CGBTS Chapter 16

Chapter 16 – The Jealous Girl

Novel Title: あの夏から戻れない (Can’t Go Back to That Summer)

Author：宮緒葵 (Miyao Aoi)

Illustrator：笠井あゆみ (Kasai Ayumi)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: 櫛原夏生 (Kushihara Natsuo -MC) & 四辻柊 (Yotsutsuji Shuu -ML)

*Please read at knoxt.space, the original site of translation. TQ*

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“…Huh? Odamaki-sama?”

“Not just electricity. Everything that cannot be produced in Odamaki Village—from daily necessities such as clothing and various small tools, to farming implements and even the fixtures and fittings of houses—is provided through Odamaki-sama’s blessings.”

Natsuo had heard that Odamaki-sama was supposedly the god who governed unchanging things, but what kind of god was it, exactly, that could even provide electricity and everyday necessities for the villagers? In the first place, Natsuo didn’t really understand what the word ‘unchanging’ was supposed to refer to.

He pictured the odamaki spinning around and around. Thread that never ran out no matter how many times it spun. The repeated winding and unwinding of thread…

“So, does that mean Odamaki-sama generates electricity and makes clothes and tools, then goes around distributing them to the people in the village?”

For an instant, Natsuo imagined a god like Santa Claus, carrying a large sack over his shoulder.

Perhaps he had realized what Natsuo was imagining, Shuu chuckled softly and sipped the tea from his teacup.

“No, no. Odamaki-sama is a god without a physical form. ……No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that this village itself is Odamaki-sama.”

“……I have no idea what you mean.”

“I figured you wouldn’t. Since this is a good opportunity, I’ll explain it to you while showing you around the village. You’ll probably understand better if you see it for yourself.”

After breakfast, Natsuo took a refreshing bath and then went outside, following Shuu’s prompting.

The emerald pendant was hanging beneath his T-shirt. Before taking his bath, Natsuo had remembered that he was still wearing the pendant he had borrowed and had repeatedly apologized as he tried to return it, but Shuu had refused to take it back.

“I’ll lend it to you for a while. You’re the one who needs a good-luck charm right now, after all.”

“But this is something precious to you…”

“I don’t need a good-luck charm anymore. ……Because you came to me.”

Remembering the warmth of the hand Shuu had held while whispering those words, Natsuo looked up at Shuu as they walked side by side. He thought he was sneaking a glance at him, but their eyes met because Shuu had already been looking at him. Flustered, Natsuo quickly turned his face away.

……Why did things end up like this between us……

Shuu and him had spent more time together than he had with even his own younger sister. Natsuo had lost count of how many times they had bathed together or slept under the same futon. Shuu had always been someone whose presence beside him was simply a given. And yet, now, just meeting Shuu’s eyes was enough to make his cheeks flush.

“———Big Brother Shuu!”

As they passed through the area lined with private homes and walked along the narrow path between the rice fields, Etsuko appeared from the opposite direction and lightly ran over to them. The open-collared shirt, different from yesterday’s, paired with a navy pleated skirt, was probably her school uniform.

A little later, Kazuo came running after her and, behind his sister, made a gesture as if he were praying. It seemed he wanted to say, ‘Sorry I couldn’t stop her’.

“Good morning, Big Brother Shuu. Have you already had breakfast? If you haven’t, why don’t you stop by our house?”

At the dazzling smile directed solely at Shuu, Natsuo felt a chill run through him. It had only been yesterday that Etsuko had witnessed Shuu and Natsuo kissing and glared at them as if she could shoot them dead, yet the nerve it took to behave as though nothing had happened was frightening.

“Good morning, Etsuko. I’ve already eaten breakfast properly. You’re heading to the classroom now, aren’t you? If you don’t hurry, you’ll be late.”

“I’m already old enough to quit school whenever I want. If only you would say yes, Big Brother Shuu, I could quit right now.”

“How many times have I told you that you can’t do that?”

“Why not? There shouldn’t be anyone in this village more suitable for you than me, Big Brother. ……Is it because of that newcomer?”

A gaze burning with jealousy pierced Natsuo.

Without thinking, Natsuo hid behind Shuu, causing Etsuko to raise her eyebrows sharply. Before she could raise her hand, Kazuo rushed between them, flapping his arms.

“Big Sis, wait, wait! You’re on duty today, remember? If you’re late, Kyoko Sensei’s gonna get mad at you.”

“Kazuo, you…….”

“And besides, taking care of the new person who washed ashore is Big Brother Shuu’s job as the acting village chief. If you get in the way, even the village chief probably won’t forgive you, Big Sis, will he?”

Etsuko’s cheek twitched faintly.

Even Etsuko seemed to be afraid of the village chief. Perhaps it was because of his bizarre appearance.

“……I’ll take my leave for today, then, Big Brother Shuu. But I absolutely will not give up.”

“Wait, Etsuko.”

Shuu’s voice as he called out to Etsuko, who was about to leave, was so low that even Natsuo felt a shiver run through him.

“I’m telling you this now. …Natsuo, who is here, is more precious to me than my own life.”

“…Big Brother Shuu?”

“Should you ever lay a hand on him, I will show absolutely no mercy, even to you.———Do you understand?”

“Y-you can’t… …That’s……a lie, right? Please tell me you’re lying, Big Brother!”

Even when Etsuko pleaded with him, her beautiful face contorted with anguish, Shuu did not utter a single word. Faced with the seriousness of his words, Etsuko glared fiercely at Natsuo before quickly making her way up the gently sloping road that extended from the side of the rice fields.

“I’m sorry, Big Bro Natsu. I’ll tell Dad later and have him scold Big Sis for me!”

With a sharp clap of his palms, Kazuo also hurried after Etsuko. Shuu gently took Natsuo’s hand, which was still limp with shock, and squeezed it reassuringly.

“Sorry, Natsuo. I made you go through something unpleasant.”

“…No… It’s just… …Was that really okay? To speak that harshly to a girl who’s still only around middle-school age…”

“You shouldn’t think of Etsuko as being the same as a middle-schooler from our original world. …That girl is, for better or worse, already a woman.”

Even so, in Natsuo’s eyes, Etsuko was still a fifteen-year-old girl. She tended to lose control because she was so infatuated with Shuu, but what could a girl younger than his own little sister possibly do?

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*Translator’s Note: Oh you have noooo idea what she would do, Natsuo… -K

Next update: 2026.10.17

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