nhp | (Sutamai) Short Story, B’s Log June 2018

Title: It’s still too quick for us to be “cool”......?

Characters: Kawai Hikaru & Hinata Shion.

Summary: The third installment in the popular planned series of specials! Hikaru and Shion make an appearance ♪ For what reason are these two dressed up in a marching band uniform?

"Then how about we take a selfie with the both of us?" - Kawai Hikaru

"Yeah. I want them to say that I’m cool." - Hinata Shion

Hinata: Zzzz…… zzz…… zz……

Kawai: Shion-kun, wake up~ Rise and shine!

Hinata: Hngh…… I’m awake.

Kawai: You shouldn’t fall asleep while standing up, you know? C’mon, open up your eyes now~

Hinata: Hnghhh……

It was an afternoon at the height of spring.

And in a corner of Shukuou University, there were a group of people in particularly flashy outfits having a photoshoot.

Hinata: It’s a bit late to be saying this, but is it really okay for me to be modelling when I’m not a student of this University……?

Kawai: It’s fine, no worries! It’s just for the club’s introductory pamphlet for new students after all.

I was told that anything would be okay so long as we’re able to take a promotional photo, even if we’re not club members~

Hinata: I see. Okay then. Since you asked as a favor and all, Hikaru-kun.

Kawai: Thanks. Hehe, when my friend asked me to get someone on board, I was thinking that like, “Wouldn’t Shion-kun be just perfect for this~?”

You have a great style and these type of form-fitting pants are flattering so it looks good on you.

Hinata: …… It suits you too, Hikaru-kun.

Kawai: Thanks! I’ve also taken quite a liking to this jacket.

If I get to wear a uniform like this, then maybe I should just join the marching band as it is~

Hinata: Hang in there… Yaaa…… aawwwn.

Kawai: Heeeyy~! You don’t look very interested in things, Shion-kun.

Hinata: Hmm……

Kawai: Hmmm. Isn’t there something about this uniform that you like or anything?

Hinata: That.

Kawai: Oh, the gloves?

Hinata: Those half palm gloves that exquisitely expose a section of skin……

Kawai: You mean this bit, huh. It’s my first time wearing these, but it’s pretty neat how they stop the fingers from slipping. It might come in handy when riding a bicycle.

Hinata: … If the culprit were wearing a pair of gloves like these, then they wouldn’t leave any fingerprints behind.

Kawai: Huh? What do you mean by “culprit”?

Hinata: However, this outfit draws attention so it’d be child’s play to figure out.

Kawai: Heeelloooo in there! Mr. Detective?

Hinata: ……

Kawai: Oh, he’s falling asleep again. Wake up, Shion-kun!

It was then that the notification sound for a new message on LIME went off.

Hinata: Could that be from “her”?

Kawai: Yep. But even so…… Ohoho, you sure wake up fast, Shion-kun~

Hinata: I wasn’t sleeping. I’m wide awake.

Kawai: I’ll let that one slide. Oh, that’s right! Let’s take a photo of us in this outfit to send while we’re dressed up and all!

Hinata: Okay. Then, can I leave it to you to take the shot?

Kawai: (Even though he was looking all sleepy up until a while ago, he’s completely alert now.)

Then how about we take a selfie with the both of us? Here, come closer.

Hinata: Like this?

Kawai: A little bit more! You have to come closer so that we’re squished up against each other or else you won’t be in the frame~

Hinata: Squuiiish……

Kawai: Alright, let’s try taking a few burst shots, shall we?

Hinata: Why is that?

Kawai: There are various reasons for it. Like, being a countermeasure for people who are prone to closing their eyes, or as a tactic to get in one good photo by taking many.

And when you take several rapid shots with multiple people, sometimes there’ll be someone laughing, and as a result it ends up being a nice photo.

Hinata: I see. How interesting.

Kawai: Okay now~ Look this way…… Yep, all good. Now could you slightly face upwards next?

Hinata: Face upwards……?

Kawai: Oh, like that is fine! Okay, okay~

Hinata: Did you get it?

Kawai: Yep! Perfectly! Well then, I wonder how they turned out. Hey, so which one do you think looks good, Shion-kun?

Hinata: Distinguishing which piece of detail is important from a vast amount of information is a basic technique for being a detective.

Kawai: In other words?

Hinata: Let’s see. For example, the perspective and focus for this photo are on point and it’s well-balanced.

Kawai: Yeah, that photo’s a nice one~ The way that you’re slightly tilting your neck looks good.

Hinata: But in this one, you have a nice expression going on and you’re laughing, Hikaru-kun.

Kawai: You think so? I don’t feel that it’s really any different though.

Hinata: Here you’re making a face that’s a lot better than when we were having the photoshoot before.

Kawai: Huh? Seriously?

Hinata: The position of the corners of your mouth and the relaxed state of your facial muscles are different. This is a good photo.

Kawai: I see. So should we send this one?

Hinata: Yep. If you could do the honor.

Kawai: Hmm, so like “I’m in the middle of a photoshoot with Shion-kun right now~ I’ll show you!”

Okay, sent! It’s gone through~

Hinata: Thanks.

[~ ♪]

Kawai: Oh, that was fast. There’s a reply already.

“The both of you look super cute! The outfit really suits you!” is what it says.

Hinata: ……

Kawai: Huh? Shion-kun, are you perhaps not happy about this?

Hinata: “Cute”......?

Kawai: Oh, I get it now. Would “cool” have been better?

Hinata: But I understand how Hikaru-kun is cute.

Kawai: Ahaha, thanks. But you know…… I kind of understand how you’re feeling as well, Shion-kun.

Sometimes you want the other person to see your cool side.

Hinata: Yeah. I want them to say that I’m cool.

Kawai: Oh, I know. How about we try changing up our pose next?

Thereafter, the photoshoot continued many times over with the both of them accumulating in a bunch of trial-and-error shots…

… Until they were able to get the word “cool” to leave “her” mouth.