Chapter 4: Misunderstandings

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Translator: Soafp

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“Aoi… can I talk to you for a sec?”

A few days ago, a rumor had started circulating that the student council president, Aoi, and the vice president, Toru, had become a couple.

Ever since I heard that rumor, I haven't been able to calm my mind.

Aoi's behavior was strange too.

I had tried a few times to talk to her to confirm the truth, but she wasn't willing to engage with me at all.

I had also tried to ask Toru during break time… but

“Sorry, Yamato. I'm busy with student council stuff. Can we talk later?”

Both of them were busy with student council duties ahead of the festival, and neither would talk to me.

…Or maybe… they were avoiding me?

Even now, on the day before the festival, I still didn't know if the story about Aoi and Toru dating was true.

Toru had said he was going to give Aoi a present… maybe he confessed?

And maybe Aoi actually liked him too… and they ended up together?

If that's the case… does that mean I've been rejected…?

The more I thought about it, the darker my heart became.

“Yamato! Let's definitely go to the same university together!”

What would happen to that promise…?

Even if Aoi and I aren't a couple, we could still go to the same university.

But for me… the meaning would be completely different.

I want to be with Aoi for the rest of my life. That's why I want to go to the same university…

If… if Aoi and Toru really did start dating…

(Sigh… I have work again today…)

I've never felt so anxious.

Even when my dad became unemployed, we got into debt, and my home life fell apart, seeing Aoi's smile always made me feel at ease.

It made me want to keep trying, to keep going.

“Have Miyano-san and Murase-kun… kissed yet?”

“They probably already have.”

“They're always together these days. I saw them going home together yesterday too.”

In the classroom, classmates were gossiping excitedly about those two.

I feel anxious…

A chill runs through me…

My head hurts…

I feel lonely…

I slump in my seat, unable to summon any strength, and bury my face, escaping reality as I drift off to sleep.

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It's the day before the festival, but we still had morning classes. Now that the afternoon has arrived, preparations for tomorrow are in full swing…

“Hey… Makino-kun. You'll help with preparations today, right?”

As I tried to head home, some of my female classmates asked me this.

“Ah… uh…”

For over a week, my classmates had been gathering after school to gradually prepare for the festival. I hadn't helped at all.

The reason, of course, was because of work.

“Sorry… I've got things to do today too…”

“Makino-kun, you always say that and never help…”

I'd been brushing them off with flimsy excuses, but it seemed my lack of cooperation had built up their frustration.

“Alright… fine, whatever.”

With a dissatisfied look, they went back to join the others preparing.

Of course, I earned their resentment.

Everyone's working hard…

I feel genuinely sorry.

(Sorry… I'll work extra hard on the actual day…)

While other classes and grades steadily prepared for tomorrow, I headed home alone.

“Yamato! Wait!”

As I changed my shoes at the shoe locker, a loud voice called out.

Even without looking, I knew exactly who it was.

“Ah, Aoi… what's up…?”

“What's up? Don't play dumb! What are you doing here!?”

Seeing Aoi more upset than usual, I shrank back.

I could tell without her saying it what she wanted to say.

“Everyone's working hard on the festival preparations, right!?”

“I… I know… but—”

“If you know that, then go back to class quickly! If even one person is missing, everyone else has to pick up the slack!”

“I… I know that, okay…”

Aoi's words were always reasonable.

What I do is always selfish.

“If you know that, then go back to class quickly! I've got meetings with the festival committee too, so I'm busy!”

Ah… why does this always happen?

I'm just… trying my best.

I want to go to the same university as Aoi…

I want to be with Aoi forever…

And yet…

“Are you even listening!?”

My head hurts…

“Recently… there's a rumor going around school…”

I steeled myself and asked the question I'd been dreading.

“Are you… dating Toru…?”

Hearing my question, Aoi—who had been scolding me loudly just moments ago—suddenly fell silent, as if the intensity of her earlier anger had vanished.

“Y-Yo… you're dating…?”

“…Are you… worried… about the rumors… between me and Toru…?”

She stared at me, teasingly…

“Well… we're childhood friends… and Toru's my friend too… so it's natural to be curious whether we're together or not…”

I averted my gaze, trying not to reveal my true feelings.

“So… what about it? Are you with Toru?”

For some reason, Aoi quietly smiled and, with a lighthearted tone, answered:

“Fufu… it's nothing~. It's none of your business, Yamato.”

None of my business…?

Does that mean she can't tell me…?

She doesn't want to tell me…?

“More importantly, we're busy preparing for tomorrow's festival.”

More importantly…?

To me… it's incredibly important…

Aoi, Toru… they're my precious childhood friend and best friend…

“I'll go back to class now.”

Why…?

Why are you hiding this from me…?

“It'll be fine even if I'm not there…”

She… likes Toru…?

Are they… really dating…?

“What are you saying!?”

When I tried to talk to her, she had previously ignored me saying she was busy…

“This isn't about that!”

Even though she had been avoiding me…

“This is a school event! You need to cooperate and share responsibilities!”

Only now does she act all high and mighty…

“Why are you like this, Yamato!? Get your act together!”

Am I really… such a hopeless person…?

“Go on, back to class!”

Am I really… such an untrustworthy person…?

“Shut up…”

Ah… my head hurts…

“Huh, what!?”

My whole body feels hot.

“SHUT THE F*** UP!!”

I shouted, glaring at Aoi… blood rushing to my head.

“Y-Yamato…?”

Seeing Aoi visibly shaken, I turned my back on her and left the school building.

“W-Wait, Yamato! What's wrong!?”

Panicked, Aoi ran after me and grabbed my hand to stop me.

“Let me go.”

But I forcefully shook her hand off, filled with anger I could no longer control.

“Wait a sec!”

Part of my anger stemmed from her attitude, but it was also me lashing out.

I'm weak. My heart is narrow.

Aoi tried to block my path, circling in front of me.

“Yamato… did I do something wrong? I-I'm sorry…”

She panted as she apologized, but I just glared at her.

“Uh… tomorrow, there's the evening festival, right? There'll be a campfire… if you want, you can come with me—”

She was saying something, but her voice sounded distant, barely reaching me.

Evening festival? Campfire?

I don't care.

I don't care about the school festival.

I brushed past Aoi, who was desperately trying to get through to me.

“Wait! Wait for me!”

Still trying to chase after me, I ran off.

For a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of her face in my peripheral vision.

I saw tears spilling from her eyes.

Did I… hurt Aoi…?

Engulfed by my anger, seeing her tears did nothing to reach my heart.