Trial Lover 50 (Patreon)

Main Story 49 - Blue and Red

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Akaba Natsuki.

For me, she's only a girl I helped twice at my part-time job recently.

However, for Hiori... she is the girl who, four years ago, in her first year of middle school, said terrible things to her and took away her smile for a long time.

Come to think of it, when I talked to Hiori about the features of the girl I helped at my part-time job during lunch break, Hiori looked down and her smile disappeared from her face. At that time, Hiori said that she was wondering if she’s someone she knew, but she may have thought that she might be Akaba-san.

“What’s going on?”

“The Absolute Zero Lady is there too.”

Maybe because the popular Hiori and Himura-san are here, people are starting to get rowdy. When I look around... I see many students looking at us from the school side.

“...Could it be.”

As Hazuki-san whispers that, she looks at me and Hiori with a serious expression.

“Last year, when I looked at Hiorin's album... I asked Hiorin why there were suddenly no photos of you smiling since middle school, and an increase in photos of the cool Hiorin-ssu. At that time, Hiorin said that [a lot of things happened], but... could it be, this girl was the cause-ssu?”

Hazuki-san asks Hiori that question. Maybe she can imagine that Akaba-san was involved in the reason why the smiling picture of Hiori from middle school disappeared after looking at Akaba-san's current attitude?

Hiori looks at Hazuki-san and slowly nods.

“I see-ssu. Kamitou-kun, do you know about it?”

“I heard this from Hiori when she showed me her album on our at-home date during the holidays. To put it simply... Akaba-san, who was her best friend at the time, confessed to the person she had a crush on. But, Akaba-san was dumped. What's more, that person told her that he fell in love with Hiori's smile at first sight. That’s why Akaba-san held a grudge against Hiori, and said that she hates Hiori's smile, and together with other students who felt the same way, made Hiori feel unpleasant. Of course, they cut off their best friend relationship in the process. That’s the reason why, for a long time... Hiori couldn't show her smile. She also stopped showing other emotions and became the always cool Hiori.”

“...So that’s what happened-ssu. You did a terrible thing to Hiorin-ssu.”

Hazuki-san sharpens her eyes and looks at Akaba-san.

“Saaya is right. I just want to slap the face of everyone who made Hiori feel unpleasant!”

Himura-san is exposing her anger and is glaring at Akaba-san with even sharper eyes than Hazuki-san’s. Such Himura-san is clenching her right hand tightly as she is shaking. Don’t tell me, is she going to hit Akaba-san?

But, it seems Shimizu-san also notices the state of Himura-san's right hand, so she grabs Himura-san's right hand.

“People who weren't even there have no right to complain. Will you please shut up?”

Akaba-san moves her sharp gaze from Hiori towards Himura-san and Hazuki-san and says that straight out. And Himura-san clicks her tongue at such Akaba-san.

“I was really frustrated at that time. Even though I loved him and confessed to him. And that senpai said that he fell in love with Hiori's smile at first sight. From that moment, I started hating her and her smile. Almost four years have passed since then, and it seems that hasn't changed.”

Hiori slowly raises her head and looks at Akaba-san.

“What do you mean? Natsuki-san”

“...That brown-haired girl over there said it. That Kamitou-kun is dating Hiori on a trial basis.”

“Yes. ...It can’t be!”

Hiori looks surprised.

“That's right! I fell in love with Kamitou-kun! He saved me twice and gave me a kind smile.”

Akaba-san blushes as she speaks about her feelings for me, and tears start flowing from both of her eyes.

The person she loves is actually Hiori's trial lover. She might be harboring feelings of hatred towards Hiori even more than she did four years ago.

Hiori is looking at Akaba-san with a complicated look on her face.

“I was waiting in front of the school gate because I wanted to meet Kamitou-kun! And yet... and yet! It’s still better if it's official, but to think you’re dating on a trial basis.”

Akaba-san comes right up to us.

“You’re just taking advantage of Kamitou-kun's kindness, aren’t you! You’re obviously going to hurt Kamitou-kun just like you did to the people you dumped until now! In the first place, having a trial relationship is insincere──”

“Shut up!”

The person who cut off Akaba-san with an even louder voice than hers was... Himura-san. Himura-san is staring at Akaba-san with a terrifyingly menacing look.

“Those words you said earlier, I'll throw them right back at you. You've never seen Hiori and Kamitou when they were in high school, so don't say whatever you want!”

“Guh...!”

* (T/N: Kyoko is probably talking about this line; ‘People who weren't even there have no right to complain’)

Akaba-san bites her lower lip with a strong look of discomfort on her face.

“At first, even I thought something like a trial relationship was insincere. But when I saw them up close... I realized that they were such a good match for each other! Watching them together made even me feel warm. I love their smiles when they laugh together! If you try to tear them apart, I, as their friend, will never forgive you!”

Himura-san's words, delivered in a voice full of vigor, even made my heart tremble. But, because it was filled with kindness, after my heart trembled, warmth gradually spread through it. To think Himura-san felt that way about Hiori and me. Feelings of joy wells up within me more and more.

“I think the same as Himuko-ssu. Thanks to Kamitou-kun, Hiori has started to smile a lot-ssu. And they look like they have a lot of fun when they’re together-ssu. To be honest, they’re such a good couple that it’s hard to believe they are still on trial. If you're trying to break their relationship, I won't forgive you either-ssu.”

“Those two are overflowing with happiness, aren’t they! I'll be your shield!”

“Ever since they started dating on a trial basis, Kamitou-kun seems to be having more fun, and Hiori-chan has started to smile a lot. I'll protect them too.”

Hazuki-san, Kazuo, and Shimizu-san also said words of support for us. Perhaps because of that, I can feel that Hiori's expression is brighter than until just now.

As Hiori's trial lover, I also have to properly say it to Akaba-san.

“Akaba-san. I was one of the people who confessed my feelings to Hiori because I fell in love at first sight with the smile of the person you hate, Hiori.”

“...I knew it.”

“But, I was the one who suggested that we go out as a trial lover. In order to get to know the other person and walk together in a happy future. Hori accepted my suggestion. As we spend our days as trial lovers, I’ve come to love Hiori even more than when I confessed to her. I will protect my beloved Hiori and her smile. That’s what Hiori is to me. Therefore, I refuse your confession. Even if my relationship with Hiori ends, I won't go out with you.”

I firmly grab Hiori's right hand and look into her eyes.

I wonder if she feels more secure with me. Hiori smiles at me. And she grabs back my left hand.

I look at Akaba-san again. She lowers her gaze slightly and looks frustrated. She is probably looking at my and Hiori’s connected hands.

“Natsuki-san.”

“...What?”

After replying in a low voice, Akaba-san turns her sharp gaze towards Hiori.

When I glance at Hiori, I see her looking at Akaba-san not with fear, but with a serious look on her face. If Hiori is like this, I'm sure she will be able to talk to Akaba-san.

“Four years ago. The words you unleashed, [My smile brings misfortune. You hate it,] ripped my heart out. I became afraid to show any emotion, let alone smile. But, there are people here at Kasagaya High School who have accepted me and told me that they love me. That's why I can now smile and laugh. I’ve become able to have a lot of fun laughing with each other. These five people I've met here are especially important to me. Even among them, Akito-san is someone I want to be with forever. He is someone I want to have by my side.”

“Hiori...”

“So, when Natsuki-san confessed to Akito-san that you loved him, my heart ached. I felt blurry. Perhaps this is similar to how Natsuki-san felt when your confession was rejected four years ago and just now.”

Looking back, when Akaba-san confessed that she liked me, I saw that Hiori had a complicated expression on her face. So it was because there was a pain in her chest and it was buzzing.

Hiori's grip on my left hand becomes stronger.

“Right now, we're still just trial lovers. But... I don't want to hand over Akito-san to anyone! I won't!”

Hiori says this to Akaba-san with a very sincere expression. Hiori’s figure that I see from right next to her is very beautiful.

She doesn't want to hand me over to anyone... huh? To think Hiori thinks that much about me. Even in this situation, there is a part of me that feels very happy to hear what Hiori said just now.

With a jerk, Akaba-san turns her face down. I wonder what she's thinking as she stares at her own feet.

A moment of silence ensues.

“I see...”

Eventually, Akaba-san's weak voice echoes hollowly.

Akaba-san's face as she slowly lifts it up is expressionless. Even though it is expressionless, it feels different from the previous cool Hiori. It’s as if Akabane-san's emotions have disappeared from her heart.

“...Even though your lovers relationship is a trial one, it seems like there's no room for me to get in between the two of you. I understand how strong your feelings are for each other. Besides, even in the unlikely event that you break up, Kamitou-kun said he wouldn't date me. So, I'll give up... on Kamitou-kun.”

“...I understand.”

“...Yeah.”

Akaba-san replies in a low voice, then turns on her heel and tries to leave.

“Please wait, Akaba-san.”

When I call out to her, Akaba-san stops in her tracks and turns toward us.

“Don’t you have something you should say to Hiori?”

“Akito-san...”

From what I've heard from Hiori, I don't think Akaba-san has made any apology to Hiori whatsoever.

As Akaba-san said earlier, I didn't see Hiori or Akaba-san's behavior back then, so I might not be qualified to say anything. But I can’t let Akaba-san leave like this.

Akaba-san slowly turns her gaze towards Hiori, and,

“...I'm sorry about that time.”

Says words of apology and deeply bows.

What decision will Hiori make after receiving this apology? All we can do is respect Hiori's decision.

Hiori is still looking at Akaba-san, who is bowing her head, with a serious expression on her face.

“I have received your apology.”

Hiori says that in a quiet tone.

Akaba-san slowly raises her face.

“I will not forgive you.”

She still speaks quietly as before. But, I can feel that Hiori's tone is stronger than before.

“I have met important people at this Kasagaya High School that doesn’t have Natsuki-san. This is a place where I belong, where I can have fun and be happy. Therefore, I hope Natsuki-san can also find such people in a place that doesn’t have me.”

Words that can be interpreted as refusing any contact with Akaba-san from now on... Hiori says those with the smile that Akaba-san hates. Ironically, Hiori's smile is very beautiful.

Akaba-san seems to nod slightly in response to Hiori's words just now. And then, without uttering any word, she walks away from us. We continue to watch her back without exchanging a word until Akaba-san is out of sight.

The sky was overcast all over just earlier, but now sunlight is pouring through the clouds here and there. The warmth of the sunlight feels so gentle. This warmth of course reaches Hiori and the others, but it definitely reaches that girl as well.

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