I Managed to Bring Down the Entire Family of That Impossible-To-Conquer S-Class Beauty, Completely Filling in Her Outer Moat
Rescuing the two who mistook the dolphin for a shark and were in a huge panic, we made it back to shore.
When we told them it was actually a dolphin, they turned bright red and stormed off.
โMan, those guys were such a pain in the ass~~โ
โYeah. It’s because of people like that the regulations keep getting stricter and stricter.โ
โWell, at least we didn’t get attacked, whether by shark or dolphin! That’s what matters!โ
โWild dolphins can be pretty aggressive. Good thing this one was gentle. โฆHmm, the water’s boiling.โ
While boiling water on the portable stove he’d brought, Kouki and I chatted about such things.
We planned to make fish soup with the fish we’d caught for lunch.
Koki had managed to reel in about five fish, including rockfish and gobies.
โNozomu, you really saved me earlier. If you don’t mind, please use the fish I caught too.โ
โEh, sure! Don’t worry about it at all!โ
โNo, this isn’t nearly enough. Please, take them.โ
โโฆWell, if you insistโฆ Thank you!โ
I scraped the scales off the fish Nabatame-san gave with a plastic bottle cap, cleaned them, and tossed them into the pot.
โWow, you’re pretty skilled at cleaning fish.โ
โCooking’s a hobby of mine. I plan to get my pufferfish handling license once I turn eighteen.โ
After simmering for a while, I added miso and grated ginger to finish it off.
Combined with this view, it was so delicious I couldn’t help but savor every bite.
โMmm, so good! Man, Nozomu’s cooking really is the best!!โ
โThere’s plenty more for seconds, so dig in!โ
While eating hot pot with Kouki, Nabatame-san expressed his gratitude to me again.
โThank you so much for earlier. I’d like to repay you properly another timeโฆโ
โNo need! We’re all in this together when trouble strikes.โ
โNot repaying a debt goes against my principles. Besides, I’d like to get closer as fishing buddies too. Could I have your QR code?โ
โYou mean my YINE QR code? As a friend, sure, but your phoneโฆ?โ
โโฆI left it at home.โ
I’d thought he seemed strict, but I’d vaguely noticed he had his absent-minded moments too.
I was planning to head home after eating anyway, so I printed my QR code at the convenience store and handed it to him.
โThanks. I’ll definitely repay this favor. I’ll contact you when I get back.โ
โNo problem. Well then, see you around somewhere.โ
I didn’t really need him to repay me that much, but that keychain must have been that important to him.
I don’t know what kind of favor he’ll repay me with, but I’ll look forward to that day.
โฆOh. Right now, my name on YINE has a heart after itโฆ
ใใ๏ผใใ๏ผใใ๏ผ
โI’m home.โ
โAh, Grandpa, welcome back!โ
โMm, I’m home. China.โ
It was a holiday. With nothing much to do, I was reading in the living room when Grandpa came home.
He’d apparently gone fishing at the breakwater today. Wondered if he’d caught any nice fish?
As I pondered this, Grandpa came over to me and handed me something.
โSorry, China. How do I use this to exchange contact infoโฆ?โ
โHuhโฆ? Is this a YINE QR code? Give me your phone, Grandpa. I’ll help you.โ
Seeing Grandpa frowning at the printed QR code on paper, I took his phone.
Butโฆ
โHuh, this phoneโฆ Hey, Grandpa, where’d you buy this?โ
โHm? I think it wasโฆ Bridge Banbaaโฆ or something like that?โ
โIt’s a Bใban! This is a toy phone!โ
โWhat!? That’s a problem! I was planning to play this โMochi Mochiโ thing with my friend tonight!!โ
โWhat kind of relationship do you want with this friend!!?โ
After hearing the details from Grandpa, it turned out to be someone my age who risked hislife to him
He apparently wanted to thank him and asked for his contact info so they could hang out somewhere next time.
He already said he’d contact him today, so there’s no helping it.
โHmmโฆ Oh, how about I add him as a friend first, and we talk through that?โ
โYou can do that?!โ
โYeah, sure!โ
I don’t usually exchange contact info with classmates. Right now, it’s just family, relatives, and trusted friends.
Back in middle school, I felt like someone was contacting me 24/7 every single day.
But this is a friend approved by that strict grandpa, and from what I heard, they seem sincere, so it should be okay.
Reaching that conclusion, I scanned the QR code and added them as a friend.
โโโโNozomuโกโโฆโฆ?โ
The name was written like that, and the icon was a radish with beautiful legs.
I’d assumed it was a boy, but there’s a heart attached, so maybe it’s a girl.
And lately, for some reason, I feel like I keep running into people named โNozomuโ.
There’s โWatarai Nozomuโ who I met at the supermarket and helped me in class, โNozomu-chanโ who did my nails, and now this โNozomuโกโ personโฆ
Is this area full of people named Nozomu? Or maybeโฆ
โUm, I guess I should explain first.โ
I swiped to type and greeted Nozomu.
China: Nice to meet you, Nozomu-san. I’m the granddaughter of Nabatame Toshizo
Due to certain circumstances, my grandfather couldn’t add you as a friend, so I reached out using my account. Sorry if this is inconvenient!
(A cat stamp bowing: Nice to meet you!)
Oh no, I added her on impulse, but what if she’s scaryโฆ?
Thump, thump. I could feel my heartbeat quickening. To top it off, the ping of a notification made my heart leap.
Nozomuโก: Nice to meet you, I’m Nozomu. Thank you for reaching out!
(Character stamp saying โIt’s okay, no problemโ)
Phew, she seems kind.
I let out a sigh of relief, then suddenly remembered something and started typing again.
China: Changing the subject, but did you happen to make some nails recently and give them to a certain president?
Nozomuโก: Huh? How do you knowโฆ?
Oh, so this person is the same one Mom met!
Convinced this was the person who made those beautiful nails, my typing speed shot up another notch.
โChina? I’d like to talk tooโฆโ
โJust a little longer! Just wait a little longer, Grandpa!โ
โMmmโฆโ
Glancing sideways at the fidgety grandpa, my fingers wouldn’t stop.
Ch-na: Actually, my mom is a fashion model CEO, and she had you help with her nails or somethingโฆ
Nozomuโก: Huh, you’re Hina-san’s daughter!? Wow, what a small world. Please tell her thank you for me.
China: Yes! And I absolutely love those nails! They’re truly amazing! Thank you so much!!
In the end, my conversation with Nozomu blossomed, and it wouldn’t be Grandpa’s turn for several hours.
Sorry, Grandpaโฆ
Maiasa