyebrows curiously but didn't seem to be surprised much, if at all.
Of course, there would be a catch.
"Umm, eh, she asked if Hayama-senpai was still single since one of her friends was interested. And if possible, Orimoto-san wanted them to meet."
Hachi rubbed her head a little bit. She had been expecting worse but seemed like her paranoia was coloring her judgment too. Hachi didn't like that one bit.
She was so afraid of Orimoto that she had begun to develop baseless prejudice. Orimoto might be thoughtless and shameless, but she wasn't the type to purposely lead someone around to milk for favors like this.
Giving help and asking for it in return was simply Orimoto's second nature. She was a nice girl and there wasn't a drop of maliciousness in her intentions, even if she tended to hurt people with her ignorance.
"You seem to distrust her a lot, huh?" Saki muttered.
"You could be an honorary Brit too!" Hachi shrugged.
"What the hell does that even mean?" Now Saki was confused.
"I don't trust Orimoto at all." Hachi scratched her head, "But it's all my fault, so you don't have to think too hard about it. Orimoto is just trying to be nice, that's all."
"You're weird, Hacchan." Iroha didn't really know how she should respond to that and looked a bit sad to hear it.
"My bad. But in all honesty, I'm more worried about you." Hachi closed one eye, "Aren't you aiming for Hayama-senpai? How could you arrange for him to have a date with someone else like that?"
"Duh, do you think Hayama-senpai is the type to fall for a random girl he just met once? Especially someone he doesn't have frequent contact with?" Iroha gleefully explained, "If it was that easy he would already have a girlfriend and wouldn't hide behind Yumiko-senpai either."
Hachi just now realized the sheer depth of Iroha's depravity.
"...you evil little shit." Hachi raised her arm for a high five, which was happily returned by Iroha.
"Yes! Praise me!"
"Umm, I'm not sure I follow." Saika was already confused, but now he was completely lost. "What are you talking about?"
"Iroha is arranging for someone to meet with Hayama, with the expectation of that person confessing and getting rejected." Saki opened a thermos cap, then poured some green tea into it. "Want some? It's not too hot."
"I see. Thank you." Saika nodded, "But Kawasaki-san, you don't have another glass?"
Saki wiped the edge of the thermos cap and handed it to him.
"It's usually just for myself, it's almost empty anyway." Saki sipped the warm tea straight from the thermos.
"Ah, I see." Saika wavered a bit. Saki was trying to be considerate, so far as to clean the cup before he could use it as well.
Of course, Saika missed the fact that Saki didn't want to give a random guy an indirect kiss. That kind of concept was simply beyond his scope of mind at the moment.
Come to think of it, why was it that the girls around him seemed to be rather bold and gutsy? He felt a little inadequate sometimes. They were all quirky. They refused to restrain themselves and get along with their peers. But, they were all confident of themselves and disregarded the fact that they were looked down upon due to their quirkiness.
He needed to be more shameless too! But for him to have had that thought at all was embarrassing! Totsuka Saika still had a lot to do to become a worthy man that deserved the respect and attention he got now.
...
It had been three days since Iroha's birthday and the Juvenile Literature Club's second meeting, and now it was the weekend.
Hachi had been officially a high school student for almost three weeks, and she slowly became accustomed to the situation.
No more blushing at looking at other girls naked. No more awkwardness in the restrooms. And, she handled her period cycle better than before.
Now, if only she could deal with the fact that she was constantly frightened by the mere sight of attractive boys at close proximity. That would be nice.
Hachi was minding her own business, strolling through the shopping district for sweets to buy, and maybe a present for Saika if she found something suitable.
In all honesty, another benefit that she got from living as a girl was this: all the recipe for diabetes with none of the guilt.
As a boy, Hachi would have to pick a very specific type of sweet food to eat. Because, if a boy were to buy colorful fancy cakes alone instead of with a girlfriend then people would judge him for it.
How silly and sexist. Still, that was just the norm and it wasn't like Hachi had the power to change such perceptions. She wasn't like Yukinoshita-senpai. Hachi absolutely had no belief that she could change the world to suit her whims.
"How about Master's donut? Well, I wanted something more for once."
It was when she noticed that Hayama, Tobe, and Orimoto were walking with someone else. Hachi recognized her as Orimoto's friend from her school.
Hoh, so they end up having a double date huh?
To be honest, Hachi felt weird that she didn't feel jealous at all. Maybe her feelings for Orimoto had truly been dead for a long time now.
If they had been real to begin with.
In all honesty, Hachi was curious, but she wasn't curious enough to bother or trail them. So she simply continued to tread the path ahead of her without giving a second look.
Instead, she went to the nearby bookstore and immediately headed for the light novel section.
"Hmm, this week I still have about 1000 yen left." She muttered, after calculating the amount of money she had had and the money she had already spent, as well as her weekly savings. There should be just enough money left to buy two.
But it seemed that this store didn't really have the stuff she wanted.
Instead, she looked at the novella section.
...girls love to read this kind of thing, right?
To be honest, it wasn't like Hachi herself was above such things. She did in fact watched Pretty Cure on regular basis. Though originally, it was because her sister Komachi loved it.
But Hachi learned to appreciate it too. And, after her surgery and therapy, she got to like the franchise even more.
As for novellas. Well, it wasn't that Hachi didn't like girly stories. It was just that these novellas often contained an unrealistically fantastic romance between two people with very little in the way of chemistry.
Then again, coming from shounen LN reader that might be a wee bit hypocritical. Besides, even Yukinoshita-senpai read trashy novels sometimes.
So she decided to message Sawako first. She would know more about this kind of thing than Hachi did.
Quick reply! As expected from Student Council's official Secretary.
"Domo." Hachi smiled as she picked out two books based on Sawako's recommendation.
Maybe Hachi needed to forget the sweets for tonight and just go home.
Half an hour has passed and, due to some weird-ass coincidence, Hachi actually past by Orimoto's party again, but this time, they noticed.
However, Hachi didn't say anything. Instead, Orimoto calmly smiled and crossed both her index fingers.
It was a simple enough gesture, "Pretend we don't know each other" or "I didn't say anything."
Both of which definitely were favorable to Hachi, but if that was the case, then Hachi would be complicit with a lie.
And Hachi didn't like that, even a bit.
"Ah, Hikigaya-san, good evening." Hayato greeted her in his usual friendly manner.
Hachi wordlessly nodded. It was pretty hard to shut her own mouth and not say anything that would bring grave consequences to everyone, especially Hachi herself.
Instead, Hachi smiled and then said; "You guys having a fun date?"
One could judge their impressions of the situation based on their reactions alone. Hayato winced. Tobe laughed carelessly. Orimoto just sighed while her friend shifted around awkwardly.
Man, Hachi thought, Isshiki was damn evil.
Then again, Orimoto's friend should know better than to get into a fight she knew she couldn't win. But, all things considered, it wasn't as if she had anything to lose. She did get to enjoy a double date with Hayama Hayato. How many girls could claim to have that luxurious experience?
She must have been a good enough friend for Orimoto to consider matchmaking her with a high profile boy like Hayato.
"We were just about to call it a night." Hayato replied, "How about you?"
Hachi responded, "I was about to get my bike and go home as well. I parked it at the train station."
"Really? We can go together then." Tobe excitedly said.
Because of the proximity between the Kaihin-Makuhari train station and the shopping district it was easier and safer to store her bike over there for free rather than in the district itself.
"Well then, we should go ahead." Orimoto waved, "See you guys again."
And with that, Orimoto and her friend, Chika, disappeared into the night crowd.
"Man, Orimoto's really cute." Tobe hummed, "She's hilarious and easy to talk with too."
"What's this? You fall in love with her already, Tobe-senpai?"
"No, I already have someone I like." Tobe proudly claimed, "Though maybe I should consider a second option."
"You have shit for convictions." Hachi gleefully commented.
"Hey, a man must be adventurous." Tobe said, "Anyway, I have something to do, so you guys should go ahead without me."
"What was that?" Hayato inquired.
"My old man told me to buy some food for him." Tobe raised his cellphone, "It's probably going to be a while, you don't need to wait, my man."
"Then it can't be helped. I'm already late as it is." Hayato sighed, "See you next week then."
And with that Tobe ran back in the direction of the food court.
"Shall we go?" Hayato smiled at her, but Hachi could only look away in disgust.
"So, Hayama-senpai." She asked, "Did you give Isshiki a present?"
Hayato didn't reply, but that alone was enough confirmation, even if Hayato's answer came late.
"I didn't." Hayato softly smiled, "I'm sorry, even though you told me to. I gave her a birthday card, instead."
"Well, it's not my business." Hachi scoffed, "Besides, it would be weird for a boy to give a present to a girl he just met sixteen days before unless something was going on."
Hayato grimaced for a bit but he composed himself, "What do you mean by that, Hikigaya-san?"
"Isshiki might be crafty and sly at times, but above all else, she doesn't lie." Hachi laughed, "I'm sure Hayama-senpai already noticed, but she's attracted to you. So..."
"I'm well aware." Hayato suddenly turned serious, "I'm all too aware. But Isshiki ... she's smart, so she should've figured out what my response would be by now."
"Well, she's got guts, at least..." Hachi said before suddenly grabbing the sleeve of his blazer to stop him.
If it was any other girl, that gesture would be rather endearing ... romantic even. Grabbing one's sleeve signified both a sense of assertiveness as well as shyness. Contradicting elements that meshed together all too well. And that was why it was an appealing display of affection that occurred both in real life and fiction.
But Hayato couldn't say the same when it came to this particular girl. Hachi only did it because it would catch too much attention if she were to use her usual approach.
"But please don't act as if she has a chance when she doesn't." Hachi smiled, "Don't lead her around like you do Miura-senpai because you're too nice to say no."
That actually hit Hayato hard, right in the self-control switch. His face, already serious and tense, suddenly turned absolutely grim.
This bitch was really getting on his nerves.
And so, instead of backing off, as usual, Hayato actually pulled her closer to him. It was a gentle, yet firm hold. Almost as if he was about to embrace her but had stopped halfway before their bodies can touch.
"I'm not as nice as you think," Hayato said quietly, with a fierce, steely gaze that could pierce through anyone's resolve. "Disregard whatever I want, it's up to them to decide what they want."
"Glad to hear it." Hachi averted her eyes aside so as not to look at him directly; her cheeks flushed a little bit from embarrassment.
Hachi's usual bravado shattered apart at the very instant Hayato took initiative.
"Sorry about that." Hayato lowered his head slightly as an apology. At the end of the day Hikigaya Hachi was a high school girl, one that was one year below him, and he shouldn't get provoked so easily like that as her senior.
In the end, they simply walked side by side quietly until they split up at the front of the station, where Hayato headed for the escalators and Hachi went to the underground bike storage.
However, the tense, all too intimate moment back in the shopping district was seen by someone with a very personal interest. That person was too busy chatting with her friends back at that moment, and now that she was done, Hayato and the girl were already gone.
"Hayato is going out with a girl?" The young woman mischievously smiled. "That is interesting."
* Furigana are the small Hiragana letters printed above Kanji as reading guides for younger people, or people who are less familiar with kanji reading.
** The Japanese school system starts in April and the students' age group is calculated based on this division, therefore, Iroha having her birthday in April makes her only 4 months younger than Yukino, who was born in January and yet one year above her in school terms.
*** Death Note