CH 31

Chapter 31: The Orthodox Heroine

(Wakashima Koharu) The orthodox : Childhood Friend Heroine.

A cute, gentle, and family oriented girl. From the protagonist’s perspective, she isn’t that self assertive, and she can sometimes be cutely jealous.

(Wakashima Koharu) was the standard heroine template in any game.

Except for the yandere shown at the bad ending of the Sara route.

However the orthodox heroine basically has no unique personality. Although it is a Yuri game, that vanilla heroine template is created as a man’s ideal partner all crammed into a single character. It makes it hard to feel anything for the character. Perhaps even, it’s so basic, if you polish the image of an average girl with a shiny finish, she would become an orthodx heroine.

“Well, that’s only because it’s seen from Aoi’s eyes, it seems that the actual Koharu is very different.”

She takes pride as an iron defense stalker. I never thought of her as an ordinary pretty girl from the beginning because of that fact. I wish that wasn’t the case. 

(Koharu) from the start of the game has a high degree of love for the protagonist. Because of that, if you don’t lower her love score and instead simply raise the liking of other heroines, you will only reach a Koharu ending. So it is a character that was very unpopular with some users.

She really likes Aoi and anyways you at it, her world revolves around Aoi.

So because of that, she massively hates me. It’s most likely if not definitely related to Aoi liking me. As Yoko has pointed out, Aoi for some reason is fond of me. So I can expect that is the reason. Perhaps even in the game, a catfight between “Koharu” and “Shiori” happens without Aoi’s knowledge. If so, I wish I had seen that scene!

“I want to ask her the specific reason she hates me. After that, I want to reassure her about my feelings towards Aoi. I want to let her know I am not a rival. I wonder if I could even cooperate with her?”

I don’t know how much we will talk, but I want to get as much information across as possible. I wish I could remember more info about the game. However the Koharu route is so vanilla and a facade. There is no useful information I can get, so it’s pointless.

Although “Sara” in the game was stabbed in the bad ending, I don’t know why “Shiori” wasn’t. If I was in her position, why would you go for a student that is in a different school and you know nothing about, rather than “Shiori”, who is in the same school and would be lovey dovey with the person you like in front of you. 

“For now, let’s be careful. I don’t want that blade coming out during our next talk. I’m not dating Aoi, so it should be okay?”

I tried to be brave like a manga character, but as the anxiety grows it seems nearly impossible.

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Koharu is always with Aoi on weekdays, so it might seem unnatural if she wasn’t around, and on Sunday I have plans with Sara. So our talk was naturally set to Saturday.

The most troublesome thing was the place to meet, but she decided to meet up at the school chapel.

The chapel is not open to the public, but as students we are free to enter and leave at any time during the day. There aren’t many people on the weekends, and there is only one entrance so we could notice immediately if somebody walks in. It’s a perfect place for a secret talk. The only problem is I can’t scream for help if I’m stabbed. . .But I believe. I believe in Koharu! !

In an empty chapel, I waited for Koharu to come. 

The air is stale, and it’s dead silent. The room feels somehow sacred. I’m afraid of being too loud. Despite the fact I don’t believe in god, I mysteriously feel the urge to pray.

Wait, wasn’t Jesus Christ stabbed in the rib? This place may be foreboding.

I was gazing at the decorated cross, when a person walked in from the entrance. Of course, it was Koharu.

“Sorry for making you wait.”

“It’s fine, it’s still before the meeting time. Thank you for coming.”

“No, I just didn’t want you to follow me to the toilet again.”

“Ahaha. . .”

I responded with a difficult smile, while she simply turned her gaze. I still think it was bad to ask her out all of the sudden, but it couldn’t be helped, this may be the only chance I get. It’d be bad to do this again, and to be rushing her in the bathroom again.

“Let’s just get to the main topic. What did Senpai want to ask me?”

Koharu sat on the nearby seat as she spat that out. She wants no unnecessary chatter. I’m glad she wants to talk, but she still doesn’t have any intention of getting along with me.

“Okay, let’s get to the main premise. You romantically like Shimamoto-san, is that right?”

“. . . .Yes, but that’s it.”

“And because of that, you hate me because Shimamoto wants to get involved with me, correct?”

I interrupted Koharu who tried to say something and continued to say that. Her mouth then unpleasantly distorted. Oops, I didn’t intend to upset her too much today.

But I’ve mentioned it the other day, so it shouldn’t have been offensive. Shouldn’t she have expected it? I needed to say it.

“I don’t have any romantic feelings towards Shimamoto-san, rather they aren’t my type. I want to say this first, Because I am not your rival. I want you to feel relieved.”

I needed to say that first. Koharu had a moody face, but the atmosphere seemed to have softened after stating that.

That seems to be the biggest concern.

Or rather, I don’t hate Aoi. I simply just don’t want to get involved.

“I hate hate that, but I also like to hear that.”

“Well, does Wakashima-san actually like me?”

“Ah, no. Sorry.”

“I know, but I kinda feel annoyed to be told like that.”

We might be able to get along, so I tried to create a smile from our exchange, but she reacted like a dead fish. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like we can have a friendly talk.

“So Shimamoto-san, do you know why she likes me so much? I have no idea at all.”

“If I knew, I would have already imitated it.”

“I see. . . I really didn’t want to get involved. I’d prefer to just watch love bloom.”

Is that too crazy to say? It’s unmistakably a fact.

Watching romance, rather than doing it myself. I think my thoughts around this particular thing was what was really poisoned by the memories of my previous life. When I remembered my other life, I thought it would never happen. No, I’m not thinking about being alone for the rest of my life, but I don’t have to hurry and find a lover. I’m only 16 years old.

“I’ll need to ask though. Did she say she likes me?”

“. . .I haven’t heard it directly, but I’m sure she is interested.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I know Aoi-chan more than anyone else.”

She said that clearly in a serious tone.

“Aoi-chan gets along well with everyone, and she is curious about all kinds of people, but for her- – -Senpai in particular, her interest is a different enthusiasm.”

“Enthusiasm. . .?”

“I can’t say it specifically, it’s rather instinctually, but it’s definitely different when compared to others. I’m not as smart as Senpai, and I have nothing to do with it, but you can see the change in Aoi-chan.”

Little by little, Koharu talks more about it. Apart from her usual indifference, she began to talk with fervor.

Her eyes were pointed at me, but her gaze wasn’t. She wasn’t looking at me, but rather the memory and image of Aoi in her head. I don’t exist to her.

“I would like to know why Senpai. Because we are both girls, I thought it was unavoidable that I wouldn’t be able to convey my feelings to Aoi-chan. Besides, even if I couldn’t be Aoi-chan’s special person, I could put up with it, because there would be no way I could even have the chance- – -But if Aoi is interest in a member of the same sex, that’s a different story.”

Her words gradually began to be more passionate. Giving up, sadness, resentment, and jealousy. All of that swirled entwined with her words.

If these emotions swell more and more, would they turn black. Would she turn her resentment towards me?

“I only have Aoi-chan. . .”

Strangey, it ended with a confession from Koharu.

She felt so much towards someone, she was scared to have her whole world taken from her. In a small way, it was an enviable spot.

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So the emotions have come out, the cards are on the table, and we now know for sure Aoi has some kind of interest in Shiori, and Koharu is pissed. Next chapter the talk will continue.