Chapter 2: The Widening Gap

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Translator: Soafp

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I work part-time at a supermarket in the neighboring town.

I had considered workplaces within walking or cycling distance from home, but I thought there was a risk of being spotted by my childhood friend, Aoi, so I commute by train and work here.

“Yamato, you're doing well.”

“Ah, good morning, Hayami-senpai.”

Her name is Nagisa Hayami, a senior from my high school. Now, she works part-time at this supermarket while attending a national university.

“You were working almost every day during summer vacation, but is your studying okay?”

“Ah… yeah… it's fine.”

As I arranged products on the shelves in front of the register, Hayami-senpai often spoke to me.

“It'll work out somehow, right?”

“I see… Makino-kun is smart anyway. But if you ever run into any trouble, feel free to talk to me, okay?”

She also came from a modest household and had balanced studying and part-time work during her third-year high school entrance exam season. When I started working here, she told me about her experiences… and I had vented about my family situation to her.

“Thank you. I'm fine.”

That's right… I'm fine…

Like Hayami-senpai, I'll balance studying and work and absolutely get into the same university as Aoi.

And… someday, I want to quietly confess my feelings to her.

I'll work as hard as I can so I won't feel embarrassed standing next to her.

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One day during lunch break.

With the fatigue from work and the little sleep I get while studying, the break is precious sleep time for me.

“Yamato, the rankings for the top scorers of the midterm tests are posted on the hallway bulletin board. Let's go check them out.”

Toru's voice woke me up as I buried my face in my desk, dozing off.

“Ah… ah, no… I'm fine.”

So the results of the recent midterm tests had been released…

But since I hadn't been able to study properly, the rankings of top students didn't concern me.

“Come on, let's go. You must be curious about Aoi's grades too, right?”

“I don't need to see… She's probably first anyway.”

“Well… I'm trying to aim for first too…”

Toru said seriously to me.

Although Aoi always ranks first, Toru maintains second place. Perhaps he sees Aoi as his rival.

“Alright. I'll go check.”

It's about time to start seriously thinking about our future paths and next year's entrance exams.

(I really need to buckle down on studying…)

In front of the ranking board, a crowd of students had gathered. Aoi was among them, and the group was lively around her.

“Congratulations, Miyano-san! First place again!”

“That's amazing! Are you really going to a national university?”

As expected, Aoi had taken first place.

Toru and I checked the rankings while glancing at the noisy crowd.

“…Still didn't make it, huh…”

Biting his lip and looking somewhat gloomy, Toru muttered.

“That's impressive, Toru… Second place again.”

“…The impressive one is Aoi. I'm just second again…”

Toru frowned at my words. Losing to Aoi must have been frustrating for him.

“Hey, Yamato. If you got serious… you'd be better than Aoi, right…”

“Huh? …No, I'm nothing special.”

That's right… I'm nothing special. I was only good at grades a while ago, I have no other skills… and even now, I get exhausted just from working part-time.

“Yamato… I…”

Toru started speaking but stopped.

“Huh? What is it?”

“Nothing… Anyway, are your grades okay? You haven't been able to study much with all that part-time work, right?”

Toru whispered, worried about me so others wouldn't hear.

Like with Hayami-senpai, I had told Toru about my family situation.

“I'm fine. I'll reduce my part-time hours soon and focus more on studying.”

When I first started working, Toru often checked on me, worried about my lack of time and mental energy. Sharing my thoughts with him had helped me a lot.

“Yamato, Toru. You came to check the rankings?”

Aoi noticed us and hurried over, frowning with an annoyed expression.

“Yamato… are you really studying?”

“Uh… ah, yeah. Of course…”

“Then why isn't your name on the ranking list?”

“Well… I guess… I'm just that kind of person…”

“Don't joke around!!”

Aoi suddenly raised her voice, and many students nearby turned to look at us.

“H-hey, Aoi… calm down.”

Toru stepped in to shield me, trying to calm her. Aoi's clenched fists trembled slightly, as if her anger was boiling.

“Ah! Murase-kun got second place! Congratulations!”

“Miyano-san, as expected! First place again!”

“Wow, both Miyano-san and Murase-kun are amazing. Such a great pair in the student council!”

“How much do you two study anyway!?”

Classmates nearby lifted the tense atmosphere with cheerful remarks. I used the opportunity to put some distance between Aoi and myself and ran toward the classroom.

“Hey, Yamato!”

I ignored Aoi's voice and ran as fast as I could back to the classroom.

…A mix of emotions swirled inside me.

Watching Aoi and Toru being bombarded with questions by classmates… I remembered my old self.

(I… used to be pampered like that too…)

If only my father's company hadn't gone bankrupt… if only he had kept working properly…

No matter the family circumstances… if only I had been more outstanding…

I couldn't help but think about things I couldn't have.

“Who were you arguing with Miyano-san just now?”

Back in the classroom, I heard students discussing the earlier commotion.

“That's Makino, who entered as the top student.”

“Ah, that ‘fallen prodigy'.”

‘Fallen prodigy'… apparently that's what they call me behind my back.

…And I can't blame them. My grades have plummeted… and the two by my side…

“Why do Miyano-san and Murase-kun care about Makino?”

“They've been friends since forever, so they can't leave him alone, right? Even though there's such a huge gap now.”

Watching them laugh and gossip about me, I felt nothing but frustration.

Aoi and Toru, who are so dazzling… it hurts just being near them.

Frustration…

If it were the right circumstances… I too…

Jealousy… Inferiority…

But it can't be helped… nothing in this world is fair.

Still, I won't stop trying.

I will overcome adversity and stand beside Aoi.

Our promise… it drives me forward…