Chapter 4: Trust

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Translator: Soafp

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As I walked towards school, I encountered Kenji along the way. His usual cheerful demeanor was evident as he greeted me with a bright smile.

“Hey, Ryota! Ready for another exciting day at school?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Feeling the spark of energy from Kenji’s positivity was uplifting.

Kenji fell into step beside me, his easygoing presence easing some of the tension that had been weighing on my mind.

“So, what’s on your agenda for today?”

“Just the usual. Classes, homework, maybe a quick study session after school.”

Kenji nodded, his smile never faltering.

“Sounds like a plan. Hey, if you ever need a study buddy or someone to help with homework, you know where to find me.”

I couldn’t help but smile back at his offer.

“Thanks, Kenji. I’ll keep that in mind.”

As we continued walking, I couldn’t shake off the unease that had settled in my chest. I knew I had to confide in Kenji, tell him about the argument I had with Yuto over Hana.

“Hey, Kenji, I need to tell you something.”

Kenji turned to me, his expression curious.

“What’s up?”

“I, uh, had a fight with Yuto yesterday. It was about… Hana.”

Kenji’s brows furrowed in concern.

“Hana? What happened?”

I found myself at a loss for words, unsure of where to even begin navigating the mess of emotions swirling within me.

After a moment of heavy silence, Kenji’s reassuring hand landed gently on my shoulder, offering a silent promise of support.

Gazing into Kenji’s eyes, I felt a surge of gratitude and relief. In that moment, I knew I could trust him with the weight of my troubles.

As I recounted the tumultuous encounter with Yuto, relaying his accusations and foreboding threats, Kenji’s expression shifted to one of solemn understanding.

“That’s a tough spot, Ryota. Yuto definitely has some issues he needs to work through.”

“Yeah, it’s been a real mess. I never wanted things to spiral out of control like this.”

“I feel you, man. But standing up for yourself and Hana was the right call. Don’t let Yuto’s words get under your skin.”

His words were like a lifeline in the storm, offering a sense of solace amidst the chaos.

“I’m grateful for your support, Kenji. Thanks for being there for me.”

“Hey, no need to thank me. That’s what friends are for, right?”

With Kenji standing steadfastly by my side, I felt a renewed sense of courage and determination. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I knew I wasn’t alone in facing them.

“So, Ryota, any plans for this weekend?”

Kenji breaking the comfortable silence.

I smiled, a surge of excitement bubbling within me as I remembered my upcoming date with Hana.

“Actually, I do have plans. I’m going to buy new clothes this Saturday for my date on Sunday.”

“Really? That’s great, Ryota! What do you have planned?”

Kenji’s eyes lit up with genuine interest.

“I’m thinking of taking her to that new café downtown. Maybe we’ll grab lunch there and then explore the area.”

“Sounds like a perfect date. I’m sure you two will have a great time together.”

“Thanks, Kenji. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The thought of spending the day with Hana makes me really happy.

“Oh, and what about you, Kenji? Any exciting plans for the weekend?”

Kenji chuckled, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

“Well, not as exciting as a date, that’s for sure. I’ll probably just hang out at home, maybe catch up on some reading or check out that new ramen place downtown.”

“That sounds relaxing. Sometimes, a quiet weekend is just what you need.”

Nodding my head while saying so.

“Yeah, exactly. Nothing beats a little downtime to recharge the batteries.”

As we walked, our conversation drifted to lighter topics, and soon we were lost in discussion about our favorite books, movies, and video games.

It was a welcome distraction from the events of the morning.

Before long, we reached our classroom door, Kenji went to his own table, and I made my way to mine, taking a seat and preparing for the day’s lessons.

Despite the tension lingering from the morning’s events, I was determined to focus on my studies and not let it distract me.

As the teacher entered the classroom and the lesson began, I immersed myself in the material, pushing aside any lingering thoughts of the altercation with Yuto. Today was a new day, and I was determined to make the most of it.

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[Hana PoV]

Crap crap crap, I woke up later than usual. It is all because I was so happy that Ryota has asked me out this Sunday on date…Kyaaa.

With a burst of energy, I quickly jumped out of bed and rushed to fix my hair.

After fixing my hair in a hurry, I scrambled to get dressed and gather my things for school. Despite the rush, I couldn’t contain the smile on my face as I thought about the upcoming date with Ryota.

Breakfast was a quick affair, but every bite seemed to taste sweeter, tinged with the excitement of what lay ahead. With each passing moment, the anticipation bubbled within me, filling me with a sense of joy that was hard to contain.

As I hurried out the door and made my way to school, my heart danced with excitement. Today was going to be special, and I couldn’t wait to see where the day would take us.

“I hope I’m not too late to catch up with Ryota. I really want to walk with him.”

I murmured to myself, quickening my pace to reach the school before it was too late.

As I walked towards school, my mind filled with thoughts of the upcoming date, I noticed a student leaning against a wall. His posture suggested he was waiting for someone, his gaze fixed intently on the other passing students.

When our eyes met, he made his way over to me.

“Kobayashi-san, long time no see.”

“Ah, Ken-kun, good morning.”

“How are you doing?”

“I’m doing well, thanks. But is there something you need from me?”

It was Ken-kun, Ryota’s stepbrother. Ryota didn’t often mention Ken-kun, so I only knew that they are siblings.

I couldn’t help but wonder what Ken-kun wanted from me.

“Actually, Kobayashi-san, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

Ken-kun began, his expression serious.

I furrowed my brows, feeling a bit apprehensive.

“Sure, what is it?”

He glanced around at the bustling hallway, then leaned in closer to me.

“I don’t think this is the best place to talk about it. Let’s go over there.”

He pointed towards a quieter spot away from the bustling street.

His words caught me off guard, and I hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.

We moved away from the main thoroughfare, finding a more secluded spot where we could converse without distractions.

Once we were away from the noise of the street, I turned to Ken-kun, curiosity mingling with a hint of apprehension.

“What did you want to talk about?”

“First off, I want to congratulate you on your relationship with Ryota. I heard it from him yesterday.”

“Thank you, but I think this is not the reason why you took me here?”

“That is correct. As expected of you, Kobayashi-san.”

Ken-kun’s demeanor was composed, but there was an undercurrent of tension in his voice, betraying the gravity of whatever he wanted to discuss.

“I heard about your date with Ryota this Sunday.”

His gaze steady as he watched my reaction.

I nodded, unsure where this conversation was headed.

“Well, I wanted to talk to you about something related to that.”

I waited, my heart pounding with anticipation.

“It’s about Ryota. I know you two are close, but I need to warn you… he’s not who you think he is.”

His words sent a chill down my spine, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of apprehension. What could he possibly mean by that?

“What do you mean?”

My voice barely above a whisper.

Ken-kun hesitated, his expression conflicted.

“I can’t say much here, but… just be careful, okay? I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications. I felt a knot form in my stomach as I struggled to make sense of what he was telling me.

“What are you trying to say, Ken-kun?”

But before he could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted our conversation.

“Just… remember what I said.”

With that, he turned and hurried away, leaving me standing alone on the quiet street, my thoughts swirling with confusion and unease.

As Ken-kun disappeared into the distance, I stood there, feeling a mix of emotions swirling within me. His cryptic warning had left me unsettled, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of foreboding that lingered in the air.

What did he mean by “Ryota is not who you think he is”? And why was he so insistent on warning me about it?

My mind raced with questions, but the answers remained frustratingly elusive. I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to Ryota than met the eye, hidden layers beneath his charming exterior.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed the passing pedestrians and the bustling activity of the street around me.

The world seemed to blur as I grappled with the weight of Ken-kun’s words, each syllable echoing in my mind like a warning bell.

Eventually, I realized that I couldn’t stay rooted to the spot forever. With a deep breath, I pushed aside my uncertainties and resumed my journey to school, though the shadow of doubt lingered at the edge of my consciousness.

As I walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted, that the ground beneath me had subtly tilted, throwing my once-clear path into disarray.

And though I didn’t yet understand the full extent of Ken-kun’s warning, I couldn’t ignore the sense of urgency that ached in my heart.

Whatever lay ahead, I knew one thing for certain: I needed to tread carefully, to keep my eyes open and my wits about me. Because in a world where nothing was as it seemed, the truth was often the most elusive mystery of all.

And as I ventured forth into the unknown, I couldn’t help but wonder what secrets lay hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered.