Chapter 29: Severed Feelings

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

“What? Huh… trans… fer…?”

Yamato transferred schools…?

What… is going on…?

“Wait, what does that even mean!? Why would Yamato suddenly transfer!?”

“I-I don't know! We just heard the rumor a little while ago!”

Why…?

What is happening!?

Even when I asked my classmates for details, there was no more information than this.

I rushed out of the classroom and went to Yamato's class.

There, too, everyone was talking about him.

But when I asked the students in that class about Yamato, the answers were the same—they didn't seem to know the circumstances either.

“Toru! Y-Yamato transferred schools!”

I spotted Toru walking down the hallway and rushed up to him.

“Ah… yeah… it seems like it.”

“What is going on!? I haven't heard anything!”

“I-I didn't either… I only heard it from the homeroom teacher this morning…”

“So it's true!? He really transferred!?”

“If the teacher said so… then it must be true…”

“T-that's… no way…”

It was so sudden that I couldn't process it.

“W-why!? Why did he suddenly transfer!? I wasn't told anything!?”

“I told you… I don't know either…”

Toru looked down, his answers coming out weak and uncertain.

“Why did this suddenly happen!? Tell me!”

“I-I already said I don't know! Why are you getting mad at me!?”

“Because you made a promise! You said you'd solve everything! That's why I even danced with you at the folk dance festival!”

In the middle of the hallway during lunch break, with students passing by everywhere, I shouted with tears streaming down my face, not caring who saw.

“I-I was going to figure something out! But Yamato was the one who suddenly left, so there's nothing I can do about it!”

But you promised me…!

So many things didn't make sense.

“Enough!!”

Many students had stopped to watch our argument, keeping their distance.

For the student council president and vice president to be fighting like this was something that should never happen.

But right now, I didn't have the composure to care about that.

I rushed to the staff room and asked Yamato's homeroom teacher for an explanation, but—

“Yes, Makino Yamato has transferred. As for the reasons, we cannot disclose them due to privacy concerns.”

“Th-that's…”

All I learned was that Yamato had really transferred, and was no longer a student at this school.

“Excuse me! Where did Yamato transfer to!?”

“I already said I cannot tell you that. The lunch break is almost over, go back to your classroom.”

In the end, I learned nothing.

From a teacher's standpoint, it was understandable.

But I couldn't stay calm.

“Ya… Yamato!”

Without even changing my shoes at the shoe lockers, I ran out.

I left my bag in the classroom, and I didn't care about afternoon classes anymore.

“Miyano, stop!”

As I was about to leave through the school gate, a voice came from behind me.

I didn't turn around.

I didn't have the time to deal with anyone.

“Stop, Miyano!”

But my arm was grabbed, stopping me in my tracks.

“Let go of me! Tono-sensei, let go!”

“Calm down!”

The one who stopped me was the vice principal, Tono-sensei.

He must have followed me after seeing my behavior in the staff room earlier.

“Yamato! Yamato!!”

“Makino Yamato-kun has already completed his transfer procedures!”

“Then I'm going to see him directly! Let me go!”

“That is precisely why I am telling you—he…”

Even as he hesitated, he didn't let go of my arm.

“We cannot talk about Yamato Makino-kun's current situation. However… regarding his past circumstances…”

Tono-sensei slowly continued, choosing his words carefully.

“I believe… you have the right to know.”

His past circumstances…?

“Miyano-san…”

I wasn't calm, but his voice strangely reached me.

“Yamato… Makino Yamato-kun is…”

As the bell signaling the end of lunch break echoed through the entire school, Tono-sensei began to speak.

---

For the first time, I skipped school.

Even though I was a student at a prestigious school…

Even though I was student council president…

It didn't matter.

None of it mattered.

It meant nothing compared to Yamato.

“Yamato Makino-kun is… no longer in this area.”

I raised my voice at Tono-sensei as he began talking about Yamato.

He's gone!?

Does that mean he moved away!?

Why did he even transfer!?

Family reasons!?

While I was panicking, the teacher only gave me very limited information.

“Tell me, sensei! Where is Yamato now!? What happened!?”

“Miyano-san, as a teacher, I cannot say anything further. Normally, disclosing student personal information without consent is unacceptable. So… please take this.”

Tono-sensei handed me a single note.

On it was the name and address of a supermarket I didn't recognize.

“If you go there… you might find a clue related to him.”

I clutched the paper tightly and stepped out of the school gate.

Tono-sensei said nothing as I skipped the afternoon classes and watched me leave.

I didn't understand why he gave me this note.

Right now, all I could think about was Yamato.

---

I decided to put the address written on the teacher's note aside for now and headed to Yamato's house instead.

When I arrived in front of his room, I rang the intercom, but just like the last time I visited, there was no response.

“No… no way…”

Looking closely, there was no nameplate either.

Did he already move out…!?

Does that mean he's not here…!?

“No… what am I supposed to do…”

In my tightly clenched hand was the note I had just been given.

It was the only clue left.

The area written on it was a place I had barely ever been to.

But it wasn't far.

It wouldn't take long by train.

I turned on my heel and hurried to the station.

Ten-odd minutes on the train… it felt unbearably long.

“Please… hurry…”

Could it be that Yamato is in the place I'm heading to now…?

Not knowing what that place had to do with him, I let myself hold on to a faint hope as all kinds of thoughts ran through my mind.

“Yamato… Yamato…”

I got off at the designated station.

Following the route written on the note, I ran for several minutes in a frenzy.

“Is he… here?”

And I arrived at the supermarket.

Unable to suppress my rising emotions, I rushed inside and looked for him.

“Where… Yamato…”

Is he really in a place like this?

I had doubts, but this was the only lead I had left.

I searched the not-too-large store from end to end, but there was no sign of Yamato.

“He's not here… he's not here!”

Frustration spilled out.

Not at his house…

Not at school…

Not here either…

Where… did he go…?

“Don't leave me behind…”

There were supermarket employees and customers around me.

And yet I cried without caring who saw.

“Are you okay?”

A young woman spoke to me.

“…ugh…”

I was desperately trying to hold back my emotions so I wouldn't break down even more, but I couldn't answer.

“It's okay. Just calm down.”

She gently placed a hand on my trembling shoulder, her voice very kind.

“I… I…”

My vision blurred with tears.

“Yeah, let's go somewhere you can sit down and calm down.”

Without asking anything further, she stayed by my side.

I didn't know why she was here.

But her voice and smile felt familiar after so long.

“Miyano-san, it's been a while.”

The kindness of her… Hayami-senpai felt so warm.