Whispering You a Love Song ch66: A Bath, True Feelings, and What Comes Next.

♪
♪

...

!!

What is it,
Haji?

Hmm?
Don't tell me you're embarrassed?

S-
Sorry.
It's my first time doing
something like this.

You're probably used to it though, Shiho.
I guess.
I do come here often.

There was once a time when our house bathtub was broken,
so I got used to going to the bathhouse back then.
I see...

You're get used to it soon enough too, Haji.
You... sure about that?

Stare...

I-
Is something wrong...?

Well...
How do I put it?

You've got a really...
great figure...

I don't think that's true...

Well,
I guess I am tall at least...
Hah~
This blows!

Yours is nice too, Shiho.
Nobody asked you!!
Come on.
Let's get in already.

Let's lay everything bare.

Okay...
Now then.

...

I know I said I'd have you bare all, but...
y'know.
Hm?

To be honest, I don't know how far I should pry.

I mean, we've come this far without prying into each other's private lives, right?
Yeah.
I guess so.

Don't worry about me. You can ask me anything.

I've also
been wanting to someone to spill everything out to myself.

That so?
Then I won't hold back.

How long have you been in love
with Momo?

...
Y-

You really aren't holding back... are you?

You're the one who said not to worry!
Why are you getting shy now!?
Right...
Sorry...

...
Since always.

This whole time.
I think
since a little after we first met.

Hmm.

Come to think of it,
I don't really know anything about you two
from before I met you at Kyou's grave.

Tell me everything from the very beginning.
It might take a while.
I'm fine with that.

p10

...
Yeah.
Okay.

The first time I met Momoka...

...and after that happened,
Momoka and I went back to spending our time together.

p11

Too hot!!
Too long!!

I warned you, didn't I?
There's a limit, y'know!
A limit!!

And I think... I'm hitting mine...
Let's take a quick break.
Okay~

p12

Hah~...
It feels cool
after getting out~

Let's get back on topic.
Haji.
Hm?

How should I put it.
It must be tough, right?

Having a big sister who can do anything.

I'm sure even now
she's following you around in all sorts of places.
...
That's not...

p13

...
Y'know,

in the end,
I really
hated Kyou.

Eh?

Hate...
Hmm.
Probably the wrong choice of word.
As a friend, I liked her.

p14

But
I couldn't stand
doing music with her.

Then
the reason you quit the violin was...

Yep.
Pretty lame, right?

And then
I fled to the guitar that she wanted to do.

p15

I ran away to another instrument,
but I'm sure
you couldn't run away, Haji.

That's why I figure
it must've been tough.

...

I guess
...you're right.

There were times when it was painful.
...No.
I think... there still are.

p16

Thought as much.
I could tell from hearing your story just now.
Yeah.

...But y'know,

I loved my big sister so much
that I could forget all of that.

Complicated, isn't it?

p17

...Yeah.
It really is.

I only knew her for a little while, but still!
It pisses me off how much of a good kid she was!

If only she said something like
Serves you right<3
with a smug look on a face! Then I could've hated her without any hesitation...!

Haha.
You're so right.

Maybe it'd be a little easier...
if I could hate her.

p18

It's hard to say...
It's a what-if scenario, after all.

But...
there was certainly some good that came out of running away.

...In the end,
I couldn't
apologise to Kyou.

p19

Did it bother you?

Well,
yeah.
A little...
I guess.

You don't need to let it bother you.

Eh?
I mean,

p20

whenever Nee-san went to one of your live shows, Shiho,
she would always enjoy it without even the slightest worry.

Not to mention,
there were a lot of kids around Nee-san
who ended up quitting music.

That's exactly why

just the fact you were continuing music
probably saved Nee-san too.

p21

Right?

...
Yeah.

I also
want to
believe that.

p22

Okay!
Break's over!
Back to the bath!
Haha.
Alright already.

Now then.
Onto the main topic.

Going by the story thus far,
you couldn't convey your feelings to Momo,
meaning you didn't have the resolve to do so?
...Yes.

p23

And yet
you ended up telling her at the graveyard the other day.

Aah...

...Erm.
Uuh...

What is it...?
Is there still something you haven't told me?
Hm...
Sorry, for a lot of things...

I guess...
I should tell you everything in order.

p24

It's true that I had no intention of telling her.
Even now, it felt like nothing good would come
from telling her...

Then
why did you...?

I ended up finding...

a letter
that Nee-san was never able to give Momoka...

p25

A letter?
Yes.
A breakup letter.

Owah...

Breakup!?
No.
I mean, it is, but not exactly.

Yada yada
et cetera et cetera~...

I see.
Studying abroad, huh?

p26

She wrote that letter
because she didn't want to play with Momoka
or tie her down.

In which case,
I don't think Nee-san would wish for Momoka to be in the state she is now.
Thinking about that
made me feel like I had to do something, and I just panicked...

And in the end,
you screwed up big time.

Well...
yes.
I guess I did.
Hah~...

p27

Of course that'd make things worse.
You haven't told her
about that letter, right?

I didn't want to hurt Momoka...
so I figured I shouldn't tell her.

I'd appreciate it
if you didn't tell anyone about this either, Shiho.

You're such a softie.
Reminds me of a certain someone.

p28

Phew...

I've heard your past
and your reason...
Does that cover everything?

Yes...
It does.
I've told you everything
...I think?

Talking to someone else really is great.

I feel kinda refreshed.

Hold up.
Hold up.

p29

Don't go feeling refreshed on your own.
We're just getting to the real deal.

What are you
gonna do next!?

Next...?

...

p30

...
I want to apologise to Momoka
until she forgives me
...I guess.

Ulitimately,
I forced something Momoka didn't want onto her
and made her cry, after all.

Hah~...

I knew you were gonna say that.
Eh?

p31

That is absolutely
the wrong move!

Th-
The wrong move...?

You read that letter and thought
that things can't stay the way they are, right?

p32

That Kyou wouldn't be happy
with Momo still chained to her.

In that case,
you need to find a way to free Momo from that.

Whaddaya mean
you're gonna apologise so she'll forgive you.

That
won't solve anything.
All it'll do is delay the problem!

p33

...Th-

That's...

You're too bewildered over making the girl you like cry.

Think for yourself.
You're the one who started it,
so think it through properly.

p34

...
Is that you're way of telling me "go for it"?

Now you're getting it.

And what if things really fall apart?
What if she wants to break up the band?
Even so,
you gotta do it.

You can't just have a clash of opinions
and pretend it never happened.

That kind of band
will never make it big.

p35

You may...
be right.

I think you
should treasure your own opinions a little more.

My opinions
...you say.

p36

Haha.
You're right.

I can't really speak for Momoka,
can I?

I want
to clash with Momoka.
...

It's a little scary, though...
You're such a wuss.

p37

I also
had my emotions clash with the girl I loved to the point of breaking up,
but now we're,
y'know...

And you guys are way more cool-headed than us,
so I'm sure it'll be fine!

Sounds persuasive coming from someone with your experience.

I just don't want things to get worse!
Make sure this works out!
The Zepp live show depends on it!
Yeah, yeah.
I get it.

p38

Fruits au lait

Phwah~
I feel so alive~!

You sound like an old man, Shiho.
Huh!?
Rude much!?

p39

So,
what's it like?
?
What's what like?

Life with a lover.

Wh-
What
are you
suddenly...

Have you kissed yet?
Aren't you being a little too assertive!?

p40

I guess that's the power of the bathhouse?
I feel really relaxed.

We're baring all today, aren't we?

We
haven't
yet.
Huh?
Is that so?

Before we started dating,
I did kiss her... on the cheek.

p41

You did?
Y-
Yeah...

So cute.
Shut up!!

Ahaha

Oh man.
You really are such a maiden when it comes to your lover, Shiho.

p42

...

Y'know, I think this is the first time I've ever seen you
laugh so much.

I-
Is that so?
It is.
You're always putting on airs!
Eeh?

Y'know,
getting to have talks like these
is pretty nice.

p43

I think I'd like to have this kind of relation with Momo too.

...Yeah.
Same here.

Shiho.
Thank you for today.
I'll
do my best.

p44

You're welcome.

Let's overcome this obstacle
and become a great group.

p45

Things I want to do with Laureley

p46

Kyou-chan.
I
don't get it...

Warning