How to Eat Life LN Chapter 1-2 Translation (2/2)
1-2 Imaginary Borderline (Part 2 of 2.)
Read Part 1 of this chapter before continuing this part!
When Tobi went to school on little to no sleep, a teacher wearing glasses with black frames eyed him in front of the gate. This person always wore a suit that fit him as if it was tailor-made. He really didnāt want the neat black-glasses man to call out to him this morning, so he decided to make the first move and dropped his head in a small bow.
āGood morning, Sensei.ā
āā¦Um, right. Good morning.ā The black glasses-wearing teacher looked noticeably daunted. Ever since freshman year, this man had bothered Tobi almost every morning, but then he receives a simple greeting and suddenly nothing happens. Just saying āgood morning.ā Was this enough all along?
āWhere did the wind blow from?ā* Baku asked as Tobi was changing his shoes by the lockers.Ā
*It is a common Japanese phrase used when something unexpected happens
āI dunno. I guess thereās no wind at all.ā
āYouāre having a change of heart? That is what caused it, isnāt it?ā
āYouāre making things upā¦ā His slippers felt a little tight. Did his feet grow? When youāre going through a growth spurt, clothes stop fitting you, but having to buy new ones would hurt his finances a lot.
When he started walking towards the classroom, feeling slightly gloomier than before,Ā a girl with long hair suddenly appeared from behind the lockers. Tobi stepped back on instinct.
āā¦Shi-Shiratama-san.ā
āGood morning, Otogiri-kun.ā Those eyes again. Shiratama was staring directly at Tobi.
āā¦Wh, what?ā Tobi covered the lower part of his face with his arm and looked at the floor. āYou want something? Itās still really earlyā¦ā
āActually, I was waiting here for you.ā
āHuh? ā¦W, why?ā
āI told you yesterday, did I not?ā
āOhā¦ā
āI would like to hear your answer.ā
āAāā
āA?ā
āAboutā¦ā
The phrase āeyes flashing white and blackā* popped into Tobiās head. He had seen it in a dictionary some time ago. The situation heād found himself in then wasnāt one to make his pupils switch colors, rather, it made his eyeballs spin violently in their sockets. Tobiās eyes kept moving restlessly. It was making him feel sick. Many of their classmates were coming to the lockers and whispering amongst themselves while changing shoes. Theyāre probably starting to suspect thereās something between him and Shiratama. Theyāre wondering āWhatās going on? What are the two of them doing?ā without a doubt. In all honesty, despite being one of the people in question, Tobi himself didnāt know the answer.Ā
*A Japanese phrase meaning being astonished, surprised, or shocked
āHi,ā If that wasnāt enough, a passing janitor just had to approach them and further amplify this predicament, turning it from complicated to chaotic.
āGood morning, Otogiri-kun. What are you doing here, Shiratama-san?āĀ
āHaizaki-san.ā Shiratama turned around, and when she recognized who was speaking to them, she bowed politely. āGood morning to you too. Thank you for your work even at these early hours.ā
āItās nothing.ā Haizaki beamed brightly. He was carrying cardboard boxes. Tobi couldnāt see what was inside, but whatever it might be, he didnāt give a damn.
It seemed to be different in Shiratamaās case, though.
āThey look heavy. Shall I assist you?ā
āNo, no, no, thereās no need!ā Haizaki shook his head vigorously. His almond-shaped eyes became almost perfectly round. āDonāt trouble yourself. It is a part of my job, after all. I come to this school to work, and you come here to get your education.ā
āI may not look like it, but I am pretty strong.ā
Shiratama raised her right arm and flexed it. A thin arm. Very, very thin. Was there really any strength in it? Tobi sincerely doubted so, but he felt they werenāt quite on the same page. It wouldnāt matter even if, hypothetically, she had some sort of superhuman strength. Haizaki was carrying the boxes as part of his duties. A middle schooler like Shiratama wasnāt obligated to help him with it. Thatās what he was trying to tell her. Even Tobi, who Baku calls antisocial, understood that much.
Shiratama Ryuuko might bring him trouble.
Tobi realized that last night.
An ordinary middle schooler wouldnāt go about asking classmates of the Otogiri Tobi sort to be their friend.
Tobi was aware of the fact that heās not the type of person others can feel close to. Heās not happy. Heās not nice. Not even funny. His past was difficult to explain. He also carries around Baku, with whom only he can talk.
And despite all that, it seemed that there were things he notices that other people donāt.
What would Tobi think if there was someone else thatās just like him?
He would probably consider them a freak.
Thatās likely what everyone sees Otogiri Tobi as ā a freak.
Shiratama Ryuukoās probably not much better if she wants to befriend this kind of person.
He wants to run. Get out of there as quickly as possible. Shiratama is talking with Haizaki. Thatās his chance! Heās going to run while he still can!
Tobi tried to get away from them. Unfortunately, even though he made sure to tread especially lightly, he was noticed.
āNo,ā Shiratama grabbed his right arm dangerously close to his wrist. āDonāt go, Otogiri-kun. At least give me an answer.ā
āOh no,ā Haizaki had a perplexed expression, as if he was feeling guilty. āDid I interrupt you by any chance? Iām sorry. Forgive me. I should be kicked by a horse, or however that goesā¦ā
What would a horse be doing here? Heās read that in a book before. There was a saying that went somewhat along those lines.
āThose who interfere with other peopleās love lives should be eaten by dogs.ā
The dogs can also be replaced with kicking horses.
Haizaki seems to be misunderstanding something here. It would be best to correct him. Eh, it doesnāt matter anyway. Itās not the time for that. Shiratama was still holding Tobiās arm.
Will you let go already?
Tobi tried to express it with his eyes.
Itās not getting through. Shiratama just tilted her head curiously. He should be the one feeling curious.
Nothing to do about it now. Careful not to put too much strength into it, Tobi shook off Shiratamaās hand.
āSo⦠About that, um, Iāll tell you when weāre walking, or somethingā¦ā When Tobi timidly made this offer, Shiratama nodded. Should I start running at full speed? That idea came into his head, but he chose to ignore it. Shiratama was walking along on his left.
āI would like to hear your reply.ā
āā¦Already? Isnāt it too early?ā
āAre you still considering it?ā
āWell⦠Considering, and, umā¦ā
āHeās the indecisive type,ā Baku said with a sigh.
āDoes he have a hard time making decisions?ā Shiratama asked.
āItās more like heās not used to expressing his thoughts or feelings with words. Never has been. Doesnāt talk to people.ā
āWhat about you?ā
āIām different. And even so, he still tells me to āfigure it outā or āguessā and stuff!ā
āHe expects you to understand him?ā
āSomething like that.ā
āā¦ā¦Hey,ā Tobi was knocking on his forehead with his fist. It started to hurt. āCanāt you talk normally? To others, it sounds like Shiratama-san is just murmuring to herselfā¦ā
āI apologize, I was careless,ā Shiratama lowered her head a bit. āBut would they not think that I am talking to you, Otogiri-kun? Or that I am trying to get your attention?ā
āThatās just plain weird in itselfā¦ā
āThen talk back to me, please. Everything will be sorted this way.ā
āā¦ā¦Iām talking to you right now.ā
āSo using this occasion, what is your answer?ā
āIām telling you I donāt know yetā¦ā Tobi realized he was slouching. He couldnāt help but think he was attracting attention from the students passing by them in the corridor. āBesidesā¦ā Wait, theyāre definitely staring at him. Itās because of Shiratama, clear as day. āWhy?ā
Shiratamaās eyes flashed when he asked that.
āCould you elaborate?ā
āā¦Why do you want to be my friend? Whatās the reason? Your motive?ā
āIt is because you are you.ā
āHuh? Whatās that supposed to mean?ā
āDo you need me to explain?ā
āIf possible. If you can tell me in a way Iāll be able to understandā¦ā
āTo understand.ā Shiratama nodded in agreement, and after thinking for a short moment with her eyebrows furrowed, she stopped walking.
In the middle of a staircase.
Tobi climbed one step farther than her and halted there.
Shiratama was looking at Tobi. She captured him in her gaze and wouldnāt let go.
āMay I have some of your time? Preferably during todayās lunch break. This is a matter we will need to discuss in a place where people scarcely come.ā
Those eyes were Tobiās weakness. Theyāre impossible to ignore. He canāt look away from them.
āā¦Fine. Whatever.ā
That was the only reply he could give. What else was there to do?
Right after lunchtime ended, the special classroom wing was empty. Tobi arranged to meet Shiratama on its outside emergency staircase.
He was waiting at the landing between the second and third floor, leaning against the railing when Shiratama opened the door and started climbing up the stairs.
Tobi had a strange inkling. It was because she was carrying a bag on her shoulder. Not the kind thatās normally used for school purposes. This one is small. Pretty sure theyāre called pochettes.
āHello.ā Shiratama went up to the landing and gave a polite greeting.
āYeahā¦ā Tobi nodded back vaguely. Shiratama is so well mannered it takes him aback every time. āSo⦠what is it? That motive? The reason why you asked to be my friend.ā
āYou know what they say, it is more suitable to present a proof rather than a theory.ā
āā¦I guess. There was something like that.ā
āWith that being said, we came here together.ā
āTogetherā¦?ā Tobi frowned. From what he could see, Shiratama came alone. Didnāt bring anyone with her. She raised her pochette and opened it.
āCome out, Chinurasha.ā
Did Shiratama just call out to someone while looking at the bag? If so, then she was presenting some eccentric behavior, to say the least. Tobi had always considered her to be quite the character, but not to this extent. He even started to worry about her. Was she alright? That question went for more than just this situation. Maybe there was a small pet, some sort of a rodent, hiding inside of the pochette? That would mean an entirely different issue with irrationality. Youāre not allowed to bring animals to school. Even Tobiās aware of that, and yet, it looks like thatās exactly whatās going on.
Something crawled out of the pouch
āMmmā¦ā Baku let out a small moan.
See?
Itās a tiny pet.
The little guy mustāve felt very cramped sitting inside that bag. Considering its size, it must have had to really squeeze in there to even just barely fit. Although, it looked like there was more fluff to it than most actual living creatures, so it was likely able to get into spaces much smaller than one might assume at first glance.
Is it a cat? A kitten? Probably not. Even saying āprobablyā is a mistake in itself.
This creature has horns. Itās obvious that cats donāt have horns.
A small animal with two horns on its headā
Does something like that exist?
He hadnāt seen it in the animal atlas at the facility. The facility had also organized many field trips to the local zoo, and Tobi couldnāt remember seeing anything this size that grew horns during any of those. On the other hand, there might actually be a species like this living somewhere in this vast world that Tobi just doesnāt know about. Maybe itās a horned animalās young?
The creature left the pochette and started climbing up Shiratamaās body. It wasnāt particularly nimble but didnāt pause once on its way. It must do this regularly. When it reached Shiratamaās right shoulder, it turned its head towards Tobi.
Itās hard to tell if it has eyes or not. They might be buried under all that fur.
In spite of that, Tobi could feel its gaze upon him.
āChinu, say your greetings.ā The creature moved its head at Shiratamaās command, making a gesture resembling lowering it diagonally. Then, a teeny tiny mouth showed from within the fluffy fur.
Yuuā
Uyuuā
Kchuuā
That was what Tobi could hear coming out of it. Is this how this thing cries?
āā¦ā¦Hi.ā Tobi bowed out of habit.
Shiratama scratched Chinuā or Chinurasha, whichever one it isā under its chin with her pointer finger.
āGood job.ā
āOi, Tobiāā Baku whispered, āDonāt tell me you didnāt notice.ā
āā¦Notice what?ā
āThis thing isnāt normal!ā
āWell, itās a⦠unique creature. Has horns and all.ā
āThatās not what I mean!ā Baku seemed quite irritated. Save for the fact that he can speak with Tobi, heās nothing short of a regular big backpack. However, he can open himself at will when mad. Itās different from a zipper getting loose. Tobi is the only one who can see it, but itās as if a part of his zipper opens just like a mouth does.
Itās doing it right now.
āAre you STUPID, Tobi?! Dumb as a doorknob, for goodnessā sake!ā Bakuās speaking, flapping his mouth. Heās shaken rather than irritated.
āI am,ā Shiratama drew her shoulders back and touched cheeks with Chinu. āthe only one who can see Chinu.ā
āā¦ā¦Butāā
He can see it.
Tobi can see it clearly.
It seemed that Chinu had a soft spot for Shiratama. In response to her action, it rubbed its face against her cheek and closed its eyes in delight. It let out low-pitched cries, though they sounded more like noises it wanted to hold in but couldnāt than its actual voice. Its horns dig into Shiratamaās skin, but it doesnāt look painful. At least, she isnāt feeling any pain. They must not be hard enough to pierce through.
āItās the same as me!ā Baku spat out, almost like he didnāt want to. Could he not stand it anymore? āUp until now, you were the only one who could hear me. And only Shiratama Ryuuko could see Chinurasha, or whatever its name was. Itās not exactly the same, but really FREAKINā close!ā
āā¦So, Shiratama-san can hear you, and I can see Chinu.ā
āThatās it.ā
āHuh?ā Tobiās shoulders dropped. He knocked his fist on his forehead. āā¦Then whatā what does it mean? H-how did it⦠happenā¦?ā
āFrankly, I am also clueless.ā Shiratama said nonchalantly. āI noticed you were talking with Baku-chan a while ago because I could hear his voice. It appeared that I was the only one. Only you and I can hear him, Otogiri-kun. I thought it had to have a special meaning.ā
āā¦ā¦Specialāā Tobi shook his head, barely putting in any strength. āIt could be some kind of a disorderā¦ā
āDo we have mental problems?ā
āWell⦠Itās more likely than thinking that only the two of us are saneā¦ā
āOh right, Shiratama Ryuuko!ā This time, Baku threw in a proper reluctant interruption, āQuit adding chan to my name!
Shiratamaās expression was puzzled.
āBaku-chan?ā
āTHAT! It makes me all itchy. Canāt really find the words. Itās disgusting!ā
āI apologize.ā Shiratama shrugged and lowered her head in a gesture that was all but apologetic. Chinu mimicked her.
Thatās adorable.
Tobi startled himself by having that thought.
For the record, he only thought that Chinu was āadorable.ā That it and Shiratama did the same thing at the same time, yes.
āHow about Baku-san?ā When Shiratama asked this, Baku cleared his throat.
āThat aināt really feelinā right either. Why not just drop honorifics altogether?ā
āYouāre putting on airsā¦ā Tobi wanted to fling Baku to the ground. Baku got back at him immediately.
āIām not putting on anything! Just sayinā she can be casual with me! Iām being humble! Isnāt that right, Shiratama Ryuuko?ā
Shiratama nodded. Chinu followed through.
āI will start calling you āBakuā from now on.ā
āSure. Thatās great. Iām real bad with all that āformalā stuff anyway.ā
āI have no issues with you calling me by my first name either.ā
āThatās a given! Something like āOryuuā* could also be nice. Yeah, not bad at all. Whaddya think?āĀ
*Baku makes up a pet name by adding a hiragana character for āOā before the first and taking away the last syllable of the name.
āI do not dislike it, so you can call me whatever you wish.ā
āThen Iām settling on āOryuuā! Oryuu.ā
āYes.ā
āā¦ā¦Youāve started to get along really fast.ā Maybe Tobi should throw Baku towards Shiratama instead of smacking him to the ground.
āOu? Whatās thaaat? Are you jealous, Tobiii?ā Baku giggled, āWorry not! Our relationship wonāt change just because Oryuuās here now.ā
āThe one where youāre⦠stuck with me?ā
āDonāt call it that!ā
āSo what kind of relationship is it?ā
āIf you force words into it itāll lose all its magic! But if you have to, then probably partners?ā
āChinurasha and I are also like partners,ā Shiratama smiled brightly and turned to Chinu, adding āRight?ā as she did it. āIt cannot speak like you, Baku, but it is always by my side. We have been together as long as I can remember.ā
āā¦I want to ask something. What would you have done if I couldnāt see Chinu?ā
āIf that had happened, I would haveāā Shiratama made all sorts of grimaces with her lips and puffed out her cheeks. āI would have been put in a difficult situation, to say the least. A pitiful middle school girl who claims to be seeing an invisible little creature, furthermore, behaves as if it were there with herā¦ā
āItās good that I can see Chinu thenā¦ā
āHonestly, I took a risk. Although I was quite convinced already that you could see them too, Otogiri-kun.ā
āSo you can say the results were alright?ā Baku asked that incredibly lightly, but if Tobi were in Shiratamaās place, he wouldnāt have taken that risk.
Is there something wrong with me?
Tobi has had those thoughts a number of times. However you look at it, being able to talk with your backpack isnāt normal.
He can hear sounds other people canāt.
He can see things heās not supposed to see.
Are those illusions? Is there something wrong with his brain? Is it some kind of mental illness? Maybe he should go see a doctor about it. Heās considered all of those options.
Tobi was so exhausted he might just fall off the railing. What had tired him out so much? One thing came to mind.
Heās not the only one. Itās relief heās feeling. Those werenāt just products of his imagination.
Baku is there.
Heās not an illusion Tobi created.
He actually exists.
āā¦You can hear Baku just as I can, and I can see Chinu, just like you do. The things that other people canāt seeā¦ā
If thatās the case, maybe those ones as well?
Tobi decided to ask Shiratama.
āDoes it mean you can see them too, Shiratama-san? Those⦠weird creatures other students bring here sometimesā¦ā
Shiratama looked Tobi in the eye so that their gazes met.
After that, she nodded slowly.
Translated by Q-talations
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