Trial Lover 49 (Patreon)

Main Story 48 - Ambush

RAW

Thursday, May 13th.

Today is also peaceful, and I continue to lead a soothing school life looking at Hiori’s figure.

With midterm exams coming up, some subjects become self-study, while in other subjects, they hand out printouts summarizing what we have learned so far, as they set aside time for review. Personally, I am very grateful for this kind of time because if I don't understand something, I can ask the teacher right away.

Since Kazuo is in the seat behind me, I study with Kazuo alone during classes that become self-study.

*

Lunch break.

As usual, I go to Hiori's table and start eating lunch alone with her.

Immediately after we started dating on a trial basis, most of the students in the classroom were looking at us. But now, apart from our friends such as Kazuo, Shimizu-san, and Himura-san, only a few students look at us. Because of that, I can relax and enjoy my lunch break with Hiori.

I've also gotten used to spending my lunch break with Hiori. The people around us too, they may have gotten used to us being together.

“I’m glad that Mathematics II became self-study, and Classics B became review time for what we have learned so far. My studies for the exam are making good progress.” (Hiori)

“That’s good. I've made quite a good progress too.”

“I see. You taught Kuraki-san a lot during Math II, didn't you? I kept hearing Akito-san's voice.”

“So you heard them. There were students studying around me, so I tried to not speak too loudly. I'm sorry if I was a bother.”

“I didn't think it was a bother at all. It’s just, I thought it was nice to be able to hear Akito-san's voice, even if it was small. Akito-san wasn't there in the study session after school yesterday after all. I felt lonely enough to send you a message.”

As she says that, Hiori smiles. Also, perhaps because it's a little embarrassing. Her cheeks turn slightly red, and her gaze, which has been turned toward me, flickers. Partly because of the word “lonely,” I find her very cute.

“I was also lonely during my part-time job yesterday. So when I saw Hiori's message, I was so happy and it warmed my heart.”

“I thought the same thing when I saw Akito-san's message. Of course, it would be better if we could be together like this.”

“...Those words make me happy.”

I think I'm a very fortunate person for being told that by the person I love.

“I'd rather be with Hiori too.”

“...Yes.”

Hiori replies in a gentle voice. Her cheeks are redder than before. However, she is still looking firmly into my eyes. I think I've become much closer to Hiori than when I confessed my feelings and started dating her on a trial basis.

“Going back to the topic, yesterday we had a basic chemistry assignment, so I explained the assignment to all three of them at the same time. I feel a bit like a teacher and it was fun.”

“Haha, so that’s what happened. I wanted to see it.”

The members of yesterday's study session other than Hiori were Kazuo, Shimizu-san, and Himura-san. They did say they were bad at basic chemistry. If so, Hiori playing the role of a teacher is a natural progression, huh? Hiori's way of teaching is easy to understand, so I'm sure Kazuo and the others were able to understand the content of the assignments.

“How was your part-time job, Akito-san?”

“It was the same as usual except that I felt lonely. ...No, there was one thing that was different from usual, I guess?”

“What happened?”

“Just before I was about to clean up in front of the shop's entrance, I helped find a smartphone that a high school girl had dropped. And that high school girl... was the same girl I helped inside the shop when I was working part-time during Golden Week. That girl said it too but, coincidences like that can happen I see.”

“I see. By the way, is that girl a student at Kasagaya High School?”

“No, she was wearing a high school uniform from Hagikubo Academy. She had wavy black hair and was the same age as us... wait, even if I said it, there’s no way Hiori knows her, right? ...Hiori?”

Hiori is looking downward, and the smile she has been showing me earlier has disappeared. Could it be that she's angry or jealous, because even though it’s about helping people, I talked about a high school girl of our age.

“Hiori. If what I just said made you feel uncomfortable... I'm sorry.”

“...Eh?”

Hiori looks at me in surprise. When our eyes meet, Hiori smiles and slowly shakes her head.

“I don't feel uncomfortable. It's about helping people after all. But, I was thinking... wondering if there was a girl I knew who had the features that Akito-san mentioned.”

“So that’s how it was.”

I'm glad that she doesn't seem to hold any particularly unpleasant feelings. But, I have to be careful when I talk about girls.

Also, the nearest station to Hagikubo Academy is two stations away from Kasagaya Station. Some of Hiori's grademates from middle school are probably attending Hagikubo Academy. I've also seen girls wearing Hagikubo Academy uniforms around Kasagaya Station many times.

“As a reward for helping others, I'll give you half of the hamburger steak in my lunch box. I didn't make it, though.”

“Haha. I'm happy because hamburger steak is my favorite food. Thank you, Hiori.”

After that, I eat half of the hamburger steak that’s in Hiori's lunch box. Partly because it’s a reward, and partly because Hiori feeds it to me while smiling, I find it very delicious.

Come to think of it, didn’t Hiori make hamburger steak for Mother's Day dinner? I want to try Hiori's handmade hamburger steak someday.

*

After school.

Today, like Tuesday, we are planning to have a study session with the six of us. The venue for the study session is Kazuo's house. I haven't been to his house since... I think since around the end of year exam in our first year.

Himura-san and Hazuki-san are on cleaning duty, so the rest of the study session members are waiting in front of the Year 2 Class 2 classroom. As we do, we talk about what Kazuo's house was like.

After about 15 minutes, Himura-san and Hazuki-san each come to us. So, we decided to leave school. However,

“Ah, I forgot to return a book to the library.”

That's what Hiori says as we arrive at the entrance. When her eyes meet mine, Hiori smiles wryly.

“I’m sorry. Can I go and return it now?”

“Of course it’s okay. Should I come along?”

“I’m just returning the book, so it’s okay. Thank you very much.”

“Then... we'll be waiting at the main gate.”

“Yes. Well then, I’ll be going.”

As she says that, Hiori leaves the entrance by herself and trots towards Classroom Building A, where the library is located.

The remaining five people, including me, change into outdoor shoes and leave the entrance.

Perhaps because it's cloudy, the air is chilly. It was just the right cool temperature during physical education class though. While thinking about such things, I walk towards the main gate with Kazuo and the others.

On the way, I go to the bicycle parking lot and pick up my bicycle. I put my school bag and gym clothes bag in the basket and go to the main gate where Kazuo and the others are waiting.

“Everyone, thanks for the wait.”

“Yeah!”

I go out the main gate and park my bicycle just off to the side. All that's left is waiting for Hiori, huh?

“Ah, Clerk-san! I’ve finally met you─!”

From nearby, I hear the voice of a woman I’ve heard very recently.

When I turn my head towards the direction of the voice, I see the woman I helped find her smartphone yesterday during my part-time job walking towards us. When our eyes meet, the woman smiles and waves at me.

I’m not in the middle of a part-time job right now. However, since I’ve been meeting her during my part-time job, I find myself lightly bowing to the woman.

“Hello. I never thought I’d meet you here.”

“School ended early today. Yesterday, you told me that you go to Kasagaya High School after all. I wanted to see you in your uniform. I thought I’d meet you if I waited near the school gate. Besides, I live near Kasagaya Station.”

“So that’s how it is.”

“Fufu. I'm happy I accomplished my objective. You look cool in your uniform!”

The woman says so with a bright smile. It seems like she liked my appearance in my uniform.

“Now that I think about it, what is Clerk-san's name? We’re not in front of that shop anyway, and it feels weird for me to keep calling you Clerk-san. I'm Akaba Natsuki.”

“My name is Kamitou Akito.”

“Kamitou-kun, is it? Please take care of me.”

Akaba-san shakes my hand. Is it because she has been waiting in this chilly weather. Her hands feel cold.

“Wait, Kamitou. Who is this girl?”

Himura-san asks me, looking a little displeased. Is it because I’m talking to a woman she doesn't know? I wonder if Hiori would have reacted the same way had she been here.

“Didn't I tell Himura-san and the others? I helped Akaba-san during Golden Week and yesterday during my part-time job. Well, that's all though."

“So true. Both times were coincidences. But when I'm helped twice in about a week, I feel like it's fate.”

Akaba-san says that in a quiet tone of voice as she looks at me. Her cheeks seem to be a little more red than before.

“Isn't their atmosphere getting good? Kazuo-kun.”

“Aki is handsome both in appearance and heart after all! She might be in love with him.”

“Kamitou-kun. Cheating is no good-ssu. It's only a trial, but you’re dating a wonderful girl called Hiorin-ssu.”

“Saaya is right!”

“...Cheating? Trial? Hiorin? What are you talking about?”

Perhaps because she doesn't understand what Kazuo and the others are talking about, Akaba-san tilts her head a little. Akaba-san is still smiling, but her smile seems duller than before.

“Actually, I’m──”

“Akito-san. Everyone. Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

Hering Hiori's voice, I look towards the school building and see Hiori nearby. Did she come in a hurry? Hiori's breathing is slightly disordered. Her smiling face is also slightly red.

“No, it's okay. Also, the woman I talked about during lunch break, the one I helped during my part-time job, was waiting in front of the school gate. I just found out that her name is Akaba Natsuki, and she said she lives in Kasagaya.”

“...Eh?”

As Hiori lets out that small voice, the smile and redness that has been on Hiori's face instantly disappears. What’s going on?

When I turn my head towards Akaba-san, I see a look of disgust on her face as she glares at Hiori with extremely sharp eyes. Seeing that makes me think that everything she has been so far has been lies. Even at Kasagaya High School, I've seen many students glare and show disgust at Hiori, but this can’t be compared to that. So much so that I find Himura-san, who kept glaring at her to hide her grin, to be cute.

Partly because of Akaba-san's attitude, even Kazuo and the others lost their smiles. Himura-san looks at Akabane-san in displeasure.

“So the [Hiorin] that the brown-haired girl was talking about was Hiori.”

Akaba-san says in a low tone of voice that I have never heard from her before.

Even though no one said Hiori's name, Akaba-san clearly said [Hiori]. At Kasagaya High School, Hiori is so famous that she is called [Absolute Zero Lady]. Did Akaba-san hear about Hiori from her friend who is a student who goes to our high school? Or, have Hiori and Akabane-san been involved with each other until middle school?

But, I have an idea of a girl who has a lot of hatred towards Hiori.

──Squeeze.

I feel my blazer jacket being pulled from behind. When I turn my head there, I see Hiori tightly grasping the hem of my jacket. Hiori is hanging her head, her body trembling repeatedly.

“Hiori. Could it be that Akaba-san is... the girl you met when you entered middle school and was once your best friend?”

The girl who said she hated Hiori's smile, and for a long time, deprived Hiori of her smile.

A moment of silence pass between the seven of us, and then,

“...That’s right.”

Hiori answers that and slowly nods.

────

Previous | Next