Plum Blossoms & Snowflakes [Plum Blossoms 5]

[anakidd]

 

  

[End of flashback, present time]

Hajime: Angel? No, it’s me, Shino ~

Mayoi: Shino-san…?

Hajime: Yes, Hajime Shino. What are you doing lying down in a place like this?

You… you aren’t playing in the snow, right?

It would be a problem if you catch a cold. Please hold my hand so you can stand up.

Mayoi: …… no. I don’t care about staying like this.

That’s a deserving end for a miserable bug like me.

Hajime: ...................... 

 

I understand. Then I’ll pull you out!

Mayoi: Eeeeh???

Please, stop that. Shino-san will get dirty if you touch me.

Hajime: I don’t mind getting dirty. I love to do farmwork.

I also love to do laundry and cleaning, so it doesn’t matter how dirty I get, it’s alright ♪

But above that, I’m worried about Ayase-senpai. At this rate, you’re really going to get sick.

Please, would you take my hand?

Mayoi: (It’s not this kind of “dirt” I’m talking about…)

................

…. I understand. Then I’ll be in your hands….

Hajime: Ehehe, that makes me happy…… ~ ♪

Waah, your hand is very cold… since when are you there?

You need to warm up quickly… Let's go to the school infirmary together.

Mayoi: N-no way. Helping me to stand up is more than enough, please don’t worry…

Hajime: That won’t do. Please excuse me… yay!

Mayoi: Waaah??? Aaaaaahhh, princess-carry style!?

Hajime: I considered piggyback, but… your legs would end up dragging on the ground because of my height.

But please rest assured. I may not look like it, but I’m quite strong ♪

So let’s go, Ayase-senpai ♪

 

[Few minutes later, Yumenosaki infirmary]

Hajime: I’ll bring you a towel and a blanket, so please sit here.

Mayoi: Y-yes, sorry for the trouble.

(....... Shino-san is really kind. I feel a little better thanks to him)

(But the weight of my sin remains. To be honest, I feel it’s even heavier now for bothering Shino-san.)

Hajime: Thanks for waiting. Here is the blanket ~

Ah, please don’t move yet. Your uniform and hair need to dry.

Mayoi: No, that’s一

Hajime: It’s ok, please leave it to me. Taking care of others is one of my strong points.

The life at the dorms disconnected me from the habit so it’s been a long time since then, but I used to dry my younger siblings’ hair after the bath.

Fufu, it’s nostalgic…….. ♪

But that aside… Why were you laying down at a place like that?

Mayoi: Ah…. to be honest一

 

[A bit later]

Hajime: … I see. So that’s what happened.

Mayoi: Yes. It seems my actions caused trouble to Chief……

It’s so embarrassing, I’m filled with guilt.

Hajime: You didn’t have bad intentions, so please don’t beat yourself up like this.

The important thing is to think about what to do from now on.

Mayoi: That’s…

………………..

Hm, what Shino-san would do…?

Hajime: Me?

Mayoi: I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I know I need to think for myself.

But, huh... I did think for myself and that was the result, so if you could please give me a direction…

Hajime: Y-yea, I see…

Then let’s graduate, Ayase-senpai.

Mayoi: Eh… graduation…?

Hajime: Yes. If repeating a year isn’t set in stone yet, I would like you to find a way to graduate.

Last year, when Niichan graduated, I tried to mentally prepare but I still felt lonely for sure.

But above that, I was happy and sent him out properly, as a junior and unit mate.

Besides… Nii-chan’s majestic figure receiving the diploma was really splendid and cool… 

 

I was filled with pride. “That’s our Nii-chan”, I thought, eager to boast about him to everyone around us.

That’s why I want Ayase-senpai to also graduate. I think it can be troublesome, but don’t you want to work hard and overcome this challenge?

So that Sengoku-kun can send Ayase-senpai out with a smile.

Mayoi: Send me out with a smile…

(... Ah, thinking back about it一)

(I gave up the temporary unit using the Ninja Association as an excuse to not graduate… and imposed my choice on Chief)

(I didn’t want to leave Chief all by himself so I decided it was ok to repeat a year, sure he would feel the same)

((But the truth was the complete opposite of it)

(Tatsumi-san also said... Usually, it’s something a lot more complicated)

(But I found a way out and ended up accepting the situation easily…)

(As a result, I hurt Chief’s feelings)

(Everyone in ALKALOID accepted my decision, but probably they were actually worried)

(Uuuuu... I don’t want to disappoint the people important to me any further)

Shino-san, I一