nhp | (Sutamai) 'A Summer Secret', All (1-15)

EVENT STORY INDEX

Eyes that bore into mine own.

Under that strong gaze, I forget to even breathe.

Sugano: ……

I probably won’t be able to keep pretending like this any longer.

In that case, I’d rather—

Sugano: …… Turn this way……

—firmly squeeze my eyes shut.

-CIU First Division-

Sugano: …… Here!

Rei: !

Sugano: Alright!

Rei: Noooo……!

Hattori: Despite having your eyes closed, your head turned before it thought to.

Arakida: (Is it normal to face to the right three times in a row……?)

Asagiri: Then it’s decided. We’re counting on you.

Sugano: That’ll be coffee for You-san and Sosei-san, cola for Tsukasa-san and a cafe au lait for me~

Rei: (I came here for a meeting, so how did it turn out like this……)

Asagiri: …… Is there something about the outcome of the match that you’re unsatisfied with?

Rei: N-No! I’ll be on my way!

Hattori: What a lovely response. By the way, we’ll be starting in 5 minutes.

Rei: !?

Arakida: …… Don’t go running in the corridor.

-5 minutes later-

-Police Department: Corridor-

Rei: …… Alright, I somehow managed……!

Arakida: …… Oi.

Rei: Wha-!?

Arakida: I told you not to run.

Rei: S-Sorry! Huh? The meeting……

Arakida: It’s been postponed because You-san got an urgent call. We’ll be resuming in 30 minutes.

Rei: No waayyy...!

Arakida: More like, why did you come up taking the stairs……

Rei: Because the elevators weren’t working at all……

Arakida: (...... Not to mention that she came up just now taking two stairs at a time.)

I’ve been thinking this for a while now, but……

Rei: Yeah?

Arakida: Sometimes I forget that you’re actually a girl.

Rei: …… What?

-CIU First Division-

Sugano: …… Hmmm. So he said something like that? Good for you.

Rei: No, wait—what—no, no……

Sugano: C’mon, Sosei-san hates girls, right? So isn’t it better that he forget you are one?

Asagiri: Well, no doubt that Izumi is an exception to the case.

Sugano: Having Sosei-san make conversation and being able to start one with him—

You’re about the only girl that can pull that off.

Rei: But, still…… For the most part, he either gives me a look like something’s bothersome or like he’s amazed.

(...... Come to think of it—)

(I haven’t seen Arakida-san’s smiling face outside of that elusive first time.)

[Click]

Hattori: That’s why you feel as if there’s a wall blocking you from Sosei.

Rei: !

Hattori: For Matori1-chan who feels that way, let me give you a chance at tearing that wall down.

1 Matori = “MAyaku TORIshimaru Kan” (Narcotics Control Department) aka Rei’s affiliation.

Deliver this to Mr. Section Chief.

Rei: …… ?

Hattori: This is your I.O.U one to me.

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Seki: …… Ah, yes. The patrol duty.

Rei: Patrol duty…… ?

Seki: There’s going to be a large festival in the city next week, so they’re reinforcing the patrol.

And for that sake, they’ve asked to borrow one other person to help them out.

Natsume: If it’s patrol duty, then it’s probably better off to send a guy.

Not that I’m volunteering though.

Seki: It’s an undercover patrol, so we’ll want to avoid standing out as much as possible.

Imaoji: That makes sense.

If we’re to form a two-man team with someone from the First Division, then it’s certainly more natural for a woman be part of the patrol.

Aoyama: Well, aren’t you lucky?

It’s not as if you have anyone in your personal life to go with you to something like a festival, after all.

Rei: E-Excuse you! So I don’t have anyone, but……

Seki: Oh…… ? There’s a handwritten side note here.

Rei: Side note?

Seki: “Must be wearing a yukata”, apparently.

-Day of the Festival-

-At the festival-

Sugano: Oh, Tsukasa-san. Do you want to give a shot at goldfish scooping?

Asagiri: Nevermind that. Just please hurry up and finish eating that yakisoba.

Sugano: Ohhh, we gotta eat some shaved ice too!

Asagiri: …… Natsuki. We didn’t come here to have fun.

Sugano: It’s fine, isn’t it?

You-san did say to blend in with the place and all.

Asagiri: And where has the person in question gone off to?

Sugano: Who knows? Well, it’s not like it’s anything new for him to do.

Asagiri: He sure is a troublesome one……

Sugano: More importantly, do you think they’re doing okay~?

When the instructions were given out, Sosei-san made a really unpleasant looking face.

Asagiri: Whatever the case, it’s something that You-san decided on.

He probably has something in mind.

Sugano: Nuh-uh, that was definitely a spur-of-the-moment idea.

Asagiri: …… Whichever one it is, all we have to do is our own job.

Let’s go.

-At the same time-

Kaname: …… Oh?

Miyase: Is something the matter?

Kaname: That person over there, isn’t that……?

-Stall-

Rei: …… Wrong again. He’s not here either……

(Saying “I’m in front of the cotton candy stall” like……)

(There are a bunch of those, Arakida-san!)

Kaname: Onee-san?

Rei: !

Miyase: Good evening.

Rei: Ohhh, good evening! Are you both here to check out the festival?

Miyase: I came here on an errand while on my way back from picking up Kaname-kun.

Izumi-san, you are…… currently on the job, is that right?

Rei: Yep. Just a bit of patrolling.

Kaname: In a yukata?

Rei: I-It’s an undercover patrol, so……

Kaname: Well, if you say so……

And here I was thinking that you were on a date.

Rei: Ahaha, no way.

Kaname: …… I’m glad.

Rei: Huh? What was that?

Kaname: Nothing. Don’t mind it.

I didn’t say anything.

-Stall-

Rei: (Um, but I clearly heard you say something……)

Miyase: …… By the way, Izumi-san.

Rei: Oh, yes?

Miyase: You haven’t perchance seen a stall for grilled skewers around here, have you?

Kujou-san has put in a request.

For some grilled liver.

Rei: Ummm. The grilled skewers should be somewhere over on that side.

Miyase: Thank you very much.

Well then, shall we be on our way soon?

Kaname: Sure. See you, Onee-san. Laters.

Rei: Oh, yeah. Laters……

(I ended up getting teased by a high schooler……)

Kyosuke: ——Woah!

Rei: !?

Kyosuke: Ahaha. Sorry, did I scare you?

Rei: Kyosuke-kun! You came to the festival…… Oh.

Kagura: Oh god. I thought I saw a tasteless girl wearing a tasteless yukata walking about and it turns out, it’s you?

Maki: …… Are you on your own?

Rei: Huh……?

(Maki-kun and Kagura-san with…… Kyosuke-kun?)

-Stall-

Rei: W-What brings you three here together……?

Kyosuke: Oh, I didn’t tell you?

I’m friends with Kagura-kun’s group.

Maki: Kyosuke has modelled for Aki many times before, after all.

That’s our connection to each other.

Rei: Oh, I see……

Kyosuke: While we’re at it, do you think you could also help us out, Rei-san?

We’re trying to get Kagura-kun to overcome his silly aversion to foods that he hasn’t even tried yet.

Rei: Is that, takoyaki?

(And it’s the last piece too……)

Kagura: I don’t want it at all.

Maki: We’ve been having this back-and-forth argument for a while now.

Kagura: Absolutely impossible. It looks like it might explode the moment I put it in my mouth.

Rei: Um, I don’t think so……

Kyosuke: Then, will you eat it if Rei-san personally feeds it to you?

Kagura: I beg your pardon?

Rei: W-Wait! That’s a little—

Kyosuke: Please. Think of it as doing me a huge favor!

…… Please. Can’t you?

Rei: (Making that face is so unfair…...!)

…… Kagura-san. Out of consideration for the spot that I’m in, just a bite—

Kagura: Why would you think that I have any reason to show you consideration?

Rei: !

Maki: …… Kyosuke. Give me that for a bit.

Kyosuke: Oh? So you’re going to eat it after all, Kei-chan?

Maki: Nope. Open up, Izumi.

Kagura: Huh?

Rei: !

(Y-You don’t mean to tell me…… that I have to respond here by letting him feed me!?)

-Stall-

Rei: M-Maki-kun. How should I say this……

Maki: It’s not like Aki is going to eat it anyway.

Rei: Huh? B-But...

Maki: C’mon, open up.

Kagura: ……!

Rei: Oh.

Kyosuke: (He ate it.)

Maki: …… That settles that.

Sorry you had to get dragged into it.

Rei: No, not a problem……

Kyosuke: Good thinking there, Kei-chan. You sure understand Kagura-kun’s personality well~

How does it taste, Kagura-kun?

Kagura: The worst. I’m not going to forget this, Kyosuke.

Rei: (He’s not getting mad at Maki-kun……)

(But to think that these three were that close with each other. It’s kinda unexpected.)

After parting with the trio—

I began to walk around searching for other cotton candy stalls, once more.

Rei: (...... Honestly, I need to meet up with Arakida-san soon, or else……)

???: …… I’m askin’ ya whad’ya scowlin’ at, huh, bro!

Rei: (What’s going on? A fight……?)

Arakida: …… Like I said, I’m not scowling at anything.

Rei: !?

10.

-Stall-

Stall Owner: Roughly seizin’ the gun like that, like I can believe ya?

Arakida: (I didn’t seize it.)

(I just thought it looked well-made so I was checking it out normally……)

Stall Owner: Pretendin’ like it didn’t happen ain’t gonna get ya outta pickin’ the fight in the first place, ya know?

Arakida: …… Sigh.

Stall Owner: What the heck ya sighin’ for!?

Arakida: You don’t have to shout every little thing. Think about how you’re bothering everyone around you.

Stall Owner: ……! Lookin’ down on me with those sickenin’ eyes……

Arakida: (...... Oh, jeez. Sorry that I was born with these eyes.)

Stall Owner: If that’s the attitude ya gonna take, then I’ll also……

Rei: S-Stop!

Arakida: ! You……

Rei: It’s a misunderstanding, this person just……

His eyes! They just always have that look!

Stall Owner: …… What?

Arakida: (...... This girl……)

11.

-Several Minutes Later-

-At the Festival-

Rei: …… Sorry about that…… I ended up panicking and……

Arakida: Forget about it already. Don’t go making me repeat myself.

Rei: Oh, yeah, sorry!

……Oh.

Arakida: ……

Rei: …… B-By the way! That yukata really suits you~

It just has to be a yukata if it’s Summer!

Arakida: …… Not really.

I wouldn’t be wearing it if You-san hadn’t told me to.

Rei: …… Ahaha, true……

……

Arakida: ……

Rei: (Well, this is awkward…… Huh?)

Little Girl: …… Mommyy, wherr aar yoo……?

Rei: ! Arakida-san, that little girl……

Arakida-san: …… Oi.

Little Girl: !

Arakida: You alone?

Little Girl: ……! U-Uwaaa…… Waaah-Waaaaahh!!

Arakida: !

Rei: Aaahh, it’s okay! This big brother isn’t scary at all~

(I-I feel so bad for the both of them……)

(I have to do something!)

…… That’s it! Can you wait here for a bit?

Arakida: Huh? Oi……

(Where is she going……?)

11.5.

-Several Minutes Later-

Arakida: …… What in the world is that?

Rei: It’s a mask.

Arakida: (That’s not what I’m asking.)

Rei: It’s okay, just leave it to me

Arakida: Leave what to you……

! Oi—wait, don’t go putting it on others without asking!

Rei: Yep, a perfect fit! It suits you well, Mr. Fox.

Arakida: …… You’re making fun of me.

Rei: Nonsense.

Arakida: (Your face says that you’re laughing.)

Rei: C’mon, Arakida-san, give us a smile as well!

Arakida: You really……

Little Girl: Mr. Fox…… Are you angry?

Arakida: ……

…… I’m not angry.

Little Girl: !

Rei: (Woah—he’s putting her on his shoulders?)

Arakida: If I do this then you can’t see my face even if it’s scary.

Little Girl: Woow…… So hiiiigh!

Rei: ……! You did it!

Thanks to you, she’s laughing now!

Arakida: (...... This girl, seriously……)

…… You—

Rei: (Oh? Could it be that he’s laughing in return……?)

Arakida: ……. make a big deal out of everything. Let’s go look for her parents already.

Rei: …… Got it!

(...... As if, huh. Guess it’s not that easy.)

12.

-At the Festival-

Rei: It’s a good thing that we were able to quickly find her mother.

Arakida: …… What are you grinning about now?

Rei: It was somewhat unexpected.

Arakida: ?

Rei: You seem like you’re bad with handling children, but in reality……

Woah!?

Arakida: ! …… that was a close one…… Silly, be careful.

Rei: S-Sorry! Thanks a lot.

Arakida: (...... Her arm is way too thin.)

(Wait, are all girls like this?)

Rei: …… Um, Arakida-san? I’m fine now, so……

Arakida: !

[Releases]

Arakida: …… Be careful.

(...... Tell me to let go sooner, why don’t you?)

(Damn it, I embarrassed myself for nothing.)

Rei: Huh? Oh…… Yeah, sorry……

(H-Hold on there. Can you please stop with that reaction?)

(You’re making me strangely embarrassed here too……!)

Sugano: “...... Sosei-san, it’s Sugano.”

Arakida: !

Sugano: “An emergency has come up. Please urgently return to the meeting point.”

Rei: ……!

12.5.

-At the Festival-

Arakida: …… Natsuki.

Sugano: Oh, good timing.

Arakida: What’s the situation?

Sugano: There are suspicions that a stall is conducting behind-the-scene trades.

You-san is following the guy that left after finishing up what sounded like a deal.

Arakida: …… And Tsukasa-san is in the middle of questioning the stall owner.

Sugano: Well, we weren’t able to seize the goods when it was being handed over, so……

By the way, is that thing on your head a makeover?

Arakida: !

(I forgot to take it off……)

Rei: It was used as a way to adapt to the situation……

Stall Owner: …… Shit!

Rei: !?

Sugano: Uh oh, if he violently pushes his way through the crowd like that……

Asagiri: Enough talking. We’re going after him.

Arakida: …… Tch……

(Both the yukata and wooden clogs make it hard to run……!)

[WHAM]

Arakida: !?

Rei: Oow……

Arakida: (Just now, my elbow hit her……!)

Sorry……

Rei: It’s fine, so please get going!

Arakida: !

13.

-At the Festival-

Rei: Sorry for getting in the way of your running!

I’ll be careful from now on!

Arakida: (What’s with that……)

…… Honestly, are you really a girl?

Rei: I-Is now the time to be saying that!?

Arakida: …… Natsuki! Come back!

Sugano: What’s up? Woah, what happened? Did you fall over, Rei?

Arakida: Look after her.

Rei: Huh?

Sugano: Oh, this is unusual~ You’re always the first one to leave her behind in these situations.

Arakida: I’ll go after that guy so hand me your shoes.

Sugano: Yeah, yeah, I don’t mind. But don’t get them dirty.

They’re still new so…… Jeez, I say that and then you go and step on them.

Arakida: Sorry for being petty.

Rei: More importantly, if you don’t hurry up and go after him……!

Arakida: !

Your knees……

Rei: Huh? Oh.

Arakida: …… Clumsy.

13.5.

-At the Festival-

Sugano: Woah, that looks painful…… Wait, Sosei-san, where are you going?

Seller: Welcome, how may I help you?

Arakida: This.

Seller: Sure. A bottle of water is 150 yen.

Arakida: He’ll be paying for it.

Sugano: Heeyy! So that’s how you leech off your juniors?

Arakida: Shut up. I’ll pay you back later.

…… For the time being, clean your wound with this.

Rei: Huh? Oh…… Tha-Thank you……

Sugano: (Woaah. This is honestly so unusual~)

Well now. No time to be flirting. You better get going after that guy.

Tsukasa-san is slowly disappearing out of sight, so you sure you’re gonna be okay?

Rei: !

Arakida: …… I can still see them.

I’ve got this.

Rei: !

Sugano: (...... He’s about as frighteningly fast as always.)

14.

As proclaimed, Arakida-san impressively caught up to Asagiri-san……

And the man that they were chasing was safely taken into custody.

-At the Festival-

Sugano: But to think we managed to smoothly win with just 3 on 1.

You’re quite the monster, Sosei-san~

Arakida: Lay off.

Sugano: Oooh, scary. Let’s put that mask from before on one more time.

Huh, maybe we should make it the standard equipment from now on?

Asagiri: A mask?

Sugano: Yeah, a fox one.

It looked super good on him!

Arakida: …… Stop talking nonsense.

Rei: ……

Hattori: “They sure are close~ It doesn’t feel like there’s a wall between them~”

Rei: !? Hattori-san……!

Hattori: Your feelings are written all over your face.

Rei: (When did he get behind me……)

Hattori: We’re a good team, don’t you think? It’s because it took us time to get there.

Rei: Huh?

Hattori: The faster you try to rush things, the wider the gap becomes.

That’s just how it is when it comes to distance between people.

14.5.

-At the Festival-

Rei: ……

Hattori: Well, don’t get impatient. You don’t have to worry……

Sosei has surprisingly moved in closer than you would’ve thought, Matori-chan.

Rei: ……? What do you mean by that……?

Hattori: Alright, good job everyone.

Sugano: Oh, You-san! Where have you been this whole time~?

Asagiri: That candy apple……

Hattori: I picked up a lost child by chance before, and this used to belong to them.

Sugano: Wow. Don’t tell me that you stole it off the kid? Ahaha, you’re awful!

Hattori: They said they’d give it to me so I took it.

Rei: (...... Hattori-san truly is a mysterious person……)

Arakida: … Oi.

Rei: Oh, yeah! What’s up?

Arakida: Come here for a bit.

Rei: …… Okay?

15.

-Shrine: Grounds-

Arakida: Sit down there.

Rei: Oh, okay……

Arakida: ……

Rei: (Oh. He’s sitting down next to me……)

Arakida: …… Sorry about before.

Rei: W-What are you apologizing for……?

Arakida: …… Anyone would apologize if they hurt a girl.

Rei: Ooh! No, not to worry. That was just really me falling over by myself……

(...... Wait, just now……)

…… No way!? D-Did you…… just call me a girl!?

Arakida: (What’s with that delay in reaction……)

…… Am I wrong?

Rei: N-Not at all. But Arakida-san—

It’s pretty well-known that you don’t really think of me as a girl……

Arakida: ……

Rei: N-Not that I’m asking why the sudden change or anything!

Arakida: …… I only thought of you as someone that could make me forget about the genders around me.

I’ve never thought of you as a boy before though.

Rei: I-I’m glad to hear it……?

[WHIZZZZ…… BANG!]

Rei: !

Fireworks……?

Arakida: …… If you don’t hate it, then take a seat.

Rei: ……! Wow…… Oh, this is a really good spot.

This must be one of those places not well-known by others!

Arakida: (...... You’re way too excited.)

Rei: Oh, that’s right. A photo! Is it alright if I take one?

Arakida: Do as you like. We’ll leave once you’re satisfied.

Rei: (...... Arakida-san.)

(You took me here for the sake of showing me these fireworks, didn’t you……?)

Arakida: (......)

(This isn’t enough to heal the wound or anything.)

(But it’s better than doing nothing if it makes her this happy.)

15.5.

-Shrine: Grounds-

Arakida: …… What is it? Don’t look at me, look up at the sky.

Rei: Oh, s-sorry…… The photo! I’ll take one now!

Arakida: Like I said. Do as you like.

Rei: Y-Yeah, that’s right. I’ll do as I like! Okaaay…… Here we go!

[SNAP]

Rei: …… Oh? It didn't work. One more time……

Arakida: ……

Rei: (This time for sure……!)

Gotcha!

[SNAP]

Rei: …… Oh, bummer. I was a little late…… How about now!

Arakida: …… Pfft…… haha.

Rei: Huh?

Arakida: What’s with the random shouts?

Rei: !

Arakida: (And she didn’t even manage to take a good shot……)

…… You suck.

Rei: ……!

[SNAP]

Arakida: !

Hey, what did you just take a photo of……

Rei: Aw, it’s blurry! Hey, can you smile one more time please!

Arakida: ……! Stop looking at me and look up.

Rei: I’ll focus on the fireworks after I take one!

Arakida: Don’t take one!

In the end, I wasn’t able to capture Arakida-san’s smiling face.

“Don’t tell anyone”—Those words that Arakida-san whispered as we watched the fireworks together, and along with his smiling face, it all became our little secret instead.