Chapter 2: The Past

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Translator: Soafp

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The monotonous drone of the teacher’s voice filled the air, lulling me into a state of half-hearted attention as I stared blankly at the clock, willing the hands to move faster.

Homeroom had never been the most thrilling part of the day, but today seemed especially tedious, each minute dragging on like an eternity.

Cling clang.

Finally, the chime rang out, signaling the much-awaited lunch break.

I stretched my arms above my head, eager to escape the confines of the classroom and indulge in some much-needed relaxation.

As I was gathering my belongings, Kenji strolled over with his usual easygoing demeanor, a grin plastered across his face.

Despite the dullness of homeroom, his presence never failed to lift my spirits.

“Hey, Ryota! Did you fall asleep? I almost did when he was talking about….uhh. Hmm, I guess I did fall asleep.” 

“Hahaha, I did not but when did you not fall asleep during homeroom?”

“Now that you are saying it, you are right, haha.”

We both shared a laugh, the weight of the tedious lesson lifting from my shoulders as we exchanged jokes and anecdotes about our shared boredom.

It was moments like these, amidst the mundane routines of school life, that I cherished the most – the simple camaraderie of friendship.

“So, any plans for lunch?”

Breaking the lighthearted silence that had settled between us.

“Yes, Hana invited me to have lunch with her. Do you want to come with us?”

“No, I will pass. I don’t want to see how much you love Hana while I am being single.”

“You choose being single… All the girls were fawning over you. One girl even confessed you to but you rejected her.”

Then, a more serious expression settled on Kenji’s face as my words lingered in the air.

“Ryota, there is a reason why I chose to be single. Because the girl—.”

But before he could say something, Hana appeared at the door, her smile brightening the room as she held her lunchbox.

“Yaa, Ryota! Ready for lunch?”

I felt a rush of warmth at the sight of her, nodding eagerly.

“Absolutely! I’ve been looking forward to it.”

Kenji, ever the joker, seized the opportunity to tease me further.

“Looks like your bride is here, Ryota. Time to go fulfill your husbandly duties.”

He gave me a playful shove towards Hana, earning a laugh from both of us.

“Yes, yes. I will do my husbandly duties.”

With a final nod at Kenji, I followed Hana out of the classroom, feeling grateful for the easy banter and camaraderie that filled my days.

As we made our way to the rooftop, the mundane routines of school life faded into the background, replaced by the warmth of friendship and the promise of a delicious meal shared with good company.

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[Kenji PoV]

I watched as Ryota was whisked away by Hana, her infectious smile lighting up the dreary hallway.

It had been a while since I’d seen such a genuine smile on Ryota’s face, a stark contrast to the pain and sorrow that had clouded his expression after his mother’s passing.

Back then, I had tried everything in my power to support him, to be there for him in his darkest moments.

I understood the crushing weight of grief all too well, having experienced my own share of loss at a young age.

My mother’s absence wasn’t due to cancer, but rather a different kind of sickness– her infidelity tearing our family apart when I was just a child also known as betrayal.

I still remember the day I found out, the shock and devastation etched into my memory like a scar.

The sense of betrayal, of abandonment, was almost too much to bear for a young boy already grappling with the complexities of growing up.

In the aftermath of her affair, our once happy home became a battleground of resentment and pain.

My father’s heartbreak was palpable, his attempts to rebuild our fractured family met with resistance and bitterness.

It didn’t take me long to get over it, but for my father, the wounds ran deeper.

He loved my mother with all his heart, only to be betrayed in the cruelest way possible.

I watched as he retreated into himself, consumed by a bitterness that poisoned his every interaction.

His once bright eyes grew dull with resignation, the spark of hope extinguished by the harsh reality of betrayal.

I couldn’t blame him for his anger, for his sense of betrayal mirrored my own in so many ways. But as the years passed, his bitterness only seemed to deepen until there was nothing left but a hollow shell of the man he once was.

I tried to reach out to him, to offer comfort and support in his darkest moments, but he pushed me away with a coldness that chilled me to the bone.

It was as if he had built a fortress around his heart, barricading himself against the pain of his past.

Seeing him like that shook me to the core. I couldn’t bear the thought of Ryota following the same path, becoming hardened and distant like my father.

That’s why I’ve been by his side through thick and thin, offering him the support.

I want Ryota to know that he doesn’t have to face his pain alone, that there are people who care about him and are willing to stand by him no matter what.

I refuse to let him become a prisoner of his own sorrow, trapped behind walls of bitterness and regret.

So, I’ll keep supporting him, even when it’s hard, even when he pushes me away.

Because I know that deep down, he’s still the same Ryota I’ve always known – kind, compassionate, and full of potential.

And I’ll do whatever it takes to help him find his way back to the light, away from the shadows that threaten to consume him. Even if the world is against him.

Just like those girls who were against him.

When Ryota mention about a particular girl who confessed to me, I almost vomited. Luckily, I held back.

Back in the day when Ryota was not his right state, he was bullied because he was gloomy.

Seeing him targeted like that was infuriating.

How could they not see the pain he was going through? How could they be so cruel to someone who was already suffering?

I did my best to stand up for him, to defend him against those heartless bullies.

But sometimes, it felt like fighting against the tide, like no matter what I did, the waves of cruelty just kept crashing down on him.

But there was this particular girl who stood out of all the others.

One day in the morning when I opened my shoe box, there was a letter inside. I opened the letter and read the content.

[Dear Kenji,

Please meet me after school at the rooftop.

I have something to tell you.]

At first, I was puzzled. Who could this be from? And what could they possibly want to tell me? The handwriting was unfamiliar.

Time flew by, and as the final school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, I made my way to the rooftop.

There, standing near the edge, was the girl familiar to me. My heart began to boil.

Her posture was tense, and I could see the nervousness etched on her face as she awaited my arrival.

“Hi, I hope you did not mind coming after school.”

Awaiting for my reply I stood there staring at her face.

“Can you make this quick. I have somewhere to go.”

The girl did not expect to receive a blunt responds.

“I–I like you Kenji! Please go out with me!”

I glared at her. The nerve of this girl, thinking she could just waltz up to me after all the pain she’s caused.

“First of all, who gave you permission to use my first name? It is gross so stop it. Second, why would I even consider going out with a girl who acts like she has an extra chromosome? You’re not worth a second of my time, let alone my attention.”

I was really angry at that time.

The audacity that the girl had to confess her feelings to me while bullying my best friend in the worst way possible.

“To answer your confession, I refuse to date someone like you. Goodbye.”

“Ah…no….ugh…”

As I walked away, leaving her standing there in tears, her sobs echoing in the empty rooftop, I felt nothing but contempt. Her pain meant nothing to me.

It is just a mere fraction of the pain Ryota endures every day.

His suffering is tenfold, a weight he bears in silence, while she, a mere bystander, weeps for her own selfish desires.

But Ryota, despite everything, never lashed out in anger or resentment. He bore their taunts and jeers with a quiet dignity, refusing to let them break his spirit. I could learn a thing or two from him.

It was that resilience, that inner strength, that made me admire him even more. And it’s why I’ll always stand by his side, ready to fight whatever battles may come our way.

Because no matter what, Ryota deserves to be happy. And I’ll be damned if I let anyone or anything stand in the way of that.

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[Ryota PoV]

Hana and I found ourselves at the rooftop during lunchtime, enjoying a quiet moment away from the hustle and bustle of the school below. The sun was warm against our skin as we unpacked our lunches and settled down on a nearby bench.

As we enjoyed our lunch, Hana and I engaged in a variety of conversations, from our favorite hobbies to our plans for the upcoming weekend.

“Hey, Ryota, did I tell you about the book I’m reading? It’s so captivating! I think you’d really enjoy it.”

“No, you haven’t. What’s it about?”

“It’s a mystery thriller with a plot twist you won’t see coming. I couldn’t put it down last night.”

“That sounds intriguing. What is the title of the book? Maybe I’ll give it a read if I have the time for it.”

“The book is called ‘The Face of Deception’.”

That is an eerie title.

“What is it about?”

“It follows a woman who lost the man of her life. Desperate to reclaim what she once held dear, she embarks on a journey veiled in secrecy and shadowy motives.”

As Hana spoke about the book, I couldn’t help but notice a subtle shift in her demeanor.

There was a hint of intensity in her eyes, a fervor that seemed to border on something.

It was a departure from her usual self, but I brushed it off as mere enthusiasm for the story.

“T-That sounds like an intriguing read. I’ll definitely check it out if I get the chance.”

“Yeah, you definitely should.”

As lunch came to an end, we gathered our belongings and made our way back to the school building.

The conversation about the book lingered in my mind, but I tried to push aside any lingering unease.

Hana had always been a good person, and there was no reason to suspect anything sinister.

“Thanks for lunch, Hana. It was nice spending time together.”

“Like wise. I also enjoyed spending time with you, Ryota.”

We parted ways, heading off to our respective classes.

Despite the strange undercurrent I sensed during our conversation, I couldn’t deny that I enjoyed our time together.

But as I walked to my next class, a nagging feeling of unease lingered at the back of my mind.