Love Story

Translated by 64990022

Chapter 1: love story

Part 4

Once the decision making has passed, what awaited me was the simple happiness of dating.

After we became boyfriend and girlfriend, I walked Hamure-san to the ferry pier. We talked about each other idly as we walked down the slope.

“–Oh, your family is a line of shipwrights?”

“Yes, since like, great-grandfather’s time… How about your house? Yours is around Higashitsuchidou, right?”

“Yup, we do an izakaya, mostly towards the tourists. My father’s the manager. I think you must have been there once or twice. Does ‘Shubou Korohashi’ ring any bells…”

Like that, we had a rather fluffy conversation, like we were on cloud nine. I had wracked my brain thinking of the right choice, and yet, when the choice was made, it was unexpectedly blissful. It was funny how cheap I was.

Stranger still, now that we got to open up and talk like this, my fondness for her doubled. More than once, I had mused how precious her smile was. I just want to treasure my first girlfriend, Hamure-san, as much as I can.

I stole a glance and our eyes met.

“What’s wrong?”

Her eyes darted away. “Um… Korohashi-kun.”

“Yeah?”

“Now that I’m your girlfriend…” She looked up with that determined look again. “I want you to stop calling me ‘Hamure-san’…”

“Ahh” Yeah, she’s right, the surname-san format sounded strange among lovers… “So… what should I call you…?”

She wriggled her mouth a little. “Hiyori… is fine. I will call you Miharu-kun too…”

That’s… not unreasonable. That was probably what normal couples do when dating.

But,

“Hn–, It’s kinda embarrassing. Can’t I call you ‘Hamure-san’ like I always have?”

“Eh! Then I’d be no different from other classmates!” she yapped.

“But even if you tell me to change so suddenly–”

“–Please call me ‘Hiyori’”

“Even if you say so. Hiyori can call me Miharu, I’ll stick wit—theh?! Didn’t I call Hiyori as Hiyori… Hn?! Hmmm?! Hiyori… did you just Requesteeeeed?!”

“You’re being stubborn, Miharu-kun!”

“What! Hiyori… Hiyori…” I tested, “Ah! I can’t go back!”

What’s with this power?!

Hey, wait, this is kinda scary… I’m at her whim, she can make me do anything?!

“Please don’t abuse your Request…” I begged.

She pouted like a scolded kid. “Well, I don’t want to rely on it too much either…”

She felt guilty, but still chooses to use the alluring power, it seemed.

“Then, for example…” she tested, “Wouldn’t it be okay if I ask my sister to buy sweets for me? She’s a working adult.”

“If in moderation.” Although the other party wouldn’t be pleased about it, it was a pretty harmless Request.

“If I ask my mom to make my favorite dish?”

“That depends on how many times.” Even I myself did that sometimes.

“T-then!” Hiyori’s eyes lit up with sudden eagerness. “How about asking what question will be on the test?!”

“That’s an out!”

“Ehh–… then a hint! Hints should be fine!”

“Another no! The exam is your grade, and your grade is your future, so you can’t!”

“Then scope of the exam?!”

“That’s already given!”

“T-that’s right!” She looked so genuinely shocked that it felt like she only knew it just now.

How much of an airhead is she… And to think that the power of Request is in her hands…

Like that, we reached the ferry pier.

There were three piers like this in Onomichi, piers exclusive to the trip to Mukaishima on the other side of the Seto Inland Sea. The distance may seem great to naked eye, it was, in fact, two hundred meters apart. Before the ferries, it was said that people had swum across the narrow strait. With the ferry, it only took five minutes.

And by ferry, no, not those luxurious vessels millionaires use, but the smaller version that can hold a few cars and a few dozen people. By the way, the fare was only sixty yen.

When the next ferry began to dock–

“S-see you tomorrow, Miharu-kun!”

“Sure, see you, Hiyori…”

While my cheeks became hot with embarrassment, Hiyori just smiled calmly.

“By the way, one last question!” she then asked,

“For example, is it okay to have five kidnappers dead in order to save one innocent hostage?”

I was flabbergasted.

That was a completely different question from the ones before; it was too serious a question for Hiyori.

For a moment, I thought she was joking. Maybe it was one of her twisted humor.

However, even though she had the same carefree air about her… I could still tell she wasn’t joking.

“Yes.” After a slight pause, I answered, “Rather, if possible, you’d better do so. The hostage is only one person right then, but it’s bound to increase otherwise. Besides, one innocent’s life is far more valuable than five kidnappers.”

I really thought so. Right, in the short term, more people ended up dying. But the recent news made me wonder why the innocents were sacrificed, and why did the guilty get off with light punishments.

So, I hoped that the innocent could be saved, no matter how many kidnappers had to die.

I hope that my answer wasn’t wrong.

“I see… Yup, thank you!” She smiled. “That’s Korohashi-kun for you! I feel so refreshed!”

She was so “normal” that I felt distinct uneasiness. It was as if this kind of dilemma was a part of her life.

But,

“Well, for real this time, see you tomorrow!”

With that, Hiyori rushes toward the ferry.

She quickly whisked away before I could ask what she meant by the question.