The Correct Japanese Terms of Homestay Seems to Be Marriage - Chapter 27

School Starts Today

The time was 6:00 in the morning.

It was the time when birds chirped pleasantly.

Naturally, at this time, Keitaro was sound asleep, snoring loudly.

A figure slowly approached him.

“Keitaro, it’s morning. Please wake up.”

Of course, the figure was none other than Sofia.

Gently placing her hand on the sleeping Keitaro’s shoulder, she shook him gently, coming again today to wake him up.

Seeing no sign of Keitaro waking up, Sofia uttered the crucial word.

“If you don’t wake up soon, you’ll be late.”

Late.

Yes, school starts today.

After spending three days and beyond in blissful laziness, being fed by Sofia, and enjoying idyllic days, the remaining five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Before they knew it, the new school term was about to begin.

“Mmm… Late… That’s right, school starts today…”

Hearing the word “late” as Sofia planned, Keitaro woke up.

“Yes, it’s school today, so no going back to sleep.”

“Haah…”

As the drowsiness gradually faded, a sense of gloom began to grow, and a deep sigh involuntarily escaped Keitaro’s lips.

His body, spoiled by two weeks of vacation, was rejecting the very idea of school. He had absolutely no motivation.

“Come on, you need to get up.”

“Yes, yes. I’m getting up, I’m getting up…”

Urged by Sofia, Keitaro reluctantly began to rise.

With the speed of a sloth, he slowly moved his body out of the futon.

“…Good morning.”

“Good morning, Keitaro.”

While still not fully focused, Keitaro looked towards Sofia.

…

He fell silent.

“Do… do you think it suits me…?”

Sofia, nervous, tucked her hair behind her ear and timidly asked Keitaro.

…

Sofia was clad in the pinnacle of school uniforms.

The school, Eihou Academy, as its name suggests, is themed after a mountain.

The school colors are black and green. The double-buttoned blazer with the school emblem on the left chest, both the slacks and skirt primarily black.

The ribbon and tie are dark green, with similarly dark green accents delicately incorporated into the hem, sleeves, collar, and pockets, serving as a nice accent.

The school emblem’s design features a mountain peak piercing through the clouds, seemingly to straightforwardly embody the message of striving for the top.

Sofia was wearing our school uniform with terrifying perfection.

“Ke, Keitaro…?”

“…It suits you. You look not just cute, but beautiful.”

The dark color tones. The cool and dignified impression given by Eihou’s uniform.

Indeed… it’s like a high-class flower, one might say.

If Sofia were to walk down the street in this, anyone would instantly understand that she belongs to a different world from them.

“Re-really? …Ehehe, I’m glad…”

Hearing Keitaro’s opinion, Sofia’s facial muscles instantly relaxed, showing a moment of relief, then quickly turning into a joyful smile.

“I’ve always admired Japanese school uniforms, so being able to attend the same school as you and wear the same uniform makes me so happy!”

Perhaps it’s the kind of admiration often seen in foreigners who watch anime.

Sofia said these words, waving her clenched fists, her eyes sparkling.

“…Uh, well, you see…”

Keitaro averted his gaze, scratching his cheek.

“Keitaro? What’s wrong?”

Sofia tilted her head.

“I’m the type who, well, doesn’t wear a uniform, you know.”

Aware that what he was saying was cruel, Keitaro stuttered, pausing between each word, visibly uncomfortable.

“…Why not?!”

Sofia’s eyes widened in panic.

“Well, you know, our school doesn’t strictly require uniforms, so technically, it’s okay to wear casual clothes.”

As Keitaro said, it wasn’t a problem according to the school rules.

So, it’s not something bad, but Keitaro felt as if he was committing a crime.

“Is that so…”

“Yeah.”

“…Then, it can’t be helped…”

Sofia dropped her shoulders, looking downcast.

Watching her,

(My heart hurts. But please forgive me. Our uniform stands out too much…)

Not a prick but a sharp blade of guilt was stabbing at his heart.

(All because it’s a prestigious school. Moreover, it’s in the countryside, not in the city. Plus, claiming to be elite with a smaller student body doesn’t help either. And the uniform colors… black and dark green… am I a villain?)

Students of Eihou stand out.

For Keitaro, there’s not a single merit to wearing a uniform.

However, for an average Eihou student, the school uniform is considered more valuable than any luxury brand.

Pride in attending Eihou and a sense of superiority are best shown off by wearing the uniform ostentatiously.

He even heard that school-issued jerseys with “Eihou” boldly printed on the back are a popular weekend outfit among students.

To Keitaro, it’s unbelievable.

“…Haah… That’s disappointing…”

Sofia mumbled, fiddling with her fingers, exhaling a sigh of wistfulness.

“…Well, but…”

(Stop, what are you about to say?)

He had decided never to wear a uniform except for the entrance and graduation ceremonies.

Yet, for some reason, his mouth began to move on its own, automatically.

“Since we’re going into our second year of high school, maybe a change of heart… wearing a uniform might not be so bad.”

He murmured in a voice somewhere between speaking to himself and responding.

“…Really?”

Sofia peeked over, asking in a subdued voice.

“Yeah, it’s true. I’m going to change, so wait for me downstairs.”

“Ye-yes! Breakfast is ready too, so please come down quickly…!”

Her face instantly brightened, and she nearly skipped out of the room with a light step.

“… Better get changed quickly.”

He stood up and headed toward the closet.

Opening it, he saw the brand-new uniform hanging on a hanger.

Quickly grabbing it, he first brought it close to his face.

“It’s been stored for a while but… the smell is… yeah, seems fine.”

It was odorless. It should be fine to wear.

Knowing that, he took off his pajamas and started changing immediately. Putting on a Y-shirt and tying a necktie felt quite unfamiliar after such a long time.

Finally, he slipped his arms through the blazer.

“I chose a slightly larger size in advance, so… no problems there.”

He probably last wore the uniform at the entrance ceremony a year ago, but it fit him much better now than it did back then.

Looking in the mirror, Keitaro took in his uniformed appearance.

Hmm, not bad. This should do.

(But what now? I haven’t thought of any solutions for commuting to and from school. Excluding the mascot costume strategy… and now that I’ve decided to wear a uniform, the change-twice strategy, which had been my top option, is out. I was thinking of changing into different clothes in the bathroom or something after getting to school, but wearing a uniform changes everything. Maybe a hat…?)

Deciding to wear the uniform had significantly narrowed his options.

Being a tall student of Eihou makes one stand out considerably. Even a hat wouldn’t make much difference.

Honestly, this is bad. How can I commute with Sofia without being recognized in this outfit? That seems impossible.

“…Am I stuck?”

Keitaro’s mind, despite all its might, failed to come up with any solutions.