Bizarre Love Triangle - Chapter 2.4

What’s more is that in an exchange diary, you could easily see what she thinks of her everyday life from the words she writes herself. Although there isn’t any progress in our relationship, I was overjoyed at learning her everyday habits from the diary. I think I can’t thank Haruka enough for that.

[That’s why I want to do better for Haruka, too. If things continue like this, the atmosphere will just get weirder and weirder.]

[Thank you. But what should I do from now on…]

Haruka fiddled and created a worldwide earthquake with the globe, while saying this. 

[I also don’t have any idea what would be helpful anymore…]

[…So I see that the problem is probably that we’re insufficiently prepared.]

Setting my body up from the desk, I started to explain what I have noticed so far.

[To get closer to Akiha, you need to know more about Akiha, right? Well of course Haruka is more detailed about this then anyone else but it was still insufficient. It’s because Haruka and Akiha both have different hobbies or things that they like. So if you want to behave like the other, you’d have to prepare a LOT beforehand. That’s what I think so far.]

[Well, that’s true…]

Haruka nodded with a meek look.

[There were many times when I didn’t know how to behave like Akiha at all.]

Then suddenly, her face lit up as she thought of something,

[Umm, then how about we have a… study session? By keeping all the information related to Akiha in the notebook, if we can study it together after school and remember it well, I think I’ll be able to act more confidently like her…]

[…Study session?]

To study about Akiha…

That’s certainly a fascinating proposal. I do want to know more about her too.

[Yes… that might be good. Let’s try having one then, a study session.]

[Really? I’m glad.]

Haruka nodded happily.

However, I was suddenly struck by an uneasy feeling.

[Ahh… There’s just one more thing. Make sure you get Akiha’s permission beforehand, okay?]

[Huh, why?]

[Because it might be unpleasant to have a boy from the same class know every little detail about you…]

Even though there are certain circumstances in play, it’d still be a little unpleasant to have your private life probed by a person of the opposite sex whom you don’t have any feelings for.

If I as a boy thinks like that, then it might be more so for Akiha as a girl to think like that.

If she hates me because of this, I’ll definitely regret it later on.

I want to be Haruka’s support, but I want to confirm about it beforehand.

[…That might be true.]

Haruka has a face that looked like she didn’t understand it but,

[Well, I get it. I’ll ask her beforehand. I’m sure she’ll say yes anyway.]

[Please do. So, about the study session, do we do it here like usual?]

[…That’s right, that’s fine]

With a thoughtful expression, Haruka started to turn the globe again.

And so after spinning the volleyball sized globe for a one week rotation, she stopped and pointed her finger at Kyrgyzstan and said,  [TN – I didn’t understand that part, that’s the literal translation.maybe related with mapping or something? If anyone knows let me know]

[……Ah, that’s right?]

[What’s the matter?]

When I asked her, Haruka who was smiling somewhat proudly said,

[…I have a suggestion.]

*

I never knew the sight of your unrequited love in a casual dress would be so devastating.

[I’m sorry for calling you all this way during a holiday.]

I was at a loss for words for a while when I looked at the figure at Akiha who had just arrived in front of the station.

She was wearing a fluffy dress with some small flower patterns engrained on it. And on her feet she was wearing a pair of heavy boots that looked as if they had belonged to a man. The gray hoodie she had worn was simple but elegant.

I’m not much of an expert on women’s fashion but…

I’m not sure if what Akiha is currently wearing is in good taste or not…

However, having only seen her in her school uniform before, I was instantly knocked out by the slightly swaying frills and the bulging calves from her racy boots.

[What’s wrong?]

[Ah, um, it’s nothing.]

I accidentally delayed my reaction by a few seconds due to that sight.

[Alright, then shall we go?]

I walked half a step behind Aki, but my heart was still beating extremely fast.

It all started with,

[一一一I think it’s better to have person in question explain themselves.]

That’s what Haruka had said.

[We could study about Akiha by ourselves but in any case, it would be much better to learn about it directly from the girl herself, right…?]

[Yeah, that’s true. You can directly ask the person if she, herself is right in front of you. Besides, I’m just… I’d be happy to talk with Akiha alone too.]

[Right?]

Haruka smiled, looking as if she was pleased with herself.

She then said,

[And then, about the location… how about we have it at our home?]

[….huh, your home?]

[Yes. Our house, in our room.]

My heart skipped a beat. I was afraid that Haruka would hear my thumping heart.

In other words, that meant…  I’d be going to the place where Akiha lives.

It means that we’d be alone together in that private space…

[Ah, o-of course there isn’t any strange meaning behind it or anything!]

I wasn’t sure if it was due to my expression or something, but Haruka began to panic immediately after.

[T-That, don’t do anything strange just become you’re alone with Akiha, okay?! Um, no but if the person herself acknowledges it, then it doesn’t matter. Ah; but I’m also in the body of Akiha, so then, th…at mea..ns…]

[Hey, relax! Calm down for a second.]

I hurriedly stopped Haruka who was panicking with her face turning a shade of bright red..

[It’s alright because I won’t do anything strange to her….]

[……Yo-You’re right. I’m sorry. I was thinking too much just now. But you see, it’s much more convenient to have it at home, right? You can also see her favourite record, book, movies and whatever else over there.]

That’s a wonderful suggestion.

It would be easier to get into her head if I could actually touch, read, watch, and listen to the things she liked, rather than just seeing a list of what she liked. 

[So… why don’t I first go home and discuss it with Akiha then?]

——–The place I was taken along to by Akiha was a short distance north to the station.

It was a relatively new apartment near the Zenpukuji river.

A spacious building with pale brown exterior walls, a driveway, wide passageway, and a plantation too.

Just in front of me was a library that I often used. I was strangely moved by the thought

‘Oh, it’s just across the street from here…’

We walked through the auto-locked entrance, past the lobby with its sofas, and took the elevator up to the third floor.

[……..Both of my parents are out today.]

Akiha said so whilst keeping her back against the wall.

[You don’t need to be so formal, okay? Just relax.]

[…Ah, um…]

I nodded my head in agreement but… I see, her parents aren’t here today.

In a space where there’s no one except the both of us——-.

All alone with my unrequited love——–.

The palpitation of my heart which was already accelerating rapidly, began to slowly accentuate with each beat. 

The surging up tension and anticipation almost let me out an “Ugh” grunt..

Just relax, that’s what she told me just now.

I don’t think there’s any other situation that would make me so nervous currently.

[———This is our room.]

[….Oh, this is…]

But rather than feeling nervous and anxious about the room I was shown, I had a strange feeling arise instead.

At first glance, the room might give an impression of a [sister’s room with different tastes].

There were fancy stuffed toys with lovely accessories lined up alongside a record player and austere records on a shelf.

On the bookshelf, you could see old movie Blu-rays, pure literature novels and romance manga for girls coexisting together. And on the clothing rack, there was a gradation of various colors between a cute and chic clothing level.

If one would think normally, it would only look like “A room where two or more people stay in”.

However—— there was only one set of your usual essentials.

There was a lone study desk, a singular bed and just one dressing table—–

The unique appearance of the room seemed to represent both, Akiha and Haruka, and I was completely mesmerized by it.

[…It’s an unusual sight, isn’t it?]

Akiha tilted her neck, perhaps she was concerned about my feelings about her room.

[I don’t know much because I haven’t gone to a room of a person of the same age but… I wonder if it’s different from usual.]

[…Oh, yeah. True]

I nodded whilst remembering the room of the friends I have visited so far.

[It might be a little strange. It is different from the room of someone like Sudo or Shuji… No, it’s not different in a bad way per say but… more of an interesting way instead. Just like Haruka and Akhia.]

[I see… I’m glad if it doesn’t give off any strange feelings. For the time being, sit down on the bed. I’m sorry, I don’t really have many friends over, so I don’t have any cushions or such to give you…]

[Oh, you don’t need to worry about that at all. Then, pardon me.]

I said that and sat down on the bed, trying to look calm and normal, but

[………..]

——-The soft feel of the bedsheet.

——–The drifting sweet smell coming from beneath.

——–The elasticity of the squeaking mattress I’m on.

To be honest, I couldn’t stop the overflowing bad thoughts popping into my head.

I’m currently on the bed where Akiha sleeps every night….. the bed where she lies on in her unprotected nightgown.

T/N : in case you guys doesn’t know, I update (public release) every 4th day. You can also read ahead by becoming my patreon xd.