Chapter 9: 10 Yen Coin
After making up his mind, Kyouya finally pressed the b.u.t.ton on the vending machine.
A PET bottle rolled down, followed by the chiming sound of the change landing.
The amount of time it took for that sound to subside gave him a bad premonition. He tried putting his hand into the change slot.
“Aw, it gave me nothing but ten yen coins.”
He went and showed the coins in his hand to Mao, who’d been waiting for him, showing her a forced smile.
A while ago, Kyouya had noticed that whenever he went to buy something from the vending machine, Mao would come along. Then she’d get into a scarily bad mood and make that same face. He didn’t know why, but for some reason she wouldn’t stop staring at his hand.
Kyouya’s own thoughts on it were that perhaps it was because, after putting in the money, he would give himself the small luxury of being indecisive until he almost reached the time limit. However, Mao wasn’t such a small person…. well, she was pretty short in stature, but…
“Let’s get going.”
And so, Mao gallantly walked away, swaggering about. Despite her small stature, she emitted an air of greatness. Kyouya followed her as if lurking in her shadow.
“Oh, I forgot! We need to buy one for Kirara-san too.”
Kyouya called out to Mao.
Megumi had some affairs to attend to that day, so she took a day off and didn’t come to the club. Therefore, since there wasn’t any tea being made, they had nothing to drink.
“Hurry up.”
Mao said, slamming her heel on the floor.
“I wonder what I should pick? President, do you know what Kirara-san likes?”
“Meat, right?”
“What kind of drink is that?”
“Fine, meat broth.”
“Alright, I get it. Let’s see… this. Strawberry Milk is fine right?”
“Not that. It costs exactly 100 yen right? If you buy that no change will come out.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Whatever, just buy the long can over there. Not the PET bottle; it costs 150 yen. The long can costs 120 yen, so it’s better to get that.”
“Alright.”
As he was told, Kyouya pressed the b.u.t.ton for the long can.
“Ahh! Only 10 yen coins came out again.”
As Kyouya had expected, Mao was trying to peek into his hand.
What was she looking for all this time?
“Do you want something, President?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean something to drink.”
“A-Ah! R-right…”
Mao took two 100 yen coins from her wallet and bought a canned coffee.
With a chiming sound the change fell.
Mao turned her eyes to the change slot filled with antic.i.p.ation. After taking the coins, she intently stared at the contents of her hand, but then dropped her shoulders with disappointment.
“Let’s go.”
Her back looked small as she slouched away, matching her stature.
Inside Kyouya’s hands rested those 10 yen coins from earlier. He’d thought they were just common 10 yen coins, but on closer inspection, mixed in were two commemorative coins of the 20th year of the Showa era (1) with serrated edges.
That must have been what the president had been staring at with those scary eyes of hers.
“Er…”
Kyouya called Mao’s attention.
“Do you want this?”
He put the special coins in his hand and showed them to her.
Mao’s face shone brightly.
However, she immediately regained her composure.
“I-idiot. I’m the president, you know? There’s no way I can accept these.”
She wanted them, as expected.
“Then let’s make a trade; that would be fine, right? Ah, besides the serrated ones, I have some s.h.i.+ny ones. You’d want them too, right?”
Kyouya took Mao’s hand and opened it. Inside, there were eight common, brown 10 yen coins. One by one he exchanged them for the s.h.i.+ny or serrated ones.
“I-is it okay?”
“It’s fine.”
“E-even if you ask to have them back I won’t give them to you.”
“I won’t ask.”
Kyouya had vowed that he would do anything for that smile.
QUICK FACTS:
The president’s treasure box.
Inside it are Mao’s private belongings that she keeps in the clubroom.
It holds things like cicadas’ cast-off skins, acorns, serrated 10 yen coins, s.h.i.+ny ten yen coins, etc…
All sorts of “treasures” can be found inside.
TRANSLATOR’S NOTES
(1) Showa era is the period of j.a.panese history corresponding to the reign of the Showa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926, through January 7, 1989.
