"Congrats congrats!" Clap-clap-clap went the applause, the voice sweet as honey. That was Tokai Teio, her eyes crinkled into happy crescents.
"Heh, now that was a clean victory. Not just a win, but a beautiful, overwhelming one. It seems you and I are cut from the same cloth," came the praise, gentle even in its delivery, from the lightly chuckling Mejiro McQueen.
"Senpai, your run was truly amazing. I can't afford to fall behind either," Daiwa Scarlet said with a smile, already mentally drafting a brutal training regimen.
"Hey, that's my line!" The one bickering with Daiwa Scarlet was the noisy Vodka.
"Anyway, you won the race, so let's celebrate properly!" Special Week declared, holding up a carrot cake while practically drooling.
"..." Silence Suzuka was present in the form of a poster pasted on the wall.
The training room door opened, and Platinum walked in, carrying a handbag.
"...What's all this?" Platinum wiped a bead of sweat that wasn't really there from her brow and pointed at the gathered crowd.
"A victory party for you, of course!" The voice came from behind her. Okino appeared, beaming, and gave Platinum's shoulder a hearty pat. "It's everyone's way of showing their appreciation. You should accept it gratefully."
Platinum inwardly groaned.
No, no, no! That's not what I'm asking!
Well, technically I am asking that, but it's not because I don't understand the situation—it's because I DO understand the situation that I'm asking!
Platinum... was absolutely terrible at handling these kinds of scenes.
Birthday parties, victory celebrations—especially ones held for her—Platinum was deeply resistant to them.
No, 'resistant' made her sound ungrateful, but... how to put it... it's just...
It's... so awkward... so...
"Huh?" Tokai Teio, sharp-eyed and fairly familiar with Platinum, immediately noticed she wasn't her usual self.
Eh? Eh? The usual Platinum isn't this fidgety and hesitant.
The usual Platinum was always a picture of lazy, sleepiness, with a slight aloofness. You could never tell what she was thinking, giving off a slightly eccentric vibe.
But she was definitely not like she was today, hovering at the doorway, neither coming in nor leaving. This kind of behavior...
"Platinum, you're not..." Tokai Teio covered her mouth, secretly smiling as she slipped over to Platinum's side and bumped her shoulder playfully.
"Feeling shy, are you?"
Huh? Huh? Huh?
Could it be? The always lazy and cold Platinum...
Is actually getting embarrassed over a little victory party?
"Don't stand so close to me," Platinum said stiffly, rooted to the spot in the doorway. She looked at the approaching Teio, her hands unsure where to rest.
Unfortunately for Platinum, this behavior only confirmed Tokai Teio's suspicions about her flustered state.
"Oh? Isn't that it?" Teio giggled, persistently pressing closer.
Looks like Teio has finally found Platinum's weak spot.
Lady Teio always knew—how could anyone in the world be so stone-hearted?
"To actually blush over something like this..."
"You..." Platinum clenched her fists, gritting her teeth, but found herself unable to retort.
"I'm not... I'm not... I'm not shy!"
At times like this, you have to power through with sheer manly spirit!
No matter what you're denying, if you shout it loud enough, it makes you sound convincing!
Incidentally, this was something Platinum had learned from the shonen manga she'd read in her previous life.
Sadly, it didn't seem to be very effective.
Everyone around them wore expressions of barely suppressed amusement.
Mejiro McQueen smiled slightly and closed her eyes, giving them space—a lady knows not to witness another's embarrassment. Daiwa Scarlet smiled warmly, rubbed her nose, and tactfully turned away. Even Vodka felt a bit awkward by proxy, tugging at her ear and covering her cheek.
Only Special Week was genuinely clueless, staring blankly at the others, unable to grasp the situation.
After all, when a girl with a face as red as a tomato says something all huffy and puffy, you're supposed to take it as the opposite.
So tsundere.
And as for Tokai Teio...
Teio was probably just too excited, seeing this side of Platinum for the first time.
This version she'd never seen before—not cold, but warm and flustered.
It was the perfect contrast to her usual image.
It was like finding a sweet-and-sour berry hidden under a blanket of snow... cute.
It made you want to tease her just a little more.
So, driven by this indescribable emotion bubbling up inside her, Tokai Teio leaned close to Platinum's ear, cupped her hands around her mouth, and whispered softly.
She's going to say it, she's going to say it, that line!
"Loser~ Loser~ What a loser, getting all shy over a victory party~"
...Thanks. Now the moment's ruined. My fist is clenched.
Platinum's hand tightened slightly.
Tokai Teio, when did you become like this? What changed you?
Of course, the punch never landed. Platinum averted her eyes, scratched her cheek, her mouth opening and closing several times as she struggled to find words before giving up.
Under everyone's gaze, Platinum's face turned a vivid, blood-red hue. She hung her head and squeezed a few words out through gritted teeth, her voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.
"...Th... thank you..."
Mejiro McQueen was the first to start clapping, her expression one of deep satisfaction.
Do you all get it now?
The so-called tsundere character, no matter how they act, has a consistent core.
A thick layer of ice wrapped around the exterior, and a soft heart hidden beneath, waiting to be revealed.
The tsundere archetype—
What's most worth anticipating isn't the long period of 'tsun,' but that precious, fleeting moment of 'dere' that finally shines through, isn't it?
Who would have thought you could still see such a classic tsundere in this day and age.
"Alright, alright, don't just stand there by the door," Daiwa Scarlet said, pulling Platinum—who looked like she wanted to vanish into the floor after saying her thanks—over to the table.
"Senpai, you won so brilliantly; we absolutely have to celebrate properly."
Though she didn't say anything, Platinum offered no resistance as she sat down at the table.
Hearts are made of flesh, after all. Platinum wasn't made of stone. It was easy to see who genuinely cared for her.
Facing the members of Spica, Platinum found it very hard to keep her stern face up.
The only barrier was that eternal problem... Soul Dissolution Syndrome...
Although she could live normally now by taking suppressants, someday...
...Someday, if she could cure her Soul Dissolution Syndrome, then...
"Speaking of which, where's Gold Ship?" Platinum asked, looking around and noticing the most chaotic one of the bunch was missing.
Just then, Platinum felt a pair of hands clamp onto her legs. A shiver of disgust ran down her spine, and she hurriedly lifted the tablecloth.
There, underneath, was Gold Ship, one hand on each of Platinum's thighs, her head wedged between Platinum's knees, looking up at her with an expression of pure innocence, blinking.
"Oops, you found me."
"Was gonna give you a surprise."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.