Red Data Girl - Series 1 & 2

My First Familiar - 14

Red Data Girl: My First Familiar
By Noriko Ogiwara
A Translation

Translation notes:

Izumiko's class is going to the Kanto region in Japan during their class trip. I actually live in the Kanto region. :D

Red Data Girl: My First Familiar
Chapter 3: Yukimasa
Part 1 (2 of 3)

It quickly became apparent that Miyuki was much more athletic than the other boys in his grade.

Awatani was such a small school that it didn't have a track and field team. Due to this, Miyuki, who had been enthusiastically recommended by Mr. Karasawa, and Ayumi, who was taking time off from the basketball club, participated in special practices for the upcoming tournament together. Mr. Karasawa even picked Miyuki up in the mornings from Tamakura Shrine and then dropped him off again in the evenings with his own car so that he could attend the practices.

Even though Miyuki and Izumiko both lived far from school, their abilities were different. Izumiko couldn't help but notice the differences in the treatment that she and Miyuki were receiving and it hurt. No matter what, all she saw was proof that she was incapable of doing anything. After Mr. Nonomura brought her back to the shrine each day, he moved straight to teaching Miyuki martial arts. Even though everyone around Miyuki adored him, somehow, he didn't seem fully content.

Usually, Ayumi cared even less about boys than Haruna did. But now she talked often with her practice partner, Miyuki. It was creating rumors, saying that she was his favorite girl in the grade.

Now that Ayumi was too busy with Miyuki for Izumiko to rely upon, she felt lonelier than ever.

The day's gym class was volleyball, so Izumiko sat out like usual. As she sat in the corner of the gym classroom, deep in thought over the worrisome events of late, she heard a shy voice say her name.

"Miss Suzuhara,"

Surprised, Izumiko raised her head from where she had been resting them her arms and looked towards the voice. She hadn't been aware that anyone was nearby. But all the same, Sataru Wamiya was standing next to her, dressed in his gym jersey.

Wamiya had thin, smiling eyes and a small nose. His complexion was pale and he wore his hair in a bowl like cut with thick bangs. He was small, but it looked like he would grow more in time. His face had a calming, soft look to it, but the thin expression he always wore was somehow un-childlike.

"You haven't seemed happy lately," Wamiya said, his head tilted to one side a bit.

"Ah, yeah. I guess you're right," Izumiko felt a bit choked up as she replied. Wamiya had never gone out of his way to talk to her like this before. She wondered what had changed.

"You've been like this since that transfer student came,"

"Do you think so?"

"Do you dislike him?"

"Uh..."

Izumiko gave a sideways glance towards Wamiya, but she couldn't get a good reading on his expression or intentions. His tone had been conversational and it didn't seem like there were any hidden meanings in his question.

But now that she thought about it, she hadn't really seen Wamiya with Youhei and the other boys much since they had invited Miyuki into their group.

After a bit of hesitation, Izumiko gave a decisive nod.

"...Yeah, I don't like him."

"That's what I guessed. I feel the same," Wamiya smiled. "Miyuki Sagara isn't well suited for a place like ours, is he?"