The Delinquent Shimizu-san Sitting Next to Me Has Dyed Her Hair Black - Volume 2 SS

Volume 2 SS

Shimizu-san and a Holiday Morning

 

“Fuah…”

 

I woke up as the sun shining through the gaps in the curtains hit my face.

It’s unusual for me, who usually wakes up slowly to the alarm of my smartphone.

 

(I wonder what time it is now?)

 

When I checked the smartphone on my bed, it wasn’t even six o’clock yet.

 

(Ah!)

 

I was excited. I had managed to wake up early. It’s something I usually struggle to do.

The only downside was that today was Saturday. On holidays, my family doesn’t eat breakfast together, so even if I wake up early, there are no household chores for me to help with.

 

(But it seems like a waste just to do nothing until everyone wakes up)

 

With that thought, I changed into comfortable clothes, left a note, and set out from the house.

It must have been about ten minutes since I left home.

I realized that the early morning walk I started on a whim suited me as I could leisurely observe the scenery.

 

(The air feels so fresh. I’m glad I went for a walk)

 

As I was thinking this, I came across some familiar people.

 

“Oh, Shimizu-san, Ai-san?”

“Hm? Isn’t that Daiki-kun’s voice?”

“H-Hondō, why are you…”

 

There stood Shimizu-san and Ai-san, both dressed in sportswear.

 

“Woww, I never expected we’d run into Daiki-kun here. Right, Kei?”

“Hondō, aren’t you bad at getting up in the morning? Why are you here at this hour… “

“I just happened to wake up early today. It seemed like a waste to do nothing, so I went for a walk. Shimizu-san, were you two out for a jogging?”

“Well, something like that. I usually do it alone, but with summer approaching, this one here said she’d start doing it too and just tagged along on her own…”

“That’s because I’m sure I’d give up halfway if I did it alone!”

 

Ai-san declared this with the most confident expression of the day.

 

“Then give up.”

“If I keep slacking off until summer, I’ll end up with a body that can’t go to the beach or the pool! That’s something I want to avoid. I want to have the perfect body by summer!” (TN: Beach episode Vol 3? *Praying)

“That’s why I reluctantly went jogging with you because you wouldn’t listen anyway.”

 

Shimizu-san seems a bit exasperated.

However, the fact that they’re jogging together means that the sisters still get along well.

 

“I see…”

“Daiki-kun, would you like to join us for a jog?”

“Huh?”

“Y-you, what are you talking about?!”

“Don’t you think something like this becomes more fun the more people there are?”

“This isn’t a field trip for elementary school students.”

 

Jogging might be possible since I’m dressed in comfortable clothes and shoes today, but being asked so suddenly made me a little hesitant.

 

“Look, Hondō seems troubled.”

“That’s… well, I guess it’s hard to decide on the spot when you’re asked so suddenly. So, how about we take a short break at the nearby park and think it over?”

 

Ai-san pointed to the park ahead.

 

“You’ve been taking breaks non-stop since a while ago!”

 

It seems that Ai-san was not lying when she said that she would give up if she was alone.

Now, we were resting on a bench in the park, with Shimizu-san and Ai-san on one bench and me on another nearby.

 

“What will you do after this, Daiki-kun?”

“After this… I guess I’ll either watch anime or play some games.”

“I see, what about you, Kei?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“Kei, you’re such a secretive person!”

“Don’t try to hug me while saying that. We’re both hot from jogging.”

“Kei, your body may be hot, but your heart is cold…”

 

Ai-san gave up on hugging Shimizu-san and returned to the edge of the bench.

 

“Oh, I forgot, I wanted to ask Hondō-kun something.”

“What is it?”

“How do you like our outfits now?”

“H-Hey.”

 

Hearing this, I took another look at their outfits.

Ai-san’s outfit is mainly a bright green, reflecting her lively personality.

On the other hand, Shimizu-san’s outfit was all black, giving off a cool vibe.

Also, Shimizu-san has her hair tied back in a ponytail, probably to keep it from bothering her while jogging.

 

“Hey~, Daiki-kun?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I might be fine if you stare at us like that, but Kei might melt, okay?”

 

I shifted my gaze again to Shimizu-san.

Her face was flushed, seemingly not just from jogging.

 

“I’m sorry, Shimizu-san.”

“N-no, you don’t have to worry about that.”

 

Silence flows.

It was Ai-san who broke it.

 

“So, what do you think?”

“First, Ai-san, you looked really good in the bright sportswear. You seemed even more lively than usual.”

“Wow! That’s nice to hear! And what about Kei?”

“Shimizu-san looked really cool in her black sportswear, giving off the impression of a cool girl who does sports. I think her hair in a ponytail also matches that image.”

“Such high praise~ How do you feel about that, Kei-san?”

“Don’t just suddenly throw the conversation at me! …W-Well, I don’t feel too bad to hear that…”

“I see. In other words, you’re very happy to be praised.”

“Don’t misinterpret my words!”

 

I wondered whether Ai-san’s interpretation of Shimizu-san’s reaction was a joke or serious.

Suddenly conscious of the time, I pull out my smartphone to find it’s just past six o’clock.

 

“Is the time okay? It’s past six now.”

“I think we’ve been resting a little too long. Ai, it’s time to go.”

“Okay! Come on, Daiki-kun, get ready too.”

“Ah? O-okay.”

“Don’t get carried away by Ai, Hondō. You don’t have to come with us.”

“No, come with us!”

“I’ve thought about it, but I feel like taking a leisurely walk today, so I’ll pass this time. Please invite me again later if there’s another opportunity.”

 

Joining their jogging might disrupt their pace, and more than that, I wanted to walk around the city at my own pace today.

 

“Alright. Then let’s meet again at school!”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go. Bye, Hondō. See you at school.”

“Yeah. See you.”

 

And so, I watched the Shimizu sisters leave for their jog.

 

***

 

(Shimizu’s POV)

 

“Was that really okay?”

 

After leaving the park, Ai spoke up when Hondō was no longer in sight.

 

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you want to jog with Daiki-kun?”

“It’s fine as long as I get to jog.”

“Not being honest, huh. Even though you finally got to meet him, you have to part ways again so quickly… you could have said you feels lonely.”

“Like I’d say that.”

 

It seems the version of me that Ai imagines is set to be more of a loner than in reality.

 

“Well, it was a big win for Kei just to run into Daiki-kun by chance and have him compliment your outfit.”

“That’s… probably true.”

 

I couldn’t deny it.

It was a miracle to meet him in the city, especially early in the morning when Hondō would usually be asleep.

Plus, getting my outfit complimented felt like I used up all my luck for the day right there in the park.

 

“But even so, Kei seems not very eager about Daiki-kun joining us for jogging today. Why?”

“Ugh…”

“That face looks like you’re hiding something! Come on, spill the truth!”

“It’s…”

“It’s?”

“…It’s because I didn’t want to be thought of as a sweaty and smelly girl if we jog together.”

 

It was fine when we met Hondō because we had just started jogging and weren’t sweating much. But jogging together would be a different story.

That’s why I didn’t want to jog with Hondō.

 

“…guu.”

“Guu?

“My sister’s cuteness knows no bounds!”

“Hey, stop it. Don’t hug me outside!”

 

After that, I ended up jogging away to escape from Ai who was trying to hug me.