Read Novel Full Vol 19 Chapter 3 Part 5
Vol 19 Chapter 3 Part 5
TN: Please read my translations only on my website since I never give my permission to any site to host my translations. And if you like my translations, please support this site on Ko-fi, and join our Patreon to read up to 6 chapters ahead for this novel!
Enjoy~
ED: LonelyMatter
Part 5
While everyone was enjoying their winter break,
Kaede received a phone call.
“Hello? Kaori?”
“Ah, Kaede-san! How are you feeling after that trip the other day?”
Seeing that the caller was Kaori, Kaede was surprised by the unusual phone call.
“Yeah, I’m fine! I was worried about how things would turn out, but I’m glad we made it back safely. Honestly, I really enjoyed relaxing at the inn. Thank you so much!”
“Oh, no, no! It was all thanks to Student Council President Kitaraku-senpai!”
After chatting for a bit about the previous trip, Kaede suddenly asked,
“Come to think of it, it’s rare for you to call me, Kaori. Is something up?”
“Oh, right! Kaede-san, would you like to go with me to the first shrine visit of the year sometime?”
“Huh? The first shrine visit?”
Kaede was slightly surprised by this unexpected topic, but Kaori continued.
“Yes! I’ve already asked Yuuya-san, and we’re going together, but I was wondering if the rest of the group could come along too.”
“Well, that’s nice, but is that okay?”
Kaede asked hesitantly. There was a reason for her hesitation.
During the last trip, it became clear through Lexia that almost everyone had feelings for Yuuya. So, Kaede thought Kaori could have easily gone to the shrine with just the two of them, even without inviting her and the others.
But Kaori sensed Kaede’s thoughts and gave a wry smile.
“T-true, I did consider going alone with Yuuya-san. But everyone has always been so kind to me, and above all, I think events like this are more fun with a big group!”
“Kaori…”
Kaede was moved by Kaori’s pure goodwill.
“Okay, I get it. Since you invited me, I’ll come along too! And when you said ‘everyone,’ you mean Rin-chan and the others, right?”
“Yes, but I don’t have Rin-san and the others’ contact information.”
Kaori knew Kaede’s contact information from the School Idol Project, but not the others’.
“Then leave it to me! I’ll contact everyone!”
“Really!? Thank you so much!”
Then, Kaede suddenly thought of something.
“Oh, right! Since we’re all going to visit the first shrine together, how about we wear furisode kimonos?”
“Furisode kimonos?”
[T/N: A furisode kimono is distinguishable by its long sleeves.]
“Yeah! Well, that… Yuuya-kun is coming, too, right? I kinda want to show off my cute side.”
“Ah, yes, that’s a great idea! Everyone should wear furisode on the day!”
“Great! Let me know once the detailed schedule is set!”
“Yes!”
With Kaede and the others having decided to join the New Year’s shrine visit, Kaori began preparing her furisode for the occasion, imagining Yuuya’s reaction.
＊＊＊
──While Kaori was on the phone with Kaede,
“Luna, let’s go!”
“Bring it on!”
Lexia and Luna stood facing each other in the garden of Yuuya’s house, both with serious expressions.
They each held a hagoita paddle in their hands.
[T/N: Hagoita are wooden paddles used to hit shuttlecocks, which are traditionally made of soapberry seeds and bird feathers. They are used to play hanetsuki, a traditional Japanese New Year's pastime.]
After learning about Earth’s New Year from Meiko, Lexia insisted on playing hanetsuki, which led to this game between her and Luna.
Then, Lexia struck the shuttlecock with force.
“Hey!”
“Haah!”
Luna reacted instantly, easily returning the shuttlecock and sending it straight into Lexia’s forehead.
“Ow!”
“Hmph… Looks like I win.”
Lexia pressed her forehead and protested while Luna wore a triumphant expression.
“Hey! You could at least go easy on me!”
“Unfortunately, I’m not the type to hold back in a contest. If you’re so upset, Lexia, then you should become as strong as I am.”
“Ugh!”
Lexia stomped her feet in frustration in front of Luna, who snorted derisively. Luna produced an ink-dipped brush from somewhere and approached Lexia.
“H-Hey, Luna? What’s that in your hand?”
“Hm? Didn’t you hear what Meiko said? In hanetsuki, the loser gets painted with ink on their face.”
“Wha—!? S-stop—!”
“Too late!”
Lexia tried to flee in panic, but failed to escape Luna. A cross was painted on her cheek.
Seeing that, Luna burst out laughing.
“Ahahahaha! Isn’t that great, Lexia? It really suits you!”
“Gaaaah! I can’t believe this! Next time, I’ll draw on Luna!”
“Hmph… Do you really think you have the strength for that?”
Lexia glared at Luna’s mocking expression. Suddenly, she had an idea.
“Ah, then… Yuti!”
“?”
Yuti, who was eating mochi from the zoni soup on the veranda, tilted her head in confusion at being called out of the blue.
“Yuti, you’re coming with me to take down Luna!”
“Wha—? That’s cheating!”
“Hmph, negotiation is part of the skill set!”
“Then I’ll do the same… Yuti! Come to me, not Lexia!”
“Hey! Stop stealing my ally!”
While the two argued over Yuti, she swallowed her mochi and nodded.
“Joining. I’ll team up with Lexia.”
“What!?”
“Yes! This gives me the strength of a hundred men!”
Yuti immediately prepared another hagoita and lined up beside Lexia.
Facing the two of them, Luna broke out in a cold sweat.
“Damn… Lexia doesn’t matter, but Yuti is a problem!”
“What do you mean ‘doesn’t matter’!?”
Brushing off Lexia’s words gracefully, Luna steeled herself and struck the shuttlecock with terrifying speed.
“Haah!”
“—Aim. Returning it.”
Yuti reacted instantly, returning the shuttlecock perfectly with the paddle she’d just picked up.
The force was immense, and Luna barely managed to hit the shuttlecock back into the air.
But before Luna could react, Yuti was already waiting.
“Predicted. I saw you returning it there.”
She murmured softly, then smashed the shuttlecock down with a powerful, decisive blow, sending it crashing into the ground right beside Luna.
“Guh!?”
“Yes! As expected of Yuti! We win!”
Lexia threw her arms around Yuti, who gave a small smile.
“Victory.”
“Hey! Lexia didn’t do anything!”
Luna protested loudly, but Lexia seemed unconcerned. Holding an ink-dipped brush, she approached Luna.
“You’re being stubborn. Just admit defeat quietly!”
“Whoa!”
Without mercy, Lexia then drew a circle around Luna’s eyes.
“Ahahahaha! That’s great!”
“Guh! Hey, Yuti! This time, team up with me, and let’s take down Lexia!”
“Agreed.”
“What!? Yuti!?”
Without hesitation, Yuti betrayed Lexia and was now siding with Luna.
Seeing that, Lexia wore an expression of utter despair.
“N-no way… I didn’t stand a chance of winning, and now Yuti’s siding with you, too. I’m…”
“Too bad. That leaves you with zero chance of winning now.”
“Woof…”
Luna looked utterly certain of victory.
Night, who had been watching the situation unfold, let out a small, resigned-sounding bark. He took a hagoita in his mouth and stood beside Lexia.
“Woof.”
“Huh?”
“Wh-what… Night!?”
Seeing the overwhelming disparity in strength, Night reluctantly agreed to help Lexia.
While Luna and Yuti were stunned, Lexia’s eyes sparkled.
“Night, thank you! Now I can fight Luna and Yuti, too!”
“Guh! Night is certainly a formidable opponent, but Lexia is useless in battle. So, effectively, we’re only facing one person! We’ll win, Yuti!”
“Expectations. I’m looking forward to seeing how this plays out.”
The hanetsuki game with Night became wildly exciting and ended with everyone, including Yuti, covered in ink.
“Phew! We played so much!”
“Night was really strong. I never imagined he’d dominate like that.”
“Affirmative. We must continue to train diligently.”
After finally finishing the hanetsuki, Lexia and the others caught their breath.
Then, Lexia suddenly remembered something.
“Oh, right! Kaori invited us to the first shrine visit of the year, didn’t she?”
“Come to think of it, yes. What about it?”
“Meiko told me that for the first shrine visit, it’s good to wear a special kimono called a furisode. So, we decided that for this visit, all of us, including Kaori, should wear furisode!”
“Oh? This world truly has such diverse cultures.”
Luna seemed impressed by Lexia’s words.
“Anyway! Since we’re all wearing furisode, Luna and Yuti, please prepare accordingly!”
“Ah, got it.”
“Understood.”
If it had been the usual cosplay talk, Luna would have complained. But since there was a cultural aspect to it, she readily accepted Lexia’s suggestion.
“I’m looking forward to the first shrine visit!”
And so, Lexia and the others set out to fully enjoy New Year’s culture on Earth.
If you like my translations, please support me on Ko-Fi and subscribe my Patreon to read several chapters ahead!