Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro:Volume3 Chapter5

2015-11-26T02:38:23Z

LizbethUnknown: there was a bracket for no reason

==Chapter 5 - The Whereabouts of the Purple Grass==

Hikaru said that there was a message sent to Shioriko's cellphone in the middle of the night.

Once Shioriko saw the message, she closed the cellphone with a gloomy look, pondered for a while, stood up, changed her clothes, left a message in the notebook, hugged her Capybara plushie uneasily, shook her head, and tottered out.

Hikaru could only move near Koremitsu.

He tried his best to wake Koremitsu up, but Shioriko had already left the house by the time Koremitsu woke up.

Masakaze and Koharu too did not realize that Shioriko left their house in the middle of the night.

Koremitsu was riding the bicycle, rushing towards Shioriko's apartment before dawn even broke. But she did not return there.

He went to the hospital, and after inquiring at the night shift counter, learnt that Shioriko did not go there. It was a miss.

''"Maybe Shiiko went back to her old house."''

And so, Koremitsu followed Hikaru's lead as he raced over on the bicycle.

However, there was no human activity to be seen in the garden full of trees, shrubs and plants; the house was locked, and nobody responded despite him ringing the doorbell.

He returned home wearily. Masakaze and Koharu too were running around, looking for Shioriko; Koharu was asking people if there was a girl wandering in the middle of the night, whilst Masakaze asked the police for help, only to be rebuffed by the impatient policeman, who argued that she should be at her relative's house since she wrote it as such. That utterly nonchalant attitude from the policeman really enraged Masakaze.

(Relatives? Who?)

Shioriko had no relatives other than Tomohiko himself.

Finally, Masakaze and company went off separately to look for her.

Koremitsu and Hikaru went to Shioriko's school, her favorite park, and any possible places she could be, contacting Koharu and Masakaze from time to time. However, even at noon, they had yet to find her whereabouts.

Koremitsu then went to her apartment, where she lived when she was young, and the hospital.

Feeling guilty, he told Tomohiko that Shioriko went missing, but the he merely smiled and answered,

"Oh, Riko will probably come back when it's dinner."

This made Koremitsu morose. He inadvertently gritted his teeth, frowning.

Upon seeing this,

"You don't have to worry. That girl's old enough now. Maybe she went to find her father…"

Tomohiko calmly stated.

(Father?)

Koremitsu exchanged looks with Hikaru.

Tomohiko mentioned that she was looking for the father. Would this father here be Shioriko's? But her father was already…

"Eh, Mr Wakagi, who's Shiiko's dad? Is he still alive?"

Koremitsu leaned forward and asked, but Tomohiko's eyes seemed to look into the distance as he vaguely answered,

"The father of that child in the tummy...should be somewhere in the Spring hall, feeding the bruins, travelling in the Silver World...carrying the sword of Seto around, watching the pitiful crickets...he may no longer be able to see Riko anymore...it's really tough for Riko to give birth without a father...if she hopes so, I too...wishes for her child to be part of my family.

(Did he mix up the girl in elementary school with his daughter who gave birth?)

Koremitsu could not comprehend Tomohiko's words at all.

(Spring hall, bruins, what sort of fantasy is that? If he's in the clouds, that means Shiiko's dad is Mamoru Yoshikuni?)

Koremitsu glanced at Hikaru, and found the him pondering with melancholy.

And so, they were still without a clue when they left the hospital.

Shioriko did not return to the Akagis even at night.

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The next day, after seeing that Koremitsu did not sleep a wink for the entire night,

"Koremitsu, go to school today."

Koharu ordered him.

"Gramps and I will continue to look for Shiiko. If there's anything, we'll notify you firsthand."

He was in no mood to head to school.

But he was too tense, too lethargic. Koharu advised him to first cool his head, and go to school for the day.

''"Listen to Miss Koharu for now, Koremitsu. You'll faint at the rate you're going."''

Hikaru managed to convince Koremitsu to go to school.

Koremitsu sauntered into the classroom with large black eyes. Honoka, typing furiously at the cellphone, stopped in place completely gobsmacked.

The braided class representative, who would typically greet him tentatively, was standing far away, too afraid to approach as she watched on.

"Eh...Akagi, what's with you? You look very tired. You took leave yesterday, are you still not feeling well today?"

Honoka moved her chair over to Koremitsu, and asked this worriedly.

"Did something happen? You looked very jumpy last Saturday."

Koremitsu grunted back,

"...the one at my house disappeared."

"At your house? The cat you mean?"

"..."

Koremitsu dumped his bag and sat on the chair, a bitter groan escaped his dry lips.

It was useless of him to mention this to Honoka.

But he was at his wits end, forced into a corner.

"An elementary...school girl."

And he inadvertently croaked.

"Elementary school girl…!?" Honoka gasped, "Is it that girl in the newspaper report? I see, so she's a relative of yours? What? That's how it is, huh? But, disappeared, as in?"

"...she wrote a message and left my house in the middle of the night. She still hasn't returned!"

"Left house…?"

"I don't know. She wrote that she's going to a relative's place, but I have no idea who that relative is!"

He slammed his head with his hands in fury.

Honoka in response looked more worried by the moment.

"Did you go to the police?"

"Gramps contacted them, but he seems to be angry that they aren't going to seriously look for her. Damn it. If something happens to her--"

If only I had woken up earlier.

I guess it's not the time for me to come to school after all.

Koremitsu felt a knife twist in his gut, as regret and anxiety interwove within him.

''"Please do not blame yourself, Koremitsu."''

Even Hikaru's consolation was unable to reach him.

At this moment, Honoka spoke adamantly,

"Akagi! I'll help you look for that kid too! I'm going to get everyone's help on the internet!"

Koremitsu lifted his head in shock.

"You...can do that?"

"I'm not sure since I never tried this before...but since you look so down, there's no way I can take this any further...I'll try it then."

Honoka's expression and voice were filled with a yearning to help Koremitsu.

Those direct, straightforward emotions of hers caused the hesitant Koremitsu to harbor hope.

''"Ask her for help, Koremitsu."''

Hikaru too sounded rather perked up.

"Please, Shikibu."

"Right"

Honoka showed a reliable smile.

(This girl's eyes are really pretty.)

The situation was dire, but her blazing, lively eyes enthralled Koremitsu.

"I'll help out too~!"

"Woah!"

"Wh-What?"

Suddenly, a busty short-haired girl showed her face at the side of the table, causing Koremitsu and Honoka to be taken aback.

"Oumi! When did you come here?"

"Where exactly were you hiding!?"

Hiina Oumi of the newspaper club seemed relaxed as she faced the wraths of two angry glares.

"Well well, the pretty girl reporter appears whenever she wants to. I've already known the rough gist of things, so I can help out as well. Just think of it as atonement for that lolicon report."

She prattled on.

"That report's all gossip anyway. I don't think you're the type to atone for such things."

Veins were popping out from Koremitsu's forehead as he mentioned his grudge vengefully, but Hiina gave a teasing look as she curled her bewitching ample lips.

"Don't worry about such small things. My specialty is in search and investigation; I can do anything. If it’s to investigate the daily life of any male or female, I’ll even scrub the toilet to do that."

"Well...we're in an emergency. I guess it's great that you can help me out. Thanks."

Koremitsu glanced above, and saw Hikaru nod.

"It's decided then! Let's begin our investigation!"

"Hey! Wait! I never said Shiiko's name and school or anything like that!"

''"I know everything!"''

She answered cheerfully as she bolted from the classroom.

(Why does she know that!?)

Koremitsu was feeling jittery.

"Akagi, I'll begin now. Tell me all about Shiiko."

Honoka had both hands on the reddish-purple cellphone, on standby as she raised her eyebrows, looking completely amped up as she said.

"I~must find her earlier than Oumi."

She murmured to herself, but luckily, these words did not reach Koremitsu's ears.

She took the photo of Shioriko published on the lolicon report with black censor bars, uploaded it to her website, and asked for anyone to report if she was found.

Though this managed to gain a lot of replies, most of them were trolling remarks or ads for erotic websites. Honoka continued to watch the cellphone screen, tapping away at the keys quickly.

During break time, Aoi appeared at Koremitsu's classroom for some reason.

"Are you free now, Mr Akagi?"

Hikaru looked rather surprised, whilst Honoka, tapping at the cellphone, twitched her ears and shoulders.

Koremitsu got up and went to the corridor, whereas Honoka looked aside to peep on them.

"What is it, Aoi?"

Koremitsu walked to the window and looked outside. Aoi stared at Koremitsu with a serious expression, and said,

"Mr Akagi, I heard that a girl a relative of yours has disappeared. You must be really worried, aren’t you? Could you please let me help?"

"Where did you hear that!?"

"Miss Oumi…"

(That Oumi! Why did she mention that to Aoi!!!)

Hikaru already had a hand on his head, looking very troubled. He knew Aoi very well.

"You took care of me a lot of times, so I want to help you. I did not do anything for you the last time you were treated as a vengeful spirit, so this time…"

Aoi had a serious and earnest personality.

Koremitsu however was hesitant.

Though he was glad to see Aoi show such intent, she was ultimately different from Honoka and Hiina - a princess in a cage. She’s someone very precious to Hikaru. He did not wish to get Aoi involved.

"Thanks for your concern, but you don't have to worry about me."

Hikaru lowered the hand on his head as he suddenly realized something, and interrupted Koremitsu with a poised tone,

''"No. Let Miss Aoi help out. You may ask her about the latest events going on with Soichiro Kuze, any special events. Try and collect as much information as possible, no matter how tiny it is. Miss Aoi of the Saotomes will definitely be able to do it."''

(Soichiro Kuze? Shiiko's target? That monster sparrow?)

Koremitsu had long since forgotten that name due to the commotion over the hospitalization of Shioriko's grandfather. Upon hearing Hikaru mention this name, he suddenly felt a jolt.

Why investigate Kuze? And is it really good to ask Aoi to do this?

Koremitsu felt uneasy, but asked this to Aoi who has her head lowered in dejection.

"I guess I'll ask you for help then. Do you know about Soichiro Kuze? That old man who often appears at volunteer events."

"Eh, I do...my father attended many of Mr Kuze's study seminars, and Asa is a member of the floral lover club Mr Kuze's chairs."

"Great! Please investigate if there's anything strange going on around him, find anything you can find. Ah! Please remember to be safe too!"

Aoi widened her eyes skeptically at first, but soon broke into a smile. Her face reddened.

"I understand."

"Don't be too reckless!"

Koremitsu too was overly protective when it came to Aoi.

It was not simply because Aoi was Hikaru's beloved, but also because she personally exudes a charm that would cause others to protect her at all costs.

Koremitsu watched the flowing black hair and clear white ribbon gradually disappear into the distance, and turned back to find Honoka inside the classroom, raising the back of her chair slightly, looking at him.

(Woah!)

Koremitsu was taken aback.

Honoka blushed once her eyes met his, and nearly lost her balance along with the chair. After panicking for a while, she puffed her cheeks, and said,

"So you asked Her Highness Aoi for help to find Shiiko?"

"Eh, yeah."

"It doesn't matter, but be careful. Don't get expelled by the Matriarch Asa because you were flirting with Her Highness."

"I wasn't flirting."

"Oh really."

Upon seeing Honoka pout, Koremitsu felt a little guilty.

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After school, both Koremitsu and Hikaru went off to places Shioriko might have went to.

It was their third trip to the house Shioriko used to live in. Koremitsu conversed with Hikaru as they went on their way.

"Do you think Shiiko's disappearance has something to do with Kuze?"

''"Yeah...it certainly is strange for Shiiko to take action now when her grandfather is in such dire condition. Mr Soichiro was her last target before her grandfather fell ill."''

Shioriko said that she wanted revenge.

Koremitsu recalled the report on the weekly newspaper regarding the incident ten years ago.

The mass food poisoning on Marine Day in Shimane Prefecture.

The children who ate the seafood hamburger at the community event the Kuze Corporation organized complained of tummyaches.

The Chairman's Secretary, Yoshikuni tried to cover up the incident, and was heavily criticized by the media.

Yoshikuni protested, decrying that the Chairman himself had asked for this to be done.

But Kuze had an alibi, and there was news of Yoshikuni receiving bribes from food manufacturers. Soon after, he died in a train accident.

''"Mr Soichiro resigned ten years ago in response to this matter, removing himself from the role of Chairman, but in actuality, he still holds managerial authority in the company as an advisor. After that article was published however, I do think Mr Soichiro's position is a little unstable. Even if the timeframe for defamation has passed, Mr Soichiro definitely will not tolerate any little commotion. Also, if Shiiko really has evidence to prove Mamoru Yoshikuni's innocence…"''

Hikaru lowered his stare in melancholy,

"What do you think? Does Shiiko really have evidence?"

''--I found a letter from my papa written to my real mama...''

Shioriko mentioned this to Kuze in the park back then.

And she said that her father said that he was innocent in the letter, and there was evidence.

Kuze seemed to be very concerned about that letter, and even asked the girl to hand it over to him.

If that was simply a lie to lure Kuze in…

"...I cannot be certain about that, but."

Hikaru frowned uneasily,

''"I did mention about the time when I stayed at Shiiko's house when her grandfather was hospitalized during March, didn’t I? At that time, she once threw quite the tantrum because she would not eat the dinner I prepared, and I merely answered 'is that so'. At that time, she sat down with her knees cupped in, so I was worried if she was frustrated over something. She then suddenly stood up, and exclaimed,'Why aren't you angry!'…"''

''--Why're you always smiling!? I said that I wanted to eat Carbonara, you made it for me, and I didn't eat it once you did it. Why did you simply smile and answer 'is that so'?''

''--Shiiko, you can eat it whenever you feel like it.''

''--Carbonara will become soft when left for too long; I can't possibly eat that! Why are you only showing a wry look! Why are you still able to smile! Grandpa, Hikaru, both of you are so weird; why can you forgive others so easily? It's because of that that you're tricked by others, toyed, and slandered--all the bad things happen to you!''

She clenched her trembling fists as she shouted, her eyes squinting as she tried her best to prevent the tears from flowing.

Hikaru embraced her, and she slammed her little fists on his chest, sobbing.

''"Perhaps Shiiko's reaction back then was because she saw her father's letter, and learnt of the incident ten years ago."''

Hikaru's tone was dreary.

He lowered his eyelids, and with a glum look, said to Koremitsu, who listened with bated breath,

''"If Shiiko really wants to take revenge for her father, it's not going to be good for her whether she succeeds or not."''

Certainly, if Shioriko had credible proof, Kuze may try something to crush her.

Hikaru probably realized the worst possible situation, and looked extremely tense.

Even Koremitsu felt his gut being wrenched.

''"Anyway, the most important thing right now is to look for Shiiko. Let us not think of anything else for now."''

"You're right."

The duo moved through the silent residence in melancholy.

"Oh yeah. What did you do to Shiiko's old house after you bought it?"

''"I would stay there once in awhile. It will decrepit if it is not inhabited for long, and the garden has to be maintained regularly. Shiiko insisted on staying inside only when she gets the money to buy the house back, but she definitely misses the place, and will sometimes head over there, but not often. She would stay by the outside to look into the apartment. In those situations, she looked happy, yet depressed."''

"What about the house now? The deed…"

''"The deed…"''

Hikaru's face darkened.

And then, he showed a thin smile

''"After I died, the house is probably under a family member's name. I suppose they will not sell it immediately, however..."''

For some reason, they were back on this topic again. It seemed Hikaru was not too willing to answer this, and so Koremitsu remained silent. Hikaru was always like this whenever his family was mentioned.

Perhaps it was because of his standing as the son of a mistress that makes it awkward; thus, there was some distance between him and his family.

They trudged on, and arrived at a small hut surrounded with fence.

The trees in the garden were rich in greenery, and Kumquat fruits were growing from the lush branches. There were also grass and orange lilies growing around. The Summer Cammelias were about to wilt, as several small white Camellia-like flowers were scattered upon the ground.

Koremitsu frowned, and just then, Hikaru widened his eyes.

He seemed stupefied as he remained still.

(Wh-What's it?)

Before Koremitsu could ask, Hikaru nervously said,

''"Koremitsu...hide!"''

"Huh!?"

Koremitsu did not understand, but hid behind the fence.

Hikaru eyes seemed to absorb everything in sight as he stared at the fence. He looked deathly pale, not blinking once as he watched on.

Koremitsu saw that there was a woman sitting alone there, and was stunned.

That beautiful woman had long blond hair that dazzled under the sunlight. Some of the hair was draped in front of her chest, while the remaining was bundled behind her neck.

She had white, near-transparent skin, goose-like neck, cute lips, and brown eyes with long eyelashes; At first glance, one would assume she was an exact duplicate of Hikaru…

[[File:Hikaru3-245.jpg|thumb]]

Koremitsu once met this young woman before.

She was dresssed in a black dress, seated at the relatives' area at Hikaru's funeral.

Back then, Koremitsu was mystified by how much of a striking resemblance she was to Hikaru.

At this point, she was not dressed in mourning clothes, but a soft fabric blouse and a long pleated dress.

"Hey, Hikaru."

''Is that person your relative or something?''

Just when he was about to ask this,

''"...Please do not say anything for now. Just for this short time...please."''

Hikaru stammered as he pleaded, about to hyperventilate at any given moment. His tense expression gradually weakened, and he looked frail enough to disappear at any given moment, but the eyes that were staring at her were filled with an indescribable desire.

Hikaru continued to look on, his soul seemingly bounded, his eyes never averting the slightest..

Koremitsu watched from the side, and even he too was being smothered by the pressure, his pulse racing.

That woman placed her long slender legs gently on the floor, her skirt swaying as she strolled through the garden. Once she walked to a certain point, she suddenly stopped, and lowered her head.

That pretty yet crestfallen expression was fixated upon the bluish-purple flower in front of her.

The stem was growing out from the thin, long leaves, and there were tiny star-like flower gathered upon them, blooming.

Hikaru clasped his hands together, stopping the emotions from surging within him.

(That flower...isn't that the flower Hikaru was looking at when I was on my way to school? I remember the name's called the Purple Wisteria.)

''--When I was young...I always thought this flower was the reincarnation of the Wisteria flowers, After the Wisteria flowers landed, new Wisterias will grow again…''

''--The floral language of this flower is 'news of love'...or...lover…''

Just as Hikaru petted the flowers gently, the woman resembling Hikaru petted the light bluish-purple flower.

Her gentle actions, and even her mannerism of lowering her eyelids, were exactly like Hikaru's. This made Koremitsu skeptical.

She then showed a melancholic expression similar to Hikaru's, moved her lips slightly, and showed transparent beads of tears in her moist eyes.

The crystal-like tears silently slid down the white tender face.

She also wept back at the funeral.

It was a gentle, forlorn sobbing.

And yet, as she cried, her lips…

''"Let us go...Koremitsu. It seems Shiiko is not here."''

Hikaru turned his face away, seemingly begging as he said.

(But that person's your…)

Hikaru clearly looked too anguished, his expression pale, his heart that had already ceased to beat, was almost splintered. Thus, Koremitsu did not ask anything, and quietly left, being mindful not to let the woman in the garden notice him.

(Don't you often go comfort women when you see them cry? It's not like you to see such a depressed beauty alone.)

Koremitsu muttered in his heart.

Once they left the house, Hikaru knelt on the roadside, cupping his knees as he lowered his head.

''"...Sorry, I am really sorry about that...we have to hurry up and look for Shiiko, but...sorry…"''

Due to the trauma caused by his mother, Koremitsu really hated it when people apologized to him. Hikaru clearly knew about it, but his mind was filled with thoughts regarding that woman, and had clearly forgotten about this fact. One could tell at first glance that Hikaru's feelings were not that simple; they were bitter, tormenting.

At this moment, Hikaru could say nary a 'sorry' as he remained silent, sealing his inner heart.

And Koremitsu stood beside Hikaru without saying anything.

The radiant sunlight indicating the arrival of summer rained down from the blue sky, scorching Koremitsu's face. He narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself that he hoped to at least be Hikaru's shelter when he is feeling down.

Curiously, Koremitsu did not know whether ghosts would feel heat…

''"..."''

Once the sunlight weakened slightly, Hikaru finally lifted his head.

He looked over at Koremitsu tentatively, and found him looking back docilely.

"Shiiko is not inside that house, right? Let's go look somewhere else."

Upon hearing Koremitsu say this with his usual tone, Hikaru winced a little before relaxing his shoulders in relief, muttering,

''"Thank you."''

"Oh…"

Koremitsu coldly answered.

At this moment, the cellphone in his pocket rang.

It was from Honoka.

"Akagi! I got information from someone who claimed to have seen Shiiko!"

Hikaru immediately sat upright.

The informant was a male who follows pop idols. He mentioned that during noon, while he was waiting for an idol to appear in front of the TV Bureau, he spotted a man in suit escorting a girl who was most probably in elementary school.

"He said that she's a pretty girl even all the current child actors can't hold a candle to, and regretted that he only watched without taking a picture. That twin-tailed girl has a grassy green pochette, and looks just like Shiiko."

"Which TV studio is that?"

"Eh…?"

Honoka stated the name of the studio.

At this moment, another call came.

"Hello hello? Is that Mr Akagi? I heard that there's something similar to little Shiiko eating with a fat old man with an expensive watch at a hotel restaurant. It seems people are calling that old man 'director'."

The posh hotel Hiina mentioned was near the TV studio Honoka had just notified him about.

Koremitsu cut the line, and exchanged looks with Hikaru.

"What's going on? That brat wants to be an artiste?"

''"Impossible. Shiiko has been scouted so many times, but has insisted on not being an actress because of her mother. She would not accept any name cards at all."''

Hikaru spoke sternly, and this time, Aoi called.

"Mr Akagi, you asked me to investigate about Mr Kuze, so I asked father and the other elders. A friend of mine in school is also about to be betrothed to Mr Kuze's son."

From what Aoi had gathered, it seemed that in Kuze's company, there was a power struggle between the secret backer Kuze and the current chairperson. Kuze wanted his sons to take over the company, but his three sons were very foolish, and the new chairman's party was hoping to expel Kuze's power entirely and take over it completely.

The director called Gohara was the main general under the chairman's side, and it was said he took a very cute girl away, hoping for her to be an image spokesperson artiste for the company.

(That image spokesperson is…)

This completely matched the information Honoka and Hiina gave.

Koremitsu stared at Hikaru, who nodded grimly.

Aoi then said tensely,

"I think that girl is Shiiko, the one you are looking for."

And then, she suggested with a serious tone,

"Mr Akagi, how about we go visit the Goharas? I once met Mr Gohara at a party before. If I accompany you, perhaps you may meet him."

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Koremitsu begged many times to Aoi, telling her that she could just tell him the address, but she would not tell.

"I will not tell you if you do not let me come along."

She insisted, and so, both of them arrived at the Gohras.

"I called the company, and was told that Mr Gohara is on leave today. He should be here if that is the case."

"Hey, Aoi. You can just accompany me here. You already helped me out a lot here. You can go back now."

The sky was dyed golden, and Koremitsu hoped she would return home before it got dark.

However, she swayed her long flowing black hair, and said,

"No. If you go in alone, they might think of you as a hooligan and call the police to take you away. You will gain some more unwarranted slanders in school again."

She looked up at Koremitsu with clear sparkling eyes.

Koremitsu knew that she was worried about him, and was inadvertently touched, but felt worried,

''"Miss Aoi sure is very stubborn."''

Hikaru too looked to have given up as he muttered,

"So you were with that wild dog after all."

A chilly voice suddenly rang, and Koremitsu turned back to see Asai walking out from the back seat of an annoying looking Rolls-Royce.

"Asa…!"

(Saiga!)

"You retired for the day without telling me, and I was worried. I heard you went to your grandfather's factory, and even visited the uncles at the Konoes and Master Kiyoshi of the Takatsukasas."

"Sorry, Asa, that is…"

Asai clasped Aoi's hands tightly, seemingly protecting her, and turned towards Koremitsu, giving a chiding look.

"Do not get Aoi involved in troublesome matters. Gohara and the girl you are looking for are not here. It is better for you to leave before things get out of hand, and before your infamous reputation in school worsens."

"You are being too much, Asa. I insisted on helping. Mr Akagi did no wrong."

Koremitsu hissed,

"...you knew?"

Aoi, who was protesting against Asai, gasped upon hearing this.

"Since you are so certain that Gohara and Shiiko aren't here, that means 'you know' where those two are?"

The blazing eyes were staring forcefully at Asai's pretty, stoic face.

Aoi and Hikaru held their breaths as they watched Koremitsu.

"What is it then!? Asai Saiga!"

The rage in his eyes looked as if fire could surge out from them. One had to wonder what would happen if it were to burn the ice-like stoic face of Asai's.

Asai coldly answered,

"I do know--"

Koremitsu clenched his fists.

"But I have no obligation to tell you."

Upon hearing Asai's unsympathetic declaration, Koremitsu's face winced as he glared furiously, and he took a step forward.

The killing intent he gave off caused Aoi to shiver in trepidation, whereas Asai's condescending look remained unchanged.

"Are you seriously going to threaten me to spill the information with a barbaric method?)

(This woman is really, damn annoying. She's always thinking of me as an enemy or a lowlife. If she's not a woman, I would have beaten her up already.)

Koremitsu took the last step forward.

''"Koremitsu!"''

Hikaru frantically yelled.

The smile disappeared from Asai's face.

"!"

Koremitsu suddenly knelt down at Asai's feet, pressed his head heavily onto the floor, and yelled with a firm, determined voice,

"Please! Tell me where Shiiko is!"

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Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro:Volume2 Side Chapter

2015-11-19T02:26:20Z

LizbethUnknown: missing letter

==Side Story - Shungo Toujou's view -- That is Definitely Not Love!==

The first time Shungo Tōjō met Hikaru Mikado, it was during the beginning of Winter in his second year of Middle School at Heian Academy.

He was with his parents, visiting their relatives, the Saotomes, and found a cute, pretty child playing with his cousin—Aoi—planting bulbs in the garden together. That would be Hikaru.

That child's round face was pink on the cheeks, and the wide eyes with long narrow eyebrows let out a brilliance of purity whilst his muddy hands were digging the dirt beside the bulbs.

That soft, light brown hair looked dazzling like gold under the clear sun of winter, and the person was practically an Angel from a picture book.

(Who is that girl playing with Aoi there?)

It was really rare to see the shy Aoi play with someone other than Asai.

Aoi's face was completely red, her mouth pouting tightly as she seemed to be angry.

Whenever that girl spoke to Aoi with a bright smile, Aoi would immediately look away flustered.

However, whenever she turned and talked to Asai, who was growing plants with her on the other side, Aoi would shyly glance to the side, and then blush and look to the other side again.

Aoi and Asai were in the First Year of Middle School, a year younger than Shungo.

Was that girl of the same age as them?

Unknowingly, that girl was the only thing in his eyes.

Aoi and her friend, Asai, had long, glamourous hair, and were exceptionally outstanding beauties with no particular defects to speak of. However, the girl beside them was no less inferior, and was even the fairest of them all.

Shungo felt an inexplicable allure from her, and that was a characteristic the girls around him never once had.

That girl suddenly stood up and tottered her way towards the storage shed in the garden.

She wanted to move a large bag of fertilizer, and though she managed to carry it, she was moving rather awkwardly.

"Seriously, what are you doing, Hikaru!? It's too dangerous!"

Her face blushing, Aoi immediately ran over.

Asai however continued to look on with a coy expression unfitting of a child.

Shungo managed to reach that girl faster than Aoi, and helped her carry the fertilizer bag.

The girl turned towards Shungo, and her large eyes grew larger. The eyes and hair were light brown in color, and from close up, they were so pretty he was infatuated with it.

Shungo felt his heart pound like crazy.

"This is too heavy for a girl. Let me carry this."

"Big Brother…"

Shungo's sudden appearance caused Aoi to be shocked, and then, once she saw Shungo help carry that bag from behind the child, she immediately pouted unhappily.

Shungo wondered that Aoi must have been jealous after seeing him treat another girl so nicely. Aoi was a child, so this was to be expected.

Though he was just a year older than Aoi, this was the conclusion he came to.

"Erm, are you Miss Aoi's big brother…? I am not a girl though."

A sweet, cute voice that matched the appearance came from close range.

(Huh!?)

This time, Shungo was the one flabbergasted as his eyes widened in surprise, his mouth ajar.

"I am a boy."

The child said with an angelic voice.

(A boy!!!?)

Shungo felt cheated, and unhappily moved the fertilizer to the flowers. "Thank you." The boy thanked him in a very cutesy manner, but he did not answer or look at the latter as he hurried back into the house.

Shungo’s second meeting with that child was during the New Year party hide at the Mikados'.

He overheard his 3 older sisters, who were natural chatterboxes,

"Look! That's the 'child who should not have been born'!"

He turned around, and found 'him', dressed in a child-sized suit and shorts.

That child was surrounded by a group of lavishly dressed big sisters, and then responded to them with an earnest, cute smile. They too started chatting with him with grins on their faces.

Shungo's sisters' interest in watching commotion was brazenly shown in this case.

"Eh? That child is 'Hikaru'? That cannot be! He looks really cute."

"It is because he is brought to the Mikados main family that Kazuaki and his mother had to leave as a result."

"So he is the heir to the Mikado family? He really is 'a child that should not have been born'."

"But he is really cute, and his hair color is pretty too! He is like a foreign prince. I want to go over and talk to him!"

"Are you not blind? B-But, I think...I may have some interest."

Shungo paid attention to their gossip.

In the past, when he eavesdropped on the adults, he learned of the existence of a 'child that should not have been born'.

Whenever the adults talked about it, all of them would frown and grumble.

(So the one I met at the Saotomes was Hikaru Mikado…)

From the attitudes of the adults, Shungo had assumed Hikaru was a gloomy child, and did not expect the latter to be so carefree, dazzling, to a point where he was practically engulfed in light. He could have enjoyable talks with women, old enough to be his mother, or women that were even older, and gain their doting love.

Right. If he were wise, he would definitely be unable to smile so carefreely.

Upon seeing that pretty face that was like a guy, Shungo suddenly recalled the awkward incident involving him at the Saotomes, and suddenly felt bitter.

The first person he ever felt his heart flutter towards was a boy...and it was to Hikaru Mikado of all people.

(That might be my first love...no, that is definitely not it! I am just mistaken! That cannot count!)

''Good thing I found out about his gender soon after...''Shungo secretly heaved a sigh of relief deep within.

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

Because of these past incidents, Shungo never liked Hikaru afterwards, but because of their family standings, he could not ignore the latter, and this infuriated him.

For generations, the Tōjō had served the Mikados. Shungo was furious as he thought it was a misfortune how that lecherous, frivolous harem prince would become his future superior.

(But I never expected Hikaru to die at such a young age…)

And Shungo never thought there would be a day he would be so agitated after Hikaru died…

On a certain holiday, Shungo was in the family kitchen, preparing some breakfast though it was a little late. He strained the lettuce leaves that were to be used for the salad as he pondered.

On the day before Hikaru died, he promised Shungo he would break Yū Kanai free from her past demons, and walk out of that tattered apartment.

After that, Hikaru's friend, Koremitsu Akagi finished his wish and completed the promise.

It was great if Yū could continue enjoying her new life in Australia cheerfully.

The girl who ate lunch alone in the serene bamboo forest, her face filled with blissfulness.

Shungo really liked her silence and her shy attitude.

Shungo's taste was in females that were obedient, quiet and supple, for he had several vicious talkative older sisters who were frivolous, and would treat their little brother as a servant.

During the Heian Era, the Crown Prince that later became the Emperor Sanjō ordered his concubine Suishi to hold onto a block of ice, and said to her, "If you really loved me, you mustn't let go of the ice until I say to stop." He then forgot about it, and by the time he recalled, the ice had melted, and Suishi's hands were frozen purple. But she held on to this ice block silently, and never grumbled a single word.

If Shungo had dared to say, "This is the ideal woman", he would be lambasted to high heavens by all the women in the world, and his sisters would definitely beat him up good.

Even so, he could not help but find himself infatuated with abnormally docile females.

Unfortunately, such women normally would not dare to approach Shungo, and would run away before they even got acquainted.

Considering how there would be three potential sister-in-laws that would be hard to get along, his future in attaining a wife would be tumultuous, to say the least.

Even if he could find someone he could fall in love with, she might faint after seeing those sisters of him glare at her if she were that serene and introverted, let alone chat...there would never be a good outcome for him.

But speaking of which, the Concubine Suishi did have the casanova Minamoto no Yorisada wooing her, and it was a fact that they became husband and wife, and even conceived a child together…

When he heard of how Hikaru often visited Yū's apartment, he was furious and deflated within, dejected to a point where his gut hurt.

(I should not thank Hikaru after all...maybe it is because of his regular visits that Yū Kanai was unwilling to step out of her house. And he has countless relationships with so many girls...humpt, that person's heinous acts are unmeasurable.)

As he furiously shaved the red carrot…

"Big Brother Shungo!"

A pretty girl with long flowing black hair and a white sash tied upon it came running in with her cheeks puffed.

That would be his cousin Aoi.

Aoi had just celebrated her 17th birthday, and there was a trace of mature charm in her innocent nature as she had become prettier than before.

But in Shungo's eyes, Aoi would always be a cute cousin to him.

As the youngest child, he was oppressed by his three sisters, and thus, he doted on Aoi like she was his own little sister. The person who was born to be a part of the board of management must definitely not be like Hikaru, for he would be frowned upon by his subordinates. However, he was always amicable and caring to Aoi.

"Good morning, Aoi. Why did you look for me? What happened? Ah, I just baked some Quiches here. It's chicken and herb flavor, your favorite. There is still some Compote in the fridge too."

Shungo's interest was cooking, and he was very detailed in the ingredients he used. Naturally, he had confidence in the flavor.

However…

"That isn't important!"

Aoi refused readily, surprising him somewhat.

"Seriously, everyone is so mean! They actually said Mr Akagi is more savage than a vengeful spirit, and said he even beat it down until it submitted, and devoured it fully! Asa even said, ''"It will be great if that sort of man better head off to a country full of vengeful spirits and stay there forever"''. That was really cold of her!"

Aoi complained furiously.

It seemed she was angry about how Koremitsu Akagi's reputation in school had been freefalling…

"Everyone is so mean with their words; Mr Akagi will definitely be hurt if he hears that. He really is too pitiful, and Asa even added on to the wounds by saying ''"What a pity. If that person is so sensitive to this, he would have been embarrassed enough to lock himself in and never come to school."'' No matter how much she hates Mr Akagi, there is no need for her to be so cruel in her words! I do not want to talk to her about Mr Akagi again! Big Brother, can you please help Mr Akagi somehow?"

She was huffing in fury as she stared at Shungo with a sincere expression.

It was because Asai, whom Aoi always relied on, would not help, that she chose to look for Shungo.

Asai grew up together with Aoi, and was her good friend and guardian. It was unexpected to see the gentle and obedient Aoi not listen to Asai's words, and because of Koremitsu Akagi…

Aoi and Hikaru were once betrothed.

Whenever that playboy Hikaru, who had countless girlfriends, was mentioned,

''"Daddy and the rest all decided on the marriage. I really hate Hikaru!"''

Aoi would insist, but everyone who knew Aoi well could tell she really liked Hikaru ever since young. This was also one of the reasons why Shungo was unable to get along with Hikaru.

After Hikaru died, Aoi lashed out at his funerary photo, and created yet a ruckus, which really worried Shungo. However, it seemed she was a lot more emotionally stable recently, and she started to smile.

She also was on better terms with the arts club members, who she once disputed with.

Also, she never relied on Asai's influence to do this; she did all of this through her own efforts.

As for the reason why Aoi became so optimistic…

—Mr Akagi helped Hikaru present a present to her.

Aoi answered shyly with a gentle smile.

So that person not only changed Yū, but Aoi too?

Shungo had complicated thoughts regarding Koremitsu Akagi; though he marveled at the latter's attitude, he was not willing to recognize it. Besides, who was he exactly?

His family background and upbringing were completely different from Hikaru's, and their personalities were miles apart. How did he end up being Hikaru's friend?

How much of ''Hikaru's matters'' did he know about?

Aoi's voice however dragged Shungo back from his deep thoughts.

"Big Brother, please listen to me, okay? Mr Akagi looks scary on the outside, is very crude when talking, and looks prone to violence, but he is really a good person. When we went to the theme park…"

Aoi recalled about something, and her face suddenly reddened.

Suddenly, Shungo felt an ominous premonition in his chest.

"Why are you so worried about Akagi? Have you fallen for him?"

He tried to probe by asking nonchalantly.

However, Aoi immediately blushed, unable to say anything.

Her stare floated around continuously, her hands were pressed on her blushing cheeks, she was panicking, and then, she lowered her head,

"...Not...at all."

She answered with a teeny-weeny voice.

And then, she raised her blushing petite face and insisted,

"But Mr Akagi is really a nice person! And he is Hikaru's friend! Because he really took care of me, I want to repay him somehow...so-so, I-I-I definitely, definitely, definitely do not like him!"

(THIS IS BAD!!!)

[[File:Hikaru2-311.jpg|thumb]]

Shungo's face paled, and it seemed this ominous premonition became reality.

(Aoi, you must not! This Big Brother will definitely not agree to this!)

He hollered out deep in his heart like a foolish big brother doting on his little sister.

No, Aoi just had not recovered from the shock over Hikaru's death yet. She is just lost, unable to comprehend the situation, because she has been pampered since young, never met such a savage person, and suffered quite a culture shock.

Right! That is definitely not love!

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Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro:Volume2 Chapter3

2015-11-06T00:49:32Z

LizbethUnknown: Part edited didn't seem right

==Chapter 3 - The Fleeting White Flower at the Bottom of the Wall (2)==

(It’s weird, definitely weird. What’s the matter with me?)

Due to the change in seasons, Koremitsu was wearing a half-sleeved shirt as his uniform instead. It became a duty for him to head to Yū’s house, and on a certain day after school…

He was standing in front of the food rack in a convenience store, muttering away.

From time to time, his heart would flutter, his head would heat up like a teapot, and his lips would stammer. Perhaps he caught some cold that came with the seasonal change?

The symptoms would become more pronounced whenever he was with Yū. Whenever Yū seemed to open her heart to Koremitsu and give a thin smile at him, these symptoms would worsen. Whenever he thought about Yū, the symptoms would occur, whenever it was at school or at home.

''“—What is this?”''

“This is ‘Kimchi with three times the spiciness’.”

Hikaru then pointed out,

''“Are you going to buy six of those?”''

Upon Hikaru’s mention, Koremitsu realized that the basket was filled with Kimchi bottles.

His face reddened. He returned them to the rack.

''“If you’re buying them for Yū, I’ll advise you not to buy such spicy ones. You can’t just consider your own preferences, Koremitsu; you need to think and choose what Yū wants.”''

“I-I-I-I-I-I-I’m not buying Kimchi for her. I’m buying them for myself.”

Koremitsu frantically explained.

“…What does Yū like?”

And then, he whispered with a frown on his face. Hikaru whistled.

“Damn you, what are you grinning for!? Speaking of which, aren’t you the one who asked me to take care of Yū?”

Koremitsu forgot that there were people as he lambasted Hikaru. The shop attendant at the register was taken aback.

(Argh!)

Upon seeing Koremitsu cringe his head guiltily, Hikaru, with a face about to burst into laughter, told Koremitsu,

''“That’s right, thank you. Yū likes sweet and translucent food.”''

After pondering for a little while, he bought some rock candy and went over to the apartment.

After he knocked on the door, the dreamy-eyed girl and the blue-eyed cat peered outside.

“Y-yo.”

Koremitsu greeted her stiffly. Lapis purred with a ‘meow~’, while Yū nodded at him with a gentle expression.

On the first time they met, she had a blue blanket draped tightly over her from head to toe. Though recently, she merely had the blanket on her shoulders.

Normally, her attire under the blanket would be a sleeveless dress. Her feet would be bare, without socks, and her neck and arms would appear from time to time. Whenever Koremitsu inadvertently notices her white slender calves and ankles, his heart would race without warning.

“A gift.”

He handed over a bag from the convenience store.

Yū received it, peered inside and immediately showed a beaming smile.

“Thank you… I really like it.”

Koremitsu did not expect that something like rock candy could cause her to have such a blissful expression; his heart raced, and his face got hotter.

Yū opened the packet and used her fingers to pick up a piece of translucent rock candy. She narrowed her eyes, her eyes apparently irritated by the light, placed the rock candy into her mouth, and nibbled.

There was a cracking sound as she bit, and she gave a more blissful, satisfied smile.

Upon seeing this expression, Koremitsu’s heart nearly exploded from the fast beating of his heart.

The room was small and the walls were thin. They could hear the sounds of the neighbor opening and closing the door, hard footsteps, and growls of a woman from time to time.

“WHAT THE HECK! THOSE MEN ARE SO PETTY ONCE THERE’S AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN! THERE’S NO WAY I CAN LIVE ON! EH, MY FUTURE’S BLEAK, FROSTY! EVERYONE OTHER THAN THE MEN WHO SUPPORTED ME CAN GO DIE!!”

Upon hearing the loud voice, Koremitsu shuddered.

However, Yū merely continued to space out even at this point.

“That is… the sound of waves crashing at the rocks.”

“The whales are sneezing.”

She would say such things with a blank expression.

He knew, after these days of being together, that though she was timid and introverted, she was serene, strong-willed, and could face the daily difficulties normally.

He felt that in this sense, Yū was very similar to Hikaru.

At this moment, Hikaru was still crouched on the floor on one knee, playing with Lapis.

It seemed Lapis could actually see Hikaru, and even reached its fore paws to touch him. After missing a few times, it looked up at him in surprise.

Lapis was originally a stray cat, and wandered here soon after Yū locked herself in the apartment. Its ears were not too sensitive, so it had a strange habit of staring at living people and objects; perhaps it was because of this characteristic that he could accurately detect what normal people could not sense.

Hikaru too stared at Lapis gently, and would sometimes use his fingers to prod at its forepaws, and also pretend to scratch its chin.

I really can’t get this guy. Why isn’t he willing to say what promise he made with Yū? The only thing he does here is to play with the cat. What exactly does he want me to do anyway?

Koremitsu glared at Hikaru, and upon noticing this, Yū asked worriedly,

“What, is it…?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Well…how-how did you and Hikaru get to know each other?”

Koremitsu asked in a flustered manner. At that moment, Yū’s eyes brightened, and she whispered,

“…Hikaru… first appeared a week after Lapis appeared…”

It was the previous summer, on a drizzling night.

There was a boy dressed in Heian Academy uniform, holding an umbrella, standing in front of the apartment.

Upon seeing that effeminate pretty face appear under the road lights, she immediately recognized him as ‘Lord Hikaru’.

At that time, Hikaru was in his 3rd and final year of Middle School, and Yū was in her 1st year of High school, but there was nary a girl in the school who did not recognize the school prince ‘Lord Hikaru’.

(What… is he doing here?)

Hikaru was holding onto a light purple umbrella, staring at the fence beside the apartment. This act triggered Yū’s curiosity.

Why is he standing there all this time? It’s so cold, so dark outside, and it’s raining. What exactly is he looking at?

His expression was so tender, filled with affection.

Yū stared at Hikaru from the gap in the curtain, and at this moment, he suddenly lifted his head.

!

Their eyes met, and her heart was petrified.

Her immediate thought was to hurriedly pull the curtains, but Hikaru smiled at her.

That smile was very friendly, tender, and seemingly melted into her heart.

After that, Hikaru placed his umbrella on the fence for some reason, and walked to the apartment in the rain.

Skeptical, Yū did not know what happened outside, but unexpectedly, a few seconds later…

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Knock Knock*…the sound of knocking rang in her ears.

Covered in a blanket, she timidly approached the door, placed her ear on the door, and heard a sweet voice speak to her,

''“I’m sorry for disturbing you at such a late time, but would you mind letting me hide from the rain here? I lent my umbrella to the beautiful flowers drenched by the rain, and I'm at a loss on what to do now.”

There was no sense of pretense in Hikaru’s tone, and the clear voice full of warmth attracted Yū. She opened her door, and found Hikaru soaked with transparent water dripping off him, his hair and shirt drenched, smiling radiantly at her.

“That was… our first meeting.”

Yū’s voice was soft and slow… she muttered,

“Hikaru said… he noticed the Gourd flowers growing at the feet of the wall… those flowers are fragile yet brave… as pretty as a fleeting dream… so he was stunned…”

—You see the white flowers blooming at the feet of the wall? The shuddering gentle flowers are drenched by the rain.

Koremitsu recalled Hikaru’s tone and expression as the latter stared at the foot of the wall in front of the apartment.

He said those flowers were tender and pretty.

Just like Yū.

—They bloom in the evening, and radiate silently under the moonlight in the night. When the morning dawn breaks in, they start to wilt.

At this point, Hikaru was giving a reminiscing expression as he patted Lapis’ head, similar to the moment when he stared at the foot of the wall.

His fingers could no longer touch Lapis, but whenever his white hand moved elegantly, Lapis’ whiskers would shudder slightly.

Yū did not realize her dead lover was in this room, but she still stared over at where Hikaru was with that dreamy expression of hers.

That must have been Hikaru’s usual spot.

Her loving yet lonely expression was heartbreaking to anyone who saw it—

Hikaru too would show a tender look to Yū from time to time.

As he saw them look at each other like this, Koremitsu started to feel uneasy, and had a sudden notion that he was getting in their way.

However, Hikaru would not say what sort of promise he made with Yū, and would not speak to Yū. He only cared about playing with Lapis, apparently not concerned about that promise…

“So, Yū… you became lovers with Hikaru like this?”

Koremitsu’s tone was glum and aloof, to a point where he was taken aback by it.

His stomach started to ache from cramps. Do I not want Yū to go out with Hikaru? Or am I unwilling to stand the fact that Hikaru is only concerned about playing with the cat and leaving his girlfriend with another man?

Damn it, why am I so angry?

Yū realized that Koremitsu was giving a gloomy expression; thus, she remained silent and stared at him worriedly. As Koremitsu tried his best to give a calm expression, she moved her mouth impatiently, and spoke with a teeny-weeny voice,

“You seem… to be mistaken… Hikaru and I… were not lovers…”

“What do you mean?”

Startled, Koremitsu leaned his body forward.

“Didn’t Hikaru often look for you? The woman next door even commented vexingly that he returned back home in the mornings before—”

Upon seeing Yū’s face turn red, Koremitsu’s face became hot.

“My-my bad. I’m being too nosy here.”

Yū shook her head as her eyes looked downwards, and her face reddened. She clasped her hands, hesitated for a moment, and whispered,

“Hikaru and I… really did not have that kind of relationship… I know…Hikaru had relationships with many girls… one time… I even asked him, why… wouldn’t he do anything to me… I felt it was weird…”

Yū’s neck reddened as well.

She grabbed at a corner of the blue blanket tightly, cringed her neck, and stuttered,

“And so, upon hearing that, Hikaru… smiled gently at me, and said that I… didn’t fall in love with him…”

Koremitsu’s face was still burning, yet he kept listening to Yū with bated breath.

Hikaru however nonchalantly lowered his stare as he scratched Lapis by the neck.

“Meow…”

Lapis purred quietly.

Yū looked up at Koremitsu with an uneasy expression.

“He said… by looking at the eyes, he knew whether the other party is in love… those in love, their eyes will show a desire to have the other party to themselves. Once he sees that expression, he will fall in love with that person, unable to break away, and at that moment, he wants to practically offer his entire being…”

Yū’s voice got softer, weaker, and once she finished, she lowered her head and remained silent.

She did not seem to be worrying that Koremitsu would not believe her words, but was reminiscing over Hikaru with a faltering heart.

Koremitsu too found it difficult to recover mentally. There was an inexplicable loneliness creeping out from his chest.

Perhaps it was because Yū really looked really depressed.

Also, Yū did not describe Hikaru’s usual radiant side, but also his lonely side.

She lowered her head, and muttered,

“Hikaru said that… there is only one exception… that though they were deeply in love with each other, they could not embrace each other… he looked really anguished when he said this…”

Hikaru seemingly did not hear Yū’s words as he scratched at Lapis’ chin serenely with a profound expression.

Lapis too stared coldly at Hikaru with its blue-purple eyes.

Yū continued to keep her head lowered as she remained silent.

At this point, Koremitsu did not know how to react.

Oi, Hikaru, stop pretending to be dead and say something. The atmosphere is awkward because of you here! Now is not the time to play with the cat!

Koremitsu glared at Hikaru, chiding him while his veins were popping.

However, Hikaru continued to play dead.

No, in fact, Hikaru was dead, a ghost in fact. Even if he spoke up, Yū would not be able to hear anything.

“I want to embrace Hikaru to remove his loneliness he carries…”

Yū spoke with a soft voice that could melt away in the air.

“But he said… that it’s not love.”

There was an unsteady vibe to her tone.

If even Hikaru, who was well-versed in love experiences, said so, Yū’s feelings for Hikaru should probably not be love.

While there was a sweet and fuzzy feeling seeping into his heart there was a feeling akin to anxiousness spreading gradually in him.

Yū wholeheartedly wanted to help Hikaru, to a point where she wanted to accept all his pain.

If he had asked for it, she might have accepted his request fully. She was so gentle and yet so hollow within.

Hikaru’s fiancée, Aoi, was a pure girl. A pure white flower who was not once stained.

Yū too was like a white flower, but a flower that could be dyed with other colors without warning. It seemed that if anyone were to touch her, they would damage and soil her petals.

It was probably because of this reason that Hikaru never viewed her as a girlfriend, for he wanted her to maintain her purity.

Could there be any other reasons?—Koremitsu glared over at Hikaru’s effeminate face that was still looking aside.

“Have you fallen in love before?”

Yū suddenly asked, startling Koremitsu.

She lifted her head, and stared at Koremitsu with a transparent expression.

Koremitsu took a deep breath, and answered,

“N-no.”

His palms were full of sweat.

(How is love different from other feelings? How do I differentiate between them?)

Koremitsu too did not understand what was the feeling fluctuating at the bottom of his heart.

Yū’s eyes showed an understanding expression akin to sorrow.

Koremitsu felt his heart being ruffled as he watched this, and she muttered with a lonely tone that nobody could ever forget,

“Then, we’re the same after all.”

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

“Love… what is it?”

On the way back,

There was a rain before, so the blinking stars littered upon the ink-colored night screen were brighter than usual.

With his back hunched, Koremitsu murmured as he walked with his head lowered. Hikaru, who was following beside at the same speed, answered with a gentle voice,

''“It is a yearning for a certain person. This yearning is so powerful that it can change a person’s mental state, and… it’s fleeting.”''

“Fleeting…”

Koremitsu’s heart started to ache again once he recalled Yū’s hollow expression.

Hikaru continued on with a mature expression,

''“Yes… even if we know that there will be a moment when our feelings will fade away, we still feel bliss when talking about love… no matter how painful that love is.”''

There was the one person Hikaru could not embrace.

(Is he referring to Aoi?)

That girl represented Hikaru’s hope.

He once said that in a self-depreciating tone, that he did not dare to pursue her carelessly as he was fearful of being hated by Aoi.

But Koremitsu could not ask.

Unlike Yū, he could see and hear Hikaru; the latter was always with him.

''We are friends''—Hikaru once said this.

Even so, Hikaru would occasionally show an expression of deep thought, the expression of a grown-up that would not allow Koremitsu to ask, that caused the latter not to ask out of fear.

At such moments, Koremitsu could not tell what he was thinking or what he was looking at. Though their ages were similar, they seemed so distant, and he did not know what to do.

(If I fall in love…will I understand what Hikaru is thinking…?)

If that is the case, will I see what Hikaru is seeing?

Upon recalling Yū’s face, Koremitsu was tormented with pain as if his heart was pinched.

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

The next day, after school.

Koremitsu was in the stationary shop, staring at the glass puzzles. The glittering blue transparent puzzle was assembled together, forming a mysterious underwater scenery.

He stared at the completed picture printed on the box.

''“Ahh, Yū will probably like this.”''

Koremitsu suddenly heard a voice.

“!”

Startled, he looked away with a blushing face. Koremitsu frowned with his eyes raised, but did not say a word; at this moment, Hikaru smiled at him, saying,

''“So you have grasped what Yū likes.”''

“…”

Koremitsu put the puzzle back, turned and walked away.

''“Eh? You’re not buying it?”''

Hikaru asked.

Upon hearing that,

“I’m just looking around.”

Koremitsu answered.

“…humph.”

But he turned to another direction, picked up a puzzle, and walked to the counter.

Hikaru was amused by his awkward attitude, and laughed secretly.

Upon seeing the puzzle pulled out from the blue wrapping, Yū’s eyes immediately sparkled.

She stared at the blue puzzle in the box, and said delightedly,

“…it’s pretty.”

She cautiously placed a piece of puzzle on her palm, marvelled at how it sparkled when reflecting the lights, apparently lost herself as she looked on, and smiled.

These actions and attitude caused Koremitsu’s heart to race.

It seemed she just took a shower as her hair was still drenched. Her white skin gave the vague scent of soap, causing Koremitsu to gasp for breath, his head overheated.

(Why is it that my heart just flusters for no reason recently? I hate girls so much… I’m only taking care of her on Hikaru’s request…)

The midterms were about to begin the next day.

He should be prompting Yū to remember ‘the important promise’ between Hikaru and her, solve it as quickly as possible, and end this relationship.

But unknowingly, his objective had changed to wanting to meet Yū.

He was excessively frustrated with himself.

(What in the world am I doing here!?)

Yū scattered the puzzle pieces on the floor.

She knelt down, bent her waist forward, and started playing with the puzzle pieces. The blanket unravelled, and her sleeveless dress revealed the white flesh of her neck at the collar. The fragrance of shampoo and soap whiffed into Koremitsu’s nose.

“Your hair…”

“?”

Yū lifted her head.

“Hurry up and dry your hair first!”

He inadvertently spoke with a gruff tone; his cheeks were stiff, his eyebrows were raised, and his expression was probably as savage as a wild dog.

Upon noticing how terrified Yū looked, he realized that he should not have done that.

(What idiotic things am I doing here!?)

“I-I-I-I-I’m not angry here! I’m not scolding you, just that I find your hair to be so long. If you don’t dry it quickly, you may get a cold…”

Koremitsu frantically tried to explain, his head seething.

“…Sorry, I don’t have a hairdryer… I can only let it dry…”

Yū said tentatively, her shoulders cringed as she looked dejected.

“Actually, I don’t use the hairdryer often either! I just leave it as it is after washing it! I’m really not angry at all! I may not look happy, and my expression looks savage but this is all hereditary—I’m always like this, okay! So I don’t know how to smile, and I rarely laugh. Hiakru said that he wanted to introduce a girl who likes to laugh, but I think she’ll be scared away immediately after seeing me… it’s meaningless to say this… this isn’t what I want to say…”

Koremitsu tried his best to explain, but the more he did, the more dejected she got.

''If I can smile gently just like Hikaru now, I can calm Yū like this instead of spending so much time explaining to her.''

''Why can’t my face act however I want?''

''Why can’t I laugh whenever I want?''

''I guess this cringing face looks as twisted as a crying face now, right?''

''This will only terrify Yū more!''

At this moment, Yū said silently,

“I don’t… hate your appearance…”

Koremitsu’s gasped.

Yū’s eyes looked up at him, her eyes filled with uneasiness. However, it seemed she was not terrified of him, but wanted to encourage him.

Koremitsu was unable to move, his eyes fixed upon Yū. She said with a soft, gentle drizzling-like voice,

“…You are, a gentle… person… and you are very affectionate… with me.”

His chest shook silently.

Some heat returned back to his icy cold fingertips too.

“One of these days, you will be able to laugh.”

She said in a prayerful manner.

“I too… find it harrowing to leave my house…”

Sadness rose beneath her transparent eyes. She lowered her head, remained silent for a while, and turned towards where the electric fan and golf bags were in a pleading manner.

There were shells and the majolica were towers of prayer and graves of fishes, and Yū said they were meant to protect the underwater world.

Koremitsu suddenly recalled about Yū’s parents divorce when she remained holed up in her room. His heart winced at this.

Yū too harboured a deep wound.

“But when I talk here with Lapis and Hikaru… I just feel so relaxed… so… you definitely can laugh by staying here…”

Yū’s words dripped onto Koremitsu’s heart, just like how the drizzle rained silently, seeping into the dirt.

Yū used her index and middle fingers to pick up a piece of rock candy from the glass container, and brought it to Koremitsu’s mouth.

His face blushed awkwardly, and he felt he was a wild dog being fed as he stiffly opened his mouth. The translucent sweet crystal touched his lips and tongue.

Once it entered his mouth, he immediately tasted an intense sweetness within.

Koremitsu, who preferred spicy food, felt his tongue go numb.

Yū too took another piece and placed it in her mouth. She played with it using her tongue for a little while. Her mouth let out little cracking sounds, then showed a blissful smile.

“As long as anyone stays here… they can feel… happiness.”

The rock candy remained in Koremitsu’s mouth, as he could neither swallow nor spit it out.

It truly was sweet enough to be aptly described as happiness.

But this was too sweet to him.

His chest throbbed, his pulse raced; he did not understand himself, and felt so tentative and helpless—

Yū cringed her body, closed her eyes, stuck her ear to the floor, and was supposedly listening to the sound of waves that did not exist.

“Pain… sadness… there are things happening in the world far away… in this world, it doesn’t even matter if I don’t use an umbrella…”

There was still more than half the rock candy inside his mouth.

Yū did not murmur anything, and did not move.

It seemed she had fallen into a deep slumber.

Koremitsu called her, but there was no response from her.

He bent his back over to approach her face; he whiffed upon the scent of shampoo, and could hear a weak snore.

He frowned as he tightened his mouth, got up and looked at the ceiling.

He let out a deep humming from his tightly sealed lips.

He widened his eyes, gritted his teeth, and stared upwards as if giving a vengeful glare to a sworn enemy.

Koremitsu said,

“Hey, Hikaru.”

A gentle voice responded,

''“What is it? I thought you had forgotten about my existence here. It seemed you could not see me at all.”''

Hikaru stared at Koremitsu with a bemused expression, descended onto the floor, sat on his knees, and let his delicate fingertips tap Lapis on the head.

Lapis cringed in shock, and stared over at Hikaru with a brooding expression.

“You’re the one who’s pretending not to see. Why’re you sticking to the ceiling, sleeping away like you’re dead or something?”

Koremitsu said with his cheeks puffed, and Hikaru showed that mature smile that Koremitsu repulsed.

''“I am watching, both you and Yū. You two are important people I’m watching over now.”''

(Are you serious?)

Koremitsu’s lips curled harder.

''“It looks like you’re really bothered, hero.”''

“Isn’t that your fault or something!?”

''“Yū’s sleeping because she can already relax with you around. When she’s with me, she often falls asleep when talking. This shows that she really trusts you, so no matter what happens, don’t get all horny here.”''

“NO WAY! DON’T PUT ME ON THE SAME LEVEL AS YOU, YOU PERVERT!”

Actually, he was not simply feeling concupiscent; he was feeling mushy all over, and his body was beating wildly all over.

The hand and delicate white feet revealed from beneath the blanket caused his head to be on the verge of boiling.

And at the same time—

There was also another feeling, another doubt, rising from within his chest.

The sweetness that still lingered on his tongue continued to ask at this point.

Koremitsu muttered,

“Hey… will I really be happy staying here?”

The moment he said this, the protruding feeling at the bottom of his heart strengthened.

“Can I really laugh… if I continue to stay here?”

Yū, who murmured with such a fleeting smile,

—You will feel happiness…

“Is this kind of lifestyle Yū’s living really happiness? What exactly is happiness?”

Is living this kind of life, locked alone in the house, meeting only with a select few, really happiness?

Lapis’ eyes were staring at Koremitsu.

Its eyes seemed to give the impression that there was a globe rotating in that small space within its eyes.

Hikaru suddenly showed an aloof expression akin to Lapis’,

''“I’m just a ghost. I can’t answer this question.”''

“Eh?”

Koremitsu asked back in surprise,

Hikaru stared at Koremitsu silently with a wise expression,

His tone too became aloof,

''“This ‘happiness’ is something only the living have the privilege to think of after all.”''

“Wait… why are you acting like a bystander now? You’re the one who brought me here!!”

He was bewildered upon hearing this, and inadvertently hollered,

“And why wouldn’t you say what promise you made with Yū no matter what? What are your plans for her!?”

He could not understand why Hikaru’s tone became so aloof.

Hikaru’s white handsome face lost all expression, seemingly gazing upon the events of a distant world. He murmured,

''“This won’t do, Koremitsu… I can’t tell you the answer.”''

Upon hearing this, Koremitsu felt his head seething with anger. In his furor, he roared,

“What kind of joke is this! You bastard!”

The neighbour started to knock on the wall, not once but a few consecutive times.

The wall rumbled, and Yū opened her eyes slightly,

“…the waves are… really big today… is the whale flapping its tail hard…”

She said in a stupor.

Then, she found Koremitsu frozen there with a stern look, and asked worriedly,

“…What’s the matter?”

Hikaru turned away from Koremitsu and continued to pat Lapis’ head.

Unable to vent his frustrations anywhere, he suddenly called out in exasperation.

“…Yū, how about we go to school?”

“Eh?”

Yū lowered her eyelids.

Koremitsu knelt down in front of Yū, his body leaning forward.

“It’s not normal to keep locking yourself in the room every day, and it’s not good for your health either. The line between reality and delusions will also become vague. Better get out and walk before your legs start growing fins!”

He really did not know if he should have said those words.

But upon seeing Hikaru being so aloof, he was so vexed within, and he inadvertently said out these impulsive words.

“If anyone bullies you, I’ll beat him up good. If you go to school, we can meet anytime! We may be in different classes, but I can accompany you during lunch break if you’re lonely… we can have lunch together…”

''What in the world am I saying?''

Koremitsu felt his throat parched, and his face scorched.

Yū’s face however paled, and with a teeny-weeny voice,

“No…”

She answered.

Koremitsu was perplexed.

Yū pulled her blanket tightly with trembling hands, and slowly backed away.

“Don’t. Why, must you say… such things? I don’t want to go to school.”

Normally, she was able to talk calmly in front of Koremitsu. However, at this point, she was terrified. To a point where her entire body was repulsed by the notion.

“Y-you can’t possibly hide inside the house for the rest of your life, right? And you need to think of how to earn money to pay your rent and living expenses. What’ll happen if your dad doesn’t provide money for you?”

Yū’s shoulders shouldered. Like a chided child, she winced, and said with a sobbing voice,

“I-I’ll hang on even if I’m hungry.”

“The gas and electricity might not be the only thing cut off next time. They may cut off the water.”

“I’ll hang on.”

“You’ll die.”

“I’ll hang on. That’s better than going to school. If I go to school, everyone will give me icy stares, and even say some bad things around me. I’ll be alone in school…”

She exerted more strength as she tugged at the blanket, cringed back, and draped herself under the blanket in the corner. Koremitsu felt his heart gorged apart, his head boiling over as he started to lose confidence.

(Did I say anything wrong here?)

He could not tell.

Hikaru continued to pat at Lapis’ head, his eyelids lowered, his effeminate pretty fingers gliding gently—and showed no reaction to Koremitsu’s words and Yū’s timidity.

Koremitsu was further incensed the more he saw this. I’m different from HIkaru, I’m really someone who cares for Yū here! He thought.

He could not stop once his temper flared up!

“I said it before! If anyone bullies you, I’ll beat him up good! I’m the same as you too! Everyone in school’s always giving me suspecting looks, spreading all sorts of baseless rumors to everyone, saying I’m a delinquent, some murder suspect, and I can’t even get a friend as a result! Even so, I still go to school every day, and I will finish my homework obediently!”

The more serious he spoke, the more Yū’s heart seemed distant from him.

She did not want to look at his face any further.

A weak voice came from underneath the blue blanket.

“Because… you’re, very strong… I definitely can’t do that… if we go to school together, I’ll die. Since I’ll die either way, I’d rather starve to death here.”

“DON’T SPOUT NONSENSE HERE!”

At his wits end, Koremitsu furiously leaned forward, but his arm accidentally hooked upon the golf bag.

An unsteady feeling came about, and the bag immediately tumbled over. The electric fan and stove too flipped, while the shells and marbles fell all over the floor.

Yū revealed her face from underneath the carpet, and looked on blankly. She dragged the blanket as she ran towards the fallen golf bag and electric fan.

“Ah, m-my bad…”

Hikaru remained still.

That splendid side profile remained as still as a marble sculpture.

“Go back…”

Yū’s petite face was filled with fear as she whispered.

She knelt down, her hands trembling as she picked up the scattered shells,

“Go back, go back! Never come back!”

She continued, and sprawled on the floor, her face sticking onto it. It was obvious she was crying from her shuddering shoulders and choking voice.

Then, she spoke to the startled Koremitsu with a hurt voice,

“…you are different from Hikaru after all.”

(Damn it, I already knew it!)

The sky was dark as he headed down the path leading home, and Koremitsu gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and roared out deep within his heart.

(Hikaru and I are already different; I’m not as adept as him at handling girls. Hikaru wouldn’t do anything, so I thought I should do something for her…)

He did not expect her to be this unwilling to go to school.

“HIKARU! STOP PLAYING DEAD AND SAY SOMETHING! DON’T JUST BRUSH ME OFF WITH THAT ‘I CAN’T TELL YOU THE ANSWER’ LINE ALREADY! ISN’T YŪ YOUR WOMAN TOO!?”

He hollered out, his chest burning and his throat parched.

Hikaru continued to stare at Koremitsu while standing upright in the blue darkness.

The hair and skin that lacked pigments was seemed to be fading into the darkness, giving off an aloof and illusionary feeling. The hue in his eyes was lighter than before, and while it made him look exceptionally pretty, it also made him look more disjointed from the world, and it was hard to determine his feelings.

Koremitsu stared at him with a raging and pleading expression, and Hikaru finally showed a slightly more anguished expression.

''“In the past, someone important… once chided me… why I made such a decision. At that time, I felt that my decision might not be the correct one…”''

Koremitsu did not understand what Hikaru was saying.

All he felt was that there was a door sliding shut silently in front of him.

Right behind this transparent door was a pretty boy with white skin—the boy he viewed as a friend.

“And because of this… you want to ask me to make a decision!?”

Hikaru did not answer.

He closed his pale lips tightly, narrowed his eyes, and smiled in a lonely fashion.

(Why are you smiling at such a moment! You’re going to leave Yū alone like this? Yū’s still chasing after your illusion in the room, even now! She’s needs you, not me!)

Koremitsu glared over at Hikaru, his irises about to pop out, and then shouted with a contorted expression.

“FINE! I WON’T RELY ON YOU!!”

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| Back to [[Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro:Volume2 Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
| Return to [[Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro......|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro:Volume2 Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
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Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro:Volume2 Chapter2

2015-10-29T22:54:40Z

LizbethUnknown: The part I edited, Koremitsu's line was fonted when it was supposed to be Hikaru's line. So, it was basically switched.

==Chapter 2 - The Fleeting White Flower at the Bottom of the Wall (1)==

''“Anyway, she’s a very introverted girl. Ever since last year, she never left the house, and would never go to school.”''

That night,

Hikaru was talking about Yū Kanai in Koremitsu’s room.

''“Actually, she should be in second year this Spring, but because of her lack of attendance, she is unable to make the next grade, and is in first year just like us.''

''Her parents divorced when she began to shut herself in. Her mother then went to Australia for work, and her father married a young woman, so they are living separately from each other. Yū’s mother wanted to bring her along to Australia, but Yū had a bad relationship with her mother, so she lived alone in that tattered…no, antique apartment.''

''Her father used to pay all the living expenses, but his new family had a child recently, and the burden became severe. Sometimes, there would be no funds for months, so she lived through a frugal life. The utilities were suspended twice up till now, but she never complained at all, and insisted on hiding in the house, just like a Gourd flower spreading its white petals in the darkness.''

''Oh yes, a Gourd flower is an annual vine Cucurbitace. They bloom in the evening, and radiate silently under the moonlight in the night. When the morning dawn breaks in, they start to wilt. Those are delicate, beautiful and endearing plants; the curls on the vines are very cute too. Its floral language is ‘a night’s memory’ or ‘illusionary love’, and some people call it the Dusk grass…”''

He would start a long discourse whenever it came to flowers and girls without stopping.

He was probably feeling very excited. He was dressed in a white T-shirt, tight-fitting pants, barefooted, floating around in casual clothing and chatting away in the sky.

(Goodness, you’re still in good spirits.)

Koremitsu, who had changed into a jumper worn in the house, was sitting on the tatami, frowning without a word.

He really did not want to recall what happened after that introverted blanket girl fainted.

While trying to take care of her, Koremitsu ran around the room in pitch darkness, knocked into a lot of things, tumbled quite a few times, and even knocked down a few boxes and overturned other things, causing a mess.

This commotion even shocked the neighbor, who thought a thief broke in, and the police were nearly called in.

If not for the blanket girl waking up in time, he would have been indicted for sure. If it had really developed to that extent, Koremitsu’s already rock-bottom reputation would have plunged further, and in the worst case situation, he might end up being forced to drop out.

''“Please, Koremitsu.”''

Hikaru’s knees were together as he knelt down in front of Koremitsu. His back was straightened, and his hands were placed elegantly; from his sitting posture, anyone could see that he had a good upbringing. Even Koremitsu was inadvertently amazed by the disposition of his gestures.

''“Can I leave Yū’s matter to you just like Miss Aoi? No man can bear to leave such a delicate and pretty girl alone like that, no?”''

Hikaru showed an innocent expression as he pleaded to Koremitsu earnestly. The inexplicable expression he showed was exquisite.

“… what does she look like? I couldn’t see in such a dark place.”

“Don’t worry, she’s really pretty. I can assure that.”

“It’s none of my business whether she’s pretty or not. Anyway, what kind of promise did you make anyway, you vowing devil.”

Koremitsu glared at Hikaru, but the latter answered with a silent mature smile.

''“I can’t say now.”''

“Huh?”

''Can’t say? Why?''

Hikaru probed his chin forward, showed a child-like innocent and frisky smile, and clapped his hands together.

''“Anyway, please. Didn’t you promise Yū that you’ll repair the broken door? Given your personality, you won’t leave a girl alone after breaking her house’s door like that, right?”''

“Guh.”

Koremitsu was unable to argue back after this was mentioned.

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

The next morning, Koremitsu left home two hours earlier than usual.

“What is this? Are you going for morning practice for some ball tournament or something?”

His aunt Koharu, just woke up with messy hair, and her jumper’s sleeves and pants were rolled up as she stared at him suspiciously.

“…somewhat.”

Koremitsu answered briskly.

“You’re bringing the toolbox?”

Upon seeing the item in Koremitsu’s hand,

“If you want to fight, go fight barehandedly. Only amateurs who don’t know the rules of fighting will bring such things.”

Koharu lectured with her eyes narrowed, and turned her shoulders by the joints as she walked into the kitchen.

''“Is Miss Koharu an expert in fighting?”''

Hikaru asked naively.

“… Don’t ask me.”

Koremitsu answered with a scowl.

They arrived at the apartment that still looked tattered after the rain, in the morning dawn.

Koremitsu knocked on Yū’s room door. A woman with hair curlers and thick makeup walked out from the next room, and stared at Koremitsu.

“You’re here again? I’m going to sleep, so don’t make a ruckus like what you did yesterday.”

“Sorry, I’m here to repair the door. There might be some noise, but I’ll try to finish as soon as possible.”

It would be bad if the police were to be called in just like what nearly happened the previous day, so he intriguingly lowered his head courteously.

The neighbor, who seemed to be from some night life business, glowered at Koremitsu with hatred.

“Oh, make it quick then.”

After saying that, she slammed the door.

''“That big sister’s fierce to me too, and even told me off with things like ‘don’t come around in the middle of the night’, or ‘a brat actually won’t go home in the middle of the night? What are the education people doing’. But she’s a beauty with quite the nice figure too~. She’s like a bright red Geranium.”''

Hikaru continued on with something Koremitsu was not concerned about.

“Good thing you didn’t make a promise with that woman next door.”

Koremitsu said with spite as he glanced aside at him, and then knocked on Yū’s door lightly again.

The parts he damaged the previous day were repaired by vinyl tape and duct tape.

“Oi, Yū Kanai… Are you awake? I’m here to open the door.”

After a moment of silence, the door opened slightly by a centimeter or so.

A pair of black eyes and blue eyes were peering from within.

The terrified black eyes belonged to the Hikikomori girl, and the blue eyes belonged to the cool girl.

Koremitsu showed the tool box in his hand.

The door opened by another centimeter.

She looked up at Koremitsu diffidently.

Koremitsu thought it would not be good for both sides to continue staring at each other without any progress.

“Please excuse me.”

He forcefully pushed the door aside.

The weak girl draped in blue blanket backed away impetuously, and retreated to a corner of the room.

She stuck herself between the double-deckered bed and the wall as she continued to look over at Koremitsu.

Koremitsu knew from his past experiences what effects his red hair and savage expression would have on an ordinary girl. The girls in school did not dare to look at him right in the eyes.

This frail girl was evidently aghast, but she kept staring at Koremitsu with an ambivalent expression.

The white cat of hers curled its tail as it sat down at Koremitsu’s feet, its cool blue eyes looking up at him.

Koremitsu opened the toolbox and took out a hammer and some nails. It was excruciating to work with the stares from the human and animal on him, and he felt apprehensive.

The culprit behind this, Hikaru, kept looking at Koremitsu with a carefree look.

''“Wow, your hammering technique is good, Koremitsu. As expected of you, you really are worthy of respect. You, capable guy.”''

(You can’t trick me no matter what pleasantries you tell me. You only know how to watch on.)

The sound of the hammer knocking rang in the quiet morning. Koremitsu was worried that the woman next door would run out and reproach him for being too noisy.

Yū was still hiding in the gap between the bed and the wall, and remained still like a decoration. She did not move the hair draped on the side of her face, and curled her body silently in the room.

It was morning and the window curtains were still drawn, but the sunlight shining through the curtains made the room a little brighter than it was yesterday.

There were photos of seas and fishes and ostensibly computer colored picture printouts stuck on the wall. The wind blowing in from outside the door caused the papers to flutter like waves breaking on the coast.

The electric fan, hangers, golf bag, and electric stove were placed together. There were shells, marbles and glass fragments. And the edges of the double-deckered bed had blue and red vinyl ropes dangling down like sea grass.

(What… that’s a really weird interior design.)

Hikaru had stated that she locked herself in the room for a year already, and all her necessity purchases like water and food were done through the Net. She normally would not take even a single step out.

(She always has the curtains drawn, has the blanket covering her, and wouldn’t budge from such a dark and humid place. Isn’t she scared of fungi growing? This lifestyle’s too unhealthy.)

The girl’s skin shown vaguely from within the carpet was white like snow, the fingers bared outside were pure white, and even her fingernails were white. This must have been due to lack of exposure to sunlight.

(Oh yeah… does she know Hikaru is dead?)

Upon thinking about this, Koremitsu inadvertently felt a jolt within him.

Since she had been shutting herself inside the house, and had not interacted with anyone, she might not have known that Hikaru died.

(This is bad.)

His heart suddenly raced.

There was no doubt Yū was one of Hikaru’s many girlfriends. In other words, Hikaru would be her lover.

Would it be good for Koremitsu, a stranger, to personally say her lover died?

He stopped what he was doing, turned his stare away from Yū, and said nonchalantly (though his voice was shrill),

“Eh… well, I said so yesterday, but the reason why I’m here is because Hikaru asked me to fulfill his promise. As for why Hikaru himself can’t make it here…Hikaru, well, died stupidly in an accident a little while ago.”

''“…Koremitsu, I didn’t die ‘stupidly’, you know?”''

Hikaru protested unhappily.

“…I know.”

It was a gentle voice.

Koremitsu looked back, and found that Yū, covered in the blue blanket, was looking at him.

A few strands of thin hair rested on that white face. Her face showed an emotion that was beyond despondent and tranquillity, similar to resignation.

The soft voice that nearly melted in the air calmly continued.

“…I received a mail.”

“Mail? I see. Did a friend notify you?”

Yū lowered her eyes and shook her head slightly.

“It was… an unknown address, and there… was no name on it.”

''“Yū, do you still have that address? Can you show it to me?”''

Hikaru asked, showing a serious look on his face.

“Do you still have the message? Do you mind showing it to me?”

Yū seemed very hesitant, and lowered her head to ponder for a while, before moving away and dragging the blanket.

There was a laptop on the short round table, and a Turkish Blue cellphone beside it.

The slender white fingers reached out from beneath the carpet, picked up the phone, opened the cover, tapped on it for a while, and handed it tentatively over to Koremitsu.

Koremitsu received the cellphone, and Hikaru read it too.

The message was sent one day before Hikaru’s funeral. The obituary was rather concise and was devoid of any hint of emotion; the location and time was also stated on it.

There was no sender signature, just as what Yū said.

The beginning of the mail address was listed as ‘upvkpv’—

The intent was vague, and they seemed to be a random assortment of alphabets rather than letters with hidden intent.

''“…”''

Hikaru frowned, bit his lips, and pondered.

“Thanks.”

Koremitsu was about to return the phone to Yū, but was suddenly startled.

“!”

Yū was weeping quietly.

Transparent drops of liquid rolled down her white face.

There was no sign of any intense pain, but the clear black eyes were soaked with tears as she wept quietly. She continued to weep, and it seemed the tears would stop without warning.

“Wa-wah, alright, don’t cry.”

Koremitsu panicked.

He was most fearful about seeing women cry, as it would remind him of the sight of his mother’s crying.

She once wept quietly like this too.

—I’m really sorry, Mitsu.

—Sorry.

The emotions quivered in his heart, and he was stertorous.

''Damn, why am I thinking about that…?''

Koremitsu gritted his teeth with all his might, and forcefully tightened his face and eyes.

Yū said with a weak voice as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

“… It was raining… on that day, when Hikaru’s funeral took place… I couldn’t go. I couldn’t see him a final time… I couldn’t see…”

Her stuttering voice was too ephemeral, too lonely, causing Koremitsu’s heart to ache as he heard this—

He wanted to tell Yū that Hikaru was present, but Yū could not see Hikaru, and she would probably think that Koremitsu was trying to comfort her.

Hikaru embraced Yū on the shoulders as he looked on with a somber look. The pretty fingertips that were unfitting for a man entered the blanket draped upon Yū.

''“I’m sorry… Yū, if only I came here to see you earlier. You and Lapis<ref>Actual name of cat is こるり, little Lapis Lazuli, a deep blue precious stone.</ref> must have been lonely, right? I’m sorry.”''

The soft voice echoed deeply, causing the pain rising in Koremitsu’s throat to be more pronounced.

Yū did not know Hikaru was embracing her.

The blue-eyed cat was sticking at her feet, ostensibly comforting her.

Yū lowered her head weakly.

Clear water droplets trickled down her face again.

“Pl-please, don’t cry already! I understand how you feel. That idiot Hikaru died out of a sudden, and you must’ve felt like crying. I’m the same here, I was reduced to a crying mess the moment I thought he could possibly disappear, so I know it’s inconsiderate to ask you not to cry, but please, don’t cry!”

Koremitsu pleaded zealously. He really could not stomach the sight of a woman crying.

His heart was ostensibly about to rip apart.

But Yū continued to cry, and Koremitsu’s resistance wore down as he finally yelled out.

“Alright! I’ll fulfil that promise in Hikaru’s place! I’ll bear all responsibility here!”

Yū lifted her head at Koremitsu.

She was probably taken aback.

Her teary eyes widened slightly, and the tears stopped.

Koremitsu stared right into her eyes, and declared with a passionate tone again,

“I’ll help him fulfil his eyes!”

His veins were popping, his eyes were frowning, and his expression must have been really horrifying. He hoped he did not scare that introverted girl.

Hikaru, who was embracing Yū, narrowed his eyes gently, curled his lips up, and stared at Koremitsu.

Yū’s eyes again showed concern and bewilderment.

She asked softly,

“Promise… what promise?”

“Heh?”

Koremitsu revealed a startled look.

(What… is it?)

''“Ah, about that.” Hikaru mumbled as he slowly retreated from Yū.''

“Didn’t Hikaru make a promise with you?”

“He did say so a few times… but I’m not too certain.”

(A few times?)

Koremitsu glared furiously at Hikaru.

And the latter,

''“Yo, Lapis, how are you doing?”''

Continued to pat the kitten on its head.

The kitten grimaced in confusion.

“…I think he said he wanted to put a glass collar on Lapis? Or maybe he wanted to color the fan? Or maybe he wanted to play some ‘sea-themed Shiritori game’ again? Or maybe he wanted to put two straws in the glass cup with blue juice and drink together? Whenever Hikaru is about to leave, he would give me a pinky swear and say ‘it’s a promise’…”

''“Fufu, Lapis’s eyes are colored like the Earth, the Commelina-like blueish-purple is really pretty. Oh yes, the floral language for Commelina is ‘respect’ and ‘nostalgic friendship’, you know”''

(Hey! What are you laughing for!? Stop playing with the cat! Is this the time for floral languages!? You promise-making devil!)

“…what did Hikaru request you to do?”

Yū stared at Koremitsu with blurry eyes, obviously curious about what Hikaru tasked Koremitsu to do.

“Uu.”

Koremitsu murmured as he glanced over at Hikaru.

The latter smiled awkwardly and clapped his hands together to beg Koremitsu.

“Damn, it’s that, that… the most important amongst all the promises! There should be one, right? Do you know?”

“The most important…?”

“Right, the most important promise.”

Class was about to start, and the door was not repaired.

Please, hurry up and think. Just say it out. No matter how hard it is, I’ll try my best to do it.

“Maybe…”

Yū lowered her head.

“You thought of it? Great! That’s definitely it!”

Koremitsu propped his body forward,

“Maybe… it’s to change the light bulb for me?”

Whilst Yū lifted her face and and said with a serious look.

The hammer fell out from Koremitsu’s hand.

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

“What exactly are you planning? What do you want me to do!?”

Koremitsu finally managed to repair the door, and dashed down the dirt path leading to the school as he muttered.

''“I just want to fulfil a promise.”''

Hikaru floated beside Koremitsu whimsically, and answered with that infuriatingly elegant expression.

“I’m asking you what sort of ‘promise’ did you make exactly!? You made some important promise with her that has to be fulfilled, right? If it’s a stupid thing like Shiritori, I’m not going to bother with you ever again.”

Hikaru’s expression immediately showed maturity.

''“Hm, that’s a very important promise, and I can only ask of you, this good friend of mine. Just think of it together with Yū.”''

He looked at Koremitsu with a clear expression full of trust, and said this gently. This expression caused Koremitsu to feel flustered, and he nearly fell over after tripping accidently.

(What exactly is this guy thinking?)

There were a lot of things Koremitsu wanted to ask, but it was of utmost importance to get to school on time.

Koremitsu finally managed to make it on time, and tried to catch his breath as he changed his shoes in front of the shoe locker.

“Haa… haa… anyway… if you want someone to help… at least explain what to do… how am I going to do this… wheeze…”

''“Koremitsu, you just ran two kilometers. Catch your breath before talking…”''

Hikaru showed a wry expression as he said.

“I heard that guy is the biggest suspect in Lord Hikaru’s murder.”

“!”

Koremitsu immediately lifted his head.

''Is Hikaru’s murderer nearby!?''

He looked around frantically, and found a human wall gathered around him without him knowing, with every person staring at him.

“Is that Lord Hikaru’s stalker?”

“I heard he has been going around declaring that he’s Lord Hikaru’s friend.”

“He must have murdered him because he was too engrossed in his own delusions.”

“Homosexual love sure is intense.”

(Hold it!)

The doubtful stares from all of them caused Koremitsu’s face to twitch.

(Me? Stalking Hikaru!? I killed him because I’m delusional? Homosexual love…?)

After processing the information he heard in his mind, Koremitsu was startled.

(Does everyone think that I’m the one who killed Hikaru!?)

That certainly seemed to be the case.

The people in the school seemed to have deemed Koremitsu Akagi as the lead suspect in Hikaru’s murder, and they would even form a path for him whenever he walked down the corridor. This was a common scene, but in the past, people merely deemed him as the son of some delinquent or Yakuza mob, and now…

“That person and Lord Hikaru…”

“Such twisted love.”

Koremitsu felt his back tingle with numbness as he heard these murmurs from behind.

He finally reached the classroom, only for the noisy atmosphere within to quiet down, and his classmates were staring at him.

The class representative with braided hair, who would always greet Koremitsu even though she was very terrified of him, retreated back to her seat, and did not dare to give him a look.

Honoka, who was seated beside Koremitsu, frowned as she glanced over. She was hesitant, but panicked and looked away once Koremitsu approached, and did not dare look at him during class.

During class break.

“I heard that guy killed Lord Hikaru.”

The gossips continued on, and Koremitsu felt that he could n bear with them any longer if he were to keep hearing them.

(How could I possibly kill Hikaru here!?)

''“Because you’re too eye-catching. That’s why everyone’s making random guesses. I’m troubled. Is there a way to solve this?”''

Hikaru frowned with an apologetic look beside Koremitsu.

“Well, it’ll be too stupid to take them seriously.”

Koremitsu deliberately gave a nonchalant look.

But in fact, he was already affronted, and his temples were throbbing.

At this moment…

“How stupid.”

A voice rang sternly beside him.

Honoka, who had her eyebrows raised in a disparaging manner, suddenly covered her phone.

She boldly proclaimed as the classmates looked in a confounded manner.

“You’re not kids, and yet you’re going all dizzy by such a slanderous chain message. If this person wanted to say something, he or she could have signed off. I won’t believe the words of a coward who only dares to spread rumors secretly.”

The classroom immediately descended into utter silence.

Honoka did not look at Koremitsu, and her ostensibly furious sharp eyes were glaring into space. Her tone and expression were devoid of fear, but there was an indignant sense hidden within. If one were to look closely, her hands pressing onto the table were trembling slightly.

The class representative with braids hurriedly stood up, and said,

“Tha-that’s right! Hono’s right. I-it-it’s wrong to suspect others on baseless assumptions.”

The classmates looked over at each other awkwardly.

This chancy atmosphere lingered for quite a while, before everyone returned back to what they were doing. Honoka however was surrounded by the class representative and some other friends.

“What’s the matter? Honoka?”

“Why did you say such things out of a sudden?”

Everyone asked worriedly.

“…it’s nothing. I just couldn’t stand seeing it.”

She answered with a pout on her face, and Koremitsu felt relief as he eavesdropped on her.

''“There’s still another person in this class who supports you other than me, Koremitsu.”''

Hikaru said delightfully.

“Shikibu!”

After class, just as Honoka was walking out of the classroom, Koremitsu hurried after her.

“Thanks for speaking up for me,.”

He felt really embarrassed to actually need a woman to help him, but he was still touched—these two conflicting emotions collided in his heart, and he really did not know what expression he should make.

Honoka blushed immediately.

(Why’s she blushing out of a sudden?)

“Yo-you don’t have to thank me, I didn’t say those words for your sake. It’s just that I just said what I thought. Don’t be mistaken, I have no intention of helping a delinquent like you.”

She stated coldly and chided,

“I’m not familiar with you anyway. Don’t talk to me.”

Then turned and left.

Koremitsu remained rooted, unable to say anything.

(Why’s she so angry with me!? And she actually tells me not to talk with her…)

“DAMN IT! WOMEN ARE HARD TO UNDERSTAND AFTER ALL!”

He lashed out with veins popping.

''“Miss Shikibu’s personality… is really pitiful. I find it easy to understand her, and really want to tease her until her face becomes as red as a Snapdragon, but this truly is too difficult for you.”''

Hikaru sighed as he rattled on.

At this moment…

“Mr Akagi!”

A shrill voice rang in Koremitsu’s ears, and a short-haired petite girl with bouncing large breasts came running over.

It was Hiina Oumi of the news club.

She had a huge variety of expressions, and her large eyes were dazzling like a boy. She grabbed Koremitsu by the arm and rattled on,

“Everyone’s saying that you’re the lead suspect in Lord Hikaru’s murder! Wah, the Delinquent King has no road to go! It’s like the Saturday Night at the Mysteries Theater! Do you want to clear your name by working with this cute partner to fish out the real culprit? Anyway, the one I suspect the most now is…”

It was unknown if she was pressing her breasts on Koremitsu on purpose, but Koremitsu merely covered her mouth without saying anyway.

“Mm—”

Hiina widened her eyes in surprise as she looked at Koremitsu. He stared back and said,

“All I need to know is what Hikaru said, nothing else matters.”

He recalled the words Honoka just said.

It would be too foolish to be fooled by such rumors. He just need to believe the people that were important, and even if he made a mistake, he would not regret it.

Hiina widened her eyes.

She let go of Koremitsu’s hand, and looked up at him in a dumbstruck manner.

Koremitsu turned away from Hiina, and before he left, he quipped,

“Also, I’m used to hearing such stupid rambling from others ever since I was young. These rumors are as painless as a mosquito bite.”

Hiina blankly watched the red-haired boy walk down the corridor, and suddenly turned back to say with excitement,

“…that’s what he said, prez.”

A tall beauty with long black hair—the student council president Asai Saiga walked out from behind the corner.

Hiina then rattled on to the frowning Asai in a rapid-fire manner,

“This is already a friendship beyond life and death, right? His tone indicates that he heard something from Lord Hikaru. He’s certainly not an ordinary delinquent; that’s true now that I think about it, those who could enter this high school through the entrance exams are definitely not stupid. Everyone knows that the students in this school are composed of the internal affiliated programme students whose families have connections and the external students with outstanding grades—ah, of course there are people like you who have such pedigree of growing up amongst the nobles since kindergarten and have outstanding grades! Anyway, it seems Mr Akagi got something important pertaining to Lord Hikaru; my instincts have always been sharp.”

Asai listened to Hiina’s words coldly, and the latter looked at her in a taunting manner, seemingly trying to agitate her into saying something.

“To me, it seems you’re also high up on the suspect list on who killed Lord Hikaru too, prez! Since you two are on the same position, what do you think about Mr Akagi?”

Asai did not fall for her trap.

Her expression remained as icy as ever,

“He’s simply a wild dog whose bark annoys me.”

She said with uppity, and proceeded to leave.

At this moment, Hikaru, who was beside Koremitsu, was very excited.

''“I’m so touched! If I were a girl, I would have proposed to you on the spot! Wow, you’re so cool! I’m so touched that goosebumps are rising on my skin!”''

(What sort of ghost would have goosebumps? And why am I blushing!?)

Koremitsu continued to give a sullen look as he said coldly,

“Don’t be silly, it’s not that I don’t care about you hiding something from me. I just feel that, well… even if we’re friends, there are still things you don’t want to say. I too have some things I don’t want to say… anyway, just say so when you want to… since we’re friends.”

Koremitsu got more embarrassed as he continued, and his face started to heat up. He really found it most difficult to say such things.

''“Something you don’t want to say? You mean how old you were when you last wet your bed? Some embarrassing essay you wrote when you were young? You said you were the animal rearing rep in elementary school… ah! Are you implying that your first crush was a young kindergarten teacher?”''

“NOT! Now’s not the time to talk about me, right!?”

Hikaru showed a carefree expression on his face, and he narrowed his eyes as he gave a blissful smile.

''“Ah, I see. I too will wait for you to say it when you want to, Koremitsu.”''

“Why are you smiling so heartily? I never liked my kindergarten teacher, and do you know how much trouble you’re causing me here!? Whose fault do you think is it that everybody is thinking of me as a murder suspect and a stalker!?”

Koremitsu grumbled in his heart.

But he had no choice. He just had to have the misfortune of being harassed by such a troublesome person, and even foolishly became friends.

“You’re worried about that introverted woman now, right? If I help her out, you’ll be one step closer in ascending to Heaven, right?”

''“Yeah, I guess I can be closer by 100m.”''

Hikaru nodded with a beaming smile.

“Seriously, just 100m? How many thousand light years until you reach space?”

''“Well, isn’t there a saying that you have to make a first step before embarking on a long journey?”''

“Kuuh, I’ll become an old man on the day I finish that journey. Anyway, let’s hurry up and settle it first.”

Koremitsu reluctantly said, and upon hearing it, Hikaru again nodded his head with a sweet blissful smile on his face.

''“Right, then, how about you send Yū an email first?”''

“Ah? An email?”

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

During lunch break.

''Why do I have to do such a thing…'' Koremitsu gritted his teeth unhappily as he started tapping at his cellphone while seated at his desk.

(And I end up being led in by Hikaru, huh?)

''“If it’s a sudden visit, Yū might be too scared to open the door, so you have to build up your relationship with her first. This is the moment when you should send a mail, as it’s the most suitable method to approach an introverted girl. You can also use this to practise and treat it as preparation to go out with a girl who likes to laugh.”''

(Wha—you’re still trying to find a woman who likes to laugh? How many times must I tell you that I don’t need a girlfriend, and I don’t have interest in a woman who likes to laugh!)

Koremitsu grumbled silently in his heart as he typed the message with sweat dripping down his forehead.

''“If you want her to reply, the most basic move is to end the message with a question. Also, try talking more about things she’s interested in.”''

Hikaru beamed as he sat on Koremitsu’s table with his legs folded as he started teaching the latter the skills necessary when sending girls messages. His light brown hair continued to flutter gently in the calm wind of the classroom, and his eyes were full of exuberance.

Koremitsu however looked lethargic.

(Huh? A question? Something she’ll be interested about?)

“‘Is that cat guy energetic?’”

''“Koremitsu…Lapis isn’t a male, but a female.”''

“‘Is that furball in good spirits?’”

''“Furball… what kind of antique nickname is that? Be more natural with your words.”''

“‘What’s the name of your cat? Lapse? Lapel? Lupus?’”

''“Hey, didn’t I say that it’s called Lapis? Are you listening to me?”''

“Shut up. I am.”

Koremitsu grumbled irately and continued to send messages.

“‘What did you eat for lunch?’”

“‘Have you eaten some meat?’”

“‘Remember to take in enough Vitamin C.’”

Each line was unintelligible, and as expected, Yū did not respond.

''“Koremitsu, think about what sort of message you would like to receive if you’re a girl. You have to write with more elegance and emotions, just like the nobles of the Heian Era.”''

“Nobles of the Heian Era?”

The school uniform on Hikaru’s body became a Heian noble’s outfit.

It was a blue-purple robe of great regal.

Hikaru, who had become a ghost, gained a completely useless ability to ‘change clothes’. This set of Heian noble clothing was his favourite, and he always loved to changed the colors and patterns on it. His profile could not be seen off the mirror, so he could not see himself, but he continued to change clothes with such enthusiasm.

''“Ki no Tsurayuki<ref>古今和歌集, translated as 'Collection of Japanese Poems (Wakas) of Ancient and Modern Times, is an anthology of poems commissioned by Emperor Uda. Ki no Tsurayuki was an imperial poet who led the compilation. Poems used are found here: http://www.milord-club.com/Kokin/index.htm.</ref> did mention in the 'Kokin Wakashū'<ref>Hirohiko Takada (2009). Kokin Wakashū New Edition. Japan: Kadokawa Liberal Arts Publishing. Printed on June 25</ref>that reciting poems is about pouring your soul into the words and bring the emotions to the flowers, moon, mountains. Sometimes, upon seeing the smoke on Mount Fuji, we think of our romantic love; sometimes, when we hear the chirping of crickets, we think of our close friends; sometimes, when we see the dew on the grass or the bubbles in the water, we lament that life is so fleeting—a short Waka is suffused with emotions, right, just like this poem…”''

Hikaru then recited with a gentle, serene voice,

''“From the first moment I heard the faint calls of the geese, my mind lingered in the skies—whilst I ostensibly hear the vague cries of the geese from the North, and after hearing your voice, my soul remains restless all day, and my heart continued to long. The princesses of the Heian Era are hidden deep inside the Boudoirs; it would be impossible to meet them unless they have close relationships. This poem is used to express the love and admiration after hearing the other party’s voice, a longing thirst to meet, and any young lady who receives this Waka surely would want to invite the man in for the night.<ref>Original source: Waka number 481, written by Ōshikōchi no Mitsune, one of the 4 commissioned to form the anthology</ref>''

''Oh, there’s also this—the rising tide flow in the day may not be seen, and the sea scatters along the coast, waiting for the night—the high tide in the day can’t be seen, so one can only wait by the coast where the sea covers—and hope that they would meet in the night. The writing of this poem is very detailed and hard to understand. Anyway, it’s probably about asking a certain lady if he could meet her in the middle of the night. It’s really romantic~”<ref>Original source: Waka number 665, written by Kiyohara no Fukayabu</ref>''

Koremitsu could never imagine hearing the cheesy term ‘romantic’ from a boy in his teens.

(Just meet if you want to. Is there a need to make a poem out of it!? Those people in the Heian Era are really indirect.)

Koremitsu’s patience was practically eroded completely as he worked on this unfamiliar work of composing a message. He really wanted to send a message with direct words stating ‘I’ll be going over after school. Open the door later!’ However, upon thinking about Yū’s pale face under the blue blanket, her uneasy expression and teary face, he inadvertently stopped his fingers again.

“…”

He had nary an understanding of women at all, and he did not want to try to appeal to them.

However…

This hikikomori girl had a little resemblance to his mother who left home. He really did not want to hurt her, and did not want to scare her.

—Yū’s very timid.

—If it’s a sudden visit, Yū might be too scared to open the door.

“Kuu.”

What exactly does Yū likes? What does she hope for?

The fleeting expression continued to linger in Koremitsu’s mind.

Her voice when she said ‘maybe it’s to change the light bulb for me?’ after pondering long and hard kept ringing in his ears.

''Right. First, I have to improve the lighting in the room or it’ll be impossible to walk, and anyone would end up knocking into things after a few steps. Fluorescent tubes… light… something glowing… the room has photos of the sea stuck on the walls inside. Something that glows in the sea….''

“‘I picked up an Angler. Do you want me to bring it to you after school?’”

He typed out the words, and then sent the message.

''“Koremitsu, how do you find an Angler on the roadside? Even if it is a simile, you have to find something that's more sentimental, more elegant, more romantic. At least say it is a firefly or something."''

Hikaru immediately reprimanded.

"Shut it."

Koremitsu grumbled, but he felt embarrassed

Koremitsu muttered, ''What sort of childish thing am I doing here?'' But he was actually ashamed, and he did not know what he was writing. At this moment, the phone rang.

“Ah…”

The reply came.

Koremitsu opened the message,

“‘Okay’”

This was the only message that came.

Koremitsu ostensibly heard a soft ‘yes’ in his ears, and was flabbergasted by it.

''“Erm, that kind of content is okay? He should have raised his standards and have a few more goes.”''

Hikaru muttered to himself, apparently very disapproving of this.

“What’s the matter, Hono? What are you looking at?”

Michiru called out, and Honoka turned her head around in surprise.

“I-it’s nothing!”

She was embarrassed to say she was staring at Koremitsu because she found the latter typing messages intently.

“Nothing at all.”

Honoka answered unhappily, and opened her cellphone with a blushing face.

(Akagi is sending mails… to whom?)

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

''“Koremitsu, you seem rather happy.”''

“Hm? Do I? Don’t I look normal?”

''“But your lips are smiling.”''

“Shut up. I said I’m being normal here.”

Koremitsu denied this in embarrassment.

After school,

With the light bulb he bought from a shop he passed by in hand, he went off to Yū’s apartment.

Koremitsu was certainly a little happy to finally get a reply after pondering high and low over what to type in his mails, but he was very embarrassed to have Hikaru point this out.

He frowned hard to hide the delight in his heart, and just when he was about to pass through the fence beside the apartment—

(Hm?)

''“What is it, Koremitsu?”''

Upon seeing Koremitsu stop abruptly and look back, Hikaru asked in surprise.

“No, I just felt an uncomfortable stare.”

''“Uncomfortable?”''

“The back of my neck feels itchy. Whenever I get this feeling, it’s very likely that some bastard with a chain or knife would appear.”

''"You were ambushed so many times? So you really got the title of Delinquent King after going through so many deadly battles, huh?"''

"I'm not a delinquent!"

''…there’s nobody around. Have my senses dulled?''

Koremitsu clicked his tongue in disgust, and proceeded down the path leading to the apartment.

The door beside Yu’s room was open, and the woman who was apparently involved in night life business, poked her head out and glared at Koremitsu.

“Men are not allowed here.”

“Never heard that.”

“I just made this rule. Recently, a few of my money sources ran off. You brats are making a ruckus right beside my room; if there’s nothing else, just scram.”

That woman squawked unreasonably, and slammed the door shut.

“Who cares about what you think anyway!?”

The mouthful of impertinent words used and abrasive attitude shown were really similar to his divorced aunt living with him. Would all women act like this when they grow older?

''“Koremitsu, Yū will be terrified if you’re too loud.”''

“O-oh.”

After Hikaru reminded him, he knocked on the door softly.

“Hey, I brought the Angler.”

After a while, the door opened slightly, and the girl with the blue blanket draped over her peeked out from behind.

“H-hello.”

He greeted nervously.

“Meow.”

The blue-eyed cat at the girl’s feet answered coldly in her stead.

Yū left the door and retreated to the back. On a closer look, she was barefooted, and stumbled as she walked.

(A lack of exercise, huh? This isn’t good.)

Koremitsu frowned, but did not say anything as he walked in silently.

“Lend me a chair.”

He took a chair as a platform, and started changing the light bulb.

Yū was still holed in a corner of the room, watching Koremitsu get to work uneasily.

Koremitsu removed the old light bulb, and just when he was about to put it on the floor, he saw a slender hand reach for him tentatively.

To his surprise, he found that it was Yū’s.

“Ah, thanks.”

“…”

Yū nodded lightly, received the light bulb, and placed it on the floor. She then retreated to the corner and looked over at Koremitsu worriedly.

Koremitsu was wondering if he should say something to her,

“When did this light bulb fail?”

He asked, and Yū merely answered flatly,

“…it started to flicker… about a month ago… and it broke down completely two days before… I received the mail informing me about the funeral… Hikaru died on that day…”

She lowered her sights dolefully, seemingly thinking that the lifespan of the light bulb was related to Hikaru’s life. Koremitsu was really terrified at the prospect of her breaking down into tears again.

“I see, that must have been really inconvenient. But you could have changed the light bulb yourself, right?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m not really telling you off. Don’t apologize.”

Koremitsu was as terrified of hearing others apologize as he was of seeing others cry, and he was more flustered.

“Okay! Done!”

He exclaimed and leapt off the chair.

He pulled the curtains up, and the dim room immediately brightened. At this moment, he finally realized the color of the curtains was as blue as a tropical sea.

The photos of the fish shoals and printed images stuck on the wall could be seen clearly, and the fan, cooker, and golf bag still looked intriguing under the bright light.

(This fan and stove are faulty. The fan doesn’t have any blades, and the stove doesn’t have an inner lid and pot. These aren’t household appliances, but mere decorations, right?)

Yū stood up and tottered her way towards Koremitsu.

The room was very cramped, so she merely took two, three steps.

The moment she lifted her head, the blanket covering her body slid down, her soft silky hair subsequently fell, and her small white face was revealed.

Koremitsu widened his eyes.

This was the first time he saw Yū’s face clearly, and it was like a white flower floating on the sea.

She was really beautiful—it was just like what Hikaru said, she was truly a tranquil and beautiful girl.

The ephemeral and dreamy expression was staring at Koremitsu, and the clear lips were slightly ajar like peach-colored shells.

It was a thin smile.

But she was certainly smiling.

[[File:Hikaru2-069.png |thumb]]

Smiling at Koremitsu.

She smiled shyly.

“…thank you.”

The moment she thanked him softly, Koremitsu felt his heart beat wildly.

(Wh-what’s going on? Why’s my face so hot out of a sudden…)

He did not understand why his body was experiencing such a change, and eked out a voice from his dry throat.

“It-it’s nothing, and Hikaru requested me to take care of you anyway. So, well…”

Hikaru narrowed his eyes and showed an amused expression, causing Koremitsu to be more flustered than before, but he continued awkwardly.

“Is it fine if I come back tomorrow?”

The moment Yū nodded slightly, Koremitsu felt dizzy.

On the way back.

Hikaru said with a teasing look,

''“Hey, she’s really a pretty girl you can find in your dreams, right?”''

Upon hearing that, Koremitsu’s face started to heat up again; he was breathless, his mouth gave a frown and did not speak up.

The next day was the same as well…

“…Yo.”

“…”

Yū, draped in the blanket, showed herself from behind the door along with the white cat.

“Please excuse me.” Koremitsu frowned as he muttered. She nodded with a nervous expression, and retreated slowly to the back bare-footed.

(She hasn’t let her guard down…)

Koremitsu too removed his shoes tensely as he walked in.

The blue curtains were still shut, but the room was lit by the electric light so it was very bright. Yū retreated into the crevice between the bed and the wall, and her black listless eyes were staring at Koremitsu.

(What do I say now…)

He had been coming here for proper business like repairing the door or replacing the light bulb, but on this day, he had nothing to do.

“Ah… have you thought about your promise with Hikaru? I’m not talking about buying a collar for the cat, but something more important.”

Yū lowered her eyes and shook her head.

“We-well, it’s probably too tough to ask you to recall immediately. That guy loves to make promises all the time anyway.”

Koremitsu finished off what he wanted to say as he glared at Hikaru, and the latter merely shrugged, acting as if he was uninvolved in this.

(Seriously, this guy…)

Whenever they talked about Hikaru, the blue-eyed cat would tilt its head to wherever Hikaru was.

It was said that animals have sharp instincts, so perhaps it really detected something.

It did not matter to Koremitsu however, and his current priority was to find something to talk about.

The room was in complete silence, and Koremitsu’s palms were sweating from the tension.

Yū looked up at him from under the blanket, looking somewhat awkward as well. She raised her eyebrows, and the smile she showed before is nowhere to be seen, disappointing Koremitsu as a result.

“A-are the stove, fan and golf bag some decoration or something?”

Koremitsu pointed at the junk of shells and glass fragments as he asked. Yū stared at Koremitsu uneasily and whispered,

“…those are the graves of the fish, the… towers of prayer.”

“Huh?”

“To protect… the underwater world.”

“…”

(Damn, how do I continue on?)

Is her mind drifting far away? Has she entered some fairy tale world after locking herself in the house for so long? Or are all girls like this?

Koremitsu tried to change the topic.

“Those are photos of fish, aren’t they? Do you like them? I too prefer fish rather than meat, Yellowtail or salted Saba are pretty good.”

(Eh… I think I just went off point…)

Yū lowered her face dejectedly.

''I shouldn’t have mentioned the Yellowtail collar. Don’t girls normally prefer something like smoked salmon here?'' He regretted.

“…Hikaru brought… the photos. He would bring something whenever he came to my house…”

Yū said with a lonely tone.

Koremitsu spotted her figure lower her eyes. Was she reminiscing over Hikaru again? She looked ready to cry again…

(T-t-t-th-thi-this isn’t good! What do girls like to talk about? Hey, harem prince, stop scratching the cat’s chin already. Help me think of something!)

Hikaru however did not respond as he continued to play with the cat with a calm smile. At his wits end, Koremitsu exclaimed,

“Speaking of Hikaru! What do you talk with him about?”

(I’m really an idiot! Why am I making her think of Hikaru again!?)

The moment he said it, he regretted his words.

“Tha-that guy has always been talking about getting a girlfriend who likes to smile for me… ah, I think I went off point.”

The more he wanted to strike up a conversation, the more awkward the situation got.

Yū raised her eyebrows slightly.

“…he often talked… about flowers.”

She said softly.

“Flowers? Oh, he’s always talking about disgusting things like how the Pansies in the garden are like, how the Narcissus beside the lakes are as delicate as girls…”

''“You actually called me disgusting…”''

Hikaru, who was playing with the cat, pouted unhappily. Koremitsu however was thinking, ‘If you’re listening, help me out here!’

Yū’s expression remained dreamy as she continued.

“He said… the Sakuras in the garden are as pink as a baby’s face… that the Tulips look like they’re laughing when they bloom.

Her white face gradually showed a clear radiance, and Koremitsu was astounded.

“…and also how the queenly Iris start to bloom… how the Dandelion started to grow from the cracks beside the concrete pavements… how the Rhododendron, Erigeron and Lily of the Valley charm him differently every single time… how he looked forward to the imminent blooming of the Acacia and Pyracantha… or something like that.”

Yū’s body was giving off a gentle presence, and her eyes were sparkling.

Koremitsu could imagine how those eyes looked when they saw Hikaru.

She looked with leisure as she sat with a leg pulled inwards, head tilted, with Hikaru in the room.

In fact, Hikaru was certainly scratching the cat’s chin, narrowing his eyes gently, giving Yū a tender and loving look…

There was a girl speaking softly, and a boy staring at her gently.

Yū, who remained confined in her own room on her own accord, showed a light smile that caused Koremitsu’s heart to race, and he even felt his chest ache somewhat.

The dream-like gentle smile rendered him unable to look away.

“…Whenever I hear Hikaru talk about flowers… I feel that I’m strolling in the garden alongside him…both of us side by side, watching the Sakuras and Wisterias…”

Yū showed a blissful expression she never showed before.

To her, the time she spent with Hikaru was certainly full of tranquillity.

Hikaru brought Yū the colors and odor of the outside world.

Thanks to Hikaru’s gentle voice, Yū could imagine the flowers blooming outside.

The shapes,

The colors,

The fragrances!

And with these wonderful imaginations, she could fall asleep while draped in the soft blanket.

Waiting silently for Hikaru’s next visit.

(She confines herself to this tattered apartment, is so poor that her utilities are suspended, is living a pitiful life where she can’t even change a light bulb, and… and can actually smile so happily, so blissfully…)

The dizziness and heart throbbing that appeared the previous day intensified, and his face got hotter…

Dumbfounded, Koremitsu stared at the pure white flower-like smile on Yū’s face.

(What’s going on!? What’s with her!?)

He yelled out repeatedly in his heart.

<noinclude>

==Notes==
<references/>

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|-
| Back to [[Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro:Volume2 Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
| Return to [[Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro......|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro:Volume2 Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro:Volume2 Chapter2

2015-10-27T10:46:09Z

LizbethUnknown: sentence sounded weird with boy missing

==Chapter 2 - The Fleeting White Flower at the Bottom of the Wall (1)==

''“Anyway, she’s a very introverted girl. Ever since last year, she never left the house, and would never go to school.”''

That night,

Hikaru was talking about Yū Kanai in Koremitsu’s room.

''“Actually, she should be in second year this Spring, but because of her lack of attendance, she is unable to make the next grade, and is in first year just like us.''

''Her parents divorced when she began to shut herself in. Her mother then went to Australia for work, and her father married a young woman, so they are living separately from each other. Yū’s mother wanted to bring her along to Australia, but Yū had a bad relationship with her mother, so she lived alone in that tattered…no, antique apartment.''

''Her father used to pay all the living expenses, but his new family had a child recently, and the burden became severe. Sometimes, there would be no funds for months, so she lived through a frugal life. The utilities were suspended twice up till now, but she never complained at all, and insisted on hiding in the house, just like a Gourd flower spreading its white petals in the darkness.''

''Oh yes, a Gourd flower is an annual vine Cucurbitace. They bloom in the evening, and radiate silently under the moonlight in the night. When the morning dawn breaks in, they start to wilt. Those are delicate, beautiful and endearing plants; the curls on the vines are very cute too. Its floral language is ‘a night’s memory’ or ‘illusionary love’, and some people call it the Dusk grass…”''

He would start a long discourse whenever it came to flowers and girls without stopping.

He was probably feeling very excited. He was dressed in a white T-shirt, tight-fitting pants, barefooted, floating around in casual clothing and chatting away in the sky.

(Goodness, you’re still in good spirits.)

Koremitsu, who had changed into a jumper worn in the house, was sitting on the tatami, frowning without a word.

He really did not want to recall what happened after that introverted blanket girl fainted.

While trying to take care of her, Koremitsu ran around the room in pitch darkness, knocked into a lot of things, tumbled quite a few times, and even knocked down a few boxes and overturned other things, causing a mess.

This commotion even shocked the neighbor, who thought a thief broke in, and the police were nearly called in.

If not for the blanket girl waking up in time, he would have been indicted for sure. If it had really developed to that extent, Koremitsu’s already rock-bottom reputation would have plunged further, and in the worst case situation, he might end up being forced to drop out.

''“Please, Koremitsu.”''

Hikaru’s knees were together as he knelt down in front of Koremitsu. His back was straightened, and his hands were placed elegantly; from his sitting posture, anyone could see that he had a good upbringing. Even Koremitsu was inadvertently amazed by the disposition of his gestures.

''“Can I leave Yū’s matter to you just like Miss Aoi? No man can bear to leave such a delicate and pretty girl alone like that, no?”''

Hikaru showed an innocent expression as he pleaded to Koremitsu earnestly. The inexplicable expression he showed was exquisite.

“… what does she look like? I couldn’t see in such a dark place.”

“Don’t worry, she’s really pretty. I can assure that.”

“It’s none of my business whether she’s pretty or not. Anyway, what kind of promise did you make anyway, you vowing devil.”

Koremitsu glared at Hikaru, but the latter answered with a silent mature smile.

''“I can’t say now.”''

“Huh?”

''Can’t say? Why?''

Hikaru probed his chin forward, showed a child-like innocent and frisky smile, and clapped his hands together.

''“Anyway, please. Didn’t you promise Yū that you’ll repair the broken door? Given your personality, you won’t leave a girl alone after breaking her house’s door like that, right?”''

“Guh.”

Koremitsu was unable to argue back after this was mentioned.

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

The next morning, Koremitsu left home two hours earlier than usual.

“What is this? Are you going for morning practice for some ball tournament or something?”

His aunt Koharu, just woke up with messy hair, and her jumper’s sleeves and pants were rolled up as she stared at him suspiciously.

“…somewhat.”

Koremitsu answered briskly.

“You’re bringing the toolbox?”

Upon seeing the item in Koremitsu’s hand,

“If you want to fight, go fight barehandedly. Only amateurs who don’t know the rules of fighting will bring such things.”

Koharu lectured with her eyes narrowed, and turned her shoulders by the joints as she walked into the kitchen.

''“Is Miss Koharu an expert in fighting?”''

Hikaru asked naively.

“… Don’t ask me.”

Koremitsu answered with a scowl.

They arrived at the apartment that still looked tattered after the rain, in the morning dawn.

Koremitsu knocked on Yū’s room door. A woman with hair curlers and thick makeup walked out from the next room, and stared at Koremitsu.

“You’re here again? I’m going to sleep, so don’t make a ruckus like what you did yesterday.”

“Sorry, I’m here to repair the door. There might be some noise, but I’ll try to finish as soon as possible.”

It would be bad if the police were to be called in just like what nearly happened the previous day, so he intriguingly lowered his head courteously.

The neighbor, who seemed to be from some night life business, glowered at Koremitsu with hatred.

“Oh, make it quick then.”

After saying that, she slammed the door.

''“That big sister’s fierce to me too, and even told me off with things like ‘don’t come around in the middle of the night’, or ‘a brat actually won’t go home in the middle of the night? What are the education people doing’. But she’s a beauty with quite the nice figure too~. She’s like a bright red Geranium.”''

Hikaru continued on with something Koremitsu was not concerned about.

“Good thing you didn’t make a promise with that woman next door.”

Koremitsu said with spite as he glanced aside at him, and then knocked on Yū’s door lightly again.

The parts he damaged the previous day were repaired by vinyl tape and duct tape.

“Oi, Yū Kanai… Are you awake? I’m here to open the door.”

After a moment of silence, the door opened slightly by a centimeter or so.

A pair of black eyes and blue eyes were peering from within.

The terrified black eyes belonged to the Hikikomori girl, and the blue eyes belonged to the cool girl.

Koremitsu showed the tool box in his hand.

The door opened by another centimeter.

She looked up at Koremitsu diffidently.

Koremitsu thought it would not be good for both sides to continue staring at each other without any progress.

“Please excuse me.”

He forcefully pushed the door aside.

The weak girl draped in blue blanket backed away impetuously, and retreated to a corner of the room.

She stuck herself between the double-deckered bed and the wall as she continued to look over at Koremitsu.

Koremitsu knew from his past experiences what effects his red hair and savage expression would have on an ordinary girl. The girls in school did not dare to look at him right in the eyes.

This frail girl was evidently aghast, but she kept staring at Koremitsu with an ambivalent expression.

The white cat of hers curled its tail as it sat down at Koremitsu’s feet, its cool blue eyes looking up at him.

Koremitsu opened the toolbox and took out a hammer and some nails. It was excruciating to work with the stares from the human and animal on him, and he felt apprehensive.

The culprit behind this, Hikaru, kept looking at Koremitsu with a carefree look.

''“Wow, your hammering technique is good, Koremitsu. As expected of you, you really are worthy of respect. You, capable guy.”''

(You can’t trick me no matter what pleasantries you tell me. You only know how to watch on.)

The sound of the hammer knocking rang in the quiet morning. Koremitsu was worried that the woman next door would run out and reproach him for being too noisy.

Yū was still hiding in the gap between the bed and the wall, and remained still like a decoration. She did not move the hair draped on the side of her face, and curled her body silently in the room.

It was morning and the window curtains were still drawn, but the sunlight shining through the curtains made the room a little brighter than it was yesterday.

There were photos of seas and fishes and ostensibly computer colored picture printouts stuck on the wall. The wind blowing in from outside the door caused the papers to flutter like waves breaking on the coast.

The electric fan, hangers, golf bag, and electric stove were placed together. There were shells, marbles and glass fragments. And the edges of the double-deckered bed had blue and red vinyl ropes dangling down like sea grass.

(What… that’s a really weird interior design.)

Hikaru had stated that she locked herself in the room for a year already, and all her necessity purchases like water and food were done through the Net. She normally would not take even a single step out.

(She always has the curtains drawn, has the blanket covering her, and wouldn’t budge from such a dark and humid place. Isn’t she scared of fungi growing? This lifestyle’s too unhealthy.)

The girl’s skin shown vaguely from within the carpet was white like snow, the fingers bared outside were pure white, and even her fingernails were white. This must have been due to lack of exposure to sunlight.

(Oh yeah… does she know Hikaru is dead?)

Upon thinking about this, Koremitsu inadvertently felt a jolt within him.

Since she had been shutting herself inside the house, and had not interacted with anyone, she might not have known that Hikaru died.

(This is bad.)

His heart suddenly raced.

There was no doubt Yū was one of Hikaru’s many girlfriends. In other words, Hikaru would be her lover.

Would it be good for Koremitsu, a stranger, to personally say her lover died?

He stopped what he was doing, turned his stare away from Yū, and said nonchalantly (though his voice was shrill),

“Eh… well, I said so yesterday, but the reason why I’m here is because Hikaru asked me to fulfill his promise. As for why Hikaru himself can’t make it here…Hikaru, well, died stupidly in an accident a little while ago.”

''“…Koremitsu, I didn’t die ‘stupidly’, you know?”''

Hikaru protested unhappily.

“…I know.”

It was a gentle voice.

Koremitsu looked back, and found that Yū, covered in the blue blanket, was looking at him.

A few strands of thin hair rested on that white face. Her face showed an emotion that was beyond despondent and tranquillity, similar to resignation.

The soft voice that nearly melted in the air calmly continued.

“…I received a mail.”

“Mail? I see. Did a friend notify you?”

Yū lowered her eyes and shook her head slightly.

“It was… an unknown address, and there… was no name on it.”

''“Yū, do you still have that address? Can you show it to me?”''

Hikaru asked, showing a serious look on his face.

“Do you still have the message? Do you mind showing it to me?”

Yū seemed very hesitant, and lowered her head to ponder for a while, before moving away and dragging the blanket.

There was a laptop on the short round table, and a Turkish Blue cellphone beside it.

The slender white fingers reached out from beneath the carpet, picked up the phone, opened the cover, tapped on it for a while, and handed it tentatively over to Koremitsu.

Koremitsu received the cellphone, and Hikaru read it too.

The message was sent one day before Hikaru’s funeral. The obituary was rather concise and was devoid of any hint of emotion; the location and time was also stated on it.

There was no sender signature, just as what Yū said.

The beginning of the mail address was listed as ‘upvkpv’—

The intent was vague, and they seemed to be a random assortment of alphabets rather than letters with hidden intent.

''“…”''

Hikaru frowned, bit his lips, and pondered.

“Thanks.”

Koremitsu was about to return the phone to Yū, but was suddenly startled.

“!”

Yū was weeping quietly.

Transparent drops of liquid rolled down her white face.

There was no sign of any intense pain, but the clear black eyes were soaked with tears as she wept quietly. She continued to weep, and it seemed the tears would stop without warning.

“Wa-wah, alright, don’t cry.”

Koremitsu panicked.

He was most fearful about seeing women cry, as it would remind him of the sight of his mother’s crying.

She once wept quietly like this too.

—I’m really sorry, Mitsu.

—Sorry.

The emotions quivered in his heart, and he was stertorous.

''Damn, why am I thinking about that…?''

Koremitsu gritted his teeth with all his might, and forcefully tightened his face and eyes.

Yū said with a weak voice as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

“… It was raining… on that day, when Hikaru’s funeral took place… I couldn’t go. I couldn’t see him a final time… I couldn’t see…”

Her stuttering voice was too ephemeral, too lonely, causing Koremitsu’s heart to ache as he heard this—

He wanted to tell Yū that Hikaru was present, but Yū could not see Hikaru, and she would probably think that Koremitsu was trying to comfort her.

Hikaru embraced Yū on the shoulders as he looked on with a somber look. The pretty fingertips that were unfitting for a man entered the blanket draped upon Yū.

''“I’m sorry… Yū, if only I came here to see you earlier. You and Lapis<ref>Actual name of cat is こるり, little Lapis Lazuli, a deep blue precious stone.</ref> must have been lonely, right? I’m sorry.”''

The soft voice echoed deeply, causing the pain rising in Koremitsu’s throat to be more pronounced.

Yū did not know Hikaru was embracing her.

The blue-eyed cat was sticking at her feet, ostensibly comforting her.

Yū lowered her head weakly.

Clear water droplets trickled down her face again.

“Pl-please, don’t cry already! I understand how you feel. That idiot Hikaru died out of a sudden, and you must’ve felt like crying. I’m the same here, I was reduced to a crying mess the moment I thought he could possibly disappear, so I know it’s inconsiderate to ask you not to cry, but please, don’t cry!”

Koremitsu pleaded zealously. He really could not stomach the sight of a woman crying.

His heart was ostensibly about to rip apart.

But Yū continued to cry, and Koremitsu’s resistance wore down as he finally yelled out.

“Alright! I’ll fulfil that promise in Hikaru’s place! I’ll bear all responsibility here!”

Yū lifted her head at Koremitsu.

She was probably taken aback.

Her teary eyes widened slightly, and the tears stopped.

Koremitsu stared right into her eyes, and declared with a passionate tone again,

“I’ll help him fulfil his eyes!”

His veins were popping, his eyes were frowning, and his expression must have been really horrifying. He hoped he did not scare that introverted girl.

Hikaru, who was embracing Yū, narrowed his eyes gently, curled his lips up, and stared at Koremitsu.

Yū’s eyes again showed concern and bewilderment.

She asked softly,

“Promise… what promise?”

“Heh?”

Koremitsu revealed a startled look.

(What… is it?)

''“Ah, about that.” Hikaru mumbled as he slowly retreated from Yū.''

“Didn’t Hikaru make a promise with you?”

“He did say so a few times… but I’m not too certain.”

(A few times?)

Koremitsu glared furiously at Hikaru.

And the latter,

''“Yo, Lapis, how are you doing?”''

Continued to pat the kitten on its head.

The kitten grimaced in confusion.

“…I think he said he wanted to put a glass collar on Lapis? Or maybe he wanted to color the fan? Or maybe he wanted to play some ‘sea-themed Shiritori game’ again? Or maybe he wanted to put two straws in the glass cup with blue juice and drink together? Whenever Hikaru is about to leave, he would give me a pinky swear and say ‘it’s a promise’…”

''“Fufu, Lapis’s eyes are colored like the Earth, the Commelina-like blueish-purple is really pretty. Oh yes, the floral language for Commelina is ‘respect’ and ‘nostalgic friendship’, you know”''

(Hey! What are you laughing for!? Stop playing with the cat! Is this the time for floral languages!? You promise-making devil!)

“…what did Hikaru request you to do?”

Yū stared at Koremitsu with blurry eyes, obviously curious about what Hikaru tasked Koremitsu to do.

“Uu.”

Koremitsu murmured as he glanced over at Hikaru.

The latter smiled awkwardly and clapped his hands together to beg Koremitsu.

“Damn, it’s that, that… the most important amongst all the promises! There should be one, right? Do you know?”

“The most important…?”

“Right, the most important promise.”

Class was about to start, and the door was not repaired.

Please, hurry up and think. Just say it out. No matter how hard it is, I’ll try my best to do it.

“Maybe…”

Yū lowered her head.

“You thought of it? Great! That’s definitely it!”

Koremitsu propped his body forward,

“Maybe… it’s to change the light bulb for me?”

Whilst Yū lifted her face and and said with a serious look.

The hammer fell out from Koremitsu’s hand.

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

“What exactly are you planning? What do you want me to do!?”

Koremitsu finally managed to repair the door, and dashed down the dirt path leading to the school as he muttered.

''“I just want to fulfil a promise.”''

Hikaru floated beside Koremitsu whimsically, and answered with that infuriatingly elegant expression.

“I’m asking you what sort of ‘promise’ did you make exactly!? You made some important promise with her that has to be fulfilled, right? If it’s a stupid thing like Shiritori, I’m not going to bother with you ever again.”

Hikaru’s expression immediately showed maturity.

''“Hm, that’s a very important promise, and I can only ask of you, this good friend of mine. Just think of it together with Yū.”''

He looked at Koremitsu with a clear expression full of trust, and said this gently. This expression caused Koremitsu to feel flustered, and he nearly fell over after tripping accidently.

(What exactly is this guy thinking?)

There were a lot of things Koremitsu wanted to ask, but it was of utmost importance to get to school on time.

Koremitsu finally managed to make it on time, and tried to catch his breath as he changed his shoes in front of the shoe locker.

“Haa… haa… anyway… if you want someone to help… at least explain what to do… how am I going to do this… wheeze…”

''“Koremitsu, you just ran two kilometers. Catch your breath before talking…”''

Hikaru showed a wry expression as he said.

“I heard that guy is the biggest suspect in Lord Hikaru’s murder.”

“!”

Koremitsu immediately lifted his head.

''Is Hikaru’s murderer nearby!?''

He looked around frantically, and found a human wall gathered around him without him knowing, with every person staring at him.

“Is that Lord Hikaru’s stalker?”

“I heard he has been going around declaring that he’s Lord Hikaru’s friend.”

“He must have murdered him because he was too engrossed in his own delusions.”

“Homosexual love sure is intense.”

(Hold it!)

The doubtful stares from all of them caused Koremitsu’s face to twitch.

(Me? Stalking Hikaru!? I killed him because I’m delusional? Homosexual love…?)

After processing the information he heard in his mind, Koremitsu was startled.

(Does everyone think that I’m the one who killed Hikaru!?)

That certainly seemed to be the case.

The people in the school seemed to have deemed Koremitsu Akagi as the lead suspect in Hikaru’s murder, and they would even form a path for him whenever he walked down the corridor. This was a common scene, but in the past, people merely deemed him as the son of some delinquent or Yakuza mob, and now…

“That person and Lord Hikaru…”

“Such twisted love.”

Koremitsu felt his back tingle with numbness as he heard these murmurs from behind.

He finally reached the classroom, only for the noisy atmosphere within to quiet down, and his classmates were staring at him.

The class representative with braided hair, who would always greet Koremitsu even though she was very terrified of him, retreated back to her seat, and did not dare to give him a look.

Honoka, who was seated beside Koremitsu, frowned as she glanced over. She was hesitant, but panicked and looked away once Koremitsu approached, and did not dare look at him during class.

During class break.

“I heard that guy killed Lord Hikaru.”

The gossips continued on, and Koremitsu felt that he could n bear with them any longer if he were to keep hearing them.

(How could I possibly kill Hikaru here!?)

''“Because you’re too eye-catching. That’s why everyone’s making random guesses. I’m troubled. Is there a way to solve this?”''

Hikaru frowned with an apologetic look beside Koremitsu.

“Well, it’ll be too stupid to take them seriously.”

Koremitsu deliberately gave a nonchalant look.

But in fact, he was already affronted, and his temples were throbbing.

At this moment…

“How stupid.”

A voice rang sternly beside him.

Honoka, who had her eyebrows raised in a disparaging manner, suddenly covered her phone.

She boldly proclaimed as the classmates looked in a confounded manner.

“You’re not kids, and yet you’re going all dizzy by such a slanderous chain message. If this person wanted to say something, he or she could have signed off. I won’t believe the words of a coward who only dares to spread rumors secretly.”

The classroom immediately descended into utter silence.

Honoka did not look at Koremitsu, and her ostensibly furious sharp eyes were glaring into space. Her tone and expression were devoid of fear, but there was an indignant sense hidden within. If one were to look closely, her hands pressing onto the table were trembling slightly.

The class representative with braids hurriedly stood up, and said,

“Tha-that’s right! Hono’s right. I-it-it’s wrong to suspect others on baseless assumptions.”

The classmates looked over at each other awkwardly.

This chancy atmosphere lingered for quite a while, before everyone returned back to what they were doing. Honoka however was surrounded by the class representative and some other friends.

“What’s the matter? Honoka?”

“Why did you say such things out of a sudden?”

Everyone asked worriedly.

“…it’s nothing. I just couldn’t stand seeing it.”

She answered with a pout on her face, and Koremitsu felt relief as he eavesdropped on her.

''“There’s still another person in this class who supports you other than me, Koremitsu.”''

Hikaru said delightfully.

“Shikibu!”

After class, just as Honoka was walking out of the classroom, Koremitsu hurried after her.

“Thanks for speaking up for me,.”

He felt really embarrassed to actually need a woman to help him, but he was still touched—these two conflicting emotions collided in his heart, and he really did not know what expression he should make.

Honoka blushed immediately.

(Why’s she blushing out of a sudden?)

“Yo-you don’t have to thank me, I didn’t say those words for your sake. It’s just that I just said what I thought. Don’t be mistaken, I have no intention of helping a delinquent like you.”

She stated coldly and chided,

“I’m not familiar with you anyway. Don’t talk to me.”

Then turned and left.

Koremitsu remained rooted, unable to say anything.

(Why’s she so angry with me!? And she actually tells me not to talk with her…)

“DAMN IT! WOMEN ARE HARD TO UNDERSTAND AFTER ALL!”

He lashed out with veins popping.

''“Miss Shikibu’s personality… is really pitiful. I find it easy to understand her, and really want to tease her until her face becomes as red as a Snapdragon, but this truly is too difficult for you.”''

Hikaru sighed as he rattled on.

At this moment…

“Mr Akagi!”

A shrill voice rang in Koremitsu’s ears, and a short-haired petite girl with bouncing large breasts came running over.

It was Hiina Oumi of the news club.

She had a huge variety of expressions, and her large eyes were dazzling like a boy. She grabbed Koremitsu by the arm and rattled on,

“Everyone’s saying that you’re the lead suspect in Lord Hikaru’s murder! Wah, the Delinquent King has no road to go! It’s like the Saturday Night at the Mysteries Theater! Do you want to clear your name by working with this cute partner to fish out the real culprit? Anyway, the one I suspect the most now is…”

It was unknown if she was pressing her breasts on Koremitsu on purpose, but Koremitsu merely covered her mouth without saying anyway.

“Mm—”

Hiina widened her eyes in surprise as she looked at Koremitsu. He stared back and said,

“All I need to know is what Hikaru said, nothing else matters.”

He recalled the words Honoka just said.

It would be too foolish to be fooled by such rumors. He just need to believe the people that were important, and even if he made a mistake, he would not regret it.

Hiina widened her eyes.

She let go of Koremitsu’s hand, and looked up at him in a dumbstruck manner.

Koremitsu turned away from Hiina, and before he left, he quipped,

“Also, I’m used to hearing such stupid rambling from others ever since I was young. These rumors are as painless as a mosquito bite.”

Hiina blankly watched the red-haired boy walk down the corridor, and suddenly turned back to say with excitement,

“…that’s what he said, prez.”

A tall beauty with long black hair—the student council president Asai Saiga walked out from behind the corner.

Hiina then rattled on to the frowning Asai in a rapid-fire manner,

“This is already a friendship beyond life and death, right? His tone indicates that he heard something from Lord Hikaru. He’s certainly not an ordinary delinquent; that’s true now that I think about it, those who could enter this high school through the entrance exams are definitely not stupid. Everyone knows that the students in this school are composed of the internal affiliated programme students whose families have connections and the external students with outstanding grades—ah, of course there are people like you who have such pedigree of growing up amongst the nobles since kindergarten and have outstanding grades! Anyway, it seems Mr Akagi got something important pertaining to Lord Hikaru; my instincts have always been sharp.”

Asai listened to Hiina’s words coldly, and the latter looked at her in a taunting manner, seemingly trying to agitate her into saying something.

“To me, it seems you’re also high up on the suspect list on who killed Lord Hikaru too, prez! Since you two are on the same position, what do you think about Mr Akagi?”

Asai did not fall for her trap.

Her expression remained as icy as ever,

“He’s simply a wild dog whose bark annoys me.”

She said with uppity, and proceeded to leave.

At this moment, Hikaru, who was beside Koremitsu, was very excited.

''“I’m so touched! If I were a girl, I would have proposed to you on the spot! Wow, you’re so cool! I’m so touched that goosebumps are rising on my skin!”''

(What sort of ghost would have goosebumps? And why am I blushing!?)

Koremitsu continued to give a sullen look as he said coldly,

“Don’t be silly, it’s not that I don’t care about you hiding something from me. I just feel that, well… even if we’re friends, there are still things you don’t want to say. I too have some things I don’t want to say… anyway, just say so when you want to… since we’re friends.”

Koremitsu got more embarrassed as he continued, and his face started to heat up. He really found it most difficult to say such things.

''“Something you don’t want to say? You mean how old you were when you last wet your bed? Some embarrassing essay you wrote when you were young? You said you were the animal rearing rep in elementary school… ah! Are you implying that your first crush was a young kindergarten teacher?”''

“NOT! Now’s not the time to talk about me, right!?”

Hikaru showed a carefree expression on his face, and he narrowed his eyes as he gave a blissful smile.

''“Ah, I see. I too will wait for you to say it when you want to, Koremitsu.”''

“Why are you smiling so heartily? I never liked my kindergarten teacher, and do you know how much trouble you’re causing me here!? Whose fault do you think is it that everybody is thinking of me as a murder suspect and a stalker!?”

Koremitsu grumbled in his heart.

But he had no choice. He just had to have the misfortune of being harassed by such a troublesome person, and even foolishly became friends.

“You’re worried about that introverted woman now, right? If I help her out, you’ll be one step closer in ascending to Heaven, right?”

''“Yeah, I guess I can be closer by 100m.”''

Hikaru nodded with a beaming smile.

“Seriously, just 100m? How many thousand light years until you reach space?”

''“Well, isn’t there a saying that you have to make a first step before embarking on a long journey?”''

“Kuuh, I’ll become an old man on the day I finish that journey. Anyway, let’s hurry up and settle it first.”

Koremitsu reluctantly said, and upon hearing it, Hikaru again nodded his head with a sweet blissful smile on his face.

''“Right, then, how about you send Yū an email first?”''

“Ah? An email?”

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

During lunch break.

''Why do I have to do such a thing…'' Koremitsu gritted his teeth unhappily as he started tapping at his cellphone while seated at his desk.

(And I end up being led in by Hikaru, huh?)

''“If it’s a sudden visit, Yū might be too scared to open the door, so you have to build up your relationship with her first. This is the moment when you should send a mail, as it’s the most suitable method to approach an introverted girl. You can also use this to practise and treat it as preparation to go out with a girl who likes to laugh.”''

(Wha—you’re still trying to find a woman who likes to laugh? How many times must I tell you that I don’t need a girlfriend, and I don’t have interest in a woman who likes to laugh!)

Koremitsu grumbled silently in his heart as he typed the message with sweat dripping down his forehead.

''“If you want her to reply, the most basic move is to end the message with a question. Also, try talking more about things she’s interested in.”''

Hikaru beamed as he sat on Koremitsu’s table with his legs folded as he started teaching the latter the skills necessary when sending girls messages. His light brown hair continued to flutter gently in the calm wind of the classroom, and his eyes were full of exuberance.

Koremitsu however looked lethargic.

(Huh? A question? Something she’ll be interested about?)

“‘Is that cat guy energetic?’”

''“Koremitsu…Lapis isn’t a male, but a female.”''

“‘Is that furball in good spirits?’”

''“Furball… what kind of antique nickname is that? Be more natural with your words.”''

“‘What’s the name of your cat? Lapse? Lapel? Lupus?’”

''“Hey, didn’t I say that it’s called Lapis? Are you listening to me?”''

“Shut up. I am.”

Koremitsu grumbled irately and continued to send messages.

“‘What did you eat for lunch?’”

“‘Have you eaten some meat?’”

“‘Remember to take in enough Vitamin C.’”

Each line was unintelligible, and as expected, Yū did not respond.

''“Koremitsu, think about what sort of message you would like to receive if you’re a girl. You have to write with more elegance and emotions, just like the nobles of the Heian Era.”''

“Nobles of the Heian Era?”

The school uniform on Hikaru’s body became a Heian noble’s outfit.

It was a blue-purple robe of great regal.

Hikaru, who had become a ghost, gained a completely useless ability to ‘change clothes’. This set of Heian noble clothing was his favourite, and he always loved to changed the colors and patterns on it. His profile could not be seen off the mirror, so he could not see himself, but he continued to change clothes with such enthusiasm.

''“Ki no Tsurayuki<ref>古今和歌集, translated as 'Collection of Japanese Poems (Wakas) of Ancient and Modern Times, is an anthology of poems commissioned by Emperor Uda. Ki no Tsurayuki was an imperial poet who led the compilation. Poems used are found here: http://www.milord-club.com/Kokin/index.htm.</ref> did mention in the 'Kokin Wakashū'<ref>Hirohiko Takada (2009). Kokin Wakashū New Edition. Japan: Kadokawa Liberal Arts Publishing. Printed on June 25</ref>that reciting poems is about pouring your soul into the words and bring the emotions to the flowers, moon, mountains. Sometimes, upon seeing the smoke on Mount Fuji, we think of our romantic love; sometimes, when we hear the chirping of crickets, we think of our close friends; sometimes, when we see the dew on the grass or the bubbles in the water, we lament that life is so fleeting—a short Waka is suffused with emotions, right, just like this poem…”''

Hikaru then recited with a gentle, serene voice,

''“From the first moment I heard the faint calls of the geese, my mind lingered in the skies—whilst I ostensibly hear the vague cries of the geese from the North, and after hearing your voice, my soul remains restless all day, and my heart continued to long. The princesses of the Heian Era are hidden deep inside the Boudoirs; it would be impossible to meet them unless they have close relationships. This poem is used to express the love and admiration after hearing the other party’s voice, a longing thirst to meet, and any young lady who receives this Waka surely would want to invite the man in for the night.<ref>Original source: Waka number 481, written by Ōshikōchi no Mitsune, one of the 4 commissioned to form the anthology</ref>''

''Oh, there’s also this—the rising tide flow in the day may not be seen, and the sea scatters along the coast, waiting for the night—the high tide in the day can’t be seen, so one can only wait by the coast where the sea covers—and hope that they would meet in the night. The writing of this poem is very detailed and hard to understand. Anyway, it’s probably about asking a certain lady if he could meet her in the middle of the night. It’s really romantic~”<ref>Original source: Waka number 665, written by Kiyohara no Fukayabu</ref>''

Koremitsu could never imagine hearing the cheesy term ‘romantic’ from a boy in his teens.

(Just meet if you want to. Is there a need to make a poem out of it!? Those people in the Heian Era are really indirect.)

Koremitsu’s patience was practically eroded completely as he worked on this unfamiliar work of composing a message. He really wanted to send a message with direct words stating ‘I’ll be going over after school. Open the door later!’ However, upon thinking about Yū’s pale face under the blue blanket, her uneasy expression and teary face, he inadvertently stopped his fingers again.

“…”

He had nary an understanding of women at all, and he did not want to try to appeal to them.

However…

This hikikomori girl had a little resemblance to his mother who left home. He really did not want to hurt her, and did not want to scare her.

—Yū’s very timid.

—If it’s a sudden visit, Yū might be too scared to open the door.

“Kuu.”

What exactly does Yū likes? What does she hope for?

The fleeting expression continued to linger in Koremitsu’s mind.

Her voice when she said ‘maybe it’s to change the light bulb for me?’ after pondering long and hard kept ringing in his ears.

''Right. First, I have to improve the lighting in the room or it’ll be impossible to walk, and anyone would end up knocking into things after a few steps. Fluorescent tubes… light… something glowing… the room has photos of the sea stuck on the walls inside. Something that glows in the sea….''

“‘I picked up an Angler. Do you want me to bring it to you after school?’”

He typed out the words, and then sent the message.

''“Koremitsu, how do you find an Angler on the roadside? Even if it is a simile, you have to find something that's more sentimental, more elegant, more romantic. At least say it is a firefly or something."''

Hikaru immediately reprimanded.

"Shut it."

Koremitsu grumbled, but he felt embarrassed

Koremitsu muttered, ''What sort of childish thing am I doing here?'' But he was actually ashamed, and he did not know what he was writing. At this moment, the phone rang.

“Ah…”

The reply came.

Koremitsu opened the message,

“‘Okay’”

This was the only message that came.

Koremitsu ostensibly heard a soft ‘yes’ in his ears, and was flabbergasted by it.

''“Erm, that kind of content is okay? He should have raised his standards and have a few more goes.”''

Hikaru muttered to himself, apparently very disapproving of this.

“What’s the matter, Hono? What are you looking at?”

Michiru called out, and Honoka turned her head around in surprise.

“I-it’s nothing!”

She was embarrassed to say she was staring at Koremitsu because she found the latter typing messages intently.

“Nothing at all.”

Honoka answered unhappily, and opened her cellphone with a blushing face.

(Akagi is sending mails… to whom?)

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

''“Koremitsu, you seem rather happy.”''

“Hm? Do I? Don’t I look normal?”

''“But your lips are smiling.”''

“Shut up. I said I’m being normal here.”

Koremitsu denied this in embarrassment.

After school,

With the light bulb he bought from a shop he passed by in hand, he went off to Yū’s apartment.

Koremitsu was certainly a little happy to finally get a reply after pondering high and low over what to type in his mails, but he was very embarrassed to have Hikaru point this out.

He frowned hard to hide the delight in his heart, and just when he was about to pass through the fence beside the apartment—

(Hm?)

''“What is it, Koremitsu?”''

Upon seeing Koremitsu stop abruptly and look back, Hikaru asked in surprise.

“No, I just felt an uncomfortable stare.”

''“Uncomfortable?”''

“The back of my neck feels itchy. Whenever I get this feeling, it’s very likely that some bastard with a chain or knife would appear.”

“You were ambushed so many times? So you really got the title of Delinquent King after going through so many deadly battles, huh?”

''“I’m not a delinquent!''

''…there’s nobody around. Have my senses dulled?''

Koremitsu clicked his tongue in disgust, and proceeded down the path leading to the apartment.

The door beside Yu’s room was open, and the woman who was apparently involved in night life business, poked her head out and glared at Koremitsu.

“Men are not allowed here.”

“Never heard that.”

“I just made this rule. Recently, a few of my money sources ran off. You brats are making a ruckus right beside my room; if there’s nothing else, just scram.”

That woman squawked unreasonably, and slammed the door shut.

“Who cares about what you think anyway!?”

The mouthful of impertinent words used and abrasive attitude shown were really similar to his divorced aunt living with him. Would all women act like this when they grow older?

''“Koremitsu, Yū will be terrified if you’re too loud.”''

“O-oh.”

After Hikaru reminded him, he knocked on the door softly.

“Hey, I brought the Angler.”

After a while, the door opened slightly, and the girl with the blue blanket draped over her peeked out from behind.

“H-hello.”

He greeted nervously.

“Meow.”

The blue-eyed cat at the girl’s feet answered coldly in her stead.

Yū left the door and retreated to the back. On a closer look, she was barefooted, and stumbled as she walked.

(A lack of exercise, huh? This isn’t good.)

Koremitsu frowned, but did not say anything as he walked in silently.

“Lend me a chair.”

He took a chair as a platform, and started changing the light bulb.

Yū was still holed in a corner of the room, watching Koremitsu get to work uneasily.

Koremitsu removed the old light bulb, and just when he was about to put it on the floor, he saw a slender hand reach for him tentatively.

To his surprise, he found that it was Yū’s.

“Ah, thanks.”

“…”

Yū nodded lightly, received the light bulb, and placed it on the floor. She then retreated to the corner and looked over at Koremitsu worriedly.

Koremitsu was wondering if he should say something to her,

“When did this light bulb fail?”

He asked, and Yū merely answered flatly,

“…it started to flicker… about a month ago… and it broke down completely two days before… I received the mail informing me about the funeral… Hikaru died on that day…”

She lowered her sights dolefully, seemingly thinking that the lifespan of the light bulb was related to Hikaru’s life. Koremitsu was really terrified at the prospect of her breaking down into tears again.

“I see, that must have been really inconvenient. But you could have changed the light bulb yourself, right?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m not really telling you off. Don’t apologize.”

Koremitsu was as terrified of hearing others apologize as he was of seeing others cry, and he was more flustered.

“Okay! Done!”

He exclaimed and leapt off the chair.

He pulled the curtains up, and the dim room immediately brightened. At this moment, he finally realized the color of the curtains was as blue as a tropical sea.

The photos of the fish shoals and printed images stuck on the wall could be seen clearly, and the fan, cooker, and golf bag still looked intriguing under the bright light.

(This fan and stove are faulty. The fan doesn’t have any blades, and the stove doesn’t have an inner lid and pot. These aren’t household appliances, but mere decorations, right?)

Yū stood up and tottered her way towards Koremitsu.

The room was very cramped, so she merely took two, three steps.

The moment she lifted her head, the blanket covering her body slid down, her soft silky hair subsequently fell, and her small white face was revealed.

Koremitsu widened his eyes.

This was the first time he saw Yū’s face clearly, and it was like a white flower floating on the sea.

She was really beautiful—it was just like what Hikaru said, she was truly a tranquil and beautiful girl.

The ephemeral and dreamy expression was staring at Koremitsu, and the clear lips were slightly ajar like peach-colored shells.

It was a thin smile.

But she was certainly smiling.

[[File:Hikaru2-069.png |thumb]]

Smiling at Koremitsu.

She smiled shyly.

“…thank you.”

The moment she thanked him softly, Koremitsu felt his heart beat wildly.

(Wh-what’s going on? Why’s my face so hot out of a sudden…)

He did not understand why his body was experiencing such a change, and eked out a voice from his dry throat.

“It-it’s nothing, and Hikaru requested me to take care of you anyway. So, well…”

Hikaru narrowed his eyes and showed an amused expression, causing Koremitsu to be more flustered than before, but he continued awkwardly.

“Is it fine if I come back tomorrow?”

The moment Yū nodded slightly, Koremitsu felt dizzy.

On the way back.

Hikaru said with a teasing look,

''“Hey, she’s really a pretty girl you can find in your dreams, right?”''

Upon hearing that, Koremitsu’s face started to heat up again; he was breathless, his mouth gave a frown and did not speak up.

The next day was the same as well…

“…Yo.”

“…”

Yū, draped in the blanket, showed herself from behind the door along with the white cat.

“Please excuse me.” Koremitsu frowned as he muttered. She nodded with a nervous expression, and retreated slowly to the back bare-footed.

(She hasn’t let her guard down…)

Koremitsu too removed his shoes tensely as he walked in.

The blue curtains were still shut, but the room was lit by the electric light so it was very bright. Yū retreated into the crevice between the bed and the wall, and her black listless eyes were staring at Koremitsu.

(What do I say now…)

He had been coming here for proper business like repairing the door or replacing the light bulb, but on this day, he had nothing to do.

“Ah… have you thought about your promise with Hikaru? I’m not talking about buying a collar for the cat, but something more important.”

Yū lowered her eyes and shook her head.

“We-well, it’s probably too tough to ask you to recall immediately. That guy loves to make promises all the time anyway.”

Koremitsu finished off what he wanted to say as he glared at Hikaru, and the latter merely shrugged, acting as if he was uninvolved in this.

(Seriously, this guy…)

Whenever they talked about Hikaru, the blue-eyed cat would tilt its head to wherever Hikaru was.

It was said that animals have sharp instincts, so perhaps it really detected something.

It did not matter to Koremitsu however, and his current priority was to find something to talk about.

The room was in complete silence, and Koremitsu’s palms were sweating from the tension.

Yū looked up at him from under the blanket, looking somewhat awkward as well. She raised her eyebrows, and the smile she showed before is nowhere to be seen, disappointing Koremitsu as a result.

“A-are the stove, fan and golf bag some decoration or something?”

Koremitsu pointed at the junk of shells and glass fragments as he asked. Yū stared at Koremitsu uneasily and whispered,

“…those are the graves of the fish, the… towers of prayer.”

“Huh?”

“To protect… the underwater world.”

“…”

(Damn, how do I continue on?)

Is her mind drifting far away? Has she entered some fairy tale world after locking herself in the house for so long? Or are all girls like this?

Koremitsu tried to change the topic.

“Those are photos of fish, aren’t they? Do you like them? I too prefer fish rather than meat, Yellowtail or salted Saba are pretty good.”

(Eh… I think I just went off point…)

Yū lowered her face dejectedly.

''I shouldn’t have mentioned the Yellowtail collar. Don’t girls normally prefer something like smoked salmon here?'' He regretted.

“…Hikaru brought… the photos. He would bring something whenever he came to my house…”

Yū said with a lonely tone.

Koremitsu spotted her figure lower her eyes. Was she reminiscing over Hikaru again? She looked ready to cry again…

(T-t-t-th-thi-this isn’t good! What do girls like to talk about? Hey, harem prince, stop scratching the cat’s chin already. Help me think of something!)

Hikaru however did not respond as he continued to play with the cat with a calm smile. At his wits end, Koremitsu exclaimed,

“Speaking of Hikaru! What do you talk with him about?”

(I’m really an idiot! Why am I making her think of Hikaru again!?)

The moment he said it, he regretted his words.

“Tha-that guy has always been talking about getting a girlfriend who likes to smile for me… ah, I think I went off point.”

The more he wanted to strike up a conversation, the more awkward the situation got.

Yū raised her eyebrows slightly.

“…he often talked… about flowers.”

She said softly.

“Flowers? Oh, he’s always talking about disgusting things like how the Pansies in the garden are like, how the Narcissus beside the lakes are as delicate as girls…”

''“You actually called me disgusting…”''

Hikaru, who was playing with the cat, pouted unhappily. Koremitsu however was thinking, ‘If you’re listening, help me out here!’

Yū’s expression remained dreamy as she continued.

“He said… the Sakuras in the garden are as pink as a baby’s face… that the Tulips look like they’re laughing when they bloom.

Her white face gradually showed a clear radiance, and Koremitsu was astounded.

“…and also how the queenly Iris start to bloom… how the Dandelion started to grow from the cracks beside the concrete pavements… how the Rhododendron, Erigeron and Lily of the Valley charm him differently every single time… how he looked forward to the imminent blooming of the Acacia and Pyracantha… or something like that.”

Yū’s body was giving off a gentle presence, and her eyes were sparkling.

Koremitsu could imagine how those eyes looked when they saw Hikaru.

She looked with leisure as she sat with a leg pulled inwards, head tilted, with Hikaru in the room.

In fact, Hikaru was certainly scratching the cat’s chin, narrowing his eyes gently, giving Yū a tender and loving look…

There was a girl speaking softly, and a boy staring at her gently.

Yū, who remained confined in her own room on her own accord, showed a light smile that caused Koremitsu’s heart to race, and he even felt his chest ache somewhat.

The dream-like gentle smile rendered him unable to look away.

“…Whenever I hear Hikaru talk about flowers… I feel that I’m strolling in the garden alongside him…both of us side by side, watching the Sakuras and Wisterias…”

Yū showed a blissful expression she never showed before.

To her, the time she spent with Hikaru was certainly full of tranquillity.

Hikaru brought Yū the colors and odor of the outside world.

Thanks to Hikaru’s gentle voice, Yū could imagine the flowers blooming outside.

The shapes,

The colors,

The fragrances!

And with these wonderful imaginations, she could fall asleep while draped in the soft blanket.

Waiting silently for Hikaru’s next visit.

(She confines herself to this tattered apartment, is so poor that her utilities are suspended, is living a pitiful life where she can’t even change a light bulb, and… and can actually smile so happily, so blissfully…)

The dizziness and heart throbbing that appeared the previous day intensified, and his face got hotter…

Dumbfounded, Koremitsu stared at the pure white flower-like smile on Yū’s face.

(What’s going on!? What’s with her!?)

He yelled out repeatedly in his heart.

<noinclude>

==Notes==
<references/>

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|-
| Back to [[Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro:Volume2 Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
| Return to [[Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro......|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro:Volume2 Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Itakoro:Volume2 Chapter2

2015-10-27T10:39:21Z

LizbethUnknown: couldn't was spelled wrong

==Chapter 2 - The Fleeting White Flower at the Bottom of the Wall (1)==

''“Anyway, she’s a very introverted girl. Ever since last year, she never left the house, and would never go to school.”''

That night,

Hikaru was talking about Yū Kanai in Koremitsu’s room.

''“Actually, she should be in second year this Spring, but because of her lack of attendance, she is unable to make the next grade, and is in first year just like us.''

''Her parents divorced when she began to shut herself in. Her mother then went to Australia for work, and her father married a young woman, so they are living separately from each other. Yū’s mother wanted to bring her along to Australia, but Yū had a bad relationship with her mother, so she lived alone in that tattered…no, antique apartment.''

''Her father used to pay all the living expenses, but his new family had a child recently, and the burden became severe. Sometimes, there would be no funds for months, so she lived through a frugal life. The utilities were suspended twice up till now, but she never complained at all, and insisted on hiding in the house, just like a Gourd flower spreading its white petals in the darkness.''

''Oh yes, a Gourd flower is an annual vine Cucurbitace. They bloom in the evening, and radiate silently under the moonlight in the night. When the morning dawn breaks in, they start to wilt. Those are delicate, beautiful and endearing plants; the curls on the vines are very cute too. Its floral language is ‘a night’s memory’ or ‘illusionary love’, and some people call it the Dusk grass…”''

He would start a long discourse whenever it came to flowers and girls without stopping.

He was probably feeling very excited. He was dressed in a white T-shirt, tight-fitting pants, barefooted, floating around in casual clothing and chatting away in the sky.

(Goodness, you’re still in good spirits.)

Koremitsu, who had changed into a jumper worn in the house, was sitting on the tatami, frowning without a word.

He really did not want to recall what happened after that introverted blanket girl fainted.

While trying to take care of her, Koremitsu ran around the room in pitch darkness, knocked into a lot of things, tumbled quite a few times, and even knocked down a few boxes and overturned other things, causing a mess.

This commotion even shocked the neighbor, who thought a thief broke in, and the police were nearly called in.

If not for the blanket girl waking up in time, he would have been indicted for sure. If it had really developed to that extent, Koremitsu’s already rock-bottom reputation would have plunged further, and in the worst case situation, he might end up being forced to drop out.

''“Please, Koremitsu.”''

Hikaru’s knees were together as he knelt down in front of Koremitsu. His back was straightened, and his hands were placed elegantly; from his sitting posture, anyone could see that he had a good upbringing. Even Koremitsu was inadvertently amazed by the disposition of his gestures.

''“Can I leave Yū’s matter to you just like Miss Aoi? No man can bear to leave such a delicate and pretty girl alone like that, no?”''

Hikaru showed an innocent expression as he pleaded to Koremitsu earnestly. The inexplicable expression he showed was exquisite.

“… what does she look like? I couldn’t see in such a dark place.”

“Don’t worry, she’s really pretty. I can assure that.”

“It’s none of my business whether she’s pretty or not. Anyway, what kind of promise did you make anyway, you vowing devil.”

Koremitsu glared at Hikaru, but the latter answered with a silent mature smile.

''“I can’t say now.”''

“Huh?”

''Can’t say? Why?''

Hikaru probed his chin forward, showed a child-like innocent and frisky smile, and clapped his hands together.

''“Anyway, please. Didn’t you promise Yū that you’ll repair the broken door? Given your personality, you won’t leave a girl alone after breaking her house’s door like that, right?”''

“Guh.”

Koremitsu was unable to argue back after this was mentioned.

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

The next morning, Koremitsu left home two hours earlier than usual.

“What is this? Are you going for morning practice for some ball tournament or something?”

His aunt Koharu, just woke up with messy hair, and her jumper’s sleeves and pants were rolled up as she stared at him suspiciously.

“…somewhat.”

Koremitsu answered briskly.

“You’re bringing the toolbox?”

Upon seeing the item in Koremitsu’s hand,

“If you want to fight, go fight barehandedly. Only amateurs who don’t know the rules of fighting will bring such things.”

Koharu lectured with her eyes narrowed, and turned her shoulders by the joints as she walked into the kitchen.

''“Is Miss Koharu an expert in fighting?”''

Hikaru asked naively.

“… Don’t ask me.”

Koremitsu answered with a scowl.

They arrived at the apartment that still looked tattered after the rain, in the morning dawn.

Koremitsu knocked on Yū’s room door. A woman with hair curlers and thick makeup walked out from the next room, and stared at Koremitsu.

“You’re here again? I’m going to sleep, so don’t make a ruckus like what you did yesterday.”

“Sorry, I’m here to repair the door. There might be some noise, but I’ll try to finish as soon as possible.”

It would be bad if the police were to be called in just like what nearly happened the previous day, so he intriguingly lowered his head courteously.

The neighbor, who seemed to be from some night life business, glowered at Koremitsu with hatred.

“Oh, make it quick then.”

After saying that, she slammed the door.

''“That big sister’s fierce to me too, and even told me off with things like ‘don’t come around in the middle of the night’, or ‘a brat actually won’t go home in the middle of the night? What are the education people doing’. But she’s a beauty with quite the nice figure too~. She’s like a bright red Geranium.”''

Hikaru continued on with something Koremitsu was not concerned about.

“Good thing you didn’t make a promise with that woman next door.”

Koremitsu said with spite as he glanced aside at him, and then knocked on Yū’s door lightly again.

The parts he damaged the previous day were repaired by vinyl tape and duct tape.

“Oi, Yū Kanai… Are you awake? I’m here to open the door.”

After a moment of silence, the door opened slightly by a centimeter or so.

A pair of black eyes and blue eyes were peering from within.

The terrified black eyes belonged to the Hikikomori girl, and the blue eyes belonged to the cool girl.

Koremitsu showed the tool box in his hand.

The door opened by another centimeter.

She looked up at Koremitsu diffidently.

Koremitsu thought it would not be good for both sides to continue staring at each other without any progress.

“Please excuse me.”

He forcefully pushed the door aside.

The weak girl draped in blue blanket backed away impetuously, and retreated to a corner of the room.

She stuck herself between the double-deckered bed and the wall as she continued to look over at Koremitsu.

Koremitsu knew from his past experiences what effects his red hair and savage expression would have on an ordinary girl. The girls in school did not dare to look at him right in the eyes.

This frail girl was evidently aghast, but she kept staring at Koremitsu with an ambivalent expression.

The white cat of hers curled its tail as it sat down at Koremitsu’s feet, its cool blue eyes looking up at him.

Koremitsu opened the toolbox and took out a hammer and some nails. It was excruciating to work with the stares from the human and animal on him, and he felt apprehensive.

The culprit behind this, Hikaru, kept looking at Koremitsu with a carefree look.

''“Wow, your hammering technique is good, Koremitsu. As expected of you, you really are worthy of respect. You, capable guy.”''

(You can’t trick me no matter what pleasantries you tell me. You only know how to watch on.)

The sound of the hammer knocking rang in the quiet morning. Koremitsu was worried that the woman next door would run out and reproach him for being too noisy.

Yū was still hiding in the gap between the bed and the wall, and remained still like a decoration. She did not move the hair draped on the side of her face, and curled her body silently in the room.

It was morning and the window curtains were still drawn, but the sunlight shining through the curtains made the room a little brighter than it was yesterday.

There were photos of seas and fishes and ostensibly computer colored picture printouts stuck on the wall. The wind blowing in from outside the door caused the papers to flutter like waves breaking on the coast.

The electric fan, hangers, golf bag, and electric stove were placed together. There were shells, marbles and glass fragments. And the edges of the double-deckered bed had blue and red vinyl ropes dangling down like sea grass.

(What… that’s a really weird interior design.)

Hikaru had stated that she locked herself in the room for a year already, and all her necessity purchases like water and food were done through the Net. She normally would not take even a single step out.

(She always has the curtains drawn, has the blanket covering her, and wouldn’t budge from such a dark and humid place. Isn’t she scared of fungi growing? This lifestyle’s too unhealthy.)

The girl’s skin shown vaguely from within the carpet was white like snow, the fingers bared outside were pure white, and even her fingernails were white. This must have been due to lack of exposure to sunlight.

(Oh yeah… does she know Hikaru is dead?)

Upon thinking about this, Koremitsu inadvertently felt a jolt within him.

Since she had been shutting herself inside the house, and had not interacted with anyone, she might not have known that Hikaru died.

(This is bad.)

His heart suddenly raced.

There was no doubt Yū was one of Hikaru’s many girlfriends. In other words, Hikaru would be her lover.

Would it be good for Koremitsu, a stranger, to personally say her lover died?

He stopped what he was doing, turned his stare away from Yū, and said nonchalantly (though his voice was shrill),

“Eh… well, I said so yesterday, but the reason why I’m here is because Hikaru asked me to fulfill his promise. As for why Hikaru himself can’t make it here…Hikaru, well, died stupidly in an accident a little while ago.”

''“…Koremitsu, I didn’t die ‘stupidly’, you know?”''

Hikaru protested unhappily.

“…I know.”

It was a gentle voice.

Koremitsu looked back, and found that Yū, covered in the blue blanket, was looking at him.

A few strands of thin hair rested on that white face. Her face showed an emotion that was beyond despondent and tranquillity, similar to resignation.

The soft voice that nearly melted in the air calmly continued.

“…I received a mail.”

“Mail? I see. Did a friend notify you?”

Yū lowered her eyes and shook her head slightly.

“It was… an unknown address, and there… was no name on it.”

''“Yū, do you still have that address? Can you show it to me?”''

Hikaru asked, showing a serious look on his face.

“Do you still have the message? Do you mind showing it to me?”

Yū seemed very hesitant, and lowered her head to ponder for a while, before moving away and dragging the blanket.

There was a laptop on the short round table, and a Turkish Blue cellphone beside it.

The slender white fingers reached out from beneath the carpet, picked up the phone, opened the cover, tapped on it for a while, and handed it tentatively over to Koremitsu.

Koremitsu received the cellphone, and Hikaru read it too.

The message was sent one day before Hikaru’s funeral. The obituary was rather concise and was devoid of any hint of emotion; the location and time was also stated on it.

There was no sender signature, just as what Yū said.

The beginning of the mail address was listed as ‘upvkpv’—

The intent was vague, and they seemed to be a random assortment of alphabets rather than letters with hidden intent.

''“…”''

Hikaru frowned, bit his lips, and pondered.

“Thanks.”

Koremitsu was about to return the phone to Yū, but was suddenly startled.

“!”

Yū was weeping quietly.

Transparent drops of liquid rolled down her white face.

There was no sign of any intense pain, but the clear black eyes were soaked with tears as she wept quietly. She continued to weep, and it seemed the tears would stop without warning.

“Wa-wah, alright, don’t cry.”

Koremitsu panicked.

He was most fearful about seeing women cry, as it would remind him of the sight of his mother’s crying.

She once wept quietly like this too.

—I’m really sorry, Mitsu.

—Sorry.

The emotions quivered in his heart, and he was stertorous.

''Damn, why am I thinking about that…?''

Koremitsu gritted his teeth with all his might, and forcefully tightened his face and eyes.

Yū said with a weak voice as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

“… It was raining… on that day, when Hikaru’s funeral took place… I couldn’t go. I couldn’t see him a final time… I couldn’t see…”

Her stuttering voice was too ephemeral, too lonely, causing Koremitsu’s heart to ache as he heard this—

He wanted to tell Yū that Hikaru was present, but Yū could not see Hikaru, and she would probably think that Koremitsu was trying to comfort her.

Hikaru embraced Yū on the shoulders as he looked on with a somber look. The pretty fingertips that were unfitting for a man entered the blanket draped upon Yū.

''“I’m sorry… Yū, if only I came here to see you earlier. You and Lapis<ref>Actual name of cat is こるり, little Lapis Lazuli, a deep blue precious stone.</ref> must have been lonely, right? I’m sorry.”''

The soft voice echoed deeply, causing the pain rising in Koremitsu’s throat to be more pronounced.

Yū did not know Hikaru was embracing her.

The blue-eyed cat was sticking at her feet, ostensibly comforting her.

Yū lowered her head weakly.

Clear water droplets trickled down her face again.

“Pl-please, don’t cry already! I understand how you feel. That idiot Hikaru died out of a sudden, and you must’ve felt like crying. I’m the same here, I was reduced to a crying mess the moment I thought he could possibly disappear, so I know it’s inconsiderate to ask you not to cry, but please, don’t cry!”

Koremitsu pleaded zealously. He really could not stomach the sight of a woman crying.

His heart was ostensibly about to rip apart.

But Yū continued to cry, and Koremitsu’s resistance wore down as he finally yelled out.

“Alright! I’ll fulfil that promise in Hikaru’s place! I’ll bear all responsibility here!”

Yū lifted her head at Koremitsu.

She was probably taken aback.

Her teary eyes widened slightly, and the tears stopped.

Koremitsu stared right into her eyes, and declared with a passionate tone again,

“I’ll help him fulfil his eyes!”

His veins were popping, his eyes were frowning, and his expression must have been really horrifying. He hoped he did not scare that introverted girl.

Hikaru, who was embracing Yū, narrowed his eyes gently, curled his lips up, and stared at Koremitsu.

Yū’s eyes again showed concern and bewilderment.

She asked softly,

“Promise… what promise?”

“Heh?”

Koremitsu revealed a startled look.

(What… is it?)

''“Ah, about that.” Hikaru mumbled as he slowly retreated from Yū.''

“Didn’t Hikaru make a promise with you?”

“He did say so a few times… but I’m not too certain.”

(A few times?)

Koremitsu glared furiously at Hikaru.

And the latter,

''“Yo, Lapis, how are you doing?”''

Continued to pat the kitten on its head.

The kitten grimaced in confusion.

“…I think he said he wanted to put a glass collar on Lapis? Or maybe he wanted to color the fan? Or maybe he wanted to play some ‘sea-themed Shiritori game’ again? Or maybe he wanted to put two straws in the glass cup with blue juice and drink together? Whenever Hikaru is about to leave, he would give me a pinky swear and say ‘it’s a promise’…”

''“Fufu, Lapis’s eyes are colored like the Earth, the Commelina-like blueish-purple is really pretty. Oh yes, the floral language for Commelina is ‘respect’ and ‘nostalgic friendship’, you know”''

(Hey! What are you laughing for!? Stop playing with the cat! Is this the time for floral languages!? You promise-making devil!)

“…what did Hikaru request you to do?”

Yū stared at Koremitsu with blurry eyes, obviously curious about what Hikaru tasked Koremitsu to do.

“Uu.”

Koremitsu murmured as he glanced over at Hikaru.

The latter smiled awkwardly and clapped his hands together to beg Koremitsu.

“Damn, it’s that, that… the most important amongst all the promises! There should be one, right? Do you know?”

“The most important…?”

“Right, the most important promise.”

Class was about to start, and the door was not repaired.

Please, hurry up and think. Just say it out. No matter how hard it is, I’ll try my best to do it.

“Maybe…”

Yū lowered her head.

“You thought of it? Great! That’s definitely it!”

Koremitsu propped his body forward,

“Maybe… it’s to change the light bulb for me?”

Whilst Yū lifted her face and and said with a serious look.

The hammer fell out from Koremitsu’s hand.

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

“What exactly are you planning? What do you want me to do!?”

Koremitsu finally managed to repair the door, and dashed down the dirt path leading to the school as he muttered.

''“I just want to fulfil a promise.”''

Hikaru floated beside Koremitsu whimsically, and answered with that infuriatingly elegant expression.

“I’m asking you what sort of ‘promise’ did you make exactly!? You made some important promise with her that has to be fulfilled, right? If it’s a stupid thing like Shiritori, I’m not going to bother with you ever again.”

Hikaru’s expression immediately showed maturity.

''“Hm, that’s a very important promise, and I can only ask of you, this good friend of mine. Just think of it together with Yū.”''

He looked at Koremitsu with a clear expression full of trust, and said this gently. This expression caused Koremitsu to feel flustered, and he nearly fell over after tripping accidently.

(What exactly is this guy thinking?)

There were a lot of things Koremitsu wanted to ask, but it was of utmost importance to get to school on time.

Koremitsu finally managed to make it on time, and tried to catch his breath as he changed his shoes in front of the shoe locker.

“Haa… haa… anyway… if you want someone to help… at least explain what to do… how am I going to do this… wheeze…”

''“Koremitsu, you just ran two kilometers. Catch your breath before talking…”''

Hikaru showed a wry expression as he said.

“I heard that guy is the biggest suspect in Lord Hikaru’s murder.”

“!”

Koremitsu immediately lifted his head.

''Is Hikaru’s murderer nearby!?''

He looked around frantically, and found a human wall gathered around him without him knowing, with every person staring at him.

“Is that Lord Hikaru’s stalker?”

“I heard he has been going around declaring that he’s Lord Hikaru’s friend.”

“He must have murdered him because he was too engrossed in his own delusions.”

“Homosexual love sure is intense.”

(Hold it!)

The doubtful stares from all of them caused Koremitsu’s face to twitch.

(Me? Stalking Hikaru!? I killed him because I’m delusional? Homosexual love…?)

After processing the information he heard in his mind, Koremitsu was startled.

(Does everyone think that I’m the one who killed Hikaru!?)

That certainly seemed to be the case.

The people in the school seemed to have deemed Koremitsu Akagi as the lead suspect in Hikaru’s murder, and they would even form a path for him whenever he walked down the corridor. This was a common scene, but in the past, people merely deemed him as the son of some delinquent or Yakuza mob, and now…

“That person and Lord Hikaru…”

“Such twisted love.”

Koremitsu felt his back tingle with numbness as he heard these murmurs from behind.

He finally reached the classroom, only for the noisy atmosphere within to quiet down, and his classmates were staring at him.

The class representative with braided hair, who would always greet Koremitsu even though she was very terrified of him, retreated back to her seat, and did not dare to give him a look.

Honoka, who was seated beside Koremitsu, frowned as she glanced over. She was hesitant, but panicked and looked away once Koremitsu approached, and did not dare look at him during class.

During class break.

“I heard that guy killed Lord Hikaru.”

The gossips continued on, and Koremitsu felt that he couldn't bear with them any longer if he were to keep hearing them.

(How could I possibly kill Hikaru here!?)

''“Because you’re too eye-catching. That’s why everyone’s making random guesses. I’m troubled. Is there a way to solve this?”''

Hikaru frowned with an apologetic look beside Koremitsu.

“Well, it’ll be too stupid to take them seriously.”

Koremitsu deliberately gave a nonchalant look.

But in fact, he was already affronted, and his temples were throbbing.

At this moment…

“How stupid.”

A voice rang sternly beside him.

Honoka, who had her eyebrows raised in a disparaging manner, suddenly covered her phone.

She boldly proclaimed as the classmates looked in a confounded manner.

“You’re not kids, and yet you’re going all dizzy by such a slanderous chain message. If this person wanted to say something, he or she could have signed off. I won’t believe the words of a coward who only dares to spread rumors secretly.”

The classroom immediately descended into utter silence.

Honoka did not look at Koremitsu, and her ostensibly furious sharp eyes were glaring into space. Her tone and expression were devoid of fear, but there was an indignant sense hidden within. If one were to look closely, her hands pressing onto the table were trembling slightly.

The class representative with braids hurriedly stood up, and said,

“Tha-that’s right! Hono’s right. I-it-it’s wrong to suspect others on baseless assumptions.”

The classmates looked over at each other awkwardly.

This chancy atmosphere lingered for quite a while, before everyone returned back to what they were doing. Honoka however was surrounded by the class representative and some other friends.

“What’s the matter? Honoka?”

“Why did you say such things out of a sudden?”

Everyone asked worriedly.

“…it’s nothing. I just couldn’t stand seeing it.”

She answered with a pout on her face, and Koremitsu felt relief as he eavesdropped on her.

''“There’s still another person in this class who supports you other than me, Koremitsu.”''

Hikaru said delightfully.

“Shikibu!”

After class, just as Honoka was walking out of the classroom, Koremitsu hurried after her.

“Thanks for speaking up for me,.”

He felt really embarrassed to actually need a woman to help him, but he was still touched—these two conflicting emotions collided in his heart, and he really did not know what expression he should make.

Honoka blushed immediately.

(Why’s she blushing out of a sudden?)

“Yo-you don’t have to thank me, I didn’t say those words for your sake. It’s just that I just said what I thought. Don’t be mistaken, I have no intention of helping a delinquent like you.”

She stated coldly and chided,

“I’m not familiar with you anyway. Don’t talk to me.”

Then turned and left.

Koremitsu remained rooted, unable to say anything.

(Why’s she so angry with me!? And she actually tells me not to talk with her…)

“DAMN IT! WOMEN ARE HARD TO UNDERSTAND AFTER ALL!”

He lashed out with veins popping.

''“Miss Shikibu’s personality… is really pitiful. I find it easy to understand her, and really want to tease her until her face becomes as red as a Snapdragon, but this truly is too difficult for you.”''

Hikaru sighed as he rattled on.

At this moment…

“Mr Akagi!”

A shrill voice rang in Koremitsu’s ears, and a short-haired petite girl with bouncing large breasts came running over.

It was Hiina Oumi of the news club.

She had a huge variety of expressions, and her large eyes were dazzling like a boy. She grabbed Koremitsu by the arm and rattled on,

“Everyone’s saying that you’re the lead suspect in Lord Hikaru’s murder! Wah, the Delinquent King has no road to go! It’s like the Saturday Night at the Mysteries Theater! Do you want to clear your name by working with this cute partner to fish out the real culprit? Anyway, the one I suspect the most now is…”

It was unknown if she was pressing her breasts on Koremitsu on purpose, but Koremitsu merely covered her mouth without saying anyway.

“Mm—”

Hiina widened her eyes in surprise as she looked at Koremitsu. He stared back and said,

“All I need to know is what Hikaru said, nothing else matters.”

He recalled the words Honoka just said.

It would be too foolish to be fooled by such rumors. He just need to believe the people that were important, and even if he made a mistake, he would not regret it.

Hiina widened her eyes.

She let go of Koremitsu’s hand, and looked up at him in a dumbstruck manner.

Koremitsu turned away from Hiina, and before he left, he quipped,

“Also, I’m used to hearing such stupid rambling from others ever since I was young. These rumors are as painless as a mosquito bite.”

Hiina blankly watched the red-haired walk down the corridor, and suddenly turned back to say with excitement,

“…that’s what he said, prez.”

A tall beauty with long black hair—the student council president Asai Saiga walked out from behind the corner.

Hiina then rattled on to the frowning Asai in a rapid-fire manner,

“This is already a friendship beyond life and death, right? His tone indicates that he heard something from Lord Hikaru. He’s certainly not an ordinary delinquent; that’s true now that I think about it, those who could enter this high school through the entrance exams are definitely not stupid. Everyone knows that the students in this school are composed of the internal affiliated programme students whose families have connections and the external students with outstanding grades—ah, of course there are people like you who have such pedigree of growing up amongst the nobles since kindergarten and have outstanding grades! Anyway, it seems Mr Akagi got something important pertaining to Lord Hikaru; my instincts have always been sharp.”

Asai listened to Hiina’s words coldly, and the latter looked at her in a taunting manner, seemingly trying to agitate her into saying something.

“To me, it seems you’re also high up on the suspect list on who killed Lord Hikaru too, prez! Since you two are on the same position, what do you think about Mr Akagi?”

Asai did not fall for her trap.

Her expression remained as icy as ever,

“He’s simply a wild dog whose bark annoys me.”

She said with uppity, and proceeded to leave.

At this moment, Hikaru, who was beside Koremitsu, was very excited.

''“I’m so touched! If I were a girl, I would have proposed to you on the spot! Wow, you’re so cool! I’m so touched that goosebumps are rising on my skin!”''

(What sort of ghost would have goosebumps? And why am I blushing!?)

Koremitsu continued to give a sullen look as he said coldly,

“Don’t be silly, it’s not that I don’t care about you hiding something from me. I just feel that, well… even if we’re friends, there are still things you don’t want to say. I too have some things I don’t want to say… anyway, just say so when you want to… since we’re friends.”

Koremitsu got more embarrassed as he continued, and his face started to heat up. He really found it most difficult to say such things.

''“Something you don’t want to say? You mean how old you were when you last wet your bed? Some embarrassing essay you wrote when you were young? You said you were the animal rearing rep in elementary school… ah! Are you implying that your first crush was a young kindergarten teacher?”''

“NOT! Now’s not the time to talk about me, right!?”

Hikaru showed a carefree expression on his face, and he narrowed his eyes as he gave a blissful smile.

''“Ah, I see. I too will wait for you to say it when you want to, Koremitsu.”''

“Why are you smiling so heartily? I never liked my kindergarten teacher, and do you know how much trouble you’re causing me here!? Whose fault do you think is it that everybody is thinking of me as a murder suspect and a stalker!?”

Koremitsu grumbled in his heart.

But he had no choice. He just had to have the misfortune of being harassed by such a troublesome person, and even foolishly became friends.

“You’re worried about that introverted woman now, right? If I help her out, you’ll be one step closer in ascending to Heaven, right?”

''“Yeah, I guess I can be closer by 100m.”''

Hikaru nodded with a beaming smile.

“Seriously, just 100m? How many thousand light years until you reach space?”

''“Well, isn’t there a saying that you have to make a first step before embarking on a long journey?”''

“Kuuh, I’ll become an old man on the day I finish that journey. Anyway, let’s hurry up and settle it first.”

Koremitsu reluctantly said, and upon hearing it, Hikaru again nodded his head with a sweet blissful smile on his face.

''“Right, then, how about you send Yū an email first?”''

“Ah? An email?”

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

During lunch break.

''Why do I have to do such a thing…'' Koremitsu gritted his teeth unhappily as he started tapping at his cellphone while seated at his desk.

(And I end up being led in by Hikaru, huh?)

''“If it’s a sudden visit, Yū might be too scared to open the door, so you have to build up your relationship with her first. This is the moment when you should send a mail, as it’s the most suitable method to approach an introverted girl. You can also use this to practise and treat it as preparation to go out with a girl who likes to laugh.”''

(Wha—you’re still trying to find a woman who likes to laugh? How many times must I tell you that I don’t need a girlfriend, and I don’t have interest in a woman who likes to laugh!)

Koremitsu grumbled silently in his heart as he typed the message with sweat dripping down his forehead.

''“If you want her to reply, the most basic move is to end the message with a question. Also, try talking more about things she’s interested in.”''

Hikaru beamed as he sat on Koremitsu’s table with his legs folded as he started teaching the latter the skills necessary when sending girls messages. His light brown hair continued to flutter gently in the calm wind of the classroom, and his eyes were full of exuberance.

Koremitsu however looked lethargic.

(Huh? A question? Something she’ll be interested about?)

“‘Is that cat guy energetic?’”

''“Koremitsu…Lapis isn’t a male, but a female.”''

“‘Is that furball in good spirits?’”

''“Furball… what kind of antique nickname is that? Be more natural with your words.”''

“‘What’s the name of your cat? Lapse? Lapel? Lupus?’”

''“Hey, didn’t I say that it’s called Lapis? Are you listening to me?”''

“Shut up. I am.”

Koremitsu grumbled irately and continued to send messages.

“‘What did you eat for lunch?’”

“‘Have you eaten some meat?’”

“‘Remember to take in enough Vitamin C.’”

Each line was unintelligible, and as expected, Yū did not respond.

''“Koremitsu, think about what sort of message you would like to receive if you’re a girl. You have to write with more elegance and emotions, just like the nobles of the Heian Era.”''

“Nobles of the Heian Era?”

The school uniform on Hikaru’s body became a Heian noble’s outfit.

It was a blue-purple robe of great regal.

Hikaru, who had become a ghost, gained a completely useless ability to ‘change clothes’. This set of Heian noble clothing was his favourite, and he always loved to changed the colors and patterns on it. His profile could not be seen off the mirror, so he could not see himself, but he continued to change clothes with such enthusiasm.

''“Ki no Tsurayuki<ref>古今和歌集, translated as 'Collection of Japanese Poems (Wakas) of Ancient and Modern Times, is an anthology of poems commissioned by Emperor Uda. Ki no Tsurayuki was an imperial poet who led the compilation. Poems used are found here: http://www.milord-club.com/Kokin/index.htm.</ref> did mention in the 'Kokin Wakashū'<ref>Hirohiko Takada (2009). Kokin Wakashū New Edition. Japan: Kadokawa Liberal Arts Publishing. Printed on June 25</ref>that reciting poems is about pouring your soul into the words and bring the emotions to the flowers, moon, mountains. Sometimes, upon seeing the smoke on Mount Fuji, we think of our romantic love; sometimes, when we hear the chirping of crickets, we think of our close friends; sometimes, when we see the dew on the grass or the bubbles in the water, we lament that life is so fleeting—a short Waka is suffused with emotions, right, just like this poem…”''

Hikaru then recited with a gentle, serene voice,

''“From the first moment I heard the faint calls of the geese, my mind lingered in the skies—whilst I ostensibly hear the vague cries of the geese from the North, and after hearing your voice, my soul remains restless all day, and my heart continued to long. The princesses of the Heian Era are hidden deep inside the Boudoirs; it would be impossible to meet them unless they have close relationships. This poem is used to express the love and admiration after hearing the other party’s voice, a longing thirst to meet, and any young lady who receives this Waka surely would want to invite the man in for the night.<ref>Original source: Waka number 481, written by Ōshikōchi no Mitsune, one of the 4 commissioned to form the anthology</ref>''

''Oh, there’s also this—the rising tide flow in the day may not be seen, and the sea scatters along the coast, waiting for the night—the high tide in the day can’t be seen, so one can only wait by the coast where the sea covers—and hope that they would meet in the night. The writing of this poem is very detailed and hard to understand. Anyway, it’s probably about asking a certain lady if he could meet her in the middle of the night. It’s really romantic~”<ref>Original source: Waka number 665, written by Kiyohara no Fukayabu</ref>''

Koremitsu could never imagine hearing the cheesy term ‘romantic’ from a boy in his teens.

(Just meet if you want to. Is there a need to make a poem out of it!? Those people in the Heian Era are really indirect.)

Koremitsu’s patience was practically eroded completely as he worked on this unfamiliar work of composing a message. He really wanted to send a message with direct words stating ‘I’ll be going over after school. Open the door later!’ However, upon thinking about Yū’s pale face under the blue blanket, her uneasy expression and teary face, he inadvertently stopped his fingers again.

“…”

He had nary an understanding of women at all, and he did not want to try to appeal to them.

However…

This hikikomori girl had a little resemblance to his mother who left home. He really did not want to hurt her, and did not want to scare her.

—Yū’s very timid.

—If it’s a sudden visit, Yū might be too scared to open the door.

“Kuu.”

What exactly does Yū likes? What does she hope for?

The fleeting expression continued to linger in Koremitsu’s mind.

Her voice when she said ‘maybe it’s to change the light bulb for me?’ after pondering long and hard kept ringing in his ears.

''Right. First, I have to improve the lighting in the room or it’ll be impossible to walk, and anyone would end up knocking into things after a few steps. Fluorescent tubes… light… something glowing… the room has photos of the sea stuck on the walls inside. Something that glows in the sea….''

“‘I picked up an Angler. Do you want me to bring it to you after school?’”

He typed out the words, and then sent the message.

''“Koremitsu, how do you find an Angler on the roadside? Even if it is a simile, you have to find something that's more sentimental, more elegant, more romantic. At least say it is a firefly or something."''

Hikaru immediately reprimanded.

"Shut it."

Koremitsu grumbled, but he felt embarrassed

Koremitsu muttered, ''What sort of childish thing am I doing here?'' But he was actually ashamed, and he did not know what he was writing. At this moment, the phone rang.

“Ah…”

The reply came.

Koremitsu opened the message,

“‘Okay’”

This was the only message that came.

Koremitsu ostensibly heard a soft ‘yes’ in his ears, and was flabbergasted by it.

''“Erm, that kind of content is okay? He should have raised his standards and have a few more goes.”''

Hikaru muttered to himself, apparently very disapproving of this.

“What’s the matter, Hono? What are you looking at?”

Michiru called out, and Honoka turned her head around in surprise.

“I-it’s nothing!”

She was embarrassed to say she was staring at Koremitsu because she found the latter typing messages intently.

“Nothing at all.”

Honoka answered unhappily, and opened her cellphone with a blushing face.

(Akagi is sending mails… to whom?)

<center>♢ ♢ ♢</center>

''“Koremitsu, you seem rather happy.”''

“Hm? Do I? Don’t I look normal?”

''“But your lips are smiling.”''

“Shut up. I said I’m being normal here.”

Koremitsu denied this in embarrassment.

After school,

With the light bulb he bought from a shop he passed by in hand, he went off to Yū’s apartment.

Koremitsu was certainly a little happy to finally get a reply after pondering high and low over what to type in his mails, but he was very embarrassed to have Hikaru point this out.

He frowned hard to hide the delight in his heart, and just when he was about to pass through the fence beside the apartment—

(Hm?)

''“What is it, Koremitsu?”''

Upon seeing Koremitsu stop abruptly and look back, Hikaru asked in surprise.

“No, I just felt an uncomfortable stare.”

''“Uncomfortable?”''

“The back of my neck feels itchy. Whenever I get this feeling, it’s very likely that some bastard with a chain or knife would appear.”

“You were ambushed so many times? So you really got the title of Delinquent King after going through so many deadly battles, huh?”

''“I’m not a delinquent!''

''…there’s nobody around. Have my senses dulled?''

Koremitsu clicked his tongue in disgust, and proceeded down the path leading to the apartment.

The door beside Yu’s room was open, and the woman who was apparently involved in night life business, poked her head out and glared at Koremitsu.

“Men are not allowed here.”

“Never heard that.”

“I just made this rule. Recently, a few of my money sources ran off. You brats are making a ruckus right beside my room; if there’s nothing else, just scram.”

That woman squawked unreasonably, and slammed the door shut.

“Who cares about what you think anyway!?”

The mouthful of impertinent words used and abrasive attitude shown were really similar to his divorced aunt living with him. Would all women act like this when they grow older?

''“Koremitsu, Yū will be terrified if you’re too loud.”''

“O-oh.”

After Hikaru reminded him, he knocked on the door softly.

“Hey, I brought the Angler.”

After a while, the door opened slightly, and the girl with the blue blanket draped over her peeked out from behind.

“H-hello.”

He greeted nervously.

“Meow.”

The blue-eyed cat at the girl’s feet answered coldly in her stead.

Yū left the door and retreated to the back. On a closer look, she was barefooted, and stumbled as she walked.

(A lack of exercise, huh? This isn’t good.)

Koremitsu frowned, but did not say anything as he walked in silently.

“Lend me a chair.”

He took a chair as a platform, and started changing the light bulb.

Yū was still holed in a corner of the room, watching Koremitsu get to work uneasily.

Koremitsu removed the old light bulb, and just when he was about to put it on the floor, he saw a slender hand reach for him tentatively.

To his surprise, he found that it was Yū’s.

“Ah, thanks.”

“…”

Yū nodded lightly, received the light bulb, and placed it on the floor. She then retreated to the corner and looked over at Koremitsu worriedly.

Koremitsu was wondering if he should say something to her,

“When did this light bulb fail?”

He asked, and Yū merely answered flatly,

“…it started to flicker… about a month ago… and it broke down completely two days before… I received the mail informing me about the funeral… Hikaru died on that day…”

She lowered her sights dolefully, seemingly thinking that the lifespan of the light bulb was related to Hikaru’s life. Koremitsu was really terrified at the prospect of her breaking down into tears again.

“I see, that must have been really inconvenient. But you could have changed the light bulb yourself, right?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m not really telling you off. Don’t apologize.”

Koremitsu was as terrified of hearing others apologize as he was of seeing others cry, and he was more flustered.

“Okay! Done!”

He exclaimed and leapt off the chair.

He pulled the curtains up, and the dim room immediately brightened. At this moment, he finally realized the color of the curtains was as blue as a tropical sea.

The photos of the fish shoals and printed images stuck on the wall could be seen clearly, and the fan, cooker, and golf bag still looked intriguing under the bright light.

(This fan and stove are faulty. The fan doesn’t have any blades, and the stove doesn’t have an inner lid and pot. These aren’t household appliances, but mere decorations, right?)

Yū stood up and tottered her way towards Koremitsu.

The room was very cramped, so she merely took two, three steps.

The moment she lifted her head, the blanket covering her body slid down, her soft silky hair subsequently fell, and her small white face was revealed.

Koremitsu widened his eyes.

This was the first time he saw Yū’s face clearly, and it was like a white flower floating on the sea.

She was really beautiful—it was just like what Hikaru said, she was truly a tranquil and beautiful girl.

The ephemeral and dreamy expression was staring at Koremitsu, and the clear lips were slightly ajar like peach-colored shells.

It was a thin smile.

But she was certainly smiling.

[[File:Hikaru2-069.png |thumb]]

Smiling at Koremitsu.

She smiled shyly.

“…thank you.”

The moment she thanked him softly, Koremitsu felt his heart beat wildly.

(Wh-what’s going on? Why’s my face so hot out of a sudden…)

He did not understand why his body was experiencing such a change, and eked out a voice from his dry throat.

“It-it’s nothing, and Hikaru requested me to take care of you anyway. So, well…”

Hikaru narrowed his eyes and showed an amused expression, causing Koremitsu to be more flustered than before, but he continued awkwardly.

“Is it fine if I come back tomorrow?”

The moment Yū nodded slightly, Koremitsu felt dizzy.

On the way back.

Hikaru said with a teasing look,

''“Hey, she’s really a pretty girl you can find in your dreams, right?”''

Upon hearing that, Koremitsu’s face started to heat up again; he was breathless, his mouth gave a frown and did not speak up.

The next day was the same as well…

“…Yo.”

“…”

Yū, draped in the blanket, showed herself from behind the door along with the white cat.

“Please excuse me.” Koremitsu frowned as he muttered. She nodded with a nervous expression, and retreated slowly to the back bare-footed.

(She hasn’t let her guard down…)

Koremitsu too removed his shoes tensely as he walked in.

The blue curtains were still shut, but the room was lit by the electric light so it was very bright. Yū retreated into the crevice between the bed and the wall, and her black listless eyes were staring at Koremitsu.

(What do I say now…)

He had been coming here for proper business like repairing the door or replacing the light bulb, but on this day, he had nothing to do.

“Ah… have you thought about your promise with Hikaru? I’m not talking about buying a collar for the cat, but something more important.”

Yū lowered her eyes and shook her head.

“We-well, it’s probably too tough to ask you to recall immediately. That guy loves to make promises all the time anyway.”

Koremitsu finished off what he wanted to say as he glared at Hikaru, and the latter merely shrugged, acting as if he was uninvolved in this.

(Seriously, this guy…)

Whenever they talked about Hikaru, the blue-eyed cat would tilt its head to wherever Hikaru was.

It was said that animals have sharp instincts, so perhaps it really detected something.

It did not matter to Koremitsu however, and his current priority was to find something to talk about.

The room was in complete silence, and Koremitsu’s palms were sweating from the tension.

Yū looked up at him from under the blanket, looking somewhat awkward as well. She raised her eyebrows, and the smile she showed before is nowhere to be seen, disappointing Koremitsu as a result.

“A-are the stove, fan and golf bag some decoration or something?”

Koremitsu pointed at the junk of shells and glass fragments as he asked. Yū stared at Koremitsu uneasily and whispered,

“…those are the graves of the fish, the… towers of prayer.”

“Huh?”

“To protect… the underwater world.”

“…”

(Damn, how do I continue on?)

Is her mind drifting far away? Has she entered some fairy tale world after locking herself in the house for so long? Or are all girls like this?

Koremitsu tried to change the topic.

“Those are photos of fish, aren’t they? Do you like them? I too prefer fish rather than meat, Yellowtail or salted Saba are pretty good.”

(Eh… I think I just went off point…)

Yū lowered her face dejectedly.

''I shouldn’t have mentioned the Yellowtail collar. Don’t girls normally prefer something like smoked salmon here?'' He regretted.

“…Hikaru brought… the photos. He would bring something whenever he came to my house…”

Yū said with a lonely tone.

Koremitsu spotted her figure lower her eyes. Was she reminiscing over Hikaru again? She looked ready to cry again…

(T-t-t-th-thi-this isn’t good! What do girls like to talk about? Hey, harem prince, stop scratching the cat’s chin already. Help me think of something!)

Hikaru however did not respond as he continued to play with the cat with a calm smile. At his wits end, Koremitsu exclaimed,

“Speaking of Hikaru! What do you talk with him about?”

(I’m really an idiot! Why am I making her think of Hikaru again!?)

The moment he said it, he regretted his words.

“Tha-that guy has always been talking about getting a girlfriend who likes to smile for me… ah, I think I went off point.”

The more he wanted to strike up a conversation, the more awkward the situation got.

Yū raised her eyebrows slightly.

“…he often talked… about flowers.”

She said softly.

“Flowers? Oh, he’s always talking about disgusting things like how the Pansies in the garden are like, how the Narcissus beside the lakes are as delicate as girls…”

''“You actually called me disgusting…”''

Hikaru, who was playing with the cat, pouted unhappily. Koremitsu however was thinking, ‘If you’re listening, help me out here!’

Yū’s expression remained dreamy as she continued.

“He said… the Sakuras in the garden are as pink as a baby’s face… that the Tulips look like they’re laughing when they bloom.

Her white face gradually showed a clear radiance, and Koremitsu was astounded.

“…and also how the queenly Iris start to bloom… how the Dandelion started to grow from the cracks beside the concrete pavements… how the Rhododendron, Erigeron and Lily of the Valley charm him differently every single time… how he looked forward to the imminent blooming of the Acacia and Pyracantha… or something like that.”

Yū’s body was giving off a gentle presence, and her eyes were sparkling.

Koremitsu could imagine how those eyes looked when they saw Hikaru.

She looked with leisure as she sat with a leg pulled inwards, head tilted, with Hikaru in the room.

In fact, Hikaru was certainly scratching the cat’s chin, narrowing his eyes gently, giving Yū a tender and loving look…

There was a girl speaking softly, and a boy staring at her gently.

Yū, who remained confined in her own room on her own accord, showed a light smile that caused Koremitsu’s heart to race, and he even felt his chest ache somewhat.

The dream-like gentle smile rendered him unable to look away.

“…Whenever I hear Hikaru talk about flowers… I feel that I’m strolling in the garden alongside him…both of us side by side, watching the Sakuras and Wisterias…”

Yū showed a blissful expression she never showed before.

To her, the time she spent with Hikaru was certainly full of tranquillity.

Hikaru brought Yū the colors and odor of the outside world.

Thanks to Hikaru’s gentle voice, Yū could imagine the flowers blooming outside.

The shapes,

The colors,

The fragrances!

And with these wonderful imaginations, she could fall asleep while draped in the soft blanket.

Waiting silently for Hikaru’s next visit.

(She confines herself to this tattered apartment, is so poor that her utilities are suspended, is living a pitiful life where she can’t even change a light bulb, and… and can actually smile so happily, so blissfully…)

The dizziness and heart throbbing that appeared the previous day intensified, and his face got hotter…

Dumbfounded, Koremitsu stared at the pure white flower-like smile on Yū’s face.

(What’s going on!? What’s with her!?)

He yelled out repeatedly in his heart.

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==Notes==
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