Chapter 25: A Fragile Heart

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Translator: Soafp

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The day of the cultural festival… I felt incredibly depressed.

Yesterday, I got carried away and ended up making Yamato angry.

He might hate me now.

After he ran away from me, the vice principal comforted me.

Just like he said, I need to talk to Yamato—

But… I don't know if he'll even listen to me now…

“Aoi, are you okay? You didn't sleep well last night, did you?”

Toru had listened when I told him I'd upset Yamato, so he was worried about me.

I hadn't slept at all.

“Toru… um… how was Yamato… today?”

“Huh? Oh… Yamato? I think he's absent today.”

“Huh…? Absent…?”

“Yeah. Even the homeroom teacher said there hasn't been any notice. At this rate, it might count as an unexcused absence.”

That can't be…

Yamato… skipping school without notice… that's never happened before…

“Do you think something happened to him…?”

“I don't know… even if you ask me…”

Then… I can't apologize to him today…

And with all the responsibilities for the festival, I can't just leave either.

“Aoi, the opening ceremony is coming up. Put Yamato aside for now. The festival can't start without the student council president.”

“…Yeah… I know…”

My body felt heavy.

Honestly, I didn't have the motivation to run the festival at all.

“President, let's do our best today!”

“Let's make this festival a success together, Miyano-san!”

Everyone's expectations were high.

That just showed how much they had all been looking forward to this day.

“Y-yeah… let's do our best…”

The committee members and the student council had worked together, supported each other, and enjoyed building all of this.

If only… Yamato had been here too…

I had imagined that so many times.

I was always thinking about him.

---

The festival began successfully.

Things were running smoothly, and I managed to get a short break.

Yamato still hadn't come to school.

I wanted to contact him.

I rushed back to the student council room and searched my bag for my phone—

“Huh!? It's not there… why…!?”

My phone, which should've been in my bag, was gone.

“Aoi… what's wrong?”

“My phone is missing!”

“…Missing? Maybe you dropped it on the way to school…”

“No way! I always keep it in my bag—I definitely had it when I got here…”

“For now, let's check lost and found. If it's not there, file a report…”

We checked the staff room, but it wasn't there.

And my break time was almost over.

More than anything, I couldn't stop worrying about Yamato.

“Toru… can I borrow your phone for a bit? I want to contact Yamato…”

“No.”

“W-why? Just for a moment…”

“Did you forget the school rules? Phones are prohibited except in emergencies. What would it look like if we, as student council members, broke that rule?”

I knew that.

As the student council president, I shouldn't break the rules.

But still…

“Toru… just this once…”

“No. I'm worried about Yamato too, but we don't have time to focus on him right now, do we?”

That's not true.

To me, Yamato is more important than anything.

“…You're right. Sorry… I was being selfish.”

I couldn't push any further.

Because what Toru said was logically correct.

“Well… maybe he just overslept. He might show up later.”

Overslept… I hope that's the reason.

But what if… he's avoiding me because I made him angry yesterday…

My mood kept sinking.

Just a little while ago, I had been looking forward to this festival.

But now… it just hurt.

---

Despite how I felt, the festival was lively, and the afternoon events were going smoothly without any major trouble.

“Aoi, about what I mentioned earlier… my parents are here.”

“Oh… right… yeah…”

I had promised to meet Toru's parents at the festival.

I wasn't comfortable around them, and in my current state, I really didn't want to see them…

But because of my agreement with Toru, I couldn't refuse.

“Aoi-chan! Toru, over here!”

“Hello, Aoi-san.”

When we went to the school gate, Noriko-san and Murase-sensei were waiting for us.

“It's been a while… thank you for coming today.”

“Oh, no need to be so formal! More importantly, what are you two doing after this?”

Seeing me act formally as the student council president, Noriko-san seemed very excited.

“After this? The afternoon events are almost done, so… only the after-festival remains.”

“The after-festival? What kind of event is that?”

“Ah… there's a folk dance there, and there's a superstition that—”

Toru started explaining the after-festival in detail.

The after-festival… the folk dance…

I wanted to dance… with Yamato.

Yamato… I want to see you…

Did you… start to hate me…?

Yesterday, even when I tried to stop him, he left with that furious expression.

No matter what I say now… it feels like he wouldn't listen.

…That's how it feels.

“That sounds like such a lovely event! Toru, you should dance with Aoi-chan! It'll be a wonderful memory!”

What…!?

Noriko-san said that so enthusiastically that I almost shouted in surprise.

“N-no! We still have student council duties…”

“But you'll have some time, won't you? You two are practically more than a couple! Moments like this are important!”

More than a couple…!?

Yes, there was that talk about engagement… and we had chosen not to interfere with it…

“Toru… you understand, don't you? You must not embarrass Aoi-san during that dance.”

Even Murase-sensei, who usually just watched quietly, said that.

“Yeah, I understand.”

Toru's response caught me off guard.

“T-Toru! Dancing the folk dance with you—!”

“It should be fine time-wise. Our work will probably be done before the after-festival.”

What are you saying, Toru?

If we do that…

As I tried to speak, Toru shot me a sharp look.

“Stay quiet for now.”

That's what his gaze seemed to say.

“Well then, we're busy—”

“Alright, you two do your best!”

I hadn't slept at all since yesterday.

I'd been busy all day.

I was worried sick about Yamato.

And dealing with Toru's parents was exhausting.

I couldn't organize my thoughts.

“Toru… what's going on? Why are we suddenly going to dance together…?”

After parting with his parents, we returned to the student council room.

I asked him to explain.

“…Actually, it seems like things have escalated quite a bit between your father and my parents for a while now…”

“W-what!? Why didn't you tell me!?”

When I first heard about it during summer vacation, it had just been one possibility among many—that if we got engaged, it might lead to marriage someday.

“I told you before, didn't I? If we oppose it together when the time comes, it'll be fine.”

You did… but…

It feels like things are getting more complicated.

At this rate… something feels wrong.

…A bad feeling.

“Toru… maybe we shouldn't continue this cooperation anymore…”

“I know, Aoi. Let me settle this properly.”

At that moment, I was physically exhausted and mentally worn down…

“The person I like… is in this school. I want them to understand my feelings.”

…It hurts.

…It's painful.

“So I want you to dance the folk dance with me at the after-festival.”

I need to fix things… I need Yamato to listen to me…

“I want them to experience the pain I've been feeling.”

“…Revenge?”

“…Yeah.”

I knew Toru was popular with girls.

Top grades, athletic, vice president of the student council.

“Even if you do that… it'll just leave you feeling empty.”

I knew that from experience.

I wanted Yamato to notice me… to care about me…

And this was the result.

“Maybe. But still… I…”

Looking into his eyes, I could see his strong determination.

“Toru… I'm sorry. If I do that… I won't be able to explain myself to Yamato anymore…”

At this point, he might already hate me…

If I go through with this…

“Aoi, can you still explain things now?”

“That's…”

I know… it's already too late.

“I understand how you feel. So leave it to me. I'll explain everything to Yamato.”

“Huh…?”

“You didn't do anything wrong, Aoi.”

…I didn't do anything wrong…?

“You worked so hard. Studying so Yamato would notice you, joining the student council…”

…I worked hard…?

“If anything, Yamato is the one at fault. Even though you care this much, he got overconfident, got absorbed in manga or anime, and doesn't even look your way.”

My chest felt… a little lighter.

“And I was at fault too. Suggesting this cooperation in the first place only made things worse.”

I just wanted… to escape the pain.

“The ones at fault are me, Yamato, and the circumstances. But let me say this again…”

Tears started to fall.

“You did nothing wrong, Aoi.”

Being told that… made me feel relieved.

I ran away from the problem.

I wanted to believe I wasn't at fault.

“I'll come clean about everything later—to Yamato, to our parents, to your father.”

That's what I had wanted.

“I don't mind being blamed. But there's one thing I have to make clear.”

And then—

“That you're completely the victim.”

The words I wanted to hear.

“So… please. One last favor. Dance the folk dance with me at the after-festival.”

Toru bowed deeply and held out his hand.

“Just for today… please be my girlfriend.”

I couldn't think clearly anymore.

I just wanted relief.

I'm not at fault.

I just wanted Yamato to understand that.

“…Okay… I'll… be counting on you.”

And I took the hand he offered me.

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[TL: Oh boi]