Prove Your Eternal Love. There Shall Be No Heroine Correction. - Chapter 2 Part 1

September 11th, Saturday. Clear skies. Finally, the day of the Fuyo Festival arrived. Looking back, I couldn’t stop my heart from racing. The student council officers who fainted in flocks. Missing important documents. The last-minute rush from the teachers. Thanks to this, I slept through most of the classes and didn’t remember a thing. And yet, I was somehow still alive.

However, I may die in the near future.

“Hey, Shirase, you’ve got to be kidding!” I’ll drown you in the pool!” Wash the vase on the desk and wait for me!” “Hey, you got some explaining to do!” “Give Aogashima-san back────!”

The resounding shouts of anger seemed almost equal to death threats. Without looking back, I pulled Aogashima-san by the hand and fled the classroom.

“I’m sorry, Shirase-kun.”

“No, it’s Sakuma to blame and…me.”

As I constructed my escape route in my brain, I recalled the events that took place just a few moments ago.

It was this morning. I was leaning against the wall in the hallway, looking at the shocking pink sign, which was somewhat mismatched to the haunted house, with a straight face. It read in frightening letters—『Love Fulfillment♡Haunted House』. I don’t know if the name of the exhibit was meant to scare people or not, but since this was the concept, I couldn’t help but be stunned.

There were about twenty other classmates in the hallway. An hour before the opening, our class finally completed its preparations. All of my classmates were in high spirits, either because of the excitement of the festival, or because they were affected by the mood, or simply because of lack of sleep.

Aogashima-san was smiling happily. She was high-fiving and taking pictures as requested. Combined with her good looks, she looked like a cranked-up actress.

Incidentally, there was no sign of Kuroiwa. She must be slacking off somewhere.

Then one of the students made a suggestion. This was the beginning of the tragedy.

“Let’s do a final check before it starts. Who wants to play the guest~?”

“If that’s the case, it should be our Aogashima-san!”

After being nominated, Aogashima-san was pushed hard on her shoulder and made to stand in front of the entrance. Then, with a blank expression on her face, she turned to me.

“…Then I’ll go with Shirase-kun.”

All eyes were on me as I was the princess’s nominee. But I instantly began to think of a way to decline. In any case, the words 『Love Fulfillment♡』 were not really appropriate for our current relationship.

“No, I’ll pass. I don’t like scary things.”

This was a complete misstep. Haunted houses were in the business of scaring people, and a customer who was scared was a good customer. Thus, I was helplessly pushed out next to Aogashima-san.

“Oh, Suguru, this is your big day. Show us your manhood, will you?”

Sakuma said something in a good mood. I guessed he thought that Aogashima-san and I were still good friends. Unable to deny or affirm, I operated the screen of the tablet he gave me and passed through the shocking pink sign.

This haunted house has a story. Normally, you would be asked to watch a short video on the tablet while waiting, but since this was a test play, I skipped it this time. I don’t remember the story well, but it was a sad story about a town girl, “Okoko,” from the Muromachi or Kamakura period, who lost her lover, went into the water, and became a vengeful spirit that haunted couples.

“Oh, it’s pretty dark. Watch your step, Aogashima-san.”

“…I know ‘You two want to be cursed too—'”

As if to drown out Aogashima-san’s reply, a voice came from the tablet in her hand.

“That wasn’t me.”

“I know.”

It was this tablet that connected the guests with the sad, grudge-like spirit “Okoko”. The system was quite interesting, with scary dialogues as the event progressed, and conversely, the tablet could be manipulated to get out of a tight spot.

Aogashima-san and I slowly moved through the darkness, which was separated by a blackout curtain. The sound of water dripping from my hand was heard periodically. It was eerie.

Of course, I was fully prepared to be scared by human power. Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind the curtain, there was a banging sound on the wall, and something cool (konjac) hit me on the neck.

“Hi-yah!”

One step behind me, I heard a high-pitched scream, uncharacteristic of Aogashima-san. When I turned around, Aogashima-san, who had turned away in embarrassment, grabbed my shirt. She was crouching from shock.

“That now…Did you hear it?”

“Ah, well. Never thought that Aogashima-san could be surprised that way, something new I suppose.”

Aogashima-san put strength into her plucked fingertips, lowered her eyes, and muttered, “F-Forget it.”

At that moment. From the tablet, “Why did you leave me──!” A woman’s resentful voice, mixed with noise, was played. We both shuddered.

“Hey. …Shirase-kun. Stay a little closer.”

“Perhaps you aren’t good with scary things either, Aogashima-san?”

Aogashima-san nodded silently, took a step forward, lined up with me, and used her right arm—

“I’m too scared, to stand up steadily. I want…you to support me like this.”

Aogashima’s arms were around my waist. She then pulled her body even closer to mine.

“Heh? Eh? …What? Um, Aogashima-san?”

No, this was not good. First, her right hand was touching my side and hip. Furthermore, the soft right half of her body was being pressed down so hard that I can’t even wriggle. To top it all off, a citrusy scent enveloped me and took my thoughts away. My throat ached as I gulped.

“…Just for now, please.”

I almost thought for a moment that I don’t have a choice when she whispered this in my ear. My heart was already racing. No. I have to pull her away. But I couldn’t move my body.

But suddenly. The tablet shouted, “Stop flirting!” Aogashima-san suddenly moved away from me. The screen read, “*Please proceed without stopping.” What the heck is that feature?

“Um…Sorry. That was a joke. So don’t worry about it.”

“Eh. …Ah, haha. Yes, I know, it’s an obvious joke.”

In Aogashima-san’s explanation, I just laughed over it. There was no way this was a joke. I had no other choice but to treat it as a joke. For a moment, I thought I heard a voice from somewhere inside me. Was this okay? I didn’t know what that question meant.

After about five minutes, the course, which was so long that it was hard to believe it was inside a classroom, was over, and waiting for me at the exit behind a black screen was Sakuma, dressed in his “Okoko” costume.

“No, why is Sakuma here?”

Humph, I ran for it. I’m the one who deserves to question you.

“Don’t do that. It sounds weird.”

“Shut up. Eh, hmph. You two. Answer my question with a ‘yes’ or ‘no.'”

In a weird voice, Sakuma called out to us. This was the final event of the 『Love Fulfillment♡Haunted House』 a production designed to bring pairs of guests closer together.

At the end of the frightening experience, the guests take turns answering love-related questions from “Okoko”. If everyone’s answers were the same, “Okoko” will reconsider her belief in love in this world, and a happy ending would be achieved.

The content of the questions was left up to the “Okoko,” but basically, the “Okoko” was supposed to choose one of several patterns based on a “questionnaire” answered on a tablet in advance. What kind of questions would the air-headed Sakuma ask? I already have a bad feeling about this.

Sakuma’s meditated eyes widen with a snap. A loud voice came out of his mouth.

“Do you—like the person you’re standing next to?”

It was a highly destructive question at a level far beyond my expectations. What the hell was this guy seriously thinking? If he was not careful, this could be a major accident!　You don’t think I care about that? You wouldn’t normally ask that at a time like this!

But—I soon realized. It was not just Sakuma. Inside the classroom, right by the exit. Everyone in the class, breathing heavily, was nervously watching us as we answered.

Everyone in the class knew that we had become good friends by being committee members, even if I was not in contact with her outwardly. So I guessed everyone was concerned about her feelings.

“No. Aogashima-san is a friend.”

I answered immediately. I had already rejected her a month ago. The answer was still the same.

I knew that Aogashima-san would not say anything inappropriate in this situation, but just to be safe, I made eye contact with the person next to me. She nodded her head. Thank God, she seemed to be fine. As soon as I let out a breath of relief, Aogashima-san took a deep breath and proudly declared.

“Yes. I…Like Shirase-kun.”

────── It was over.

At this moment, something extraordinary has happened. It was a major historical event. No one here seemed to be able to comprehend the situation immediately, and after a silence passed, as if waiting for the brain to process the situation.

“Ehhhhhhh!?”
　
The cries of the boys and girls in the class echoed through the hallway. Naturally, the surrounding classrooms were also gathering in droves to see what was going on. Oh no, this was the worst. Sakuma, looking panicked, shouted to the hallway, “Wait, wait, wait, calm down, everybody!”

“O-One more. I-I’m going to ask you one more time, Suguru. What do you thing of Aogashima-san?”

Hey, don’t be silly, that additional attack was a bad move.

“I’ve told you, Aogashima-san—”

But I can’t answer, and I tried to deny my fondness for her — but I was at a loss for words to go beyond that. What was this guilt I feel? I couldn’t say anything.

“No—I have someone else I love.”

When Sakuma over the counter heard my unchanged reply, he grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me violently.

Hey, hey, what do you mean, Suguru, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Just now, did you just reject Aogashima-san? Isn’t that against some kind of law!?”

The second-year students of Fuyo High School were all in uproar after Sakuma’s comment with bloodshot eyes. In the midst of the storm that has rolled in, Aogashima-san told me clearly.

“I’m sorry, Shirase-kun. But I just couldn’t lie.”

“No…you’re just that type of person.”

I replied, trying to appear nonchalant. But my heart rate was clearly rising. It wasn’t a suspension bridge effect or anything like that. It was pure confusion. What was I thinking just now?

“A-Anyway, let’s get out of here!”

It was bad if we stay here. Aogashima-san would be exposed to curious eyes after being rejected by such a dull boy, and I would certainly be beaten to a pulp without question. I took Aogashima-san’s hand and ran down the corridor full of obstacles—

—We were now wandering around a courtyard lined with stalls when the incident occurred.

“Phew. Looks like we’ve got rid of our pursuers. But we have only ten minutes until the committee members’ meeting…”

I looked at my watch and muttered to myself. The meeting would be held in the first conference room on the first floor of the club building.

“Yes, but…”

“But?”

“Uh, well, you know…”

Aogashima-san’s voice sounded troubled. I finally realized that I had left my hand in hers, apologized, and let go of her hand in an unnatural panic. Maybe that was why Aogashima-san stared at me so intently with surprise.

“…Shirase, kun?”

“N-No!”

I involuntarily spoke in denial. It was not directed at Aogashima-san. It was directed at myself.

I don’t like Aogashima-san. Why couldn’t I say that to Fenma?

It was true that I had liked Aogashima-san. But the process with Aogashima-san was a fake. It was a fake memory of the rewritten world. Therefore, the feelings I had for her must also be fake.

I let my feelings convince me in my heart. I finally realized my mistake.

The memories that Aogashima-san and I had so timidly accumulated certainly had no taste. But the me who was here now was still the me who was created by that experience.

The result born from a wrong process may indeed be a mistake. However, we cannot change the results that have come out. We have no choice but to accept them and correct them from now on.

That day when I gave a name to my relationship with Nagisa. That was how I constructed my logic.

The me before and after being rewritten by the game are two different entities. The me who was here now was the me after being rewritten. Therefore, in this reality, I would fall in love with Nagisa again. I drew such a conclusion.

However, this logic also affirmed the affection I had for Aogashima-san. It was an emotion that should not be in my heart. Feelings that I have been holding onto for a long time. The reason why I had cleverly pushed it deep into the recesses of my heart, and I had denied it.

In other words — to my dismay, I was now in love with two girls at the same time. I have no choice but to admit it.

“…Hey, is it possible that Shirase-kun is still—”

As if seeing through my dismay, Aogashima-san approached me. She stepped over the personal space between friends with ease.

She pinched my chin with her index finger. My vision was focused on the blue sky, and I see colorful balloons decorated everywhere. All of them were pulling hard on the strings attached to them, wanting to fly higher.

My face was hot in an instant.

“…why aren’t you dating that girl yet?”

My relationship with Nagisa has remained the same since that day. After all, I still have no idea what it would be like to fall back in love with her without relying on my existing love for her. No matter how many times I dated Nagisa and how many times my heart raced, I could not confidently judge that it was a new breath of love.

“…It’s because my principles won’t allow it.”

“Then…would your principles allow you to go out with me?”

Aogashima-san’s eyes caught mine as I was at a loss for an answer and wouldn’t let go. It was no good. This feeling must not be revealed. I absolutely must avoid that. But my mouth was unable to form words of denial. What saved me was a call from right there, “Ah!” I was so happy to hear that voice.

“What a coincidence, isn’t it, Shirase-san and Aogashima-san? Good morning. Do you have a date in the morning? It’s a hot thing. Hyuuhyuu!”

A familiar angel was happily getting octopus at a takoyaki stall. On its forehead was a twisted bowl. It was obviously a strange situation, but no one around it seemed to pay any attention to it.

“…Ocupido-san?”

And to my surprise, Aogashima-san seemed to know Cupid as well. In other words, she, too, must have participated in the game in question. But now was not the time to talk about it.

“No, Aogashima-san. Let’s ignore that thing.”

“? …? Okay.”

We turned our backs. Ocupido, a dangerous angel who organized mysterious games and rewrites the world. I don’t like its antics, either. In other words, if we get involved with it, it would end badly.

“Why!? You two? Please lend me your ears for just a moment. Do you know where the pull comes from! The crucified sinner—”

For some reason, it was trying to draw our interest with its knowledge, but it was completely futile.

“Yes, yes. I know it’s useless. But I have some more information that might be of interest to you.”

No matter how I looked at it, it was a trap. I turned around, pointed at Ocupido, and immediately said, “No, thanks.”

“It’s okay. It’s not a trap. It’s a new proposal. Hey, Shirase-san. Aogashima-san. …Are you guys sure you want to continue like this?”

It was a line that seemed to read my mind. It was creepy, and I wanted to leave right away. And yet, my legs would not move. Ocupido’s words stuck in my heart and I couldn’t get them out.

“You two are aware of it already, aren’t you? That the feelings surrounding your relationship have begun to flow in a negative way. Wouldn’t you like to do something about it?”

I, for one, couldn’t answer.

The relationship between me and Aogashima-san. The relationship between me and Nagisa. The relationship between Kuroiwa and Aogashima-san. I already knew that there are bad feelings mixed in the changing relationship and that if I leave it unchecked, it would become even more serious. I was only now becoming more aware of this.

“Wouldn’t you like to clear up the messy relationship?”

But that was something we have to do something about. We should not borrow the incomprehensible power of angels. It was not something that could be forced upon us, but something that can only be truly accomplished through the process of all of us wishing for it, meeting face to face, and discussing it. That was why.

“Listen to me, Ocupido. What I wish first and foremost was that you would never appear before us again. You’ve already finished with the 『Confession Quartet』, haven’t you? Then hurry up and let us get back to normal.”

“It’s not like you, Shirase-san, to use such violent language. Then, how about these conditions? All I need is for you to come to the rooftop at noon today. I promise I would never appear before you again.”

Ocupido gave a sales smile on its face. It looked as if it was saying that this whole process was just as it expected it to be. Then this proposal must be a trap.

But all I had to do was show my face on the rooftop. It was that simple. I don’t even have to listen to its proposal, and I could just leave right away. Even if it was a trap, nothing could be done in such a short time. I nodded my head in agreement.

“Okay. I’ll accept your terms.”

“Thank you very much for your wise decision, Shirase Suguru.”

Ocupido bowed reverently and faded away.