Happy Spring - Chapter 10

[nazunyan427]

 

Happy Spring 10

Writer: 結城由乃 (Yuuki Yoshino)

Location: Inside the train

Tomoya:

Whoa... It’s so early that this train’s deserted too.

Nazuna:

Oh right, you take the train to school huh, Tomo-chin.

Tomoya:

Yeah! It’s normally packed with people on their way to school or work when I take it, so this is a pretty novel experience.

Nazuna:

Yeah. It’s partly ‘cause it’s so early, but also ‘cause we’re heading in the opposite direction of the city. That’s why it’s so empty.

Hajime:

Um, Nii~chan? Will we be taking this train straight to our destination?

Nazuna:

Nah, we’ve gotta transfer part of the way there. But we’ll be riding the next train all the way to the last stop, so it won’t be too much of a hassle. And it’s a local train at that.

Though it would have been even easier if we’d just taken the bullet train... We wouldn’t have had to leave so early either—we could’ve left at noon and still made it in time.

But considering our budget, the local train was all we were able to afford. Sorry guys. I really wish I could’ve made it so you guys could ride the bullet train.

Tomoya:

No way, don’t apologize—it’s totally fine! We already knew that we’d have nothing leftover after all our travel fees, so there’s really no need to worry about that!

Mitsuru:

Yeah! Besides, it’s fun to take the local train!

I’ve taken the semi-express and the express train before, but I hardly ever take the local! Ridin’ on a train that’s gonna rock back and forth along the way sounds super fun too!

Oh right, here’s a guidebook I borrowed from the library. Let’s read it on the ride there!

Tomoya:

Wow, that’s a pretty clever thing for you to do, Mitsuru, considering... Oh right, you asked Ao-chan-senpai or something, right? By that, do you mean Aoba-senpai from the library committee?

Mitsuru:

Yeah! And what do you mean ‘considering’? Don’t be so rude! I’m always clever, hmph! *huff huff*

Tomoya:

Don’t get so worked up... I see, so this place is so famous for its peach blossoms that it’s considered one of the best known locations for them.

Yeah, I can already tell from the photos that the place is stunning in full bloom. I can’t wait to see it in person! ♪

...Not that I’ve forgotten we’re going there for work! I can’t go around acting like some tourist.

Hajime:

...

Nazuna:

Hm? Oh, this is our stop! Make sure you don’t forget anything, okay guys? We’ve got some time before our next train leaves, so let’s go buy some ekiben—y’know, the special bentos you can only get at train stations! ♪

Mitsuru:

Yahoo! I didn’t get a chance to grab breakfast so I’m starving!

Tomoya:

An ekiben sounds great! They’re like the train traveler’s comfort food! ♪

Oops, there I go getting carried away again. I’ve got to get it together. I guess I’m just excited about the thought of performing away from home.

Nazuna:

Go ahead, get carried away. We may be going there for work, but there’s something exciting about traveling so far!

Looks like the train’s stopped, so let’s hop off! Everyone, follow me! Let Nii~chan lead the way! ♪

Location: Inside the Train

Mitsuru:

Yay! I’m the first one on board!

Tomoya:

Mitsuru, calm down! You’re disturbing the other passen...huh?

You’re actually behaving pretty well. I wouldn’t have been surprised if you’d jumped onto the seat and started clamoring around.

Mitsuru:

Quit being so rude about me, Tomo-chin! Oh well, you’re always nagging me about something, so it’s nothing new!

More importantly, this train’s dead empty so it’s free real estate! Although I already went ahead and sat here, in these seats facing each other for five people. I’ve never seen seats like this before!

Nazuna:

Yeah, you wouldn’t really see them around Yumenosaki. Now we can sit back, relax and enjoy our ekibens without worrying about the other passengers looking at us. ♪

Hajime:

...

Nazuna:

Hajime-chin? What’s wrong? You’ve been pretty quiet for a while now. Do you get travel sickness?

Hajime:

Oh, no—that’s not it! I’m fine! I promise! ♪

Nazuna:

Well, that’s good to know. I feel like you’re the type who even if you did feel sick, would just keep it yourself, so as not to worry the rest of us. 

If you do start feeling unwell, even just a little, make sure to let us know, okay?

Hajime:

I will! Hehe, you’re so kind, Nii~chan. ♪

Um. I really don’t want you guys to worry about me, so I’ll just come out and say it.

I actually did some research about our destination and put it all together in this booklet I made.

I was worried about being scolded for treating this too much like a vacation, so I couldn’t bring myself to speak up. I’m sorry!

Nazuna:

Nah, don’t apologize. Wow... This is so Hajimecore—you’ve written so much info about our destination right down to the smallest detail!

Whoa, you’ve even got the local specialties... This along with Mitsuru’s guide book is gonna be a huge help. You guys are awesome! ♪

Mitsuru:

Yay! Nii~chan called me awesome!

Tomoya:

I’m sorry, Hajime.

Hajime:

Huh? Why are you apologizing, Tomoya-kun?

Tomoya:

I’m the one who kept talking about how we had to take this trip seriously, and that made you feel like you couldn’t bring up the booklet you made.

I feel like such a hypocrite. I’ve barely bothered to research our destination.

You two are both treating this way more like a job that I am. This is so humiliating...

Nazuna:

Don’t get so down, Tomo-chin. You’re right—we’re on our way to a job, not some vacation.

It’s a huge help to have you here reminding us we’ve gotta get into work mode when the time calls for it.

Tomoya:

Nii~chan... Thank you.

Nazuna: 

We’ve got Mitsuru, who dashes head first into things, Hajime, who approaches things with prudence and care, and you, Tomo-chin, who fits perfectly in between. Yeah, now that I think it over again, you three really are the perfect balance.