Oregairu Volume 4 Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Try as You Might, You Can Never Escape from Hiratsuka Shizuka

2-1

The cicadas were noisy right from the crack of dawn.

According to the TV I had left on in the background, today was going to be summer’s biggest heat wave yet or something. Didn’t those guys say that every day? This was like those super talented idols the likes of which are only seen once every decade, and yet, for some reason, pop up every year.

The heat was making me grouchy, so I switched off the TV abruptly. Then I collapsed on the sofa and turned on my handheld game. Today I resolved not to go outside but to slouch around the house all day. It seemed Komachi was holed up in her room studying, so I was alone in the living room.

It had been just under two weeks since summer vacation had started.

Every summer vacation, my lifestyle remains the same. I’d sleep till noon, watch Pet Encyclopaedia and Summer Vacation Children’s Anime Festival and then suddenly remember to go out to the bookstore. In the afternoon, I’d read or play games and then study. I was quite fond of this way of living.

Summer vacation – it was a liberated zone for loners. It was no angel sanctuary (1).

You will not inconvenience anyone even if you laze around all day. Or so one would assume, but since I never had anything to do with people, I never really inconvenienced anyone to begin with. I was too much of a good kid.

Anyway, there was no one to tie me down during summer vacation. Indeed, I was free. In English, you would say FREEDOM. Gundam (2). I – no – we are Gundam (3).

I didn’t have to do anything anymore. It was quite splendid. I was content with my lot in life. Only, it isn’t so great if your boss at work tells you, “You don’t have to do anything anymore.” That’s harsh, so harsh that I quit.

Come to think of it, I haven’t had any part time jobs for a while now.

Before I entered the Service Club I had part time jobs here and there… in most cases, I couldn’t get close to anyone by the end of it all...