Himeouji 3 (Patreon)

3 - The Prince’s Tears

RAW

Since that day, Himeouji has stopped talking back to those around him, or even reacting in small ways.

He no longer has any allies around him.

Seeing his figure distorted by despair, Yuuma thought several times that he should call out to him.

But, he hesitated.

It wasn't because he had a grudge against him—or rather, it was the opposite.

Yuuma and Himeouji have never been on particularly good terms, they have never even actively exchanged words.

If it's a business conversation, maybe once or twice, that's about the extent of their relationship.

To put it bluntly, he was nothing more than a mere classmate, that's all he was.

What would you think if such a person called out to you when you are in a state of deep depression?

There’s no way to know what Himeouji would think, but if it’s Yuuma, he’ll probably suspect that he has some objective.

If he’s just suspecting him, that’s still fine.

Yuuma is really only concerned about one thing: whether he will hurt Himeouji more by talking to him.

Even while thinking that he wanted to do something, he can’t take that one step forward.

In such a situation, after school a few days later——.

…

Yuuma was heading to the school's bicycle parking lot, as usual.

No, it was probably a little later than usual.

It was because he was restlessly strolling around the school, racking his brains, which usually, he barely uses.

The sky is red as the sun is about to set, and the air outside is a little chilly, as is typical of an autumn evening.

It's not cold enough yet, but he’ll probably need a jacket and gloves soon.

There is still a month or so to go, but as a bicycle commuter, he has to be conscious of the cold of winter.

In such an atmosphere, he was there.

“——Himeouji?”

Hearing the unintentional call out, he, who had removed his bicycle keys, his shoulders was paralyzed in fear.

Himeouji, who looked back, seemed to show indication that he had given up, but it was not his reaction that caught Yuuma's attention.

It was his terrible complexion that made it seem as if his internal organs were in a bad state.

“Err… if I’m not, wrong… Hanyuu, kun…”

“I’m glad, that you know my name”

Is it because of the cause of his complexion or is it because of the circumstance that currently surrounds him?

Both his lips that muttered his name and his voice showed some hoarse trembling.

Is he really——the class’ prince, you wouldn’t think it was him, it was a tragic sight.

Did you go to school by bike? Yuuma began to speak, but he hurriedly swallowed his words.

Obviously, after something like that happened, there is no way he can go to school by train.

He realized that Himeoji's face was becoming more distorted as he looked at Yuuma's hesitation when he tried to say something.

Are you going to say something again? Please stop—— his eyes and expression seems to indicate that.

Driven by impatience for some reason, while letting out cold sweat, Yuuma slowly opened his mouth.

“You don't look so good. Are you sure you're okay to bike home?”

He asked in a light tone, as if talking about the weather, trying to put as little energy as he can in his voice.

Himeouji’s expressions and reactions were terrible, but even so, his facial features that seemed like works of art did not change, adding a more delicate impression to them, and they looked as if they would break if touched with even the slightest force.

“Eerrm—— y-yes, well…”

As far as the first words go, it’s not wrong, and Himeouji looks surprised.

“I was able to come this morning as well… yeah, I’m fine.”

Yuuma saw Himeouji’s face several times in the school, but at that time, his complexion wasn't as bad as this.

This morning and now, his physical condition is clearly different, too different.

“Well then, I’ll go now——”

“Where are you going back to? you went to school by train, so it’s probably pretty far.”

The moment he heard the word “train”, a look of fright flashed in his eyes.

After that, as he seems to understand the meaning of the question, he is showing hesitation as to how to answer.

If he knows where I live, he’ll try to do something——something like that.

He had somewhat familiar eyes, eyes that had lost their trust in their surroundings.

“...Riding a bicycle is my father's hobby though.”

“He~h, what are you talking, about...?”

Hearing the sudden change of topic, Himeouji unintentionally asked back.

“It's not like I'm talking from experience, but it seems that the guy who rode a bicycle while in bad shape had to go through all sorts of danger... he regrets not stopping him, he said.”

It gives off a slightly heavy atmosphere, but it's actually a pretty gentle story.

However, thanks to how heavy the story seems, he listened carefully to Yuuma’s story.

Here it is——Yuuma didn’t hesitate and stepped into his comfort zone.

“It’s fine if it’s only until the nearest station, let me take you there”

Please let this pass, I don’t want to have any regret——would these words reach him?

Himeouji seemed as if he would not allow any more digressions, but at least he nodded his head as if he understood.

…

It was about ten minutes to the nearest station from the school, then three train stops from there, and about ten minutes from that station——.

That seems to be Himeouji’s address.

Of course, he didn't tell Yuuma the exact address, but he told him ambiguously that it was about that distance.

If you ride a bicycle, it will take about 40 minutes, but if you go slowly, it will take longer.

Following him on his school route, Yuuma was also riding his bicycle gently.

“... Until yesterday, I was going to school by taxi, you know?”

Slowly, but with a certain amount of effort, Himeouji rode his bicycle as he explained.

He probably thought he would do it until the heat cooled down, but after the incident the other day, the heat probably wouldn't go away.

“I couldn’t keep doing this until I graduate, in the first place, we have a financial burden… starting today, I should ride a bike, they said——”

“I see... it's a clichéd way of saying it, but it must have been tough.”

As someone who didn’t protect him, what would he know——

It was words that wouldn't be strange to be denounced for, but Himeouji didn't talk back, perhaps because he didn't have the strength to do so.

In exchange—though it’s strange to say that, Himeouji’s bicycle wobbles, collapsing.

“——Wait, that’s dangerous! Oi, get a hold of yourself!”

As he suddenly accelerated and approached Himeoji, Yuuma supported him while on his bike.

His complexion went beyond blue into white, and his lips aren't the best color either.

“!... Sit here for a bit. Do you want to drink something?”

“N…no, I’m okay…!...”

He doesn’t look okay, but he is able to speak and is clearly conscious.

However, it doesn’t look like he can bike home like this.

It would have been nice to have a bench nearby, but the best they could do was let him sit on the ground.

Looking around, there is a convenience store a little further away.

“...Stand up——no, you don't have to stand up. Just relax a little.”

“Eh, what——Hyah!”

He doesn’t only look thin, his weight is unusually low for his height

Yuuma is also about a head taller than Himeouji and has no trouble carrying him on his back.

“Wh-what are you doing... P-put me down——”

“If you don’t make a fuss, I’ll put you down quickly. It’s only until that convenience store over there.”

Quickly arriving at the convenience store, he first sat him down in the eat-in area.

After that, Yuuma bought water, tea, and a hot citrus drink, told the clerk that he was not feeling well, and arranged the drinks in front of Himeoji.

“...S-sorry……”

“It’s fine. More importantly, there is a bicycle parking lot nearby, I'll leave your bicycle there. I'll be back soon, so take a rest. You can sleep if you want."

Just in case, he put on his uniform and went to the store clerk again.

(T/N: when did he take off his uniform? It’s not mentioned anywhere in this chapter. I guess he took it off before going to the bicycle parking lot in school. Or maybe かけて actually means take off? He took off his uniform?)

After negotiating to be allowed to leave his own bicycle in front of the store, Yuuma mounted the remaining Himeouji’s bicycle and headed for the bicycle parking lot.

Including the time running back, it would probably be a dozen or so minutes.

My bicycle was left there without being removed, and Himeouji was also in the store. (T/N: my using マイ katakana)

“...Welcome back”

“Sorry, did I wake you up”

“No, I haven't slept... I just took a breather and rested... this, thank you.”

Maybe his body was getting cold, Himeouji showed him the hot drink and thanked him.

“Money, I'll pay you later…”

“Aah, you can do that anytime. More importantly, rest until you can move again”

Yuuma sat next to him and sipped the remaining tea.

The coolness felt pleasant on his body, which was hot because he moved a little quickly.

For a while after that, they didn't really talk to each other.

Maybe Himeouji was sleeping for a little while.

Himeouji sat there for about fifteen minutes, but he plopped down on the counter and moved his back up and down in small motions. (T/N: it said Yuuma, not Himeouji, but I’ll assume it’s a typo)

That body eventually moves with a twitch and slowly gets up.

“Fuu… thank you, I’m fine now”

“Nn… certainly, you got considerably better”

Blood had returned to his pale face, and his lips’ reddish tinge is also visible.

“Where's the bicycle parking lot? I need to go and collect my bicycle.”

“——Ha?”

When Himeouji stood up and said that, Yuuma gave him a look of exasperation that seemed to say, ‘What the hell is he talking about?’

“I'll collect it later—— for now, get on my back seat and we’ll go home.”

“Wh——i-it’s fine, as expected, that would be bad!”

“Even if you’re fine with it, I’m not fine with it”

Although he has gotten somewhat better, he cannot bike long distances in this condition.

Probably somewhere, he’s going to fall down again as a result

“I-it's forbidden for two people to ride the same bike... if you’re found, even Hanyu-kun would be——”

“If we tell them it's an emergency evacuation, it'll work out.”

If push comes to shove, the convenience store clerk will probably testify that Himeouji is in the worst physical condition.

And calling an ambulance is not free, of course, nor is calling a taxi.

There’s no way to know if this excuse will actually work, but only the fact that they will be arrested all of a sudden, will absolutely not happen.

Though, Himeouji is right to fear and mistrust the police.

“...Why…”

“If you let me take you home properly, I'll tell you.”

At school, it must have been a completely devastating situation that made one want to die..

Yuuma didn't help him then, so why is he taking such good care of him like this?

It is understandable to be curious or doubting it.

(Although, it’s not like I have a clear reason for this——)

However, if he said it like this, Himeouji will have a justification to accept.

If he has an excuse to take advantage of this kindness, I’m sure he’ll do as he said.

Or maybe he won’t.

“...Alright. Well then, please.”

Good, he accepted.

Inwardly exhaling a sigh of relief, Yuuma left the convenience store, carrying Himeouji's luggage as well.

The sun had set considerably, and it was a little colder again than earlier.

While thinking that they should hurry a little, Yuuma throws the two people’s luggage into the front basket and let Himeouji sit in the back.

“It's okay to keep it on. Also, please hold onto tightly.” (T/N: I don’t know what he meant by keep it on)

“Okay…”

Yuuma thought he would sit straddling the back seat, but instead, he sat sideways and clung to his waist.

His arms are slender, even so, he still properly puts his strength into it and supports his body.

“Then, let’s go——for the time being, I’ll go toward the station, from there please show me the way”

There are two stations that are still ahead of them, as they are still about halfway down the road.

When Yuuma said so toward his back while pedaling his bicycle, Himeouji shook his head up and down.

While strongly being pushed against Yuuma’s back——

“...Kuh, uu… Uuuu, uaaaaaa….”

He might have heard something— a voice he shouldn't have heard.

Since bringing it up, or even noticing, would hurt him——.

Yuuma didn't say anything, just looked ahead and kept on pedaling.

…

On the way, Yuuma thought that he would be told that this would be enough, but Himeouji unexpectedly led him to his house.

Looking up, he saw a tower condominium with an auto-locking system.

“Amazing—...”

“Haha, it's not particularly amazing. It’s just something my parents prepared for me.”

As he was thinking that’s amazing though, Yuuma felt an uncomfortable feeling from those words.

“You said they prepared it for you—— it’s not your parents’ house?”

“Ah——Erm, that is… you know…”

When Yuuma saw Himeouji panicking when he realized his verbal slip, he thought it was impossible.

“Were you chased away because of the false charge?”

“Eh——W-wrong! that’s not it, don’t misunderstand!”

The panic this time was a panic trying to make people believe he was telling the truth.

Since he said that much, it’s probably not something other people should mind.

“If that’s the case, that’s fine——ah, can I put my bike down for a bit?”

Convinced, Yuuma said and changed the subject.

As long as he commutes to school like that, he should have some space secured.

“Eh, why?——wait, is it my bicycle? If it's that, I'll go get it myself, so Hanyu-kun should go home now.”

It’s unavoidable to be pointed out like that, it's getting quite late.

But that’s exactly why.

“If it's this late, it won't change in an hour or two. I'll go quickly and come back quickly——ah, just let me know how to get in touch with you.”

In this cold weather, there is no way he can make Himeouji, who was in poor physical condition, wait.

Even if he waits in his room, Yuuma has to call him either by smartphone or intercom when he comes back, that’s why he had to ask which one it is.

“But, that’s… bad isn’t it…?”

“No, it’s not particularly bad. I’m the one that said I’d do it.”

What’s more——Yuuma adds.

“I haven’t told you my reason earlier”

“... I'm just thinking that since you’ve gone this far, that’s enough.”

Even as he said this, Himeouji was smiling in a strangely happy way.

…

And so, after retrieving his bicycle and contacting him, Himeouji in plain clothes came out to meet him.

Right after he entered. It seems that he was waiting in the common lobby.

“You should have taken a rest in your room, you sure are upright”

“You know I can’t do that… Ah, thank you for the bicycle.”

The two of them walk to the bicycle parking space to exchange for their own bicycles.

“Yotto... By the way, what are you going to do from tomorrow onwards?”

After the exchange, when Yuuma asked him casually, he nodded, even though he looked a little tired.

“Yeah, I'll go by bicycle. I don't think it will be like today."

“Is there any basis for that?”

He expected it, but let's just say it went as expected.

“I have a bit important talk for that kind of Himeouji”

“...Okay, what is it”

Is it about the reason?——or else, is it about the incident?

It’s a bit pitiful to Himeouji that put himself on guard, but it has nothing to do with those.

“Based on what happened today, I've decided that I'm going to start picking you up and dropping you off starting tomorrow. I've already called home and had my tandem bike serviced.”

For a moment, in a situation where he didn’t understand what was said to him, Himeouji looked dumbfounded——.*

“Ha!... E-EEEeeeeehhhhh!?”

Right after that, a loud voice that seemed to come out of his head resounded.

“I don’t get what you mean! Why did it get like that?, why did you do that!?”

“I don't want to be in trouble like today after all. It’s because I don’t want to worry about it each and every time, that’s why I made the decision”

“Don’t decide! It’s about me right!!!?”*

“By the way—— the tandem bike is for two people. It's okay to ride it on public roads from around here to school.”

“I didn’t ask you!”

Himeouji grabbed him by the collar, and shook him quite vigorously, but it wasn’t particularly painful.

The face of Hennouji who was doing that looked much more painful.

“Why, are you… doing that… for someone like me——”

Hey, stop that——said Yuuma before he stopped, Himeouji opened his mouth.

“Someone like me, is… a criminal, yet, why——”

“——Didn’t you say you didn’t do it? Don’t say that after all this time”

Yuuma grabbed the weak hand from his side and forced Himeouji, who was about to collapse, to stand up, and Yuuma’s gaze and Himeouji’s wide open eyes met.

“You… believe me?”

“Well——because, I don’t know anything after all”

He didn't see the scene of the molestation, he didn't know the victim's face, he didn't know the victim's claims, and he didn't see the moment of the arrest.

What he did know is that the person himself insisted it's a false accusation.

Also, the person himself――the person named Himeouji Ryou and just how good a guy he is.

“It's natural to believe in a good person you know rather than someone you don't know, or the police. Well, even if I said that——”

From Himeouji’s perspective, he might not be able to believe this one.

It would be quite difficult to make Yuuma's point heard here.

“...For now, just go out with me tomorrow. If you think you can't trust me, just say so tomorrow.”

After making a compromise and telling him so, Himeouji shook his head slightly.

“...No”

“W-well, I understand your position, that’s why——”

“No… I believe you”

“Eh?”

A drop trickles down from Himeouji’s eyes as he looks up.

“Because, this is the last time… I’ll try to, believe you… I want to try, to believe you…”

Just how much had he been driven into a corner—— those words told everything to say about it.

“...Thank you, Hanyuu-kun. For giving me, hope…”

Somehow, it seems that Yuuma managed to make it in time for the last step for him.

Even though he hesitated many times and regretted wasting his time——Yuuma felt relieved from the bottom of his heart to hear the words of Himeouji, who had such high expectations for him.

———

(T/N: this release is for a two day’s quota, because it’s more than twice as long and also takes twice as long.

Translator’s long rant. skip if you don’t care: Japanese is such a pain, the last two chapters, it feels like there are a lot of first person perspectives, but in the end, it changed quite a lot between first person and third person. I don’t know if it’s a quirk of Japanese, or just the author. Or maybe it’s just my incompetence. Well, probably a combination of all three of them. At least I’m aware now and can start fixing it starting today.

Japanese language doesn’t describe exact situation regarding a person’s feelings. So, usually they use words like ‘seem’, ‘as if’, and other probable words. I’m going to remove those probable words in some sentences.

Japanese also has a habit of omitting the subject of the sentence, so usually I just use ‘you’ or ‘he’ or anything like that, but once in a while I put in the subject’s name if it’s appropriate. Though now I think just once in a while is not enough.

It’s freaking annoying changing first pov to third pov. The sentence looks like it’s from first pov, but there’s no definite indication that it is, like having ‘I’ as a subject. Not helping that japanese often omits subjects in sentences. Because there were never any clear indication that any sentence is first pov while many sentence has clear indication of third pov, I decided to switch to 3rd pov this entire chapter, and it’s freaking annoying. But my slightly perfectionist nature prevents me from not correcting this mistake as long as I’m currently translating it, not including the ones I already translated yesterday.

Rant end.)

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