Chapter 3 | Unexpectedness and Adoration

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After that, I was trying my best to soothe her as she sobbed.

I was a little hesitant to stroke her head to soothe her, but I felt like I was already doing more than that.

It had been a while since I had stroked her beautiful brown hair with its mysterious light and dark tones.

I felt embarrassed by the act of stroking it for the first time in a long time since I had stroked it so often in the early days of our relationship.

She stopped crying before the train arrived at the platform, but her hands were still around my back. We boarded the train in a hug.

Of course, all eyes around us were focused on the two of us.

It was an early morning train, but there were a few students here and there. Judging from their mood, they were probably students going to morning practice. To our dismay, some of them were wearing the same uniforms as we were.

Fortunately, thanks to the adults around us, the students didn’t seem to notice our presence.

If anyone saw what was going on, the whole school would be talking about it. Rinka was recognized as ‘Takane no Hana' by all the students in her grade because of her good looks and her always quiet, unassuming atmosphere.

Rinka is recognized as a ‘model' by all the students in her grade because of her good looks and her quiet, unassuming demeanor. And from herself.

The word will spread at the speed of light.

She may not be noticed now, but she may be noticed in the future.

I had experienced firsthand the trouble that would ensue if that were to happen, after three months of dating. I don’t want to talk about that experience anymore.

The more I tried to pull Rinka away, the more strongly she held me.

For the time being, I hugged Rinka as hard as I could so that others could not recognize her, and I hid her profile so that she could not be seen by those around her.

Please don’t let them find out.

I was nervous as I rode the train, but it seemed that my fears were unfounded.

We arrived at the station nearest the school and got off the train together.

At that time, I succeeded in pulling Rinka away from my body, but she did not let go of my arms only, which were tightly crossed.

We had to talk about a lot of things anyway, so we both sat down together on a bench in a park in the opposite direction from the school to talk.

I asked her to sit down with me, but I didn’t know how to start the conversation. I didn’t know what to say, even after sorting out in my head what I wanted to ask and what I needed to say.

Before I could ask her what was wrong, she turned her head down and squeezed out an inaudible voice.

“I’m really sorry, Ikki.”

Her head rested on my chest. The weak gesture made me feel a pain in my chest.

“I really don’t want to break up with you. Immediately…breaking up with you. I don’t want to break up with you at all.”

Tears welled up in her eyes again. The drops ran down both cheeks and fell on the bench.

It seemed that she was crying because of herself.

“I told you that I didn’t like you right away, and that was a lie. I love you, but I can’t be honest with you at all. So I took advantage of Ikki’s kindness.”

I gently stroked her head on my chest. She seemed to have regretted and suffered as much as I did after we broke up.

I choked myself from the bottom of my heart for putting her in this situation.

“I understand enough now. That’s enough.”

That was what I wanted to hear, but there were words I needed to say now.

“I was actually very happy that you asked me out on a date on my birthday. You were going to celebrate my birthday with me…”

I know. I patted her head, telling her it was going to be okay, but she was sobbing the whole time.

Today was the first time I had seen her cry. She was always so dignified and strong. I thought she was strong, but she was only hiding this weak figure. I realized this after all this time.

I tried to quiet her somehow by rubbing her shoulders and hugging her tightly, but Rinka’s sobbing didn’t stop and she didn’t seem to be in a position to have a proper conversation.

I wish she wouldn’t cry so much, I couldn’t stand the fact that she was crying because of me.

I regretted it to death over the weekend and gave up once and for all that I couldn’t go out with her again, but I couldn’t help but say this.

I took a small breath with my intention. When I called out “Rinka,” she slowly looked up at me with tears welling up in her eyes.

I wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks with my finger. Her beautiful, moist eyes are looking at me. She is staring at me. For a moment, it was as if time had stopped, and I could hear nothing. All I could see was Rinka.

“I’ve dumped you once, will you give me a second chance?”

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