MEMORIES AND ABU HORMUZ

Episode 14 - Apologies

Haruhiro tried to approach Vina and Alice with the usual topic of conversation. ”So, how was your morning? Do you have any trouble waking up in the morning? Same as usual? I got it…"

Or, "So, what did you eat last night? Same as usual? I got it…"

Or, "So, we met Hector last night. That's ridiculous. Not interested? I got it…"

Or, "So, what do you bring for lunch? The bun? I got it…"

Or, "So, you look tired ..."

So ... so .. so ... Haruhiro began to force open sentences with the word 'so'. She wasn't really ignored, but she was getting frustrated because the answers coming from the girls were pretty minimal. Luci is a cold-tempered loner, and is difficult to approach. It made Haruhiro wonder if he had ever once found joy in his life. Haruhiro admitted that he himself was not necessarily happy either, but he did not seem to be as dark as Lusi.

They returned from Damroww, headed to Atalante's market when night fell, and sold the loot. Today's income was 1 silver and 15 bronze for each Party member. For a small party like them, this result was not bad. But that can't be said either.

Tonight Haruhiro wasn't drinking in the tavern, and he went straight back to the lodge. After he finished bathing, he squatted down the hallway while waiting for Vina to come. The girl came out of the bath alone.

"Am, Vina?"

Vina stopped, but she did not turn around to see the origin of the sound. Then he walked back while patting his head with a piece of cloth. Vina always styled her hair in a braid style, but now she unravels her long hair just like that. With that look, he really looked

be different.

An awkward silence encompassed the atmosphere between them for a moment.

"Um, Alice isn't with you?" haruhiro finally managed to raise a question.

"He's in his room."

"I get. Umm ..”Haruhiro stood up, rubbing the back of his neck. ”Are you angry?"

"No."

"really? But ... Looks Like ..”

"Vina says she's not angry. Does Haru have that thought?”

"I'm .. maybe."

"Why?"

"Because we invited Lusi to join the Party without asking for your and Alice's approval. I thought, Our party wouldn't be able to work without a Priest, but maybe I decided things too early and arbitrarily. Even so, I'm not the only one who made this decision anyway ..”

"If not you, then who?"

"Gori introduced Lusi to us. So that me, Marco, and Barto just made a decision. So, it looks like the three of us are wrong.”

"Not really."

"Huh?"

"I said no."

"Vina?"

"You bego, Haru," Vina squeezed her hair with a cloth. "It's not at all the fault of the three of you."

"Vina, wait ..." Haruhiro chased after her, but Vina held her back. ”Wait ... what the hell is wrong?"

"You don't understand, do you? That's why you don't understand Vina and Alice being like this.”

"But ..." Haruhiro lowered his gaze towards the floor.”It's just ... I mean, you and Alice never even tried to talk to me. So, how can I understand?”

"Vina isn't good at expressing her feelings. Hard for Vina and Alice to ..”

"It's not me!" Haruhiro was aware that his voice was getting louder as his emotions peaked, so he quickly held himself back.”... Not that I'm good at talking either. And at that time ... everything happened surprisingly.”

"If so, it's the same as me."

"Sama .. we do too. I guess it's true.”

"If so…….." And Vina started crying .”If so, this is not the fault of one person. It's not just your fault, Haru, or Marco, or Barto. This was also Vina and Alice's fault. Is Vina wrong? We're team mates, right? Including Udin, the six of us are true sabbaths. Is Vina wrong?”

"No, you're not wrong."

He was right, Haruhiro thought. Vina is not the wrong person.

Udin once said that we are a good team. He means himself, Haruhiro, Marco, Barto, Vina, and Alice. The six of them, together, have been a good team. Even if one of these six is gone, that doesn't mean Udin can do everything alone. While the others contributed only on a small scale, the six of them were able to achieve something Udin could not do alone.

Udin must have understood this, and understood it well. That is why, although Marco is selfish, Haruhiro is incompetent, Barto is quite dumb, Vina is awkward, and Alice is cowardly, Udin has never revealed a single complaint to them.

The five of them would be lame if one of his comrades went missing. Thus, Udin completed their formation, and filled the gap left when they were in trouble. That's how the six of them formed a team.

When bad things happen, everyone feels. When good things happen, everyone feels. As things get harder, everything gets harder. None of them were strong enough to bear it all alone, but at least they could share the hardships and pain.

However, after Udin's death, Haruhiro bore everything alone. Haruhiro, Marco, and Barto, these three men complain to each other about the problems the Party faces while drinking late into the night without sharing anything with the girls. How did Vina and Alice feel when being ignored like that? Of course they think that they are no longer needed, and that is what makes them feel miserable and lonely.

"Vina, I'm sorry…. "

And when those words were tucked out of his mouth, Haruhiro finally understood why Udin breathed his last while apologizing to him.

That day, Udin had praised everyone except Haruhiro. Udin did not give any praise to Haruhiro, and that is what makes Haruhiro depressed and gloomy. So, Udin must have thought of apologizing to him until his death arrived.

“Udin.”

Suddenly, his sight blurred. It was because of the tears that flooded her eyelids so quickly and profusely. The calm that he had been maintaining, was now melted away in an instant. Haruhiro's knees were limp and was no longer able to hold his body.

You stupid Udin. Why are you apologizing? Wh why? You don't have to do that, and I don't want to accept your forgiveness either ...

Udin has said to Haruhiro ‘It seems I am not the kind of person who has many friends.’ But he was completely wrong about that. Really, really wrong.

Wh why? Why did he die? Why did he have to die?

"Harue ..." Vina crouched down and hugged him. She was crying too.

While crying, Vina gently stroked Haruhiro's back, shoulders, and head. Their cheeks moistened by tears touched each other, and Haruhiro could hear hoarse breathing near his ears. Haruhiro had no idea how much longer he would have to cling to Vina to finish his tears.

When he finally regained his composure, he felt hollow, as if he was draining all the tears stored in his eyes. Vina first stopped crying, but even so, they still hugged each other. It's so weird .. as if they can't find an excuse to let go of a hug. They hugged each other to provide support to the fragile soul.

But this feels good. Vina's body was so soft and warm ...

No no no no no. He could not let his mind become more and more wild. This dramatic scene would soon turn into a scene full of awkwardness, and increasingly embarrassing. However, Vina did not think of anything like that. Of course Haruhiro was also not dirty-minded. They are team-mates. Buddies. Friends only.

"Home."

"Y-y-yeah?" Hearing his name being called unexpectedly, he became confused and almost gave an answer with a screech. He tried his best to get rid of his panic.

"Vina ..." she continued.

"Yes?"

"Vina will try her best" he said as he hugged Haruhiro even tighter.

Although Haruhiro admits that Vina's embrace is so good, at the same time Haruhiro hopes that Vina does not tighten her embrace. Wait for. What does it mean to "try your best"?

"Try what?" Ask.

"Try to hang out with Lucia. Vina doesn't know if this will work, but Vina will try her best to get along with Lusi.”

"Ah, yes. Also true. If you can do that, things will be much easier .. I think so too."

"Vina doesn't know if she'll make it. In fact, Vina was a little anxious. Vina thinks that Lusi might really hate her.”

"really? I don't think he hates you.”.

"Once in a while, Vina and Lusi looked at each other, and her eyes felt so cold. His facial expression was also as cold as the glare of his eyes.”

"It's not just you who feel that. Everyone feels the same way.”

"really? Well, then, it's okay. Vina has a feeling that this will not be easy.”

"Yes. You might be right."

"Can Vina do this? Vina will try hard, but Haru, can Vina ask for something?”

"Huh? From me? What things?"

"The new Vina realized that hugging each other like this really made Vina calm down. So, hug Vina tighter and tell her that she can do her best.”

"Is ......no problem for you?" Ask with doubt. It's just a hug to give encouragement, nothing more. Not that he wanted anything more. Haruhiro once again reminded himself that this was just a cheerleader's embrace. ”If you want it ..."

Haruhiro pulled her closer, and hugged her with all his strength, to the point that Vina let out a light sigh. Haruhiro wanted to rebuke Vina for not sighing like that, as this was just a giver's embrace. Because if Vina sighs like that, somehow something is churning inside Haruhiro's body. It was very hot, as if it was going to explode.

Don't surrender! Don't lose! Her thought. But what does it mean to lose? Does he want victory? He doesn't know. He just had the feeling that if he lost here, it would be really bad. Really bad.

Haruhiro closed his eyes.”Do the best you can, Vina."

Vina did not say a word, but she simply nodded.

Haruhiro opened his eyes and immediately froze as he looked at Alice who was standing at the end of the hall.

"Eh."

"Hm?" Vina also looked towards Alice.”Uh…"

"Uhh ... umm .. uh ..” Alice was getting agitated and looked panicked.

The same thing happened to Haruhiro and Vina. How long was Alice standing there? Why did no one notice his arrival?

It's not what you think! Although Haruhiro explained it like that, it seemed to be free. No matter what he said now, it was too late. They have been stuck in an indecent position. All they could do was beg Alice to believe that all this was a misunderstanding. He should clarify, and clarify everything.

Haruhiro and Vina instantly let go of his embrace and moved away from each other.

"It's not like what you are.." They both said it in unison while looking at each other.

"I'm sorry! I'm……. " Alice starts retreating.”I don't know! I suck at things like this, so I never realized it! I-I'm really sorry!”

"No, that's not what I mean, it's not what you think!" Haruhiro.

"Haru's right! It's not what you think! Vina just asked Haru to hug her tightly, that's all!” added Vina.

"Vina, it looks like your explanation is free!" His impact.

"Oh? How come?"

"I'm sorry.. I'm leaving now!" Alice said so, then ran away as fast as she could.

Vina groaned and placed a palm on her cheek. ”Alice and Vina live in the same room, then Vina will explain to her later. Everything's gonna be okay."

"I will .. hand it to you," Haruhiro sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

He glanced again at Vina for a moment, and for some reason, he felt so embarrassed. Supposedly, a man should not hug a girl without having special feelings for the girl. But whatever it is, Haruhiro has done it. And after everything had passed, did that special feeling begin to grow in his heart?

Ah, there's no way that could happen. Haruhiro assured that to himself.