Chapter 3: Daily Life 4
Chapter 3: Daily Life 4
When I look up, I notice that the gaps of the curtain shining.
It's already morning. Ever since the last night incident, I didn't sleep at all. I just ponder and sit in my futon.
"I'm the worst. I hurt Hoshimiya."
"Hey Riku. Good morning. You awake already?"
As someone violently pounding the door. I didn't feel like answering. I put my face between my knees and stayed stoic.
After a while, the door open loudly and she seems doesn't care about the permission.
"Riku... Hey, what're you doing?"
"...."
"Hey Riku, you're scaring me."
As footsteps approach, my shoulders are vigorously shaken. The aura emanating from me seems to be dark. I lift my face with a heavy feeling, and there's Kana, looking worried, crouched in front of me, peering into my face.
"What happened? Did you have a scary dream or something?"
"I'm not a child to get depressed over a dream."
"In your case, it seems possible. What really happened? Ayana and Soeda-san already started eating breakfast."
"Hoshimiya, is she okay?"
"There doesn't seem to be any noticeable change, but... Did you do something?"
"...."
"What did you do?"
Unable to meet her threatening eyes, I avert my gaze and confess the situation.
"Late at night... I happened to meet Hoshimiya."
"Then?"
"She said there was something to talk about, so we went to the living room."
"Okay."
"...I ended up pushing Hoshimiya down and forcing her, making her scared!"
"Pushing down and forcing Ayana, to be scared... Wait, you didn't..."
As Kana seems to reach a conclusion, I nod apologetically.
In the next moment, she roughly grabs my collar and lifts me up.
Kana's face in front of me is like that a beast, baring it's fangs, filled with anger.
"Don't mess around, Riku!! I thought you were someone who could cherish the person you love, even though you act on your emotions! This scum!!"
"..."
"Hurting Ayana... hurting Ayana! You trampled on Ayana's feelings!"
"Yeah, that's right... I'm scum..."
As my emotions overflow, something warm falls down my cheeks.
"Don't cry! You don't have the right to cry! The one who truly wants to cry is Ayana!"
"Yeah, that's right... I've done something terrible."
"Really the worst! 'Worst' is too mild for what you've done!"
"I'm even worse than the worst. After all, I... lightly stroked Hoshimiya's scared cheek."
"Really scum! Stroking Ayana's scared cheek... Stroking?"
"Yeah, stroking. I touched Hoshimiya's cheek."
"What? Wait, hold on..."
"We're not even in a relationship yet... I touched her cheek..."
"Sorry, wait a moment. Let me process this. I want to hear more details."
She releases my collar as her anger dissipate, Kana looks like regained her calm and look down at me. As if repenting, I explain the situation from the beginning. The story progresses from me pushing Hoshimiya down and stroking her cheek to the moment when she was scared, with her hands clasped in front of her chest.
Listening quietly, Kana, showing thoughtful gestures, finally speaks.
"Well, I mean... while there might be fear, she seems to have made up her mind and accepted it?"
"Accepted it? What are you talking about?"
"T-that's... it's like, treating that in a certain way... as an act."
"Huh? What are you saying?"
"J-just forget it! This conversation isn't even necessary!"
For some reason, blushing, Kana tries to brush it off with a spit of words. ...What?
"Well, your action is certainly not acceptable."
"...Right? I'm the worst..."
"But, it's not like you should hate yourself so much for it, right...?"
"I pushed her down and lightly stroked her cheek!"
"But pushing her down was an accident, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, but... the stroking, it was intentional or maybe unconscious..."
"It's only getting so serious because it's you two. In reality, it's not that big of a deal. Honestly, if it were a more assertive guy, touching someone's cheek wouldn't be that unusual."
"Have you ever had a guy touch your cheek, Kana?"
"Never!"
"Never, huh?"
"I dislike guys who casually touch me...!"
"Well, that's common sense."
"But if it's someone I like... hmm...?"
"For someone like you, who hasn't even experience first love, it might be hard to imagine."
"This is the third time. If you say it again, I'll drag out your organs."
"Your way of threatening is too post-apocalyptic...!"
Considering how Kana exploded just a moment ago, I'm genuinely scared. Kana coughs and brings the conversation back.
"Well, it depends on the atmosphere at the time, right? Judging on how Ayana acts this morning, I think you can still make up. Anyway, apologize sincerely."
"...Is an apology enough to solve the problem?"
"Who knows?"
"Ugh..."
Then she leave, not answering anything... typical Kana.
"The fact is, Riku, you messed up. But there might still be room to fix it. If you feel it's wrong, just apologize earnestly."
Kana is absolutely right. Before thinking about getting her forgiveness, I should apologize first.
With that determination, I tried to find opportunities to talk to Hoshimiya and apologize.
However, I didn't have the chance to apologize.
Hoshimiya blatantly avoids me, darting around the house like a terrified small animal hiding on it's prey.
◇ ◇ ◇
"Sigh... that Riku..."
I sighed, through my room I gazed at the rice fields bathed in twilight.
Never expected to stumble in such a way. Since morning, Riku has been struggling to apologize to Ayana. Quivering lips, bowing his head... but Ayana darts away like "pew!" hiding behind pillars, sneaking at the back of the house. Like a squirrel...
In the end, looking at Riku like he might cry, barricaded himself in his room, giving up on the case.
"The problem is Ayana's feelings, huh?"
I want to believe she's not angry or scared...
It's not a good situation, but I believe it's a problem that can be resolved if both of them put in an effort.
Considering the circumstances, I can understand Riku's lack of composure.
"As a reluctant accomplice, I'll do my best..."
Thinking about becoming an accomplice to this troublesome guy, I headed to Ayana's room.
Knocking and waiting for a while, the door opened slowly, revealing Ayana looking wary, with only her face visible through the narrow gap.
Realizing that the visitor is me, Ayana expression relieved.
"Oh, Kana. What's up?"
"I'll get to the point, you seem awkward with that Dumb Riku."
"Um, well..."
"Can you tell me what happened?"
"Well, that's..."
"Alright. How about I go beat up Riku for you? Is that good?"
"No way! Don't do that!"
Snapping my fist, Ayana hurriedly stopped me. Judging by this reaction, at least she doesn't seem to hold a grudge.
"Can I hear the details?"
I pretend not to know and attempt to let Ayana tell the story. The door opens just enough for someone to pass, and Ayana invited inside.
"Come in..."
The room is about the same size as the one prepared for me, filled with a sense of everyday life and equipped with furniture.
One thing catches my eye – the bedding. Despite having a bed, I could see a futon partially opened in the sliding closet. There shouldn't be a need for guest bedding...
Ayana, noticing my gaze, explains with a shy expression, "I usually sleep on that futon. For some reason, I find it more comfortable than the bed..."
Perhaps she has some sentimental attachment to it.
Then Ayana shares what happened with Riku late at night, and the story matches what Riku told.
Finishing the talk, Ayana lowers her head, looking embarrassed, and whispers in a small voice, "I don't know how to face Kuromine-kun anymore..."
"Do you dislike Riku now?"
"I don't. I was just surprised... maybe not uncomfortable."
"I see."
If there's no discomfort, then it can be resolved. I felt relieved.
However, Ayana's next words make my heart skip a beat.
"Does Kuromine-kun... like me, maybe?"
"Huh?"
"I've thought about it many times. He came all the way to see me, stayed overnight because he was worried about me, and even touched my cheek..."
She says it while blushing and, for some reason, sits formally in seiza.
From my perspective, it's clear that Riku has feelings for Ayana.
Even if I didn't know the details, I'm confident I could figure it out right away.
It's not just me; anyone could probably notice Riku's feelings by observing his actions.
Ayana knows it too, but she seems to harbor a kind of fear, a lack of confidence, as if thinking, 'What if it's not true?' It reflects Ayana's characteristic way of thinking.
"If Riku likes you, how would you feel?"
"I might be happy..."
Blushing, Ayana continues without hesitation.
"I find it strange. I don't know anything about Kuromine-kun, yet lately, I've been thinking about him whenever I have free time."
"Hmm."
"Could it be... love at first sight?"
"...Who knows." It's not love at first sight. The frustration of knowing but being unable to say it.
"Sorry, Kana. I need to get ready for work..."
Ayana, looking apologetic, indirectly asks me to leave.
Since I've heard what I wanted to know, I decide to quietly leave the room.
Closing the door, I think about Ayana's current state and mumble to myself.
"When feelings linger without memories, it will become the source of confusion..."
After Ayana heads to work, I decide to visit the shut-in.
BTW, the shut-in is Riku.
◇ ◇ ◇
There was no response even after calling through the door, so I boldly open it. There, I find Riku sitting in a meditative posture.
"What are you doing, seriously..."
"Meditating on life's distress."
"..."
Typical Riku, in a simple and somewhat ridiculous way. It's so him that it instantly relieves the tension.
"Ayana went to work."
Riku's eyes snap open, and he turns to face me.
"Work? Hoshimiya, working even in the countryside?"
"Yeah, at a convenience store."
"...There's a convenience store in the countryside?"
"Don't underestimate countryside. Despite being rural, we still get cell reception, you know?"
"Your choice of words feels underestimating, too... By the way, where is this convenience store?"
"It's about a twenty-minute bike ride away."
"That's quite a distance..."
Indeed. If it were my hometown, there would be a convenience store within a ten-minute walk.
"We're going to the convenience store too."
"Why?"
"You know the drill. You need to apologize. If Ayana is at work, she can't avoid it."
"But... won't that be a bother?"
"We'll find a time when there are no customers."
"But still..."
Riku looks unsure, his fingers is intertwining and fidgeting.
Ayana avoided him. Clearly downcast and seems completely disheartened about it.
He resembles a puppy feeling down after being scolded by its owner.
Even though the problem arose from Riku's actions, I find myself sympathizing with him.
"Apologize properly. If you let it drag on, it might create a weird rift..."
"..."
"Ayana isn't angry. She's just surprised and doesn't know how to handle it."
I try to speak gently. Still, Riku doesn't lift his head.
"I might do something weird to Hoshimiya again."
"That's nothing new. Ayana is starting to understand that you're that kind of person. It's okay."
"Is that something I should be okay with?"
"You're a pain! Just come with me!"
I pull Riku's arm, forcing him to stand.
He really lives life according to his emotions, with such intense ups and downs...
No wonder he gets compared to a dog.
This is for celebrating the Christmas Break. I'll try to finish translating 2 books before this break. I heard our break is 1 month so January 22, 2024? Not sure, but I'm hoping my university is not in rush because they totally stress us on the projects, exam, and presentations.
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