8 Chapter 8: New Moon (1/2)
After the castle visit, we went to the beach. We arrived there during lunchtime. I am still not successful in my attempts to talk to Hiroisora.
”What am I going to do?” Now I am talking to myself due to desperation. I was eating the boxed lunch I bought at the nearby beach house. I'm eating together with Jirai and Nariyuki.
”For someone who is just a friend, you're way too concerned about this, aren't you?” Nariyuki bothered to comment on my ramblings.
”…” I don't know how to respond to that.
”Just go talk to her. I've given you my blessing, so what's the problem?” Jirai's head is pretty messed up, isn't it?
”First, you're not the problem. Second, I don't think I need your blessing. Third… I don't have a third…”
”See? Your problem is that you don't think things through.” Am I really hearing this from Jirai? ”If you just think about it, the solution is easy.” Oh? This I gotta hear. ”You kidnap her and--” I knew it was stupid to expect something useful from him. I ignored the rest of the stupid idea he said.
---
We didn't come to the beach to swim. It was to observe the organisms that live near the shore and the corals, seaweeds and other plants nearby. We had until the afternoon at the beach. We would need to head back to the hotel by dinner, since there was this surprise activity tonight.
I went to a beach stall selling shaved ice.
”Hey, Takaiyama, what are you buying?” Jirai saw me and followed me.
”Shaved ice, isn't it obvious?”
”Why?”
”What do you mean 'why'? It's hot here. And…”
”And…?”
”…They say sweets cure the kind of pain I'm feeling right now.”
”Why did I concede to this gay person?” He asked himself while shaking his head.
”Shut up.” He left after that.
As I was enjoying my sweet and cold shaved ice at a bench, someone sat beside me.
”That looks delicious. Can I have some?”
”I really am not a fan of sharing this sweet and cold shaved ice, but sure-- Hiroisora?! Wha-- why are y-you talking to me?”
”I'm sorry.” She bowed to me. ”I misunderstood things. I thought that…”
”How did you…?”
”Nariyuki told me. She said you weren't the one who spread those rumors.” I let out a sigh of relief.
”I'm just glad things got cleared up…” Yup. I'm really glad. Sweets do cure this kind of feeling, huh.
”So… Are you going to give me some?” She was smiling again.
”Sure. But don't you think people will misunderstand this and spread rumors again?”
”Ah. Yeah. You're probably right…” Her sad expression surprised me.
”No, no. I was just joking!” I really was. ”Does it really bother you to be rumored having a boyfriend or something? Or maybe because it was me being linked to you in the rumors? Hahaha.”
”…” She fell silent. ”I… well, see you around.” She stood up and left. Did I say something?
---
We got back to the hotel at dinner time. While eating…
”Hey, Nariyuki.”
”Yup?”
”Thanks… for talking to Hiroisora for me.”
”I was so overcome with pity that I had to do it.” Pity? ”You looked like a sorry excuse for a boy. I couldn't stand it.” Hey! If you didn't just help me, I would…
”You would do what, exactly?” I didn't say anything! How can people keep on hearing my inner thoughts!! ”You should really control your facial expressions. We can read you like an open book.” There it is again! Oh, wait.
”My facial expressions?”
”Yes. It is an asset in acting, though, which makes you a suitable actor.” I see. ”Also, another reason I helped you is that I need my star actors to be able to act and work together.” Makes sense.
As we were conversing, a teacher stood up and announced the surprise event.
”Everyone, listen up. We will be having a special activity tonight. Please finish up your dinner and meet us up at the shrine entrance beside the hotel outside in 30 minutes.”
---
Everyone was standing outside in front of a stairway. The stairway leads up to the shrine on top of the hill. People are all wondering what we are going to do here.
”Everyone, settle down.” One of the teachers shouted. ”Our special activity tonight is a tradition of our school. Every student of Chiheisen Academy has gone through this rite.” It sounds really important, being a tradition and such. ”Now, it is your turn to prove your worth as students of our school.” Our teacher's voice was very serious. Everyone is in eager anticipation to know what this rite is. ”We will be doing a...” Everyone is holding their breaths. ”...Test of Courage!” What?
---
The teachers were all laughing at our expressions of disappointment that turned quickly into nervousness.
”It is true that this has been a tradition. When I was a student of this school, we did this as well.” The teacher explained, less the serious tone of his voice.
”I just knew it would be like this.” The all-knowing Jirai said this while holding his chin as if he was a detective.
”Please enlighten me.”
”This is all part of the gods' plans to make all the broken-hearted girls fall for me.”
”Oh, you don't say?” I'll listen to him this time. I feel like I owe him from earlier, even if just a little.