Deep Sea

Everyone went back to the hotel after the teachers confirmed that the pieces of paper I brought were authentic. They couldn't believe it was real, moreso after hearing our story of being lost in the woods. It was just a stroke of luck, I guess. I mean, the only reason I checked the box was that Hiroisora wanted to get the extra credit.

"Thanks, Takaiyama-kun." Hiroisora said to me while we were walking inside the hotel. "I know you were so scared that you were shaking most of the time, but you still managed to get those papers and look for me. Hehehe." I don't know if she's praising or insulting me. Maybe it's both.

"Hehe, don't mention it."

I felt so tired that I was almost sleep-walking. I went to the hot spring to take a bath and recuperate. I was alone inside the giant outdoor bath. Or so I thought. Someone, or something, grabbed my leg from under water.

"Scared you, didn't I?" Jirai came out of the water. "There was an urban legend I heard today about mysterious disappearances of those taking a bath alone in this outside hot spring."

"How long were you under water?"

"10 minutes?"

"Wow, you must be a kappa."

"Oh, I guess I am."

"Well, that explains the hideous face and stupid brain."

"Yeah... Hey! What was that?!" Jirai strangled me. "Take that back! Haha!" He was laughing while holding my neck in an arm lock.

"I'm sorry to bother you during your lovey-dovey time, but I think you're in the wrong place." Someone was standing behind us, at the edge of the hot spring. We both looked at that person. It was a girl, covered in a towel.

"What are you doing here?! This is the boys' bath!" I shouted at her. Upon realization, there were two girls. "Na-nariyuki?! Hiroisora?!"

"I'm sorry, Takaiyama-kun. I think we witnessed something we shouldn't have. Don't worry, we won't tell anyone about it." Hiroisora bowed down to us while apologizing.

"No! You got the wrong idea! He was just trying to kill me!" I explained in desperation. I can't have her getting the wrong ideas.

"Oh." Nariyuki is about to say something. "We really don't care what you do on your alone time. My problem is why are you doing it here?"

"What do you mean? We're here because this is the boys' bath." Nariyuki pointed towards the signage over at the entrance. It says in large letters: Girls' Bath. "Eh?"

"Now, why are you here again?" Nariyuki had her usual condescending tone.

"I'm sorry! I was just so tired I didn't realize I entered the wrong bath!"

"Hahaha! Who's the stupid one now?" Even Jirai was mocking me.

"Wait a sec! You're also in here!"

"Yeah. But I was waiting under water, so I can peep at the girls who are going to take a bath. That is not as stupid as your reason." He was proud of himself.

"Yeah. It's much worse." Nariyuki was starting to get furious.

"Hehe... That being the case, we will now take our leave then." I tried to evade the wrath that was about to be showered upon us."

"But! I haven't been able to peek at anyone yet!" Jirai was complaining while I dragged him off the hot spring.

"Just shut up!" I don't think those girls will report us. I hope.

---

The next day was our last day on this school trip in Okinawa. We have free time in the morning after breakfast until we leave in the afternoon. We will have to be back at the hotel by 2 PM or the bus will leave us. During breakfast, our group was discussing where to head out to after we eat.

"Where should we go after this? Any place in mind?" I asked the group. Nariyuki was still eating so maybe she didn't hear me. Jirai completely ignored me, I don't know why. Hiroisora was the only one who seemed to think about my question.

"Hmm. I would like to go to the aquarium... If it's ok with everyone..." Hiroisora seemed excited, but too shy to request it.

"Ok! Let's go!" Jirai was in high spirits all of a sudden.

"I'll just finish up eating then we'll leave, ok?" Nariyuki seemed like she was not excited nor bothered by the idea. I guess it was fine with her.

"Then, it's settled." I wonder if there is a reason she wants to go there.

---

After eating, we took a bus to the aquarium. I was surprised to be seating beside Hiroisora. Nariyuki was busy lecturing Jirai about peeping on girls and what not. They were seated across us. Hiroisora was slightly laughing at them. I was staring at her.

"Is there something on my face, Takaiyama-kun?" Hiroisora asked me curiously. I was surprised that she caught me.

"Um, it's nothing, hehe..." I was really taken by surprise I didn't know what to answer. I smiled weakly at her instead. She seemed to have accepted my response and looked at Nariyuki and Jirai again. It feels like we have become much closer. Maybe it's because of what happened last night.

We arrived at the aquarium in only 30 minutes of travel time. The four of us went inside. As we were walking, Nariyuki was taking pictures.

"Hey, Nariyuki." I wanted to ask her something.

"What?"

"Isn't taking pictures not allowed? They said it to us upon entry. And the inside doesn't lack signages reminding us of that fact." I'm not much of a law-breaker myself. I get tense in these types of situation.

"It's reference for realistic backgrounds. Why are you such a scared-y cat? Grow a pair." She seems pissed at me.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked in the off chance that she is.

"I'm always like this, haven't you noticed already?" I don't know if she's serious or sarcastic.

"Well, you are always like that."

"Didn't your mother teach you never to shame a lady, especially in front of her friends?" Now she's just toying with me. I fell for it again. Sigh. "I got you again, right?"

"I won't even dignify that with an answer."

"Tch. You're getting better at this." I feel that I'm just here for her enjoyment.

---

We continued to walk around. I have been observing Hiroisora for a while now. She was the one who suggested that we go here, but she seems sad instead of excited. She was walking a bit behind the three of us.

"Takaiyama." Jirai whispered to my ear.

"Yup?" I answered in a hushed voice.

"What did you do to Hiroisora-sama while we were on the bus?! She wasn't like that when we left! Why didn't you control your hands from groping her legs? I know she's wearing a mini skirt, and I would have done the same thing, but you are not me so you are not allowed to!"

"Who says you're allowed to touch her? And I didn't do that!"

"Then you must've kissed her then!"

"I'm not some pervert! Don't lump me with you. Truth is, I'm also wondering why she's like that."

"Why are you two whispering when I can hear you perfectly." Nariyuki interrupted our heated discussion. "I really can't leave you on your own, can I Takaiyama-san? What a lame guy."

"Why, you—"

"Don't even bother. Jirai-kun, we have to talk." Nariyuki dragged Jirai by the ear and went off ahead of me. I stopped in disbelief and confusion. What just happened?

"Where are they going?" Hiroisora caught up to me.

"They wanted to eat. Haha." I quickly realized the situation and made up something. I was alone with Hiroisora. Again. But this time, there are no ghosts going after us. I'll have to thank Nariyuki later. She really can read minds.

"Oh, should we go after them?"

"I'm not hungry yet. Let's continue looking around?" It's my great chance. After everything we've been through, it's now or never. I'm getting our house back when we return home. Couldn't have happened better than I have planned.

"Um... Ok. Let's go." She forced a smile. She seemed like she hesitated to answer. Is she nervous? Does she know what's going to happen next? Does she already have an answer? Damn, now I'm nervous!

---

Hiroisora and I continued to walk around, but she was three steps ahead of me. I lost all confidence to talk to her and complete my mission.

"I wanted to go to an aquarium-" Hiroisora suddenly started talking while we were still walking. "-because my mother brought me to one once when I was still a kid." I see. She felt nostalgic. "We've never been able to go to one together again."

"Why is tha—"

"Takaiyama-kun." Before I could finish asking, she suddenly cut me off. She abruptly stopped walking, but she didn't face toward me. Her tone was much more serious. "I don't want to be close with you."

"What are you...?"

"We can't be friends anymore." What the hell is happening? "I thought it was alright since you were different..." Different? Different how? "But I just can't be close with you anymore." Her voice was starting to tremble.

"Wait a minute. I-I don't understand what it is you want to happen. This is all of a sudden, isn't it? Did I upset you or something?"

"I'm not going to completely ignore you or anything like that." I think she's crying. "When we get back, we can still be classmates or clubmates."She paused for a moment and composed herself. Then, she turned her back to face me. "We can't be anything more than that." She walked past me. I was standing there, shocked, confused, irritated all at the same time.

---

I continued to walk aimlessly, with all that just happened replaying on my mind. I was analyzing everything I did since we first met. I wondered where I made a wrong turn. I have played dating sim games enough times to know this is a bad ending and I failed. What's worse is that there is no reset to turn back to a save point. This is real life.

Before I could continue thinking about the consequences of what transpired, I bumped into Nariyuki and Jirai.

"I'm guessing you got dumped?" Nariyuki had her usual teasing tone. I'm in no mood to joke around.

"No, I wasn't."

"Well then, where is Kari-chan?"

"She went back already."

"Wait, you confessed to Hiroisora-sama?! I knew you were a snake! A devil! Even if you have my blessing, you knew of my feelings and yet—"

"Shut up." Just shut up, Jirai. "I didn't confess or anything. You can ask her if you're that curious. Let's get back to the hotel. We'll be left behind if we stay any longer." I walked ahead of them.

"What just happened, Nariyuki-san?"

"I don't know."

"I mean, he has my blessing, so why didn't he confess?"

"That's not the issue here, you idiot."

---

We got back to the hotel on time. Everyone prepared to leave and then the bus took us to the airport. While inside the airplane and putting my stuff inside the overhead compartment, I saw Hiroisora doing the same thing, two seats ahead of me. She saw me then looked away as if I wasn't there.

Nariyuki sat beside her, and they talked like nothing happened. It seems that Nariyuki wasn't prying on the details. Maybe it wasn't important to her, but she wouldn't have set up that scenario earlier if she didn't care, at least.

I'm thinking too hard, and I haven't even thought about the consequences of all of this. It means I failed, which means we won't be getting our house back, which means I wasted my time, which means I got close to her for nothing. I'm seriously pissed right now I think it's showing in my face.

But there is something I don't understand. What is the reason I'm really pissed? Is it because I failed to get our house back? Or is it because I don't know why Hiroisora suddenly said those things? Or... is it because... I like her...?

Whichever it is, I'm certain of two things. Doing this was a mistake, and I'm done with her.