School is a unique place. There, you can gain knowledge, experience, and relationships.
How do relationships begin?
In my city, there's a phrase that's key to opening the door to relationships.
That is, "You can't love what you don't know."
That phrase sounds trivial, but in reality, we can only like people we know, and we can only hate people we know. If we like or hate someone we don't know, it's not a relationship but a one-sided obsession.
Starting from getting to know someone, we then have a reason to form a relationship with them. Whether it's a deep connection or just an acquaintance.
And humans are beings who live by forming many relationships with other humans.
Currently, I have three abnormal relationships with three girls who seem to know my past.
Honestly, I'm not someone who cares too much about the past. I care more about the present and the future. But as the wise saying goes, "If you don't know your past, you won't be able to live in the future." I don't know which wise person said that, maybe I heard it from a street preacher on my way home from school.
The past is important. Because it is my foundation for striving in the future.
That's why lately I've been trying to get closer to Aria and dig up my past from her.
"What were you like when you were little, my future husband? Hmm... you were so cute, handsome, and cool! We always played in the park near that big shady tree." When I asked Aria about my childhood, she answered cheerfully like this.
"We also sometimes hugged for a very long time and fell asleep together under the shade of that tree... Kyaaa!" Aria covered her own blushing face, imagining who knows what with me.
Upon further thought, I did remember often playing in the park with Aria because my father and mother were rarely home. But not just Aria. I remember all five of us always playing in the park.
Five of us?
"Aria. Do you remember that besides the two of us, there were three other people who always played with us in the park?"
Aria tried to think, her index finger touching her chin.
"Hmmm, if I recall, we did often play with other girls. But I was the closest to you, my future husband. I'm very sure of that. Hum. Hum." Aria put her hands on her hips proudly. Vittoria listened to us talking beside her, making a 'huh?' expression of disbelief.
"You even forgot your underwear at home when you left for school and only realized it when class started. I'm sure you're just making up my step-brother's childhood."
"I really remember it, hmph. There were three children who always played with us. A shy silver-haired child, a cheerful dark blue-haired child, and another child who was one year older than us. She was our older sister. Because her nature was very gentle and she was truly like a perfect older sister." Aria folded her arms across her chest. Just like Vittoria, who folded her arms in disbelief.
Something came to my mind. Was the shy silver-haired child is Iris? And was the cheerful dark blue-haired child is Perseus? But Perseus isn't cheerful at all, and Iris doesn't seem shy type at all.
Should I ask Aria about Perseus and Iris? Seeing her face making a monster face mocking Vittoria and Vittoria mocking her back with an even more terrifying face, it seems they can't be trusted.
This is my past, I have to find out about it myself.
***
"Alright, see you later at home, big brother." Vittoria nodded and waved at Vincent while her other hand forcibly dragged Aria to go home with her.
"No! I must always walk home with my future husband!" Bonk! Aria's head was hit by Vittoria, which made her stop whining and become a hospital patient.
"See you tomorrow, Vincent. Relax, don't worry. I'll take care of your girls especially for you." Gregor grinned widely while winking flirtatiously. After waving goodbye to Vincent, he ran to catch up with Vittoria and Aria who were walking side by side. Both immediately kicked Gregor's groin as he ran closer with an aroma of indecent intent.
Vincent parted ways with his friends after school, saying he wanted to go somewhere alone. It had been Vincent's school day routine to go home with Vittoria, Aria, and Gregor since the first PE day.
The real reason Vincent went alone was to meet Iris at the sweets cafe.
Cafe Snow White. That was the name of the place.
A cafe with a distinctive fairy tale Snow White theme, who fell asleep after eating a poisoned apple from the evil old witch. The waiters here wore dwarf costumes. There was also a special mirror that could talk when spoken to, as a sign of the cafe owner's seriousness in creating a themed cafe.
It was located not far from school and also not too far from home. Vincent took a seat in front of Iris who was reading the cafe menu. It was Iris who invited Vincent to meet there.
"Ah. Vincent." Iris smiled slightly seeing Vincent come and sit in front of her. "I'm glad to see you."
Vincent put his school bag next to the table. "We meet every day in class. Have you ordered anything yet?"
Iris nodded. Then a waiter in a blue dwarf costume came carrying warm food like sweet corn soup and warm ice cream? Wait, isn't this a cold sweets cafe? Snow White?
Seeing Iris's order made Vincent gape. And what was warm ice cream? Since when could ice cream be warm?
"Vincent, want some?" Iris held her bowl of warm ice cream forward. Vincent smiled stiffly while shaking his head awkwardly.
"This is sun gelato. Made from mango ice cream frozen into ice and cooked until it becomes liquid and has a soft cream texture. Vincent, try it."
Iris took a spoonful of the sun gelato into Vincent's awkwardly open mouth. Vincent's eyes widened as he tasted it.
"I can't believe there's such a thing as warm ice cream in this world. It tastes cold like ice and warm like cream at the same time."
Iris chuckled at Vincent's funny reaction.
"Once, Vincent's mother brought me here with Vincent and we ate this strange ice cream for the first time. At that time, Vincent wouldn't sit still and accidentally dropped a bowl of ice cream on the floor. At that time, Vincent didn't cry but laughed while Vincent's mother scolded Vincent for dropping the entire contents of the ice cream bowl."
"Is that true?" Vincent didn't remember it at all. Iris nodded slightly.
"Yes. We used to play together often. Vincent's mother liked me very much, she even care me like her own daughter." Iris said with a faint smile. There was a hint of sadness behind that smile and anger in her eyes.
"Iris. I want to ask you something."
"What is it?" Iris lifted her face and shyly looked into Vincent's serious eyes.
"I know you knew me when I was little. But why can't I remember anything about my childhood. I can't even remember memories with my mother before she passed away."
Iris turned her face away upon hearing that question come from Vincent's mouth.
"Not now. Iris will tell you someday. But not today. I'm sorry... Vincent."
Vincent fell silent. He neither sighed nor forced Iris to answer. He would find out about his past slowly.
"Alright, then let's talk about pleasant things. I want to know more about you. Iris Winterbourne. My childhood friend."
Vincent tried to smile gently. Iris nodded and smiled along with him.
***