As the curry was coming together without a hitch, the surroundings were gradually dimming, and the night was on the brink of arrival.
In the dimming expanse of the campsite’s main square, the campfire was roaring vigorously, casting its warm glow all around.
We were set to eat the curry while gathered around the campfire, and the three of us sat on the ground with our curry in hand.
“Mmm! Delicious!”
“Yeah, there’s something special about having dinner together like this.”
“Yes! It’s really tasty!”
The curry turned out perfect! The slight chill in the air was balanced out by the spice of the curry and the warmth of the campfire.
But there was a slight issue…
It was the carrots in the curry. You see, I’m not fond of carrots, especially when they’re cut into big chunks…
And of course, in my curry, there was one carrot slice, precisely cut by Yamato…
What should I do? Even though Yamato cut the carrot…
It would be rude not to eat it…
As I pondered over this, a spoon reached over to my plate and swiftly took away the carrot.
“Hmm…? Is this carrot yours?”
It was Yamato… and he had a mischievous grin on his face, almost as if he could see right through my inability to eat carrots…
“Uh… it’s fine; you can have it!”
Although deep down I was relieved that it was stolen from me since I couldn’t eat it, I couldn’t help but put on a brave front.
Yamato carried the carrot he took from me to his mouth with a chuckle…
[What’s yours is mine.]
Lately, every time he utters that line, it feels like he’s taking my heart with it… Heck, I almost want Yamato to take everything from me…
As I was unable to be straightforward, I, with a hint of bravado, brought the curry to my mouth, now devoid of carrots.
At that moment, our homeroom teacher approached us, holding countless disposable chopsticks in hand, and offered them to us.
“You guys really get along well, huh! Alright, after this is the big event! It’s a test of courage! I wonder which team you’ll be on?”
Yeah, the teacher called it a big event, but for someone like me who’s not good with scary stuff, it’s like a hellish event… It’s time for the test of courage…
“Yuto, you’re not good with scary things, right? Are you okay with the test of courage?”
Yamato looked at me with a worried expression, knowing about the incident with the horror movie I was taken to during summer vacation, but considering the atmosphere and not going along, it felt a bit awkward…
And above all, this is our last chance to make big memories together… I want to have fun with everyone… That feeling pushes me forward.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“P’ii qgbyjyis yf bxjs…! Obbx! Zjsyf P’ii fcv eq bc atf rjwf afjw jr Tjwjab jcv Vtec!”
“Ljtjtj! Po Teab ufar ibra, wf jcv Tjwjab klii mbwf ibbxlcu obg sbe! Ggfrrfv jr utbrar!”
Pa kjr rjlv lc pfra, rb la kjr olcf, yea ktfc P gfqilfv ab Vtec ab rabq klat atf utbra raeoo, Vtec jcv fnfc Tjwjab rajgafv ijeutlcu, jcv yfobgf P xcfk la, kf kfgf jii ijeutlcu abufatfg.
Then we each pulled one out on the count of three with our hands on the disposable chopsticks our teacher had offered.
* * *
And then came the time for the test of courage.
“Yuto, are you really okay?”
Yamato would express his concern with each approaching turn to depart. The chopsticks we drew determined that Yamato and Shun were on the same team, while I was on a different one…
Shun suggested quietly swapping with me, but the teacher was watching… Cheating was out of the question…
Still, even without the two of them, I promised myself I’d enjoy the test of courage with my other classmates! That’s what I swore to myself.
“I-I’ll be fine! E-everyone’s here, so I’ll be okay…!”
Aaahhhh!!!
N-no, no way!! Too scary!!
Despite my vow, the screams of the departing students kept flooding into my ears…
Maybe I’m just not cut out for this after all!!
As I pondered whether to go or not, it was finally our group’s turn…
There was no choice but to go…
I stood at the entrance to the test of courage with that determination and with my other classmates…
Before we set off, Yamato kindly offered some words of encouragement.
“Listen, if you get scared, don’t push forward if you’re scared, go back if you have to. Don’t just end up getting lost.”
“I-I’ll be fine! I’ll do my best!”
Though I felt a bit like a child being treated this way, just knowing that he was worried made me happy… I hope I can make it back here safe and sound!
We relied on the flashlight on our phones and started to cautiously make our way into the pitch-black mountains, where the screams wouldn’t stop echoing…
* * *
The mountains were pitch-black, a sight to behold…
As I was looking back, the light from the campfire was gradually fading away…
All I could rely on were the flashlights on my phone and my classmates…
If I were with Yamato… or with Shun… I would have clung onto one of their backs, but that wasn’t the case now…
Wait…? Have I always been just relying on the two of them, staring at their backs and being helped by their big bodies… When I think about it, have I been too dependent on them?
My best friends who support me… I’ve always been helped by them, but have I ever done anything to support them in return?
Even though I keep lying to myself, they’re always there, laughing by my side…
As I pondered about them, at that moment…
Rustle, rustle…
…Huh…?
“Boo〜!!”
O-oh nooooo!!!
I shouldn’t have been lost in thought!!!!
I left my classmates behind as I was caught off guard by the teacher playing the ghost and ran away at full speed, overwhelmed by fear…
‘Don’t push forward if you’re scared; go back if you have to. Don’t just end up getting lost.’
I don’t even have the luxury of recalling Yamato’s words, which felt like treating me as a child…
How far do I run…? It’s pitch black, and I can’t find the exit… I can’t see the light of the fire anymore… And then, finally…
“Ouch!!”
My foot got caught on a tree trunk as I was running at full speed, and I fell hard, twisting my ankle badly…
This is bad… Really bad…
I must have twisted my ankle pretty badly because even the slightest movement sends shooting pain through it… Honestly, I can’t even contemplate walking…
My only reliance is on my phone… At least the flashlight is on. But being in the mountains means there’s no signal… I can’t contact anyone…
Where… Where am I…
I can’t see anything in this pitch-black darkness…
On this autumn night… With the temperature dropping, the cold starts to seep in as I sit still… Is anyone there?! I call out, but there’s no response…
Just as time passes… with only anxiety and frustration gnawing at my heart, tearing me apart…
To make matters worse, my body was showing signs of distress…
Despite it being cold, my body feels hot… This heat… It’s a sign of pre-heat, a precursor to my mating season… Falling in love with Yamato, feeling his warmth and kindness, each touch sending my body spiraling out of control…
Yes, irregular pre-heat symptoms…
And of all times, it had to happen now…
But in this space, there should only be Betas around, so even if my pheromones are slightly released, they won’t be detected, and there shouldn’t be any issue…
But I need to suppress it quickly, or my body will become increasingly immobile… If someone were to witness that… Even a Beta would realize that I’m an Omega…
I’m scared… I’m so scared…
Ouch… My foot hurts… My body feels so hot…
Yamato… Shun… please… help me…
* * *
I waited for so long…
How much time has passed?
As an Omega, I don’t have much strength… But my body won’t move because of the cold and heat… My pheromones are gradually overflowing…
My consciousness is becoming hazy little by little…
I… I don’t want to stay like this. I hate it, I really do…
And then…
In my eyes, something small flickers and disappears, repeating like the light of fireflies…
“…To!”
“…Yu…to!!”
Even the familiar voices stimulate my ears… Ah, it’s my beloved voice… As my consciousness started to fade, I softly called out…
“Yamato… I’m here…”
Will such a small voice reach Yamato? As I pondered this, the light I could see kept getting bigger and bigger… And then…
“Yu, Yuto!!!”
“…Yamato…”
Yamato found me… And he gently pulled my battered body close…
“You idiot! I told you to stay close if you’re scared… I said not to wander off and get lost…”
I had no room to feel nervous with Yamato’s warmth. I was overwhelmed with relief and released tears of both relief and anxiety…
“Ahh… *Hiccup*, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… Yamato, I’m sorry…”
“You don’t have to apologize… As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters… I’m really glad…”
I cried like a child in Yamato’s arms, and he held me gently until I calmed down…
