Aoharu-sou e Youkoso 14 *SPOILERS*
READ AOHARU-SOU E YOUKOSO 13 SPOILERS HERE
Hinata's Concerns
On another day, Hinata looks at himself in the mirror. He asks Rikuto, who's nearby, "Hey, Kiritani-kun. Do you think I'm cool?"
Rikuto: Eh? Yes...
Hinata: Really?! Take a good look at my face!!!
Rikuto: I see it every day. You're cool. (You're too close...)
Hinata: You're lying---!!! I've been called cute before, but this is the first time I've been called cool!!
Rikuto: ...What's up with you all of a sudden?
Hinata: So, actually... The other day, I was called cool by Yamabuki-san.
Rikuto: ...For real?
Hinata: It's real. It made me feel like I was getting too conceited...
Rikuto: I think that that's a good thing to be conceited about.
Hinata (blushing): You think so?! That means our feelings are mutual, and all that's left is...
A rabid-looking zombie suddenly comes up behind Hinata and goes, "To confessssss...".
Hinata gets frightened, then the zombie reveals itself to actually be Hamayuu wearing a mask.
Rikuto: What's with the mask?
Hamayuu: I borrowed it for the Halloween party, but this is too creepy so I won't use it.
Hinata: It looks too real. That said, please be careful!! I'm carving out a pumpkin right now!!
Hamayuu: That's really dangerous.
Rikuto: It's honest work.
Hinata: Please help me-
Preparing for a Party
Hinata's narration reads that this weekend, their boarding house is having a Halloween party. Every year, they decorate the place and it's also customary to cosplay. Right now, he's making preparations by carving out pumpkins and talking about love.
The other boys are also gathered at the dining table now. Gen asks all of them if they'll be inviting any friends to the party (they can bring up to two people each). Seiya says that he'll invite Akari. Sena says he'll invite Suikazura.
Rikuto: Is Azami-- senpai inviting anyone too?
Gen: Yup. He's inviting Wakamatsu-san.
Rikuto (irked): ...Then I don't have anyone in particular to invite.
Hinata: Me neither.
Hamayuu: Bukki will probably be helping out, right?
Hinata's Worries
The boys remark that things are going well for Hinata - he's even gone on a date with Yamabuki, so he should just confess. Hinata retorts that the "date" was just a coincidence (recall Chapter 12), but the mood between him and her recently has been good. He says that he sometimes wonders if he should tell her how he feels, but he's never confessed before. He adds, "Also, I might be conceited because I'm just imagining things. What to do..."
Sena: Well, Hinata, your timing is important too- Today, at school, I happened to see Bukki, and my friends said that she was cute.
Hinata: Eh?!
Sena: Was Bukki wearing contact lenses? She wasn't wearing her glasses.
Hinata: She said that she broke them...
Rikuto: Come to think of it, the other day I was hanging out with other guys and Yamabuki was popular with them.
Hinata: Eh?!
Sena: If you hesitate, she'll be taken away.
Hinata: Eh?!
Hamayuu: --Geez, it can't be helped. We will help you to set the stage for a perfect opportunity to confess during the Halloween party.
Hinata: EH?! Ah, no, that's not necessary...
Hamayuu: Don't be shy. Look forward to... Sunday's Halloween party!!
Sena: It's gonna be exciting.
Seiya: I'm excited!!
Hinata's narration: Eh-...... Confess...? EH-----?! Why am I being encouraged to confess?! I never said I was gonna do it!!
Hinata Continues to Worry
At school, Hinata thinks to himself, 'Is this really happening? Is it okay to ride on this momentum? I wonder what Hamayuu-senpai has planned. How am I supposed to confess to her?!'
After school, Hinata and Rikuto return to the boarding house and see Yamabuki, who's putting on her apron.
Yamabuki: Welcome back, Sakurai-kun.
Hinata: I- I'm back...
Rikuto: Is Yama-san on break today?
Yamabuki: Yes, he's not feeling well. He was sick and thought about Halloween recipes so much that he fell asleep...
Rikuto: Yama-san sure worries about lots of things...
Yamabuki: He'll be back tomorrow.
Rikuto: Well then, I'll be going off to my part time job.
Yamabuki: Okay.
Hinata notices that Yamabuki isn't wearing her spectacles. When he asks if she's wearing contact lenses, she says yes, because her glasses were damaged.
Yamabuki and Hinata
Yamabuki then shyly thinks to herself, 'Sakurai-kun said that I was cute...', while Hinata thinks to himself, 'Indeed... Her face is clearly visible so other boys find out that she's cute... Well, even if I have rivals, I just have to do my best!! We've become pretty good friends, after all!
(He's very motivated because he was called 'cool')
Yamabuki says happily, "I'll be coming to help out at the Halloween party tomorrow, so I'll be in your care. I'm really excited to know that Akarin-san and the others are coming too. I'll do my best to prepare food for everyone!"
Hinata smiles and answers, "...Yeah!". He narrates that he's nervous about confessing, but he's also looking forward to the Halloween party.
The two of them chat about making pumpkin puddings; Hinata shows Yamabuki the pumpkin lanterns that he carved out; Yamabuki is impressed and asks if they'll be putting candles in the pumpkins; Hinata suggests that they finish preparing dinner early so that they can insert the candles into the pumpkins together. They then work speedily to prepare dinner.
Mood For Confession
Hinata and Yamabuki are now seated at the living room and insert candles into the pumpkins. They light up two or three of them.
Yamabuki: Wah!! They're lit-
Hinata: Yeah, they look great!!
Yamabuki: It's adorable how they all have different faces.
Hinata: I wanted to make them resemble each of us, but it was difficult.
Yamabuki: Is there one with my face too?
Hinata: Look forward to it tomorrow!
Yamabuki: Ahaha, I'm curious!
Yamabuki turns towards Hinata, adding, "...They're pretty." and Hinata looks back at her, going, "...Yeah."
The two of them gaze at each other. Hinata narrates: Oh...? Somehow, the mood is good...? Is this the time to confess...?
Hesitation
Hinata hesitates, thinking to himself that Hamayuu had mentioned how there'd be something planned tomorrow at the Halloween party, so he shouldn't get too carried away right now.
Scratching his head awkwardly, Hinata shares that at tomorrow's Halloween party, they'll light all of the lanterns and cosplay. Everyone is going to play Werewolf!
Yamabuki: Eh-...
Hinata: Yamabuki-san, are you good at playing Werewolf?
Yamabuki: ...Ah- um... The truth is, I've never played werewolf...
Hinata: Ah, I see!
Yamabuki: I didn't have friends to play it with... But I kinda know the rules, because I'd seen it in videos.
Hinata: Really?! What kind did you see? We'll be using an app to play, so would you like to watch a video on how to play? It's easy to understand.
Yamabuki: App? Which one?
Hinata: I'll show you. Let's see- where's my phone-
Go For It
Hinata spots his phone on the coffee table and reaches for it, but loses his balance and ends up falling and pinning Yamabuki on the ground beneath him.
The two of them blush upon realizing the situation they've been caught in.
Hinata (retreating and extending a hand to her): I-I'm sorry! My hand slipped. Are you alright? Did you hit your head?
Yamabuki (taking his hand): I...I'm okay...
Hinata: That's a relief...
Yamabuki is clearly blushing and looking shy. Hinata notices it and thinks to himself that she's adorable. He also realizes that the two of them are alone right now.
At that thought, he tightens his grip on her hand. Yamabuki responds by squeezing his hand too, which he notices. He notices how she's blushing, smiling at him, which makes him narrate: I think it's okay to feel conceited.
As if moving by instinct, Hinata holds Yamabuki's shoulders and leans into her. She doesn't object and they both look into each other's eyes.
They're about to kiss, when someone turns on the lights and goes, "--What, there's no one around?"
Someone New?
Hinata and Yamabuki are startled at the interruption and turn to look at who it is.
It's a tall guy wearing glasses, looking stern. He frowns while looking at them, asking, "Oh, you guys... what are you doing?"
Hinata does not recognize him and wonders who he is. Just then, Sora arrives. Upon seeing the new guy, he goes, "Oh? Could it be... Tsubaki?! You're back!!"
Hinata thinks, 'Tsubaki?! Is he a third year student who's good friends with Azami-senpai?'
Tsubaki's Outburst
Tsubaki: Oi, Azami...
Sora: Hm?
Tsubaki (pointing at Yamabuki): Why is there... A GIRL IN HERE???!!!
Sora: Ah, Bukki?
Tsubaki: Moreover, the two of them darkened the room and were flirting! What on earth is happening!!!
Hinata: Y-you're mistaken, we were just talking about lanterns... and then I tripped over, and after that...
Tsubaki: What's after that?!
Hinata thinks to himself that he can't mention that he was trying to kiss her. He simply apologizes.
Meanwhile, Yamabuki is flustered and quickly introduces herself - she's working part time and helping out with preparing meals. She's Yamabuki's younger sister.
Sora adds on to explain that Yamabuki (the brother) falls sick often, so she's been helping out since spring.
Tsubaki: I understand that... it's to help Yama-san... but WHY IS IT A YOUNGER SISTER???!!! There are only men here, so that's why I moved in!!
Sora: This isn't a boy's dorm, is it?
Tsubaki: Nonetheless, I don't think there have been any girls in the last few years!!
Tsubaki clicks his tongue angrily while glaring at Yamabuki, frightening her. He walks away, saying that he can't accept part-timers, so he's heading out to get his meal. Sora goes after him and asks if he's fine not having a welcome party, and Tsubaki answers that he doesn't need one.
Yamabuki's Crisis
Scratching his head watching Tsubaki leave, Sora apologetically explains that Tsubaki is like that. Tsubaki had left to go back to his family home due to some family matters, but he returned to the boarding house today.
Meanwhile, Hinata finds Yamabuki frozen in place from all the shock and disapproval she received. Hinata and Sora try to comfort her, saying that she doesn't have to be so scared. Sora goes on to add that Tsubaki was so angry, only because Tsubaki is a virgin who's bad with females. Tsubaki only has brothers, and he only went to boys' schools throughout middle and high school, so he's not used to females and is just shy.
Hinata is shocked upon hearing Sora mention "virgin" so bluntly. Sora reassures Yamabuki by telling her to just continue cooking for them as usual. Yamabuki then goes to the kitchen.
Aside, Sora then says to Hinata, "Hinata, you too. If you want to do something, do it in your room, got it?"
Hinata can only bashfully answer, "Eh- Ah-... I-I-I'm sorry...". Hinata then thinks to himself that he needs to be careful - it was his mistake for creating that mood between them in a common space - he even made Yamabuki worried. Glancing at Yamabuki, he thinks that if Tsubaki hadn't shown up earlier, they would have kissed.
At the kitchen counter, Yamabuki thinks to herself that she was too relaxed - she is here to work, but because everyone has been nice to her, she got spoiled. Also, she thinks, 'It would make them mad... because it looked like we were gonna k-k-kiss...'
Her heart was pounding really fast when Hinata was looking straight into her eyes earlier. However, she frantically reminds herself to focus on the cooking.
Yamabuki and Tsubaki
Later, Yamabuki is done with her duties and is about to return home. Hinata offers to send her, but she answers that she cycled to the boarding house, so it's not necessary. (She's also feeling too shy to talk to Hinata now.)
Outside, she runs into Tsubaki, who is returning to the boarding house. She sees his stern look and hurriedly bows towards him, apologizing for earlier. Tsubaki seemingly ignores her and walks towards the boarding house, but he trips over the stairs.
Yamabuki runs towards him to ask if he's okay, and he quickly composes himself, stating that he's fine. However, Yamabuki notices that his phone has dropped to the ground.
She picks it up and hands it to Tsubaki, saying, "Um... Here, your phone... I'm sorry about today. I made senpai's share of dinner, so if it's fine with you, please eat it. I'll do my best from now on to let you accept me."
Tsubaki reaches his hand out to take his phone, and his hand touches Yamabuki's. He flinches from the contact and ends up snatching his phone away, then slamming the door behind him when he enters the boarding house.
Yamabuki is left scared, wondering if she will be able to continue working at Aoharu-sou. On the other hand, behind the door, Tsubaki looks at his hand which touched Yamabuki's, and blushes furiously.
Tsubaki...?
In the living room, Hamayuu sees Tsubaki.
Hamayuu: Oh, Tsubaki-senpai.
Tsubaki: Ah, Hamayuu?
Hamayuu: Welcome back-
Hinata: Senpai, I'm sorry about earlier!!
Sena: Hinata, a guy appeared.
Hinata: Please stop saying that!!
Tsubaki walks towards the fridge and opens it. Inside, he finds a tray of food labelled with his name, prepared by Yamabuki.
Sora: Tsubaki, are you going to eat something?
Tsubaki: *munch munch munch*
Sora: Eh, you're eating while standing up?
Tsubaki: *blushes furiously*
Sora: Furthermore, your face is red...
Tsubaki: ...Delicious...
Sora: Huh?
Tsubaki: Oi, Azami.
Sora: Hm?
Tsubaki: The lady from earlier... was called Yamabuki, right?
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