Chapter 375: The Trial Period

Chapter 375: The Trial Period

“You… are you serious?”

He still found it a bit hard to believe. Asking again in this situation was probably only natural.

“Well, I… have no problem.”

The first person to answer like this was Aoyama Nanami,

“After all, it was me who said it in the first place… I hoped you would think it over carefully…”

At the end of her words, her voice trailed off and became unclear, as if she was shy. Then, the next second, Nanami, thinking of something, couldn’t help but glance sideways at Mashiro.

Mashiro’s answer was equally important.

“I have no problem too. Let’s go with what Akito thinks.”

Mashiro smoothly tossed the ball back to Himekoji.

Even though Mashiro herself was the one who had first suggested this ridiculous plan.

“But, um, Himekoji…”

“Yes?”

“Even though I just said no problem and now bring up a request might be a bit awkward, I think we need to agree on some basic rules beforehand.”

Nanami bit her lower lip, then lifted her head as if making up her mind. Her eyes were full of unease and seriousness.

“Mm-hmm, that’s fair. But… what do you mean by rules?”

“First, if possible, I’d like to set a time limit.”

“Ahh, that makes sense.”

After all, trying this out was to find an answer.

Only by having a limited time would people be forced to think, compare, and choose.

“So, how long do you think is right?”

Himekoji got really curious about that answer. Without meaning to, his body tensed up.

For just a moment, maybe it was selfishness and greed winning over. He hoped the time that came out of their mouths would be as long as possible.

He knew clearly that the result would be choosing only one of them. But in this trying period, while considering things, while making choices, did it mean he was keeping both Mashiro and Nanami to himself?

This sudden thought even shocked himself.

Guilt crept up from his feet, climbing all the way up.

His back was covered in cold sweat.

“Half a month?”

Nanami gave the time limit she personally thought was appropriate.

“Hm? What do you say, Himekoji?”

Seeing Himekoji hadn’t replied for a while, she pressed him again.

“Ah? Ahh… okay, whatever you decide is fine. I have no objections.”

Himekoji, who only snapped back to attention when called, couldn’t help but sound flustered as he answered.

Then, without thinking, he looked at Mashiro.

Mashiro didn’t seem to have any objections. She nodded quietly, agreeing to the half-month trial period.

“Is such a long time really okay?”

As it turned out, Himekoji added an extra question right at the end.

Even though he wanted the time to longer, the longer the better, he was also very scared.

Half a month was enough to change too many things.

“We need to think things through clearly, right? I don’t want anyone to regret this in the end…”

As she spoke this far, Nanami’s hand trembled suddenly. Then she clasped her hands together, fingers entwining, took a deep breath, and added,

“But of course, I should say in advance, we’re just trying to get along. It’s only to understand each other better, to see into our own hearts. Think of it as a trial period. We must never cross the line.”

Cross the line? What did she mean?

Himekoji instinctively glanced at Nanami’s moving lips.

He remembered that kiss on the Ferris Wheel that day.

His heart started beating fast all of a sudden. Panicking, he looked away.

So, words like “must never cross the line” popping out from Nanami felt totally unconvincing.

Because she had already crossed it before, right?

“Ahh, I know.”

In any case, he had to give a firm reply here.

Even though Himekoji felt like the idea of this so-called “trial period” was getting more confused and unclear after Nanami said that…

It was supposed to be about gaining dating experience, but it wasn’t the same as real dating.

It felt more like playing house…

Really, is this reliable?

“Then… what about you, Shiina?”

Finally, it made sense to ask Mashiro for her opinion too.

“I think it’s fine like this too.”

Mashiro said it in words but was also sharing it with her eyes.

For the first time ever, Mashiro completely agreed with Nanami.

“Somehow… sorry…”

Halfway through speaking, Himekoji realized it was wrong. He quickly shook his head to correct himself,

“No, I mean thank you. Truly, thank you!”

The unexpected result left Himekoji stammering with words he didn’t mean.

Seriously, no one could have expected this, right?

How did it turn into such a mess? Yet it was the result from the three of them thinking hard and discussing seriously.

“Well, let’s end this topic here!”

Nanami deliberately used a bright, cheerful voice to wrap it up.

It seemed she couldn’t stand the awkward and painful atmosphere any longer.

“Mhm.”

Himekoji nodded along.

If possible, he hoped he could find that answer soon.

The only answer.

Half a month was too long, and it was unfair to both Nanami and Mashiro.

…

Two hours had passed since the calendar flipped over.

Wrapped in silence and darkness, Himekoji still couldn’t fall asleep.

No, rather, he had given up on falling asleep entirely.

Lying in bed, his eyes barely blinked. He stared blankly at the ceiling, arms and legs spread out in a big “X” shape.

Maybe it was due to a slight fever. Pains faintly spread across his body.

This burning heat had nothing to do with a cold or fever. It came only from the intense churning of his heart.

The reason went without saying—

As soon as Himekoji’s mind went idle, it got filled with one sentence and one painting.

“I… I really like Himekoji the most!”

As if on repeat, that confession still seemed to echo in his ears.

Tension lingered on his skin even now.

Remembering Nanami’s seriousness, stubbornness, and all-out boldness, his heart became restless. Feelings surged inside him, making his chest feel so full it seemed blocked.

Hoping to calm himself a little, Himekoji closed his eyes.

But as soon as his eyes shut, he saw the painting.

That painting felt like it was forever stored inside his eyelids.

Its peaceful expression overflowed with warmth, making Himekoji want to smile that way too.

He couldn’t forget it after seeing it once.

The painting that Mashiro had finished had an amazing impact on Himekoji.

“I like Akito.”

That was the only theme in the whole painting.

Even without knowing much about art, Himekoji felt sure that he understood Mashiro’s feelings better than anyone else.

In the same single day, he got confessed to by two different people.

It felt totally like a dream.

But it wasn’t a dream.

Everything from the unexplained shock of the confession to the joy and daze that followed—even the silly stunt of giggling alone late at night while rolling on the bed, then falling off and hitting his head hard.

All of that really happened.

Now, in the early morning, Himekoji’s heart finally found calm.

After the restless feelings faded, all that was left was confusion and chaos inside him.

To find the truth of those emotions, Himekoji pushed through the shock and confusion. He delved deep into his own heart.

There lay the first and final answer.

Within the half-month “trial period,” Himekoji must find it.

…

…