Age 15 ch8

p27
>Anna, take the exam for Oushuku Girls' Middle School.

>My Mom always said "the right thing".

>Oushuku is my alma mater.
>Unlike private schools, they teach you to be independent and dignified.

>To think for yourself what you should be doing.

>It was "independence" in name only.
>It was an order.

p28
>And with her willpower that was tougher than steel,
>I couldn't go against her.

>Hey, Anna.

>Could you give me an adult kiss too?
>I definitely can't tell that woman about all this.

p29
>Alright, just wait! People can see us here, y'know?
>Ah.
>Sorry.

>This isn't the usual calm and collected Miku-chan.

>Hey, Miku-chan.
>Why don't we discuss this after school?
>...

>Even if what happened yesterday was an accident, I was still shocked.

>Would you be okay with it if I kissed someone else?

>I'm getting caught up in Miku-chan's pace.
>Do you mean...

p30
>that cram school teacher you mentioned before?

>...That jerk.
>He hasn't spoken to me even once since then.

>Still, if I were to do it with him, you'd hate it, wouldn't you, Anna?
>But... what we're doing is friendship kissing, right?

>Friendship...?

p31
>...
>...Eh!?

>After school,
>I'll be waiting at the "Shinto shrine".

>...By "Shinto shrine" she means
>that Shinto shrine, right...?

>...Miku-chan's emotionally unstable because of her recent heartbreak.

>Ema-chan was like that too.
>...So I'm sure this is...

>It's raining!

p32
>Hello?
>It's started raining.
>Yeah. A total downpour.

>It's a shame, but it can't be helped with this rain.
>Y-Yeah, then today...

>Are you outdoors too, Miku-chan?

>Don't worry. I'm already in front of my house.

p33
>Okay, I'm hanging up.
>Okay. See you later.

>Phew
>Whether or not we kiss,

>friends are supposed to be friends, right?

p34
>The rain was just a brief shower that cleared up right away.

>What should I do?
>Should I all Miku-chan?

>Ah.
>It's here.

>The call was from my Mom.
>Anna? I couldn't get in touch with you.
>Where are you right now?
>It... suddenly started raining.

p35
>I'm still on my way home.
>...For a brief moment, I thought I had seen through all the incidents these past few days.
>Even if you're by yourself, you must act well-behaved.
>You promised me, right?

>Even if we live apart, I have no freedom.

>Yes, understood.
>Anyway, it's been a month, hasn't it?
>I want to give my thanks to Ema-san.

>I'll be paying you a visit.
>!!

>I can't go against her.

p36
>She's coming...

>Yes... Yes...
>Understood.

>...I need to go home and study.

p37
>Today, we'll be deciding on liaison officers for the Spring field trip.
>You have until the end of the final homeroom to decide.

>You're in your third year now, so you can think about this independently, right, everyone?
>Eh~
>Independence again...
>Ah~

>Is there even anyone among us that's independent...?
>They say "liaison officer"
>but the course is decided every year, so it should be "miscellaneous duty".
>Guess there's nobody who wants to do it of their own will, huh?

p38
>More importantly, I see you invited Yoshikawa-san again today.
>I'm just keeping my eye on the delinquent.

>Thank goodness. It looks like she's no longer bothered about yesterday.
>Hohoho
>Hey, were you listening? I said I'm keeping watch!

>Hey, Anna.
>Wanna be in charge of the trip together?

>...Eh? Ah... Uuh. I wonder if I should.
>Ahaha
>What's this all of a sudden?
>Hey, why are you just inviting her!?
>I wanna improve my school record.
>Don't ignore me~

>Huh? What the heck!?
>School record?

p39
>E-
>External exams!?

>And for National East of all places...!!
>That's one of the top schools, isn't it?
>They have a tradition of wearing casual clothes that really lets you be free.
>I dunno if I'll get accepted, though.

>That's a pretty tall hurdle for a first choice school...
>Taller than the clouds themselves...
>Is that why you lengthened your skirt?
>Yeah... The teachers would prefer it that way, right?
>It sounds like you're just running away.

>You don't feel like you belong in this school, right?
>Do you intend to use Anna for this plan of yours?

p40
>I intend to do it even if it's by myself... Besides,
>what part of finding a goal and aiming for it
>is considered running away?

"Think for yourself what you should be doing."
>Wh-What the heck? You think you can get in just by being a liaison officer?
>It's not a school you can get into by doing nothing.

>I'll end up going home late, but...
>Alright.

>I'll announce my candidacy!
>Eeh!?

p41
>Anna, are you sure about this?
>Yeah.
>Such good friends~

>Hold on a moment!

>After school
>Well then, could each class please fill in this survey with what they would like to do by tomorrow.

>Our next assembly will be...
>I really have no idea what a liaison officer even is...

>...
>She looks happy.
>This sucks~
>Such a pain~

p42
>Did you make sure to take notes?
>There wasn't anything worth taking notes for.

>You're one to talk. You wrote "burvey" here.
>That's just my handwriting!
>...To think that Yuyuka would ask to do something like this herself...
>Au~
>The Earth's gonna start spinning backwards tomorrow
>Looks like she really did want to be friends with Miku-chan.

>Later.
>Do you get off here too?
>This is where my cram school is.
>Ah, I see. Later.

>Thanks for today, Anna.
>Nah...

>I always thought that independence was a lie.
>Eh?

>I thought it was just a word parents and teachers used to make us move to their convenience...
>...

p43
>But you're thinking properly about what school you want to go to, Miku-chan.
>I'll be cheering you on.
>...Thanks.
>Yeah.
>Thank goodness. She's back to the usual Miku-chan.

>Alright, this is where we split ways.
>See you tomorrow.

>...Well, just taking contact duty isn't gonna improve my school record just like that.
>Eh...?

p44
>The weather's nice today.
>No cram school either.

>...
>Hah

>...That lie

p45
>So the stuff about duty and cram school was all a lie, huh?
>...Sorry.
>was a lie I could never forcibly say
>to the woman carving my path out for me.

>I want to be with you more, Anna.

>What do I do?
>Y'know, yesterday,

>I wanted for you here
>the entire time.

p46
>I want to become
>really special friends with you, Anna.

>I don't

>Nyah

>have the strength to push Miku-chan aside.

>I can't... go against her.

p47
>Against "her"...!?

>Mm
>No... Miku-chan is a friend...

>But... this feeling.
>Ah...
>Ahm
>Mi...
>ku... cha...

p48
>Ah
>Fuhah

>She and that woman are

>Mm<3
>Agh

>the same...!?

>Ah...

>Hah...
>Hah

p49
>Anna. Your heart's really pounding.

>Ah.
>Miku-chan.

>Hey... does this feel good?
>Hey...
>Nng

>This pounding is... different.
>Ng
>Ng
>I'll do it some more.

p50
>Y'know,

>...We mustn't

>I know something that's even better.

>Hah
>Mm
>No...

>any further...

>Anna...
>Ah...
>Aaah

p51
>Hah
>Please stop.
>Hah

>There's a voice inside my head.

>Did you not like that, Anna?

>Something important
>That's right.
>Please stop.
>is about to break.