[CH.35] A Letter From Nao, Fumika, and Others
**TL Notes: So as not to confuse you all, I made a list of the characters that get mentioned in this chapter that you may have forgotten before. Sumire Matsuda: MC Yumiko Kurita (Yumi): Sumire's senpai at the dormitory. Yoko Ando (Yoko-san): Sumire's manager Kotone Mimura (Kotone-sensei): Piano teacher Ai Shinonome: Sumire's senpai at the dormitory. Natsumi Shirakawa: Sumire's senpai at the dormitory. Nao and Fumika: Sumire's close friends. Ma-kun: older brother figure |
Sitting in the glass-enclosed observation deck with a view of the pool from above, I gazed absentmindedly at the children swimming. I hung a character-themed towel around my neck like a shawl to help absorb any moisture from their damp hair.
It's been a month since I started piano and swimming lessons, and the season is gradually transitioning from autumn to winter. Although I don't really understand it myself, when I ask each of my teachers, it seems that my progress is going smoothly.
For me, since I'm doing it as a job, my motivation and attitude towards classes are on a completely different level compared to children who are dragged to their lessons reluctantly by their parents. I heard from the dormitory that Yumi's cousin had an unused digital piano in her house, so I got in touch with her and was able to receive it... and it was free!
Yumi's aunt said, "It costs money to dispose of large items, so I'm just happy someone will take it." So, I took her at her word. With the help of Yoko-san's car, I successfully installed it in my room at the dorm. It has detachable legs, so I can sit in a chair and play the piano in the same posture. The keys are a bit stiff, but I consider it part of its charm. It also has a headphone jack, which is convenient because it won't disturb the other dormitory residents.
Twice a week, I receive new assignments from my piano teacher, and at the same time, I have them check whether I've mastered the previous assignments. Also, because if I were to practice on my own, my posture and playing style might gradually become self-taught and start to deviate, they also make sure to examine the foundational aspects.
"...You know, Sumire-chan, you're quite diligent. Not many elementary school kids practice what they're told to this extent and make it their own before coming to a lesson," said Kotone-sensei, looking surprised but happy, and she patted my head. I get a bit embarrassed when praised like that, but I'm an adult on the inside. If I'm receiving guidance, I need to take it seriously.
I may not have left the realm of being a beginner yet, but I'm told that if I continue like this, I'll progress just as well as the other kids. This motivates me even more to work hard. However, I've been cautioned not to overdo it and hurt my fingers, so I've been advised to avoid long practice sessions. They've also taught me stretches to make my fingers more flexible and easier to move, which I do every day without fail.
And just when it seemed like swimming would be a complete mystery to me, I had managed to progress to the point where I could swim somewhat. In my previous life, I could swim above average, so I had a sense of it as long as I could stay afloat. However, simply staying afloat was quite challenging. With the help of the instructor, who placed both hands under my chest and belly to support me, I stretched my body straight and fluttered my legs.
It took three weeks of trial and error with the instructor to figure out the right amount of tension in my body and the proper extension. But once I could float, I could swim smoothly. However, I had learned to swim correctly during my elementary school days in my past life, and there was a possibility that my technique had deteriorated.
So, once a week, I received guidance from the instructor to practice the proper swimming technique and make it look graceful. Since I would be swimming for a movie shoot, there might be someone on set to guide me, but it would be better to have it ingrained in my body now.
As I was lost in thought, reflecting on the events of the past month, I heard a voice saying, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Sumire." Yoko-san, who had come to pick me up, approached with a raised hand.
With a teasing smile, Yoko-san, who had sat down beside me, tilted her head, and I raised an eyebrow.
"Don't you notice? The boys have been stealing glances at Sumire since earlier. Try not to let your charm catch the eye of any weirdos," she said.
From my perspective, I didn't remember deliberately exuding any such charm, and I thought it was quite an accusation. As I looked around, a boy around my age who had made eye contact with me suddenly looked flustered and quickly averted his gaze. He then got up in a leisurely manner and hurriedly left the observation deck. I hadn't intended to drive him away, but I felt a sense of guilt as if I had done something wrong.
"Sumire, you have a charm that doesn't match your age, so boys of the same age are probably easily captivated by you, you know?"
"Even if you say that..."
In the first place, whether as a former male or as a current female, I didn't think I was in a position to engage in romance, and I couldn't even imagine which gender would be the object of such feelings. In other words, I was unaware, but if I did possess such an ability, it would be a waste. I would have preferred a more useful talent, like musical ability or physical coordination.
I wondered how Yoko-san misunderstood the reason why I felt depressed, and she said, "The big eyes were staring blankly into the distance, the way the cheeks were dyed a slight vermilion that made any heart flutter, and the small sigh from the plump lips. When a man looks at you, the part where your hair is spilling out and the lazy expression on your face makes you look very lewd...well, naughty.''
I tried to let out my confused feelings. I took a deep breath. I've always thought that telling an elementary school girl that she's naughty is definitely not a compliment, but Yoko's sensibilities are a little strange.
I decided to contemplate the changes in my body that I hadn't thought much about until now, while letting the feeling of exhaustion wash over me as I got into the car and leaned back against the soft cushioned rear seat, just as usual, amidst the busyness.
Although I'm still slimmer and shorter than kids my age, there has been a recent sensation of tingling and itchiness in the tips of my breasts. I touch and observe them during bath time, and it feels like the area around my nipples has slightly swollen.
In my past life, I was overweight, so my breasts were big, almost like sumo wrestlers, and some people fear the changes in their bodies. However, I don't particularly feel that way. I simply hope that, in the future, my height won't increase significantly, and my breasts will continue to grow in a way that suits my body.
When breasts become larger, it's difficult to find underwear that fits well, and there's a lack of cute designs. So, I hope for a modest and average size.
Well, even if I say all this, there are cases where breasts just become more rounded without significant growth. I remember hearing on the radio in a past life that a petite voice actress said, "I used to think that when I became an adult, my height would increase, and my breasts would grow on their own, but neither of those happened." She shared this as a surprising anecdote, and while it sounded like a funny story, I'm sure she had her own personal struggles.
As I was absentmindedly thinking about such things, the rocking of the car and the fatigue from swimming combined, and before I knew it, I had slipped into the world of sleep. It's pointless to dwell on things I can't understand, so I thought, "Let's accept things as they are." I'm not sure if I actually had that thought just before my consciousness drifted into sleep, but it felt that way, or maybe it didn't.
---
I arrived at the dormitory in less than 30 minutes and after asking about the plans for the next day, I entered the dormitory after seeing Yoko-san drive away. On the way, I glanced at the mailbox and found several letters, so I decided to take them in.
"This one is for Ai-san... and this one is for Natsumi-san. Oh, I have two letters addressed to me."
I quickly sorted them out and placed the letters addressed to others in the mailbox by the entrance. When I return, I usually pick up my own letters from there. On days with no work, I'm the first one to get back home, so moving the letters from the mailbox to this spot has become mostly my responsibility.
I took the letters to my room and promptly checked the senders. The fancy envelope with a cute, stylized drawing of a sheep was from Nao and Fumika. They often send letters, but since they cover the cost of postage and letter sets from their allowances, they are quite thrifty. I used scissors to open the envelope and found two sheets of stationery and several photos inside.
Oh, they went to that park on a field trip. There was a class photo and a snapshot of Nao and Fumika together. There was another picture of them playing with their classmates, the class photo looked a bit formal, but the other two showed everyone smiling and having fun. It's good to see that they're getting along well with their classmates even when I'm not around. I heard in the summer that they are in the same class this year.
The contents of the letter mostly consisted of updates on their side and expressions of concern for me. The remaining part was filled with variations of loneliness and longing, which tugged at my heartstrings. However, the reality is that making a trip back to Kansai is a bit challenging at the moment. There's piano practice to consider, and the electronic piano I received isn't portable.
On the other hand, casually inviting them to come here isn't something I can do. It involves expenses, and I'd need the aunts to accompany them, adding to the burden. All I can do for now is find time to send letters, make phone calls, and keep in touch with them. I heard there's a video camera at the office, so if it's available, maybe I could record a video letter once a week. Seeing my face might alleviate their loneliness more than just letters or voices alone. I should consult with Yoko-san about it.
The other letter was in a typical white envelope, and I was surprised when I saw the sender's name. I've been here for a little over a year, but this was the first time I received a letter from Ma-kun. I wondered if something happened to the aunts, but if that were the case, I should have received some kind of communication from my mother.
I opened the envelope in the same way and checked the contents. It was a plain stationery that seemed like the kind you'd use for greetings, and it made me smile, thinking Ma-kun probably got it from one of the aunts or grandmothers. Ma-kun rarely writes letters, and that's a common trait among guys, even in my past life, I was the same. Men, in general, tend to be a bit lax with pens.
His letter also started with updates on his current situation... I see, Ma-kun joined the brass band, just like he did in my past life. In fact, in my past life, I joined the brass band because Ma-kun looked so cool playing the trumpet at the regular concert. I wanted to try playing like that too, but when I actually joined, my large physique and the shortage of members led to me being assigned to the heavy and cumbersome tuba section.
By the way, a tuba is an instrument that's like a euphonium but about twice the size. It's an underappreciated powerhouse that resonates with low tones in the belly. It might seem plain as it quietly keeps the rhythm, and the sheet music isn't particularly interesting or attention-grabbing. However, playing this instrument helped me develop a sense of rhythm, and that experience is still benefiting me in this life, so I think it was a good thing.
Even in piano, Kotone-sensei praises me with comments like, "Sumire-chan, you have a good sense of rhythm." I don't rush the tempo, and I don't fall behind, so I can adjust perfectly to the right feel.
Putting aside my own matters, Ma-kun seems to have been assigned to the trumpet section just like in my past life. He's practicing, and the hierarchical relationships are tough, but he seems to be managing somehow. Although he casually mentions it, I can sense that it must be tough and challenging for him. But it's so endearing to think that he doesn't want to complain to his little sister, me, and probably wants to maintain a cool image.
Then, he continued to express concern about my health, and the rest of the letter was filled with complaints about last year bath toy commercials. He was saying things like, "What's the meaning of this, showing yourself almost naked on television? Are they making you do strange things in Tokyo?" It was like he wanted to ask if he was my father. Well, he's not my father, but our relationship is like that of siblings, so I appreciate his worry. But it's been over a year since then, so I don't know what to do with his concerns at this point. It's my job, and there's nothing I can change.
Perhaps, over this past year, he accumulated frustration because he couldn't find the right timing to send me a letter. Even though I've been through a similar situation in my past life, teenage boys can be really bothersome.
I thought I'd write a response before dinner and, just to be sure, I shook Ma-kun's envelope upside down to check if there was anything else inside. As I did that, a small folded piece of paper fell onto the desk. I picked it up, curious, and unfolded it to find the words, "If it gets tough, come and tell me anytime." This dormitory has plenty of big sisters who dote on me, but there's something nice about this casual kindness from my big brother. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy.
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I hope she remains a loli even when she grows up
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