10 Chapter 10: Deep Sea (2/2)
”I won't even dignify that with an answer.”
”Tch. You're getting better at this.” I feel that I'm just here for her enjoyment.
---
We continued to walk around. I have been observing Hiroisora for a while now. She was the one who suggested that we go here, but she seems sad instead of excited. She was walking a bit behind the three of us.
”Takaiyama.” Jirai whispered to my ear.
”Yup?” I answered in a hushed voice.
”What did you do to Hiroisora-sama while we were on the bus?! She wasn't like that when we left! Why didn't you control your hands from groping her legs? I know she's wearing a mini skirt, and I would have done the same thing, but you are not me so you are not allowed to!”
”Who says you're allowed to touch her? And I didn't do that!”
”Then you must've kissed her then!”
”I'm not some pervert! Don't lump me with you. Truth is, I'm also wondering why she's like that.”
”Why are you two whispering when I can hear you perfectly.” Nariyuki interrupted our heated discussion. ”I really can't leave you on your own, can I Takaiyama-san? What a lame guy.”
”Why, you—”
”Don't even bother. Jirai-kun, we have to talk.” Nariyuki dragged Jirai by the ear and went off ahead of me. I stopped in disbelief and confusion. What just happened?
”Where are they going?” Hiroisora caught up to me.
”They wanted to eat. Haha.” I quickly realized the situation and made up something. I was alone with Hiroisora. Again. But this time, there are no ghosts going after us. I'll have to thank Nariyuki later. She really can read minds.
”Oh, should we go after them?”
”I'm not hungry yet. Let's continue looking around?” It's my great chance. After everything we've been through, it's now or never. I'm getting our house back when we return home. Couldn't have happened better than I have planned.
”Um... Ok. Let's go.” She forced a smile. She seemed like she hesitated to answer. Is she nervous? Does she know what's going to happen next? Does she already have an answer?? Damn, now I'm nervous!
---
Hiroisora and I continued to walk around, but she was three steps ahead of me. I lost all confidence to talk to her and complete my mission.
”I wanted to go to an aquarium-” Hiroisora suddenly started talking while we were still walking. ”-because my mother brought me to one once when I was still a kid.” I see. She felt nostalgic. ”We've never been able to go to one together again.”
”Why is tha—”
”Takaiyama-kun.” Before I could finish asking, she suddenly cut me off. She abruptly stopped walking, but she didn't face toward me. Her tone was much more serious. ”I don't want to be close with you.”
”What are you...?”
”We can't be friends anymore.” What the hell is happening? ”I thought it was alright since you were different...” Different? Different how? ”But I just can't be close with you anymore.” Her voice was starting to tremble.
”Wait a minute. I-I don't understand what it is you want to happen. This is all of a sudden, isn't it? Did I upset you or something?”
”I'm not going to completely ignore you or anything like that.” I think she's crying. ”When we get back, we can still be classmates or clubmates.”She paused for a moment and composed herself. Then, she turned her back to face me. ”We can't be anything more than that.” She walked past me. I was standing there, shocked, confused, irritated all at the same time.
---
I continued to walk aimlessly, with all that just happened replaying on my mind. I was analyzing everything I did since we first met. I wondered where I made a wrong turn. I have played dating sim games enough times to know this is a bad ending and I failed. What's worse is that there is no reset to turn back to a save point. This is real life.
Before I could continue thinking about the consequences of what transpired, I bumped into Nariyuki and Jirai.
”I'm guessing you got dumped?” Nariyuki had her usual teasing tone. I'm in no mood to joke around.
”No, I wasn't.”
”Well then, where is Kari-chan?”
”She went back already.”
”Wait, you confessed to Hiroisora-sama?! I knew you were a snake! A devil! Even if you have my blessing, you knew of my feelings and yet—”
”Shut up.” Just shut up, Jirai. ”I didn't confess or anything. You can ask her if you're that curious. Let's get back to the hotel. We'll be left behind if we stay any longer.” I walked ahead of them.
”What just happened, Nariyuki-san?”
”I don't know.”
”I mean, he has my blessing, so why didn't he confess?”
”That's not the issue here, you idiot.”
---
We got back to the hotel on time. Everyone prepared to leave and then the bus took us to the airport. While inside the airplane and putting my stuff inside the overhead compartment, I saw Hiroisora doing the same thing, two seats ahead of me. She saw me then looked away as if I wasn't there.
Nariyuki sat beside her, and they talked like nothing happened. It seems that Nariyuki wasn't prying on the details. Maybe it wasn't important to her, but she wouldn't have set up that scenario earlier if she didn't care, at least.
I'm thinking too hard, and I haven't even thought about the consequences of all of this. It means I failed, which means we won't be getting our house back, which means I wasted my time, which means I got close to her for nothing. I'm seriously pissed right now I think it's showing in my face.
But there is something I don't understand. What is the reason I'm really pissed? Is it because I failed to get our house back? Or is it because I don't know why Hiroisora suddenly said those things? Or... is it because... I like her...?
Whichever it is, I'm certain of two things. Doing this was a mistake, and I'm done with her.