Whispering You a Love Song ch30: Jealousy, Songs, and a Kiss

p1
>Eh? Here?
>This is your house, Mari?
>That's right.

>It's a bit sudden, so it might be a bit messy.
>I hope you don't mind.

>...
>P-...

>Pardon...
>the intrusion...

p2
>Shall we take the next step forward?

p3
>A review of the setlist?
>Why so suddenly?
>How should I put it?
>I'm not sure our current picks are good enough.

>I don't mind.
>Tachibana-san and Maa-chan agree too~
>Motion passed!!

>Then let's have a meeting about choosing songs later!!
>In that case, wanna do it at my place?
>Seriously!? Thanks~

>And that's what led us to come here,
>but I never expected she was 'this' rich...

p4
>Mari-san.
>Welcome home.

>And welcome to you too, everyone.
>Hello, Yui-san.
>Pardon the intrusion.

>Is she like a maid or...?

>Yeah, yeah.
>She's Yui-san, housekeeper of the Tsutsui estate.
>We'd like to have teatime. Think you could help us out?
>Yes, of course.
>I'll get it prepared right away.

p5
>You've got it good, Kaori~ Marrying into a rich family.
>Ehehe
>I'll pay her back in happiness~
>Could you please not just marry me off?

>Come in.
>Sit wherever you want.

>Mizuguchi Aki, shall we get straight to the matter at hand?
>Aight~

>Well, um,
>if I had to be blunt with what I'm worried about,
>it's whether or not we can beat Shiho and the others at this rate.

p6
>Meaning?
>To be honest,
>it felt like their performance during the auditions was better than ours.

>I'm not saying
>Delicious...
>that we sucked or anything like that, of course!

>Well, you have a point.
>I too could feel how high-level their performance was.

>Right~?
>It doesn't feel like we'll win if we just stick with the usual~

>So with that said, I wanna add a new song to the setlist that'll really grab the hearts of our audience!
>Howzat!
>I see.

p7
>How about a super complex song that'll beat them in terms of technique?
>We're not gonna be able to put together a song like that right now, are we?

>Maybe we could aim for the casual crowd with a trending song?
>Do you know this song, everyone~?
>Yeeeeah
>Aah.
>That is a possibility... but...

>We were gonna do that last year, but another band got the jump on us.
>Yeah~
>They sure did~
>Brings back memories~

>Shihohon and Akki got in a big fight over that.
>It's your fault they got the jump on us!!
>You agreed to it too!
>Oh yeah. That happened too...

p8
>Don't you think an original track is more likely to get them to go "ooh~"?
>Then how about Sunny Spot?

>I'm not sure that'd fit the mood of the school festival.
>That's true~

>Hmm~ Isn't there...
>Isn't there anything...?

>Hrrrm

p9
>Argh!
>Geez!
>We still haven't thought of anything!!

>Would it be alright if I thought about this at home?
>Nothing's gonna come to mind at this rate...
>Agreed.
>Let's speak again the next time we assemble.

>Everyone do your best to come up with something~
>How does next week's practice day sound?

>I can spare some time the day after tomorrow.
>Ah... Sorry.
>I'm kinda busy the day after tomorrow...

p10
>Totally a date.
>Quit doing that every single time!!

>So, where are you going this time~?
>...

>It's just
>karaoke...
>Ooh~
>Karaoke, huh~ Sounds nice~

>Asanagi Yori.
>What is it?

>Don't go assaulting her just because you're in a cramped room together, okay?
>COUGH

p11
>What are you saying, moron!?
>Oh my~

>Yoriyori.

>How far have you actually gone with Himahima~?
>Eep

>Gah! It's over!
>This discussion is over!
>Tch~
>Don't tch me!!

>A-
>Anyway, there you have it, so let's make it around our next practice session...
>Roger~
>Well, if I get any ideas, I'll be sure to spam you with opinion requests over LIME.
>I had better put you on mute, then.
>Don't!

p12
>...
>How far have you actually gone with Himahima~?

>If we're talking about progress since we became lovers,
>we've held hands
>and kissed each other on the cheek... I guess?

>Wait, we did those before we started dating too...

p13
>Maybe it's time
>that a kiss...
>or something

>would be okay to do...?

>Wait.
>But.
>Will doing it so suddenly creep her out...?
>I don't know...

>...
>I want
>to do it.

>Yori~
>You worried about something?

>D-
>Don't just peek into my room!!

p14
>This is a snug little room, huh?

>Yeah,
>I guess.

p15
>Ah...
>What am I being so nervous about?

>It's definitely their fault...
>Yori-senpai.

>Here you go.

>Me?
>Please do.

>Hmm
>Hehehe~
>Whatcha gonna sing? Whatcha gonna sing?

p16
>You sure seem excited today.
>Of course I am! It's been ages since I've heard you sing, Yori-senpai!

>It's only been a week.
>It's been a whole week!!
>R-Right.

>I was really looking forward to it.

>So please sing lots for me!
>It's free time, after all!
>Until I'm completely!
>Satisfied!!
>I'm not going home any time soon, am I?

p17
>Hearing Yori-senpai's singing at max volume... makes me so happy~

>Here.

p18
>Hweh?
>It's your turn next, Kino-san.

>D-
>Do I really have to sing?
>Do you hate singing?

>I don't hate it, but
>you're just so good at singing that I don't think I could even compare.

>Don't worry about that.
>I've been looking forward to hearing you sing too, Kino-san.

>A-
>Alright.
>I'll take you up on that.

p19
>>I've fallen in love / I'm sure this feeling

>So
>cute!

p20
>It's like, there's no weird vibrato or pitch changing...
>And her voice sounds softer compared to when she's speaking.

>...Erk...

>What are you looking at, moron!?

>Yori-senpai?
>Y-
>Yes!?

>My singing...
>wasn't weird, was it?
>Not at all.

p21
>I really
>love
>your singing, Kino-san.

>Wah... That phrase sounds dangerous coming out of you, Yori-senpai.
>Really?

>That's right~ Okay, your turn!

>Why don't we take a break?
>I'm getting hungry.
>Of course! Let's eat!

p22
>Still all about pasta, I see.
>Ehehe~
>But of course!

>I wonder if I'll be able to beat it soon?
>?

>Oh yeah.

>You can have a bite if you want.

>Th-
>Thanks...
>Fufufu
>This reminds me of our first date.

p23
>Ah.
>This is
>an indirect...

p24
>It's no good.

>Being all alone with my lover
>in such a cramped space,

>it'd be weirder not to be conscious about it...

>Thanks for the food~
>That was delicious.
>...

>Yori-senpai?
>Maybe now...

p24
>is the time
>to take the next step...

>H-...
>Hey, um...
>Ah! That's right! Listen to this!

>Wah
>Sorry, was I interrupting?
>No! It's fine!
>So? What's up?

>Hehehe.
>The thing is...

>Tada~
>Look at this!

p25
>I've recently started uploading videos for Laureley.

>...Heh...
>You're right. When did that happen?
>I suggested the idea and we started recently!
>There's only a few views so far, but I'm hoping they'll pick up soon.

>It seems
>you're working
>pretty hard, Kino-san.

>Yes! They are letting me be their manager, after all!
>...I see.

p26
>...
>We should get back to singing.
>Sure!

>Hey.
>Can I... make a request for the next song?
>Sure. What should I sing?

p27
>It's the theme song of that new drama series that just started.
>Do you know it?
>Ah, that's a popular love song, isn't it?

>Alright.
>I know the song, after all.
>Yay~

>I haven't watched the drama yet,
>but I thought it was a nice song after I heard Shiho-senpai sing it the other day.

>Is that... so?

p28
>The depths of my heart
>are turning into mud.

>After my unrequited feelings became mutual,
>I thought I'd never have to feel this way again.
>>I want to be with you forever / and hold you tight right now

>But...

>>I remember / the taste of our first kiss
>it's precisely because we've become lovers

p29
>that Kino-san having a side I don't know about...
>makes me panic.

>Was that good?
>It was wonderful!
>Thank you so much!

>You sure do like your love songs, huh, Kino-san.
>Hehehe. That's right.

>Up until now, the lyrics found in love songs never really clicked with me.
>All I could think was "I guess it's something like that, huh~".

p30
>But now that I'm dating you, Yori-senpai,

>I think
>I'm starting
>to understand.

>How about you,
>Yori-senpai?

p31-32
>W-
>Well, I guess I kinda do too...
>But when it comes to that stuff about the taste of a kiss,
>I don't have any experience, so I really don't know if it's true or not.

>Then

>how about
>we see for ourselves?

p33
>Eh...?

>Kino-sa...

p35
>I-...
>I'm sorry.

>Not...
>now...

p36
>I-I'm sorry too....
>Guess you hated it, huh?
>No!

>You're wrong.
>That's not it.

>Um.
>I just want my first kiss with you
>to be special, that's all.

>I-

>I...
>guess so
>Thank you... for that.

p37
>Haha...
>Hah...

>...
>...

>I screwed up.
>Thank you very much~

p38
>What the heck
>am I doing?

>She worked up all that courage and yet...
>I definitely hurt her...

>But,
>even though I'm aware I'm being selfish...

>it's precisely because it's a precious first kiss
>with my precious lover

>that I wanted to do it properly with feelings of love.

p39
>...

>I need...
>to say
>something.

>But...
>what am I supposed to say after rejecting her like that...?

>Kino-san.

p40
>>Fireworks Festival
>Here.

>There's a fireworks festival this weekend.
>Wanna go together?

>I want to spend some precious time
>with you, Kino-san.

p41
>I'll go!
>I'll definitely go!
>Hey!
>K-Kino-sa-...
>Not in public...!