Utsukushii Kare/ My Beautiful Man [ENGLISH TRANSLATION]

Chapter-3; PART-3: Sweet and Bitter

                                 Translator: White Lotus

  

                                                       ◈ ◈ ◈ ◈

With just one phone call, something that had remained inert started to move forward. And it went far beyond Kiyoi's expectations; although Kiyoi was happy, he also felt a sense of caution that couldn't be disregarded. Hira was, after all, an elusive* person.

(T/N:  *「つかめない」 can have multiple meanings depending on the context. Here are a few possible translations:
1. Unable to grasp/catch: When used in the sense of physically not being able to hold onto something, 「つかめない」 can be translated as "ungraspable" or "uncatchable". For example:- "彼女は空中に舞っている蝶を追いかけたが、つかめなかった。" = She chased after the butterfly flying in the air but couldn't catch it.
2. Difficult to understand: When used to express something abstract or complex that is difficult to comprehend, 「つかめない」 can be translated as "elusive" or "hard to grasp". For example:- "科学的な概念が私にはつかめない。" = Scientific concepts are elusive to me.
3. Uncertain/unpredictable: When used to describe a situation, 「つかめない」 can convey a sense of uncertainty or unpredictability. It can be translated as "unfathomable" or "unpredictable". For example:- "明日の天気はつかめない。" = Tomorrow's weather is unpredictable.
Overall, 「つかめない」 implies a sense of something being out of reach, beyond one's understanding, or difficult to predict. And to Kiyoi, Hira was someone who is incomprehensible (difficult to understand), so I used the term "elusive" here.)

"Kiyoi!"

As he passed through the turnstile, he saw Hira standing there. Dressed in a checked shirt and chinos, the kind of attire that students often wear, he stood there upright, with bright eyes and flushed cheeks.

"Yo."

At the mere utterance of this one response, Hira's face immediately lit up with delight, like a fool. He gave off the impression of a loyal dog who would keep waving its tail and jumping around with cheerfulness, thereby making Kiyoi temporarily forget all the anxiety and rage he had felt over the past month.

"Is it okay if we walk for about ten minutes?"

"What are you going to do if I say no?"

Hira blinked his eyes a few times. "Then, let's go by taxi. I'll pay. Um, there's a taxi stand over there——" As Hira spoke, he turned his head around to look at the terminal. Seeing that he was about to sprint to the taxi stand, Kiyoi hastily stopped him and explained that it was simply a joke. Hira tilted his head in perplexity and asked, "A joke?"

"Don't take it seriously."

When Kiyoi said that, Hira's face gradually relaxed. "Oh, I see, it was a joke."

Hira scratched his neck, looking embarrassed. He was a creepy guy who felt happy even after being teased.

"Then, shall we walk?"

"That's the only option. Or will you carry me on your back?"

"If that's what Kiyoi wants me to do, I'll do it".

The sincere response from Hira left Kiyoi unsure of how to react. He shouldn't take any words from such a guy seriously. The earnestness of this guy was just a pretense. This guy fit the stereotype of a person who couldn't be trusted. And yet....... Kiyoi felt so happy that a shiver ran down his spine. It was so revolting that Kiyoi couldn't help but curse himself.