VOLUME 1 — SPRING
Chapter 1: Lilac
“Shiori, did you forget anything?”
My mother’s voice came from behind me as I was putting on my shoes at the entrance.
My mother is very anxious, and even though I’m already in high school, she still treats me like I’m in elementary school.
But maybe it’s inevitable for my mother to worry like that.
After finishing putting on my loafers and turning around, I saw my mother peeking out from the living room.
“Be careful on your way!”
I raised my right hand saying, “I didn’t forget anything” and “I’m going” towards my mother. With a smile, I opened the front door.
(Wow…)
一As soon as I stepped outside, the gentle spring breeze brushed my cheeks.
As if prompted, when I looked up at the sky, there was endless blue spread out there.
(It feels like something good is going to happen today.)
Taking in the clear air of such a sunny day, I quickened my pace towards the station.
＊ ＊ ＊
But upon arriving at the station, everything changed. There were tons of people everywhere.
(Oh… )
The unfamiliar sight made me dizzy for a moment.
I mean, I’m sure the population density here is way too high.
Are there people who ride this crowded train every day?
Thinking so, I quickly took a step back.
────That’s because.
This is the first time I’ve taken the train at this hour since starting high school.
After all, the train is a lot faster than usual.
Even if I take a train an hour later than this one, I would still be in time for school.
So why do I have to take this train today?
It was because I volunteered to be a library committee member yesterday.
There is a rule that second-year students who are appointed as library committee members at my school have to come to school early in the morning and unlock the library.
And then handle book lending and returns first thing in the morning.
…Which is why no one wants to do it.
I’ve been volunteering for this library committee ever since I was in first grade.
Of course, one of the reasons is that I love books.
But more than that… as a library committee member, even ‘I’ can be useful to everyone.
“Please be careful, as rushing to board the train is───”
(Ah…!)
The ringing bell and the station attendant’s announcement echoed.
In a panic, I grabbed the strap of my bag hanging over my shoulder, gathered my courage, and threw myself into the crowded train.
＊ ＊ ＊
(By the time I get off this train, I’ll probably be completely squashed.)
But the packed train I jumped into was far more cramped than I had anticipated.
Since earlier, my body had been pushed to the point where I felt like crying.
Unable to resist, my body was being crushed against the train door.
I tried to avoid as much physical contact as I could by holding my bag, but I still felt so close that I was concerned about the other person’s breathing.
From the very first day, I had experienced the baptism of packed trains to my heart’s content.
(Will I have to take this train every morning from now on?)
I’m already feeling discouraged…from the very first day.
But then,
As if a fish had popped its head above the water’s surface, I lifted my face from the stifling atmosphere. For a moment, I locked eyes with the person next to me.
… ,
(Wow,)
I never thought I’d make eye contact like this, so I hurriedly looked down and bowed my head, but it was too late.
No, I really shouldn’t have.
Apparently, you shouldn’t make eye contact on a crowded train.
“…”
(…)
──Because when eyes meet, an extremely awkward atmosphere ensues.
But “that” was just when I was starting to get used to the atmosphere of the crowded train.
(…?)
──Suddenly, I felt a uncomfortable sensation on my body.
Throughout the train ride, something had been hitting me.
Given how crowded it was, maybe it was inevitable.
Or perhaps, was it because of where I was standing?
Thinking so, I twisted my body just a little.
And that was the trigger for the nightmare that was about to begin.
“…”
A chilling sensation surged through my body all at once.
At that feeling, my spine involuntarily straightened.
It wasn’t just discomfort.
(Someone… is touching my butt.)
Slowly.
As if caressing a child’s head, a hand has been stroking my buttocks.
A hand that moves above my skirt, as if enjoying the sensation.
Immediately, sweat beaded on my forehead, and the hand holding my bag started to tremble.
(…I don’t want this. I don’t want this, I don’t want this!)
I had to grab the hand. I had to shout, “This person is a molester!”
I had to seize the arm and scream.
I knew that.
“….”
─── But I didn’t have the means to do it.
(I don’t want this, please stop…)
In my mind, I shouted those thoughts over and over again, but they couldn’t materialize into words.
Since I twisted my body earlier, my backside was facing towards the seats beside the door, making it unlikely for anyone around to notice.
I tried to push my butt against the chair for some resistance, but no matter how hard the hand was crushed, it wouldn’t pull back.
A man in a suit stood in front of me, surrounding me. It was easy to see that this person is the culprit.
…But…
I couldn’t summon the courage to lift my head.
Even though I needed to remember the perpetrator’s face, fear overwhelmed me to the point where I couldn’t even do that.
This cowardice in my heart, this person understood it as well.
How long had I endured?
The unpleasant sensation felt like an eternity. By the time I started to feel nauseous, I was only one stop away from getting off.
I just wanted to get off this train as quickly as possible. I wanted to run away.
But as if understanding my feelings, the next moment, the molester made a shocking move.
“…!!!”
The hand that had been stroking my buttocks now slowly began to move up my thigh, attempting to enter under my skirt.
(You must be kidding……!?)
Even though I knew I had to resist this time, my body was too scared to move as I wanted.
Meanwhile, the molester’s fingers traced the edge of my underwear. My heart raced like an alarm.
(No… I don’t want this… Someone…)
And then, it happened.
Tears finally fell from my eyes, and in a split second, I pressed my hand to my mouth and tightened my grip on my bag.
“…Shameless adult, aren’t you?”
Suddenly, a very quiet and cold voice rang out.
At the same time, the molester’s hand quickly moved away.
(…)
The train rocked violently, and with it, the presence of the molester behind me disappeared. Amidst the confusion, not knowing what had just happened, I finally lifted my head.
(…What just happened?)
“…It’s okay now.”
Almost simultaneously, I heard a soft voice.
This time, my back was wrapped in something warm.
My gaze blurred with tears.
There, in front of me, was the man I had locked eyes with earlier, and I couldn’t help but gasp.
(This person…）
He was the one who had just reassured me with “It’s okay,”
And also the one who had rescued me from the molester.
He raised his head and without looking down at me, his eyebrows were furrowed and he looked out the window.
His body now occupied the space where the molester had been just moments ago, and I was surrounded by the hands placed on the door. I didn’t even feel the presence of the molester anymore.
(… He helped me.）
Understanding this now, my head nodded in agreement, and tears once again trickled down my cheeks.
(I’m glad, I’m glad, I’m glad…）
Repeatedly chanting these words in my mind, I desperately wiped away the tears streaming from my eyes with the sleeve of my uniform.
“─── Next is─ station─station…”
A few minutes later, I was informed that I had arrived at the station I was supposed to get off at.
By that time, somehow, my tears had subsided.
The train shook only once and stopped.
The door opens at the same time as the sound of air being let out, and the crowd of people rush out from inside the car all at once.
（…Whoa!?）
Since I was near the door, I was inevitably swept out, and my body staggered as if I was being swallowed up.
I ended up enduring the baptism of the crowded train until the very end.
Still, I tried to steady myself somehow, but…
（Eek!!）
My foot tripped over someone else’s, causing my vision to blur. I reflexively closed both of my eyelids as hard as I could.
（…Huh?）
But no matter how long I waited, the pain didn’t come.
When I timidly opened my eyelids at the unexpected event, my body remained awkwardly still.
“Wow, that was close.”
“…!”
I turned abruptly at the sudden voice.
There stood a guy in a uniform, firmly holding onto my arm.
“…If you sit there, you’ll get stepped on, you know?”
“…”
The words that were breathed out with a sigh inevitably made my face feel warm.
This is so embarrassing…!
With that thought, I hastily straightened my back, and the hand that had been holding me slowly let go.
If it weren’t for his hand, I would probably have fallen spectacularly on this platform by now.
“…Are you okay?”
“…”
I hurriedly nodded my head over and over again at those words, and then bowed my head once to say, “Thank you.”
However, when I lifted my head again, he muttered, “That’s not true…” and he gave me the same expression as the one I saw on the train──
His eyebrows furrowed, and his expression was distorted with a look of deep displeasure.
“…A molester. It’s been a disaster since this morning, I think..”
At his softly uttered words, I understood the meaning behind his “Are you okay?”
His expression now was the same as when he helped me on the train earlier. Ah, I see. Finally, I finally understood everything.
He is worried about me because I was molested.
Yes, that’s right. I was molested and my mood was at an all-time low.
It was scary, painful, and infuriating.
That molester… I wonder if he ran away.
Seems like I was more confused than I thought. Suddenly, I noticed that his hand was trembling slightly as I glanced at it.
It was terrifying. Truly, truly terrifying.
It’s an event I don’t even want to remember. Somehow, I want to believe that it was just a dream, like I’m trying to escape from reality.
But, thinking about it, if this person hadn’t helped me at that moment… just the thought sends shivers down my spine and stings my nose.
“…I wish I had noticed earlier and had helped.”
“…”
“I’m sorry?”
He said that with an incredibly gentle voice, lowering his eyebrows into a figure eight1This pertains to the Japanese eight “八” not the english eight “8”., along with a sad smile.
And then, looking at him again—the one who rescued me from harassment and falling.
This person…is he really just a high school student?
The uniform he’s wearing is commonly seen at this station, and I realized it belongs to a boys’ school a short walk from the north exit.
The color of the badge on her school uniform is that of a third-year student at that high school, so he’s probably one year older than me.
However, it was hard to believe that he was just one year older than me, and the air he gave off was so mature that it couldn’t be compared to the boys at my school.
Even though it’s the first time we’ve met, there’s a certain kind of comfort in his voice, and just listening to it makes me feel at ease.
Furthermore, as I looked closer, he had a very handsome face, and he was much taller than me.
With a straight nose, almond-shaped eyes, and thin lips.
All the parts of his face were kept in perfect balance, and the atmosphere he possessed combined with that, and although this may be an exaggeration, it somehow reminded me of a work of art.
I didn’t notice it at all, but… somehow, I was helped by a really cool person…
“Well, anyway. He might be a habitual offender, so I’ll report his characteristics and face to the station staff. Also, I saw him but couldn’t catch him, so I’ll mention that too.”
“…!”
“You… you probably don’t want to remember, right? So is it okay if I go and report on my own?”
I hesitated for a moment at his question, and then I nodded, and he smiled kindly back at me with his calm face.
A man with a very handsome appearance.
It seems that he also possesses a warm heart.
“Well, anyway, be more careful next time. It might be tough, but it might be better to stay close to women as much as possible.”
However, as I listened to his calm words, a sudden question crossed my mind.
(At that time, could I have caught the molester if I had tried…?)
I wanted to ask that question out loud, but I couldn’t, and at that time, I was in a panic and couldn’t really grasp the situation…
And besides, maybe I really did let him get away.
It would be rude to ask such a question after being helped, and even thinking about it is unforgivable.
Actually, if I had been alone, I wouldn’t have even thought to report to the station staff and would have just cried myself to sleep…
With that in mind, I suddenly looked at the time displayed on the platform’s electronic bulletin board….
And—
“Well then, I’ll be going now—”
(W-Wait, the time…!!!)
“Huh?”
(I have to open the library…!! I can’t make excuses for being late on the first day…!!)
When I looked around in a panic, I realized that the people who had gotten off the train with me were already gone, and I couldn’t help but wonder how much I had kept him from leaving.
(I’m sorry for the trouble…! Thank you so much…!)
“Hey…you…!!”
Even though I thought that there was no way I could get it across, I mouthed the words as best as I could, then bowed hastily and dashed off.
Though I felt like I heard his voice trying to stop me from far behind.
After that, I passed through the station gates without looking back even once.
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『Lilac（ライラック）』
Purity・First Love
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