“Wha—? You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“But, Awayuki-san, you wanted to laugh after all!”
“Yeah, but she can’t directly say I want to laugh for some reason.”
“That’s right! And who made it possible for her to smoothly say that?”
“Ootomo!” “Ootomo!” “Ootomo!” “Ootomo!” “Ootomo!”
It’s not me! I didn’t do it!
How does green paint plus trimmer equals grass!? That’s just idiotic!
Damn! Because of me, the mood has gone in the complete opposite direction of Awayuki’s real desire…
“Now there’s no more room for doubt!”
“Right! We just need to create an atmosphere where Awayuki can laugh easily!”
“Let’s get pumped!”
Huh? But wait, this is…
“Mr. Hōjō is right! There’s no reason you need to hide wanting to laugh!”
“That’s right Awayuki, feel free to laugh happily!”
“We’re all on your side here!”
“Yeah, it’s time to return the favor for everything you’ve done for us!”
“Come on everyone, be louder!”
*** “Awayuki!” “Awayuki!” “Awayuki!” ***
“Ha…ha…”
A small laugh escaped from me.
Because I finally realized the strange feeling I’d had all this time.
“Awayuki?”
The answer was so simple.
“You’re really loved by everyone here, aren’t you?”
“Huh?”
“There’s no way you can cry in this kind of atmosphere. Yes…I think you should give up on that, Awayuki.”
“I don’t want to say this but…this excitement is almost entirely thanks to you. Telling me to give up is irresponsible.”
“You’re right, no, all of this is my fault. I’ll take responsibility.”
Just like before, Awayuki and my conversation was drowned out by the cheering and only audible to each other.
“Yeah. Please hurry and calm down this mood, I want an atmosphere where I can cry aga–”
“I’ll take responsibility and properly make you laugh, Awayuki.”
“What? Make me laugh? I don’t understand what you mean. That’s the opposite of my wish.”
“What is your wish, Awayuki?”
“Huh? You know already. I want to have emotions like other people too. The first emotional expression when humans are born is [crying]. Since I haven’t experienced that yet, my life has not begun in this world. If I don’t cry, my life will never start.”
Ah right, that American saying was supposed to come after that.
I think it was something like “When you entered this world, you cried while everyone else laughed. So live your life so that when you leave this world, everyone cries while you laugh.”
It’s an incredibly good quote that I can totally relate to.
But–
“It’s fine for some people to be born laughing.”
“That’s impossible. Biologically no such human exists.”
“They can. You’re [a new possibility in human evolution], aren’t you?”
“It’s not meant that way. You’re interpreting it too conveniently.”
“Haha, well doesn’t matter–”
“I’ll just do as I please over here.”
If Awayuki’s ultimate desire really is just [crying], I’d be happy to assist her.
But that’s not it. What she wants is further beyond that. She wants those [emotions] so badly that she continues struggling ceaselessly.
“You seem different than before, why do you look so happy?”
Of course I do.
Even if it was born of [being moved], rather than that incomprehensible meeting trying to make everyone cry together to make one girl cry–
“It’s obvious that making a girl smile would be more exciting.”
My body feels hot.
My boiling blood races through my body.
In inverse proportion, my mental senses feel calmly and extremely sharp.
It was an omnipotence I had never experienced before.
I had a strange certainty that just for this moment, even the worst, most awful choice wouldn’t activate.
Nothing would get in my way of–
[Choose]
1 For a period of time, everything you think will becomes spoken words from your mouth.
2 For a period of time, all the titles of the adult magazines you are indebted to will becomes spoken words from your mouth
Don’t get in my damn way! Wipe that smug look off your face! Anything more embarrassing than this!?
No, 2 is definitely hell! I’ll be exposed! My habits!
No way I can choose either one…1 is still the worst but…there’s a way to deal with it.
I just have to maintain my consciousness and keep thinking of completely unrelated things.
1897593358975294300827445741859305897–
For example, just random number sequences like this.
Even if it interrupts the flow of making Awayuki laugh, I can restart after getting through the choices.
Hmm…so much for breaking through the choices.
I chose 1 and immediately started thinking of numbers.
“69382742589158377853037183283729921…”
“From overhead I suddenly heard a strange sound. I reflexively looked up and–what’s that? A baseball? The moment I realized that it was already–smack!”
Gobble!
“I was hit hard on the head and my consciousness faded–”
“What an unbelievable accident! A home run ball flew in from the neighboring baseball field and hit you…Are you okay!?”
“Yes, Kurosui senpai. I just feel a bit lightheaded. It hit my forehead after all.”
“I-I see…but your pupils seem strangely vacant which concerns me…I mean, even before getting hit you suddenly started chanting numbers like an incantation and doing a sports commentary so that was pretty odd but…”
“I’m fine. As you can see I’m perfectly conscious right? If anything, I feel refreshingly straightforward. It’s like I’m directly saying everything on my mind.”
“I-Is that so…”
“Are you really okay? Just in case, we should get you to a hospital–”
“No, I’m seriously totally fine–anyway, Awayuki.”
“What?”
“You’re cute.”
“….Huh?”
You’re so cute.
…… You?
“You’re seriously so cute. I thought so the first time I saw you, this cuteness is inhuman.”
“Mr. Ootomo…kun?”
“I’m not joking around! I’m just speaking my true thoughts directly!”
“……”
“But, it’s such a waste…I think Awayuki would be even cuter smiling!”
“Um, Daikyou…kun, everyone can hear you know?”
“Who cares! Anyway everyone here thinks Awayuki would be a million times cuter smiling!”
“Uh, well…Daikyou kun…”
“And isn’t it weird! Why can’t you laugh when you make everyone else smile! You who makes people happier than anyone should be the happiest one!”
“Yeah, well…so crying is the first step I want to take and–”
“Ah forget all that annoying stuff! Don’t overcomplicate it, just show me a cuter face than now!”
“Um…if you say cute cute so many times, it’s a little…”
“I’m just saying what I think! What’s wrong with that!”
“It’s not about right or wrong but…usually–”
“Look, Awayuki.”
“Oh…gr, grabbing my shoulder like that…how bold…”
“You like making people smile right?”
“Y, yeah…”
“Know what would make everyone in the audience smile the most right now?”
“If I…laughed?”
“That’s right!”
“I, I get it logically but…impossible. I can feel everyone’s expectations but…I don’t know how to laugh…”
“Then leave everyone for later! First, laugh for me!”
“…Huh?”
“Let me monopolize…your cute smile!”
“Um…that’s like, kinda already a pr, proposal…”
“I don’t know what you’re saying but you can do it! You can definitely be even cuter!”
“Uh…I, I think that’s enough…”
“Oh I get it! I just need to show you by example! Look, like this!”
“Oh….mmm…”
“What’s wrong? You’re averting your face. Did my smile seem weird?”
“No…it’s as wonderful as ever…I thought…”
“I see…haha, thanks. So just imitate me. Can you do it?”
“Y…yes.”
“Ha…!”
My consciousness awakens.
Huh? What was I doing…I remember up until the baseball hitting me but…did I pass out for a bit maybe?
Looks like the [period of time] from the choice ended because thoughts aren’t coming out of my mouth anymore but…huh? Awayuki is right in front of me…but she’s facing straight down for some reason? Did I maybe do something while out…?
As I’m wondering that, Awayuki slowly lifts her face and–
“….Ehehe.”
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….Eh?
“Ah, Awayuki you……………………………………………………….just now, lau–”
“She laugheddddddddd!”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
The venue explodes with excitement.
“You saw right?…Hey, you saw right?”
“Ah…Ah! Awayuki definitely laughed!”
“Alright!”
“I’m so glad…so glad!”
“And isn’t Ootomo-kun crazy? That was just a normal confession!”
“Seriously…no one else could imitate that!”
“As expected, amazing!”
///
***
scene transition

***
///
*** “Ootomo!” “Ootomo!” “Ootomo!” ***
W-Why’s it turn out like this…did I actually not pass out and…do something weird instead? I stood out from start to finish didn’t I ahhhhhh!
“I…laughed?”
Clutching my head, I suddenly come to my senses hearing Awayuki’s voice.
“I can’t…believe it.”
And from Awayuki’s vacant gaze–
“Oh…what?”
A single teardrop falls.
“Strange…it should be over already…even though I wished for it so much and nothing came out at all…why now, all of a sudden…”
It was proof that Awayuki could now express emotion outwardly.
Because those tears that continued spilling nonstop showed no signs of stopping–
“But somehow…my chest feels warm.”
It was because Awayuki had laughed.
“Daikyou kun, thank you.”
It shone brighter than any smile I had seen from anyone before.
“…No, I didn’t do anything.”
What actions my hazy consciousness took…I seriously can’t remember at all.
“Um, Daikyou kun…”
“What?”
Awayuki’s tears seem to have stopped but now she addresses me in an awkward manner.
“N, nothing…”
“? ”
“Um…actually it’s not really nothing but…you know…”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Um…ah…that is…”
Awayuki seems strangely flustered for some reason. She looks like she wants to say something but–
“…………”
She continues staring up at me silently.
After several seconds pass–
*Throb*
Some strange sound rings out and Awayuki suddenly looks away from me.
“Wha, why’d you suddenly look away like that?”
“I, I don’t know…”
“Huh? If you don’t know then look this way again. I want to see your smile again, Awayuki.”
“……Impossible.”
“Huh? Did I do something bad?”
“It’s not that…it’s not that but…”
“? Then–”
“I told you I don’t know means I don’t know!”
“O-Oh…I see…”
Caught off guard by that sharp retort, I involuntarily recoil. W-Well this is something to welcome too. Since she can properly express her emotions now. Be it joy or anger–
“–!?”
A tremendous chill suddenly runs down my spine.
What’s this…it feels like I’m being regarded with some terrible negative emotion…Anger? No, surpassing that, something more like…killing intent–?!
“…………”
I carefully look back and…everyone in the audience was about to speak in unison.
“*** Oototmo you explode! ***”
“Why!?”
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