30 Chapter 30: Horizon

"Have a seat, Uteki-kun." Hiroisora's father invited me to come inside the restaurant and seat down opposite where he would sit. "I have heard everything from Elizabeth."

"Um, Sir, I don't know where to start..."

"It really hurts me so much to see my daughter go through the pain of being hurt by people she loves, which are both you and Elizabeth." I felt my chest tightened after hearing that.

"I'm sorry for everything..."

"It was Elizabeth who thought of it. You were forced into things. I feel that I am the one who has to ask for your forgiveness."

"No, that's not true! I am at fault, too..."

"Well, that may be the case, but I don't blame you or Elizabeth. She just did what she thought would be best for Kari." I knew I would feel better if he blamed me instead. His kindness towards me makes my guilt feel even heavier.

"She told me what happened to your family when she was still young. It made me really want to tell her the truth. She deserved to hear it from me directly and I would have accepted her hating me. I know that's what I deserved. Instead, she heard me while talking to someone else."

"I see." He seemed to ponder something for a moment before talking again. "The reason I wanted to talk to you was that I wanted to know something."

"What is it, Sir?"

"Do you love my daughter? Or was everything really a lie?"

"I... I don't have the right to say I love her, after everything I've done."

"But do you love her?" I'm not sure if I'm even allowed to feel this, but I have to tell him honestly.

"Yes, Sir! I do. But, even if I want to tell her that and also apologize, she's avoiding me. I don't want to force her to talk to me..."

"You're a man, right? Then just tell her." He smiled at me. "She's planning to go somewhere this coming winter break. I will tell you where it is and give you a chance to talk to her. That is, if you're really serious and sincere about your feelings for her." I don't know if I deserve this chance, but...

"I am, Sir."

"That's good, then. I would still like you to call me father, someday."

---

It was the first day of our winter break. It has been two weeks since my conversation with Hiroisora's father. I still haven't been able to talk to Hiroisora during that time. My chance will come during this break. I have already made plans to go to where she will be going.

"I still can't believe we are going to a resort in Fukushima. This is so exciting!" Tsunagi was looking outside the window of the train.

"I can't believe we are going together." Uryou seemed happy.

"I can't believe you two are still a couple. I mean, why hasn't Tsunagi broken up with you by now? She already has me!" Jirai was pissed seeing both of them seated together, in front of us. "Hey, seat at least 2 feet apart! You're already touching her too much!"

"If this is already too much, I'm not sure what you can call what we're doing when we're alone." Uryou had a smirk in his face. This kid has become more arrogant when he started dating Tsunagi.

"Stop teasing my brother. I'm sure he'd faint when he hears that!" Tsunagi was serious. What are they doing when they're alone? I think it's best if Jirai never hears it.

"Stop teasing Jirai. He might cry."

"Hey, Takaiyama. Who's side are you on, anyway?"

"I'm on your side. I'm your friend, right? That is also why asked you to come with me."

"This is the first time you called me your friend..." He looked like he was about to cry. "Sadly, it will be the last time as well, since I don't know what I'll do to your brother if he keeps on staring at my sister."

---

I told Jirai, Tsunagi and Uryou everything about what happened between Hiroisora and me before we left. I wanted them to accompany me, and they had to know the reason why I am going to see her at the resort. Even if it was a little awkward, I invited Koujou as well. I wanted to give her a chance to talk to Hiroisora, if she hasn't already. She said she wanted to do it on her terms.

We arrived at the resort a little bit after lunchtime. Hiroisora's father gave me a VIP pass at this resort. Apparently, he owns it. We checked in to our room. All four of us are together.

"So, how are you going to talk to Hiroisora-san, Takaiyama-san?" Tsunagi asked me after we have settled inside.

"I suppose I'll ask around, I guess?"

"Wouldn't it be creepy if you go around asking people about a girl that may or may not be in here? You'd look like some kind of stalker." Uryou made a valid point, which was kind of irritating.

"I don't know about you, but I'm taking a bath at the hot springs. Why don't we have a long talk about life, Uryou-kun." Jirai had a sinister look in his face, and dragged Uryou with him.

"I'll retrieve his body later, Jirai."

"Don't encourage him, Takaiyama-san!"

---

I decided to follow them to the hot spring. I still had no idea how I'm going to find Hiroisora in this place. I hadn't planned that far ahead.

While I was busy thinking, I opened the door of the men's entrance to the hot spring. When I lifted my head, I saw the improbable. I saw three girls covered in towels. The worst part was that I knew who those three girls were. It was Nariyuki, Koujou and Hiroisora. All I could remember was that a clothesbasket was flying towards me, and then everything went black.

---

I woke up with my head hurting. I realized I was lying in a bed. It was inside the clinic. I suddenly remembered I saw Hiroisora. I tried to sit up first. Then, I saw Hiroisora seated beside me.

"How are you feeling?" She asked me politely.

"I'm fine, I think." I touched my head where it was a bit painful. "What happened, anyway?"

"It was your habit of going to the women's bath again. Nariyuki threw a clothesbasket at you and you fainted." She smiled for a bit, then became serious. "So, what are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you."

"I don't think we have anything left to talk about. Just rest for now." She stood up, but I grabbed her hand.

"Your father gave me this chance, and I'm not about to let it go to waste. Please."

---

Hiroisora and I went outside to the garden. We were seated silently in a bench for while.

"It's been more than a month since I last talked with you." I started the conversation. "You know, I'm surprised to see Koujou here. I guess she did patch things with you on her own."

"Yeah..." She went back to being silent.

"I remember during our class trip, we also talked like this. It was also at night back then." She was still silent. "Then, there was that time when we watched the fireworks together. It was also at night—"

"What are you even trying to say?" She was a little irritated.

"...I'm sorry. For hiding the truth from you. For using you. For everything." I couldn't look at her.

"When I asked Eli if what I heard was true, I was sure she was going to tell me it was all a misunderstanding. That I heard it wrong and that you had nothing to do with it. But she said it was all true." She didn't sound angry. "I asked her why she did it. Do you know what she said?"

"It's because she cared for you and was worried about you."

"I want to believe that..." She was unsure of what to say next. "No, I believe that is the reason she did it. That is why I can't get angry at her."

"Then it is alright if I'm the one you hate instead. I deserve it. I tried to deceive both you and Elizabeth-san. I only cared for myself."

"You did it for your family. She threatened you with taking your house..." Tears were about to fall from her eyes as she spoke again. "...This is why I can't hate you, too."

"Why not! I would feel a lot better if you hated me..."

"Really? You'd rather I hate you?" She couldn't believe what I said. "I've been sorting through my feelings all this time for the past month. I was trying to separate what was real from what was a lie. If that is how you feel, then I guess everything between us was a lie after all..."

"Things may have started with a threat. We may have lied to everybody about our relationship. I may have used that lie to avoid the consequence of her threat to me. Elizabeth-san even said she didn't plan on taking our house no matter what may have happened. Everything may seem like all of it was for nothing. However, there is one thing for sure I can say that is true right now. I love you."

---

We spent a few days at the resort. I was with Jirai, Tsunagi and Uryou the whole time. It's the last day of our stay here. I didn't see Hiroisora after the night we talked. After I told her my feelings, she just stayed quiet for a while and then went back inside without saying anything else to me. I didn't expect any reply anyway. I just wanted to tell her how I really felt.

"Why does your face look like you're disappointed?" It was Nariyuki. She was reading my mind again.

"Oh. You're still here. I thought you guys already left."

"Kari-chan went back ahead a few days ago. Koujou-san and I stayed behind to enjoy the resort."

"Some friend you are, leeching off from your friend who already left."

"Well, I'm not the one here who is leeching from the father of that friend."

"I can't beat you, can I?" I chuckled at my defeat.

"No, so don't even try." She had a triumphant smile. "So, what happened? Did you get a chance to talk it out with her?"

"I guess. I was able to tell her how I feel about her. That's enough for me."

"Is it?"

"I don't deserve anything more than that."

"Stop being selfish."

"How am I being selfish?"

"You tell her your feelings, and then that's it? Have you ever thought of what she wants?"

"That I won't bother her anymore?"

"That's stupid!" She was clearly irritated.

"Besides, I already told her how I felt. She didn't say anything to me. So I'll take it as it is."

"What a spineless coward you are! She didn't say she hates you, right?"

"Well, she said she didn't hate me..."

"Then what's the problem? After all that has happened, why can't you be the one to take action first? Instead of just reacting to what she did. Just think about it, she was really happy even if your relationship was just an act. What if then it becomes the real thing?" I finally realized it.

"I'm lucky to have you as my friend. I hope you know that." I'm really grateful to her even more.

"Your good looks really are wasted on you." She smiled while shaking her head.

---

It was the first day of the third term. Winter break went by fast.

There were students gathering near the school gate. The large crowd was surrounding someone. I was at the center of the crowd. I was holding a bouquet of roses, while waiting for someone. Then she came. The crowd gave way to her so she could see and come closer to me.

"Hiroisora Kari. Please take these roses." I handed her the roses.

"What is this for, Takaiyama-kun?" She was puzzled.

"We have been in a fake relationship all this while." After I said that, everyone was surprised. "For different reasons, we agreed to do it. And now, I'm finally glad that that is over with." Everyone reacted differently to what I said. "And even if you were part of the 'I'm-Sorry Couple' who turns down people's confessions, I am not afraid now."

"You were part of that couple, you know." She smiled at me.

"Now, in front of everyone, I want them to know that I want to be in a real relationship with you, Kari." I bowed down to her. "I love you. Please be my girlfriend!"

"I'm sorry..." At least I tried. "...that you'll have to be stuck with me from now on." Huh? "Okay, Uteki-kun. Please take care of me, then." I looked up and saw her most beautiful smile I've ever seen.

[THE END]