Haru-Naru ♪♪♪ Love is a Comedy

After asking Naruko's advice and returning to my room, I lay on my bed, thinking. In the end, I still really didn't know why Erza had been in such a strange mood lately. Naruko had pointed out Erza might be depressed because I had compared her with Juvia, but I didn't know if that was really the real reason or not. So right now, one thing I didn't understand is why Erza had been acting this way. Also, I still didn't know if she really was trying to avoid me or not.

In any case… Erza will be back tomorrow. When I met with her in person, I would have to make sure she told me the whole story. But, if something was really bothering her, then I wanted to do something to help. I wanted to help cheer her up. And if I really had done something wrong, then I wanted to sincerely apologize. At any rate, this was about Erza. For me, I couldn't treat this nonchalantly like I had with Naruko's friends, as if this had nothing to do with me. Erza had helped me out a lot in the past, and I planned to rely on her in the future as well. In that case, it wouldn't be bad if I got her a present, right?

Yes, a present. Obviously, I wouldn't just give her cash or anything too high-class but if giving her something would make her happy, certainly this wasn't a bad idea, was it? And I mean, it's not like I had any better ideas. When I had thanked Naruko earlier, I was expressing my true feelings. In the end, she gave me some very valuable advice. At the very least, that's how I saw it. That is, she told me that it didn't matter what I bought her, but it was enough to do something for Erza. That I wanted to tell her how I felt, but I was fixating on whether or not giving her a present was right or wrong. That all I had to do was think hard about her, and then choose a way to fix this situation. That generally, if someone gets a present from someone she was close enough with to argue with… there's no reason she wouldn't be happy about it. In this case, it's not like we were arguing or something… and Erza and I weren't strangers. But… yeah. No matter what was troubling Erza, this might make her feel just a bit better. Even if she really was trying to avoid me. If this could make her happy, then it wouldn't be a waste, right? I really didn't like seeing her so unhappy like this. Yeah… that's it. That's it. She had always helped me study, and even if she wasn't going to do that anymore, I should at least get her something. That's what I decided.

Hm. What should I get her? It seemed that a new problem had come into sight. Erza's frugal nature was rather troublesome in this case. I couldn't really imagine what I could possibly get her that would make her happy. If I were buying a present for Naruko, I would buy something as expensive as possible, and I could figure that out by consulting both my own budget and a store clerk… and I did have quite a bit saved up. After all, it's not like I have much to spend my money on.

Umm… things that Erza would like, things that she would want… tea? Candy? No no, those are things her family sells. Well… accessories? Clothes? I felt that these were probably not right either… they were too expensive, and might make her feel uncomfortable… I had to find a present that wasn't expensive enough that it would make her embarrassed… hm… I couldn't figure anything out for a long time, but at least, I had a flash of insight from something Erza had said in the past.

"Hey, lately I've been sleeping with this bear-shaped body pillow. It's really comfortable. I'm collecting pillows right now."

So… a pillow? At my own words, I tilted my head In puzzlement. I really didn't have much confidence that a pillow was an appropriate present for a girl. For example, what if I gave a pillow to Naruko?

"Hey, Naruko. This is a present for you… it's a pillow."

"Die."

It would definitely be like that. But, I was dealing with Erza here, not Naruko… so maybe this would be good… that's what I thought, even though I didn't really have an ounce of confidence in my idea. Even so, I was supposed to be the person who should know Erza the best. If the present I got her was wrong, then it's doubtful that anybody could get her an appropriate present. Right?

"Alright, a pillow, then. Let's get her a pillow."

Quickly reviving my computer from standby, I began to look up prices for her present on the internet. I got the idea to try the pillow site I had found before. Erza was, in the end, a girl, so she probably really liked character pillows… so let's take a look at those. I guess computers weren't originally just tools for killing time. They also could be used at times like this. For the first time since I had gotten it, I felt comforted by this computer that Naruko had lent me.

It was the evening Erza was supposed to return. I was standing on a road right next to her house, leaning on a concrete wall, and staring up at the sky. It's so hot… I narrowed my eyes in the sunlight of this pretty summer day. I wiped the sweat off my face with a handkerchief. It was hot beyond belief. It was already evening, but the temperature was so high that I could still see the top of the telephone poles around me distort in the heat. I might have come too early… that's what I was thinking. But, I couldn't help it, could I? I really wanted to see Erza as soon as possible. But… waiting around like this was making me increasingly anxious… even though Sho had told me Erza would be coming back this evening, I wondered if she really would be… I also wondered about what I would say to her when I saw her… and what I would do if she still was trying to avoid me.

My mind wouldn't stop turning. Thoughts of Erza seemed to relentlessly swirl around in my head. My handkerchief had already taken in so much sweat that it had become sticky. I thought about going to buy some cola, but thinking that in that time, Erza might come back, I couldn't move an inch from where I was. Maybe it would be better if I just went into the house and waited for her there, but for some reason I didn't want to do that. I just wanted to wait for her out here and see her face as soon as possible.

After that, I waited for around ten more minutes, and then… soon, I saw Erza appear around the corner. She came lugging a heavy-looking trunk behind her, yelling out "yossha!" in self-encouragement every time she took a step. And occasionally, she would stop and wipe off the sweat from her face. In a second, a number of various feelings passed through my chest. Worry, loneliness, irritation, nostalgia, and also… well… in my confusion, I couldn't really describe this feeling in one word, but… it was probably a feeling closest to relief. When I was next to her, I couldn't help but feel relieved. That was true even now, even though I was afraid that she might be trying to avoid me. Seriously, I'm so lost when she's not around. It would be great if I could fix whatever had happened between us. I really thought that.

I casually raised a hand in greeting, trying as hard as possible to make it seem like everything was normal. "Hey, welcome back."

"Wha-Whaaa?" She probably was surprised because when she rounded the corner, suddenly I was there.

Widening her eyes, Erza looked shocked. "H-Haruto… what are you doing here… ? How did you know that I was coming back today…? Umm… could it be… that you were waiting here for a long time for me…?"

"It's not like that, no." Well, honestly though, I've been here for around two hours. "I mean… I just… wanted to see you."

"…uh…a-ahh… " For some reason, Erza looked embarrassed as she mumbled something under her breath. She looked really confused, so I spoke up while scratching my cheek.

"Ah… did you not want to see me?"

"N-No, it's not like that. Not at all…"

When I tried to get a good peek at her face, Erza suddenly turned her head downwards. What's more, as if she were trying to run away from me, she began to slowly move backwards with her trunk. She looked like a teary-eyed puppy who had just lost a fight with a bigger dog. Geez. I had hoped that when she came back, everything would return to normal… but it didn't seem like that was going to happen. Erza's mood seemed just as strange as it was before. Dammit. This wasn't normal at all. This wasn't like how we usually acted towards each other.

Alright… making up my mind, I held out my hand. And then, I firmly caught Erza by the wrist. I had already prepared myself to do things I didn't want to do, and I definitely couldn't let her run away from me here. And then, I started pleading with her with a pitiable tone of voice.

"Hold on… please don't run away, Erza."

"I'm… not trying to run away…"

"Liar. If that's true, why won't you even look at me? If everything were normal, you would send me a pleasant smile instead, wouldn't you? That's what you would do when you talked with me. So… did I do something… that makes you angry lately?"

"Huh? Huuuh?" As if I had hit the bulls-eye, Erza raised her head. But, immediately afterwards, she turned her head downwards once again. "W-Why do you say that? N-Nothing! You did nothing wrong… "

She was absolutely terrible at playing dumb like this. Even worse than Naruko. But… if I didn't do anything wrong… there must be something that was bothering her. And what's more, it was something she didn't want to talk to me about. It was perfectly clear, as I watched her desperately trying to hide whatever it was she was trying to hide, that she didn't want me to ask her about this. In other words, Erza didn't need my help right now. I didn't want to admit it, but that's how things seemed. It's just, I couldn't consent to leaving this alone so easily here. No matter what. I might be repeating myself, but I really wanted to just do something for her, to help her out of this. If I couldn't do that, at the very least I wanted to cheer her up. It wasn't for anyone else's sake, but just for my own. To the very end, I was just acting selfishly out of my own self-interest. So, therefore, she might not want me to, but I can't let this conversation end here.

I sincerely bowed my head. "Sorry."

"Eh… ? H-Haruto?" Erza's voice sounded rather confused. She was probably surprised at my sudden apology.

"I don't quite know what's bothering you… but I can tell that whatever it is, you don't want to talk to me about it. But, I can't let that go. No matter how much you say it doesn't have anything to do with me and refuse my help, I can't just stand by and pretend nothing is happening."

"So, you mean… "

"At some point, you also said something like that to me, right?"

For just a second, Erza, wide-eyed, made eye contact with me. In the next second, she once again turned her eyes away. "D-Did I?"

"Yes, you did. It's always been like that. Whenever I've been tired, you've always interfered and meddled in my business. Even though I didn't ask you to." I gave a strained smile while thinking back to those pleasant times. Yes, whenever I got like that, she would come to my rescue. So, this was just me giving her the same thing back.

"That's… I mean… I just can't leave you alone."

"I know. You seem more like my mother than my own mother sometimes."

"…so, by that, do you mean you love me?" Erza asked that with a slightly downtrodden tone of voice. A different response from before spontaneously burst forth from my mouth.

"Yeah."

"E-Ehhh?!" Erza's body began to tremble in surprise.

"Ah… n-no, not like that. That's not what I mean… argh, dammit… ummm… I might have responded too quickly… I mean that you're like a big sister to me… umm… yeah." Idiot! What the hell am I saying?! Did standing for two hours in this damn heat scramble my brains or something?!

As I desperately tried to clear up any misunderstandings, Erza, staring at me all the while, began to chuckle. "Geez… Haruto… you're the same as always."

"Look who's talking… "

"But… I did change."

Stopping her giggling, Erza looked downwards once again. If nothing had changed, then here we would start laughing together at each other, and then that would be the end of the problem. But, I guess she's right. You could say that lately, she's "changed." Even though I honestly didn't want things to change like this.

The silence stretched out for a little while longer. In that silence, I thought about Erza, who was standing in front of me. We basically had known each other for our entire life. There were still probably things that we didn't know about each other… but I probably knew Erza better than anybody else, and she me. But I grew used to that kind of relationship, and I grew complacent. And if, because of that, I didn't realize it when I hurt Erza… then just like Naruko had said, I really am an idiot.

"There's something that's bothering you, right…? Is it my fault? Was I the reason you changed…? Am I why you've seemed so sad lately, why you've seemed like you've been avoiding me…? If I did something bad to you, I apologize. So, please. Just tell me what's going on."

Erza shouted in protest and waved her hands back and forth. "No! I said it again, that's completely wrong! You didn't do anything wrong to me!"

"R-Really?"

"Yes! Where did you come up with such a ridiculous idea?!" Erza strongly protested my statement with an unexpectedly loud voice. It seemed like my words might have even angered her. I faltered a bit at her angry look, but even then I felt relieved. I heard that I wasn't the cause of Erza's problems, straight from the person herself. But I couldn't stop here. This means that her troubles came from some other source.

"But, honestly, you've been acting strangely lately, right? And… you said that you changed, right? Is that why you've been avoiding me…? What's your reason for doing that?" When I asked this, Erza bashfully fiddled with her fingers and blushed.

"Well… that is… that time when I came back with you… that time when we met that girl, do you remember…?" And, like that, Erza began her explanation.

"Y-Your bangs?"

"Y-Yeah… "

What Erza ended up telling me was completely beyond my expectations, and filled me with surprise.

"The day we met that girl, right…? I… After I went home, I cut my hair… but… that is… I sort of failed at doing that… my bangs came out uneven… and when I tried to fix that, it just got worse and worse… a-and eventually, there wasn't really anything more I could do to fix it… "

Reminiscing on that day, I remembered that Erza was close to tears.

"Even though you complimented me that day… I changed like this… and then, I didn't even want to go to school, and waited until the last possible second to leave the house."

"And then, you didn't want to show me your face, is that why you were avoiding me?"

"…yeah." Looking completely dispirited, Erza nodded.

It was like we were in some shounen manga, and the heroine who had been turned into a monster was confessing her dirty secret to the protagonist, or something. I still was a bit stumped by what was going on, but for now I should deal with the remaining questions I had, and so I went through them in order.

"So… this all happened because of that time we met Juvia…?"

"What do you mean?" Erza cocked her head to the side in confusion. What?

"T-Then… when I called your cell phone, it seemed like your phone was off… "

"Huh? You called me… ? Sorry, I left for a while to go to my friend's house… "

"No, I called your cell phone though."

"I don't really leave the house with my cell phone. I'm afraid of losing it… "

Then what's the point of you having a cell phone! I was seriously troubled when I couldn't reach her by phone, though.

"W-Well… what about this 'situation at home' they told me about at school?"

"A-Ah, that. I went to my friend's house, they run a store out of their house too, to help out… well she's fine now in any case… she was hospitalized… "

"I… see… b-but, you even told your brother not to tell me about this. He told me that you told him that if I asked about this to not tell me anything… why did you do that?" Because of that, my suspicions that I had done something bad to you grew stronger…

"Huh?" Erza widened her eyes, and then looked downhearted, as if she had made some major blunder. "It's not what you think! That time, I didn't know what the condition was… if her condition worsened and this situation got worse… well, you would worry about me… so I told him 'Until we know about her condition, even if he asks you, don't tell Haruto anything, alright?' "

"I… see… "

I see. When Erza started taking time off from school because of some "situation at home," even normally, I would probably go to Sho to ask about the situation. And if I heard that one of Erza's friends had been hospitalized and so on, of course I would be worried. Thinking about Erza's feelings, I would feel pretty downhearted. So she decided to not tell me anything. But in this case, her plan backfired. Not only did the person she entrusted to tell me say suggestive things, but he explained his sister's intentions rather carelessly. So, that means… the "situation at home" and the "thing that's bothering Erza" were two separate things.

"So, you weren't angry because… I had made fun of your face…?"

"Like I said, there's no reason I would do that. I mean… that time, you told me that you liked me the way I was, right…? That you like me this way, even more than you liked that girl… you made me really, really happy, Haruto."

Did I really say something like that? If I try to remember, I guess some words that resembled those came out of my mouth… but wasn't the nuance a bit different the way she said it? Incredibly bewildered, I watched as Erza gave me a loose smile, looking quite happy.

"That's why… there's no reason for me to be mad at you, Haruto… "

"I-I see… " Well, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed, so with great effort I turned my thoughts elsewhere. "So… Where is it? Where did you cut off too much?"

"Umm… h-here. See, here… isn't it weird looking?"

I mean, even if she points to it with such a miserable expression…

"Haah… I'm really sad about this change… "

At the same time that Erza dropped her shoulders, I sadly did the same. T-This girl… even if she says that she cut off too much, I can't see it at all… and first and foremost, certainly, I did tell her that I liked her the way she was. But there's no reason I would get angry or hate it if she just changed her hairstyle. Geez, I really didn't understand girls who took these small things so seriously.

Well, it seems that everything was alright, so I'm relieved. I'm seriously relieved. With this, from tomorrow we can return to how everything was. We can go to school together, study together, go home together, and eat sweets together.

Hahaha! Do you see Gray?! She didn't have a boyfriend at all! Serves you right!

Wait? How should I put it… there was something else… as I thought back on the conversation I exchanged with Sho a few days ago, the person in question showed up. He probably spied Erza and I talking outside.

He leaned outside from the second floor window of their house. "HEYO! Welcome home sis!" He waved his hand energetically. He then went back into the room, and soon flew out of the house entryway.

"Nee-chan! I went out and bought a wig for you! Don't worry, don't worry, it's one that only covers a part of your head! So people definitely won't figure it out! This wig… oh!" It was Sho. He ran towards us with noisy footsteps, and when he realized I was there he raised his voice enthusiastically. "OH! If it isn't my favorite cousin Haruto! Hey bro!"

"Hey… good timing, Sho. Come here for a sec." As I beckoned him to come with my hands, the idiot rushed over like some over-eager dog.

"What, what? Do you have something for me?"

When that bastard came within attack range, I quickly put him in a headlock and tightened my arms around his neck.

"You bastard! you knew from the beginning what was bothering Erza!"

"Ahhhhhh! That hurts! b-but I said it already! I said 'Well, the haircut went overboard' didn't I?! You're the one who wouldn't listen to me!"

"Ohh? Well sorry about that. Because it's not like there's ANY way I could misinterpret that!"

I began to grind my knuckles on his head. I've often played wrestling with Sho in the past, so it's not like Erza was that bothered by what was happening in front of her. Rather, she thought it was quite amusing.

"You two are getting along well as usual, huh?"

Dammit, I'm exhausted. Why the hell have I been so worried for the past few days? I even went for advice to my annoying sister… but, well, I might be repeating myself again, but I'm seriously glad that nothing was wrong.

As soon as my strength waned a bit, Sho found a gap in my hold and ran away. He's like a little rat, isn't it? Well, whatever. Sighing deeply, I stuck a hand in the bag on my back. Taking something out, I held it out casually towards Erza. "This is for you."

"Huh? Huuh?" She received the gift properly, but she put on a rather strange expression and blinked rapidly. "…this…is for me? T-Thanks… but, why? Is it… my birthday today?"

"Idiot… of course it's not your birthday. Aren't you 50 years too young to be going senile? Your birthday is April 7th, isn't it? That's it, right? But don't worry, since you'll definitely get something on your birthday too. This isn't a birthday present… ah, dammit, whatever!" I felt rather embarrassed talking like this, but because I couldn't think of anything else to say, my speech became jumbled up like that. "Just take it!"

"A-Alright…"

Hiding my embarrassment behind annoyance, I managed to get Erza, still blinking, to nod. Maybe due to my bad temper, I continued to say unnecessary things.

"I-It's not like there's any strange meaning behind this. Don't misunderstand what I'm doing here."

After I said that, Erza looked happy and replied with a "…yeah, alright."

Why do I suddenly feel so fidgety?

Because it seemed like it would be difficult for Erza to lug my present together with her luggage, I put on a stern expression and took up her trunk. She quickly thanked me, but I turned the other way and ignored her. When I stole a glance at Erza, "Hm, should I open it? Hm… I wonder what it is… "

I watched with bated breath as Erza began to gently, gently peel off the wrapping on the package. At long last, the present lay bare on Erza's arm.

"Whoooaa…"

I had selected a fox hug pillow. The body was long, and it was made from a very comfortable material. Honestly, I think it might have been an anime character or something, but whatever. I just liked the design. I really felt that this present would make Erza happy. And it seemed like my prediction was completely correct.

"Such a cute pillow! Thanks, Haruto!"

"Hehe, it looks strangely lazy and sleepy, doesn't it? Well, if you like it then I'm happy. Be sure to sleep with it once in a while!" I stroked my chest in relief, and Erza happily hugged the fox pillow close.

"Uhm, I'll pretend it's you and take good care of it!"

"D-Don't do that."

"Eh? Why? Its eyes remind me of you though… "

"Nevermind."

When you think of "thickheaded," you usually think of guys… but her head was definitely also quite thick. That was super embarrassing! So, in the end, the situation turned out to unfold like this… there wasn't really anything serious happening here, it was simply me jumping to conclusions. My relationship with Erza was the same as always, and hadn't changed in the least.

"Hey, when summer vacation starts… be sure to come over and hang out with me, alright?"

"If you'll help me with my homework, I'll come."

"Mmm. And, aand, because I made you worry… as an apology and as thanks, I'm going to make Haruto some yummy food."

"By 'Haruto,' I hope you don't mean that fox there…" As always, with wrinkles creasing my brow, I began my retort as Erza feigned innocence.

Geez. Our inseparable relationship was sturdier than I had thought. I got the impression that I would be with this woman for quite a long time. As long as Erza and I both shared the same desire about our relationship, then that desire would be fulfilled. Even if, someday, that desire would change. But I was happy with what I had right now. I didn't have a single complaint. I'll be depending on her after today as well. Looking up, I gazed languidly at the evening sun, and a pleasant exhaustion filled my mind.