Slow Start ch37

p110
>Ah.

>Something smells good.
>Is it coming from that eel restaurant over there?

>Fwah
>I can't get enough of this fragrance.
>Uuh
>Yeah, it smells really good.

>Ah
>But Eiko-chan smells nice too, so don't geel like you've lost okay?
>Don't worry!
>Yeah.
>I'm not in the mood for being compared with eel, so your consideration is wasted upon me.

p111
>Ah, speaking of eel.

>Y'know how we had work experience for all kinds of stores during middle school?
>Ah.
>Yeah, I did, too.

>I didn't have anything like that in my middle school...
>Yep. Mine neither.
>Huh?
>I thought everyone did it in middle school.

>Maybe they only had that for schools which had pupils with rustic beauty like Eiko-chan.
>No, our school had pretty meek girls.
>Also that doesn't really benefit me at all.
>Having rustic beauty.

>Well, anyway.
>If my case, I had work experience at an eel restaurant.
>Wow.

>That sounds delicious.
>Yeah.
>It sounded delicious.

>It sounded
>really
>delicious...

>I worked my butt off amidst the fragrant eel aroma.
>And for lunch I had...

p112
>The bento I brought from home...
>Eh...?

>Must've been agonising.
>It was super agonising!!!

>If I were an eel, I would've been undercooked!
>I don't think they cook eels while they're still alive.

>At that moment.
>Hey,
>work experience girls.

>Would you like a slice of this?
>Eh?

>And that was...

>a watermelon for dessert!
>The watermelon was delicious, though!
>Watermelons are delicious.

p113
>It was delicious, but in that situtation, a rhinoceros beetle would be more happy with a watermelon...
>I think a stag beetle would be happy too.

>Uuuh
>Just talking about this is giving me a craving for eel.
>The day of the ox is fast approaching too.

>I wanna go with my family but
>I'm in a bit of a pinch this month...
>Eh?
>Don't you have money, Tama-chan?
>No, rather than have money.

>I'm given a monthly budget for food.
>I make do with a lot of things for that.

>and I get to keep whatever's left as pocket money.
>I see.

>Then with your management, Tama-chan, you must get a lot of pocket money.
>That sounds fun.
>Indeed.

>But I learn new dishes, find delicious-looking ingredients,
>and feel like cooking for my grandmothers.

p114
>I did a lot of that this month, hence the pinch I'm in.
>Well, I did buy some manga as well.
>I see.

>You're a good girl
>Tama-chan.

>Oh?
>Is that praise I hear?

>Very well. Please praise me to your heart's content!
>Please pamper me!
>Yeah, okay.
>Pamper.

>Tama-chan really is a good girl.
>Yep.
>Tama is an amazing good girl.
>Hey
>Don't be so frank about it.

>Hmmm.

>Y-You can pamper me too, okay, Eiko-chan?
>Come on! Won't you?

>Good girl.

p115
>Y-
>You're making me blush!
>You really are blushing this time, Tama-chan.
>That's rare.
>Yep.
>It's pretty rare.

>Aha! It's a rare Tama!
>Undercooked...
>Hnnnnnnnnnnnng

>This is so agonising!
>Aha

>What did you do for work experience, Eiko-chan?
>Hmm
>Mine was a hair salon.

>Ah, sounds kinda stylish!
>I only helped out with cleaning and stuff, though.
>But I got along nicely with the shop's manager.

>To this day, I still get haircuts at the Friends Discount.
>Hah
>I wouldn't expect anything less.

>If you had worked at the eel restaurant, they probably would've rewarded you with one or two slimies.
>Is slimies a measuring unit?


p116
>Work experience sounds pretty nerve-wracking, but also pretty fun.
>It really was nerve-wracking, Hana-chan.
>It sure was fun.
>I didn't get to eat any eel though.

>They don't have anything like that for high school, do they?
>I think high schoolers just get part-time jobs, don't they?

>Ah, I see.
>Part-time jobs, huh...
>A job sounds kinda scary...
>I did have a part-time job for just a month.

>I want a part-time job with daily specials included.
>That's not so much work experience as it is food sampling experience.

>I'm home.

>Ah, Tama-chan.
>>(Mother's side)
>Ah, Grandma Fumio! I'm home!
>Yes, welcome back.

>Hey listen
>Taka-chan said we should go to an eel restaurant for dinner tonight.
>Grandma Takako did?
>>(Father's side)

>Wow.
>I was just telling my friends that I was in the mood for that!
>Oh my.
>Talk about perfect timing.

p117
>...Ah
>...Um, but...
>Sorry.
>I'm a bit tight this month...

>What are you saying, Tama-chan.
>We're going to treat you, of course!

>You're always working hard to manage the food allowance.
>That's right.
>You're a granddaughter we can be proud of!
>Y-Y
>You're making me blush...

>So think of it as a reward.
>Okay?

>Alright!
>I'll count on your for those two-tier dealies!
>Yeah.
>You can count on me.
>And also some umaki. [TN: Eel wrapped in omelette]

p118
>Umaki~

p119
>Okay.
>There's a dental exam taking place today.

>The dentist coming here today hates stuff like lipstick and gloss so you better take that off if you have any.
>Also brush your teeth.
>Eeeeeh
>Don't "eeeh" me.

>Tokura.
>Oh.

>Yes.
>What is it?
>Hey.
>Remove your lipstick.

p120
>Eh? I'm not wearing any.
>Aren't they pretty glossy?
>No, it's just plain.

>Let's see.
>Mmph

>mm
>ph

>Mmmmmmmmm

>There's nothing on.
>I told you I wasn't wearing anything.
>Right?

>...
>Your lips are red.
>Well yeah, they got red from all the teasing you did.

p121
>Geez.
>Do you really have that little belief in me?

>No

>The sensation of touching it
>went beyond my expectations.

>Well, I'm sorry for doubting you.
>Later.

>Ah, right.

>...

>Ow ow ow...
>Eiko-chan.
>This is just sexual harrassment, isn't it?

p122
>Tamate swallowed those words before they could escape her throat.
>She was wise enough to keep such words that would benefit noone deep within her heart.
>Like the sweat that comes even if you stay still.
>Like the premonition of a summer that will continue to get hotter and hotter, an incident happened on one summer day.

>To be continued...or not.