He leads, he reads - Special Story translation
After some consideration, I decided that maybe it is time for me to upload my translation of the special story featured in the Spoon. 2Di Vol 115 magazine. edit: I decided not to be a wuss and now I'm letting it out
Featured in Spoon. 2Di Vol 115, Special Story: He leads, he reads
Proofreading: Aera, Datura, Dimi, Jelly, Niri, Yomi Written by Aida Hajime
Side Reader (Nina Yu’s POV)
Little by little, the breathing next to me had deepened. I didn’t want a single thing to slip by, I thought to myself.
“Tomose…”
I received no response upon calling his name. As I slowly turned towards him, Tomose had his eyes completely closed and his arms crossed.
(Quiet as always.)
I pressed the remote’s stop button, and only his small breaths remained. I made as little noise as possible while I moved and, I took out a book I bought today from my bag. Then, I sat down a little closer than before. Soon after, Tomose’s body began to lean towards me.
I gently placed his head which was about to fall forward on my shoulder and lightly supported it. I waited like that for some time, if I were to let go of it quickly, his head would have fallen again.
(He’s really fast asleep…)
“I’ll be by your side until you fall asleep. So go ahead and sleep.”
Since when could Tomose, who used to wake up from the sound of the floor creaking in the distance, sleep so soundly as I read a book beside him?
Since when was he able to continue sleeping even after our bodies touched?
I couldn’t recall all the times it had happened, as I hadn’t bothered to memorize them.
(You never give up on what you can’t do. That is how you live, Tomose.) (That’s why, you’ll definitely be able to sleep alone again one day.)
“…Should be fine now.”
I gently removed my hand. I picked up the book as my shoulder bore the weight of his head that was now depending entirely on it.
I turned a page, praying that the breathing I could only hear if I listened carefully would continue to last.
----------
Side Leader (Tomose Onda’s POV)
I could hear the sound of pages turning from somewhere. It was a slow pace that felt pleasant to listen to.
“…”
I opened my eyes to see the living room before me. I found myself leaning against Yu as I realized I had fallen asleep. The movie we were watching had been stopped, and there was nothing on the screen.
“Are you awake?”
“…I just woke up. How did you notice?”
“The weight on my shoulder and your breathing had changed.”
“How long have I been asleep?”
“It wasn’t for a long time. Do you need to sleep some more?”
“No, I’m awake now.”
As I stretched, a wave of exhaustion came over me. While doing so, I found that I did not recognize the cover of the book that Yu had closed and put away.
(An illustrated book about herbs….)
“Did we always have that?”
“I bought it on the way back today.”
“You don’t usually use herbs. Is there an item on the menu that uses them?”
“No, it’s not related to that. It’s for Urara.”
“Urara?”
“He has been refusing to eat his meals since the middle of last week. Kise was worried, and it seems that Urara has gotten a bit of a cold.”
“Sounds like he was able to get a lot out from him.”
“Urara wouldn’t admit that himself, though.”
“I see, so he found out from Kamiya.”
“Kise said that during their morning run, Kamiya kept probing Urara about his unusual coughing.”
“I can see that happening.”
A moment after I let out a chuckle, Yu replied “I see it too.” He wasn’t laughing, but his tone was relaxed.
“I was thinking about what to make for him since I’ve never needed to make food for the sick before.”
(So that's what it was…)
“I have thought of a few things, but Urara doesn’t like spices.”
That’s not something Urara had said himself. Urara’s likes and dislikes were things Yu had discerned by observing him, who struggled to speak honestly.
“So because you couldn’t think of anything else, you referred to this book?”
“Exactly. I’m sure it’ll be good for the menu too.”
“I see.”
There were no bookstores on the way back from Aporia. As far I can tell, it seemed like he even took the time to go on a detour to stop by one. Though it wasn’t his intention to be kind, it was very much like him to do this.
“Urara… I hope he gets well soon.”
“Yeah.”
He wasn’t the type to say much or break into a smile so thoughtlessly. Despite all of that, his cooking naturally brings people together.
Yu doesn’t know his own kindness.
That’s why I hope more people will know about it, even just a little, even if it’s just a single person. So that someday Yu can smile and accept those words with “I know.”
“Do you want to continue watching the movie? I stopped it when you fell asleep.”
“Right… Never mind.”
“?” “We can do that when you finish. You’re still in the middle of reading.”
“I can always do that later.”
“I’ll go fetch a book too.”
“Do you have something at hand right now?”
“I borrowed something from Okiya Sei some time ago.”
“Okiya Sei… Right. He was in charge of translating the original work you liked, wasn’t he?”
“I want to enjoy it slowly since now seems like the perfect time to read it. It’s a good piece, after all.”
“… I see.”
I emptied whatever was left of the small bottle that had been left behind. Beneath the beer’s bitter taste lingered the mild sweetness from the barley. At the same time as I stood up, Yu picked up his book.
I heard the sound of him flipping through his book as I went back to my room and found it to be quite comforting.
