Chapter 11 – Autumn (Part 3)
Autumn, Part 3
Novel Title: ツァイガルニクの恋の沼 (Zeigarnik’s Love Swamp)
Author：月村奎著 (Tsukimura Kei)
Illustrator：志水ゆき (Shimizu Yuki)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 市川春音 (Ichikawa Harune -MC) & 二ノ宮航輝 (Ninomiya Kouki -ML)
*Please read at universalnovel.com, the original site of translation. TQ*
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“I dropped by to share some early-harvest mandarins from my family’s orchard. The door was open, so I let myself in,” she said casually, holding up a heavy-looking eco-bag for Kouki to see.
Walking into someone’s home uninvited just because the door was open was something only close friends would do, Harune thought.
“Thanks,” Kouki said as he took the bag, then turned to Harune.
“This is Shoda Hinako, a friend from my vocational school days. That cup you were drinking from earlier? It’s one of Hinako’s works.”
Hearing Kouki casually call her by her first name sent a sharp pang through Harune. He found himself forcing the gentle smile he was often told had a calming effect on others.
“Wow, I can’t believe I get to meet the artist behind that beautiful cup,” Harune said.
Hinako’s face lit up.
“Really? Do you like it?” she asked excitedly.
“It’s absolutely gorgeous.”
“Wow, compliments from a good-looking guy are twice as nice,” Hinako said, rushing over and offering her hand for a handshake. Feeling slightly overwhelmed by her enthusiasm, Harune took her hand. Her small hand was cool, with slightly rough fingertips.
As she energetically shook his hand, Hinako suddenly stopped and leaned closer to examine Harune’s knit sweater.
“Is this hand-knit by any chance?” she asked.
“Oh, well, yes, sort of.”
Hinako looked up at him with a piercing gaze.
“This level of craftsmanship… Are you Ichikawa Harune by any chance?”
“Uh, yes,” Harune stammered, surprised that she knew his name despite it being their first meeting.
Hinako grinned mischievously.
“I’ve heard quite a bit about you.”
“Hinako,” Kouki said in a scolding tone.
Hinako just shrugged and stuck her tongue out playfully.
“You’re Kouki’s childhood friend, right? I heard you used to work as a pattern maker for Pastel House.”
She even knew about his previous job.
“I quit that half a year ago, and now I run a crafts shop on Honmachi Street. Feel free to stop by next time you’re in the shopping district.”
Harune, out of habit, slipped into business mode and started promoting his shop.
“Thank you! I’ll definitely drop by sometime soon.”
“The neighbouring town is Hinako’s stomping ground, is it?” Kouki said.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Is there a rule that says I can’t leave my usual area?” Hinako replied playfully. “Oh, hey, is this stool a new design? It got a great shape.”
Hinako’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the stack of stools in front of Harune.
“Kouki’s giving me one of the prototypes,” Harune explained.
“A prototype? This?” Hinako’s eyes widened in surprise.
As Harune tilted his head, wondering what her astonishment meant, Kouki put an arm around Hinako’s shoulders and gently pulled her toward the door.
Their large, whispered conversation could be heard, with phrases like, “What’s this about a prototype?” and “Don’t say anything unnecessary.” They teased each other back and forth, and Kouki kept his arm around Hinako in a familiar way. Every now and then, Hinako glanced back at Harune with a smile that seemed to suggest something, causing an odd stirring in his chest.
Since Harune had returned to this town, Kouki had acted like nothing had ever happened. He helped Harune out with various things, likely at the request of his older sister and her husband. Harune had been relieved to feel that Kouki had forgotten about the past. He also found joy in their everyday interactions.
At the same time, Harune deliberately avoided initiating contact with Kouki or visiting his workshop.
That lingering guilt from his unrequited feelings held him back.
As a result, Harune knew almost nothing about Kouki’s social circle since high school, and today was the first time he had ever set foot in Kouki’s workshop.
Watching the two of them whispering and laughing together near the door gave Harune a sense of being left out.
He had never asked if Kouki had a girlfriend, but maybe… this was her?
Harune grabbed his phone and pretended to be busy, as if he’d just received an urgent message.
“Sorry, I’ve got to go. I just got a call from a contractor,” Harune said.
Hinako and Kouki both stopped talking and looked at him.
“I’ll walk you back,” Kouki offered casually.
Harune shook his head.
“I’m fine. You two enjoy yourselves,” he replied.
“You’re gonna carry six stools all the way back on your own?” Kouki pointed out.
Oh, right. Harune had completely forgotten about the stools.
“I’ll come back with the car to pick them up later.”
All Harune wanted now was to leave as soon as possible. As he hurried to slip between the two of them and make his exit, Kouki caught him in a playful headlock.
“Ow, that hurts,” Harune complained.
Being touched like this made his heart race, even though he didn’t want it to, and it hurt in more ways than one.
“Take this with you. It’s your treasure, right?” Kouki said with a half-smile as he handed over a bag filled with acorns and pinecones, stuffed into the pocket of his hoodie. After handing it to Harune, Kouki grabbed a few of the green mandarins from Hinako’s gift and shoved them into the bag on top.
“Here’s a little something to take home.”
“They’re not as sour as they look,” Hinako added with a smile.
Harune returned the smile and said, “Thank you,” before hurrying out of the workshop.
On his way there, the sight of acorns scattered in the forest had made him feel excited, but now they didn’t interest him at all.
Instead, he became more aware of the strong scent of osmanthus flowers, perhaps because of the wind direction.
Osmanthus is often described as having a sweet fragrance, but to Harune, it always felt distant and cold. It was probably because the scent always came with the coolness of early autumn air.
On the way there, he had been warm enough to sweat as he walked, but now the autumn sun was already beginning to set, and the crisp air, filled with the fragrance of osmanthus, wrapped around him.
When Harune got home, he collected the mail from the mailbox and entered his shop, which was dim since the shutter was pulled down. He tugged on the cord to turn on the light and spread out some newspaper on the table. Then, he took out the items Kouki had stuffed into the hoodie pocket.
Even through the peel, the green mandarins gave off a surprisingly strong fragrance.
“Ah…”
Of course, the scent had become so strong. One of the sharp pinecones had pierced the mandarin, and its juice was dripping out.
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*Translator’s Note: The way I see it… Hinako looks more like a fangirl than a girlfriend… *sighs* -K
Illustration 4:
Next update: 2026.06.17
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